I think it really depends on what "big company" means. The author was likely talking about big software companies that recruit the best, such as Google, Facebook or Apple. Your comment makes me think of big companies that do software badly on the side, such as banks or telecoms.
edit: I see you said software companies. Maybe I have been brainwashed by their HR materials and those companies employees aren't so special.
Even apart from banks and telecoms that mainly do other stuff, there are a whole range of companies whose businesses are largely software which don't have technically-focused cultures. SAP is sort of a canonical example. Then there's the whole shadow world of large consulting firms, outsourcing firms, defense and aerospace contractors, etc.
I have had friends who've gone to work for Yahoo & the Big Goog. They've all quit save one, who is a fun guy but one who, professionally speaking, (sadly) likes to be told what to do. The reasons: boredom, not enough freedom, being stuck using inefficient tools, politicking, and at one point my friend's boss's boss pointed at my friend in a meeting like she was a secretary and asked, "Why is she here?" -- when my friend was responsible for launching a big web property for said boss just a few weeks prior.
All big companies are pretty much the same. The trappings are different but at heart, you can't grow to a huge size and maintain a great culture… unless you do something truly radical. And free lunches and nannies -- that's not radical enough.
edit: I see you said software companies. Maybe I have been brainwashed by their HR materials and those companies employees aren't so special.