Chapter 19

The First Companywide Cost After Action Review

The first, full Cost Review meeting filled our largest conference room. Department manager attendance was required, and many had brought key subordinates. The chairman gave his first lesson of the day in command and control when the first presenter, the Quality Control Department manager, tried to redirect a question from the chairman to one of his subordinates.

“Now, now,” he said. “My expectation is that you should be able to answer that question.”

“But Robert, I am not micromanaging all the details. I’ve got great people, and I want them to run their areas.”

“Of course, so do I. But when there is a variance of this size, that’s a signal that you need to get involved. This isn’t micromanagement, ...

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