restructuring

MySpace is undergoing restructuring after losing its leadership position to Facebook.

Across the nation, offices are being consolidated, plants shut, employees let go. Such maneuvers, of course, are intended to save money. But achieving lasting results can take months of work performed largely by the IT staff -- a behind-the-scenes scramble that is often underestimated by others inside and outside the company. It's not as if the press release and pink slips go out and savings pour in.

Capgemini is consolidating its consulting activities as Capgemini Consulting, while IBM is launching business optimization and analytics consulting activities.

Sun Microsystems is laying off about 1,500 employees this week in a follow-up to a restructuring plan announced a few months ago, the company confirmed Monday.

Up to 3,000 employees could be needed for Microsoft's research efforts this year, in part offsetting layoffs announced in January, a top company executive said Tuesday.

Intel will close four facilities and cut up to 6,000 jobs in a restructuring of its manufacturing operations announced on Wednesday.

As part of a proposed reorganization following its bankruptcy filing, SCO plans a public auction of its mobile business and its Unix OpenServer business, the company said on Monday.

Alcatel-Lucent is naming enterprises as one of three markets it will focus on as it lays off 1,000 more workers and makes cuts in other areas in an attempt to turn the company around.

Sony plans to cut 8,000 jobs, close factories and reduce electronics investment by nearly a third in response to the current economic conditions, it said Tuesday.

Circuit City Stores on Monday filed for bankruptcy protection to cut costs and turn around its deteriorating financial condition.

AMD plans to split into two companies, one to design chips and one to make them, while two investment funds owned by the government of Abu Dhabi will contribute new capital, it said Tuesday. AMD hopes the move will give it the resources it needs to compete effectively with Intel, which dominates the microprocessor industry.