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Columbia Sportswear

Engaged Employer

Poorly Run Company--Trending Down - Business Systems Analyst III Columbia Sportswear Employee Review

2.0
Mar 2, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Honestly--very few Pros, if your work is in the IT area. Columbia's pay and benefits are in-range (but on the low-end) in with other Portland area companies of it's size.

Cons

Ineffectual Senior and Mid. Management, who is both unrealistic and hypocritical. Columbia is embarking on a multi-year SAP (ERP system) software implementation, and the Management cannot--or alternatively--will not lead the transformation, in any sort of an effective manner...this puts the entire firm at risk of failure. A number of key individuals have left the firm, having been 'burned' from the less-than-successful Canada implementation in 2011, and (probably) knowing that the future situation is dire. Still, Management does not alter their course--though they say otherwise. The staff that is employed to build and configure the SAP system is largely demotivated, because they are being forced to build the system against 'best-practices'. Staff continues to inform Managment of the danger, but to no avail. You don't want to work at Columbia Sportswear until after 2015--too much risk. Beyond this, Columbia badly trails their peers in a number of critical financial metrics; inventory turns, return on assets, net margin...this company is simply not well-run. Expect another major Reduction-In-Force, within 2.5 years...historically, this is the typical Columbia reaction when financial targets are not met.

Explore other reviews about Columbia Sportswear

5.0
Jul 9, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Positive environment, great training, pride in products and technology.

Cons

Seasonal employees get "up to 25 hours" but I have only been scheduled up to 15 hours a week.

3.0
Jul 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good work-life balance and benefits.

Cons

What was once a pro for culture has now become a con. Uncertainty due to massive layoffs. Remote work has been largely eliminated, and thus flexibility has decreased signficantly. Offshore and AI initiatives to reduce local US workforce. Although collaboration is encouraged, departments are siloed and operate independently which causes significant inefficiencies costing the company millions of dollars. Diversity is also lacking in a number of departments. Over reliance on external consultants instead of leveraging internal expertise.

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