Humbled Carrefour bids adieu to S'pore market

[Jared Seah]

Those who like to analyse companies BEFORE investing in them, I guess they will not be surprised by the retrenchment of their own job by their own company?

I remember attending a company presentation on a new planned ERP like roll-out some years back, and after the presentation I turned to a senior ang moh colleague(mentor) and told him I see 1/4 of our colleagues will disappear... He turned to me with a serious look and simply said, "1/3".

From that day on, I made sure I was part of the change management process (cheerleader and change driver) and there's no plastic sheet beneath my feet*.

2 years later, the axe started (after the partial IT roll-out). Relocations, re-engineering, downsizing, outsourcing, you name it! You'll be surprised how many who were with me in the same presentation 2 years ago who were "surprised" when they lost their jobs...


Just like investing, it pays to see the change in the wind EARLY, POSITION, and ACT before the rest of the market wise up.


* From Mel Gibson's Lethal Weapon 2 movie - invite into the office with plastic sheet, whack, and wrap the body with the plastic sheet.
Don't get blood on the carpet. Clinical.

[corydorus]

Since when loyalty comes into play. Is always a Contract between you and the company.

If your value is much more than they pay you, likely you will survive. Some people mix up Years of Experience with Value contribution. The former only means higher cost.

Personally seen countless retrenchment and re-org. What keeps me is by ensuring contribution Value is above my Cost so much so now that it has become a curse even if i like to be retrenched.