Challenges with new system
- Board realizes that past decade "old" performance measure did not align with shareowner value: EPS grew by 9%, share prices only slightly
- Board asks for a new performance measure to
- better align manager objectives with shareholder goals
- create a more objective incentive system
- Management confusion despite repeated trainings
- No understanding of the new system some even used old system instead
- Demotivation in "Spirits": due to rezession and low profit, managers had negative balances in bonus bank
- Resulting in internal conflicts about fairness of system regarding failure due to external factors
- EP (increased) and share price (decreased) not aligned as predicted
Anual Planning
Introduction of "Economic Profit"
1. Division transmits target to HQ
2. HQ compares Division target with EPS target
- EP = NOPAT - (Capital x Cost of Capital)
- To better match cost and benefits hence relationship of economic profit and share price
- Consultants made two adjustments to their model
- Advertising expenses capitalized and amortized in straight line over 3 years
- All goodwill amortization expense added to operating earnings
- Automatic set of annual targets (75% exceeding or falling short of last year's target) without negotiation
- Incentive system: no thresholds, no caps
- Bonus for senior managers from 20-100% of salary
- Bonus paid into bonus bank except for 25% that was paid out additional to the target bonus
3. If needed Division adjusts target to meet EPS target