Amazon has stack ranking and hasn't fallen into this particular trap. It all depends on what you prioritize and what you reward. At Amazon, I got the sense th

Amazon has stack ranking and hasn't fallen into this particular trap. It all depends on what you prioritize and what you reward. At Amazon, I got the sense that it was actually harder to get a promo if you were on a secret new product team. I'd heard younger engineers talk about doing stints in less fashionable departments as the ladders seemed easier to climb. Google just seems to care about the launch. Not how happy customers are. Not how much money is pulled in. Not how well it fits in with the overall strategic vision of the company. Just launch points.