The HPS management team likes to talk about growth through acquisitions. If you are interviewing, ask how many acquisitions HPS closed annually over the past 5 years and how much those acquisitions moved the revenue needle? If you are interviewing, ask about how many internally developed new product releases they have successfully completed over the past few years that were not copy cat competitors products. If you are considering a job in Columbia, SC at their head quarters, ask how they resolve conflicts when your job goal conflicts with the goals of one of the BUs. "Dotted line" reporting structures are inevitably destined for employees with two managers who have different incentive structures.
The HPS management likes to reply with "We are a numbers driven company" when denying a request for investment in a new product or new business initiative. Question, Isn't every for profit company a numbers driven company? If you don't take some risk and invest in new programs, how do you grow your business? The current management at HPS in Columbia likes to say, "We are a company that likes to hit singles." True. HPS is not for employees who seek a dynamic and highly innovative culture. HPS culturally is a good place for Steady Eddies who like conservative, limited change and a risk adverse work culture.
