I received a bizarre email last Thursday that tried to appeal to my nationalist sentiments. According to the email, I should be recommending Nortel equipment to my clients because it is Canadian.
Not because it is the best way for service providers to deliver leading edge solutions to their customers; not because it is cost effective; not because it makes my services run faster and jump higher. The appeal says that we should buy Nortel’s stuff because Nortel’s stuff is Canadian; because Canadians created 5000 Nortel patents and Nortel invests pantloads of cash in Canadian R&D.; [You can see a web version of the email here.]
There is a promotion [
pdf, 674 KB] that provides cash incentives to consultants who recommend Nortel business solutions to their clients and I guess it is trying to appeal to my colleagues’ patriotism.
It seems to me that Nortel’s Canadian roots may be an interesting factor, but is it a reason to buy? I used to look to the Detroit 3 automakers because of where my in-laws live, but that loyalty seemed to be a one-way love affair.
How relevant is the flag flying in front of your suppliers’ headquarters?
I used to work with Nortel as a partner, and would say – No Way ! Actually the equipment is great, but business processes so slow. I can feel military business approach everywhere. For example, visit the Nortel site and try to find at least one direct contact.
The company needs reforms ! And first of all, the reforms TO BE MORE GLOBAL, rather than to be the pure Canadian !!!!!
I used to work with Nortel as a partner, and would say – No Way ! Actually the equipment is great, but business processes so slow. I can feel military business approach everywhere. For example, visit the Nortel site and try to find at least one direct contact.
The company needs reforms ! And first of all, the reforms TO BE MORE GLOBAL, rather than to be the pure Canadian !!!!!