Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-06-12 10:01Core Insights - A senior employee at Alibaba, Yuan An, expressed concerns about the company's current direction and internal culture in a lengthy internal memo before his departure, highlighting a shift from the original mission of improving society to a focus on metrics and financial performance [3][4] Group 1: Company Mission and Vision - Yuan An emphasized that Alibaba's mission is to make it easier to do business globally and its vision is to become a company that lasts for 102 years, which initially inspired him to join [3] - He noted that the company has lost sight of its original dream of making positive societal changes, now prioritizing KPIs, salaries, and stock options over customer relationships [3][4] Group 2: Internal Challenges - The memo pointed out that since 2017, Alibaba has shown signs of fatigue, with declining external competitiveness and internal management issues [3][4] - Yuan An criticized the company's failed acquisitions, such as Koubei, Ele.me, and Lazada, attributing these failures to a lack of patience in product development and an overemphasis on operational data [4] - He identified problems in three areas: talent acquisition, performance management, and strategic clarity, noting issues like a lack of "Alibaba spirit" among new hires and ineffective incentive systems [4] Group 3: Recommendations for Improvement - Yuan An suggested reforms including restructuring the HR system, clarifying company strategy, and reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies to better prepare for the AI era [4] - He advocated for a focus on genuine results rather than superficial metrics, urging the company to streamline operations and eliminate redundant business units [4] Group 4: Leadership Response - In response to Yuan An's memo, Alibaba's founder, Jack Ma, acknowledged the insights shared and recognized the inevitable changes the company must undergo [5] Group 5: Organizational Structure - Despite previous restructuring efforts, Alibaba continues to struggle with "big company disease," indicating ongoing challenges in effectively managing its large organizational structure [6]