Wednesday 17 October 2007

Landscaping - the hard way

Saw this in the SMH yesterday:

The program will largely be based on the work of a private firm, Boston Consulting Group, which has been contracted by RailCorp to conduct the survey and recommend changes to the network's industrial landscape and work practices.

I love how they describe dealing with bloody-minded unionists the "industrial landscape". Having noted the generally sullen and downcast mien of many rail staff, and the generally obstructionist and Ludditish positions that union officials take to every announcement, the industrial landscape conjures up images of Mordor. I've never thought of it that way before, but most of those bitter and twisted station staff, and the mad maintenance staff, can now be thought of as orcs.

Is Vince Graham the magician on a white horse? I doubt it. He reminds me more of a Hobbit.

The only way they are going to change the place is to sack the bottom 10% of the workforce every year for at least 10 years. They simply need to evaluate everyone every 12 months, and cast off those that have the least chance of getting with the program. You could probably cut 30-40% in the first year, but recruiting replacements for that many could be difficult, so I'd stick with 10%.

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