The Poorly Performing Business Unit

James Hardie and Coy (Qld), a division of international conglomerate James Hardie Industries Ltd, was under performing and in 1993 was in danger of being closed or sold. In the mid 1980s it had been the subject of a significant "greening" campaign, and its core technology was modified to make its products more environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, the pre-green performance of a couple of the products was never regained, which sapped the morale of the sales force. So, the State Manager decided to undertake some market research in the hope of finding new marketing and sales approaches and product opportunities for the division.

The results of the market research, performed by a very reputable major consulting firm, suggested some of the market segments contained new opportunities while others were becoming highly competitive, with lower prices being offered by other companies. While the research was comprehensive, there were many results to consider and many options available. It all seemed pretty complex and the management had to decide where to start and how to translate any changes in marketing and sales to changes in operations.

We were asked to review the market research and to suggest how it might be used to improve the performance of the business unit. The first objective was to try to simplify the way the consultants had expressed their results. It was a big report with many results, but they had not made the priorities easy to understand.

The pages of results were transformed into a simple table of the relative attractiveness of the various product groups. It was clear some product groups were very attractive while others were costing the business considerable money. There were opportunities to compete very effectively against some traditional competitors if the division could regain some of the performance it had lost in its larger products as a result of the technology greening.

Naturally, the management team had difficulty in accepting these changes and could not readily agree on just what do to. Meanwhile, the corporate head office had them in their sights. The State Manager made a decision to introduce a quality management regime but, in contrast with the typical approach at the time, he focused the quality program using a simple strategic focusing method rather than a full blown strategic planning process. The strategic focusing would use the market research as input and generate management support for a few priorities that could be implemented in a period of months rather than years. This allowed the "plan" to be updated regularly, even quarterly, with very few management resources.

The division reduced the number of market segments it was addressing and simultaneously improved production for the few key products that had not received attention for many years. It increased its bottom line to make the hurdle rate in 1994 and went on to achieve star status in new US markets by 2000. This is an amazing success story for a business unit on the verge of being closed or sold by head office.

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Little Hulton pub brawl video shows England fan bottle man Glamorized in films and TV this shocking video shows why a real life pub fight is no laughing matter. pre bonded hairA scene of complete carnage is depicted in the distressing clip posted on YouTube last month. The video is titled 'Little Hulton fight Walkden – Manchester' and was uploaded on May 26. Carnage: A distressing YouTube video claims to depict a violent pub brawl in Little Hulton in Manchester

In the violent brawl a man in a hooded top smashes his glass of alcohol over someone's head. People scream out in terror as more glass is heard being broken and an infuriated woman is restrained by another man. An England flag can be seen pinned up on the wall as a woman yells out 'Ryan!' in despair. By the time the short clip cuts out there appears to be no let-up in the chaos. remy hair extensionsManchester Evening News reports it is not known exactly where the pub is located. Shocking scenes: During the fight a woman raises her glass in the air before being restrained by a man It is believed the brawl could have erupted when the England football team played Turkey on Sunday, May 22. Yet last night the uploader of the video claimed the whole scene was a stunt for a college film. He wrote: 'This was a drama class all bottles were plastic, all people involved were actors. We were filming a scene for our college show called RYAN!'

She impressed audiences with her gorgeous legs as she flirted with Leonardo DiCaprio in Wolf of Wall Street. And Margot Robbie’s pins were on display as she strolled around New York City in a short black slip dress paired with a long pink Kimono, on Wednesday. The 26-year-old showed why she is tipped to be the next Bond girl, showing off her slender physique in the eye-catching number from Spell & The Gypsy Collective. Scroll down for video Stepping out: Margot Robbie’s trim pins were on display as she wafted around New York City in a short black slip dress paired with a long pink Kimono on Wednesday perruques cheveux naturelsThe oriental-inspired garment featured broderie anglaise in elaborate flower patterns on the sleeves, shoulders and back, and flowed behind her as she strolled around downtown NYC. Leaving a Tribeca hotel, the Australian actress smiled behind oversized round metallic sunglasses with her blonde locks tied back in a bun. The Hollywood starlet’s complexion was characteristically flawless all over, but years in the Northern Hemisphere appeared to have erased her Australian tan. All smiles: Leaving a Tribeca hotel, the Australian actress smiled behind oversized round metallic sunglasses with her blonde locks tied back in a bun High fashion: The 26-year-old showed why she is tipped to be the next Bond girl, showing off her slender physique in the eye-catching number from Spell & The Gypsy Collective Good taste: The oriental-inspired garment featured broderie anglaise in elaborate flower patterns on the sleeves, shoulders and back, and flowed behind her as she strolled around downtown NYC She enhanced her look with natural-look makeup and subtle pink lipstick and carried a small black leather handbag to run her errands. Margot had been at a fitting for the upcoming NYC premiere of her new film Suicide Squad on Monday night. Tinseltown is abuzz with rumours that the blonde beauty will appear in the next James Bond film as a Bond girl, following a long line of glamorous actresses. Flawles: The Hollywood starlet’s complexion was characteristically flawless all over, but years in the Northern Hemisphere appeared to have erased her Australian tan

Going natural: She enhanced her look with natural-look makeup and subtle pink lipstick and carried a small black leather handbag to run her errands Looking her best: Margot had been at a fitting for the upcoming NYC premiere of her new film Suicide Squad on Monday night Online polls have revealed the 26-year-old stunner is at the strongest odds to fill the role, sitting at 12/1, while Emily Blunt sits at 16/1, according to Paddy Power. Others sitting at promising odds to star as the much-desired female character are American model and actress Emily Ratajkowski, who sits at 22/1, with Brit Emma Watson further down the line at 40/1. The Gold Coast girl found her big break in 2013 opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street as the feisty and seductive, Naomi. Plenty to smile about: Tinseltown is abuzz with rumours that the blonde beauty will appear in the next James Bond film as a Bond girl, following a long line of glamorous actresses Adoring fans: Margot caused a stir with passersby as she stepped out in NYC perruques cheveuxWell made: The beautiful garment had an elaborate rose pattern on its back More recently, she starred alongside Alexander Skarsgård in The Legend Of Tarzan as Jane. As well as the blockbuster, Margot has various other projects in the pipeline, including Suicide Squad, in which she plays Harley Quinn. Other females who have starred as the prestigious Bond girl include talented beauties Halle Berry, Rosamund Pike and Eva Green. Next big thing: Online polls have revealed the 26-year-old stunner is at the strongest odds to fill the Bond role, sitting at 12/1, while Emily Blunt sits at 16/1, according to Paddy Power . In demand actress: As well as the blockbuster, Margot has various other projects in the pipeline, including Suicide Squad, in which she plays Harley Quinn Following in footsteps: Other females who have starred as the prestigious Bond girl include talented beauties Halle Berry, Rosamund Pike and Eva Green Although the buzz around who will land the role of Bond girl is growing, the film is not expected to be released until at least 2018. Producer Barbara Broccoli has two other projects firmly underway and is said to be keen to tempt Daniel Craig into reprising his role as the titular character for the fifth time. Holding her own: Her breakout role was as DiCaprio's feisty wife, Naomi, on Wolf of Wall Street, which her portrayal earned her international acclaim - and showed off her gorgeous legs to the world

Next week will see the conclusion of the 12th season of The Bachelorette, as Joelle 'JoJo' Fletcher gets engaged to either Jordan Rodgers or Robby Hayes. And according to a new report, there's set to be a dramatic break-up ahead of the romantic proposal. Us Weekly claims that JoJo comes to the difficult decision of choosing between the two suitors after one of them makes a big mistake with her parents Joseph and Soraya. Family matters: Joelle 'JoJo' Fletcher apparently picks her fiance in next week's Bachelorette finale after one of the men makes a big mistake with her parents Who will it be?: Jordan Rodgers (L) and Robby Hayes are the two men left in the competition, and one of them allegedly gets sent packing after failing to ask JoJo's parents for her hand in marriage lace front wigsThe runner-up gets dumped after failing to ask the 25-year-old's parents' for her hand in marriage, and during the emotional rejection, JoJo confesses that she wanted things to turn out differently. 'JoJo was sobbing,' a source told Us Weekly. 'She told him, “I wanted it to be you.”' The insider added: 'It was important to JoJo that the guys get her parents’ permission before proposing. JoJo viewed it as disrespectful that he didn’t.' Us Weekly claims that JoJo's family liked both of the finalists, but thought that the man she eventually picks was better suited to her. Favourite from the start: Jordan received the First Impression Rose and his relationship with JoJo has gone from strength to strength ever since Not true: The 27-year-old former quarterback has denied that he cheated on his last girlfriend

'Everyone thought he was husband material,' a source said. 'Later, they told JoJo that they liked the other man too, but they thought the second would be more loyal and a better fit.' And speaking about the family's meeting with the runner-up, the insider revealed: 'After he left, Soraya said she thought he was a player.' It seems that JoJo did make the right decision however, as she is apparently still very happily engaged to the winner. She likes what she sees: JoJo has also fallen in love with former competitive swimmer Robby, 27 Denying the rumours: Robby has refuted claims that he dumped his girlfriend to appear on the show cosplay wigsFormer quarterback Jordan, 27, has been a favourite to win the show from night one, when JoJo presented him with the First Impression Rose. Show secrets: Us Weekly revealed details of the dramatic finale And while on Monday's episode of the show he was seen telling the real estate developer that asking her father's permission to propose would be very important to him, a clip for the finale showed JoJo asking if he is ready to get down on one knee. Both of the finalists have faced rumours about past relationships, with Jordan's ex Brittany Farrar claiming that they broke up because she cheated on him. He denied this to JoJo on the show. The footballer is estranged from his famous NFL star brother Aaron, whose girlfriend Olivia Munn is close pals with Jordan's ex-girlfriend. Aaron finally addressed his younger brother speaking about their fraught relationship on the show during an interview with WISN on Tuesday. 'As far as those kinds of things go, I've always found that it's a little inappropriate to talk publicly about some family matters, so I'm not going to speak on those things,' he said. 'But I wish him well in the competition.' Meanwhile a friend of Robby's ex-girlfriend Hope Higginbotham has claimed that he dumped her in order to go on The Bachelorette, something which he denied during last week's hometown dates. The Bachelorette finale followed by the After The Final Rose special will air on ABC on Monday. She made the right choice: JoJo is apparently still happily engaged to the winner, who popped the question in May. The finale airs on ABC on Monday

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