Yesterday’s announcement and earnings report was stellar. First, I'm grateful that I'm employed and that the company is strong.
Second, there's a much bigger story that needs to be understood. In these economic times Oracle isn't, nor hasn't been, bilking customers and putting them under duress to serve ourselves. Sure, Oracle is a profitable company. Yes, that's what for-profit companies do.
But, not too long ago, our CEO challenged Oracle to save 1 billion dollars by using our own technology, leveraging our very products and “consuming our own products'”. That year, Oracle made difficult business decisions, but more so Oracle USED the technology we sold. And then, guess what? Oracle accomplished what it set out to do and then saved another billion dollars.
It's probably why Oracle has so much cash in the bank. Congress may come ask us for a loan. (I digress) It's why Oracle can afford not to finance our acquisitions.
Most importantly, Oracle took those measures (the same measures that the industry groups are just NOW advocating) and is reaping the benefits, and to the benefit of our shareholders. Who else is paying a dividend these days?
Oracle isn't the big, bad enemy.
Oracle has led and continues to lead the industry by USING our own products and leveraging that investment.
Oracle has proven that anyone’s Top 5 reasons to cut costs have to do with what Oracle already did years ago.
Comments (5)
I absolutely agree!
Posted by Jose Fernandez-Stoll | March 23, 2009 3:18 PM
Posted on March 23, 2009 15:18
Just curious, how does Oracle University play into the mix? I find it odd that Oracle U milks customers for money, especially during these economic times. =)
Posted by Charles Schultz | April 14, 2009 9:06 AM
Posted on April 14, 2009 09:06
Oracle is a for-profit company. Oracle University is an operating unit inside this company. I look around at the whole industry and nobody's giving training away for free.
On the other hand...Are you aware of the hundreds of free step-by-step training courses offered - Oracle By Example?
How about the dozens of free technical advisor webcasts that Support offers and archived? Check My Oracle Support/Metalink3 for those.
Or, the hundreds of Free Webcasts that are available for download and reply from Events.Oracle.com, that talk about product features and functionality.
Finally, if you're a member of IOUG, OAUG, ODTUG and Quest, they have a huge conference paper archive and their own recorded series too. (very low cost for membership)
Who's bilking?
-Chris
Posted by Chris Warticki | April 15, 2009 1:06 PM
Posted on April 15, 2009 13:06
Chris,
I do not dispute the many examples of discounted or "free" training opportunities; the OBE scenarios are very good (even though they have a heavy bias towards OEM), and yes, even Support's own copious whitepapers and webcasts are quite informative. And I also recognize Oracle's contribution to the User Groups, which is not trivial nor insignificant by any means.
Further, I will acknowledge the original point of your post; you are proud because of what Oracle has accomplished - saved a butt-load of money. It is plainly obvious how sharedholders benefit from this. It is less obvious how customers benefit.
I suggest that "bilking" is too strong a word to use here, even if I confine the context strictly to Oracle University (and, yes, I know you guys are Support, not University *grin*). I do not see prices dropping for services, or classes, or certification exams. In fact, I see prices going up. And personally, I could care less what others are doing. Are others saving a billion dollars? =)
From a customer's point of view, there is a mixed message. The Sales group is, obviously by definition, trying to get a target audience to spend money on a consumable. Support is delivering a service that Sales sold. And I see Support going above and beyond in terms of the webcasts, the blogs (like this one), whitepapers, metalink notes, etc.
My point is that customers are not seeing a billion dollars saved. Perhaps I should not have made my first comment in this blog; clearly, you are enthusiastic and I would hate to rain on that. But I do appreciate the follow-up.
Posted by Charles Schultz | April 17, 2009 12:35 PM
Posted on April 17, 2009 12:35
Thanks to share your comments
Posted by oracle training | June 1, 2009 5:22 AM
Posted on June 1, 2009 05:22