Day 145 - 29 Jun 95 - Page 49


     
     1        highly decentralised organisation where you empower people
     2        to make decisions.
     3
     4   Q.   You of course have the complete right of making decisions
     5        on your own, as you have just said about 10 minutes ago?
     6        A.  I have the right to make certain decisions absolutely.
     7
     8   Q.   So decentralised are you, but you cannot think of any
     9        departmental minutes or records about policies or
    10        guidelines that have been kept going back for a number of
    11        years?
    12        A.  Not that I can think of offhand.
    13
    14   Q.   Does that mean there are not any?
    15        A.  To my knowledge there are not any.  I am not interested
    16        in old history.  I am interested in what is the situation
    17        today, what do we need to address the situation.  Then I
    18        make my decision and move forward.  The fact we did
    19        something a certain way yesterday does not mean I should do
    20        it the same way today.
    21
    22   MS. STEEL:  Mr. Stein, you said you never lacked for information
    23        if you needed it, that there are always people around who
    24        you can ask for their recollection of what ----
    25        A.  If it becomes necessary, yes.
    26
    27   Q.   Do they all have crystal clear memories and never have an
    28        argument about what they remember even 20 years ago?
    29        A.  No.  There are sometimes some really good discussions
    30        that take place when that happens, but so be it, we then
    31        sit down and figure it out.  The essential thing in
    32        business is what is the performance outcome you are looking
    33        for; what is the result you are trying to achieve; what is
    34        the goal, and then you work yourself towards at that goal
    35        and then make your decision based upon what you think will
    36        get you to that goal.  Just because something was done a
    37        certain way in the past does not mean it is the way to do
    38        it in the future.  In fact, if you get log jammed with the
    39        past you are not going to be creative and thoughtful about
    40        how to deal with the current situation.  History is not
    41        where it is at.  It is being able to evaluate the current
    42        situation and make valid judgment decisions.
    43
    44   Q.   If you had minute of the meetings that took place over the
    45        last 20 years you would not have o try to carry all that
    46        around in your memory.
    47
    48   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I think it is comment, you know, because you
    49        have been over it a number of times with Mr. Stein and you
    50        have asked other people as well about it.  It has reached 
    51        arguing with the witness now, when you should argue to me 
    52        if you feel it is significant in due course. 
    53
    54   MR. MORRIS:  It is a practice, is it not, when there is ever
    55        some kind of legal action that a party has access to
    56        Corporation documents, can apply for discovery in the USA,
    57        can they not, if it is relevant?
    58        A.  Yes, sure.  Of course discovery is absolutely allowable
    59        in the US.
    60

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