un-inspiring but large Microsoft provider of offshore services
Pros
Big companies have specialists to do every type of job function, so good for specialists who don't like to do multiple things, although not a good place for technology generalists for the same reason.
Cons
In my opinion: People are not developed via their archaic stack ranking/quota system. Promotions gained thru popularity and politics and not through skills development. Most executives (SVPs and up) don't get their hands dirty at the customer/project level, yet have all the answers on non-stop internal conference calls. Old boy Accenture / Microsoft nepotism at executive leadership level. If you worked for Microsoft or Accenture 20 years ago and have a relationship, you are qualified to be a CVP or higher at Avanade. Most projects are run by Accenture hard as*es (kindly labeled 'drivers'). These folks will expect you to work all hours due to over-promising, or just because they have nothing better to do but to go back to the hotel. At best you are treated like a sub-contractor and lack a seat at the table. Accenture takes all of the leadership roles on projects, leaving Avanade the individual contributor roles which can limit your growth.
