[eigen-vector]

Presumably they already have performance processes that eliminate "dead weight". Be assured that layoffs never really mean that usual performance bases firings are paused. It's pretty much always happening on top of existing performance processes.

[LanceH]

Layoffs like this mean you can blame external forces like the economy rather than saying, "our projects failed".

Some of these layoffs may have been coming anyway, but not the corporate statement about them is different.