Sit down and make a simple list. This list should contain you understanding of where the leakages are. Management problems are like a series of taps. While, the first impulse in attempting to turn a company around is to shut off all the taps, this is not a good idea. While top management will most probably agree with your drastic measure, it will be at your expense. The shop floor and employees will most likely respond with fear or animosity. A better approach is to first determine the extent of leakage, determine you want to reduce the flow from say 15l to 5l and go ahead and slow down the flow. This is better for a very simple reason. It is impossible to determine in case of a crisis which taps were necessary to be left open for the healthy functioning of the company. This knowledge also may be lost with the last person from whom you took over. You may simply make things worse instead of better.
Also, being there as a presence is important. A person and general manager of an aluminum manufacturing company he mentioned, stayed across the road from the factory and used to take a short walk around the factory after dinner. It makes a difference if the boss is seen there outside of normal operating hours.
