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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Thorin Stoutfoot" data-source="post: 492680" data-attributes="member: 1887">Ryan Dancey on WoTC layoffs<a href="http://www.gamingreport.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=XForum&file=viewthread&tid=54" target="_blank">http://www.gamingreport.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=XForum&file=viewthread&tid=54</a>When I joined WotC in 1997, the whole company, including international divisions, represented just over 300 people. After three rounds of layoffs, and the separation of WotC's international business, WotC has cut its staff to just over 500 people. There are only two things that have materially changed for WotC between then and now: WotC owns and operates a chain of retail stores, and Pokemon.Hasbro has reasonably asked WotC to keep its operating expenses under control. WotC has elected to continue to try to keep every plate it has spinning, including developing new brands, developing whole new categories (MODO), and operating a number of administrative activities in parallel with Hasbro's existing staff. To acheive that, while still meeting Hasbro's requirements for reduced expenses, it has cut staff, but asked the remaining people to just work harder to pick up the slack.And there's no relationship between how succesful a business unit is and those reductions. The publishing business (RPGs, novels and periodicals) has exceeded its targets for revenue and profit for three straight years. It (and probably Magic) are the only parts of the company which have done so. Rather than keep that nucleous of staff working towards future gains, however, WotC executives, (who are, remember, the same people who operated the company prior to the Hasbro buyout) have asked for across-the-board cuts which have affected every department. Meanwhile, the people responsible for businesses which have never achieved their original goals are retained, and shifted from brand to brand - because that's the only system the WotC executive team has to keep all the plates spinning.At some point, Hasbro and WotC need to get on the same page. Either WotC is going to be allowed to pursue any business that strikes its fancy and is going to be given the resources to do so, or it is going to be required to focus on those businesses which derive Hasbro the most profit and best return on capital invested. Until that happens, I hold Hasbro blameless of problems at Wizards of the Coast for anything other than a lack of oversight and control of the WotC management team.</blockquote>

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