Sigtek

John Smithers at Sigtek
Summary
In some companies, several things can undermine the implementation of change such as lack of corporate commitment, overly formalized programs, inflated expectations, and lack of initial successes. “A systemic approach goes to the heart of an organization through the attitudes, beliefs, habits, and expectations of all individuals from the top to the front lines.” (Juechter 1)
Three Western Electric veterans founded Sigtek, a small telecommunications company 25 years ago. The last remaining founder, Charles Bradley was serving as an absentee president. The company manufactured printed circuit boards for signal handling which it sold primarily to AT&T and other long-distance carrier. The large technology company that purchased Sigtek ten years ago was hands-off. During this time Sigtek enjoyed sales of $60 million and had a workforce of 1,000 employees. This was short lived due to the stockpile of product Sigtek had in their inventor...