Vantaggi
The best thing about working at Lutron is that the company does a great job recruiting top talent. Nearly everyone at the company is very smart, talented, and hard working. They are also just good people, who are fun to work with. The company puts a premium on R and D; as a private company, they don't have to answer to shareholders, and therefore can invest in innovation at much higher levels. Lutron products are high quality. In times of personal hardship, Lutron takes care of its people. The company prides itself on never having had a layoff, and is extremely loyal to long standing employees.
Svantaggi
Unfortunately, the 83 year old founder of the company still runs things. And little has changed in the management practices, policies, and organization since he founded the company by inventing the first solid state dimmer switch in the early 60's. The founder surrounds himself with enablers who he trusts, and they in turn carry out his whims--and rarely, if ever, tell him "no." There is no strategic planning to speak of, and while R and D is a strength, there is little development based on market needs. Market research is non-existent. Human Resources is actually called "Personnel," and not surprisingly, there is no professional HR leadership in the areas of compensation, organizational effectiveness, career development, and performance management. Further, the organization is completely decentralized, and organizations spring up or disappear based on the priority of the month. There is little understanding by senior leadership of the value of strategic Information Technology, so the network infrastructure is stuck in the 90s. Lastly, in keeping with management practices of the 60s, there is very little effective communications from senior leadership to employees.