Target

A good place that suits not ambitious people. Easy-going culture. Promotions are only based on what many people think of an employee, not based on merit. For example, a Marketing Director can ruin a Technology guy's career.

Great visionary and path-defying leadership from the CIO and CEO. The layers below are horrible: VP, Sr. Dir., Director. These old-timers are pally-pally and will take care of their own interests, not the company's interest.

Good place to learn technologies and spend a lot of time attending trainings. It is common for leaders to be attending trainings frequently.

HR is non-existent in India. They are figureheads. It's quite common for these individuals to give gyan. Normally, any employee approaching HR with an issue will be fired eventually.

Everything is controlled from the Minneapolis team. Even if a janitor travels from Minneapolis, they will travel business class. Indians are second-rate employees; they have to travel economy class and cannot use cabs, having to use public transport. I think this tells enough about the culture.

Everyone talks nicely, but no one helps employees. It's a very tough place for anyone with original thinking.

The India team cannot move a pin without consent from the Minneapolis team. It is common for the India team not to get any recognition for any work they do at an organizational level. They are treated like contractors or perhaps lesser. India leaders are powerless; they do not even have any authority, just repeating the same words from Minneapolis leaders.

Recently, Target lost a great visionary leader, an SVP. He changed the fundamental dynamics of the company and his organization. Now, in his absence, people are very quickly taking back all good work to Minneapolis. I'm not sure how long this will continue, but it is not a good place for ambitious people with original thinking. It is the norm that no promotion is going to happen for any employee unless there is an open position.

Welcome to the gladiator arena. Those who move between meetings, flaunting flowery English without any substance, get laurels.

Mike McNamara needs to ensure a tighter grip, without which transformation will lose momentum. Take care of employees having merit.