The company will scale back spending in chemical operations because industry growth has slowed, he said.

In the early 90's, several key members left, including Ms. Akalaitis, and the company scaled back, some years producing no new work.

So the company scaled it back to Visa International, where longer, more expensive international trips are more common.

The coverage was so out of whack that the company could scale back without angering employees.

The risk, economists say, is that as profits are pinched, companies will scale back hiring and wage increases.

"The company can only scale so much," he said.

A company of his men scale the wall and enter the fort, but without ammunition, so as to avoid bloodshed and an international incident.

The company is scaling back to defend its green, gold and platinum charge cards and other travel-related businesses.

As insurance costs become unaffordable, companies are scaling back or dropping health benefits.

Now, after investing tens of millions of dollars, the company is scaling back.