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Just a few days ago I did a fun and completely ridiculous exercise and compared Amazon to a country, and then wanted to see how it would look like. I ended up w

by rdtsc 10y ago

Just a few days ago I did a fun and completely ridiculous exercise and compared Amazon to a country, and then wanted to see how it would look like. I ended up with Stalinism. (I'll just paste it here and add some more to it): * Personality cult: Bezos = Stalin * You sing praises to the great leader: the 14 leadership principles. * Officially they have a zero-tolerance policy for harshness. But I bet if anyone complains to HR they get sent to Siberia (i.e. put on performance improvement plan) or shot (terminated). https://sites.google.com/site/thefaceofamazon/home/fired-for-contacting-jeff https://sites.google.com/site/thefaceofamazon/home/fired-for... * The top management is the Central Committee. They wield massive power. Officially it is a meritocracy but it is all about gaining favors with the ruling party. * In the warehouses I hear they do these group exercises: Stalin loved public performances * They like to monitor your microphone, eye, head, and mouth movements : NKVD (the secret police is watching you) Who wants to add more?

tossaway1 10y ago
Why Stalin? Might as well just go straight to Godwin's law if you want to attack Amazon...
- rdtsc 10y ago
  > Godwin's law if you want to attack Amazon... Oh poor Amazon. I think it will survive a satirical comment on the internet here there. But sounds like you do have some inside info if you're talking Godwin's law...
CamperBob2 10y ago
I wouldn't paint Amazon with that kind of brush, but you could make a good case that old-school IBM worked that way. They even had a corporate anthem.
- rdtsc 10y ago
  I think IBM would be more like GDR or the Brejnev era of Soviet Union. Stalin was ruthless and the system also had this strong cult of personality. Also loved slogans which have to be repeated and paid respect in public. But also under him there was heavy industrialization so that is you know the revenue generated if you wish.

by rdtsc 10y ago

tossaway1 10y ago

Why Stalin? Might as well just go straight to Godwin's law if you want to attack Amazon...

rdtsc 10y ago
> Godwin's law if you want to attack Amazon... Oh poor Amazon. I think it will survive a satirical comment on the internet here there. But sounds like you do have some inside info if you're talking Godwin's law...

CamperBob2 10y ago

I wouldn't paint Amazon with that kind of brush, but you could make a good case that old-school IBM worked that way. They even had a corporate anthem.

rdtsc 10y ago
I think IBM would be more like GDR or the Brejnev era of Soviet Union. Stalin was ruthless and the system also had this strong cult of personality. Also loved slogans which have to be repeated and paid respect in public. But also under him there was heavy industrialization so that is you know the revenue generated if you wish.