3M reviews

R&D Mgmt only interested in meeting numbers. 15% culture is dead. The culture has changed from a US-style mgmt (democratic) to a chinese-style mgmt (I say u do, else get lost). Very different mgmt culture comparing US HQ and asia subsidiaries. Very short-term and short-sighted strategies that benefit the rotating middle mgmt. They come and make sure things works during their stint, and move on and let the next guy settle the mess. Middle mgmt behaves like individual contributors that have higher ranks. No leaders. Thriving "yes-man" culture.

Most people work at 3M IT full time do not have latest solid software development skills. That caused a lot of money being wasted. 3M relies on contracting firms ( most Indian firms) to deliver IT results. When things are not done on time, management has no clue as to why, because a lot of low level IT managers do not have any insights to evaluate, estimate and execute the project properly. Most IT managers do not have latest IT tech skills, instead, they have so called 'leadership skills". If you are not a professional painter or have been a professional painter, it is harder for you to evaluate a professional painting job. How do you know that you get your money worth for such a job? Hardcore technical skills are not valued as much as soft 'Leadership" skill. That resulted in a culture of promoting incompetent IT folks, these people then hire folks just like them, with no real hardcore software skills. It is a bad feedback loop. It wastes 3M's money. 3M has has an archaic HR structure, your manager is your key to success or failure at 3M. That does not fit in today's fast paced, democratic, meritocratic work culture. If your evaluation is deemed not satisfactory, your career at 3M is pretty much dead. That's why if you walk around 3M campus, you do not feel the vibrancy. 3M culture seems to promote niceness, niceness is great, but it does not help company's bottom line.