You have been manager of a small company for 20 years and have become great friends with your employees. In the last month, foreign owners have bought out the company’s founding owner and have told you that they need to cut costs in order to maximize the value of the company. One of the things they suggest is to lay off 30 per cent of the workforce. However, you believe that the workforce is the company’s greatest asset. On what basis do you argue against the new owners’ opinions?