MIke M (TTS CIO) is in way over his head and somehow Brian and the rest of the executive team are still buying his vision that will never work. If you work in IT at Target resign as fast as you possibly can. If you stay you will deal with an unrealistic technology leader that would be better off running 25-30 store chain in Europe. Mike has very limited understanding of the US and what it takes to run an IT shop in the US to support 1800+ stores. Open your eyes everyone.....these unrealistic goals IT goal will lead to failure which will lead to layoffs and eventually most of IT will be outsourced. The sad part is this is all very intentional but Mike is the type of guy that would rather shoot you in the back and waste Target capital and flush shareholder value than be upfront around his real plan. Mike has no plans to stay in the US for long haul. Take a look at his DR team...his stores DR leader (the most important area) is not technical at all and has no business leading that team. If I were BT, I would have my bags packed and plan to move outside the state because nobody in twin cites will touch him with a 10ft pole.
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Mike "the dictator" has declared emphatically that IBM is out at Target once the current contract expires because they want to enforce current contract. What a d--k.
The reason no one is providing specifics is because no one in TTS knows what the strategy is. Leadership is not sharing that information. Pretty tough to do a great job when you don't know what the goals are.
One specific however is the Security area. It is the biggest joke in TTS. Bunch of Cowboys running around spending buckets of money and the security vulnerabilities are even greater now then before the breach. Security is notorious for making rules they themselves don't follow. The fox is in the henhouse and no one seems bothered.
My picture of TTS is about four years out of date. Clarity would be appreciated and would better convey the point you're trying to make.
Oqtf - you obviously don't work at Target or you would know what a failure TTS is. The fact BC just gave MM responsibility for T.com is a definite disaster. I work in Corp systems and everyone is trying to understand wtf is going on and why nothing us happening. Waste of boatloads of money still happening. What is going right, specifics please.
It would be helpful if you provided specific examples of what's deficient and what's being ignored and why that is going to be a problem. Otherwise it just sounds like a chicken little post.
Still waiting for that one example of MM's strategy or vision that will "never work".
Ask yourself if this makes sense....Target provides parking for those in senior positions and big salaries, but those in lower positions have to pay for their own parking. Who Can Best afford???
I would guess that 60-70% of TTS team members would leave Target if contacted by a recruiter.
Seriously, Target paid him 15 times what he would make at Tesco. He'll be retired and back in Europe pretty quick. Cornell is an idiot....McNamara just secured his family's future, who wouldn't.
The $1.3B being spent is about $1B too much given the lack of effort being expended by the teams. I would outsource the whole thing tomorrow.
Seeing all the c-suite pull up stakes is giving me the shakes.
There is no longer any incentive to work hard at Target and TTS in particular. There are no promotional opportunities, pay increases are a joke, and frankly the work is boring as hell.
Been in IT for over 20 years, 3 of those at TGT. TGT was the 2nd worst job I had.
I don't think it is just 2-3 people posting. Many of us former employees who were riffed come on here to see what life is still like at Target. It is sad we had strong retail companies in the twin cities you could make your home in IT 10 years ago. Now many of us have been pushed into health care or banking. Don't get me wrong life is good after Target but would like to see Ceos in the city stop creating toxic environment at our two largest retail companies. The reputation of both Target and Best Buy are now well known and they are having a hard time finding quality technical talent anymore. Target especially has burned a lot of bridges with the tech community.
TTS folks seem to post on here more than any other employees from other areas (and I imagine its the same 2-3 people posting). If things are so bad in TTS and with a local marketing in demand for strong technology leadership, why don't people simply go out and find a better role/fit for them at a company they believe in?
OP, please give an example of MM's strategy or vision that "will never work" and the reasons why. Just one example, please. Can you do that?
Anyone still left in TTS knows this already and is just holding on till he cashes out. His wife won't last one winter here Minnesota.