Private Adparthad

[Audren Sykes]

Staff meetings were not fun. Then again, this was a different sort of staff meeting. This was a brainstorming meeting, which meant that the individuals attending would - should - be productive rather than a typical staff meeting. If it wasn't, then he would need to make personnel replacements at very high levels.

Attendees in this particular case were somewhat varied. Audren was there of course, his cousin Korynn too. Some of the others included were directors or above from both of his organizations, with a grand total of ten attendees. Other than him they were the movers and shakers of the business: when they said jump employees jumped. They also knew the businesses - and understood the business world inside and out. He didn't know nearly as much about either side but he had the ideas of where he wanted to go and was the owner, and thus the bankroll.

With these particular companies - primarily with Ceredir - the credcoin literally stopped at Audren. There was no board of directors and no shareholders; it was a privately-held commpany. He'd started it himself and built it from the ground up, eventually getting to the point where Ceredir bought TransGalMeg outright. He was responsible for thousands of livelihoods even outside his responsibilities as a Jedi, and he took that seriously. What he had in mind for this meeting - for this project - would enhance the possibilities for everyone.

"Thanks for coming everyone. Up front, I will say that this meeting - and subsequent meetings - fall under the condition of confidentiality. The details are not to be discussed with anyone who's not currently present. If anyone would like to leave may do so."

Ten...fifteen...thirty seconds passed. Nobody left. The Jedi continued with a nod.

"Very well. I want to make some organizational changes and am looking for options on how to do so.

Currently, Ceredir and TGM are two separate companies, entirely independent of each other with the exception of Ceredir owning TGM. Leadership, organization, goals, sales leads...everything. On top of that, the companies are somewhat varied in their operations. TGM operates mines as well as creates starships while Ceredir forges armor, weapons, and general stuff. Diversification is good but might be better organized; not to mention that some of what each company does can help the other. Plus there's more that falls between them that hasn't been touched yet."

He paused there for a minute, very much feeling like he hadn't gotten his point across. After some dead silence he realized what he'd missed: the point. Just as he was about to speak however, to get back into it, one of the others present piped up.

"So what is it you're asking of us, what are you trying to do?"

"I want the two companies to become one without losing the customers of either."

 

[Audren Sykes]

It was no big deal right? Take two companies, one of which having existed in the galaxy in one shade or another for over eight hundred years, and make them one. Do so without losing any of the competitive advantages, resources, or customer base of either. Oh, and keep completely silent about it until it's done. This would be a monumental tasking, something that would likely give corporate lawyers and financial experts fits for years to come.

The what was clear. The how not so much, but that was why this meeting had been scheduled. To his mind internal employees were more trustworthy than hiring an external firm to make suggestions and implement changes: the employees had skin in the game already, and if their positions were to improve based on the project results then that was incentive to help. An external company had only legal documents to ensure confidentiality and carried the significant possibility of trying to get more and more money. If anyone in the organization could chart a path for this project it was those in this room, the business titans of the company.

"It's possible. What kind of expansion do you have in mind?"

The Pau'an who spoke was Lestru Desyck. He was formally educated and had since spent dozens of years in the business world. He currently held a director's chair at TransGalMeg, and there were more than a few suggestions that he had a promotion fast approaching. The man was nearing one hundred standard years old, but like the Sephi his species enjoyed an extended lifetime. He could afford to bide his time and make slow but sure moves, consolidating his base before taking a step. This was a being that lived and breathed business strategy, and the reason he worked for TGM was because he wanted to.

"Automaton and medical are the options that easily come to mind. Those will allow for further expansion, potentially even stepping into service industries such as transport rather than simply releasing products. Everything we expand into - if we do so well - opens additional places to expand."

Lestru nodded his head slowly. His mind was clearly moving at light speed, casting around at the options and the best ways to implement them. Others at the table were doing the same, with one of them even scribbling on the electronic pad in front of him. They could see the potential. It was ambitious, and while that was something Audren rarely was this was one time he meant to follow through on. If they stuck with it and stepped smartly, the profits could be immense. The wrong move could spell disaster however.

"Do you have any details in mind currently or are we starting from scratch?"

"Both, kind of. Right now we've got two companies - two brand names handling four to six different markets. Split out the brands, let them focus on and grow their own market without conflicting interests. Depending on market penetraion maybe add other companies in the same vein with a different focus."

"Divisions then. Mining, starships, weapons."

"That could work, absolutely."

"Actually..."

Attention once again returned to Lestru. He was scribbling on his datapad, finishing a 'page' on the screen then flipping to a new one. Without asking - something Audren wholly approved of in this case - the man flipped on the holoprojector and started syncing his datapad up to it. As the image flickered to life and mirrored his screen, he resumed talking.

"Divisions are good. Just considering what's been suggested right now though, you'd be looking at four divisions: armor and weapons, appliances, vehicles, and mines. That's absolutely manageable. But what happens when we start expanding? Add automaton and medical and you've got six divisions. Add transport services and there are seven. Any expansion will start crowding the structure fast."

The first projected screen showed a basic organization structure. Audren was a single point at the top, followed by the block that was Ceredir. Beneath that block were four blocks, each labeled with the division subject matter, and lines beneath each division suggesting the chart carried on further. The second screen added two divisions, then the next a third, and the screen was starting to get noticeably cramped. A potential problem, sure, but Audren couldn't see what to do about it. Fortunately - or unfortunately - he wasn't the only one.

"Growth is a part of any good plan, other than the size of the screen you're drawing on I don't see a problem."

It wasn't so much the wording that caught Audren's attention but the tone that was used. His attention turned entirely to the Bothan, giving him a measuring glance. A quick read through the Force suggested the anthropoid was annoyed with a hint of insult, suggesting that the comments had been taken as a personal slight. Not a fantastic result in an open brainstorming session like this one. The Pau'an either didn't notice or ignored it, he responded evenly.

"It's too abrupt of a termination at the upper levels that way. In an optimal scenario there's a gradual narrowing where all seven divisions won't necessarily be competing for internal resources."

"You want to add more management levels."

Now that was something Audren didn't want. A top-heavy organization might start out great but would swiftly burn itself out. He took a breath and began to chime in to that effect but Lestru responded quicker. He did catch the beginning of the interjection though.

"Please, let me explain. Technically yes, it would be more levels, which would necessitate more managers. But it would be an additional structure entirely. Group the divisions into business units, that way they can allocate within particular markets more accurately. Audren here won't have to try and provide a singular business direction for seven different divisions who's public demand may be wildly differing from each other."

That drew most of the group up short as they began to think. Audren and Vic Niy'laas - the Bothan - were included in those who paused to consider. The scribbled boxes projected in the air now included those business units, and while the screen was still crowded it was a more organized crowded. In this case, as with most, organized was good. If they organized now it would likely save considerable pain and allow simpler expansion later. This was worth seriously considering.

 

[Audren Sykes]

"Forgive me for this, but with this level - this type of restructuring, it looks like you're priming the company to split and sell."

The Sephi sat back, considering. Selling wasn't part of his plan at this point so he hadn't considered that, but when he shifted perspective he could absolutely see that viewpoint. Then again, with the current structuring and absolutely no reorganization that viewpoint was almost just as valid. Keeping TGM as a separate entity indeed put it in a prime position to be sold if the right opportunity came along. He hadn't heard any offers and hadn't been looking at recent competitor movements, and quiet incoming feelers could very well have been intercepted by Korynn.

"I can see where you're coming from. All I can really offer in response is that I'm not planning on selling - be it parts or names - in the foreseeable future. In fact, I'm thinking about making a change that would complicate selling a bit."

The others glanced around a bit, and even Korynn glanced at him questioningly. He hadn't told her this part...he hadn't told any of them. This was a subset of the other idea, and with the other sounding feasible he wanted to bring this up. The term reorganization would describe it...but it would be more aptly described as streamlining to his perspective.

"Currently - and theoretically post-restructure - we've got some overlap. Each area has their own personnel, legal, and finance departments, and more. Now, there's always going to be a need for knowledge specific to the company, division, or business unit but it doesn't make sense to have that overlap repeated time and again. It would be more effective to make a core group - a division maybe - that centralizes these teams. They can provide the general support while subsets of those teams can remain dedicated to the individual brand or division."

A few more of the team had their datapads out and were flicking through details now. One person that Audren focused in on looked up from her datapad at a cohort and gave a subtle expression and gesture that he interpreted as 'it could work'.

"Which brings up the point of layoffs."

"With any restructuring there are positions that get eliminated. Others tend to open up however, and with the framework we've been discussing I don't see a whole lot of jobs disappearing, mostly just moving around. Those positions that do get downsized would likely be due to overlap upon consolidation to the central group, and those would be the first to be offered other posts they qualify for. The ideal goal would be no job losses with only lateral movements and I'm willing to put the effort in to get as close to that ideal as possible."

There were several nods from around the table. Not everyone of course, but a majority.

"It has potential. What next?"

"Now this working group takes the ideas and makes them actionable. Korynn?"

"Ideas to an outline. Outline to a larger working group to be fleshed out to a framework. Implementation of framework into production."

"Then let's get started."

 

[Audren Sykes]

That particular meeting had continued for another two hours. Given this was a relatively off-books meeting, that was about as much time as they could have allotted to it. The work continued however, with each of them - including Audren - having tasks that needed doing. They weren't exactly easy tasks, but they weren't inordinately difficult. Unless, of course, they had to do them in as complete secrecy as possible.

In the end, it took nearly a month before they were in a position to move forward. Meetings were held ever three days or so, though irregularly scheduled. Audren found it very annoying that it was taking that long, but in a separate meeting Korynn made it clear that this was actually moving at lightspeed. At a public company the current phase of the project would likely have taken half a year, if not longer, and been required to utilize an outside consulting firm for a significant portion of that. It would be less efficient and more public, as well as more expensive. There would also have been oversight and far more intensive analysis to verify that the results were likely to be profitable. As with everything in this company however, the risk lay on the Sephi's shoulders.

The outlines had been locked in place and the various experts in the brainstorming group had given their approvals. Finance, legal, business operations...the high level overviews suggested the project could be done and would have a net positive result. With that in mind it was time to go to the business leadership.

Another staff meeting. This one far larger than the brainstorming group. Nearly every individual who held a director and above position was required to attend, with nearly a quarter attending via remote link. The Jedi was fully aware that it was the very early morning hours for some of those remote; with operations spanning multiple worlds across a large swath of the galaxy it had been impossible to schedule during everyone's waking hours. Their invitations had included polite apologies.

At three minutes after the hour, a chime was rung to start the meeting and the general hum of background discussions faded.

"Thank you for attending. I..."

"You didn't give us a choice. Are you finally going to tell us what your secret meetings with certain others are about?"

"Yes, if you allow me to continue."

It was not a polite answer. Then again, the question hadn't been polite and the interruption less so. The room had immediately buzzed to life with side conversations, both from those who'd suspected the meetings and those who hadn't known about them. The Sephi was himself surprised that the Ishi Tib knew about them but didn't blink an eye before responding. Hesitation would be seen as admitting to doing something untoward, and a business owner meeting with business employees was decidedly not that. The being didn't reply, just sat back, so Audren continued.

"As I was saying. I don't normally make speeches and this will be close to one, so I'll get to the point.

I've recently been thinking about the future of the companies. Both are doing well, but I think we could be doing better. I have made the decision to merge the two companies into one and restructure accordingly. As this will affect everyone involved in both companies I tapped several others to go over the ideas and make corrections or stop critical mistakes. The corrections have been integrated and they have given their go-ahead. Details are to remain confidential until formal announcements are made to the general employee populace."

Truth, from a certain point of view. If things went through successfully those involved would get the credit they deserved. If something failed along the way...the blame would lie with him.

"With the exception of special cases, the Ceredir Industries brand name will no longer directly produce products. Rather, it will be similar to - but not the same as - a holding company. Business units will be created, each with divisions within. Divisions will themselves orient around a product category, and each will have one or more brand names. These brand names will remain the public faces of the company. One of the several advantages of this method is that it will allow simple restructuring in the future: if a brand's business markets expand enough to become a division, or a division's enough to become a business unit, it will just be a organization change rather than rebuilding.

One of the few divisions that will fall directly under Ceredir will be an internal-only division. This will be made up of various services common to all of the units such as personnel, finance, and legal, possibly more. Divisions and business units will retain specialists in these areas but will work closely with the internal division.

Are there any questions?"

"It sounds like you're prepping to sell off an area, or maybe to go public. Is that the case?"

"I can see how it could look that way, but if it were I'd be embedding the support teams fully within their divisions or brands. The single support division will make things simpler long-term, but also more co-dependent and complicated when it comes to sales. However, I have no intention of going public. Good question though, I'd like to eventually put together frameworks for integrations and divestitures and welcome thoughts. Anyone else?"

"You said integrations. Are you looking to expand the company?"

"There are several markets similar to those we currently find ourselves in where we could easily expand to, so yes. Whether we start from the ground up or purchase and integrate an existing company or companies would be determined at that point."

"Layoffs?"

"Not if we can help it. Any that do occur would likely be seen when support teams migrate to the division and position duplication occurs. Employees in downsized positions will be offered other jobs within the company, laterally if possible. Overall I expect a minor increase in available jobs before the company expands to new business areas."

There were no other questions, for at least fifteen seconds. There was some rustling, a throat being cleared. Taking this as a sign that the questions were done for now, Audren made eye contact with one of the directors present and gave a nod. Said director - a leading member of the information systems teams - entered a command on his datapad. He watched the screen for several seconds before his gaze returned to the Sephi's and a return nod was given.

"Each of you will shortly be receiving a link pointing to a working directory that you now have access to. Each of you will be a part of at least one team with specific goals. Your actions will allow us to move project Standing Article into fruition. I am aware that some of these tasks will require working teams; you will need to carefully select these teams and receive final approval from me for them. Last chance for general questions before we get to work."

There were none, and at that point work started in earnest.