Novartis Reviews

Former Employee – worked at Novartis full-time for more than 7 years

Pros – The underlying business is relatively stable and profitable, especially in Europe. As a regulated business, products that are sold in Europe can be sold almost every where in he world. So globalising the brands has been a successful focus.
The whole OTC/ Self Medication model is supported by governments to reduce their own healthcare costs by encouraging consumers to buy their own medicines themselves.
By and large the people are smart and self starters.

Cons – Nike school of management 'Just Do It'.
Top management is based in the US, but gets distracted by its local business model. Which in the US case is pure retail, with high sales but low earnings. However, every where else the model is pharmacy based with regulated products, higher barriers to entry and greater business sustainability and much much better financials.
Politicised decision making.

Advice to Senior Management – 1. Relocate to where the money is made ie Europe. Go to Basle to be taken seriously.
2. Recognise you have two different business models. Adapt your approach to reflect this. Better still sell the US business to its management or to private equity as it lacks material synergies with other markets as it is an unproductive distraction.
3. Move from an annual planning process to a rolling 3/1 plan so there may start to be some consistency of purpose and achievement of real progress over time.
4. Treat your people with respect and integrity.
5. Less top down and more, much more top up. Respect and trust the people who are doing the job.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at Novartis as a contractor for more than 3 years

Pros – The reason is that, i am working at novartis pharma because its environment is so friendly.
So thats the reason is i am worked at novartis.

Cons – I don,t think so that any downsides in working at novartis.

Advice to Senior Management – I don,t have any advice for management because the management is excellent our companies

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Novartis full-time for more than 7 years

Pros – - strong pipeline
- diversified business
- clear strategy

Cons – - highly political driven
- different cultures between divisions
- hiring many leaders from outside

Advice to Senior Management – - promote and reward from within
- improve work life balance
- increase salary benchmarks

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Novartis

Pros – Many benfits, food, health system and other

Cons – really really really really really boring workmates

Advice to Senior Management – keep it easy

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at Novartis full-time for more than 8 years

Pros – Great Pipeline Well established company

Cons – No work life balance, sometimes like high school all over again

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Novartis full-time for more than a year

Pros – Great people, nice environment, new equipment. Everyone so far has been really nice so far.

Cons – The lack of communication is horribly obvious, even though I am a new employee, I see this from a mile away. Finger pointing between groups and departments at this place is just terrible. If you make one mistake, be sure and know that someone will most likely jump right on you, even if its something small and can be easily fixed. I've been turned down to eat at tables at the cafeteria, saying they had a full table, when walking back by table was not even half full and lunch was pretty much over. Hard to meet people since I mostly work in the upper manufacturing area. Upper management seems could care less, I've already heard horror stories from current employees, which makes my decision to stay harder and harder everyday. It seems there is always something wrong here, and it does not seem to be getting any better.

Advice to Senior Management – Management needs to talk to their employees more, rather then the supervisors. Ideas and communication gets lost down the chain.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at Novartis

Pros – it is a good place to work

Cons – to many procedures to read

Former Employee – worked at Novartis full-time for more than 10 years

Pros – Tremendous scope for movement & development. Great products across a broad range of healthcare solutions. Big, international projects with real impact.

Cons – Mismatched expectations across international teams. Inconsistent management quality across functions & divisions. There are different cultural norms for work/life balance depending on site & business unit. Compensation is middle of the road for most roles/functions.

Advice to Senior Management – Create greater consistency in culture across divisions & sites. There's still greater tribal/functional identity than there is "One Novartis" - which impacts overall quality initiatives and performance.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at Novartis full-time

Pros – Solid leadership, strong support from corporate. Global Leadership team seems cohesive, and has a strong vision for where the division is headed.

Cons – Long-time employees hang on to the past, not open to change. This will be the biggest obstacle to success.

Advice to Senior Management – Keep pushing the culture change

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at Novartis full-time for more than 7 years

Pros – The culture is quick to assess talent and provide opportunities. If you are driven and able to deliver real results, this is the place for you.

The culture is truly driven by a 50% weighting on performance and 50% on values and behaviors. It matters how you perform, but it also matters how you achieved those results. If you exhibit leadership traits, work well in cross functional teams and set a performance standard for the company, you will be rewarded.

Cons – The performance driven culture that is a benefit to some can also be challenging to others. If you are looking for long term career stability to "do the same thing for many years", you may be considered a hindrance to someone who may need your position as a stepping stone to the next level. High performers will always be rewarded and offered promotions, mediocrity and low performance will be frowned upon.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company