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Performance Development Group

Is this your company?

So much potential that just keeps crashing and burning - Senior Instructional Designer Performance Development Group Employee Review

2.0
Sep 6, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Rich history of incredibly talented writers, designers, developers, and artists. I learned a ton about learning principles, making beautifully designed courses, and working with clients. I wouldn't trade the experience, even if I wound up very burnt out and unhappy by the end. The other thing that is particularly good is the ability to telecommute. It would be a completely thankless job otherwise.

Cons

The company's identity is schizophrenic. It tries to be a small, family type business in that you're expected to work unrealistic hours, have little to no work life balance, and have blind loyalty... simply because "it's PDG". But in reality there is a corporate mentality that has developed over the last several years where everyone is blatantly expendable and wholly unappreciated except for empty lip service. I've always been someone who has gone above and beyond and I appreciate putting in long hours. But you can't live on intrinsic motivation alone. On paper there are a lot of perks like the bonus program (which is perpetually unattainable), room for growth (I've never had the opportunity to take any kind of development and there were never any positions to move into), and regular recognition (in the years I've worked keeping clients delighted I received $25 gift cards twice and that was it). If you disagree with the process, you're a pariah to the company, regardless of what you've done positive. You can have scores of happy clients yet management's focus will still be on the minor errors here or there. There are also inherent issues with the overall structure. There are MANY directors but the "grunts" are spread too thin. Also not sure how you can contain to maintain "cutting edge" with a single developer and two artists. Instructional designers are required to be IDs as well as PMs and Quality Control experts as well as mentors, and are expected to train staff across the company. Also what used to be a vey cutting edge company is now not even really doing much in the way of mobile learning, and certainly nothing like other companies in the area which are doing full-on games, augmented reality, and even virtual reality.

Explore other reviews about Performance Development Group

5.0
Mar 29, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Flexible, remote work Fun and collaborative people Creative and impactful work

Cons

Even though I listed flexible, remote work as a pro, I do miss being in an office from time to time. Thankfully, we do get together as a company and as teams several times per year.

2.0
Dec 21, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Decent pay for the work, and overall good experience with onboarding.

Cons

Zero management structure, so project people and senior ID people are your manager, which means if you do something they don't like, you're gone. No conversation, no warning, no reasons. Just out. They ended my contract and I don't even know why or what I did, except to say the "Lead ID" of my team goes along with anything anyone says, so if you disagree, or come to the table with another option, they dump you for not getting along. Take your creativity elsewhere.

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