Management Week in Review for April 2, 2011

Every week, I share three thought-provoking management posts for the week. This week's selections feature content on: moving forward, taking steps to ensure that your company will appeal to the best and brightest of the Facebook Generation and some thoughts on Enchantment with Guy Kawasaki along with some new productivity tools. Enjoy!

By |2016-10-22T17:11:40-05:00April 2nd, 2011|Career, Leadership|1 Comment

Thoughts on Leading and Managing in the Era of Disposable Workers

Note from Art: this topic has me deep in thought. While the issue is generally a negative one, I do wonder whether it contains the seeds of significant management and leadership revolution. I would love your thoughts here. --In case you missed it, the article, “The Disposable Worker” in the January 7, 2010 issue of BusinessWeek offers a sobering look at the increasing trend for employers “to create just-in-time labor forces that can be turned on and off like a spigot.” And guess what folks, this trend is not just for those near the bottom rungs of the ladder, this current fashion extends all the way up into the CEO Suite.

By |2016-10-22T17:11:57-05:00January 13th, 2010|Career, Leadership, Project Management|8 Comments

Executive Behaviors, Your Boss Has No Clothes and Revolution from the Bottom

Gary Hamel offers a post well worth reading on “Why Success Often Sows the Seeds of Failure,” in his Management 2.0 blog at the Wall Street Journal. He takes some tough and well-earned shots at the narrow-minded thinking of executives that foments the eventual demise of formerly good organizations. In my opinion, the habits and traps that bedevil formerly successful companies also exist in those less-than successful organizations. Regardless of starting point, the tendencies and habits of ineffective executive leadership are not hard to see. In theory, they shouldn’t be hard to call out and change. However, we don’t. Why not?

Fresh Voices: Management in the 21st Century

If you are fascinated as I am about the evolution of management and its role, form and function in our current and near future world, I strongly encourage you to check out Gary Hamel's blog post (Help Reinvent Management for the 21st Century). This is a case where the post prompts a flood of great thoughts and ideas from some sharp people from around the globe.

That Seismic Shift You Are About To Hear is Management Revolution

Something’s gone horribly wrong with our pre-established convictions and our comfortable understanding of the old rules of business and management. There was no memo. The new rules are not written in stone anywhere, and in fact they are changing so quickly, that by the time you understand and write them down, they’ve changed yet again. Heck, a good number of firms and leaders never optimized under the old rules, and now look at what they are facing! It's time to overthrow the archaic, dysfunctional leadership and management practices of the past!

By |2016-10-22T17:12:12-05:00March 20th, 2009|Leadership, Leading Change, Management Innovation|6 Comments

A Rave Against Miserable Customer Service, Lousy Leaders and Protectionist Policies

One of my favorite, provocative business thinkers, Gary Hamel, says what we’ve all been thinking about in his Wall Street Journal blog post, “Too Many Industries Suffering from Detroititis.” Hamel appropriately skewers the U.S. Airlines as suffering from this malady of poor customer service and short-term thinking, all propped up by the government's artificial protectionist policies. I offer a few of my own thoughts on the "delightful" experience of flying U.S. carriers and what you can do in your organization to avoid the dreaded new disease, "Detroititis."

By |2016-10-22T17:12:16-05:00January 14th, 2009|Leadership|0 Comments

Podcasts, Hamel, Dickens, Time Off and a Holiday Week of Reading

For those of you seeking seasonal reading or looking for some cutting-edge thinking, I’ve got two very different suggestions for you. The first comes from author and consultant Gary Hamel on his management reading recommendations that push the envelope on conventional thinking. The second is a bit more seasonal as author Les Standiford takes a look at how Charles Dickens reinvented his career and changed the way we celebrate Christmas all at the same time.

By |2016-10-22T17:12:17-05:00December 21st, 2008|Uncategorized|1 Comment

The Pain and Promise of Collaborative Management on Display at Cisco

It’s an exciting time to be leading as the pendulum seems to be swinging away from a style of leading and working that minimized the value of the individual to one that emphasizes empowerment, creativity and the freedom for groups and individuals to think and act. It’s hard to imagine a future where this formula does not produce winners.

Towards an Independent Product Management Organization

Product Management's position in the organization is a topic that invites vigorous debate, usually around whether marketing or development should own the function. While any debate about optimal organization structure can sound a lot like the radio and television sports shows where people argue fiercely over the greatest running back or quarterback of all time (there is no one right answer!), the PM issue merits some consideration. Of course, the right answer may be, "It depends."

By |2008-03-05T07:47:04-06:00March 5th, 2008|Product Management|0 Comments
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