There seems to be no better time to pile on than when a lion is wounded.

If 2006 was the Mother of All Bad Business Years for Sony, guess what 2007 is shaping up to be for Dell - the company and stock?

Let's see:

• Stock: Doldrums
• Market share: down
• Profitability: down
• Reputation for customer service: in tatters
• Stock option accounting: 'investigating'
• CEO: out, after kiss-of-death vote of confidence from chairman.
• Bill Lerach & Co: lawsuit filed/amended to include Intel's under-G payments for exclusivity.
• Reputation for technical support: what technical support?

Now comes a class-action suit filed by employees at an Oregon call center accusing the company of short-changing them.

I sincerely hope that it is not the case!

How jacked would it be that the CEO get $$$ for efficiency while simultaneously shafting the working stiffs who were your first line of contact with customers?

I hope Mikey fixes things, and fast, because, at the end of the day, no one would remember that former placeholder: it is your name on the building, Michael!

© 2007, John Obeto II for SmallBizVista.com^®