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Mainframe beginnings In 1986, Burroughs Corporation and Sperry Corporation merged to form what became Unisys. At the time they merged to create Unisys, both were major mainframe computer producers. At first called the Sperry-Burroughs Corporation, the combined firm soon changed its name to Unisys, a synthetic name chosen to reflect the entirely new entity, one of synthetic approach and universal reach. Unisys' then-chairman, W. Michael Blumenthal, claimed that the merger had disproved the "myth that large computer companies could not be successfully merged." But as the 1980s wore on, mainframe computers, Unisys' lifeblood, fell out of favor. Mainframes had enjoyed gigantic 50 percent profit margins - and Unisys' cost structure was too fatty for the new PC reality. And, like other once-mighty computer makers, Unisys missed out on the early part of the boom in personal computers and PC networking. Let's reorganize... again CEO James Unruh contended with Unisys' myriad problems for seven years, from 1990 to 1997. While the austere Unruh was often assailed for cutting benefits to Unisys retirees and laying off tens of thousands of employees, Unruh managed to wrest the company into some semblance of health, after five separate reorganizations between 1990 and 1997. Under Unruh's tenure, the ranks of employees dwindled to 32,000 from over 75,000. While profits in 1996 were a feeble $49.7 million, that was still an improvement over the $698 million loss of 1995. Unruh's last move was to carve Unisys into three semi-independent business units: the traditional computer hardware operation, a computer maintenance and "help desk" unit, and a services division, designed to sell technology consulting and customized computer setups. A new business model The new CEO, Lawrence Weinbach, is bullish on the future of Unisys - and he's embarking on his own reorganization. Weinbach, previously CEO of professional services giant Andersen Worldwide, has pursued an aggressive debt-reduction policy while dimantling Unruh's tripartite reshaping of the firm; Weinbach reportedly felt that the structure encouraged internal politicking. He wants to have the firm concentrate on two core businesses: high-end servers and computer consulting and services. To that end, in November 1999 he announced a major realignment of the company into six interrelated units focused on delivering a wide array of targeted, trendily-named Unisys e-@ction Solutions. As Weinbach sees it, the main purpose of the shift is to bring the decision-making process closer to the customer by integrating the various channels a customer needs and have "a single point of accountability." In the process, Weinbach is also attempting to boost morale by getting rid of penny-pinching decrees, such as the policy that required employees to take the cheapest airfare, even if it included multiple stopovers. A boost for the Big Boys Weinbach has also recognized the importance of strategic alliances within the technology sector. Unisys formed an alliance with Microsoft, under which Unisys will pitch Windows NT operating systems to its main customers, governments and financial institutions. And in another highly-publicized deal, in February 2000 Compaq Computer Corp. agreed to market Unisys' new "mainframe-class" server, which runs a Microsoft operating system and Intel microprocessors, under the Compaq name. The deal, which is expected to bring in $400 million for Unisys over two years, is expected to give both Microsoft and Intel a much-needed push in the high-end computing business, where they have traditionally lagged significantly behind IBM mainframes and servers running the UNIX operating system. The computer can be equipped with as many as 32 processors and features several technologies that have their roots in mainframe computing. Weinbach is confident in the company's potential for growth - he is targeting 30 percent growth in 2000.
Applicants should consult Unisys' World Wide Web Visitor's Center, located at www.unisys.com, which provides a lists of current openings sorted by job type and geographical location. Each listing comes with detailed instructions on where and how to submit your cover letter and resume. To be considered for all available positions, applicants should send their materials (in ASCII format) to joinus@unisys.com or mail them to Worldwide Recruiting and Staffing at the corporate headquarters.
New stability Unisys employees enjoy an "informal," "supportive" corporate culture, a "team-oriented" structure, and the prestige of working for a "dominant" company in the industry. "The people are usually friendly and helpful, not cutthroat," says a long-time employee. "It is a very stable place to work now - there is little fear of layoffs any more," adds an insider. Still, stability does not mean Unisys is stagnant; employees say they enjoy the "constantly changing" nature of their work, reporting working on "new projects" and with "new people" every one to two years. While the "challenging assignments" often require "long and intense workweeks," employees feel that the "relaxed" atmosphere - including a "business casual" dress code (unless meeting with a client) - makes it easier to cope with these rigors. Make your own decisions Employees add that Unisys' corporate hierarchy is "minimal," and "everyone is on a first-name basis." "Individuals are empowered to make decisions about general issues rather than wait for the decision to go up and back down the chain of command," says one insider. "In most areas, it is felt that even a bad decision is better than no decision." Another agrees: "I've found that management style is mostly 'hands-off' and usually that means you have to take the initiative. Risk-taking and assertiveness are usually well-rewarded." Work is "none too strenuous - about 50 hours a week," and "employees often just put in 40. No one gives them trouble." One insider, however, warns that "you should expect that you'll work some overtime, without compensation, and without complaint." Pay is reportedly not stellar at Unisys. "The pay is probably average for the industry," says one insider. Says another: "I won't get rich here, but I'm pretty happy. I've been treated fairly." Employees are happy about other perks, which include "a respectable cafeteria, an active recreation committee, and an excellent library. They are constantly improving the facilities to make it a nicer place to work." New optimism Employees praise CEO Weinbach, "who has been doing a wonderful job in reducing the debt of Unisys, which gives stockholders - which include many employees - better equity and dividend returns." A contact says of Weinbach, "He is very different from his predecessor. He seems very approachable, and is not bothered by getting his hands dirty." However, one employee sounds a note of caution: "There are a lot of people from the 'old school' who, due to the hard times we've been through, are very unreceptive to change, new ideas, or even a positive attitude."
Human Resources
Business Process Redesign;Equipment Maintenance;Information Research & Planning;Management Consulting;Software;Systems Design;Systems Integration;Systems Outsourcing
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