Burke, for one, felt the pressure. “We did feel that this was the only way to reach part of our goals as managers,” he said. “Each year we had to budget for more profit as a percent of net sales, as well as for a larger percentage of available business.” His boss would not approve a budget unless it was a “reach budget,” he said. And, at least according to Burke, that meant “we couldn’t accomplish a greater percent of net profit without getting together with competitors. Part of the pressure was the will to get ahead and the desire to have the good will of the man above you. He had only to get
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