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Selling speed, toast, and jam Based in Milipitas, California, Adaptec makes hardware and software that expedites data transfer between computers, networks and peripherals. It leads the market for SCSI technology. Pronounced "scuzzy," this technology connects peripheral devices to computers and is used by servers and workstations to move large files. The company's bandwidth management solutions increase the speed of data transfer, and its Fast Ethernet networking devices help direct information through computer systems. Its input/output software is compatible with all of the leading processor platforms and operating systems. Adaptec also makes the award-winning CD-recording software, Easy CD Creator Deluxe, which allows the home-PC user to record music, images and videos onto CDs. The company also offers a similar product for Mac users called Jam for Macintosh and a DVD software application called DVD Toast. SCSI-Wuzzy was a success The company was formed in 1981 and sold its first SCSI products in 1983. It went public three years later. In 1989, Adaptec developed the advanced SCSO programming interface (ASPI). In 1991, Novell adopted the technology for its NetWare Networking software, and IBM followed a year later using it for its OS/2 operating system. Adaptec goes gobble-gobble Like many successful high-tech enterprises, Adaptec grew largely by acquiring other software companies. In 1995, it purchased Future Domain, which makes CD-ROM connection devices, and Trillium Research, which makes Apple-compatible connection devices. In 1996, the company bought Western Digital's Connectivity Systems Group and Corel's CD creator software. It also purchased software maker Data Kinesis and Cogent Data Technologies, which makes networking devices. In early 1998, Adaptec tried to acquire Symbios, but abandoned those efforts after the Federal regulators opposed the deal because it would give Adeptec a monopoly over the production of SCSI adapters. Slippery sales, slippery employees For most of the recent past, Adaptec's stock price and earnings had grown steadily, but the company hit a wall in 1998 and was forced to lay off 250 U.S. employees in April. Declining income and revenue figures were attributed to excess inventory and price instability. Two months later, Adaptec eliminated 350 jobs, or 10 percent of the company's overall workforce, at its Singapore manufacturing facility. Company execs say they intend to further trim operating expenses by cutting R&D and marketing expenses. Singapore still accounts for over 50 percent of Adaptec's sales. On the mend Adaptec has experienced a rebound since 1998 through some strategic restructuring. It shed its non-core operations (selling its Peripheral Technology Solutions (PTS) and Fiber Channel divisions) and introduced a successful new product, the 64-bit RAID adapter, which has already been included in some of Dell's latest products. That year, co-founder and interim-CEO Larry Boucher named President and COO Bob Stephens as the new CEO. In November 1999, the company acquired Distributed Processing Technology in an effort to lead the RAID (redundant array of independent disks) adapter market. And in March 2000, in keeping with its theme of moving, managing, and protecting data, Adaptec bought Plymouth-based software company Wild File, makers of the acclaimed GoBack line of software. GoBack allows users to rescue data after system crashes and software failures. In a sign that the firm is well on the rebound, it has started hiring again in its Singapore factories and has expressed interest in increasing its Asian presence with offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.
"Hiring is mostly done by referrals," sources say - "the company offers cash incentives." Adaptec also has its own recruiting consultants. In addition, "we go to job fairs and to college campuses, but we are not as strong in college recruiting as other companies." The company also posts job listings on its web site, where applicants can submit their resumes with an online form. The interview process "is fairly relaxed," insiders said. In the first round, candidates "deal with four to six people, one at a time, including HR, senior members of the specific department, and then the supervisor." In the second round, candidates meet again with the supervisor, then with the manager. "Expect both technical questions and queries about other aspects about work life." If you're going for an engineering position, your interviewers might pose a design problem, but those "should be rather ambiguous and open-ended - to get you talking about a technical issue." "What really matters is the ability to step through a problem in a logical manner." Also important: "the ability to work with others, fit in, and augment the culture we have established."
Composing requiems Most Adaptec employees say they are happy with the company - though a little distressed about recent changes. "I usually tell people I work for the best company in Silicon Valley. I've toned down a bit since the stock prices have tumbled so dramatically and since Adaptec suffered the first reduction in force in more than a decade." "The old Adaptec is dying fast," lamented another source, "in fact, it has died. I would like to give you the glowing speech I used to give everyone, but it's just not like that anymore." "When the founder ran the company," describes another, "it had clearly defined values and goals" and was "very people-centric." But today, "the sense of family is now slowly dying." Conflicted culture Employees described themselves as "bright and positive-thinking" and said "we enjoy one another's company," but added "the company is having trouble hiring and keeping good people." "The corporate culture is one of non-commitment," say insiders, who add: "the 'new' Adaptec, as a corporation, cannot commit to a course of action." Some complain that the corporation "no longer has a commitment to its employees," noting that "when they say 'we are primarily responsible to our shareholders, they mean 'we are exclusively responsible to our shareholders.'" Others are quite satisfied, however, noting that "managers take very good care of their engineers, sending them to conferences and classes, buying the best workstations, and allowing them to work from home one or two days per week." Techies also rave about the SCSI grant program - "If you think of a cool SCSI application for your home PC, they will pay $500 towards implementing it." Dress, diversity issues absent The dress code in California is "no shorts and no ties." In Colorado, however, "it's more relaxed. They even officially allow shorts on Friday - though people wear them all the time anyway." Sources in California remark that "the racial mix is so diverse that it would be impossible to have any racial bias." As one insider elaborated, "we're always far too desperate to find good people to give any thought to race." Hard-earned breaks Adaptec offers 2 weeks vacation, plus "the entire time between Christmas and New Year's." They also have a "very good" stock purchase plan, and employees receive "stock options for good performance." Employees say "they could be worth a lot in five to 10 years." Work hours are "flexible" - the most important thing is getting your work done. "If that means working long hours, so be it."
E.J. Tim Harris Adaptec Professional Staffing Mail Stop 15A, Department WWW1 691 South Milpitas Boulevard Milpitas CA 95035
Adapters; CD recording and DVD software
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