Case Study 1 - Supermarket Chain (第三集)

Topic: Corporate Turnaround
Business: Supermarket Chain
Type: Retail
Place: Pahang, Malaysia
Annual Turnover: < RM10 million

Issue & Problem 2: Seniority

There are evidences that Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) may result seniority problems as the problem of integrating two (or more) employee groups under a single management. In the case of this supermarket chain, a fresh group of seniors were actually brought in to facilitate the entire Corporate Turnaround project, however, the integration between the old and new had likely created havoc particularly by the existing seniors - the opposing party.

Nonetheless, two actions (a matter of kind or cruel) were implemented. First, was to freeze; second was to dismiss.

During the transition, probably within first three months, commands (or instructions) to march the soldiers (or team) ought to be unified. In the event of employing an officer through ignorance of the military discipline, this shakes the confidence of the team, communicated message becomes uncertain. For instance, a simple instruction from a General Manager to the managerial level could have more than a version. No doubt, actions would have taken place. 

As Sun Tzu taught, "the General that hearkens to my counsel and acts upon it, will conquer, let such a one be retained in command; The General that hearkens not to my counsel nor acts upon it, will suffer defeat, let such a one be dismissed." [1]

《孫子兵法》 第一篇 始计篇

将领听从我的计策，任用他必胜，我就留下他；将领不听从我的计策，任用他必败，我就辞退他。

[1] Lionel Giles (2000), Sun Tzu: The Art of War, 2000, The Internet Classics Archive by Daniel C. Stevenson, 1994-2000, Web Atomics.