Cisco VP Threatens To Stalk Memo Leaker... Driving More Attention Than Original Memo
from the yeah,-not-smart dept
Internal memos from large companies leak all the time. It happens. Companies don't like it, but most learn to deal with it. Sometimes, they go a bit nuts. For example, you may remember the spying scandal at HP, in which the board tried to stop leaks by spying on phone records and other info, including trying to spy on various journalists. Apparently some companies just go a bit nutty when they think they have someone to track down, where execs suddenly think they can act like they're in some sort of spy movie. Apparently this is now happening at Cisco as well. A few weeks ago, Network World reported on Cal State's decision to use Alcatel-Lucent instead of Cisco, claiming that it saved the university $100 million. As is fairly typical at companies when such bad news is in the press, an internal memo was sent around on how to respond to questions about this story. And... as is fairly typical at such companies, the internal memo leaked to bloggers who posted it. The memo itself is fairly tame and about what you'd expect given the situation.But... then, apparently, a VP at Cisco, Mike Quinn, got upset about the leak... and proceeded to send out an angry email telling the leaker to resign, and saying if he doesn't resign, that "finding you is now my hobby." And, of course, that new letter leaked to the same sources:
This is an open response to the person(s) that sent our internal confidential memo regarding the RFP response noted in the Subject line. I want to advise you that no matter the color of your badge (blue or red), the years of service and or your CPC rating you have decided to violate the Code of Business Conduct. The company in response to a number of requests to share internally what our RFP contained once again is insulted by the lack of respect for the business and "family" internal to Cisco. The person or persons whom felt it was cool or correct to share this internal memo should now have the intestinal fortitude to stand up and admit that they did this, then resign.And, if that doesn't sound quite threatening enough, people quickly pointed out that in the distant past, Quinn worked for the CIA.
I want you to remember that Cisco puts the groceries on your table every two weeks, not Brad Reese or other Slander Sheet Journalists. That you disrespected everyone else at Cisco. Now I know you do not have it in you to stand up and admit what you did, so I will now make you my "hobby." Ask around you will find out that I like to work on my hobbies.
Mike Quinn Vice President - Services Cisco Systems
The amazing thing about all of this is that all it's done is call much more attention to the whole thing. If they'd just let that initial leak go, it would have been mostly forgotten in a few days and people would have moved on. But now because someone went on a power trip, it's right back in the news again.
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Re:
http://i47.tinypic.com/dz60n.jpg
http://i48.tinypic.com/2412zip.jpg
I'd've chopped that, but I don't have effective tools for doing this on a iPad.
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That's nice
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Re:
thank you for sharing
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New hobby
What was his old hobby? Is moving on to a new hobby going to put the people supporting his old hobby out of business? He is a hobby pirate! This is going to cost us lost hobby sales, and we all know that these lost sales only hurt the little guy - like the poor guy that works the register at the hobby shop.
We need legislation to prevent this kind of thing.
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Quinn... Quinn....
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Groceries
My company sucks! I have to pick them up myself or call Pea Pod.
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> got fired with no pension for even
> threatening to fire an underling in
> a company wide email like that.
Why is threatening to fire someone such a no-no?
Is this some kind of half-assed self-esteem issue or something?
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How in the hell has explaining to an employee the consequences for failing to do his/her job become 'harassment'?
> In addition, there could be severe laws
> against that in your state
Please cite me a state law which makes it a crime to tell an employee you're going to fire them if they don't get with the program.
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You could argue that it becomes harassment when it is done in a way that amounts to public humiliation -- such as in the company-wide email that Berenerd mentioned as part of the story.
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Intelligence
I have to ask if this is representative of the level of intelligence in the Intelligence community. Do they no nothing about the Streisand effect?
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Re: Intelligence
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Re: Intelligence
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXVNr0H6U1Y
There's nothing good about any of this.
In my opinion, data-hoarding companies such as Cisco, IBM and others present a major threat to our rights and privacy. IBM already has proven this with their infamous Hollerith machines which were used in Nazi concentration camps to number and identify Jews. They are also involved in developing RDIF technology which would be used to track people like cattle.
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Unionize now!
Anyhoo, point is that an individual has no chance up against a corporate entity; they always have elements specifically tasked with vengeance. I think Mike finds this newsworthy because his view of corporations is always of fair-handed and reasonable, so he's constantly surprised at instances of reality.
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Re: Unionize now!
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Re: Unionize now!
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Power hungry Janitor?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SEmrZXEewI
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I would have put it on a It's a trap demotivational poster. :P
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Sorry, I'll just go back to sitting quietly here in the corner.
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Not on the list of best employers to work for...
There had to have been a much better way to handle this than all this blustering and threatening.
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Re: Not on the list of best employers to work for...
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Re: Re: Not on the list of best employers to work for...
If he's not canned and not forced to apologize, then his behaviour is being condoned by others, which means that there is more than one exec who shouldn't be there, at which point it's not a mistake to tar the whole company for it.
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Needless to say
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Yeah it's a great idea to hire...
This nutjob will cause far more problems for Cisco, and their 'family' than any whistle-blower could.
What's next for the offenders Quinn? waterboar....er rather company interrogation?
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Re: Yeah it's a great idea to hire...
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> was cool or correct to share
> That you disrespected everyone else at Cisco.
Use of improper pronouns, sentence fragments, informal slang in a corporate-wide message... and this is a vice president at Cisco?
Sounds more like the way a (below-average) high school kid would write.
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interesting use of language
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Re: interesting use of language
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In other news
Back to you chuck...
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Nobody with half a brain could possibly believe this letter is an honest reaction, even from a board member.
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Not VP material
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Howard
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<a href="http://www.northwaydrivingschool.com.au">Driving lessons</a>
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