IBM

Stability. The main reason to work for IBM is stability. IBM is less likely to be affected as much as other companies by swings in the job market.

You do not join IBM Software Group because you are a risk taker. This is a place for the risk averse, and it shows within the company. Many within IBM plateau. They do enough to take a paycheck, but nothing more. They are not fired up to make the company grow and succeed. It is a place to hide, but still take home a decent paycheck.

Get rid of dead weight. Be more aggressive on divisions' contributions to the bottom line, especially for development teams. Reduce base pay and increase variable pay. This way, individual contributors are not motivated to "hide" in Software Group but will leave by their own free will when compensation is commensurate with their contribution. For instance, it is not right that a rising Band 8 is paid less than a Band 9 that is dead weight. Many managers are afraid to give out PBC 4 ratings because of legal recourse, and feel a 3 is too much work over time.