The remuneration issue kept bothering Ves as he tried to get back to designing chs.
The inquiry from Miles signalled that Ves couldn't keep avoiding his issue. The more he tried to push it away, the more his integrity as a ch designer rose up and made him feel like a scumbag.
Normally, this shouldn't be a big deal. Ves was used to defying his principles when they beca inconvenient. He should have been able to brush aside the stock sharing issue, but to his consternation, it kept nagging him while he worked.
His guilty conscience prevented him from working in peace. It seed that without clarifying this issue to his ch designers, he wouldn't be able to maintain his best state.
He interrupted his work and began to develop a plan. He consulted several people in order to figure out a solution that would placate the demands of his fellow ch designers without giving too much away.
"Ownership in the company is a reward that the founders and leaders of a ch company bestows to ch designers that are useful." Gavin explained his own views. "From what I have studied about the ch industry, it is a custom that has arisen out of a need to retain talent that would have otherwise quit and started their own business instead. When ch designers make the leap from Apprentice to Journeyn, they have gained enough capital to go independent."
Ves nodded as he leaned back on his new floating chair.
Considering the importance of etings to a leader like him, he took over and furnished a large and spacious office compartnt aboard the Spirit of Bentheim.
While he could have held his etings at his private office at his grand stateroom, he intended to use it as his private sanctuary where not even Gloriana was allowed to barge in at her will.
His new main office not only exuded a lot of luxury, but also offered versatile seating options. He could summon and retract as many chairs and couches as he wanted and alter their configuration in countless different ways.
If he wanted a eting to go shorter, he could alter a chair so that it beca more uncomfortable to sit in over ti.
If he wanted his visitors to be more forthcoming, he might increase the comfort level of the chair as well as manipulate the temperature and air composition in order to lower their guard.
He had access to many new features that he never even heard about. After discovering how extensively he could manipulate the environnt to his advantage, he felt a lot of admiration for the people who developed these tricks.
When it ca to manipulating people, other leaders were much further ahead than him! Compared to their exquisite, subtle techniques, Ves was like a brute. His limited repertoire of bold-faced lying, matching interests and abusing glows introduced way too many loopholes.
"Your situation is different from that of other ch designers." Gavin continued to explain. "You are officially a Journeyman who only advanced a couple of years ago. You haven't designed too many chs since then. Yet are you really comparable to other young Journeyn such as Gloriana?"
Ves imdiately shook his head. "That's absurd. Ordinary Journeyn, whether they are second-class or third-class, can't co close to leading a ch company that is able to pull hundreds of billions of hex credits in profit on a monthly basis! An average Journeyman in the old Bright Republic should be able to earn a few billion pre-inflation bright credits in the sa amount of ti, which amounts to around a hundred million hex credits. As for second-class Journeyn, their earning potential is higher, but they face much stiffer competition. Perhaps a good one is able to earn a couple of billion hex credits a month."
"There is a lot of fluctuation in the industry, boss. There are many Journeyn who don't excel in anything attractive or flashy. Their earnings may be just a tenth of the figures you've just ntioned. Only a minority of Journeyn earn at or above those sums."
As Ves did so quick research on the galactic net, he found that his assistant was right. "If that's the case, then the Journeyn earn below the an may be better off working under the umbrella of a stronger ch designer. They're not capable of creating star products, but they are more than sufficient to add so strength to a collaborative ch design project."
"Those Journeyn are still good in their own way, though. If the conditions offered by a ch company aren't attractive enough, then they won't be motivated to stay. In order to retain these valuable talents, a ch company must offer one or several attractive conditions. These can range from guidance by a Senior or Master to access to an expansive distribution network."
"What about giving away shares?"
"It's a custom that is often used when leaders can't offer enough attractive conditions, which is often the case when you aren't a Master. As a Journeyman yourself, you shouldn't be able to retain other Journeyn. You are technically equals on paper. However, we both know that's not the case. The LMC's situation is special. Not only is it an arm of the clan, but every ch designer who works for you are Larkinsons as well. There is much less mobility. Combine that with the fact that the LMC earns at least a hundred tis more money than a typical Journeyman-led ch company, the value of a share in your company is completely different."
"You look like you have a plan, Benny."
"I do." Gavin nodded but hesitated a little. "It's a bit risky, though. It entails breaking customs. While I believe you have the capital to do, it will definitely affect your image among your subordinates."
That didn't bother Ves too much. "I'm not looking to win a popularity contest. When it cos down to it, I am the LMC. Even if every other ch designer quits, I can still sustain the sa level of success as before. My specialization is the basis of our current level of success. No one can take that away from . Not even my wife."
He spoke with an abundance of confidence. He wasn't as dependent on help as other ch designers. As long as his bargaining power was high enough, he didn't have to go out of his way to flatter other ch designers!
As Gavin outlined his plan, Ves quickly decided to adopt it. He commanded the LMC's Legal Departnt, Accounting Departnt and other related departnts to draft a new set of contracts and rules.
It only took a few days to finalize the plan. Once everything was set, Ves entered the main design lab and gathered every ch designer together.
Gloriana, Juliet, Miles, Ketis and every other Brave and Erudite ch designer assembled before him. They all appeared curious at what he had to say. The last announcent happened just a few days ago when Ves revealed the na of the factory ship.
Though a lot of people in the LMC worked on the plan, Ves hadn't inford any of his ch designers yet. Even his wife was left in the dark.
"Fellow ch designers." He began. "The Living ch Corporation has co a long way since I founded it back on Cloudy Curtain. From selling a bunch of variants from a shabby workshop to expanding our reach across the star cluster, our growth has been phenonal. I am proud of what I have been able to accomplish as the founder, chairman CEO and lead designer of the LMC. Under my leadership, my ch company will continue to prosper in the future. Do any of you doubt my predictions?"
"No!"
ch designers weren't stupid. Perhaps so didn't possess much sense for business, but that didn't stop them from observing how the LMC continued to expand at a rapid pace.
Even if there was a limit to this growth, the ch company's current growth trend showed no signs of plateauing anyti soon!
Ves smirked. There was a very good reason to open his announcents with those boasts. He aid to increase his stature within the LMC as much as possible. This also had the effect of diminishing the standing of the other ch designers, which was very crucial to what he was about to reveal.
He waved his hand. A projection appeared into view. It depicted the basic hierarchy of the Design Departnt.
"As you can see, our Design Departnt has grown as well. In the beginning, it was just . Over the years, my team has slowly expanded up to its current form. As ti goes by, this organizational chart will only grow more expansive."
He pointed his finger at the projection, causing two distinct nas to glow. They rose up from the level of assistant ch designer and reached the height of lead ch designer.
Ketis and Miles both looked expectantly at this change. Their nas had risen!
Ves smiled at the crowd. "It is possible that we might welco two additional Journeyn in the future. When that happens, this organizational chart becos a little confusing. Just because my na is on the sa level as the other four doesn't an our importance to the Design Departnt is the sa. I am ultimately in charge here by virtue of my ownership in the company and my contribution to the LMC's success. Back when it was just and Gloriana, it didn't matter too much if we were on the sa level. However, now that we are starting to welco more Journeyn in the fold, we need to refine the hierarchy at the top. For this reason, I have decided to create a new position in our departnt."
In the organizational chart, a new band appeared above the height of lead designer. Ves' na automatically rose up to occupy this new band by itself.
"From today onwards, I am the principal ch designer of this departnt." Ves announced with a steady voice. "This is not a change. This is a recognition of the actual reality within our Design Departnt. If you disagree, please stand up now and voice your objections."
The authority he exuded along with his existing standing within their circle suppressed every other ch designer. There was no way any assistant ch designer would rise up against his move!
The only possible ch designer who could have stood up to Ves was Gloriana. She had always considered herself to be an equal partner to him even though her design philosophy hadn't contributed too much to the LMC's success as of yet. However, her pride might compel her to object.
Ves stared at his wife. He could sense so of her emotions. She looked intrigued, surprised and even a bit offended.
However, she eventually schooled her face and held herself still. Thankfully, she didn't intend to spoil his power play.
That brought him a lot of relief. His plan wouldn't proceed as smoothly if Gloriana kicked up a fuss.
After sending her a brief smile, he faced the rest of the crowd again.
"Very well. Now that you have unanimously agreed to my ascension to principal ch designer, I intend to make another change. More specifically, as we welco more Journeyn and lead designers to the fold, we need to expand and formalize our reward structure in order to ensure that every lead designer is adequately compensated for their work."
He waved his arm to the side, summoning a second projection. This ti, the projection displayed a docunt that outlined the rewards the lead designers of the LMC were entitled to. The heading of the docunt announced the na of this new remuneration sche.
"Let introduce you to the Exemplar Plan!" Ves announced with a smile. "This will be our new standard for remuneration going forward. We have customized this plan according to our specific circumstances. Since the conditions of our ch company are very different from the norm, the standard solutions won't work."
Ketis couldn't hold her curiosity any longer. She raised her arm. "What is the Exemplar Plan exactly?"
"Good question! At the heart of it, the Exemplar Plan is a profit-sharing sche for lead designers. Any ch designer who qualifies won't receive any shares in LMC, but they are entitled to receive cash dividends equivalent to a certain level of ownership in my ch company. In other words, as long as you beco a Journeyman, you will imdiately begin to earn billions of hex credits!"
His entire audience looked shocked. They never expected Ves to roll out such a sche!
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