What are the alternatives?

For much of its 41-year history, Oracle’s sales force had focused on selling to chief information officers (CIOs) at the world’s largest corporations. This focus led to very large individual sales transactions. At the same time, many smaller businesses were passed over.
Over several years, the company nearly doubled its sales force to around 35,000 workers to reach more of these small business customers. Many of these new salespeople are a part of an innovative training program Oracle calls “Class Of.” Oracle’s vision for the expanded salesforce is to be like a group of graduating college students. And that’s what most of these students are—new hires fresh out of school. The Class Of training program includes learning about Oracle’s technologies and the Oracle sales process and having an opportunity to shadow experienced sales people.
The Class Of training is conducted at a campus in trendy Austin, Texas. Built on 40 acres of prime riverfront property, the centerpiece of the complex is a 560,000-square-foot office building equipped with state-of-the-art technology. In the lobby, you’ll find a Starbucks with Oracle-inspired menu items, including the Oracle Clouduccino (“extra strong and highly integrated”).
There’s a big outdoor patio for lunching and parties, and Austin’s river bike trail is just a few steps away. Eventually, employees will also have access to a flag football field and a sand volleyball court.
Students (future salespeople) live in an apartment building equipped with amenities such as a giant rec room, a workout facility, a media room, and a huge pool where employees tend to gather on weekends to socialize. One Class Of resident described the lifestyle there as “a grown-up college,” where “you know everyone.”