Let's talk about the reality behind the scenes at PHC
Prós
The team members are kind and willing to help; some benefits; physical infrastructure
Contras
The company's branding, promoting good management practices and a narrative of happiness, is a facade. In practice, we encounter an organization characterized by centralized management, micromanagement, excessive control, lack of psychological safety, and conceptual confusion in various aspects. The company's structure revolves around the CEO in terms of both governance and processes. For instance, he interferes in all Scrum ceremonies and positions himself as one of the key stakeholders, which, in itself, raises some eyebrows; development reviews happen based on the CEO's availability. He and his wife, who is also part of the executive committee, enjoy personalizing professional relationships, as evidenced by questionable promotions that typically favor their "friends." The company is filled with informers scattered across various departments. Moreover, they request feedback from people in supposedly anonymous surveys, but they pursue those who give low ratings, meaning they are not truly anonymous. These individuals are questioned by leaders when they give low ratings. The customer is not at the center of decisions, often not even consulted. There is no autonomy, and unfortunately, the atmosphere in the company's teams is permeated by fear. Another example is that, despite claims of following Scrum, my product-related experience revealed an unusual disorganization and dysfunctionality in terms of agile practices. The chaotic implementation of the OKR methodology exacerbates the situation, disrespecting fundamental principles of various methodologies. In all the instances I participated in, I noticed that the company prioritizes task completion over the actual results and impact. My time at PHC was instructive, especially regarding the type of environment I no longer wish to be a part of. I do not recommend this company!
