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Using Resources During Battle
By Adam
Radzik
Consultant to Professional Firms
Americans remember with anger the March 16, 1836, storming of the Alamo Mission in San Antonio, Texas, by the Mexican army, under the command of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, and the ensuing massacre that killed 257 Texians, including the famous Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett.
 Five weeks later, on April 21 in San Jacinto, 900 men under the command of Sam Houston led a surprise attack against the general and in 18 minutes vanquished a force that was almost 40 percent larger. Hundreds of Mexican soldiers were killed or captured, while only nine Texians died. Santa Anna fled from the battle and attempted to blend into the retreating troops but was identified by his brightly colored silk underwear. Three weeks later Santa Anna was forced to sign documents pledging the withdrawal of all Mexican troops from Texas. He was imprisoned for six months and returned to Mexico where he was received in disgrace.
As the general, Santa Anna was ultimately responsible for the deployment of resources: the decision to post sentries around the perimeter of the camp, when to use the cavalry; how many rifles to purchase; the best use of sharpshooters; when to push the men for another mile and when to allow them to rest; the number of horses to purchase and from which horse breeder; how often to clean their one cannon; which officers to promote and which to demote; the need for fresh troops to replace exhausted veterans; how often to send out scouting parties; what decisions about discipline should be relegated to sergeants; who should deal with the beans, beans and more beans diet; and hundreds of other decisions. He was making decisions about how to use his resources during a war – the war that the Mexican government was waging against the rebellious Texians who were seeking independence. General Santa Anna, who was also President of Mexico at the time, made a series of poor judgments about his resources and the resources of the opposing forces and thereby lost everything.
The clients for whom I have consulted over the last 30 years have heard me say repeatedly that business is war – economic war.
This persistent recession that has America by the throat is certainly an economic war, and businesses must ask themselves the following questions about how they utilize their resources:
- Do we have the right talent to get the job done?
- Are we using our most talented people in the most beneficial manner possible?
- Are our people making tangible progress resolving our most significant problems?
- Are we properly evaluating our managerial talent?
- Are we adequately responding to positive behavior or positive news?
- Are we adequately responding to undesirable behavior or undesirable news?
- Are our Managers and employees doing enough?
- In spite of the recession, is morale where it should be?
- Is the company plan moving the company forward, making the company stronger, making the company more resilient, putting the company on a more sure footing?
- Are we headed in the right direction? Are we sure?
In summary, it will be the deployment and utilization of our resources that will determine the future of our companies.
Comedy Corner
Q. What is an economic stimulus payment?
A. It is money that the federal government will send to the taxpayers.
Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From the taxpayers.
Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. No, they are borrowing it from China. Your children and your grandchildren will be expected to repay the Chinese.
Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.
Q. But isn’t that stimulating the economy of China?
A. You know, Congressman, I’m getting sick and tired of all your damn questions!
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