Comments on: Why Cut Wasteful Spending Only in a Downturn? http://www.leanblog.org/2008/10/why-cut-wasteful-spending-only-in/ Mark Graban's leanblog.org - Lean Healthcare, Lean Thinking, Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Production System Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:59:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: David http://www.leanblog.org/2008/10/why-cut-wasteful-spending-only-in/#comment-4093 David Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:19:00 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2008/10/why-cut-wasteful-spending-only-in-a-downturn/#comment-4093 What ever happened to the proper use of the management structure and of budgets?<br/><br/>It is very rarely appropriate for a corporation to issue global edicts regarding office supplies, coffee, office plants, travel, etc. The correct way to do it is to issue budgetary targets for the executives in charge of the major units, and let *them* decide how the cuts should be best made in their specific contexts...with flexibility and discretion being available at all levels of management.<br/><br/>I suspect the "empowerment" and "delayering" have, in many cases, turned out to mean complete centralization of power and the neutering of all managers below the very top. What ever happened to the proper use of the management structure and of budgets?

It is very rarely appropriate for a corporation to issue global edicts regarding office supplies, coffee, office plants, travel, etc. The correct way to do it is to issue budgetary targets for the executives in charge of the major units, and let *them* decide how the cuts should be best made in their specific contexts…with flexibility and discretion being available at all levels of management.

I suspect the “empowerment” and “delayering” have, in many cases, turned out to mean complete centralization of power and the neutering of all managers below the very top.

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]]> By: Anonymous http://www.leanblog.org/2008/10/why-cut-wasteful-spending-only-in/#comment-4091 Anonymous Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:07:00 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2008/10/why-cut-wasteful-spending-only-in-a-downturn/#comment-4091 Don't forget skimping on office supplies. That's a classic "cost cutting" move, I guess because employees are more likely to steal them when times are tight? Don’t forget skimping on office supplies. That’s a classic “cost cutting” move, I guess because employees are more likely to steal them when times are tight?

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]]> By: Jayadeep(JDP) http://www.leanblog.org/2008/10/why-cut-wasteful-spending-only-in/#comment-4090 Jayadeep(JDP) Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:23:00 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2008/10/why-cut-wasteful-spending-only-in-a-downturn/#comment-4090 I have asked this question umpteen times and I am baffled that the leaders of big corporates just didn't get it. You are absolutely right on. The problem with these squeezing during tough environment is that the moment the situation eases a bit, people compensate for the tight controls they had earlier. It is like dieting to control your weight - it never works because it is an unnatural thing to do. I have asked this question umpteen times and I am baffled that the leaders of big corporates just didn’t get it. You are absolutely right on. The problem with these squeezing during tough environment is that the moment the situation eases a bit, people compensate for the tight controls they had earlier. It is like dieting to control your weight – it never works because it is an unnatural thing to do.

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