Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-06-14 02:35Core Insights - The article highlights the challenges faced by Alibaba as it transitions from a phase of rapid growth to a period of stagnation, reflecting broader issues within the Chinese internet industry [2][12] Group 1: Company Issues - A recent internal post by a departing employee, Yuan An, criticized Alibaba's "big company disease," indicating a decline in innovation and an increase in bureaucratic practices since 2017 [3][4] - Yuan An pointed out that many of Alibaba's acquisitions, such as Koubei, Ele.me, Youku, and Lazada, have not met expectations, with only a few like Gaode and UC being considered successful [4][8] - The company has experienced a dilution of its core values, shifting from "customer first" to "boss first," and from "team collaboration" to a "winner takes all" mentality [5][6] Group 2: Cultural and Systemic Problems - The internal culture has deteriorated, with a focus on short-term performance metrics (KPI) overshadowing long-term strategic vision, leading to a loss of mission-driven work [8][10] - Bureaucratic inefficiencies have stifled innovation, with high coordination costs and ineffective decision-making processes becoming prevalent [10][11] - The performance evaluation system has created a toxic environment, where employees are more focused on individual gains rather than collaborative success, leading to a "wild dog culture" [10][11] Group 3: Response and Future Directions - In response to these challenges, Alibaba's leadership has begun to implement reforms, including internal restructuring and a renewed focus on core business areas such as AI and cloud services [11][12] - Yuan An proposed several reform suggestions aimed at restoring the company's values and improving its HR systems, indicating a need for significant organizational change [11] - The broader context of Alibaba's struggles reflects a collective transformation within the Chinese internet sector, as companies seek to balance management efficiency with innovation [12]