MEMORANDUM - Restructuring at the North Pole
Seasons Greetings!
The recent announcement that Donner and Blitzen have elected to take the
early reindeer retirement package has triggered a good deal of concern
about
whether they will be replaced, and about other restructuring decisions
at
the North Pole.
Streamlining was appropriate in view of the reality that the North Pole
no longer dominates the season's gift distribution business. Home
shopping
channels and mail order catalogues have diminished Santa's market share
and
he could not sit idly by and permit further erosion of the profit
picture.
The reindeer downsizing was made possible through the purchase of a late
model Japanese sled for the CEO's annual trip. Improved productivity
from
Dasher and Dancer, who summered at the Harvard Business School, is
anticipated and should take up the slack with no discernible loss of
service.
Reduction in reindeer will also lessen airborne environmental emissions
for
which the North Pole has been cited and received unfavorable press.
I am pleased to inform you and yours that Rudolph's role will not be
disturbed. Tradition still counts for something at the North Pole.
Management denies, in the strongest possible language, the earlier leak
that
Rudolph's nose got that way not from the cold, but from substance abuse.
Calling Rudolph "a lush who was into the sauce and never did pull his
share
of the load" was an unfortunate comment, made by one of Santa's helpers
and
taken out of context at a time of year when he is known to be under
executive stress.
As a further restructuring, today's global challenges require the North
Pole
to continue to look for better, more competitive steps. Effective
immediately, the following economy measures are to take place in the
"Twelve Days of Christmas" subsidiary:
The partridge will be retained, but the pear tree never turned out to be
the
cash crop forecasted. It will be replaced by a plastic hanging plant,
providing considerable savings in maintenance.
The two turtle doves represent a redundancy that is simply not cost
effective. In addition, their romance during working hours could not be
condoned. The positions are therefore eliminated.
The three French hens will remain intact. After all, everyone loves the
French.
The four calling birds were replaced by an automated voice mail system,
with
a call waiting option. An analysis is underway to determine who the
birds
have been calling, how often and how long they talked.
The five golden rings have been put on hold by the Board of Directors.
Maintaining a portfolio based on one commodity could have negative
implica-
tions for institutional investors. Diversification into other precious
metals as well as a mix of T-Bills and high technology stocks appear to
be in order.
The six geese-a-laying constitutes a luxury which can no longer be
afforded.
It has long been felt that the production rate of one egg per goose per
day
is an example of the decline in productivity. Three geese will be let
go,
and an upgrading in the selection procedure by personnel will assure
management that from now on every goose it gets will be a good one.
The seven swans-a-swimming is obviously a number chosen in better times.
The function is primarily decorative. Mechanical swans are on order.
The
current swans will be retrained to learn some new strokes and therefore
enhance their outplacement.
As you know, the eight maids-a-milking concept has been under heavy
scrutiny
by the EEOC. A male/female balance in the workforce is being sought.
The
more militant maids consider this a dead-end job with no upward
mobility.
Automation of the process may permit the maids to try a-mending,
a-mentoring
or a-mulching.
Nine ladies dancing has always been an odd number. This function will
be
phased out as these individuals grow older and can no longer do the
steps.
Ten Lords-a-leaping is overkill. The high cost of Lords plus the
expense of
international air travel prompted the Compensation Committee to suggest
replacing this group with ten out-of-work congressmen. While leaping
ability may be somewhat sacrificed, the savings are significant because
we expect an oversupply of unemployed congressmen this year.
Eleven pipers piping and twelve drummers drumming is a simple case of
the
band getting too big. A substitution with a string quartet, a cutback
on
new music and no uniforms will produce savings which will drop right
down
to the bottom line.
We can expect a substantial reduction in assorted people, fowl, animals
and
other expenses. Though incomplete, studies indicate that stretching
deliveries over twelve days is inefficient. If we can drop ship in one
day,
service levels will be improved.
Regarding the lawsuit filed by the attorney's association seeking
expansion
to include the legal profession ("thirteen lawyers-a-suing") action is
pending.
Lastly, it is not beyond consideration that deeper cuts may be necessary
in
the future to stay competitive. Should that happen, the Board will
request
management to scrutinize the Snow White Division to see if seven dwarfs
is
the right number.
-- Dr. Ian Gibson Associate Professor Department of Mechanical Engineering The University of Hong Kong tel: (852) 28597901 fax: (852) 28585415 igibson@hkucc.hku.hkTheirs know miss steaks in this massage beak horse MY spell cheque software says sew.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.2 : Tue Jun 05 2001 - 22:40:54 EEST