The EVA Challenge: Implementing Value-Added Change in an ...
The EVA Challenge: Implementing Value-Added Change in an ...
The EVA Challenge: Implementing Value-Added Change in an ...
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Acknowledgments 235<br />
monitor<strong>in</strong>g m<strong>an</strong>agement behavior, especially employ<strong>in</strong>g compensation<br />
structures that more closely align m<strong>an</strong>agement <strong>an</strong>d shareholder<br />
<strong>in</strong>terests. His paper on free cash flow <strong>in</strong> the mid-1980s certa<strong>in</strong>ly<br />
demonstrated the d<strong>an</strong>ger of hoard<strong>in</strong>g surplus assets <strong>in</strong> the firm <strong>an</strong>d<br />
the threat to shareholder <strong>in</strong>terest should such assets be used to<br />
cross-subsidize poor return<strong>in</strong>g projects. His Harvard Bus<strong>in</strong>ess Review<br />
paper <strong>in</strong> 1989, “Eclipse of the Public Corporation,” caused considerable<br />
support <strong>an</strong>d conflict at Stern Stewart. Several of our professional<br />
staff felt his observations were correct <strong>an</strong>d served as a<br />
fundamental stimulus to my colleague’s book, <strong>The</strong> Quest for <strong>Value</strong>,<br />
<strong>in</strong> which Bennett Stewart suggests us<strong>in</strong>g high-debt ratios, possibly<br />
down deep <strong>in</strong>to the firm (perhaps even <strong>in</strong> ph<strong>an</strong>tom form), <strong>in</strong> order<br />
to extract value <strong>an</strong>d to encourage m<strong>in</strong>imum waste.<br />
Others <strong>in</strong> the firm believed that Professor Jensen’s concerns<br />
could be overcome by contractually obligat<strong>in</strong>g the firm <strong>in</strong> carefully<br />
designed <strong>in</strong>centive structures that would expunge the surplus to<br />
shareholders <strong>an</strong>d would activate all employees, not just m<strong>an</strong>agement,<br />
to become value-ch<strong>an</strong>ge agents. Firms <strong>in</strong> mature, smokestack<br />
<strong>in</strong>dustries that might have been given up for dead would prove<br />
under the latter format to be merely dorm<strong>an</strong>t <strong>an</strong>d, with the proper<br />
<strong>EVA</strong> motivation <strong>an</strong>d m<strong>in</strong>d-set ch<strong>an</strong>ges, truly tremendous value-enh<strong>an</strong>c<strong>in</strong>g<br />
energies would be released. <strong>The</strong>se are the real stories at<br />
Briggs & Stratton, Herm<strong>an</strong> Miller, <strong>an</strong>d SPX, to mention only the<br />
most obvious.<br />
I most certa<strong>in</strong>ly th<strong>an</strong>k Bri<strong>an</strong> Walker at Herm<strong>an</strong> Miller, Inc., for<br />
his commitment <strong>an</strong>d drive to make <strong>EVA</strong> work <strong>in</strong> his firm, where a<br />
Sc<strong>an</strong>lon approach had been used <strong>an</strong>d became quite popular. John<br />
Blystone, a true <strong>in</strong>tellect from General Electric, rescued SPX, where<br />
<strong>EVA</strong> had yet to be implemented. Upon his arrival at SPX, John recognized<br />
the critical contribution <strong>EVA</strong> could make. And across national<br />
boundaries, success has come at Siemens <strong>in</strong> Munich, Tate &<br />
Lyle <strong>in</strong> London, Orkla <strong>in</strong> Oslo, Lafarge <strong>in</strong> Paris, each with chief executive<br />
officers <strong>an</strong>d f<strong>in</strong><strong>an</strong>ce directors who recognize the susta<strong>in</strong>able