A Fiduciary Crime

Staff

Last week in my column, we asked you "Have you ever seen a strong personality exert their influence on a large capital project?"

100 percent of respondents answered yes.

We then asked, "What was the outcome?"

Comments:

> Actually a quite successful product line.

> Jim: This is partially second hand. We had a new chief engineer in Mass. for a new plant. He put the coating prep room a long way from the coating head - instead of just through the wall. Also, the lacquer delivery lines were grossly over-sized system. There was no provision made for running from portables. It was a high value operation so just setting up to coat cost an arm and a leg. Apparently at his previous job he had grossly undersized the supply. He knew all the answers but was too arrogant to learn what the questions were. Fortunately the coater contract was let before he came on board. Plant didn't make money for 10 years.

> Poor design

> Some very positive results when the strong personality had the expertise and made the right choices. Some very negative results for the opposite reason. Typically, it is highly dependant upon the knowledge, skill and judgement of the strong personality.

> Time gain

Want to get a jump on the surveys? Follow me on twitter, where they are posted early. You can do this here. (note: all respondents are confidential; the software is programmed in such a way that neither we nor anyone else can determine who responded)

 

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