There are a lot of challenges with FTI right now. However, for the sake of a meaningful review, I've narrowed my feedback to the following:
Unclear Strategy: A five year vision was announced and the workforce was ready to hit the ground running. Anytime mid-level leaders ask for clarity on implementing the strategy, executive leadership (and I use the term leadership loosely) cannot deliver guidance to facilitate immediate, mid-term, or long-term execution of the vision. Most importantly this has resulted in losing a significant amount of work and the inability to win new business.
Gaslighting Behavior: I experienced or saw firsthand executive leadership manipulate reality to offload accountability and align to incorrect owners across middle management. Across all business areas, the executive leadership team habitually plays fast and loose with facts to shield themselves from being held accountable for their direction, decisions, and actions.
Trustworthiness of Company Technology: The executive leadership team has advertised many iterations of a five year plan- all pointing toward better integration of company technology. However, when the larger workforce looks to understand the full capability of company-developed technology, the response continues to be smoke and mirrors. Additionally, the strategy for maturing company-developed technology needs more substance. More recently, the knee-jerk reaction to 'evolving' the technology strategy has resulted in significant customer losses in key market areas.
Disengaged CEO: The CEO recently (within the past 12 months) handed off the company President role to the CFO. However, that handoff has made the CEO incredibly disconnected from the business he, in no small way, helped build from the ground up. The result has been particularly damaging to the company culture and brand. Additionally, the CFO's transition to President role has been tumultuous at best. The role requires a dynamic understanding of the full business (not just finance), the government contracting space, and customers served. The President lacks depth in knowledge beyond the finance wheelhouse.
Culture Collapsing: The biggest struggle is watching the company actively run a well-established and meaningful culture into the ground. The lack of integrity within the executive leadership team is eroding trust in the organization- both internally and with customers. Poor communication and treatment of key personnel supporting customers have caused significant morale issues internally and noticeable negative impacts in customer spaces. Over the past year, the executive team has knowingly brought problematic 'leadership' into the company. A poorly executed workforce reduction recently showcased the lack of compassion and core values at the executive leadership level- in both execution and internal explanation.
It's unfortunate, but this company is no longer what it advertises as a partner to the workforce or an innovator in delivery of government contracting.
