Ben Johnson
The Board of Directors approved Larry's recommendation. "Do it," B they told him, "Hire a management consultant to plan a rational restructuring and minimize internal, turf-defending politics. Get it done!"
Larry, vice president of finance for a multibillion dollar, multi division corporation, interviewed a dozen or more candidates to find the strong academic and professional background he wanted, but with toughness and savvy too. The consultant would have to stand up to the division presidents, all line managers who wouldn't take kindly to a theoretician using mathematical models to tell them which people to fire.
Larry found his man in "Moose," real name Michael. Extremely muscular with a massive chest, Moose had been a star football lineman in high school. He had excellent academic credentials, including the U.S. Military Academy at West Point for two years before transferring out because of "all the nonsense" that went on. "But I'm still proud I went there," he declared. He'd worked for ten years at the division level of large manufacturing companies before joining the consulting firm, and took a very practical approach. Instead of theoretical models, he spoke of implementation and the effects of change on the factory floor.
Larry hired him on the spot - smart enough to produce a good, rational plan and tough enough to hold his own with the division presidents. Moose waded in immediately, and as expected, the division presidents were resentful, but he didn't let their hostility stop him.
When Larry's secretary came back from vacation, he introduced Moose as "a West Pointer just like your husband." Ann was proud of her husband's military career, and carried a West Point sticker on her car and a little American flag on her desk. She was pleased to meet him.
Until the next morning, "I have to talk to you," she announced to Larry.
"I can't now; I'll be back about eleven, okay?"
Ann spent the morning on the phone, talking softly. When Larry returned, she marched in behind him and shut the door. "Get rid of Moose," she said without preamble.
"In God's name why?" he asked. "He's doing the job."
"I told my husband about Moose last night, and he went into a rage.
He knew the name all right! Moose didn't 'transfer out' of West Point, he was expelled, one of the cadets thrown out for cheating in that big scandal, the most disgraceful thing that ever happened there. He brought dishonor on the whole institution. Is this the man you're going to trust to say who keeps a job and who gets fired?"
Larry pondered. If that were true and it got out, the division presidents would gobble him and Moose up like hot dogs, destroy the restructuring, his plans.
"Look, Ann, I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention this to anyone until I've discussed it with Moose and the Board of Directors." "Of course," she said with a little smile.
But it didn't take long to discover the word was out, undoubtedly from Ann. By noon, he had messages from four division presidents to meet about the restructuring.
The chairman of the board called Larry in that afternoon and told him in no uncertain terms to get rid of Moose. "I can't tell our people that three thousands of them are going to be terminated on the recommendation of a known cheater. Integrity is something you have or you don't have. Get rid of him."
Not only was Larry forced to fire Moose, but the whole idea of using an outside consultant was dropped. A committee with representatives from each division negotiated for six months to determine how many cuts would take place in which divisions. In the end, political pull was the deciding factor instead of what would create a stronger, more efficient company- All because one man had cheated years before.
When the final layoff list came out, Ann's name was on it. Larry made sure of it.
