The three core values of Ericsson are Respect, Professionalism and Perseverance. These Core Values should be embodied by all employess but tend to forgotten or ignored lower down the management hierarchy. If you are an engineer / non-manager, Ericsson can sometimes be a harsh and tense place to work where individual opinions and needs are not respected. The problem lies at low and mid-level management. Lower-level managers sometimes lack the right mix of interpersonal and emotional skills to lead and direct people in accordance with Ericsson's culture and values. Senior management is aware of these issues and are trying to improve the culture.
These issues can be addressed by giving low-level managers greater opportunity to improve and develop their interpersonal and emotional skills through intensive training and development programs (assertiveness, listening skills, multi-cultural awareness, core values, behaviour, etc.). This should be a must and not an option if you work in management at any level.
Internal career advancement can be difficult. If you work as a professional (f.ex. engineer or technician) and aspire to have a career in management, it can be a difficult and uphill struggle. Rather than bringing in manager talent from the outside , more focus should be made on developing management talent inside the company. This is unfortunate as talented , career-minded individuals have no choice but to leave Ericsson to advance/further their careers elsewhere.
It is difficult to transfer between departments to acquire new skills and competencies. For example, a transfer from the operations division to sales & marketing is difficult, if not , impossible. The company should take more risks and allow room for people to move around the company. Long-term, this could make the company stronger and benefit all.
Having said this, Ericsson is a company that I adore, and I am grateful for my years at Ericsson. I hope these issues are addressed soon to give the employees a greater sense of happiness, fulfilment and belonging. They really deserve this as everybody is working so hard there.
