Symantec 2013 Annual Report Download - page 130

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
OVERVIEW
Our business
Symantec is a global leader in security, backup and availability solutions. Our innovative products and
services protect people and information in any digital environment – from the smallest mobile device, to the
enterprise data center, to cloud-based systems. Our software and services protect against advanced threats
independent of the device and environment in which information is used or stored.
Fiscal calendar
We have a 52/53-week fiscal year ending on the Friday closest to March 31. Unless otherwise stated,
references to years in this report relate to fiscal year and periods ended March 29, 2013, March 30, 2012 and
April 1, 2011. Fiscal 2013, 2012, and 2011 each consisted of 52 weeks. Our 2014 fiscal year will consist of
52 weeks and will end on March 28, 2014.
Strategy
We are in the midst of a transformation. New types of solutions and new market opportunities are emerging
as customers look to us to innovate across a digital landscape that has expanded enormously for both consumers
and businesses. As we think about our markets today, it is very clear that the industry needs a new model for
protection. We are transitioning from being device-centric, which meant protecting endpoints and the data center,
to having the broader focus of protecting and managing digital information. Individuals, businesses, and other
organizations use new ways to access their digital information, creating new opportunities for us to develop
products and services which address mobile devices, web services, web platforms, and the emerging software
defined data center and network. Our strategy is to establish leadership in this evolving information-centric world
by identifying and delivering solutions that solve large unmet or underserved customer needs, while building
competitive advantage and creating sustainable financial performance.
To successfully implement our strategy we are focusing on three areas: developing innovative products and
services, changing our Go-To-Market (“GTM”) strategy, and simplifying our organization. For information
regarding risks associated with our international operations, see Item 1, Business.
Financial Implications of New Strategy
Fiscal 2014 will include significant transitions as we seek to improve our growth capabilities, develop our
dedicated renewals team, refocus our direct field sales representatives on new business, eliminate duplicative
organization and operating structures, and right size the company. Our income and cash flows are expected to be
impacted by severance charges and capital expenditures as we invest in our people, processes, and technology to
execute our organic growth strategy in the next fiscal year.
Our operating segments
Our operating segments are significant strategic business units that offer different products and services,
distinguished by customer needs. Since the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, we have operated in five operating
segments: Consumer, Security and Compliance, Storage and Server Management, Services, and Other. As a
result of the new strategy, we will analyze our operations and organization structure, and modify our segment
reporting structure as necessary.
32