Jason met with Jonathan the following day to summarize the session on Valuation Methodologies . Jonathan was pleased that Jack had responded positively to the VPM approach and might be starting to think of how it might be adopted within the company. Jason also apprised the CFO of his thoughts on the planning process, based on the four days of strategy sessions he had attended prior to the finance team meeting yesterday. His thoughts echoed Val's in terms of what needed attention and more work in order to develop credible financial outlooks.

The annual summer plant shutdown, during which most of the workers and staff took vacation, was about to begin. Jason knew about the shutdown and planned to take the time off. His golf clubs had been relatively idle during the time since he had begun this engagement, and the family wanted its normal vacation at the beach.

After the shutdown was over, the planning sessions resumed. As part of his role, Jason introduced the participants to the concept of value driver programs that would support the business strategies and to which the valuation methodologies could later be applied.

The summer and the planning process were both now drawing to a close, and the people within Products and Services with the help of Val, Earl, Frank and Jason had addressed the issues that Val had raised at the conclusion of the finance team meeting on Valuation Methodologies . In fact, Cathy and Dave had...