Comments on: John Roese Has a Big Fan

By: Another Nortel Watcher

Another Nortel Watcher — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:16:20 +0000

many - appreciate the humor but anybody would be a fool to replace MZ without a major BoD refresh. Nortel is a big, big, problem. We need to see board shakeup and cabinet cleansing before things will turn around.

CTO and CSO are both irrelevant, IMHO. Show me ONE thing that came from either group in the last 5 years that is a revenue engine. I think both functions are needed so I'm not advocating that either should be abolished, but current leadership is clearly ineffective when measured by output. Flush.

The CMO function is interesting. The new campaign looks exactly like a clone of Clent Richardson's campaign to me. If there is a major difference then I argue it takes a marketing expert to see it and that means it isn't significant to the market.

Nortel is a sick puppy.

By: Another Nortel Watcher

Another Nortel Watcher — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 06:16:20 +0000

By: exnt

exnt — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 01:23:10 +0000

ANW, Nortel gets rid of execs who bring new products to market, whether they are succeeding or failing. Look at the parade of execsin WIMAX (new product), IMS/VOIP (new product) and new enterprise products versus the status quo of CDMA (old product), major account VPs selling to old customers, etc. Anyone trying to get a new product or idea to market will be treated like all pioneers: shot full of arrows and their home burned down.

By: many

many — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:16:10 +0000

ANW I like it. Perhaps you are the future nortel CEO?

BB – I agree. The CMO strategy is too transparent and the CSO/CTO not enough.

By: broadbandbill

broadbandbill — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:16:05 +0000

Many,

Here’s my score card:

CTO – Self-promoting hot air balloon.
CSO – Cold case or missing case; either way, irrelevant!
CMO – No articulation of vision, perhaps due to lack of one.

By: Another Nortel Watcher

Another Nortel Watcher — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:35:47 +0000

many – and how about rewarding BU Presidents that take new ideas to market and firing those that don't. Growth is now like air to this company. If Nortel doesn't find growth, it will die. Each President should be measured on how much air they've supplied. Selling more of what they already produce doesn't count – that reward goes to the sales team.

By: many

many — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:22:01 +0000

BB & ANW The more I think about it, the more I am left wondering what the value add ideas from CTO/CSO/CMO are?

Here is an idea from many; Begin rewarding innovation and hiring people who actually produce marketable ideas.

By: broadbandbill

broadbandbill — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:50:37 +0000

The disconnect between the CTO and strategy (read: CSO) runs deeper than most people really understand, especially when one considers how the CTO actually ended up at Nortel. John Roese, you’ve been a bad boy and JUDGEMENT DAY is ‘a coming!!! Better eat your Whitties!!! –bb

By: Another Nortel Watcher

Another Nortel Watcher — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:19:49 +0000

many… i agree. You reference the chasm between idea and something useful that I've been talking about. You would think that there would be a really tight linkage with the CSO team to try to bridge some of these gaps, but they seem to be operating as parallel universes below cabinet level. Ask any strategic member of either team what the other organization is doing for them and you'll get an awkward blank look.

By: many

many — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:10:24 +0000

ANW Project Chainsaw is a prime example of what I am talking about.

What is the practical and marketable application for Avatars in their business? I understand they are licensing this stuff, but is it simply improved voice? Is it the client? Why is this something more that second life with a nortel brand?

Where is it that they see it going? What's the vision/strategy/tactics/logistics?

To me, championing something is only the first step in the CTO responsibilities.

My guess is that they will throw it over the wall without due diligence on the part of CTO.