As a former long term employee of Roche, I don't understand why "fixing" Indianapolis seems like such an impossible task.
- Roche is a solid, respected well run company with resources that anyone would envy
- The portfolio for Dx is not market changing in any category but they are at least represented in the highest growth categories
- The products are not highly differnetiated in most instances, but for the most part they are solid performing, products with good service and a defendable price
- Despite some minor layoffs in the last few years, Indy is still well staffed...people might feel as if they are not able to add enough people but given the economic situation over the past few years should feel very fortunate to be very well resourced
- there are a lot of talented people in Indy
- the competition is most segments (with the exception of Mol Dx) is not progressing so much faster

So why isnt it just a matter of setting clear, reasonable but challenging goals and working as a team to achieve them.

This comment from another thread best sums up Ventana:

"A correction the name of the company is not Roche/Ventana. Ventana is a tiny subsidiary of a Pharma/Medical Device giant. They are but a pimple on the a**, with good growth potential. Don't make yourselves out to be any more than you are."

It's more "Sort of a George Orwell study in management. Are your desks clean?"

Nothing is going to happen and nothing is going to change, hence all the frustration and exasperation herein.

Ventana is going well, which says a lot for not only their products and the markets they address, but also their insistence to remain a seperate operating unit

Let's face it Roche Diagnostics is a joke! Everything is broken; management, products, HR, senior leadership, relationship with the motherland, relationahip with FDA; etc. Name one thing that is going well at this company. It's been like this for years but no one is accountable. It's all political backstabbing at it's finest.

Ah yes, the American way. Mediocrity lies at the bottom of the mainstream. It is far too easy to accumulate a lot of cling-on types who attach themselves like barnacles to a ship, then as parasites suck the host dry before moving on. Used to be place to take pride in working for and have ownership and a sense of accomplishment. Now, instead of talent, critical thinking and lead-from-where-you-are, those chameleon survival skills are in high demand. It is all form over substance or character. Or, as Samuel Goldwyn said, "The most important thing about acting is sincerity: once you've learned to fake that, you've got it made...."

"Do you job, take your check, and hope you are around long enough to leave with a comfortable living."

Right to the core of the problem. The epitome of the selfish, self centered corporate culture we live in today. The legacy of nothing.

WB is just trying to make his way to retirement without being purged. To succeed in this place with all the management changes you have to be a chameleon. I have know and watched Wayne B for years, he did direct change and had a vision 7+ years ago, but his has been on the "back burner" for some time and he knows it. Do you job, take your check, and hope you are around long enough to leave with a comfortable living.

"Cuts need to occur, but something more like a Stalinesque purge. Start at the head instead of the tail. Get rid of the tenured mangers, directors and their flunkies."

Thats why they got rid of the "new" guys trying to make a change.....

Preferred are all the masters of change - Wayne B, WBS and others that can change their opinions mid step to accommodate any new management....

I wonder if Wayne B gets any calls on his mobile phone? I doubt Verizon or AT&T have reception so far up JP's rear......

No, no. That's innovating healthcare! Didn't you know? Embed head in ass in everything we do.

Don't like it then get the hell out! The circular firing squads will continue. It is continuous change the rules and keep playing the game and you are the ball! Big announcements next month. The Swiss have a sense of irony and will wait until July 4.

There is another thread on this forum titled:

Sort of a George Orwell study in management. Are your desks clean?
Is this the future of American business/technology? Is this the best way to compete on the global stage?

Jargon, quarterly profits, decimate R&D, where are we going?

Indeed, jargon, buzzwords & Kum bye yah. SS says the foundation of business is excellence in science. In our culture, when this or any originality or innovation is lacking, you simply buy it.

When the organization has been allowed to get this far out of control for this long something more drastic and dramatic is in order. Cuts need to occur, but something more like a Stalinesque purge. Start at the head instead of the tail. Get rid of the tenured mangers, directors and their flunkies. Move up the next rank into leadership; they'll sink, swim or rise to the occaision. Instead of cutting campus costs at RDC by axing staff, office equipment and buying cheaper toilet paper, look to other areas. Operations hemorrhages money from poor management. Call centre shipping errors, delays and sending an entire new replacement unit because a 1$ battery is backordered for a month is unsound at best. Give everyone an extra week of vacation as they do in Europe. One must win back the hearts and minds of the career employees if the organization is to succeed at all. That is not going to happen wasting time (and more money) with leadership seminars, motivational speakers, and changing/adopting new jargon and buzzwords. What worked in the past no longer works today.

continuous improvement, customer focus, etc., are strategies most companies implemented in the 80's and 90's, RDC Indy is way behind. These things worked at one time (circa 2000 - 2004), but have they have been screwed up and lost since then. The reason the place is losing ground is because the leadership cannot guide the ship even on some basic requirements to compete in business these days. In addition, management all the way to SS have become a joke with how they continue to only make things worse.

Re: ... Also, if continued employment here at RDC is important, grab your bike and get ready for the "change everything and something will happen, and then they can't really compare one year to another" -that's a CG management method coming to your department soon....

Cannot wait; hear any more about quality, continuous improvement or otherwise stroking the customer and people won't be able to stop throwing up.

Somebody could do a graduate thesis or a movie/television show.

leadership inferno.

Where there is smoke...got be a fire!

Just more griping from the disaffected blue collar workers.

nothing of any consequence

Was there some kind of announcement I missed?

Somebody tell SS the new North American strategy will be the Ken & Mary show.

She "was" in a leadership position. That comment about peter principle is spot on. CW is another case in point. Removed them from their element & they really show their a$$ and won't last long. Then the "pursue other career opportunites" announcement will come. Sounds like the cronies are running scared. This is good. Sorry, but that kind of misplaced loyalty is why morale is in the toilet for we poor Mid-Westerners who do care. Try putting MM kiss-A$$ on your resume and see where it gets you.

What the hell! Mary Mc is not a leader, she's someone that has no vision nor inspiration. She was about to lose her job when Ned was in charge for some serious HR issues.

Thought this was some of SS's "decentralized management" model

MM was a leader. Some folks just can't take being disciplined. Its just tough when you have idiots, slackers, web surfers, whiners, all day long. Get a life, move on to another job that will be soooooo lucky to have you. You're not tied to Roche, get up NOW and resign, leave, try and find another job. Just not going to happen. My suggestion, start working & make life better at Roche by applying your lack of talent and mentor someone who cares enough about you to teach you, coach you, and provide you with the necessary constructive feedback you need to be successful.
This goes for all the folks who read and post here. Employees who work daily, care about Roche, perform their daily tasks, etc do not have time to post but a small amount due because they live off this type of rumor.
Read what you may in to this but get a life folks. It's the typical midwestern, SLACKERS who think the job offers them everything but willing to do nothing for the company. You are a blue collar worker, just like the unions. Do nothing but expect everything. Look at yourself in the mirror and can you honestly say you put 110% in everyday all the time. No, lucky you achieve 50%. Thats one of the biggest issues at Roche, No back bone in the mgt team to fire slackers.
Best of luck

Difficult to understand how CW, new Head of Global Human Resources could endorse promoting MM. She is well aware of the long history of issues under her leadership. This in effect puts Basel's stamp of approval on a leadership style that is the opposite of the company's stated values

there is no shortage of material for theatre of the absurd at Roche

Whom evev came up with the Augustus Gloop analogy for MM is brilliant: glutonous, loves Chocolate, the chocolate factory was in Germany- and that' without getting too distasteful...

Peter principle move & containment strategy. Maybe she'll take a few others along with her for the ride.

Sorry; fast-track, no pun intended.

Sounds like the swiss made an offer she couldn't refuse. On the fat track now, but still stuck in Indy.

MM probably took Ken and the kids for a nice Swiss summer vacation.

Can we get a group hug? Kum bye yah.

My bad, Switzerland.

Prepare to bend-over for the teamwork

MM is off to Germany like Augustus Gloop

A better analogy would be a stopped up commode in need of plunging....

This string has caught a nerve with a lot of people because of the "downward spiral" analogy. Like a vortex in a bathtub with a lot of water, this downward spiral has been accelerating since 2005 or so. Is JP capable to put the "stopper in the drain" to stop the downward spiral? I think folks on the Indy campus would be more optimistic if Roche had added someone whose leadership experience, credentials and initial impact were far greater than what is being seen with JP.

Let's hope someone is able to stop the downward spiral before the bathtub ends up dry....

By the time they are done with it, MT will seem like a genius on a par with Leonardo Da Vinci

Something is up. So, when do they begin reinventing the wheel?

JP's high school prep experience (including the short plaid skirts and the over-sexed boys with no brains), has not prepared him for this RDC pickle. Best you enjoy the promotions that make no sense (reference PB's promotion to high leadership back in Tucson-this must be the reward for babysitting bad RSM hires that can't make the cut). Also, if continued employment here at RDC is important, grab your bike and get ready for the "change everything and something will happen, and then they can't really compare one year to another" -that's a CG management method coming to your department soon....
just sayin...

what is KK doing as czar of quality? NOTHING! He was ineffective as RDO President and the pattern continues now. His appointment as head of quality was a consolation prize or place holder until he gets the message to get the hell out of Roche.

What is Luzader's role in the supply chain?

Luzader is the weakest link in the supply chain.

I thought KK was world czar of quality?

KK is out of the picture for RDC. He blew his chance at stardom.

Wayne or Wade? What about KK?

The talking cones are still there.....haven't you heard Wayne B and JP talking?

I miss the talking cones. They weren't around very long. They scared me so much when they started talking that I almost slipped, tripped and fell.

Let's bring back the "talking cones" to Indy