Knights Templar Inspired Business Moves at ULA
Lockheed-Boeing venture lays off 12 executives in major reorganization, Reuters
“United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Corp and Boeing Co, on Friday said it was cutting its executive ranks by 30 percent in December through what it called voluntary departures by 12 executives. Tory Bruno, chief executive of the venture, told Reuters in an emailed statement the layoffs were part of ULA’s ongoing efforts to adapt to what he called “an increasingly competitive business environment” and redesign its leadership team. ULA, formed by the two largest U.S. weapons makers in 2006, has long been the sole company able to launch U.S. military and intelligence satellites into orbit, but the Air Force expects to certify a new rival, privately-held Space Exploration Technologies, to compete for some of those launches next month.”
@chronsciguy Maybe we'll hear how @torybruno applies medieval management lessons from his book "Templar Incorporated" http://t.co/YJopR56nRy
— NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) March 17, 2015
@chronsciguy @torybruno wrote 2 books on Knights Templar business skills. They were all slaughtered. Should be fun. pic.twitter.com/TE1ERSYuTW
— NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) March 17, 2015
Ah, the ole’ fire personnel to cut costs trick. You might be next Mr. Bruno.
Laying off some fat cats from the top level of management sounds to me like a good idea. They make the most money and produce the least.
However, please keep the technicians and engineers. They can improve the product, get more efficient and less expensive. This may allow ULA to compete with “New Space”.
“get more efficient and less expensive”. You crack me up.
isn’t that what engineers do? make things more efficient and less expensive?
We try, but are often thwarted by the “bean counters” and upper management. An example at ULA has been the string of published papers related to “next generation” upper stages dating back many years. But none of that has been funded for development, and won’t even be in the first iteration of ULA’s Vulcan launch vehicle.
When upper management is satisfied with the government pork and profits that are rolling in, where is the incentive to make things more efficient and less expensive? There is none, because efficiency means less revenue when you’re essentially working on “cost plus” style contracts.
Engineers work towards functionality with efficiency and cost secondary unless forced (or simply allowed) as a priority. Engineers also tend towards feature creep. Plus they aren’t always elegant in design thinking. That is art not science.
I recall a story (which may actually be true) that the engineers would bring the company president their prototype TV designs. This was in the days of vacuum tubes and discrete components connected with point-to-point wiring. He would take wire cutters and clip one wire at a time. If the TV stopped working it was re-attached. Otherwise, that part was left off.
BTW – I assume he used the old rule of high voltage repair – keep one hand wrapped thru your pants belt back around your back.
I wonder how many of those let go were former Air Force (or other DoD employees) given a cushy job after they retired from government. Of course, ULA never violated any laws in doing this, but one has to wonder what the value these employees added to ULA (other than keeping current Air Force personnel happy with the knowledge that ULA might give them a very nice salary after they retire).
You cannot make this stuff up. I am chuckling. I needed a laugh and this delivers.
I wonder if some ULA mission will carry a secret decoder ring into orbit only to be retrieved at a future date. The possibilities are endless.
Not a particularly effective business plan…..
http://www.templarinfernobo…
The Templers were a fantastically successful multi-national organization for around 2 centuries. They were repressed in France by a jealous (and bankrupt) King, but actually few of the Templers were caught, and even fewer killed. They mostly succumbed to lack of mission, and therefore political support, as the crusades ended.
The Grand Master was burned at the stake – not good news for Mr. Bruno. And NASA also succumbs to lack of defined
mission.
And the Arthurian legends (Python- above) are well before Templer times.
look at the Japanese business structure (I worked for Honda) there were total of five levels of work. Me on the lowest to president of company in Japan. cutting useless memojockeys is the easiest way to make company profitable
Keith, you’ve teased Mr. Bruno before about the Knights Templar thing. I’m curious, is it good-natured ribbing or do you have an issue with the way he runs his company? Have you read the books? I just ordered the pair on Amazon and if you’re interested I’d be happy to send them your way when I’m finished, pro bono.
Actually its teasing and a little commentary. So far Tory Bruno has shown himself to be a good sport and its always fun to have a good back and forth with someone like that. As for the offer – thanks but I am behind on my reading – but please post your comments here after you have read them. I am a bit of a history buff so I am somewhat familiar with the Knights Templar and their role in commerce. Of course, they were all eventually slaughtered so …
And so Arthur and Bedemir and Sir Robin set out on their search to find the enchanter of whom [Tory Bruno] had spoken of in Scene 24. Beyond the forest they met [Lockheed] and [Boeing], and there was much rejoicing. “Yaaaaay!” *waving tiny flags*
In the frozen land of [Denver] they were forced to eat Robin’s minstrels.
And there was much rejoicing. “Yaaaaaay!” *waving tiny flags*
We are the Execs that say “Nay!”