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Links to the government AMS has its roots in Nixon Administration officials and continues this legacy through frequent projects it undertakes at the behest of the United States government - though, we trust, without any requests for wiretapping. The firm was founded in 1970 by five men, including Ivan Selin, Frank Nicolai, Patrick Gross, and Charles Rossotti, a protege of Nixon defense secretary Robert McNamara, and one of McNamara's so-called "whiz kids." The founders raised $300,000 in venture capital from Lehman Brothers, then wrote to 24 former Pentagon peers, offering consulting services "from some of the people who brought you Vietnam and the ABM." Despite this dubious pedigree, AMS made $15,000 in profits in its first year in business, and won its first big contract, with Burlington Northern Railroad, after another six months. Today, AMS has more 8,000 employees and 57 offices worldwide. In 1999, revenues topped the $1 billion mark for the second straight year, 40 percent of which was e-business related. Systems and operations focus AMS concentrates on systems and operations consulting in a variety of industries and faces a wide field of competition. The firm has grown every year since its founding, and still maintains close links with the U.S. government, which accounted for 23 percent of revenues in 1998. Including state and local governments, approximately half of the firm's revenue comes from government clients. Among Fortune's best For the first time ever, in 1999 AMS was named to Fortune's list of 100 Best Companies to Work For, coming in at #74. The magazine lauded AMS's efforts to provide a diverse workplace for its employees, 44 percent of whom are women and 23 percent of whom are members of minority groups. Fortune also highlighted each employee's 25 hours of mandatory professional training per year. When we say "BU" we don't mean Boston University AMS is organized into Business Units (BUs) that generally operate independently of one another. The BUs focus on the following target markets: Financial Services Institutions, Telecommunications Firms, Educational Institutions, Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals, Insurance Companies, State and Local Governments, Federal Government Agencies, Electric and Gas Utilities, Environmental Systems, and "Other Corporate Clients" in a variety of industries. Telecom is by far AMS's largest BU. AMS business units enjoy semi-independent status - each business unit has full profit and loss responsibility for its industry areas. However, business units may coordinate on certain projects as necessary. Additionally, the management team in each unit is responsible for planning, marketing, selling, researching, and consulting within its area, though business units may, of course, draw upon corporate resources. More recently, AMS has been increasing its services in e-commerce, systems integration, and systems development and implementation. The AMS technological hive While the firm's BUs may operate independently, they try to share their expertise. AMS features a sprinkling of jewel-like "Knowledge Centers," communities of practitioners that offer a particular expertise in one or more AMS services, or so-called "core disciplines." The firm has Knowledge Centers for Advanced Technologies, Business Process Renewal, Systems Development and Information Technology Management, Organization Development and Change Management, Engagement and Project Management, and Customer Value Management. All 800-plus AMS Knowledge Center associates spend about 30 hours a year adding research or "lessons learned" to the Knowledge Center database. This information is then accessible to any AMS consultant. What's in AMS has been beefing up its e-business services in the last two years, concentrating especially on public sector e-business services in alliances with technology companies such as Ariba, Siebel, and Requisite Technology Services. A March 2000 partnership with FreeMarkets, an online auction marketplace, will give government agencies access to the best possible prices on goods and services and give private sector businesses access to governmental purchasing agents. Also in March, AMS invested in and partnered with government services portal govWorks. The alliance calls for AMS to make an equity investment in govWorks and help develop software to link govWorks to various government agencies' computer systems. Consumers will be able to pay a utility and telephone bill online and check whether his or her driver's license needs to be renewed with this new service. The downside In 1999, AMS was the subject of a $234 million lawsuit brought by the Mississippi State Tax Commission alleging that AMS broke its contract by failing to implement a tax withholding system. In Utah, lawmakers were reportedly "furious" over AMS' inability to complete a new tax system on time and within its $34 million budget. The angry legislators also called attention to the fact that the states of Mississippi, Missouri, and Kansas had experienced similar problems with AMS.
AMS's career information page, www.amsinc.com/career, enables job seekers to search job databases, submit their resumes, and use a job match service that will notify the candidate of opportunities that match his or her particular interests. AMS is growing rapidly, and expects to need about 2,000 new recruits in 2000. The bulk of AMS recruiting takes place on campus. In a typical recruiting season, 70 percent of the firm's several hundred new hires are recruited from their undergraduate studies, with the remaining 30 percent coming from MBA, MA, MS, and PhD programs. On-campus recruiting is led by 12 to 15 recruiting coordinators who maintain relationships with college and university career centers. These individuals also cultivate relationships with other on-campus connections, such as heads of departments (notably in computer science and other technology-related disciplines), professors, and leaders of computing clubs. Note that AMS's recruiting efforts will usually be focused towards a particular "Business Unit," or functional area. AMS also makes extensive use of job fairs and employers' conferences, and prospective AMSers should keep an eye out for recruiting events such as dinners.
Flexible, relaxed culture Comments on AMS's corporate culture reveal that the firm values flexibility, and is generally a relaxed place. "It feels like college was just extended a few more years," notes one insider, who adds: "From other companies I have worked with, I was always the young kid. Here, since the majority of people are right out of school, the college mentality continues." "Relaxed," says another contact about the firm's culture. That consultant also notes that the firm is "not overwhelmed by structure, although it could be better managed." One contact notes that "no one tells me when to come and go. I come in at 7 a.m., I come in at 11 a.m. I leave at 2 p.m., I leave at 3 a.m. My time. I am valued as an individual and as an employee." Another contact describes the firm's culture in somewhat political terms: "Slightly to the left of center from a cultural standpoint. Business casual attire and attitudes." Sometimes erratic hours Most AMS consultants say they spend between 50 and 55 hours a week at the office. "Typically, the hours I put in are more on the order of 50 hours per week," says one. While 50 to 55 seem to be the magic numbers, the consensus is that "hours fluctuate with the project work," a common refrain for consultants. "Your schedule will vary with your project," notes one. "Some weeks you may not be very busy, and others you will be very busy - working up to 70 or 75 hours." "In 1998, summer was somewhat slow," reminisces another consultant, "but spring was a killer - 290 hours in March." Hopping social life One of the major assets of life at AMS, say insiders, is the hopping social life. The DC area is a fun place for twentysomethings, and AMSers take full advantage. Love in the air? "Numerous AMSers I know are married to another AMSer, if this is an indication of social interaction," says one. Another picks up on the marriage theme: "You would be surprised how many AMSers are married to each other. It's amazing what happens when you cram several hundred single twentysomethings in a building." "Dating within the company is frequent," says yet another. One consultant describes social life at AMS as "very incestuous - in a good way." Strong on gender On gender issues, our contacts give AMS a very favorable rating. "I feel that AMS regards me as a member of the professional staff - not a female member. I have not experienced any kind of discrimination," says one consultant. "AMS is a great place to work as a woman. I have been here for four years and I have only ever worked for women managers," claims another woman.
Frank A. Nicolai Human Resources
eCommerce;Customer Value Management;Procurement Imaging & Workflow;Enterprise Architectures;Data Management;Knowledge Management;Business Process Renewal;Change Management & Organizational Development;Engagement Management;System Development & IT Management;Customer Relationship Management
Andersen Consulting;A.T. Kearney;Booz-Allen & Hamilton;Cambridge Technology Partners;EDS;Oracle Corp.;PeopleSoft;SAP AG More Company Profiles For more career information, go to Vault.com ©2000, Vault.com Inc
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