Description Gourmet Foods is a huge grocery and drug company that competes in tough businesses. WalMart, in particular, has been eating away at its market share. In 2!, with re"enues #lat and pro#its #alling, the company hired $arry %ohnston to turn the business around. %ohnston came to Gourmet Foods #rom General &lectric. While he was at G&, %ohnston met a training specialist named &d 'elson, who pro"ides moti"ation and attitude training. %ohnston had been impressed with 'elson(s work at G&, so he brought him in to Gourmet Foods to )charge up the troops.* +ere(s an eample o# 'elson(s primary programcalled the uccess#ul $i#e /ourse. It lasts three days and begins each morning at 0 a.m. 1he #irst day begins beg ins with a chapter #rom an inspirational handout #ollowed by !2 minutes o# yoga-like stretching. 1hen participants marched up a hill, chanting, )I know kno w I can, I know I can.* 1his is #ollowed #ollo wed by break#ast and then a "ariety o# lectures on attitude, diet, and eercise. ut the primary #ocus o# the program is on attitude. ays 'elson, )It(s your attitude, not your aptitude that determines your altitude.* 3ther parts o# the program include group hugs, team acti"ities, and mind-control relaation eercises. 'elson claims his program works. +e cites success at companies like 4llstate, Milliken 5 /o., and 4bbott $abs. )1he goal is to impro"e mental, physical, and emotional well-being,* he says. )We, as indi"iduals, determine the success o# our own li"es. 6ositi"e thoughts create positi"e actions.*
6lease answer the #ollowing 7uestions8 !. &plain &plain the logic as to how 'elson9s 'elson9s three-day three-day course course could could positi"ely positi"ely in#luence in#luence Gourmet Gourmet Food(s pro#itability. 2. %ohnston %ohnston says, :6ositi :6ositi"e "e attitude attitude is the single single biggest thing thing that can change change a business.: business.: +ow "alid and generali;able do you think this statement is<
=. I# you were were %ohnston, %ohnston, what what could you you do to e"aluate e"aluate the e##ect e##ecti"enes i"eness s o# your >! million million in"estment in 'elson9s training program<
?. I# you were were a Gourmet Foods Foods employee, employee, how would you you #eel about about going to 'elson9 'elson9s s course< &plain your position. tudents( answers will "ary.
