Truly industrial scale stupidity
I used to work for what was, at one time, the largest manufacturing company in the British Empire. It was a household name which employed over 100,000 people. It invented many products which we take for granted today, and had a huge turnover. Then in the 1990s it decided to transform itself, meaning buy a load of new businesses, in the hope of increasing margins and reducing dependence on the commodity chemical cycle. To do this it sold off its most profitable chemical businesses. However, it failed to integrate the new purchases, and ended up selling most of those as well. Within 10 years of initiating this strategy the company had shrunk to just a couple of divisions, which were purchased by another chemical giant. Today this 'bellweather of the British economy' is just a memory.
(Smale is stuffed, Tue 28 Feb 2012, 9:46, 7 replies)

cool story, bro.

( janet aylia y'all motherfuckers need jesus, Tue 28 Feb 2012, 10:35, closed)

Oh man, this one is right up there with the bloke talking about train tickets.

( Amorous Badger NAKED BEA ARTHUR PHOTOS 4U, Tue 28 Feb 2012, 21:26, closed)

What
was it called?
(username failed moderation, Tue 28 Feb 2012, 11:05, closed)

I'd guess
ICI
(skgorsky, Tue 28 Feb 2012, 11:17, closed)

Ah, OK.

(username failed moderation, Tue 28 Feb 2012, 13:55, closed)

Yep It's Imperial Chemical Industries

( Terry Oblong There's nobody here but us chickens on, Tue 28 Feb 2012, 11:18, closed)

ICI what you did there

(Sir Tainley Barking Ezekiel 23:20, Tue 28 Feb 2012, 11:30, closed)