Their story had a bad ending - the combined company went under. The focus on controlling cost became such a consuming story that it overshadowed the main story- making a profit. Once again they had lost focus. The successful companies, understanding that bringing things into focus made them much more efficient and profitable, began making mission statements that would keep things in focus. A mission statement would include every aspect of the business.
Mission statements are totally boring.
Most employees gag on this hot air, and don't realize how valuable mission statements really are. The good news is that concepts aren't boring like business plans. Notice how the business plan mentions all aspects of a business. Products that fit in a certain market where sales are comfortably predictable. So when a manager in a toy manufacturing business suggests they start making automatic weapons and reduce wages, they give him ten lashes with the mission statement.