Chainsaw : the notorious career of Al Dunlap in the era of profit-at-any-price / John A. Byrne.

Format:

• Book

Author/Creator:

• Byrne, John A.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

• Sunbeam Corporation.
• Securities industry--United States--History--20th century.
• History.
• Investments.
• Speculation.
• Wall Street (New York, N.Y.)--History--20th century.
• Securities industry.
• United States.
• Dunlap, Albert J. (Albert John), 1937-2019.
• Speculation--United States--History--20th century.
• Investments--United States--History--20th century.
• Sunbeam Corporation--History.

Genre:

• Dictionaries.

Physical Description:

xv, 400 pages ; 25 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : HarperBusiness, [1999]

Summary:

• At once praised as the darling of Wall Street and condemned as the foe of the working people, business executive Albert J. Dunlap--"Chainsaw Al"--is clearly one of the most controversial figures in American business.
• This is the story of Dunlap's rise and fall. It reveals a notorious career that left a wake of fired employees, shuttered plants, devastated communities, gutted companies--and, often, enriched shareholders.
• First breaking into the headlines with his draconian, expense-slashing firings at Scott Paper--and the subsequent boost in the value of the company's stock--his legend grew as he took on the task of turning around troubled Sunbeam Corporation. There, at the height of his career, Dunlap became a household name, lauded as the hero of the American investor and role model for managers.
• But the darker side of the Dunlap legend began to emerge as questions arose about his methods and motivations. Was he selling out the company's future for quick, short-term gains? Did his plant closedowns make business sense, or were they done to impress the Wall Street analysts? Were his massive restructurings improving the company's competitiveness or just inflating the value of the stock and his own net worth? Was his harsh treatment of employees a justifiable business tactic or the symptom of egomania?
• Eventually he is brought down by the virtual collapse of Sunbeam, investigations of accounting and business practices, and the subsequent restatement of Sunbeam's finances. As Chainsaw makes clear, Dunlap's relentless and destructive drive for profits is symptomatic of our times and Wall Street's insatiable greed.

Contents:

• The Principal Players xi
• 1. Mean Business (the Nonfiction Version) 1
• 2. "I So Love Them" 10
• 3. "Strip Me Naked!" 20
• 4. Pirates and Tribes 38
• 5. Another Downsizing 56
• 6. Coping with the Al Dunlaps 70
• 7. Rambo 93
• 8. The Blanket with a Brain 110
• 9. A Quiet Rebellion 126
• 10. The Secret Room 141
• 11. The Ditty Bag 153
• 12. "Don't You Think I'm a Bargain?" 171
• 13. "A Triple!" 187
• 14. Indecent Disclosure 208
• 15. An Analyst's Call 227
• 16. "Excuse Me, I'm Not a Cook!" 250
• 17. "I'll Come Back at You Twice as Hard" 264
• 18. "Too Rich and Famous" 275
• 19. "You Want to Quit?" 283
• 20. A Matter of Conscience 299
• 21. What Goes Around, Comes Around 317
• 22. "I Screwed the Pooch!" 328.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 365-386) and index.

ISBN:

0066619807

OCLC:

41482314