Mark Bridge writes:
Anonymous opinions about technology are all over the web... and they’re not always pleasant. PC versus Mac. Apple versus Android. WiMAX vs LTE. Even a relatively light-hearted rant can be misinterpreted. Still, if some unknown voice is trying to irritate you, you just ignore them - right?
Wrong. Not if you’re Research In Motion.
Last week, someone described as a “high-level RIM employee” wrote an open letter that was published on the Boy Genius Report website. The anonymous writer tells RIM’s Senior Management Team “I have lost confidence” and warns “the sentiment is widespread”. Her/his letter goes on to say “I desperately want RIM to regain its position as a successful industry leader” before offering a number of suggestions.
Just one voice, as Barry Manilow would say. Anonymous. Hiding. Why not ignore it?
Or why not issue a statement that says “It is obviously difficult to address anonymous commentary and it is particularly difficult to believe that a ‘high level employee’ in good standing with the company would choose to anonymously publish a letter on the web rather than engage their fellow executives in a constructive manner”?
Well, that’s exactly what Research In Motion said. But that’s not all they wrote. In a blog post of over 300 words, they also said “the senior management team at RIM is nonetheless fully aware of and aggressively addressing both the company’s challenges and its opportunities” before talking about issues facing the business.
That’s a very public response to a single person’s anonymous letter.
Unless, of course, RIM has a good idea who’s written the letter - or believes the single anonymous person is speaking for many more of their colleagues.