Avantages
Good people at lowest levels of the organization. Individual cultures at plant locations are people friendly and hard working. There are pockets of sincere, dedicated, smart, and talented individuals who do a lot for the company. These people are the ones who make the company run and pick up the slack for all others. This is true in any company, but my point is mainly that IR has a history of relying too much on these individuals without properly rewarding them and eventually these people leave. I have seen the best talent turn over significantly in the past three years. The worst talent lingers on indefinitely without any signs of leaving.
Inconvénients
Difficulty enacting strategic decisions and building company unity. This is due less to senior leadership and more on the incompetence of middle management at executing directives. IR is taking steps at improving this but it is a slow cycle. I estimate another 5 years until the middle management is able to compete at the levels of the competition. Middle management is extremely lacking. Too little focus on developing lower and middle range employees. Pizza parties are about the extent of the benefits to frontline employees. Pretty weak considering the good work they do. Company in general is hesitant to take strategic risks.