Company lacks new direction, and constant top-level leadership changes aren’t helping when it comes to defining this new direction.
Below market pay and no raises (unless you are in with your GM). The experience at TiVo really depends on your department and your boss. The company is middle management heavy and there really aren't enough people to do the actual work that needs to be done. For example, there were directors / managers with a team of 1 or even none. It’s not unusual to be paid one salary and be expected to do the job of 5 people.
Middle management were constantly scoping projects like they had an army at their disposal. Once reality set in, major sacrifices in quality were made in order to get things out of the door. There is also a great deal of politics at the middle level, so you have to either play along or eventually move along. I had the misfortune of working for a machiavellian, duplicitous type who pretty much undermined and played politics with everyone, including his own team. Not only was I shocked at how many enemies our very small team made, but also how easy and comfortable this guy was in lying to people, including his own employees.
While there are many diamonds in the rough, when it comes to hiring, TiVo is cheap and leans towards hiring entry level, junior contractors or mainly below average people. Many talk a good game, make the boss laugh, but are clearly unqualified, generally incompetent and have no real idea on how to deliver a quality product or message. Unfortunately both these groups also do everything they can to undermine those that do.
The antiquated and constantly breaking systems provided by I.T. are subpar. Those few who strive for a quality product are eventually beaten down by the politics, undermining, lack of resources, broken systems, and constant waves of mediocrity that permeate this entire company.
