As a critical observer, this place had to fail. It is a beautiful facility with lots of good people, but the leadership team is the worst I've ever encountered. 1. Their people skills suck; they substitute the need for blind loyalty instead of concentrating on good strategic leadership. 2. The members of the LT are "lifers". They had no fresh ideas, performed poorly, operated by the seat of their pants, and hold on to their jobs no matter how incompetent. 3. They lead by intimidation, favoritism, and old school corporatism.
All of this was not lost on Basel. Didn't they realize that visitors would go back to Basel and Genentech as spill the beans? It's a beautiful place but the plant culture stinks to the max. The place is filled with "yes" men and women because that is the only way they think they can survive. They are trading their happiness, job satisfaction, and their soul for a good salary and benefits.
Before Jami's recovery effort, I could not believe that the LT and Quality did not know what the FDA required us to do to be fully compliant with the regulations. That shows that we did not have a "learning" organization; they were behind the times; they did not know squat. I never saw my boss attend any training seminars whatsoever. That is poor leadership.
The writing was on the wall that Roche was going to shut us down since 2010. We were so daft and arrogant that we did not see it coming. I was always hearing that we were the flagship plant. Everyone should thank Jami for raising the bar; we became a learning organization and many of you will have great experience and resume's to show for it.
If we were to elect our leadership and our managers (based on good management, leadership, and people skills) most of them would loose their elections. There are some managers that are hated by their employees but they don't know or don't care. All people do here is smile in your face but everyone knows that things are wrong.
One last thing is that minorities have no power and no voice. Only the ones that are "yes" men and women are liked. They get to keep their jobs but get no opportunities to move up. And, from the rhetoric I see, on this chat room, some blacks are hated. Racism is subtle but firmly entrenched in this organization.
This plant was doomed to failure. Thank Frank Cox and his leadership bandits for that. Now that Jami is gone, we have reverted back to the old rotten culture. May Roche Carolina RIP.