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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Microsoft's Steve Ballmer rated #3 worst tech company CEO ... can you guess who is at #1 and #2?

By | December 14, 2011, 7:13am PST

Summary: Employee approval rating of only 35%, down from 49% only a year ago.

Glassdoor.com has put together its yearly “Tech Industry Report Card” for technology CEOs, the results of which are based on ratings given to that company’s CEOs by employees, and it seems that Microsoft employees don’t think much of their current CEO.

How bad did he do? Very badly. Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer took the #3 spot, with an employee approval rating of only 35%, down from 49% only a year ago. He was only 7 percentage points away from the bottom.

By comparison, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook was rated at 96%, Google’s Larry Page rated at 92%, and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg rated at 89%. Only James J. Truchard, CEO of National Instruments, and Tom Georgens, CEO of NetApp, scored a perfect 100% employee approval rating.

So who was voted worse than Ballmer? In the #2 spot was Yahoo’s CEO Timothy Morse with a rating of 31%, while Xerox’s Ursula Burns took the #1 spot with a miserable 28%.

Is this likely to cause any power shift at the upper echelons of Microsoft. Unlikely. Steve Ballmer has already said that he plans to retire come 2017/2018, and it seems he is sticking to this plan.

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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

Disclosure

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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Let's talk about #1 and #2
swampfox21 4th Jan
Xerox is a shell of it's former self. With it's stock @ $8.25 a share for the past several years she has done nothing to benefit either the share holders or the employees. Xerox Had great potential but pissed it away. You don't make a real profit by cutting employees....You make a profit with real hard work and inovation...
Utter Bollo*ks report, who cares about glassdoor.com.
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Evidently
use_what_works_4_U 14th Dec
@owlnet
You cared enough to read the article!
@owlnet
And ZDNET is #2 worst tech blogging site only second to eWeek, which is #1 worst tech site.
@Rama.NET And yet, here you find yourself.
@Rama.NET
Why should you complain. You're here all the time.
@Rabidcb, @ScorpioBlue
There is nothing wrong in reading horrible sites and horrible blog posts, I think. Is it banned to do so? Also you didn't deny my original statement. grin. Have a happy holiday season.
@Rama.NET
But you're complaining about it being the worst. I think it's one of the best since it's a great place to bash Microsoft.

Stop whining. lol...
Nothing will change at Microsoft cause Ballmer will still remain the CEO and their stock will continue to go down with no innovation out of the door, mean while Apple will continue to innovate and their stock will continue to rise...
@shellcodes_coder You are talking about one company spent 14% of its revenue on R&D, and have a number of world leading computer sciences research centers around the world; and another company which spent just 2% of its revenue on R&D or let's say making beautiful cases and totally un-useable keyboards, and spent most of its money on marketing and brain washing ppls. Apple makes more money, but that doesn't mean they actually doing better coming to innovation.
@yoroto... if percentages are based on revenue I wonder is Apple's 7 close to MS 14? Hmmmmm? Also despite research centers of which I suspect Apple has some as well and percentages of revenue what is the true meaning is the results of said percentages and research. Do you have the percentage of revenue spent for brain washing numbers by Apple? how about advertising which I assume since you mentioned both they are not one in the same:) Do you have the same for MS? Just curious as to this claim that Apple makes sales based not on customer satisfaction which is very high but rather marketing which they do of course but do they do it so much more so than others? I see MS commercials, Android commercials and yes Apple's ones but how much more does Apple do it than others I wonder? Or is that just an empty claim as well?

Pagan jim
@yoroto

LOL! By comparison to Microsoft, Apple's R&D spending is staggeringly efficient. What did Vista cost in R&D, roughly $6 Billion? Where's the fruit of their R&D investments? Finally, you references to "beautiful cases" demonstrates your ignorance. Please continue though, I find responses like this to be amusing.
@yoroto

Can I add that Apple has no use for R&D. A little copying, a little company buying and one or two reverse engineers. You probably have them confused with a software company wink
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@yoroto

"spent most of its money on marketing and brain washing ppls."

huh? in 2009 Msft spent 3 times as much as Apple for ads, then if you include Msft's partners like dell, HP etc the PC world outspends Apple by a MONSTER amount. Dell with a tiny fraction of Apple's profits spends more on ads than apple in 2009.

2009 stats link below, 2010 stats are just as amazing but you have to google the financial reports (that's why I used the 2009 as the link has a easy read chart. 2011 stats not out yet). Last year Msft spent $500 million to launch the Windows Phone which is equal to Apple's entire one year ad budget of 2009 (macs, phones, software, stores etc !!!) Who is the one trying its best to brainwash people? lol

http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2009/10/28/apples-2009-ad-budget-half-a-billion/
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And you'll continue to troll,
William Farrel Updated - 14th Dec
@shellcodes_coder
continuing to make a fool of yourself, so you're right, nothing will change.
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Remember, you get fired if you make negative comments about Apple to anyone at all. If I knew that I would get fired for not giving my CEO the thumbs up, I would say I was happy with him too.
@toddybottom .... Just saying.

Pagan jim
@James Quinn
He just hates that Apple is mentioned.
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Bull
use_what_works_4_U 14th Dec
@toddybottom
You don't know what you are talking about. I worked at Apple for several years and they *encourage* employees to provide feedback about everyone, including anywhere that improvements can be made. Their prohibition on publicly lashing out against the company is no different than most corporations.

Having "been there, done that" with Apple I think their policy of "Fearless Feedback" is a huge part of their success. But go on, continue spewing unfounded opinions which show off your ignorance.
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glassdoor is owned by Apple?
toddybottom 14th Dec
@macadam
No, it isn't. Telling an outside company like glassdoor that you aren't happy with your CEO violates Apple's policy about publicly expressing any amount of dissatisfaction with Apple.

But go on, continue spewing unfounded opinions which show off your ignorance.
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@macadam
so the Worldwide Loyalty Team can swoop in and fire someone you spied on for them?

Scary to think that they encourage employees to provide "feedback" (critisism) about their co-workers

Fearless feedback is a joke. I've gone through giving fearless feedback only for no change to happen

www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Apple-Reviews-E1138.htm?listFilter=BPTW2012
@toddybottom
The policy is very specific about social networks and public or online venues. Also, surveys such as these are normally given to employees with the employers approval, and through the HR departments. That's how the surveyors get the list of employees to begin with. An anonymized survey, approved by HR, does not fall under the guidelines.
I don't believe you've ever worked for Apple (as I have), I am confident you've never been presented with a copy of the policies and handbook (as I have been) from Apple HR. You are simply WRONG AGAIN.

@William Farrell
Feedback is provided to the other employee directly when you see an opportunity for the person to improve how they do something job related. It is not given to any third party. Feedback is NOT "reporting on" it is a mechanism to suggest better ways of doing things. Feedback can be presented directly to anyone you work with at Apple, all the way up to the executives. Firing someone strictly because they gave feedback is expressly prohibited by Apple policy. Because that stipulation is codified, anyone who works with Tim Cook can give him feedback. If they were dismissed as a result they would have a breach of contract suit to file against Apple.

Try again, guys.
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You try again macadam
toddybottom 14th Dec
@macadam
Here is Glassdoor's scientific survey:
http://www.glassdoor.com/blog/glassdoor-reveals-top-50-places-work-2010-southwest-airlines-ranked-1/
"Glassdoor carefully reviews each ratings survey, company and interview review and salary report submitted through its website and only those surveys and reports that are approved by the Glassdoor research team are eligible for the list."

So first, these are hand selected by Glassdoor employees. Great.

Next, these are not submitted by Apple, these are anonymous reviews submitted by Glassdoor.com surfers. Want to submit a negative review about Microsoft? Here:
http://www.glassdoor.com/survey/start_input.htm?showSurvey=REVIEWS

Yeah. Real scientific. Almost as scientific as ZDNet polls. Almost.
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@toddybottom
You seem confused. This is not the thread where you attacked the scientific validity of the survey. This is the thread where you claimed to know Apple's HR policies regarding what it takes to get fired.

Furthermore, you prove the point that Apple won't be firing these people. If the survey is anonymous then there would be no way to identify the employees who participate, would there?

Thanks for putting a bow on this one for me. No one is getting fired, just as I thought.
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@macadam
Hopefully none of these people were stupid enough to do it from Apple computers.

"you claimed to know Apple's HR policies regarding what it takes to get fired."

I do know Apple's HR policies because a UK Apple employee recently got fired for making a private post on Facebook. The judge did not buy the fact that it was private because the judge decreed that if a Facebook post can be copied and forwarded, it isn't private. Just like an email. It is why I've warned Apple employees that they should never ever write anything bad about Apple in any email (whether it is an Apple email address or not) because emails can be forwarded. They should not complain to their supervisors about any policy they don't agree with because that would be cause for termination. Again, the judge made it very clear:
"They insisted that, though the post was marked "private," it could have easily been copied and pasted, or otherwise distributed beyond his private social circle."

If you are an Apple employee and you want to keep your job, do not ever write anything negative about Apple anywhere, anytime, to anybody and this includes your supervisor. Apple will fire you and you will lose your appeal.
@toddybottom
You are stretching it thin. The UK case involved an employee bashing their employer on a social networking site. Apple did not seek the information out, the employee's "friend" thought the statements were so egregious that they chose to bring it to their Manager's attention. There is a specific policy about social network sites and that specific policy was violated.

Unlike you, I have first hand knowledge of how Apple treats its employees. I have participated in the policies, and I have witnessed the manner in which they are enforced. You, on the other hand, rely on one sided reports from the blogosphere, which is hardly equivalent. No one is getting fired for this.
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This was not from the blogosphere
toddybottom 14th Dec
@macadam
This was from the judge:
"They insisted that, though the post was marked "private," it could have easily been copied and pasted, or otherwise distributed beyond his private social circle."

Apple can, will, and has fired people for making private negative statements about Apple. Any negative statement that can be copied and pasted are grounds for termination. That isn't from the blogosphere, that is directly from the judge's mouth. Now, while it is possible that the judge came up with that on his own, far more likely is that this was Apple's argument and the judge agreed with it.

As for you working for Apple and knowing their policies, Samuel Crisp used to work with Apple and thought he knew their policies. He thought the policy was that public statements would get him fired. That is why he made his statement privately, as privately as an email would be. That was his argument. He did not violate Apple's policies because Apple's policy is that you can't make publicly disaparaging comments. He clearly failed to understand, as do you, that any comment that can be copied and pasted, even if originally made in private, is a public comment and therefore falls under the policy. So I take your insistence that you know Apple's policy with the same regard as I take Samuel Crisp's insistence that he knows Apple policy. You both know it but neither of you fully comprehend Apple's definition of the word "Public". Apple's definition of the word "Public" is: anything that can be copied and pasted.
@toddybottom
Anyone who thinks anything posted on Facebook is private is simply clueless.
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Likewise with email
toddybottom 14th Dec
@macadam
"Anyone who thinks anything posted on Facebook is private is simply clueless."

And anyone who thinks email is private is simply clueless. I'll repeat my warning to Apple employees:
"If you are an Apple employee and you want to keep your job, do not ever write anything negative about Apple anywhere, anytime, to anybody and this includes your supervisor. Apple will fire you and you will lose your appeal."
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Oh, and nice clickbait title AKH
toddybottom 14th Dec
I'm wondering why the big bold title was about the company that happened to be somewhere in the middle instead of the company that was #1 or the company that came in last? How often is the national headline: "Big survey ranking all the states for education, Montana comes in 23rd".

Oh right, it is because you are an anti-MS troll.
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In this case first is last.
James Quinn 14th Dec
@toddybottom .... As for MS well it's a huge company and has been or is in negotiations to purchase Yahoo the #2. Also Yahoo and what was it Xerox while tech companies are over all Ho hum and MS is MS far more news withy. But you know that. So like Nonzealot you to are a MS fanatic eh? Interesting that:)

Pagan jim
@James Quinn
I think he *is* NonZealot, in his/her current iteration.
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Look in the mirror TB
use_what_works_4_U 14th Dec
@toddybottom
If AKH is an anti-MS troll, then you are certainly a rabid, frothing at the mouth anti Apple troll. Why don't you go back under your bridge and wait for the billy goats to come along?
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@macadam
You and your billy goats took up all the available space.
  • Flagged
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Wow how amazingly clever you are!
use_what_works_4_U Updated - 14th Dec
@toddybottom
Interesting you should say that, and surprising that you didn't add the traditional "neener neener neener" so common amongst such playground-level responses. I'm not the one posting ad hominem attacks against a company (in your case Apple, in my case ... no one) on every ZDNet article I can. I'm not spreading untruths and unfounded opinions. I am correcting your misstatements based solely on my own personal experience.

You see, I am not trolling (the verb, not the noun). I am not baiting people by starting comment threads with inflammatory (and often incorrect) statements. I am the fish who is nibbling at the bait you troll at the end of your hook. Take a long look in the mirror. I dislike blind hatred and will combat yours every time I see you posting lies, half truths, or plain old stupidities.
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And you are so clever too
toddybottom 14th Dec
@macadam

"I'm not the one posting ad hominem attacks"

Why don't you try being honest for a change?

"Why don't you go back under your bridge and wait for the billy goats to come along?"

I'm sorry for sinking to your level. I'm normally far better than that.
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@toddybottom
"Why don't you try being honest for a change?"
Where have I posted any ad hominem attack against any company (the part of my statement you suppressed)?
I am honestly commenting on what I actually know. When I make supposition I try to point out that it is supposition.

"I'm sorry for sinking to your level. I'm normally far better than that."
No you're not. You have been name calling against Apple and baiting the commentators since day one. I tried to inject humor and I am sorry if I failed. I am not the one starting these fights with grossly anti-Apple (or any corporation but in your case it's always Apple) commentary.
@macadam
"I am not the one starting these fights with grossly anti-Apple commentary."

I'm not trying to start a fight with Apple although it is interesting to me that you feel the need to defend Apple. That's actually quite the sad commentary on you.
  • Flagged
@macadam
And I'm not really interested in trying to defend Apple. In most cases I am correcting misinformation that you put out.
In this thread I am pointing out what I think is your hypocricy by claiming that someone is an anti-(insert name here) troll and refusing to recognize your own behavior.
@macadam
"And I'm not really interested in trying to defend Apple."

Pull the other one.
  • Flagged
And yet, he will continue to be the headline keynote speaker year-after-year at CES. What's wrong with the industry?
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@dave95.
Clearly this unscientific poll is meaningless.
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You would know
use_what_works_4_U 14th Dec
@toddybottom
You would know about meaningless opinion pieces. You write many of them here in the comments section every day.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
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Can't dispute my point
toddybottom 14th Dec
Good to know you agree with it.

Unless you'd like to publicly stake your reputation on the veracity of glassdoor's scientific poll?
@toddybottom (NZ)

Only a MS fanatic (in disguised) would interpret what I wrote as a positive towards Ballmer or the industry.
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At least I'm not you
toddybottom 14th Dec
At least I'm not foolish enough to put any credence into an anonymous online survey. The fact that Ballmer is repeatedly asked to headline major events and the fact that MS repeatedly has record breaking profits trumps your insistence that an anonymous online poll has any meaning whatsoever.
  • Flagged
@toddybottom
I don't dispute your point because you didn't really make one. You stated an opinion to which you are entitled. My opinion is that this survey means little in my life, other than as a curiosity.

On the other hand, when I look at the relative financial growth (or lack thereof) over the last year of the companies with the better (or worse, respectively) rated CEOs I do see an interesting correlation.

Ballmer's place at CES is secured, not because of how successful he is at his job, but because Microsoft is still the biggest player in the game. Until that changes, someone from Microsoft will always be the keynote speaker.
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I didn't make a point?
toddybottom Updated - 14th Dec
My point has been the same from the very beginning: this is an unscientific, meaningless poll. Are you willing to stake your reputation on the scientific validity of this survey? If you are, we can debate. If you aren't, then you've just agreed with me. Oh, and make sure you follow the link I gave you before to submit your rating of Ballmer as if you were an MS employee. I'm sure you'll be the only one to submit a rating for a CEO you don't work for.

"because Microsoft is still the biggest player in the game"

No, Apple is the biggest player in the Consumer Electronics game. Try again guy.
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I'll give you this one
use_what_works_4_U 14th Dec
@toddybottom
Now that you've clarified your point, I'll grant that your opinion is valid. You originally asked that this survey be put into perspective without giving the framework for that perspective.

As for being the biggest player in Consumer Electronics, Apple isn't even close. Yes they have the highest profit margins but on unit sales Samsung outdoes Apple with everything from TVs to microwave ovens, I believe (and I could be wrong) that the XBox is still the most popular gaming platform, Sony is in a similar position to Samsung, and on the software side of it, Apple doesn't actually produce the vast majority of software for their devices so that's a non-starter.
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Now you admit that Samsung is the biggest. So why isn't Samsung's CEO the headliner?

Keep changing your argument, we'll wait until you settle on the one you want to keep.
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Let's talk about #1 and #2
swampfox21 4th Jan
Xerox is a shell of it's former self. With it's stock @ $8.25 a share for the past several years she has done nothing to benefit either the share holders or the employees. Xerox Had great potential but pissed it away. You don't make a real profit by cutting employees....You make a profit with real hard work and inovation...

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