Upload
others
View
3
Download
1
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
title: TheNewManagement:DemocracyandEnterpriseAreTransformingOrganizations
author: Halal,WilliamE.publisher: BerrettKoehler
isbn10|asin: 1576750329printisbn13: 9781576750322ebookisbn13: 9781583764053
language: Englishsubject Management,Corporateculture.
publicationdate: 1996lcc: HD31.H22831996ebddc: 658
subject: Management,Corporateculture.
Pagei
Praisefromexecutives,scholars,students,andmedia
"TheNewManagementmayfinallyattractattentiontotheneedforfundamentalorganizationalchange.RussellAckoff,ProfessorEmeritus,TheWhartonSchool,
"TheNewManagementoffersaconceptualpaththroughtheneweconomicjungle."RaymondE.Miles,FormerDean,HaasSchoolofBusiness,UniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley
"TheNewManagementbelongsoneverybusinessbookshelf."HazelHenderson,authorofBuildingaWin-WinWorld
"TheNewManagementreadslikeanovel."CristinaTemboury,PresidentClinton'sExecutiveCouncil,MBAstudent
"TheNewManagementsolvesalltheproblemsIworkedwithforyears.It'sagreatbookthatstimulatedalotofthinkingonmypart."JohnH.Zimmerman,SeniorVicePresident,MCICommunicationsCorporation
"Anextraordinarywork,asynthesisofcutting-edgetrends.Itcanhelpeventhemostsophisticatedandexperiencedstudentsreorientandtransformtheirthinking."PaulaGordon,Professor,JohnsHopkinsUniversity
"TheNewManagementwillstretchtheimaginationsofleaders."Richard(Skip)LeFauve,Chairman,SaturnCorporation
"TheonlybookIhavereadthataddressesthemosteffectivemanagementideasandhowtheyareshapingthefuture."AnitaRoddick,FounderandCEO,TheBodyShop
"I'vebeenafanofHalal'sforalongtime,butwhenIreadTheNew
Management,Irantothebookstoreandboughttencopiestosendtofriends."JohnHoving,President,TheHovingGroup
Pageii
"Thiswatershedbookboldlyconfrontsthetraditional,archaicliteratureonorganizationsandbreathesintoitnewlifeintheformofdemocracyandenterprise.Itislongoverduetoelevatetheseidealstothechangeagentstheyare....Halal'svisionismostlikelythefutureoftheorganizationalworld."CHOICE:CurrentReviewsforAcademicLibraries
"Awelcomealternativetotheplethoraofbooksofferingmanagerslittlemorethanexhortations.TheNewManagementisamodelofhowtomanagethetwingoalsofprofitabilityandsocialresponsibility.Itnotonlyprovidesdatabutexplainsthemeaningbehindthedataaswell."EthicalManagement
"Halal'svisionchangedmywholeoutlookonmanagement.Ibegantodevelopmyownphilsophy,anchoredbyHalal'spremisesandsupplementedbyothergreatthinkerswhoexpandonhisinsights."ChristineSossaman,MBAstudent
"ProfessorHalal'selegantworkbringseverythingtogetherbygivingusaworkingframework."LuisdelPosso,MBAstudent
"Aclear,convincingprojectionoforganizationallifeinthenextdecadebasedonhundredsofexamples."ManagementReview
"Allmanagersinthepublicandprivatesectorsshouldreadthisbook."KevinKreutner,U.S.StateDepartment,MBAstudent
"TheNewManagementissorelyneededtohelpstudentsmakesenseofthechaosandquickfixesthatcharacterizeourtimes.Thisbookwillguideleadershipandmanagementintothe21stcentury."MichaelRay,GraduateSchoolofBusiness,StanfordUniversity
"WilliamHalalshowshowinstitutions,whetherpublicorprivate,mustrepositionthemselvesforthe21stcentury."StephenGoldsmith,MayorofIndianapolis
Pageiii
TheNewManagementDemocracyandEnterpriseAreTransforming
Organizations
WilliamE.Halal
Copyright©1996,1998byWilliamE.HalalAllrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,distributed,ortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,includingphotocopying,recording,orotherelectronicormechanicalmethods,withoutthepriorwrittenpermissionofthepublisher,exceptinthecaseofbriefquotationsembodiedincriticalreviewsandcertainothernon-commercialusespermittedbycopyrightlaw.Forpermissionrequests,writetothepublisher,addressed"Attention:PermissionsCoordinator,"attheaddressbelow.
Berrett-KoehlerPublishers,Inc.450SansomeStreet,Suite1200SanFrancisco,CA94111-3320Tel.:(415)288-0260Fax:(415)362-2512Website:www.bkpub.com
ORDERINGINFORMATION
Individualsales.Berrett-Koehlerpublicationsareavailablethroughmostbookstores.TheycanalsobeordereddirectfromBerrett-Koehlerattheaddressabove.
Quantitysales.Specialdiscountsareavailableonquantitypurchasesbycorporations,associations,andothers.Fordetails,contactthe"SpecialSalesDepartment"attheBerrett-Koehleraddressabove.
Ordersforcollegetextbook/courseadoptionuse.PleasecontactBerrett-KoehlerPublishersattheaddressabove.
OrdersbyU.S.tradebookstoresandwholesalers.PleasecontactPublishersGroupWest,1700FourthStreet,Berkeley,CA94710;Tel.:(510)528-1444;Fax:(510)528-3444.
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
Printedonacid-freeandrecycledpaperthatiscomposedof85%recoveredfiber,including15%postconsumerwaste.
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationDataHalal,WilliamE.Thenewmanagement:democracyandenterprisearetransforming
organizations/WilliamE.Halal.p.cm.Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.ISBN1-881052-53-2(alk.paper)ISBN1-57675-032-9(Paperbackedition)1.Management.2.Corporateculture.I.Title.HD31.H22831996658dc2096-7027CIP
Thispaperbackeditioncontainsthecompletetextoftheoriginalhardcoveredition.
FirstHardcoverprinting:May1996
FirstPaperbackprinting:July1998
200100999810987654321
Pagev
DEDICATION
Tothoseunsungheroeswhokeepsocietiesworkingeverywherethemanagersofmodernorganizations.WhiletelevisionshowslikeER,LALaw,andNYPDBlueglorifydoctors,lawyers,police,andothermorepopularprofessions,millionsofmenandwomenbeartheresponsibil-ityofmanagingtoday'sinterlockingmazeofbusinesscorporations,governmentagencies,schools,hospitals,TVstations,newspapers,armies,andotherinstitutionsthatmakeupthesocialorder.Ihopethisbookcanhelpguidethesestewardsofourdailylivesastheirdemand-ingjobsspiraltonewheightsofcomplexity.
Pagevii
CONTENTS
ForewordRaymondE.Miles
ix
Acknowledgments xiii
IntroductionFromCapitalismtoDemocraticEnterprise
xv
TheContradictionsbetweenCapitalandKnowledge
ANewFoundationBuiltonAmericanIdeals
TheComingParallelRevolutions
TheTechnologyRevolution:JusttheBeginningofUnstoppableChange
TheOrganizationalRevolution:ManagementfromtheBottom-upandtheOutside-in
TheLeadershipRevolution:RelinquishingtheIllusionofControl
Chapter1ManagementinTransition:BridgingThatDividebetweentheOldandtheNew
1
WhatReallyIstheNewManagement?
AForecastoftheNewManagementParadigm
ApplyingNewConceptstoaChangingWorld
PartOne:RedefiningtheFoundationofManagement 25
Chapter2FromHierarchytoEnterprise:InternalMarketsAretheNewFormofOrganizationStructure
27
RiseoftheEntrepreneurialOrganization
PrinciplesofInternalMarkets
TheFloweringofEnterprise
Pageviii
Chapter3FromProfittoDemocracy:CorporateCommunityIstheNewFormofOrganizationGovernance
55
TheEvolutionofEconomicCooperation
PrinciplesofCorporateCommunity
TheExtensionofDemocracy
Chapter4TheNewManagementSynthesis:UnitingInternalMarketsandCorporateCommunity
83
TheCreativeTensionBetweenMarketsandCommunity
GuidestoAchievingOrganizationalBalance
DrawingUnityoutofDiversity
PartTwo:BuildinganEntrepreneurialCommunity 103
Chapter5TheServingEnterprise:RelinquishingOurGriponSelf-Interest
105
FromSellingtoServing
PrinciplesoftheServingEnterprise
MakingtheClientaPartner
Chapter6KnowledgeEntrepreneurs:AWorkingContractofRightsandResponsibilities
131
RedefiningtheEmploymentRelationship
PrinciplesofKnowledgeWork
WorkLifeintheInformationAge
Chapter7IntelligentGrowth:BalancingEcologicalHealthandEconomicProgress
155
ReconcilingEconomicsandEnvironment
PrinciplesofEnvironmentalManagement
ThePowerofEconomicReality
Pageix
PartThree:LeadingintheNewEconomicOrder 177
Chapter8ContinuousChange:RootingtheOrganizationintoItsEnvironment
179
OldApproachestoaNewChallenge
PrinciplesofContinuousChange
ControlofLivingOrganizations
Chapter9InnerLeadership:HowtoHandletheComingPowerShift
201
TheChangingIllusionofPower
PrinciplesofInnerLeadership
MakingParticipationWork
Chapter10ManagingaUnifiedWorld:GlobalOrderoutofLocalInstitutions
227
TheDilemmaofCapitalismVersusCommunity
EconomicImperativesoftheInformationAge
TheEmergingShapeoftheNewEconomicOrder
ConclusionDrawingonthePowerofHeritage
255
Appendixes
ATheOrganizationExercise
263
BTheStakeholderMeeting
266
CCorporationsinTransitionStudy
269
Index 277
TheAuthor 283
Pagexi
FOREWORDItisincreasinglyclearthatcurrentapproachestomanagingarenotgoingtoworkinthe21stcentury.Thegrowingpressuresofglobalcompetition,thespeedoftechnologicalchange,andthedemandsofsophisticatedcustomersforhigh-quality,efficientlyproducedcustomizedgoodsandservicesaremotivatingasearchforwhatWilliamHalalcalls"theNewManagement."
ProfessorHalal'sbookexploresthismoderndilemmaandprescribestwopremisestoguidemanagerstowardthedesignoforganizationscapableofrespondingtoanincreasinglycomplexandchallengingbusinessandsocialenvironment.Halal'sfirstpremiseisthatthehierarchical"command"economythatguidedtraditionalorganizationsfromthetopdownwillgivewaytoadisaggregated,"internalmarket"economyinwhichmyriadautonomousprofitcentersproduceaself-organizingformofcontrolthatoperatesfromthebottomup.Hissecondbuildingblockisthattheseinternalmarketswilloperatewithinabroadermanagementsystemthatisguidedbytheinformedinvolvementofnumerousstakeholdersagovernancesystemthathedefinesas"corporatecommunity,"asimpleformofeconomicdemocracy.
Thepremisethat21stcenturyorganizationswilldemandbroadeconomicempowermentoftheirmembersiswellsupported,andHalal'sprescriptionofinternalmarketsasthemechanismforthisempowermentiswellarguedandillustratedbyusefulcompanyexamples.Decentralizingthe
Pagexii
decisionprocesstomeetdiverseandacceleratingdemandshaslogicalappeal,andInformationAgeprofitcenterswouldappeartohavewhattheyneedtomakegooddecisions:information,competence,andhardcriteria.
ThesecondcentralpremiseisfarmorecomplexandthusmorechallengingtobothHalalandhisreaders.Theneedforbroadeningtheconceptofdemocracytoproviderecognitionandvoiceforallmajorcorporatestakeholdersisclearlypresented.The''how"ofthisprocessisnotasdear.Halal,likemostofus,runsupagainstthefactthatoursociety,asthelateAaronWildavskylamented,doesnothaveastrongphilosophicalfoundationtoexplaincollaborativebehavior.Thatis,whilewehavelibertarianphilosophiesrationalizingthepositiveeffectsofindividualinitiativesandcollectivistphilosophiespositingthesocialgainsofsharedeffortsandrewards,wedonothaveaclear-cutlogicalsystemlayingoutthecostsandbenefitsofbehaviormotivatedsimultaneouslybypersonaldesiresandanawarenessofexternalobligations.
Thus,Halalisforcedtomakehisownarguments,toprovidehisowndefinitionsandsupplyhisownrationaleandconclusions.Ingeneral,thecaseisdearlyenoughmadeformyneeds,butthenIhavemadesimilarforaysinmyownwritings.Certainlynotallwillagreeandreadersmaydemandmoreprecision,moreevidence,moredebate.Indeed,ifthebookgeneratesthatdebate,itwillhavelargelysucceeded.Thegovernancemechanismsnecessaryfor21st-centuryorganizationswillalwaysbemorecomplexthanthoseofmostcurrentformsandwillturnonhardrealitieswithsoftdefinitionstrust,humancapital,empowerment,etc.Inthecreationofthesemechanisms,debateandinventionswillbeourmostusefulcompanions.
PartTwoofthebookprovidesbothHalalandhisreadersanotherchallenge.Inthissection,heseekstobuildconceptuallinkagesacross
thelegalandsocialcontractsconnectingthefirmtoitscustomers,itsemployees,anditsecologicalcommunity.Underlyingthisentiresectionisanargumentthatincludesbutgoesbeyondenlightenedself-interest.ThesweepofthisargumentissobroaditdefieseasytreatmentbutIbelieve,asdoesHalal,thattheseissuesarerelatedandmustbemanagedfromanintegratedperspective.InanInformationAgeorganization,fullresponsivenesstocustomerscanonlybeprovidedbylargelyself-managingorganizationmembersandthesocialcostsoftheenterprisemustbeaddressedbybothitsmembersanditsclients.
Pagexiii
InPartThree,Halalarguesthatinformed,empoweredorganizationalmembers,operatinginsystemsthatallowagile,efficientresponsestomarketforces,aretheessentialelementsofaneffective,decentralizedglobaleconomy.Thenotionthatleadershipisbestexercisedbyempoweringothers,whetherattheorganizational,national,orinternationallevelhasalwaysbeenchallenging,eventhoughitisafoundingassumptionofoursociety.Thissectiondoesnotputtheargumenttorest,asnotreatmentislikelyto,butitdoesremindusthatlevelsofeconomicinstitutionsandactivitiesarerapidlycompressingandthateveryeconomicdecisionisincreasinglyaglobalaction.
IhaveknowProfessorHalalsincehisdaysasadoctoralstudentintheHaasSchoolofBusinessattheUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeley.Ashisearlierwritingshaveshown,hehasneverbeenafraidtoacceptthechallengeoftoughandcomplexissues.Inall,thisprovocativebookprovidesastrongstatementofthedemandsfacedbytoday'sandtomorrow'smanagersandoffersthemaconceptualpaththroughtheneweconomicandorganizationaljungle.Newpathsareseldomsmoothnorcompletelydear.IcommendProfessorHalalforbothhiscontributionsandhiscourage.Ibelievethereaderwilldothesame.
RAYMONDE.MILES
RaymondE.MilesistheTrefethenProfessorofOrganizationalBehaviorattheHaasSchoolofBusiness,UniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeley.ProfessorMileswasalsodeanoftheschoolfrom1983to1990.HismostrecentbookisFit,Failure,andtheHallofFame(NewYork:FreePress,1994).
Pagexv
ACKNOWLEDGMENTSIt'salwaysimpossibletoacknowledgethemanypeoplewhoassistthebirthofabook,butafewstandout.Iamgratefultomypublisher,StevePiersanti,andthefollowingstaffmembersatBerrett-Koehlerfortheirhelpinguidingthismanuscriptfromitsgestationtoitsaudience:PatAnderson,BeverlyButterfield,RobinDonovan,KateFuller,SusanMalikowski,ElizabethSwenson,andDebbieUyeshiro.Ioweaparticulardebttothemanymanagersandscholarswhoseworkisdescribedthroughoutthesepages;thisbookbuildsontheircontributionsthatIhaveincorporatedintoaconceptualframework.ThefinishedmanuscriptwouldhavebeenfarlessreadablehaditnotbeenforCharlesDorris,mydevelopmentaleditor,andthemanypeoplewhoreviewedearlierdrafts;BarbaraShipkacarefullycritiquedtheentirebookandhelpedmetoseemyownbiases,whileRonaldSchmidt,SteveWallman,PaulMalone,andAnnLehmanprovidedgeneralsuggestionsandreviewedvariouschapters.MystudentsdeserverecognitionforassistingwiththesurveysreportedhereandforseriouslyconsideringmyearlythoughtsontheNewManagementwhentheywerehalf-bakedideas.SpecialthanksareextendedtomycolleaguesatGeorgeWashingtonUniversityforprovidinganintellectualhomethatsupportsthiswork.Iwanttoacknowledgethehelpofmygraduateassistant,MichaelKull,whoistherewhenIneedhim.Mydeepestaffectionisreservedformywifeandchildrenwhosesupportisalwaysindispensable.
Pagexvii
INTRODUCTIONFROMCAPITALISMTODEMOCRATICENTERPRISE:MINDINGTHEECONOMICIMPERATIVESOFKNOWLEDGEInlate1997,BernardEbbers,CEOofWorldCom,asmall,obscurefirminMississippi,announcedthathewasbuyingMCIfor$42billionofhiscompany'sstock.Itwasthelargesttakeoverinhistory.Howcouldthisunknownman,aformergymteacher,emergefromnowherewithnocapitaltoseizecontrolofthesecondlargesttelecommunicationscompanyinAmericaandgainimmediatedominanceovertheglobalcommunicationsmarket?
EbbersforgedthisempirewithlittlemorethanakeenunderstandingofhowajumbleofdiversecompaniescouldbeintegratedtodeliveracompletestreamofcommunicationservicesaroundtheworldataskthateludedAT&T,MCI,andforeigntelecomgiants.
1Becausehegraspedtheunderlyinginsightneededtocreatethissystem,allelsefollowed.
Countlessotherexamplesshowthattodayknowledgeisthemostpowerfulforceonearth,primarilyresponsibleforthecollapseofcommunism,therestructuringofeconomies,andtheunificationoftheworld.AfterdecadesofglibtalkabouttheInformationAge,companiesarebecoming"learningorganizations,"developingtheir"intellectualassets,"andhiring"chiefknowledgeofficers"becausewenowseethatknowledgeisthesourceofallproductivity,innovation,andcompetitiveadvantage.Itissuddenlyblindinglyclearthat
knowledgeisaboundlesssourceofinfinitepowerthatpromisestofloodtheworldwithcreativeprogress.BillGates
Pagexviii
toldagroupofCEOsthatinformationtechnologywill"fulfilltheirwildestdreams."
2
TheContradictionsbetweenCapitalandKnowledge
Theproblem,however,isthatthisvastdividebetweenalimitedpastandaboundlessfuturehasleftbusinessadriftinconfusiontheflavor-of-the-monthmanagementfadsyndromebecausewelackwhateconomistscallaworkable"theoryofthefirm"foraknowledge-basedeconomy.The"OldManagement"oftheIndustrialAgeisdyingbecauseitwasbasedoncapital-driveneconomics,andwenowknowthatenterpriseisnolongerpoweredprimarilybycapital.FormerShellexecutiveArieDeGeussays,"Thecriticalresourceisnowpeopleandtheknowledgetheypossess."3Thismeansthatmostcorporatepracticesoftodaynolongermakesensefortheworldweareentering.
Corporationscompriseeconomicsystemsthatareaslargeasentirenations,yetironicallyourmostadmiredcompaniesremaincommittedtoroughlythesametypeofcentrallycontrolledhierarchythatfailedintheSovieteconomy.Wehaveseenafewmarginalchanges,butthebulkofusefulknowledgeliesunusedamongemployeesatthebottomofthefirmandscatteredoutsideitswallsamongcustomers,suppliers,andothergroupswhilemostdecisionsaremadebyexecutivesatthetop.
Thisyawninggapbetweenpromiseandrealityismerelyahintoftheenormityoftheupheavalthatliesahead.Theentiresocialorderisbeinguprootedbythemovefromacapital-centeredpasttoaknowledge-centeredfutureevenwhileweremainconfusedaboutwhattodo,wherethisisgoing,andwhatitallmeans.Withoutatheoryofthefirmbasedonthelogicofknowledge,today'sstruggleforsurvival
willremainanendlessexerciseinbewilderingchangeandmanagementfads.
ANewFoundationBuiltonAmericanIdeals
Iwanttosuggestthatawell-establishedfoundationfora"NewManagement"oftheKnowledgeAgeisreadilyavailableifwewouldsimplylookintherightplace.America'sheritageofdemocracyandfreeenterprisecouldserveusexceedinglywellinthisnewfrontier.Unfortunately,wetendtorelegatetheseidealstopoliticalelectionsandcompetitionbetweenfirms.Butifmanagerscouldextendtheliberatingpowerofdemocracyandmarkets
Pagexix
insidebusinesscorporations,governmentagencies,andothersocialinstitutionsthatgovernthedailyflowofordinarylife,theirwidespreadusewouldhaveaprofoundimpact.
Thisisnotsomehopelesslyutopianquestbecause,asIintendtoillustrate,trendsaremovingrapidlyinthisdirection.
Tosurviveaworldofconstantchange,massivediversity,andintensecompetition,leadingcorporationsaredissolvingtheirrigidhierarchiesintofluidcollectionsofself-managedunitsthatuselocalknowledgetocarveoutsuccessfulmarketniches.AsIwillshowlater,thisbottom-upapproachshouldintimebringthepowerofenterprisetofruitionasorganizationsmeltintoachurningseaof"internalmarkets"offeringallofthecreativedynamismofexternalmarketscallit"thefloweringofenterprise."
Themovetodemocracyisequallyapparentinthewaycreativemanagersnowworkcloselywithtoughcompetitors,empoweredemployees,anddiscriminatingclients.Afteralonghistoryofconflict,collaborativeworkingrelationshavebecomeoneofthemostpowerfulforcesinbusinessbecausecompanieshavecometothehardrealizationthatthemutualsharingofknowledgewithotherpartiesisbeneficial.Somecompanies,suchasGMSaturn,areunitingtheirstakeholdersintocomplete"corporatecommunities"thinkofitas"theextensionofdemocracy."
Ifmanagerscouldtakeafreshlookattheserichbutmisunderstoodtrendsfromtheperspectiveofourtraditions,theemergingpatterncouldguideourwayaheadwithconfidence.Asthisbookwilldemonstrate,thepowerofdemocracyandenterprisepromisestotransforminstitutionsforanewera.
Whyshouldwebesurprised?ThisisthephilosophythatgavebirthtotheUnitedStatesandthathasbroughtdowndictatorshipafter
dictatorship.Freemarketsanddemocraticgovernancearethetwinpillarssupportingmoderncivilization.Theyareprovenmethodsthatwehavefoundmostusefulbecausetheyinvolveusallinmakingdecisionsthatgovernoursociety.
TheComingParallelRevolutions
Thisbookdescribesleading-edgeconceptsandpracticesderivedfrommycontinuingstudyofthesuccessfulexperiencesofprogressivecompanies.It'sastrategicplan,aguidebook,designedtohelpusfigureoutwherewearegoing.
Followmethroughthemanyexamples,surveys,forecasts,andmini-casestudiesI'veorganizedinthefollowingchaptersandyou'lllearnabout
Pagexx
threeparallelrevolutionsthatmakeupthistransitiontoknowledge-basedorganizations.Thefigureonthefacingpagesketchesouttheflowofrevolutionaryadvancesalongthreemajorpaths:
1.theInformationRevolutionthatisdrivingthistransition
2.theresultingtransformationofbusiness,government,andotherinstitutions
3.thecreativenewformsofleadershipemergingtohandleallthischange
Notethatthesetrendsfollowarisingexponentialcurvethatischaracteristicofallchangetodaythetypical"Jcurve"depictedonthecoverofthisbook.Whetheritisthenumberofcomputersinuse,strategicalliances,ornewventures,thetrendlineiscurvingsharplyupward.
TheTechnologyRevolution:JusttheBeginningofUnstoppableChange
Thusfarwehaveseenonlythefirstrumblingsoftheinformationtechnology(IT)explosionthatisyettocome.Thesimplechangesareoverandthemostinnovative,wrenchinginnovationslieahead.Iconductaforecastoftechnologicaladvanceseverytwoyears,andthelateststudydetailedthearrivalofeighty-fiverevolutionarybreakthroughs.
4ThiswaveoftechnologicalchangeispoisedtocrashoversocietyduringthenextfewdecadesastherisingpowerofITfeedsbacktoimproveitself.Technologyisbasicallyknowledge,andthewidespreaduseofITisnowdrivingourunderstandingoftechnicalknowledgeateverfasterrates.Here'saroughtimetableofthreemajorbreakthroughs:
2003+/2years.Interactivemultimediashouldbeusedbypeopleeverywheretowork,shop,study,andconductallotheractivitieselectronicallyoverlife-sizedwallmonitors.Electroniccommerceisexpectedtoreach$12billionbytheyear2000alone.
2009+/3years.Smartmachines,robots,andsoftwareshouldbeabletointeractwithpeople,learnandreprogramthemselves,andtranslatelanguages.BillGatessaid,"Thefutureliesincomputersthattalk,listen,see,andlearn."
Pagexxi
Pagexxii
2014+/4years.Opticalcomputersandstoragedevices(asdepictedintheSupermanmovies)shouldbeavailabletoprocesslimitlessinformationinanyform.AndrewGrove,CEOofIntel,said,"Computerpowerwillbepracticallyfreeandalmostinfinite."
Inshort,thisisjustthebeginningofhistoricchangesthatseemdestinedtoalterallaspectsoflife.TheIToftodayPCs,theInternet,cellularphoneswilllookprimitiveinadecadeorso.TheU.S.stockmarkethasadvancedroughly1000percentbetween1985and1998becauseAmericanssensetheeconomyisenteringaneraofalmostlimitlessprogress.
TheOrganizationalRevolution:ManagementfromtheBottom-upandtheOutside-in
TheheartofthisbookshowshowthetwoprinciplesofenterpriseanddemocracyformatheoryofthefirmbasedonthelawsofknowledgeTheNewManagement.Twohereticalapplicationsfollowfromthisphilosophicalfoundation:
·InternalMarkets.Complexityisbestmanagednotthroughplanningandcontrolbutbypermittingwidespreadentrepreneurialfreedomatthebottomoforganizations.
·CorporateCommunity.Economicstrengthflowsnotoutofpowerandfirmnessbutoutofthecollaborativeexchangeofknowledgeamongthecommunityofcorporatestakeholders.
Top-DownControlDestroystheBulkofCorporateWealth
Duringthe1990s,thedecadeofCapitalismTriumphant,wehaveconstantlyheardabouttheevilsofcentralplanningandauthoritariancontrol,butanybodyinbusinesswilltellyouthattheprevailingcorporatesystemremainsacentrallymanagedhierarchyadornedwithafewgentletouchesandgoodintentions.Despiteferventclaims
aboutempowerment,networking,teamwork,andotherhotmanagementconcepts,thishasalsobeenadecadeofharshdownsizing,top-downchange,andextravagantexecutivepay.
Forinstance,IBM'sLouisGerstnermayhavepulledBigBluebackfromthebrinkbutonlybyreinforcingfiercedisciplineandhierarchicalcontrol.IBMmanagersdescribedtheirnewbossthisway:"Hisbluntstylesent
Pagexxiii
tremorsthroughtheorganization."In1997,thevalueofIBM'sindividualdivisionstotalled$115billionwhiletheparentcompanywasvaluedat$65billion;themissing$50billionwasconsumedbycorporatebureaucracy.IBM'smanagersclaimthesoftwaredivisionalonewastes$200millioneachyeargettingheadquarter'sapprovalforits10,000softwareprojects.
5
MeanwhiletheshocktherapyapproachtorestructuringhasbecomeawayoflifeinAmericaeventhoughthismethodisnownotoriousforcreatingmeagereconomicgains,overburdenedstaffs,badlyservedclients,andalienatedemployees.In1998,forexample,GE'sJohnWelchwasplanningtocloseplants,selldivisions,cutwages,andlayoffthousands.
Thistop-downapproachmayworkintheshortterm,butlikepaintoverrottedtimbers,itmaskstheunderlyingweaknessandinvitescatastrophes,suchaswe'veseeninthedeclineofAT&T,Sears,GM,andmanyotherformercorporategiants.Top-downmanagementisnotgoingtowithstandthemassivechangesloomingaheadasrelentlesshypercompetitiondrivesopenafrontierofnewproducts,markets,andindustriesthatnobodyreallyunderstands.AndrewGroveofIntelputitbest:"TheInternetislikeatidalwave,andweareinkayaks."6
Downsizing,forinstance,seemstomakesensefromacapital-centeredview,buttheknowledgeheldbyemployeescomprises70percentofallcorporateassets!7Toputitmoresharply,theeconomicvalueofemployeeknowledgeexceedsbyfarallofthefinancialassets,capitalinvestment,patents,andotherresourcesofmostfirms.Firingpeopleisakintothrowingthebulkofcorporatewealthoutthewindow.
Downsizingcanbebestunderstoodasapalliative,ritualisticpractice,akintobloodlettinginprimitivemedicine,thatrevealsafarmoreseriousorganizationalillness.Corporationsshedworkersrepeatedlybecausetheysufferfromachronicinabilitytocreategrowthinaconfusingneweconomicfrontier.Instead,theydownsize.Itislikeabadhabit,providingtemporaryreliefbyreducinglaborcostswhileactuallydrainingenergyascompaniesloseskilledworkers,creativeideas,loyalty,andothervitalassets.
InternalMarketsReleaseKnowledgefromtheBottom
Thesolutionisafundamentallydifferentapproachthatharnessesthecreativetalentslyingdormantinaveragepeople.WhileFortune500dinosaursdownsizedbylayingoffthreemillionemployeesduringthe1990s,smaller
Pagexxiv
firmsandnewventuresupsizedbycreating21millionnewjobs.Thissalientfactshowsthatthekeytovitalizingorganizationsistobringtheliberatingpowerofsmallenterpriseinsideofbigbusiness.
Inshort,weneedtoshiftthelocusofpowerfromtoptobottom,tothinkofmanagementintermsofenterpriseratherthanhierarchy.Iknowthissoundsrevolutionary,butthisisarevolutionasdramaticastheIndustrialRevolution.WetendtoheartheInformationhalfofthephraseInformationRevolutionbutignoretheRevolutionhalf.TheideathatCommunismmightyieldtomarketsseemedpreposterousafewyearsago,butitdidhappen.Nowsimilarchangeisneededinbigcorporations''CorporatePerestroika."RobertShapiro,CEOofMonsanto,putitthisway,"Wehavetofigureouthowtoorganizeemployeeswithoutintrusivesystemsofcontrol.Peoplegivemoreiftheycontrolthemselves."
8
Thefollowingchaptersofferhundredsofexamplesdescribingthecleverformsofinternalenterprisebeingusedtosolveproblemsdirectly,creatively,andquickly.Pay-for-performanceplansarebeingexpandedtoformsmall,self-managedunitsthatareheldaccountableforresultsbutfreetochoosetheirworkers,leaders,strategies,workmethods,andgenerally"runtheirownbusiness."Lineandsupportunitsarebeingconvertedintoprofitcentersthatbuyandsellfromeachotherandfromoutsidethecompany,convertingformermonopoliesintocompetitivebusinessunits.MCI,Xerox,Johnson&Johnson,Hewlett-Packard,Motorola,Siemens,Lufthansa,andothercompanieshavedevelopedfullydecentralizedbottomupstructuresthatformcomplete"internalmarketeconomies."9ABB's4,500independentprofitcentersstandoutasamodel.
Itonlytakesalittleimaginationtoextendthesetrendstothepoint
wherethelogicoffreemarketsgovernscorporationsratherthanthelogicofhierarchy.Internalmarketshaveprofoundimplicationsforbusinessbecausetheyshiftthesourceofknowledge,initiative,andcontrolfromtoptobottom,therebyprovidingthesamebenefitsasexternalmarkets:betterdecisionsthroughpriceinformation,customerfocus,accountabilityforeconomicresults,andasmuchentrepreneurialfreedomaspossible.
Yes,marketsaremessy,buttheyarealsoburstingwithcreativeenergyroughlyliketheInternet,ourbestmodelofaself-organizingmarketsystem.NobodycouldpossiblycontroltheInternet'scomplexactivities,yetby
Pagexxv
allowingmillionsofpeopletopursuetheirowninterests,somehowthesystemgrowsandthrivesbeyondanythingwecouldimagine.
Inthefinalanalysis,onlyanewformofmanagementbasedonenterprisecanmeettheexplosivechallengeslyingdeadahead.Thehopethat"participation,""teamspirit,""inspiringleadership,"andothervagueideascancreatedynamicactionamongtensofthousandsofpeopleinthetypicalorganizationislittlemorethanpiouswishing.Anyonewhohasevermanagedknowsthatitisalmostimpossibletogetmorethantwentypeopletoagreeonanything.MayorSteveGoldsmithofIndianapolistoldmethathestruggledforyearstryingvariousmanagementmethods,butnothingworkedaswellasturninghisdepartmentsintoself-supportingunitscompetingwithoutsidecontractors.
Difficultissuesareinvolvedinthischange,ofcourse,andwewillexploretheminthefollowingchapters,aswellasmanyprogressivenewideas.Forexample,herearethreesimplebutboldactionsthathighlightsurefirewaystojumpstartyourorganization:
·Linkresourcestoperformance.Ratherthanusebudgetsandothercrudecontrolsthatareunrelatedtoresults,linkresourceallocationstoeconomicandsocialvaluecreatedbyunits.
·Allowunitstotalfreedom.Allowallunitsalmosttotaloperatingandstrategicfreedom,includingtherighttobuyandsellfrompartnersbothinsideoroutsidethefirm.
·Replacedownsizingwithself-sizing.Letunitshandletheirownstaffingratherthanimposelayoffs.Thatis,use"self-sizing"insteadofdownsizing.
Whywouldtough-mindedexecutivesyieldcontroloverthesecrucialmatters?Becausetheycantherebyleadanorganizationwhereeveryonesharestheresponsibilityforsuccess.
TheProfit-MotiveDestroysthePowerofSocialPurpose
ThisdoesnotmeanthatCEOsgiveuppowerorthatcorporationsarebalkanizedintowarringcamps.Theroleofexecutivesshiftstodesigningtheseself-managedsystemsandprovidingleadershiptounifydiverseinterestsintoastrategicwholetheconceptof"corporatecommunity."Saturn,
Pagexxvi
TheBodyShop,IKEA,andscoresofenlightenedcompaniesdeveloptrustingrelationswithdients,sharepowerwithworkers,andcooperatewithsuppliers,whilealsomakingmoreprofitforinvestors.
It'simportanttostressthatthesecompaniesarenotsimply"doinggood."Theycreatevaluebypoolingknowledgeamongstakeholderstosolvemanagementproblems.Inotherwords,corporatecommunityiseconomicallyeffective.
Beyonditsmanybenefits,however,liesavastandmorepowerfulworldofmeaningandpurpose.Corporatecommunityisalsoessentialtohelpusfindourwaythroughaturbulentworldengulfedinanavalancheofexpandinginformation.Itisagreatparadoxthathavingsomuchmoredataoftenleavesusmoreconfusedbecauseofitssheerlimitlessness.Wearebeginningtounderstandthatinformationismeaninglessifitisnotguidedbyrelationships,values,andvisionallthosesubtlebutveryrealqualitieslyingbeyondknowledge.
Unfortunately,theseconceptsruncountertotheideologyofcapitalism.Thetraditionalideathatcorporationsowetheirallegiancetoshareholdersandprofitplacesmanagersinanunrealisticpositionwheretheyareopposedtotheinterestsofemployees,customers,andotherswhosesupportisessential.Employeepayandtraining,forinstance,areviewedassimplycoststobeavoided.Buttherealityisthatemployeewelfareandprofitabilityareperfectlycompatible.Companiesthatformemployeepartnershipsenjoyhugereturnsontheirinvestmentinlabor.
10
Considerhowthehealthcareindustryprovokedthepublic'swrathbycuttingpatientservicestoimproveprofits.Congresspassedlawsbanningsuchpractices,and2,000physicianscalledforchange
becauseHMOs(healthmaintenanceorganizations)are"destroyingthesoulofmedicine."11
Howdidagreatprofessiondedicatedtoservinghumanitygetintosuchamess?Inpursuingtoday'snotionofgoodbusiness,HMOslostsightoftheirsocialpurpose.It'sobviousthatwemustcontrolcostsandinvestorsmustberewarded;however,anybusinessmustalsoservesocietytosurvive.
Thisbusiness-societyconflicthaseveryoneconfused,wastingenergyratherthanworkingtogethertowardcommongoals.RobertHaas,CEOofLeviStrauss,explainedtheproblem."Peoplelookthroughthewrongendofthetelescope,asifprofitsdrivebusiness.Employeemorale,turnover,consumersatisfaction...that'swhatdrivesfinancialresults."12
Pagexxvii
CorporateCommunityDrawsKnowledgefromOutsideGroups
IfAmericanexecutivescanlookbeyondthebottomline,theywillfindvastopportunitiesforprofitablebusinessflowingdirectlyfromjoiningwiththeinterestsoftheirstakeholders.
Inthehealthcareindustry,forinstance,progressiveHMOsareinvolvingallpartiesindecisionstoimprovehealthcarewhilereducingcosts.Typically,physicians,nurses,andotherstaffareorganizedintoself-managedpracticesthatareaccountableforperformancebutgivenwidefreedomandsupport.Educationprogramsassistpatientsinbettermanagingtheirownhealthandinpreventingillnessbyadoptinghealthierlifestyles.Andtokeepthesystemhonest,statesprovideaccesstomedicalperformancedatatoletmarketforceswork.Doctorsarenowoftenstunnedtoseepatientsshowupwithacutchofmedicalresearchreportsintheirhands.
Hereweseethepowerofknowledge-basedenterprise.ProgressiveHMOsareredefiningmedicineintoamoreeffectivesystemofcollaborativeproblemsolvingamongadministrators,medicalstaff,patients,theiremployers,andgovernmentcorporatecommunityinaction.ThisapproachallowedOxfordHealthPlanstodoubleinsizeeachyeartoserveonemillionmembers,
13Othercompaniesineveryindustrycouldmakeasimilartransformation.
Butdoesn'tthisapproachcompromisetheneedtomakemoney?Aknowledgeeconomyischangingtheoldassumptionthatprofitandsocialbenefitsareopposed.Unlikecapitalwithitsfixedlimits,knowledgeincreaseswhenshared,whichiswhycooperationhasnowbecomeefficient.Forinstance,today'swaveofstrategicalliancesisfueledbythepoolingoftechnology,marketaccess,andotherformsof
knowledgetoincreasevalueforallpartners.RaySmith,CEOofBellAtlantic,callsittheprincipleofloavesandfishes."Unlikerawmaterials,knowledgecan'tbeusedup.Themoreyoudispense,themoreyougenerate."14
Ifcooperationcanmultiplythevalueofallianceswithbusinesspartners,whyshouldn'titbeeffectiveforsocialallianceswithemployees,customers,andothergroups?Resultsreportedinthisbookfrommy"CorporationsinTransition"(CIT)surveyof426managersshowthatmorethan80percentunderstandtheneedtocollaboratewithstakeholders.
Pagexxviii
AlthoughIlikethisideabecauseitresolvestheage-oldclashbetweenbusinessandsociety,Idonotarguethiscaseonmoralgrounds.Corporatecommunityisnotsocialresponsibilityorbusinessethicsit'soneofthefewremainingwaystosustaincompetitiveadvantage.
Inthefollowingpagesyouwillreaddetailedaccountsoffascinatingcompaniesandbusinessleaderswhohavepioneeredthisfrontier.Imaginehowthefollowingcreativebuttoughactionswouldelectrifyyourorganizationwithfreshknowledgefromtheoutsidepartiesyoudependontosucceed:
·DemocratizeCorporateGovernance.Inviteresponsible,well-informedrepresentativesofemployees,cients,andbusinesspartnerstoseatsontheboardofdirectorsandotherbodies.
·EvaluateFinancialandSocialPerformance.Developmeasuresofperformancethatreflectthecontributionsandbenefitsofallstakeholders,aswellastraditionalfinancialperformance.
·CollaborateamongStakeholders.Usethisdemocraticformofgovernanceandperformancemeasurestoengageallstakeholdersinjointproblemsolvingtoimprovetheoverallsystem.
Thesechangesarenotaluxurybutanecessityforanybusinessthathopestomeetthetestofsocialpurpose.Thedisordersofourtimerepresentavastfrontiercryingoutforanewtypeofenterprisethatcreatesvaluebyintegratingdifferentintereststoserveallneedsbetter.
TheLeadershipRevolution:RelinquishingtheIllusionofControl
IfIamright,organizationsareheadingtowardsomesortof"economicreversal"apassagefromhierarchytomarketsandfromconflicttocommunity.Weseemtoberoughlyhalfwaythroughthispassage,andtheprinciplesofaNewManagementarequietlygatheringmomentum.Explodingcomplexityisforcingdecentralized
controls,whilethebenefitsofcollaborationareattractingdiversepartiesintopocketsofsharedunderstanding.
Thewayaheadseemsclear.Tomanageorganizationsinanewerawhenordinarypeopleofferthemostvaluableresourceavailable,leaderswillhavetopushauthoritydowntothebottomandouttoallaffectedpartiesaNewManagementbasedonsharedleadershipfromthebottom-up
Pagexxix
andtheoutside-in.MyCITstudyshowsthatmanagersgenerallyunderstandthisshiftiscoming,andtheyexpectittoarrivebetweentheyears2000and2005.
Itiscertainlyneeded.Todayscreativedestructionoffreemarketsisuprootingtheoldsocialorder,withmountingpotentialforaseriouseconomicbacklash.TheincomegapbetweenthetopandbottomclassesintheUnitedStateshasreturnedtothelevelsseenpriortotheGreatCrashof'29,whileindicesofsocialwell-beinghavereachednewlows.
15Andmuchmoreturmoilliesaheadbecauseworldindustrializationislikelytoincreasetenfold.TheindustrializationofChinaalonewilltripletheuseofscarceresources,globalcompetition,socialdiversity,andpollution.GeorgeSoros,themostfamouscapitalistofourtime,calledtoday'smarketsystem"TheCapitalistThreat."
MovingthroughthePassage:LeadersAsGardeners
IsuspecttheonlywaythisconflictcanberesolvedisbymovingthroughthepassagebyharnessingthepotentialofaNewManagementbasedonthelawsofknowledge.Thekeyistoseethatcapitalismisdyingbutenterpriseanddemocracyarejustbeginningtoflower.Torealizethesepossibilities,however,leadershavetorelinquishtheillusionofcontroltoadoptamorehumblebutrealisticroleofnurturingratherthancommandingtheirorganizations.
Thenewscienceofcomplexityandchaostheoryshowsthatorganizationstodaymustbecomeshiftingclustersofself-controlledautonomousunits,alivingsuperorganismofcountlesssmallcellsthatconstantlyadapttoaturbulentworld.TheOldManagementwasgoodformechanisticbusiness,buttheNewManagementasksexecutivestogiveuptheiroldroleascaptainsofcommercetobecome"economic
gardeners"oforganicsystems.
Iexperiencedanexampleofthiscomingroleshiftwhenattendingafundraiseratmyson'shighschoolrecently.Theseusedtobeloud,hard-selleventsthatauctionedprizestothehighestbidder,leavingpeopledazedbutfeelingsortofloyalforattendingwhatwasbasicallyanunpleasantbash.Thistimewewereinvitedtoenjoyaquietdinnerwithafewotherparentsandteachersatsmalltables.Theresultwasameaningfuldialogueabouttheraisingofourchildrenandtheroleoftheschool.RatherthanleavetheeventwithaheadacheasIusuallydid,Ileftthisfundraiserwithadeeper
Pagexxx
appreciationfortheinstitutionIentrustmysonto.Andtheschoolbenefitednotonlyfromourheightenedsupportbutfromthemoregenerouscheckswewillinglywroteafteranenjoyableencounterthatleftusallfeelingconnected.
Itseemstomethatthisiswhatleadershavetocultivatetoday.Theglitzymarketing,brutaltreatmentofthrow-awayworkers,andalltheotherrelicsofamoreexuberantbutthoughtlesseconomicyouthmustyieldtoamaturitythatisquieterbutmorepowerful.Leadersmustfindawaytoserveunmetsocialneeds,developinformationsystemstosharpenourunderstanding,helpemployeesorganizeintoself-managedunits,andformcollaborativerelationshipstoresolvetheoldconflictsbetweenworkersandmanagers,sellersandbuyers,andalltheotherdivisionswecannolongerafford.
Leaderscan'tforcepeopletodoanyofthesecomplextasksanymorethangardenerscanforcenaturetoproducewhattheywant.Gardenershavetobeattentivetothesubtlesignsofneedintheirgardens.Theymustprovidetherightamountsofwater,light,andnutrientsandthenlovinglyallowplantstogrowastheyshould.Inotherwords,theymustletgo.ListentohowBobKuperman,CEOofChiat/Day,describedthisnewrole:
Basicallyourorganizationisnowalivingthingwithalifeallitsown.Managementcansupportitandguideit,butnotcontrolit.Ifyouletitdesignitself,ittakesoffandpeopleusetheirbestpossibleabilities.We'vegottomakethissucceedbecausetheoldwaydoesn'tworkanymore.
16
Heritage,Heresy,andtheLawsofKnowledge
Oneparticularlycrucial,symbolicactionwouldsignifythesethreerevolutions,helpusgraspthem,andliveuptothechallenge.Drawing
onourheritageasanationbornthroughrevolution,Americansshouldsummonupourtraditionalcouragetoproclaimamodernheresyoureconomicsystemshouldnolongerbethoughtofas"capitalism."
Capitalismisanoutmodedtypeofmarketsystemdedicatedtothepursuitofcapital,profit,andtheothermaterialfactorsthatworkedintheindustrialpast.Themainthingimpedingusatthispointissheerideology.Ifwewanttodrawontheenergyofthefuture,weshoulddefineoureco-
Pagexxxi
nomicsystemintermsofthelawsofknowledgethatdefinethefuture.Economicsuccessisnolongerpoweredbycapitalbutbyfreeenterpriseanddemocraticcommunity.Isuggestamoreaccurate,fittingnameforoursystemwouldbe"DemocraticEnterprise."
Corporateexecutivesaretheprimarycandidatesforcreatingthissystembecausebusinessisthemostpowerfulinstitutioninsociety.Asystemofdemocraticenterprisewouldallowustomoreeasilynavigatethiseconomicpassage,andmanagerscouldthenshedtheiroldroleasthebadguystoassumetheirrightfulplaceastheheroeswhomakeaknowledgesocietywork.
WILLIAME.HALALWASHINGTON,D.C.JULY1998
Notes
1."Telecom'sCowboyRevolutionary,"BusinessWeek(October13,1997).
2.TheNewYorkTimes(May10,1997).
3.GeoffreyColvin,"TheChangingArtofBecomingUnbeatable,"Fortune(November24,1997).
4.WilliamE.Halal,"EmergingTechnologies,"TheFuturist(NovDec1997).
5."DefendingBigBlue,"Newsweek(September30,1996).BetsyMorris,"BigBlue,"Fortune(April14,1997).
6.Groveisquotedin"AConversationwiththeLordsofWintel,"Fortune(July8,1996).
7.ThomasStewart,"TryingtoGrasptheIntangible,"Fortune(October2,1996).
8.RobertShapiro,"GrowthThroughGlobalSustainability,"HarvardBusinessReview(JanuaryFebruary1997).
9.WilliamE.Halaletal.,InternalMarkets(NewYork:Wiley,1993).
10."LookWho'sPushingProductivity,"BusinessWeek(April7,1997).
11.DavidHilzenrath,"DoctorsLashOutAgainstProfitMotive,"WashingtonPost(December3,1997).
12.ShermanStratford,"Levi's,"Fortune(May12,1997).
13."Oxford'sEducation,"BusinessWeek(April8,1996).
Pagexxxii
14.WilliamE.Halal(ed.),TheInfiniteResource(SanFrancisco:Jossey-Bass,1998).
15.1996IndexofSocialHealth(Tarrytown,NY:FordhamGradCenter,1996).
16.WilliamE.Halal,TheInfiniteResource(Jossey-Bass,1998).
Page1
1ManagementinTransition:BridgingThatDividebetweentheOldandtheNewCivilizationtodayispoisedatthebrinkofagreatdividebetweenanoldwayoflifethatisdyingandanewwayoflifethatisstillbeingborn.BehindliesanIndustrialAgethatlavishedwealthonaworldthatwaspoorbutwhichalsoleftapollutedplanet,quarrelsomesocieties,andemptylives.AheadliesthemuchheraldedpromiseoftheInformationAgebutitsgrowingcontourscontinuetosurpriseandshockus.Whowouldhavethoughtthataglobaleconomywouldappearalmostovernight?ThattheSovietUnionwouldjustdisintegrate?ThattheUnitedStateswouldslipintodecline?
1
Therearemanywaystoexaminesuchcomplexissues,butbasicallytheseareproblemsofmanagingsocialinstitutions.Asaknowledgeeconomyspreadsaroundtheworld,thelargestprofessionalgrouptodayistherisingmanagerialclassthatguidesagrowinginfrastructureofcomplexorganizations.2Mostoftheworriesthatdominatethenewsemanatefromtheinteractionofcorporations,governments,schoolsanduniversities,hospitals,newsmedia,armies,andotherinstitutionsthatsupportmodemlife.PeterDruckerdescribeditthisway:"Becauseaknowledgesocietyisoneoforganizations,itscentralorganismanagement.Managementalonemakeseffectivealloftoday'sknowledge."3
Andaseventsacceleratetoproduceevermorecomplextechnologies,intensecompetition,andturbulent,constantchange,theagingfoundation
Page2
ofthisentireinstitutionalsystemisfailingeverywhere.WitnessantigovernmentsentimentintheUnitedStates,thecrisisinhealthcare,anddemandstoreformeducation.IBM,onceregardedasthebest-managedcorporationintheworld,recordedthebiggestbusinesslossinhistoryrecently,whichwassoonexceededbyGeneralMotors(GM).Confidenceininstitutionshasfallenfrom52percentin1966to22percentin1994,andnorecoveryisinsight.
4
Outofallthisconfusion,aworkablenewsocialordermustbeconstructedtomanagearadicallydifferentworld.ThisbookdescribestheorganizingprinciplesthatareemergingtomasterthischallengeTheNewManagementanditoffersguidesonhowmanagerscanleadtheiroldinstitutionsintothisnewera.
WhatReallyIstheNewManagement?
Mostpeoplehaveanintuitivegraspofmanagementbecauseweareraisedinaworldoforganizations,soatanearlyageweabsorbthebasicconceptsofworkinglife.That'swhymanagementeducationisoftendismissedas''commonsense."
Butitisexactlythiscommonlyunderstoodsense,or"paradigm,"thatistheproblem.Prevailingmanagementconceptswereconceivedforanindustrialpast,sotheyarenotusefulforavastlydifferenteconomybasedonknowledge.Thefoundingfathersofmanagementwouldbebaffledtohearmodernmanagerstalkof"networks,""telecommuting,"and"virtualorganizations."
TheEvolutionofManagement
TheclassictheoriesofHenriFayol,MaxWeber,andFrederickTaylordefinedthetraditionalviewof"mechanistic"organizationstomanage
thesimpleconditionsoftheIndustrialAge.Whatcouldbemorereasonableinan"ageofmachines"thantoconstructinstitutionsas"socialmachines"?Today,however,amorecomplexworlddescribedbythe"supertrends"inBox1.1hasmadethismodelobsolete.5
Theforcedrivingthistransformationistheinexorableincreaseincomputerpowerbyafactorofteneveryfewyears.FortypercentofAmericanhomesnowhavepersonalcomputers(PCs),andthenumberisgrowing30percentperyear.Theaveragehouseholdusescomputerstwiceas
Page3
BOX1.1.GLOBALSUPERTRENDS.
AnInformationSociety.Sometimebetween2000and2010,today'sPCswillseemasprimitiveasaslideruleincomparisontoanewbreedoffarmoreconvenient,intelligentsystemsthatshouldincreasecomputingpowerroughlyamilliontimes.Smallportablecomputerswillbecomeindispensableassistantshelpingusmanage"smart"homes,offices,andautos,whilelargerparallelprocessorscontainingthousandsofchipswillprovidethemusclepowertocruisetheinformationsuperhighwaysofaplanetarysociety.Peoplewilltherebygainaccesstoawealthofknowledgeatthetouchofafinger:conversationswithanyoneacrosstheglobeonfullmotionvideo,dataonanytopic,librariesofbooksandperiodicals,currentnewsaroundtheworld,andacornucopiaofentertainment.
TechnicalMastery.TheInformationRevolutionexertsanenormousmultipliereffectasitadvancesourabilitytoacquireknowledge,theheartofscientificprogress.Theresultishistoricbreakthroughsinallfields.Asoneexample,biogeneticswillsoongainsuchcontroloverlifeprocessesthatanyconceivabletypeoforganismmaybecreated,justasphysicalsciencenowconfersthepowertocreatehydrogenbombsandexplorespace.
AUnifiedGlobe.Theelectrifyingforceofinformationtechnologyiswiringtheglobeintoasingle,unifiedwhole.JustaspeoplethoughttheideaofaUnitedStatesofEuropeandaNorthAmericanFreeTradeAgreementwereunthinkableafewyearsago,today'seconomicblocsarelikelytomergeinadecadeorso,producingopentradeamongmostnations,hugenewdevelopingmarkets,someformofcoherentglobalgovernance,andthefreemovementofcapital,information,andpeopleacrossborders.
TheEcologicalTransformation.TheriseofamiddleclassinAsia,SouthAmerica,andpossiblyAfricaisalmostcertaintoincreasethelevelofindustrializationdramatically,possiblytenfold,producingacommensuratestrainonanalreadydecayingecologicalsystem.TheindustrializationofChinaaloneshouldatleastdoubletheloadontheenvironment.Thus,presenttechnological,economic,andsocialsystemsmustinevitablybetransformedintosomeasyetunknownnewsystemthatisecologicallybenign.
SocialDiversity.Theinformationrevolutionseemstoinvariablyreleasekeenneedsforpersonalachievement,culturalidentity,andspiritualmeaning,drivingalmostuncontrollablediversity.ThatiswhytheworldiswrackedwithsocialconflagrationsintheMiddleEast,theformerCommunistbloc,andeventheUnitedStates;andtheproblemmaybecomemoreintense.
Source:WilliamE.Halal,"GlobalStrategicManagementinaNewWorldOrder,"BusinessHorizons(December1993).
Page4
muchasitusesTV,andcomputersarealsoconnectingpeopletogetherthroughtheInternetandinformationserviceslikeAmericaOnline,CompuServe,TheMicrosoftNetwork,andProdigy.In1994,thefirstthree-dimensionalvirtualmeetingwasheldacrossthePacificbetweenteamsofJapaneseandAmericanswhoseimages"met"inavirtualconferenceroom.Oneparticipantdescribedtheexperiencethisway:"We'vebeendreamingofcyberspaceforalongtime.Hereitis,thewaypeoplereallyinteract."BillGatesclaimsallthesecapabilitieswillbeincommonusebytheyear2000.
6
Bytheendofthisdecade,then,averagepeopleshouldbeabletowork,vote,learn,shop,play,andconductalmostallotheraspectsoftheirliveselectronically,usingmultimediaPCsthatcombinetheintelligenceofasupercomputer,thecommunicationsofaportabletelephone,andthevividimagesofhigh-definitionTV.Thesetrendsforetellatransformationoftheentiresocialorder,andthebattletodefineanewsocialorderwillbewagedinthewaywedesignandmanageinstitutions.
ManagershavebeguntorestructuretheirorganizationsinrecentyearsasTotalQualityManagement(TQM),alliances,reengineering,self-directedteams,empowerment,community,andotherinnovationssuddenlyburstonthescene.ArecentissueofFortuneevenannounced"TheEndoftheJob,"7andKunheeLee,chairmanofSamsungCorporation,thelargestKoreanconglomerate,toldhismanagers,"Changeeverythingexceptyourwifeandkids."8Figure1.1outlinesthisrichbodyofemergingthought,showinghowtheintroductionofmajornewconceptshasprogressivelymovedthepracticeofmanagementtowardan"organic"focus.Theentriesarenotexhaustive,buttheyofferageneralguidetotherapidevolutionof
managementtoday.
Theneatconceptsofclassicalmanagementwerechallengedinthe1950swhenAbrahamMaslow,EltonMayo,andDouglasMcGregorshowedthatthefieldwasexpandingtoincludehumanandsocialfactors.Later,inthesixtiesandseventies,bolderinsightsbursttheboundariesoftheoldmanagementaltogether.ChesterBarnard,anexecutiveatAmericanTelephoneandTelegraph(AT&T),describedmanagementintermsofsocialsystems.PaulLawrenceandJayLorschdiscoveredthateffectiveorganizationsconsistofdiversepartsunitedintoacoherentwhole.WarrenBennisforesawtheneedtoreplaceauthoritariancontrolwithdemocracy.AndHenryMintzbergfoundthatmanagersareengagedinanaction-orientedflowofpeopleandinformationratherthansterileproblemsolving.9
Page5
Figure1.1.TheAdvanceofManagementThought.
Page6
Althoughthesewereradicalideasatthetime,theycannowbeunderstoodmoredearlyasthefirstwaveinafloodoforganicconceptsthatsweptthroughthe1980sand1990s.W.EdwardsDemmingandJ.M.Juranpioneeredthequalityrevolution.WilliamOuchi,TomPetersandRobertWaterman,andPeterVaillhelpedusseethatexcellentmanagersinstilledpurposeandmeaning.RayMilesandCharlesSnowshowedthatmodernorganizationsconsistedofnetworks.GiffordPinchotandRussellAckoffbroughtfreeenterpriseinsidethefirm.PeterSengeoutlinedtheprinciplesoforganizationallearning.TerrenceDeal,AllenKennedy,PeterFrostandhiscolleagues,LeeBolman,andMichaelRayrevealedhowinstitutionsformtheirownculturesandspiritualbeliefs.AndmybookTheNewCapitalismshowedthatallthischangeflowsfromtraditionalWesternidealsofenterpriseanddemocracy.
10
TheOldversustheNewManagement
Whileitiscearthatanewstreamofmanagementhasappeared,thereisgreatconfusionoverwhatthisNewManagementwillconsistofwhenitmatures.Aquickscanofthebusinessmediashowsabewilderingblurofnewmanagementideasextollingeverythingfrom"greedisgood"to"businessethics,"andanauthoritativesurveyrecentlyconcludedthatthereislittleagreementontoday'smanagementparadigm.11
Thisconfusionisparticularlyseverebecauseitoftenragesacrossagreatdivideseparatingthepastfromthefuture.Theeconomichistoryofourtimewilllikelybetoldasatuggingandpullingbetweentheoldversusthenew:powerversusparticipation,hierarchicalcontrolversusmarketfreedom,profitversussociety,growthversustheenvironment,andsoon.
Onthe"new"sideofthisdivide,manyproponentsofprogressivechangearecaughtupinarevolutionaryzealthatproclaimsthevirtuesof"empoweredpeople,"workingin"fluidstructures,"toserve"humanneeds''and"protecttheenvironment,"allenergizedby"spirituality."Theseareexcitingideas,buttheyoftenappearnaivetomanagerswhoarestrugglingtosurviveahardworld.ManagerswhorespondedtotheCITsurveyofferedthefollowingreactions:"Justbecauseanideaisolddoesnotmeanitisbad,"and"Therewillneverbeasubstituteforthedisciplineandaccountabilityoftheoldsystem."Oneexecutiveputitthisway,"Theimplicationthatwe'vecometoacrossroadsinbusinessmanagementisfull
Page7
ofhotair....Weneedtoremember,follow,andreinforcethegoodoldideas...noonehasdiscoveredanynewsecretsofmanagement."
12
Onthis"old"halfofthedivide,it'struethatmanyexecutivesarestuckinoutdatedviews.ListentosometypicalcommentsfrommanagersintheCITsurvey:"Itisincredibletowitnessjusthowterrifiedseniormanagersareofchange.Theypaidtheirduesintheoldsystem,andnowtheyfeelarighttoprivilegeswithinthatsystem,"and''Somepeoplemustexerttotalcontrolovereveryaspectoftheirbusiness."Thesearevalidcriticisms;however,adherentstotheOldManagementraisecrucialobjectionsthattestnewideas,andtheirinfluencemaintainsahealthycontinuitywiththepast.Seriouschangeisgoingtorequiremorethanloftysentiments.
Forinstance,itisrefreshingtoseeattemptstoempoweremployeessweepacrosstheland,buttheseinnovationsoftenfailbecauseofunrealisticexpectations.WeirtonSteelexcitedthenationwhenitbecamethelargestemployeestockownershipplan(ESOP)inAmerica,yetnowthecompanyhasfallenonhardtimesandsoithasbeenforcedtotakedrasticmeasures,includingthesametypeoflayoffsoftenassociatedwith"heartlesscorporations."Weirton'sowner-workersarejustifiablyangry:"Howcanwebelaidoffifweownthecompany?"askedapuzzledshareholder.13
TheroadtoaNewManagementislitteredwiththeruinsofsuchnoblefailures,soitwouldbewisetoacknowledgetheircausehonestlyifwewanttoavoidthem.IntheWeirtonSteelcase,avidproponentsfailedtorecognizetheenduringtruththat"authoritymustbecommensuratewithresponsibility."Whileworkerswereenthusiasticabouttheirnewfoundpowers,theywereunpreparedtosufferlossesbecausetheydidnotrealizethatownershipincursthe
riskofcontrolaswellastherightofcontrol.ThesamefatalflawisdamagingemployeegovernanceinEurope.
Theseformsofworkerparticipationhavebeenabeaconforenlightenedmanagement,buttheyaccordedemployeesdominantcontrolovertheirenterpriseswithoutensuringthatthispowerwasusedresponsibly,allowingworkerstorewardthemselveswithoutcommensurategainsinperformance.Themostbrilliantmanagementinnovationscannotrepealtheironlawsofeconomicrealitythatrequireustolivewithinourmeans.ANewManagementcanofferpeoplethepowertocontroltheirlives,butitmustalsoholdthemaccountableforperformanceaswelljustastheOldManagementdid.
Page8
Thereverseisalsotrue:demandstoimproveproductivitymeanlittleunlesstheyareaccompaniedbythepowertocontrolone'sworklife.Theuseofdownsizingandotherattemptstoreducecostsareoftendisappointingbecausetheyareusuallyimposedfromthetopdowninaratherarbitraryway,causingfear,stress,andresentmentatbeingtreatedunfairly.AtatimewhenCEOsroutinelyclaim"ouremployeesareourgreatestasset,"thisispreciselythewrongapproach.Top-downchangedisempowerspeopleandpreventslocalsolutionsthatareusuallysuperiorhallmarksoftheNewManagement.
Theseconfusingconflictsbetweenoutmodedpracticesanduntestedpromisesaretheprincipalobstacletoeconomicprogress.Wecan'tgobacktoapastthatnolongerworks,andyetweseemtobehavingdifficultyfindingsolidgroundtomoveahead.Howcanorganizationsbeproductivewhenmanagersseemconfusedoverwhattheyexpectfromtheiremployees?WillAmericancompanieslosetheproductmarketsofthefuturetoglobalcompetitorsastheydidbeforeinelectronicsandautomobiles?Mostimportantly,thefullimpactofthisupheavalwillhitwhenthenextwaveofinformationsystemsarrivesabouttheyear2000.WillwebereadytohandlethisenormousuntamedpoweroftheInformationRevolution?Thequestioncannolongerbeavoided:WhatreallyistheNewManagement?
TheNewFoundationofManagement:DemocracyandEnterprise
Ibelieveanewfoundationofmanagementisemergingthatcanbridgethisdividebetweentheoldandthenew.Notonlycanthisconflictberesolved,theNewManagementabsorbstheOldManagementintoabroader,morepowerfulframeworkthatmakessenseofalltheconcepts,problems,andinnovationsthatconfusemanagerstoday.Thekeytounderstandingthiscrucialresolutionistoseethatthetwocomplementaryprinciplesofdemocracyandenterprisearenowtransformingorganizationsintoabalancedwhole.
Managershavealwaysworkedinamarketeconomy,ofcourse,andweallliveinademocraticsociety,sowhatisreallynew?What'snewisthatthesepracticeshavebeennotablyabsentinorganizations.Therehasbeenpreciouslittleentrepreneurialfreedominsidecorporationsorgovernmentsbecausetheyweretraditionallymanagedascentrallyplannedhierarchies,
Page9
andthemerethoughtofdemocracywasanathemainbusiness.EventheCatholicChurchacknowledgesthatitisnotdemocratic.
Butwithinthepastfewyears,thesetwoprincipleshavebeenbringingafreshnewvitalityintocorporatelife.Aswewillsee,today'smovementtowardsmallerbusinessunits,entrepreneurialfreedom,accountabilityforeconomicresults,andotherenterpriseprinciplesislikelytoculminateincomplete"internalmarkets."Likewise,asimilartrendtowardempowerment,participation,collaborativeworkingrelations,humanvalues,andotherdemocraticidealsshouldleadtoward"corporatecommunities."
Pleasenotethatthereisadifferencebetweentheconceptsof"enterprise"and"internalmarkets,"andbetween"democracy''and"corporatecommunity."
Thepoweroffreeenterpriseisintroducingsomeaspectsofmarketbehaviorinorganizations,butitishardtoenvisionhostiletakeoversofcorporatedivisions.Soorganizationsareunlikelytobecomecompletelyfreemarkets.ButasChapter2willshow,ifmanagersencouragethestartingofinternalventures,providethewideoperatingfreedomthatenterprisesneedtothrive,andrewardentrepreneursfortheirsuccess,theseconditionsconstitutewhatIcallan"internalmarket."
Likewise,theidealsofdemocracyaremovingintoorganizations,butthisisnotlikelytobealegalsystemofrepresentativegovernment.Webster'sdictionarydefines"democracy"asoriginatingfromtheLatindemos,meaning"thepeople."Inthisbroadersense,democracyisasystemofgovernancebasedontherightsofpeople.AswewillseeinChapter3,theapplicationofdemocracyinorganizationsusuallytakesthepracticalformofcollaborativeworkingrelationsthatformacorporatecommunity.
Thus,internalmarketsandcorporatecommunityaredefinedhereas"organizationalequivalentsofenterpriseanddemocracy."Thesetwoconceptstogetheroffersuchbreadthofunderstandingthattheyprovidemanagersaunified,practicalbodyofprinciples.Nosingleframeworkisabletoexplainallaspectsofmanagement,butIestimatethatmost,andpossiblyasmuchas70to90percent,oftoday'smanagementinnovationflowsfromthesetwokeyprinciples.
Ifthisviewisvalid,theunionofdemocraticandentrepreneurialprinciplesshouldresolvetheclashbetweentheOldandtheNewManagementnotedabove.Infact,itdoesexactlythat:"empoweredpeople"mustassume
Page10
bothrightsandresponsibilities,"fluidstructures"requirefreedomandaccountability,"humanneeds"includethewelfareofsocialconstituenciesandprofitforinvestors,andspiritualityah,spirituality!
Spiritualityhasbecomeapowerfulnewentryinmanagementrecently,aswewillseelater.LawrencePerlman,CEOofCeridianCorporationsaid,"Ultimately,thecombinationofheadandheartwillbeacompetitiveadvantage."
14ButIthinkmuchofthisinterestismisleading.Someofmymostdisappointingexperienceshaveoccurredinorganizationsthatprofessspiritualvalues.Becausewetendtoequatespiritualitywith"goodness,"peopleoftenavoiddiscussingthehardnecessitiesofeconomiclifeconflict,poorperformance,andsoontherebyallowingsuchproblemstofesteruntiltheyexplode.Afterall,thehistoryofreligionaboundswithwar.TomPetersignitedacontroversywhenhesaid,''Ifindtheideaofspiritualityintheworkplaceappalling."15
ItseemstomethatspiritualityisdestinedtobecomepartoftheNewManagement,butitwillbemorebroadlyconceived.Aswewillseelater,thespiritisboththesourceofourhighestidealsandapracticaldisciplinethatleadersusetoresolveintensedifferencesamongdemandingclients,empoweredworkers,andtoughbusinesspartners.OurapproachtothespiritcannotbelimitedtotraditionaldogmanorNewAgemysticism.AsWaltWhitmantoldus,lifeisasacredwholethatencompassesall.Institutionsarenolessanintegralpartoflife,ablazewithendlessmeaningthatencompassesthemessy,disturbingrealitiesaswell.Thespiritthatanimateslifepermeatesalllife,notjustthoseaspectsweprefer.
AForecastoftheNewManagementParadigm
TheconceptscomprisingtheNewManagementparadigm,orsystem,
areoutlinedinTable1.1,incontrastwiththecorrespondingfeaturesoftheOldManagement.Ofcourse,wecan't"prove"wherethisrevolutionarytransitionwilllead.ByapproachingthetaskinasystematicwayusingtheresearchmethoddescribedintheIntroduction,however,Ithinkwecanprovideareasonablysoundforecastthatsketchesoutthenewsystem.
ThefollowingchaptersummariesexplaintheconceptsinTable1.1andtherebyprovideanoverviewofthebook.Asshown,thebookisdividedintothreeparts.PartOnelaysaconceptualfoundationbydescribinghowthetwocentralthemesofinternalmarketsandcorporatecommu-
Page11
TABLE1.1.THETRANSITIONTOANEWMANAGEMENT.
ChapterFeatureIndustrialAge:TheOldManagement
InformationAge:TheNewManagement
2 Organizationstructure
Hierarchy InternalMarket
3 Goalsandgovernance
Profit CorporateCommunity
4 Managementsystem
Mechanistic Organic
5 Clientrelations
Selling ServingEnterprise
6 Workroles Employee KnowledgeEntrepreneur
7 Ecologicalinterface
UnboundedGrowth IntelligentGrowth
8 Strategyformation
Planning ContinuousChange
9 Guidanceandcontrol
Authority InnerLeadership
10 Worldsystem
TheOldCapitalismvs.TheOldSocialism
DemocraticEnterprise
nityformanewmanagementsystem.PartTwofocusesonbuildingthreestructuresthatconstitutetheheartofthissystem:theorganization'srelationshipswithitsclients,itsworkers,andtheenvironment.PartThreeexploreshowmodemmanagerscanleadthistypeoforganizationeffectivelyinaneraofconstantchange,empoweredpeople,andglobalmarkets.
EachofthesethreepartsisintroducedbyatablethatmorefullyoutlinesthelogicofthistransitionfromOldManagementconceptstotheircorrespondingNewManagementconcepts.Asthesetables1.2,1.3,and1.4show,themostprominentfeatureofthistransitionissynthesis,thecreativeintegrationofoldpracticesandnewtrendsin
theHegeliansense:theoldstatusquo(the"thesis"oftheOldManagement)iscombinedwithopposingevolutionaryforces(the"antithesis"ofchange)toproduceanewstatusquo(the"synthesis"oftheNewManagement).
ItisimportanttoobservethatwhatmanyconsidertheNewManagementactuallyconsistsoftheopposingforcesortrendsalone(theantithesis).Thislimitednatureofsomanyhotbutephemeralmanagementfadsexplains
Page12
whytheoverhypedpromisesnotedearlieroftenearnthedisdainofmainstreammanagers.Oneexecutivecomplainedtomeof"NewAgebusinessbabble,"andanotherthought"theNewManagementinmanycasesisbusinessschoolclaptrap."
Toavoidthisproblem,theconceptslistedinTable1.1arefirmlyrootedineconomicreality.I'vecarefullyintegratedsuccessfulmanagementinnovationstoproduceablendoftheoryandpracticebasedontheworkofcreativeexecutives:leaderssuchasRichard(Skip)LeFauve,chairmanofGM-Satur,whoexpandedtheoldfocusonprofittoincludetheinterestsofworkers,clients,andotherstakeholders;AnitaRoddick,founderoftheBodyShop,whosetanewstandardforhigh-qualityproductsthatprovidegenuinevalueandprotecttheenvironment;andBertRoberts,CEOofMCI,whocreatedadynamicorganizationthatcontinuestooutperformAT&T.
Principlesareshowntoflowoutofhundredsofsuchexamples,illustratedwithanecdotes,cases,quotes,data,figures,andexercisestoprovideavivid,realisticunderstandingofhowcreativeleadersdesignandmanageorganizationstoday.WhilethebookfocusesonAmericanbusiness,italsocoversgovernmentandotherinstitutionswithinthecontextoftoday'sglobaleconomy.
TABLE1.2.PARTONE:REDEFININGTHEFOUNDATIONOFMANAGEMENT.
Chapter
TheOldManagement(thesis)
ForcesofChange(antithesis)
TheNewManagement(synthesis)
2 Organizationstructure:Hierarchy
Complexity,diversity,economicchange,globalcompetition,informationnetworks
InternalMarket:Smallenterprisescooperatingwithinalargeorganization
3 Goalsandgovernance:Profit
Human&socialvalues,stakeholderpower,cooperationbecomesefficient
CorporateCommunity:Coalitionofallstakeholderrights&responsibilities
4 Managementsystem:Mechanistic
Informationrevolution
OrganicOrganization:Creativetensionbetweeninternalmarketsandcorporatecommunity
Page13
Chapter2FromHierarchytoEnterprise:InternalMarketsAretheNewFormofOrganizationStructure
Largecorporationsaredisbandingtheirformerhierarchies,butsurelytheremustbeanewmodelthatismoreprecisethan"flatstructures,""flexibleorganizations,""networks,"andotherpopularterms.
Justasformersocialistnationsaremovingtomarkets,sotooareleading-edgecorporationssuchasMCI,Hewlett-Packard(HP),andAseaBrownBovari(ABB)"internalmarkets."Internalmarketsbringthepoweroffreemarketsinsideorganizationsbydefiningallunitsassmallinternalenterprisesworkingtogetherwithinasupportivecorporateinfrastructure.
Thiscooperativeclusterofinternalenterprisesoffersthecreativityofsmallbusinessventuresandtheeconomicpoweroflargecorporations.Marketshavetheirdrawbacks,buttheyarespreadingthroughoutthenewsocialorderbecausetheyprovidethedynamicfoundationneededtomanagecomplexityandchange.
Chapter3FromProfittoDemocracy:CorporateCommunityIstheNewFormofOrganizationGovernance
Theconflictbetweenprofitandsocialwelfarehasbeenalong,bitterstrugglewagedcontinuouslyoverthesametiredground.Socialresponsibilityenjoyedpopularityinthe1970s,butbecameanemptypietywhentheReaganerarestoredafocusonprofit.Eitherviewaloneisunrealisticsincethebroaderrealityisthatbusinessisasocioeconomicinstitution.
Awholisticperspectiveisemergingasitbecomesclearthatanyorganizationisapoliticalsystemcomposedoffivemainconstituencies:investors,employees,customers,businesspartners,
andthepublic.Sincesuccesshingesonthesupportofallthesegroups,progressivefirmssuchasGM-Saturn,IKEA,andtheBodyShopstrivetocreateapoliticalcoalitionthatservesallinterestsbetter,includingmakingprofitsforinvestors.
Thiscanbeseenas"abetterwaytomakemoney,"buttheNewManagementpresentsamorepowerfulperspective.Theroleofbusinessisexpandingtoforma"corporatecommunity"composedofallstakeholders,withprofitbeingacriticalbutlimitedgoal.
Page14
Chapter4TheNewManagementSynthesis:UnitingInternalMarketsandCorporateCommunity
ThethemesofinternalmarketsandcorporatecommunityareintegratedhereintoaconceptualfoundationfortheNewManagement.Itmayappearthattheseconceptsopposeoneanother.Marketsareassociatedwithconservativevaluesofenterprise,competition,andprofit,whilecommunityisthoughtofintermsofliberalvaluesofdemocracy,cooperation,andsocialwelfare.
Buttheseorientationsareessentialpartsofanysocialsystem.Westernsocietyhasalwaysstruggledtoreconcilemarketsandcommunity,whichiswhyfreeenterpriseanddemocracyarethetwopillarssupportingmoderncivilization.Ininstitutions,thisunionissymbolizedbythemetaphorofan"organizationtree":alivingorganismrootedintoitseconomicterrainbyinternalenterprisesandguidedbythesocialvaluesofitscommunity.
ExcellentmanagerscreatemorepowerfulorganizationsbasedonacreativetensionbetweenthesetwohalvesoftheNewManagement.Internalmarketsareneededtomasteradiversecomplexworld,yetthisdiversitymustbepulledtogetherintocorporatecommunitiesthatareeconomicallyproductiveandsociallyharmonious.
TABLE1.3.PARTTWO:BUILDINGANENTREPRENEURIALCOMMUNITY.
Chapter
TheOldManagement(thesis)
ForcesofChange(antithesis)
TheNewManagement(synthesis)
5 Clientrelations:Selling
Demandforvalue,qualityoflife,globalcompetition
ServingEnterprise:Workingrelationshipwithclientstoimprovequalityoflife
6 Workroles: Economicchange, KnowledgeEntrepreneur:
Employee needforproductivity,achievementvalues
Payforperformancecombinedwithfreedomofoperations
7 Ecologicalinterface:UnboundedGrowth
Ecologicalcrisis,globalindustrialization,appreciationofnature
IntelligentGrowth:Innovativeeconomicprogressthatisecologicallysound
Page15
Chapter5TheServingEnterprise:RelinquishingOurGriponSelf-Interest
Oneoftheharshestfeaturesofpreviousbusinesspracticewasthesell-at-any-costmarketingthatturnedtelevisionintoaculturalwasteland,urgedshoddyproductsonagulliblepublic,andfailedtoserveagrowingneedforimprovingthequalityoflife.
Thischaptershowsthatglobalcompetition,demandingclients,andgrowingsocialproblemsaremovingmarketingawayfromsimplysellinggoodstowardacient-drivenfocusonimprovingthequalityoflife.Creativebusinessisbecominga"servingenterprise"thatusessophisticatedinformationsystemstounderstandsocialneeds,customizeproductsandservices,evaluateclientsatisfaction,andmakeadvertisingmoreuseful.
Theresultisaworkingpartnershipbetweenorganizationsandtheircustomersthatbenefitsbothparties.Ifmanagerscanrelinquishtheirimmediateself-interest,thedifficultproblemsthataboundtodaycanbeconvertedintolimitlessopportunities.
Chapter6KnowledgeEntrepreneurs:AWorkingContractofRightsandResponsibilities
Employeeempowermentisbecomingcommonnow,butglobalcompetitionhasforcedemployerstocutcostsandboostproductivity.EventheJapanesearelayingoffworkers.Suddenly,workingrelationsnolongerseemaspromisingastheyoncedid.
Suchconflictingtrendssignalahistoricshiftinwork.TheoldlifetimeemploymentsystemoftheIndustrialAgeisyieldingtoamoresharplyfocusedcontractualsystemthatlinksrewardstooutput.Anewbreedof"knowledgeentrepreneurs"isemerginginwhichteamsactasquasibusinesspartnerswiththecorporation,sharingboththerightsand
responsibilitiesofmanagement.
Someorganizationswillcontinuetoprovidetraditionalworkrelationships,butthesameforcesthataredrivingtheworldtomarketeconomiesareforcingemployeestoassumeentrepreneurialroles.Peoplewilltherebyhavetobecomemoreself-reliant,buttheywillalsogainthebenefitsentrepreneurshavealwaysenjoyed.
Page16
Chapter7IntelligentGrowth:BalancingEcologicalHealthandEconomicProgress
Afterdecadesofconflictovereconomicgrowthversustheenvironment,theconceptof"sustainability"hasbeenwidelyaccepted.Buthowcansustainabilitybeattainedwhentheindustrializationoflessdevelopednationswillinevitablyincreasetheloadontheenvironmentbyafactoroffivetoten?
Wearenotlikelytoresolvethisissuebyinsistingoneitherapristineenvironmentoruncheckedgrowth.Aformof"intelligentgrowth"isappearingasbusinessacceptsthenecessityforahealthyenvironmentandturnsitsproblem-solvingskillstothisend.Progressivefirmsnowconsideracleanmanufacturingcyclefromproductdesigntodisposalasoundcompetitiveadvantage.
Ifenvironmentalists,governmentofficials,andbusinesspeoplecanresolvethedifficultproblemsinvolved,theindustrialworldcouldbetransformedintoaneweconomicsystemthatisabletoimprovethelivesoftenbillionpeoplewhilesafeguardingtheenvironment.Indeed,thereislittlechoice.
TABLE1.4.PARTTHREE:LEADINGINTHENEWECONOMICORDER.
Chapter
TheOldManagement(thesis)
ForcesofChange(antithesis)
TheNewManagement(synthesis)
8 Strategyformation:Planning
Turbulentenvironment,organicorganization
ContinuousChange:Organizationsintegratedwithforcesofchangeintheirsurroundings
9 Guidanceandcontrol:Authority
Powershift,riseofinformalorganization,
InnerLeadership:Resolutionofdifferencesbetweenleadersand
participation,riskanduncertainty
followers
10 Worldsystem:TheOldCapitalismvs.TheOldSocialism
Freeenterprise,democracy,globalization
DemocraticEnterprise:Globalnetworksofentrepreneurialcommunity
Page17
Chapter8ContinuousChange:RootingtheOrganizationintoItsEnvironment
Strategicplanningfadedinthe1980swhencompaniesfoundthatitusuallyproducesbureaucracyratherthanactualchange.Theproblemisthatanytypeofplanningcoordinatedfromthetopwillincurthedisadvantagescommontoallcentralizedcontrols.
TheNewManagementcomprisesamorepowerfulformofstrategicchangethatharnessestheenergyofoutsideforces.Internalmarketsandcorporatecommunityintegrateorganizationsintotheirenvironment,allowingtheebbandflowofexternaleventstoproduce"continuouschange"throughouttheinstitution.
IndividualorganizationsmayfavordifferentaspectsoftheNewManagement.Butinanagewhentheonlyconstantischange,theorganic,fluid,messynatureoflivingsystemsmustprovidethecreativebehaviorneededtosurviveaturbulentworld.
Chapter9InnerLeadership:HowtoHandletheComingPowerShift
Participativeleadershiphasbecomeessentialnow,butitisleadingtoaprofoundshiftinpowerastheinformalorganizationrisestochallengeauthoritywithconflictingdemands.Howcanleadersmarshalthetalentsoftheirfollowerswhileavoidingthisdisintegrationintoacacophonyofdiverseinterests?
Goodleadersresolvethesechallengesbydrawingonthepoweroftheirpersonalintuition,insights,andspiritualawareness"innerleadership"thatactsfromtheinsideout.Theleaderwelcomesdisagreementsinaconstructivespirit,listenscarefullytocriticalopposition,acknowledgeshisorherownweaknesses,holdsfollowersresponsibleformeetingtheirgoals,andreliesoninnerwisdomtoguidetheorganizationthroughstressanduncertainty.
Whenleadersandfollowersarejoinedinsuchanintenseexistentialdialogue,moreusefulguidancecanbewroughtthatissteadfastandunerring.Thetruthusuallyemergesforalltosee,andleadersmaythenembraceitonbehalfoftheirfollowers.
Page18
Chapter10ManagingaUnifiedWorld:GlobalOrderOutofLocalInstitutions
ThisconcludingchapterexaminesthemacroeconomicimplicationsoftheNewManagement.TheUnitedStatesissufferingfromalackofdirection,RussiaisfacingdoubtsaboutWestern-stylecapitalism,andsocialsupportisdisappearingaswelfarestatesareabandoned.Allthesedilemmasposethesamebasicproblem:howcanadecentralizedworldoffreemarketsprovidetheguidanceneededbytheWest,thesecuritydemandedbytheEast,andthesocialsupportpeoplerequireeverywhere?
TheNewManagementsuggestsamiddlegroundbetweengovernmentplanningandunguidedmarkets:alocalblendofenterpriseandcommunityatthegrassrootslevel.Wewillseethattherapidspreadofhugenewconsumermarketsaroundtheworldisencouragingrobustcompetition,albeitguidedbyalliancesamongbusinesspartners,employees,governments,andotherstakeholders.FortheWest,theresultmaybea"NewCapitalism"thatencouragescooperationamongautonomouseconomicactors.ThesameconceptofferstheEasta"NewSocialism"thatdrawsontheircohesiveculturestomanagefreemarketsinamoreorderlyandproductivemanner.
ThisillustratesthatthesameprinciplesoftheNewManagementapplytoalleconomiclevels.Whetheritisateamofknowledgeworkersmanagingitsownaffairs,acomplexorganizationguidedbyexecutives,oranationaleconomyledbygovernment,allrequireasimilarblendofenterpriseanddemocracy.
ApplyingNewConceptstoaChangingWorld
Let'sbrieflyreviewthelogicofthisintroductorychaptertoputthetransitiontoaNewManagementinperspective:
1.LiketheIndustrialRevolution,theInformationRevolutionistransformingbusiness,government,andotherinstitutions.
2.AwaveofinnovationisunderwaythatpromisestoreplacetheOldManagementwithaNewManagement.3.However,conflictsbetween"old"and"new,""left"and''right,"andsooncreateconfusionovertheNewManagementparadigm.
Page19
4.Theconfusionisresolvedbyseeingthatdemocracyandenterprisearetransformingorganizationsintointernalmarketsguidedbycorporatecommunities.
ThistransitiontoaNewManagementissupportedbytheCITStudy.AsTable1.5shows,manyoftheseconceptswerewidelypracticedin1995,althoughsomearelaggingbecausetheyprovokeresistance.Thedataalsoshowthat83percentoftherespondentsthinktheNewManagementisneeded,74percentestimateitshouldenterthemainstreaminfivetotenyears,and78percentsaycompaniesthatdonotchangewillfailorsufferamarginalexistence.Listentohowtypicalmanagersviewtheprospects:"Thingsarechangingrapidlybutwestillhavealongwaytogo,""SomeareusingtheNewManagementnow,"''Ithinkit'salreadyenteredthemainstreamtovaryingdegrees,""Morecompanieswillmakethetransitionin19961998,"and"Ifwedon'tseechangessoon,businesswillloseeffectiveness."(Detailsofthisstudyarereportedinlaterchapters.)
TABLE1.5.APPLICATIONOFNEWMANAGEMENTCONCEPTS.(SAMPLE=426CORPORATEMANAGERS.)
Concept
NotPracticed(03)
PartiallyPracticed(46)
FullyPracticed(710)
Mean(010)
InternalMarkets 48% 17% 35% 4.3CorporateCommunity 19 13 68 6.9ServingEnterprise 24 17 59 6.4KnowledgeEntrepreneur 45 22 33 4.4IntelligentGrowth 37 24 39 4.9ContinuousChange 13 23 64 6.9InnerLeadership 11 23 66 7.1Source:WilliamE.Halal,CorporationsinTransition(anunpublishedstudyinprogress).Notethatdatainthefirstthreecolumns
("NotPracticed,"etc.)areaggregatedbycollapsingportionsofthequestionnairescaleasshown("03,"etc.).SeethequestionnaireinAppendixC.
Page20
It'sobviousthatimplementingtheNewManagementwillprovedauntingbecausetheoppositiontoinstitutionalchangeisalwaysintense.Irecallthestruggleofgettingmanagerstoseriouslyconsidertheneedforchangeduringtheseventiesandeighties.EventheprospectofaKnowledgeRevolutionseemedoutlandishtomanycompetentpeople.Itwouldhavebeendifficulttoactthen,butboldleadershipcouldpossiblyhaveavoidedthefallofGM,IBM,andothergreatcompanies,thelossofAmericanmarketstoforeigncompetition,andtoday'sslideintosocialdecline.Couldasimilarcynicismdivertustoday?
It'salwayspossible,butunusuallypowerfulforcesareatworkbecauseaknowledge-basedworldintroducesneweconomicimperatives.Aswewillshowlater,democracyandenterprisehavenowbecomeeconomicallyefficient.Thisshiftinthelawsofeconomicsisoneofthepivotaleventsofourtime.Itmayseemabittheoretical,butthereisnostoppinganideawhosetimehasarrived.WehavejustwitnessedthepoweroftheInformationRevolutioninthefallofCommunism,thedeclineofbiggovernment,restructuringofcorporations,andotherhistoricchangesthatarecausedbasicallybythespreadingofinformationtechnology.
16
Whiletheconceptsinthisbookmaybeappealing,then,theyarealwaysarguedonthebasisofeconomicvaluebecausethatisthetestofgoodmanagement.Asinformationflowsaroundtheworldinstantaneously,italsomovescapital,knowledge,andlabortotheirpointofgreatestproductivity.17PeterDruckerpredictstheneweconomy"willinevitablybefarmorecompetitivethananythingyetknown."Even"NewAge"companiesareyieldingtheiraltruismtothenecessityofincreasingproductivity,cuttingprices,andimproving
marketing.ArnoldHiatt,formerCEOofStrideRiteShoes,says,"Thefirstactofsocialresponsibilityistomakemoney."18
Meetingthistestofeconomicrealitydoesnotmeanthatwemustslavishlyacceptbusinesspracticeswemaynotapproveof.Organizations,likefamiliesandsocieties,aresoinfinitelyrichthattheydefyanyoneapproachtounderstanding;eachischaracterizedbyaspecialblendofpeople,skills,andotherconditions.TheNewManagementoffersvalidprinciples,buttheymustbeinterpretedtosuittheuniqueneedsofeachindividualactingineachsituation.19Here'showmanagersintheCITsurveyexpressedit:"TheNewManagementmustvaryfordifferentorganizationsandhuman
Page21
resources,"and"Itdependsentirelyonthecompany,industry,thecompetitioninthefield,andthetypeofleadership."
IftheNewManagementrequiresustoembraceeverythinginaspiritofwholism,howcanwepossiblyfindourwaythroughsuchalimitlessrangeofpossibilities?Whatcriteriacanguideus?Ithinktheansweristhatmanagersshouldpracticetheirprofessioninthesamemannerallskilledpractitionershavetraditionallydone:bysystematicallydiscoveringwhatbestworksforthem.
Fromthisview,managementismuchlikescience.Scientistsproposeatheorytoexplainhowtheworldbehaves,theytestthetheoryagainstempiricalevidence,reviseitaccordingly,andcontinuethiscycletoperfectatheory'sexplanatorypower.Inlikemanner,goodmanagersapproachtheirprofessionwithamentalmodelorphilosophythatexplainshowtheirorganizationbehaves.Theytesttheconceptagainsttheoutcomeusingtrialanderror,andreviseittoimprovetheirmanagementabilities.Askanyseasonedmanagerandyouwillgetacarefullybuilt,detailedpersonalphilosophythathasbeenhonedtoperfectionoveryearsofhardexperience.
IconcludethatfaithintheconceptsofaNewManagementisessentialtocreateadifferentfuture,butitmustbebasedonhealthyskepticism.Inachanging,complexworldwherebewilderingnewideasareemergingconstantly,leadersmusttesttheirvisiontoavoidhalf-truthsorfantasy.Thereissimplynootherwaytoforgethehardnewunderstandingneededtodistinguishbetweenoutmodedpracticesofthepastandgrandioseclaimsforthefuture.
Aswe'veseen,theNewManagementfavorsneitherpowernorfreedom,profitnorsociety,materialgrowthnortheenvironment.Itisalltheseandmore,presentingmanagerswithanenormousresponsibilityforlearningtoactinthefaceofcomplexity,change,andsheermystery.Soitseemstomethatmanagerswillneed
everythingwecanourlayhandsonintheyearsahead,includingthoseideasinheritedfromourancestorsandthoseyettocome.
Notes
1.IrealizethatthecontentionthattheUnitedStatesisindeclinemaybecontroversial,butlaterchapterswillshowthat,althoughtheAmericaneconomyissuccessfulinmanyways,thenationasawholeisshowingserioussignsof
Page22
decline.Forinstance,averagewagesrosesteadilythroughouttheindustrialpast,yettheyhavebeenflat,atbest,forthepasttwodecades.
2.TheU.S.BureauofLaborStatisticsreportsthat15.4millionpeopleweremanagersin1994,makingmanagersbyfarthelargestprofessionalgroup.Also,thestudyofmanagementnowenrollsthegreatestnumberofstudentsatcolleges.
3.PeterDrucker,TheNewRealities(NewYork:Harper&Row/Perennial,1989),p.223.PeterDrucker,"TheAgeofSocialTransformation,"AtlanticMonthly(November1994),p.72.
4.LouisHarris,"WhatintheWorldIsGoingoninThisNation?"VitalSpeechesoftheDay(August15,1994),pp.663666.WilliamE.Halal,"TheDeeperCauseofNationalDecline:AmericanInstitutionsNeedAmericanIdeals,"ByGeorge(November6,1992).
5.ThenewscienceofcomplexityisdescribedbyMitchellWaldropinComplexity:TheEmergingScienceattheEdgeofOrderandChaos(NewYork:Simon&Schuster,1992),andbyDavidFreedmanin"IsManagementStillaScience?"HarvardBusinessReview(NovemberDecember,1992)
6."HomeComputerSalesExplodeasPCsTurnintoAll-PurposeInformationAppliances,"BusinessWeek(November28,1994).BillRichards,"TestofVirtualRealitySpansthePacific,"WallStreetJournal(November16,1994).ElizabethCorcoran,"BillGatesHeadsHome,"WashingtonPost(November13,1994).
7.WilliamBridges,"TheEndoftheJob,"Fortune(September19,1994).
8.ThisstatementwasquotedtomebyKoreanmanagers.
9.AbrahamMaslow,"ATheoryofHumanMotivation,"
PsychologicalReview(1943),Vol.50,pp.370396.EltonMayo,TheSocialProblemsofanIndustrialCivilization(Cambridge,Mass.:HarvardUniversityPress,1945).DouglasMcGregor,TheHumanSideofEnterprise(NewYork:McGraw-Hill,1960).ChesterI.Barnard,TheFunctionsoftheExecutive(Cambridge,Mass.:HarvardUniversityPress,1968).WarrenBennis,BeyondBureaucracy(NewYork:McGraw-Hill,1966).PaulLawrenceandJayLorsch,"DifferentiationandIntegrationinComplexOrganizations,"HarvardBusinessReview(June1964).HenryMintzberg,"TheManager'sJob,"HarvardBusinessReview(JulyAugust1975).
10.W.EdwardsDeming,OutoftheCrisis(Cambridge,Mass.:MITPress,1986).J.M.Juran,JuranonLeadershipforQuality(London:CollierMacmillan,1989).WilliamOuchi,TheoryZ(Reading,Mass.:Addison-Wesley,1981).TomPetersandRobertWaterman,InSearchofExcellence(NewYork:Harper&Row,1982).
Page23
PeterVaill,ManagingasaPerformingArt(SanFrancisco:JosseyBass,1991).GiffordPinchot,Intrapreneuring(NewYork:Harper&Row,1985).RussellAckoff,CreatingtheCorporateFuture(NewYork:Wiley,1981).RaymondMilesandCharlesSnow,Fit,Failure,andtheHallofFame(NewYork:FreePress,1994).PeterSenge,TheFifthDiscipline(NewYork:Doubleday,1990).TerrenceDealandAllenKennedy,CorporateCultures(Reading,Mass.:Addison-Wesley,1982).PeterFrostetal.,OrganizationalReality(SantaMonica,Calif.:Goodyear,1978).LeeBolmanandTerrenceDeal,ReframingOrganizations(SanFrancisco:JosseyBass,1991).MichaelRay,"TheEmergingNewParadigminBusiness,"inJohnRenesch(ed.),NewTraditionsinBusiness(SanFrancisco:Berrett-Koehler,1992).WilliamE.Halal,TheNewCapitalism(NewYork:Wiley,1986).
11.Forinstance,seeafinereviewofthisconfusionbyMarthaNichols,"DoesNewAgeBusinessHaveaMessageforManagers?"HarvardBusinessReview(MarchApril1994),andtheresponsesreportedin"LetterstotheEditor,"HarvardBusinessReview(MayJune1994),pp.144148.JeffreyPfeffer,"BarrierstotheAdvanceofOrganizationalScience,"TheAcademyofManagementReview(October1993),pp.599621.
12.Theexecutiveisquotedfrom"ChangingTimesintheAutomotiveIndustry,"AcademyofManagementExecutive(February1988).
13."WeirtonSteelWorkersAreFuriousThatTheirESOPCan'tSaveJobs,"BusinessWeek(September9,1991).RobertL.RoseandErleNorton,"ESOPFables,"WallStreetJournal(December5,1993).
14."CompaniesHittheRoadLessTravelled,"BusinessWeek(June5,1995).
15.SeeTheNewLeaders(SeptemberOctober1994).
16.WalterB.Wriston,TheTwilightofSovereignty:HowtheInformationRevolutionIsTransformingOurWorld(NewYork:Scribner,1992).
17.See"BorderlessFinance:FuelforGrowth,"inthespecialissueofBusinessWeektitled21stCenturyCapitalism,(1994),whichillustrateshowglobalmoneymarketsincreasinglygovernthemanagementofcorporationsandevengovernments.
18.UdayanGupta,"Cause-DrivenCompanies'NewCause:Profits,"WallStreetJournal(November8,1994).LeslieKaufman-Rosen,"BeingCrueltoBeKind,"BusinessWeek(October17,1994).
19.ThispointiswellmadebyGeorgeHarrar,"TheToolsofSuccess,"Enterprise(October1994),andAndrewSerwer,"LessonsfromAmerica'sFastestGrowingCompanies,"Fortune(August8,1994).
Page25
PARTONEREDEFININGTHEFOUNDATIONOFMANAGEMENTLikethefoundationofabuilding,thefoundationofmanagementmustsupporttheentirestructurebyanchoringitsecurelytoitsenvironment.ThesethreechaptersofPartOneredefinetheconceptualfoundationofmodemmanagementtoanchortoday'sinstitutionsintheInformationAge.
Chapter2refutestheage-olduniversalassumptionthatorganizationsmustbecontrolledby"superiors"fromthetopdown.ThishierarchicalfoundationwasgoodforthesimpleconditionsoftheIndustrialAge,butanewfoundationbasedonenterpriseisemergingtocontaintheturbulenceofanInformationAge.Moderorganizationsmastercomplexitybyhavingentreprenuerialunitsmanagethemselvesfromthebottomup"internalmarkets."
Chapter3challengestheothermajorpillarthatbuttressedanindustrialsocietytheprofit-centeredfirm.TheInformationRevolutionisintroducinganewformofeconomicbehaviorinwhichcooperationhasbecomeproductive.Thisshiftineconomicrealityknitssocialandfinancialinterestsintoamorepowerfulsystemthatservesbothneedsbettera"corporatecommunity."
Chapter4integratesthesetwocentralconceptsintoaunified,organicwholethinkofitasan"organizationtree."Therootsofthis"tree"areinternalmarketsofsmallenterprisesdrawingnourishmentatthegrassrootsofeconomiclife.Anditsleavesarethediverseviewsofinvestors,workers,clients,businesspartners,andthepublic,whoorientthiscorporatecommunitytoservetheneedsofsociety.ThusthefoundationoftheNewManagementisasynthesisofdemocracy
andenterprise.
Page27
2FromHierarchytoEnterprise:InternalMarketsAretheNewFormofOrganizationStructureIthasbecomeaclichétonotethatbusinessschoolsarenotoriousfortheirpoormanagement.Minewasnoexception.Anespeciallyirksomeproblemwasgettingthecopycentertoworkproperly.Professorsthriveonpaper,yetwecouldn'tseemtogetcopiesmadeinlessthanaweek.WeknewthatourlocalKinko'scouldgetthemdoneinaday,butwewouldhavetopay.Sincethecopycenterwasfree,wekeptusingitdespitebadservice.Infact,that'sonereasonwhytheservicewasbad:weoverusedthisfreegood,cloggingthesystem.Repeatedattemptstogetthecopycentertoimproveitsoperationsandthefacultytocurbtheirexcessiveusagehadlittleeffect.
Theproblemwasthatwewererelyingonahierarchicalassignmentoftasksthatweretoocomplexforthisapproach.Weneededgoodservice.Weneededfacultyaccountability.Weneededacopycentermanagerwhowasmotivatedtohelpus.Weneededachoiceofproviders.Inshort,weneededamarket.
Aftermuchargument,weaskedthecopycentermanager(let'scallhimArt)ifhewouldliketoturntheoperationinto"hisownbusiness."Hecouldstillusetheschool'scopiersandfacilitiestoservethefaculty'sneeds,
Note:EarlierversionsofthischapterappearedinmypublicationsInternalMarkets:BringingthePowerofFreeEnterpriseInsideYourOrganization(NewYork:Wiley,1993),TheNewPortableMBA(Wiley,1994),andTheAcademyofManagementExecutive(November1994).
Page28
buthisincomewouldbebasedonapercentageoftheprofits.ThefacultywouldgethisbudgetandcoulduseittoeitherpatronizeArtorothercopycenters.Arthadanentrepreneurialstreak,sohewelcomedtheopportunity.
Well,everythingchangedwithindays.AfewpeoplewenttoKinko's,whichgotArtthinkingabouthowtoimproveoperations.Andhavingtopaynow,thefacultycarefullyconsideredwhethertheyreallyneededfiftycopiesoftheirlatesttome.Ourcopycenter'sservicesoonmatchedKinko's,Artbecameacelebratedhero,andtheproblemwassolvedbyaninternalmarket.
Thislittlestoryillustratesthatthemostfundamentalprobleminmanagementtodayisthebureaucracythatresultsalmostinvariablyfromlargehierarchies.Thehierarchicalmodeloforganizationbuiltcivilization,fromthepyramidsofancientEgypt,tothemedievalchurch,tomodernindustry.ItcontinuedtodominatetheIndustrialAgebecauseitwasgoodatmanagingroutinetasksperformedbyuneducatedworkers.
ButtheInformationAgeisreleasingsuchrevolutionaryforcesthattheworldisbecominganincomprehensiblemaze,therebyrenderingtoday'shierarchiesobsolete.
1WhenMaxWeberfirstdefinedthe"theoryofbureaucracy"basedonprinciplesofhierarchyatthestartoftheIndustrialAge,theconceptpromisedaUtopiaofefficiencyandorder.Todaythemostdamningthingonecansayaboutanorganizationistocallita"bureaucracy."Somehierarchywillalwaysbeneededbecausetheuniverseisnaturallyorganizedinahierarchicalfashion.Buttheformermanagementsysteminwhichdecisionsflowedfromthetopdownisnowhistory.
Thischaptershowshowtoday'swaveofrestructuringwithin"electronicorganizations"isleadingtoanorganicnetworkofself-managedinternalenterprisesthatoperatesmorelikeanintelligentmarketsystem.Wefirstexaminethelimitationsofpresentapproachestorestructuringandtheevolutionofmarketorganizations.Then,principlesforcreatinginternalmarketsaredescribedusingexamplesofprogressivecompanies.Weconcludebyexploringtheimplicationsofthisprofoundshiftfromhierarchytoenterprisethatmakesupone-halfofthenewmanagementfoundation.
RiseoftheEntrepreneurialOrganization
Today'sexplodingcomplexitychallengesourmostbasicassumptionsaboutmanagement.Hierarchyistoocumbersomeundertheseconditions,somoderneconomiesrequireorganicsystemscomposedofnumerous
Page29
small,self-guidingenterprisesthatcanadapttotheirlocalenvironmentmoreeasilybyoperatingfromthebottomup.
2GerhardSchulmeyer,CEOofSiemens,putitbest:"It'snotimportantanymoretobebig...buttobefastandinnovative."3
LimitsofDownsizing,Reengineering,andNetworks
Companieshavebeenmovinginthisdirectionwithavengeanceascompetitiondriveslowercostsandfasterinnovation,aspowerfulnewinformationsystemsautomatejobsandstreamlineoperations,andbusinessprocessesarereengineeredintocross-functionalteams.ThesechangesallowedCEOstoeliminateroughlyone-thirdoftheiremployeesandlayersofmanagementduringthepastfewyears,producingflat,decentralizedorganizations.Thepressuretodownsizeissostrongthatithasbecomeawayoflife,evenwhenprofitsareup.ThechairmanofProcter&Gamblesaid,"Ourcompetitorsaregettingleanerandquicker,sowehavetorunfaster,"whileaXeroxmanageradded:"Iknowitsoundsheartlesswhenthecompany'smakingmoney,butit'sthenewreality."4
Thissameimperativeisbeingfeltabroad.InJapan,thetraditionalsystemoflifetimeemploymentispassingasJapanesecorporationsreducemanagementlevels,layoffworkers,andintroducemeritpay.Here'showaJapanesemanagersawthechange:"Theeraofwavingthecompanyflagtomotivatepeopleisover."5
Consideringtheenormousimpactofthesedifficultchanges,weshouldnotbesurprisedthatrestructuringhasbecomeverycontroversial.A1995surveyof1,800CEOsshowedthat94percentofcompanieshadimplementedvariousformsofrestructuring,buttheeconomicgainshaveprovenmeager.Roughlytwo-thirdsoftheseprogramshavefailedtoimproveproductivityorreducecosts.In
addition,tenmillionAmericanslosttheirjobsduringthepastdecade,forcingU.S.wagesdowntothepointwhereEuropeanandJapanesecompaniesnowopenplantsintheUnitedStatestotakeadvantageofAmerica'scheaplabor.Inorganizationsacrosstheland,employeeshavebecometraumatizedbythefearoflayoffsandareoverstressedfromdoingtheworkofothers.CEOsthemselvesknowthisisaproblem."Ifyoukeep[downsizing],youdestroymoraleandparalyzetheorganization,"saidtheCEOofScottPaper.JimStanford,CEOofPetro-Canada,putitbest:"Youcan'tshrinktogreatness."6
Page30
Howdidintelligent,well-meaningpeoplegetintosuchamess?Thesearegenuineattemptstocreatehigh-performingorganizationstosurviveacomplexglobaleconomy.Butpresentrestructuringisineffectivebecauseitislargelyanextensionofthehierarchicalsystem.Mostrestructuringisarbitrarybecauseitoriginatesfromseniormanagerswhoareoftenoutoftouchwithoperations,slashingthestaffsofgoodandpoorunitsalike,anditisforcedonunwillingpeoplewhohavelittleinterestinitssuccess.Thepredictableresultisthatthedisadvantagesofhierarchyremain,whilemanagersfeelconfusedandguiltyforlayingofftheirco-workersattheverytimetheyarealsourgedtoempowerpeopleandtocollaborate.Here'showonemanagerexperiencedit:"Thisyear,Ihadtodownsizemyareaby25percent.It'semotionallydraining.IfindmyselfnotwantingtogotoworkbecauseI'llhavetopushmypeopletodomore.Butthey'renotgoingtocomplainbecausetheydon'twanttobethenext25percent."
7
Themostfeasiblesuccessortothehierarchycurrentlyistheconceptof"organizationalnetworks."Inthismodel,temporaryteamsusegroupwaretoformstrategicalliances,producingafluidnetworkthatcanmobilizetomeetchangingmarketneedsquickly.8Buttheconceptdoesnotgofarenough.
Thenetworkmodelisagooddescriptionofhoworganizationsshouldlook,butitdoesnottellushowtheyshouldworkineconomicterms.Howdoweknowwhetherteamscreatevalueordestroyit?Howmuchfreedomisallowed?Howisaccountabilityensured?Howareresourcesallocated?Whohastheauthoritytomakedecisions?Iftheanswerstothesequestionscomefromtopmanagement,weonceagainincurthedisadvantagesofhierarchy.Afterall,GMwasawash
inpowerfulalliancesevenasitflounderedinbureaucracy.Ifteamsarejustallowedtobe"flexible,"whatpreventsanarchy?TheInternetisagreatnetwork,butitishardlyawell-managedsystem.
Othermetaphorsthatpurporttoreplacethehierarchysufferfromthesamelimitation.Thereisthe"federal"systemoflooselyconnectedunits,the"pizza"or"circular"organization,the"horizontal"workplace,the"boundaryless''corporation,the"intelligent"or"learning"organization,fleet-footed"gazelles,"the"agile"company,the"starburst,""spider'sweb,""fishnet,"andsoon.Intheabsenceofsoundanswerstothequestions
Page31
aboutvalues,accountability,andauthorityraisedearlier,however,theseremainfluidvariationsofhierarchyratherthantruebottom-upsystems.Theissueremains:howcananyorganizationbemanagedwithoutimpairinglocalautonomy?
Fundamentally,thisproblemwillresistsolutionaslongasweinstinctivelycontinuetothinkofmanagementwithinahierarchicalframework.Majorcorporationscompriseeconomicsystemsthatareaslargeandcomplexasnationaleconomies,yettheyarecommonlyviewedas"firms"tobemanagedbyexecutiveswhomoveresourcesaboutlikeaportfolioofinvestments,formglobalstrategies,restructuretheorganization,andsetfinancialtargets.HowdoesthisdifferfromthecentralplanningthatfailedintheCommunistbloc?Whywouldsuchcontrolbebadforanationaleconomybutgoodforacorporateeconomy?Cananyfixedstructureremainusefulforlonginaworldofconstantchange?
TheInternalMarketPerspective
Foryearsadramaticallydifferentconcepthasbeenquietlyemergingthatrealizestheidealofbottom-upsystems.
Figure2.1illustratestheevolutionoforganizationalstructurefromthehierarchy,tothematrix,andnowtonetworksofdecentralized,entreprenuerialunits.Today,progressiveorganizationshavebecomeclustersofsmallbusinessunitsthatbehaveasseparatefirmsintheirownright.Someglobalcorporations,suchasAseaBrownBovari(ABB),havethousandsofsuchprofitcenterswiththeirownproducts,clients,andcompetitors.Attimestheymaybuyandselltootherunitswithintheparentcorporation,competewithoneanother,andevenworkwithoutsidecompetitors.Thesametrendcanbeseenineffortstoreinventgovernment;forinstance,theconceptofparental"choice"isgainingacceptanceineducationtoforceschoolstocompeteforstudents.
9
Thesestructurescannotbeexplainedwithhierarchicalconcepts,andsoanentrepreneurialeconomicframeworkhasbeenproposedbyJayForrester,RussellAckoff,GiffordandElizabethPinchot,andmyselfthatviewsorganizationsasmarkets"internalmarkets."10Justasthepost-Communistblocisadoptingmarkets,sotooarelargecorporations.TomPetersurged:"Forcethemarketintoeverynookandcrannyofthefirm."
Page32
Figure2.1.TheEvolutionofOrganizationalStructure.
Page33
AsshowninBox2.1,internalmarketsaremetastructures,orprocesses,thattranscendordinarystructures.Unlikefixedhierarchiesorcentrallycoordinatednetworks,theyarecompleteinternalmarketeconomiesdesignedtoproducecontinual,rapidstructuralchange,justasexternalmarketsdo.Althoughonlyafewcompanieshaveimplementedthisideaasyet,Table2.1showsfairlywideacceptanceofsomekeyfeatures,andtheexamplesinBox2.2demonstratevariousapproachesthathavebeenused.
Peopleareinitiallyskepticalaboutinternalmarketsbecausetheideabreakssosharplyfromthehierarchy.Atfirstthenotionseemsfraughtwithconflict,anditiscertainlytruethatinternalmarketsincurthesamerisks,turmoil,andotherdrawbacksofanymarketsystem.Butthesedoubtsoccurpreciselybecausetheconceptrepresentsadramaticallydifferentformoflogic.Oncewegraspthecentralideathataninternalmarketreplicatesanexternalmarket,thebehaviorofsuchasystembecomesalmostself-evident.
Ashierarchicalcontrolsarereplacedbymarketforces,thereleaseofentrepreneurialenergyproducesroughlythesameself-organizing,creative
BOX2.1.PRINCIPLESOFINTERNALMARKETS.
1.TransformtheHierarchyintoInternalEnterpriseUnits."Internalenterprises"formthebuildingblocksofaninternalmarketsystem.Alllineandstaffunitsaretransformedintoenterprisesbynotonlybecomingaccountableforperformancebutalsogainingcontrolovertheiroperations,asanexternalenterprisedoes.Alliancesbetweeninternalenterpriseslinkcorporationstogetherintoaglobaleconomy.
2.CreateanEconomicInfrastructuretoGuideDecisions.Executivesdesignandregulatetheinfrastructureofthis
"organizationaleconomy,"justasgovernmentsmanagenationaleconomicsbyestablishingcommonsystemsforaccounting,communications,incentives,governingpolicies,anentrepreneurialculture,andthelike.Managementmayalsoencouragetheformationofvariousbusinessarrangementsthatexistinaneconomicsystem:venturecapitalfirms,consultants,distributors,andsoon.
3.ProvideLeadershiptoFosterCollaborativeSynergy.Aninternaleconomyismorethanalaissez-fairemarket,itisacommunityofentrepreneursthatfosterscollaborativesynergyintheformsofjointventures,sharingoftechnology,mutualproblem-solving,andsoon,amongbothinternalandexternalpartners.Corporateexecutivesprovidetheleadershiptoguidethisinternalmarketbyencouragingthedevelopmentofvariousstrategies.
Page34
interplaythatmakesexternalmarketssoadvantageous.Experienceshowsthatsolutionstodifficultproblemsemergefarmorequicklyandalmostspontaneously,permittingarushofeconomicgrowththatcanrarelybeplannedbyeventhemostbrilliantmanagersofhierarchicalsystems.
Marketscanbechaotic,buttheyarespreadingaroundtheglobebecausetheyexcelovertheotheralternativecentralplanningwhetherincommunistgovernmentsorcapitalistcorporations.Inbothnationsandorganizations,plannedeconomiesaretoocumbersometocopewithacomplexnewera,whilefreeenterpriseeitherinternalorexternaloffersaneconomicphilosophyabletoproduceadaptivechangerapidlyandefficiently.
TABLE2.1.ADOPTIONOFINTERNALMARKETPRACTICES.(SAMPLE=426CORPORATEMANAGERS.)
Practice
NotPracticed(03)
PartiallyPracticed(46)
FullyPracticed(710)
Mean(010)
Lineunitsaretreatedassemiautonomousenterprisesthathavecontrolovertheirownoperationsandkeepmostoftheirrevenue. 38% 20% 42% 4.9Staffandsupportunits(HRD,Legal,IS,etc.)aretreatedasprofitcentersthatobtainrevenuebysellingtheirservicestootherunits. 73 8 19 2.5Lineunitsaregenerallyallowedtobuyproductsandservicesfromanyorganization,insideoroutsidethecompany. 37 18 45 5.2Staffandsupportunitsaregenerallyallowedtoselltheirservicestoanyorganization,insideoroutsidethecompany. 62 12 26 3.3
Apartfromproprietarysecrets,employeeshaveaccesstocentralinformationsystemsthatcontainallavailablecompanyinformation. 30 24 46 5.6Means 48% 17% 35% 4.3Source:WilliamE.Halal,CorporationsinTransition(anunpublishedstudyinprogress).Notethatdatainthefirstthreecolumns("NotPracticed,"etc.)areaggregatedbycollapsingportionsofthequestionnairescaleasshown("03,"etc.).SeethequestionnaireinAppendixC.
Page35
BOX2.2.EXEMPLARSOFINTERNALMARKETS.
MCIhasbecomethesecondlargestcommunicationscompanyintheU.S.bydesigninganentrepreneurialorganizationinwhichnewventuresarestartedbyanyone,resourcesareallocatedtorewardperformance,andunitscompetewithoneanother.
Johnson&Johnson's168separatelycharteredcompaniesformtheirownstrategies,relationshipswithsuppliersandclients,andotherbusinessaffairs.CEORalphLarsensaysthesystem"providesasenseofownershipthatyousimplycannotgetanyotherway."
MotorolausesautonomousunitsthatcompetewithoneanothertoproducethemostsuccessfulproductsinAmerica.Onemanagersaid:"ThefactthatImayconflictwithanothermanager'sturfistoughbeans.Thingswillsortthemselvesoutinthemarket."
CypressSemiconductordefineseachbusinessunitasaseparatecorporation,andsupportunitsfrommanufacturingsubsidiariestotestingcentersselltheirservicestolineunits.TheCEO,T.J.Rodgers,says"We'vegottenridofsocialismintheorganization."
Merck&CompanyhasbeenratedthetopFortune500companybecauseresearcherspooltheireffortsinprojectstheychoose,mergingtalentsandresourcesintoanewteam.TheCEOsaid:"Everybodyheregravitatesaroundahotproject.It'slikealiveorganism."
ClarkEquipmentsurvivedChapter11byrequiringallbusinessunitsincludingastaffof500peopletobecomeself-supportingenterprises.Withinmonthsstaffdecreasedby400positions,costswerereducedacrossthecompany,andsalesmovedupward.
Alcoarevitalizedabureaucracybyconvertingallunitsinto
suppliersorclientsthatwerefreetoconductbusinesswithoutsidecompetitors.Thisdoseofeconomicrealitydoubledproductivity,andsupportgroupsbroughtinoutsidebusiness.
Xeroxistransformingitselffromafunctionalhierarchyintoaninternalmarketcomposedofnineindependentbusinessunits,eachincludingdozensofself-managedteams.Teamsandbusinessunitsareheldaccountableforperformanceandrewardedwithbonuses.
KochIndustrieshasgrownfromasmallfirmtooneofthelargestprivatecorporationsintheworldasaresultofitssystemof"market-basedmanagement."TheCEO,CharlesKoch,definesallcorporatefunctionsintermsofmarketequivalents.
Matsushitaallowsitsresearchlabs,productgroups,andsalesunitstochoosetheinternal"businesspartners"theyprefertoworkwith.Theresultisintenseinternalcompetitiontodevelopsuccessfulproducts.
SemcohasthrivedintheturbulenteconomyofBrazilbyformingdozensofinternalenterprises,whichitcalls"satellites."TheCEO,RicardoSemler,says,"Semcohasabandonedtraditionalbusinesspractices[to]thedisciplineofourowncommunitymarketplace."
Source:WilliamE.Halaletal.,InternalMarkets(NewYork:Wiley,1993).
Page36
PrinciplesofInternalMarkets
ThethreecentralprinciplesshowninBox2.1aredescribedbelowmorefully,illustratedbytheexperiencesofcompaniesmycolleaguesandIhavestudiedandworkedwith.
TransformtheHierarchyintoInternalEnterpriseUnits
Ratherthanthinkofunitsas"divisions,""departments,"andotherhierarchicalconcepts,thelogicofinternalmarketstransformsline,staff,andallotherunitsintotheirentrepreneurialequivalentsan"internalenterprise,"orwhatthePinchotscallan''intraprise."Thischangemayrequirecreativereengineeringofexistingstructures,butitisusuallyfeasibleifanexternalorinternalclientcanbeidentified,andthatisalmostalwayspossible,aswewillshow.AnAT&Tmanagertoldme:"Welinkinternalsupplierswithinternalandexternalcustomers."
Unitsareconvertedintointraprisesbyacceptingcontrolsonperformanceinreturnforfreedomofoperations.Hewlett-Packardisfamousforitsentrepreneurialsystem,whichholdsunitsaccountableforresultsbutgivesthemwideoperatinglatitude.AsoneHPexecutivedescribedit,"Thefinancialcontrolsareverytight,whatislooseishow[people]meetthosegoals."Thissharplyfocusedunderstandingenhancesbothcontrolandfreedomtoprovidetwomajorstrengths:
1.Allunitsareaccountableforresults.
2.Creativeentrepreneurshipisencouraged.
Thereiswideagreementthatperformanceshouldbeevaluatedusingcustomersatisfaction,productquality,andothermeasurestoensurearealisticbalancethatavoidsoveremphasizingshort-termprofit.Managersarethenheldaccountablethroughincentivepay,stock
plans,budgetallocations,oroutrightdismissal.Theidealarrangementistotreateachunitasasmall,separatecompany,freetomanageitsownoperationsandresources.Itisimportanttoallowallunitsthefreedomtoconductbusinesstransactionsbothinsideandoutsidethefirm.Withoutthatfreedom,managersaresubjecttothebureaucracyofcentralcontrols,aboutthesamewaytheSovietsovercontrolledtheireconomy.
Page37
Althoughthedecentralizationoflineunitsiswellknown,Box2.3showshowtheconceptisbeingappliedtostaffunits,manufacturingfacilities,informationsystem(IS)departments,researchanddevelopment(R&D),marketinganddistribution,employeeworkteams,startingnewventures,government,andeventheCEO'soffice.Thisremindsusofthekeyprincipleforcreatinginternalmarkets:allmarketfunctionsshouldideallybereplicatedwithinorganizations.RaymondSmith,CEOofBellAtlantic,describedthelogic:
Wearedeterminedtorevolutionizestaffsupport,toconvertabureaucraticroadblockintoanentrepreneurialforce.Staffstendtogrowandproduceservicesthatmaybeneitherwantednorrequired.Idecidedtoplacethecontrolofdiscretionarystaffinthehandsofthosewhowerepayingforthem...lineunits....Themostimportantthingisthatspendingforsupportactivitiesisnowcontrolledbyclients."
11
Figure2.2illustratestheinternalmarketthatresultsfrom"privatizing"anorganizationwithproduct,functional,andgeographicstructures.Theheartofthesystemconsistsofnewventuresspunoffbyproductdivisionstobecomeindependentbusinessunitsthatdevelopproductsorservices.Functionalsupportunitsareprofitcentersthatselltheirassistancetootherunitsorexternalbusinesses.Geographicareasarealsoprofitcenters,distributingthefulllineofproductsandservicestoclientsintheirregion.Thenetworkofbusinessrelationshipsformedbytheintersectionoftheseproduct,functional,andregionalunitsconstitutestheinternalmarketeconomy.
Fromthisview,theorganizationisnolongerapyramidofpowerbutawebofchangingbusinessrelationshipsheldtogetherbyclustersofinternalenterpriseasinanymarket.Thissystemmayappearradicallydifferent,butitsimplyrepresentsanextensionofthetrendthatbegan
decadesagowhenlargecorporationsdecentralizedintoautonomousproductdivisions.
CreateanEconomicInfrastructuretoGuideDecisions
Withoperationalmattersrelegatedtointernalenterprises,executivesfocusondesigninganinfrastructureofperformancemeasures,financialincentives,communicationsystems,anentrepreneurialculture,andothercorporatewideframeworks.Thisinfrastucturethenallowsmarketforcestoguide
Page38
BOX2.3.CONVERTINGHIERARCHICALFUNCTIONSINTOENTERPRISES.
SupportUnits.IBMconverteditsHRunitintoabusiness,"WorkforceSolutions,"whichsellsitsservicestoIBMunitsandothercompanies.TheU.S.GovernmentisbreakingupthemonopolyoftheGeneralServicesAdministrationandtheGovernmentPrintingOfficebyallowingagenciestopatronizeothersuppliers.
Manufacturing.Manycompaniestreattheirmanufacturingunitsas"internaljobshops"thatproducegoodsforinternalandexternalclients.Amanagersaid:"Manufacturingisbecomingaservicefunction,makingproductsfordifferentcompanies."
InformationSystems.CompaniessuchasBrown-ForemanandSunocoallowuserstochoosebetweenthecompany'sinformationsystems(IS)officeandoutsidecompetitors.TheU.S.Governmentisforming"informationutilities"thatchargeinternalclientsforcomputertime,electronicmail,andotherISservices.
ResearchandDevelopment.BellLabs,PhillipsElectronics,andEssoCanadaareconvertingtheirR&Ddepartmentsintoprofitcentersthatsellresearchservices.Insteadofrelyingonthedebatableallocationofresourcesfromthetop,thevalueofresearchisdeterminedbythewillingnessofprofit-centermanagerstopay.
Marketing,Logistics,andService.Theseunitscanbereorganizedinto"internaldistributorships"thathandlethefulllineofacompany'sproductsforagivenregion.Johnson&Johnsonestablishedcommoncustomerunitsthatprovideallsalesanddistributionservicestoretailers.
WorkTeams.Marketprinciplescanbecarriedtothegrassrootsbyorganizingworkersintoself-managedprofitcenters.Apaper-makingcompanyhelpedloggersformteamsthatwerepaidfortheamountoftimbertheyproduced,therebyeliminatingjobclasses,performanceevaluations,andforemen.Loggersbecamekeenlymotivatedbecausetheycould"runtheirownbusiness,"andtheyearnedmore,whilemanagementgainedhigherproductivityandloweroverhead.
NewVentures.Scoresofcompanieshavesetupventurecapitalsystemsthatwelcomebusinessproposalsfromanyemployeetostartanewventure,whichisthennursedtolifeasifina"businessincubator."Manystatesnowallowteachers,parents,andadministratorstoform"charterschools."
TheCEO'sOffice.ClarkEquipmentredefinedtheCEO'sofficeasaprofitcenterinwhichrevenuewasderivedfromassetsinvestedinbusinessunits(similartoaventurecapitalfirm),andfromaportionofsales(likea"tax"bythe"corporategovernment").Likeanyprofitcenter,theCEOmustthenkeepthecostschargedtomanagersdownandthevaluetheyreceiveuptoaddvaluetothese''clients."
Government.City,state,andfederalbureaucraciesarebecomingenterprises.MayorSteveGoldsmithofIndianapolistellsmethatyearsofTQMandreengineeringhadlittleimpactonreiningincosts.Uponout-sourcingfunctionsandallowingcitydepartmentstocompetewiththeirexternalcounterparts,coststypicallydroppedbyhalformore.
Page39
Figure2.2.ExampleofanInternalMarketOrganization.
Page40
decisionsinsteadofrelyingonadministrativefiat.Thebehaviorofthismarketsystemisthenregulated,monitoredforweaknessesandfailures,andcorrectivechangesaremadetoimproveitsperformance.
WhenAlcoamovedtoaninternalmarketeconomy,itsmanagerssoonrealizedthatdecisionspreviouslyhadbeenbasedonfaultyestimatesofcostsandrevenues.Likemanycorporations,thefinancesofoperatingunitswerepooledintolargerdivisions,absorbedbycorporateoverhead,andotherwisenotidentifiedaccuratelyforindividualunits.Uponconvertingallunitsintoautonomousenterpriseswiththeirownprofitandlossstatements,thenewfoundawarenessofactualcostsandrevenuesimmediatelyaltereddecisionsinmorerealisticdirections.AT&Trealizedthesamebenefitswhenitslargegroupsweredividedintofortyorsoprofitcenterstohighlighttheirindividualperformance."Theeffectwasstaggering,"saidJamesMeehan,theCFO.
Astrikingexampleofthepowerofincentivestochangebehaviorcanbeseenwhenconvertingstaffunitsintoprofitcenters.Inthetypicalorganization,ISservicesareprovidedfreetolineunits,withthepredictableresultthatpeoplewasteresourcescarelessly.Storiesaboundoflineunitsdemandingmultiplecopiesofhugecomputerprintoutsthatareneverread,ofoverseasofficesequippedwithinternationalphoneslinesusedbyclerkstocallhomeeveryday.ButwhenpresentedwithmonthlybillsbytheISdepartment,thereisamarkedchangeinattitude,causinglinemanagerstoselectlesscostlysystemsthatoftenprovidebetterserviceaswell.
12Conversely,givinglineunitsthefreedomtochooseamongcompetingISsourcescausestheseinternalsupplierstoshapeupequallyfast.
Thereisalsoaneedtoinstillthesubtlenormsofasocialsystem.MCIhaslearnedthataninternalmarketmustbeaugmentedbyanentrepreneurialculturethatstressestakinginitiative,embracingchange,andsupportingemployees.TheMCIcultureconstitutesacommonlyunderstood,informalmanagementsystemthatguideshumanbehavioreffectively.Sincethissystemexistsinthemindsofpeopleratherthanincumbersomewrittenpolicies,itisfarmoreflexiblebecauseitisasharedidea.MCIemployeesandthecompanyareoneandthesame,allowingquickagreementonanewproduct,organizationalchange,andothercomplexundertakings.
Theimpactofthesevariousaspectsofinfrastructureillustratesthecrucialneedtodesignorganizationsascomplex,interactingsystems.AsJay
Page41
ForresterandPeterSengepointout,managerstodaymustbecomeorganizationaldesigners,inadditiontooperators,bycreatinganewclassofadaptive,high-performing,intelligentorganizations.
13
ProvideLeadershiptoFosterCollaborativeSynergy
Thismodelofentrepreneurialmanagementraisestoughquestionsabouttheroleofexecutivesandtheverynatureofcorporations.Ifanorganizationisnolongerafixed,centrallycontrolledstructure,butafluidtangleofautonomousunitsgoingtheirownway,whatgivesitanidentitythatmakesitmorethanthesumofitsparts?Whatisbestfortheindividualunitsandfortheorganizationasawhole?Howdoesthisarrayofbusinessunitsdifferfromanordinarymarketeconomy?Whyshouldtheyremaintogetheratall?Inshort,whattrulyisamoderncorporation,andhowshoulditbemanaged?
CEOsmaygiveupmuchoftheirformalauthorityinamarketsystem,buttheyleadbyensuringaccountability,resolvingconflict,encouragingcooperation,formingalliances,providinginspiration,andotherformsofstrategicguidancethatshapethissystemintoamoreproductivecommunity.OneofHewlett-Packard'sgreatstrengthsisthatitsexecutivesguidebypersuasiveleadershipratherthanfiat.TheCEO,LewisPlatt,said,"InHP,youreallycan'torderpeopletodoanything.Myjobistoencouragepeopletoworktogether,toexperiment."14
MCIprovidesagoodexampleinwhichcorporateexecutivesworkhardtoturncontentiousissuesintoadvantageoussolutions.Topmanagementunderstandsthattheautonomyofoperatingmanagersmustremaininviolate,soexecutivesavoidimposingdecisions.Yetthecompany'sentrepreneurialstanceoftenprovokesheated
controversyoverriskyventures.Anewproductconcept,likeMCI'sFriends&Family,maybeproposedbysales,engineering,oranyothergroup,andisthenthesubjectofadebateoverthemeritsoftheidea.Ratherthansquelchthisconflict,MCIexecutivesembraceitasastimulantfortough,creativeargument.Byprovidinganacceptableformofconstructiveexchangeamongdiverseviewpoints,asolidcourseofactionusuallyemergesthatallcansupportwithconfidence.
Johnson&Johnson(J&J)encouragescoalitionsofbusinessunitsthatserveeveryonebetter.J&J's166separatecompaniesretaintheirfierceautonomybecauseit"providesasenseofownershipthatyousimplycannotget
Page42
anyotherway,"saystheCEO,RalphLarsen.Butthecompany'sbigclients,Wal-Mart,Kmart,andotherretailers,wanttoavoidbeingbombardedbysalescallsfromdozensofJ&Junits.TheCEO'ssolutionwastourgehisoperatingmanagerstopoolsucheffortsinto"customersupportcenters"thatoperateasinternaldistributorshipstocoordinatesales,logistics,andserviceforeachmajorretailer.
Theseexamplesillustratetheresolutionoftwoopposingsetsofdifficultdemands.Modernexecutivesmustpermitoperatingmanagersentrepreneurialfreedomtogaintheircommitment,creativity,andflexibility.Yettheymustalsoavoiddisruptiveconflict,needlessduplication,andunnecessaryrisk.Amarketcanprovidethiscombinationoffreedomandcontrol,butnotbyremainingalaissez-fairesystem.Leadershipisessentialtoreconciletheseopposingdemandsintoasynergisticcorporatecommunitythataddsnetvaluetoitsinternalenterprises.
Indeed,withoutthecreationofnetvaluethereislittletojustifyunitingbusinessunitsintoalargerparentorganization.ThebreakupofAT&Tintothreeseparatecompaniesduring1995illustratesalackofthissynergy.Hierarchicalorganizationsmaycontainunitsthatdestroyvalue,butthisisnotapparentbecausetheinternaleconomicbehaviorofthesystemismaskedbyitsbureaucraticstructure.Aninternalmarketstripsawaythebureaucracybyregardingeachunitasanenterprise,settingthestageformorerealisticmanagement.
Thus,aninternalmarketisnotsimplyalaissez-faireeconomy,butaguidedeconomy,avehicleforreachingcommongoalsthatismoreeffectivethaneitheralaissez-fairemarketoranauthoritarianhierarchy.Astheseprinciplesshow,corporateexecutivesguideaninternalmarketbydesigninganeconomicinfrastructure,settingpoliciestoregulatethesystem,resolvingcriticalissues,sharingvaluableknowledge,andencouragingcooperativestrategies.These
benefitscreatethesynergythataddsvaluewhichoutsideenterprisescannotmatchworkingalone.
TheFloweringofEnterprise
Surveyingtheevolutionoforganizationalstructure,themovefromhierarchytoenterpriseconstitutesoneofthemostprofoundchangesinmanagement.Theoldpyramidhasnowbecomeadecentralizednetworkof
Page43
semiautonomousunitslooselycoordinatedbyvestigesoftheoldchainofcommand.Iestimatethatthedevelopmentofcompleteinternalmarketsystemsislikelytoformthenextmajorphaseinthisprocess,enteringthemainstreamoverthenextdecadeorsoastheInformationAgematures.
Ifthisestimateholds,theideaofhierarchymaysoonseemasarchaicasthedivinerightofkings.Mostorganizationswillthenbeself-organizingclustersofroamingintrapreneurswhoworktogetherovercommunicationnetworks,creatingaseamlessglobaleconomyinwhichpower,initiative,andcontrolflowfromthebottomupthefloweringofenterprise.
Notethatamarketstructuredoesnotensureeffectivemanagement,butitisanessentialstartingpoint.Talentedpeople,inspiringleadership,cleverstrategy,andotherfactorsarealsonecessary,ofcourse.Butthesearesecondarycauses.TheRussiansarehighlyeducated,talentedpeoplewithawealthofresources,yettheireconomywastrappedinanarchaicsystemfordecades.
Asimilarproblemfacesmanagersincapitalistsocietiestoday.Capable,well-intentionedpeopleworkingincorporations,governments,andotherinstitutionsaretrappedinoutmodedhierarchicalstructures.Thisimpendingshifttoamarketformoforganizationpresentsroughlythesamechallengesandopportunitiesposedbytherestructuringofsocialisteconomies.Whataretheimplicationsofthisprofoundlydifferentphilosophy?
TheAdvantagesandDisadvantages
Naturally,internalmarketsincurthesamedisorder,risk,andgeneralturmoilofexternalmarkets,buttheyalsopermitsomecompellingadvantages.AsshowninTable2.2,theorganization'senvironmentdetermineswhichapproachisbest,whichthenfixesthetypeof
accountability,motivationalsystem,andcultureneeded,aswellasthecorrespondingadvantagesanddisadvantages.
Economistsarguethathierarchiesaresuperiorbecausemarketsproducetransactioncostsinsearchingforalternatives,managingfinancialtransactions,andsoon.ButtheInformationRevolutionisreducingtransactioncosts,andanycostincreasescanbeoffsetbydecreasedoverheadandgainsininnovation.WesternAirlineseliminatedfivehundredmanagementjobs,andtheresultingdecreaseinbureaucracysavedhugecostsand
Page44
TABLE2.2.CONTROLVERSUSFREEDOM.HierarchicalControl
MarketFreedom
Environment: Stable,simple Turbulent,complexAccountability:Supervision PerformanceMotivation: Security Reward,challengeCulture: Efficiency EnterpriseDisadvantages:Bureaucracy Disorder,riskAdvantages: Order,equity Clientfocus,innovation,adaptive
change
improvedperformance.StudiesbyThomasMaloneatMITshowthatdecreasinginformationtechnologycosts"shouldleadtoashiftfrom[management]decisions...totheuseofmarkets."
15
Manythinkthatmarketsincreaseconflictasunitspursuedifferentgoalsandcompeteforresources.Myexperienceshowsthatmarketsystemscanresolvetheabundantconflictthatpersistsnow.PeterDruckerobservedthatconflictwithincorporationsismoreintensethanconflictbetweencorporations,largelybecausedecisionsareoftenimposedarbitrarilyandthechoicesareminimal,ifany;sorelationsareusuallyfraughtwithtensionandmisunderstanding.Inamarket,however,decisionsareclearlydefined,voluntary,andselectedfromarangeofoptions,providingarationalbasisforsoundworkingrelationshipsthatcanreplaceofficepoliticswithopenlyreachedagreements.
Eventhetroublesomeaspectsofinternalmarketscanactuallyrepresentusefulorganizationaladjustments.Isamanagerinafreemarketorganizationunabletostaffhisunit?Intheoutsideworldthismeansthatworkingconditionsarepoor.Aresomeunitssuffering
losses?Amarketwouldletthemfailbecausetheydonotproducevalue.Dodifferencesinincomeexist?Wageinequalitiescanmotivategoodperformance,andtheyurgepoorworkerstoshapeup.Thus,whatappearstobedisorderinamarketisoftenvitalinformationabouteconomicrealitythatshouldbeheeded.
Althoughmarketsaresuperiorundermostconditionstoday,itisimportanttoemphasizethattherearenoperfectorganizationaldesigns,
Page45
andthereareinfinitewaystoorganizeamarketsystem.AsTable2.2suggests,thecreativedestructionofmarketsmayunleashreservoirsofenergy,butthisenergycanturnintoanarchyifnotguidedintousefulpaths.Conversely,hierarchicalcontrolmayavoidthisdisorder,butitalsoinhibitscreativefreedom.
Weshouldholdnoillusionthatsomeuniversalstructurecanbeappliedinanall-encompassingway.Internalmarketsarenopanacea.Theyarenotusefulinmilitaryoperations,spacelaunches,andothersituationsrequiringclosecoordinationofthousandsofpeopleandintricateplans,norinroutineoperationsfacingarelativelysimple,stableenvironment.
The"OrganizationExercise"inAppendixAcanhelpmanagersexperiencethesedifferences.Whenconductingtwosetsoftasksofvaryingcomplexity,groupsalmostinvariablydevelopahierarchicalstructureforthesimpletaskandanetworkstructureforthecomplextask.Youcantherebyvividlyappreciatethereasonsforthesetwodifferentstructuresandhowtheywouldworkandfeel.
Thus,organizationswillhavetotradeoffthecostsandgainsofeachapproach.Theprudentexecutivewillcombinevaryingdegreesofhierarchicalcontrolandmarketfreedomtofindthemixthatbestsuitshisorherorganization.
LivingwithMarketSystems
Thedrawbacksofenterpriseseemespeciallyseverenowasmergers,bankruptcies,layoffs,andotherchangesareincreasingunemployment,endingcorporateloyalty,andgenerallymakingworklifemoretraumatic.Ifinternalmarketsintroducemoreofthesame,howwillwetolerateworkinginmarketorganizations?
Theseturbulentchangesareunavoidablebecausetheworldisinthethroesofmassiveeconomicrestructuringthatexertstwomajor
demands:accountabilityforperformanceinordertosurvive,andcreativeentrepreneurshiptoadapttochaoticchangethetwomajorstrengthsofinternalmarkets.Thisexplainsthenewrolenowemergingforindividualsinafastmoving,temporarysociety.Whereasitmadesenseforpeopletofunctionasemployeesinahierarchicaleconomy,aninternalmarketsystemrequirespeopletoassumetheroleofentrepreneurs.
Thus,theformerpaternalisticemploymentrelationshipinwhich
Page46
peoplewerepaidforholdingapositionisyieldingtoa"self-employed"roleinwhichpeopleareofferedanopportunity.Theold"workethic"isbecomingan''enterpriseethic"thatvaluesthefreedomandself-reliance,aswellastherewardsandrisks,thatformthecomplementaryrightsandresponsibilitiesofentrepreneurship(aswewillseeinChapter6).Infact,thesearetherolespreferredbythemajorityofbusinesspeopletoday.
16
Iforganizationscanmakethisadjustment,wemayfindthataninternalmarketislessharsh.Bydecentralizingresponsibilitytosmall,self-managedunits,thedemandsofaturbulenteconomycouldbebetterresolvedthroughvoluntarylayoffs,growingthebusiness,toleratinglowerrewards,orotherlocalsolutions.Self-managementtherebypermitsconstant,smalladjustmentstotheebbandflowofmarketforces,avoidingthelargeperiodiccrashesthatnowresultfromhavingexecutivesbearthisunreasonableburdenalone.
Forinstance,amarketorganizationcanhelpmakedownsizing,reengineering,andotherformsofrestructuringmoresuccessful.Justasanyexternalbusinesscanmanageitsaffairsbetterwithoutgovernmentinterference,theseapproachesarelikelytoworkbestiftheyoriginatevoluntarilyfromautonomousunitsthatareaccountableforservingtheirclients.Managerswhotreatunitsasinternalenterpriseswillalmostinvariablyimproveoperationsbeyondtheirexpectations.RalphLarsen,CEOofJ&J,says:"ManagerscomeupwithbettersolutionsandsettougherstandardsforthemselvesthanIwouldimpose."17Inplaceofforceddownsizing,then,thisbottom-upapproachproducesself-initiatedrightsizingthroughouttheorganization"self-sizing.
Likewise,studiesshowthattwo-thirdsofTQMprogramsfailbecause
theyareimposedfromthetopdown.18TheprinciplesofTQMarevaluable,buttheyarenotlikelytobeeffectivewithoutfirstcreatingakeensenseofresponsibilityforsometeamtoserveitsclientsagain,aninternalenterprise.Thereissimplynosubstituteforthededication,ingenuity,and,yes,eventhemadzealotryofentrepreneurscommittedtotheirbusiness.
Finally,marketscanhelpmanageorganizationalnetworks.Inahierarchicalstructure,topmanagerscontrolalliancestoensurethattheyareeconomicallysound,butthisistime-consumingandunderminesoperatingmanagers.Inamarketorganization,however,unitmanagershandlealliancesbecausethatisthewayeverydayrelationshipsaremanaged.For
Page47
instance,Coming,oneoftheleadingcompaniesinformingalliances,currentlyhasfiftyorsojointventuresamongitssemiautonomousproductdivisions,foreignsubsidiaries,andbusinesspartnersaroundtheworld.
19
Corporateexecutivesmayprovideadviceandsupport,buttheycouldnotpossiblycontroltheexplosionofnetworkingthatliesahead.AproliferationofR&Dconsortia,supplier-manufacturer-distributorlinkages,networkingamong"virtual"corporations,jointventuresamongcompetitors,andbusiness-governmentpartnershipsarerapidlyconnectingallcorporations,governments,anduniversitiestogetherinadensesocialinfrastructure,asdepictedonthecoverofthisbook.20Internalmarketswillfacilitatetheoperationofthisglobalnetwork.
Themostusefulrolefortopmanagementistoformacollaborativecorporatecommunitythathelpsamelioratetheturmoilofaturbulentworld,aswewillseeinthenextchapter.Itwouldalsobeusefultodevelopaworkingenvironmenthospitabletocreativepeople,emulatingthehundredsofbusinessincubatorsthathavesprunguptonurturenewventures.OneofIBM'smostsuccessfulactionswastheIndependentBusinessUnitconceptthatcreatedthePCinayearandahalf.GM'snewelectriccarprojectisspearheadedbyanautonomousteamoftwohundredpeople.
Ourviewsmaychangeasorganizationsevolve,butinternalmarketsystemsseemthelogicalconclusionofcurrentrestructuringefforts.Bydesigningorganizationsasself-managedclustersofinternalenterprises,downsizing,reengineering,TQM,networks,andotherrestructuringpracticesarelikelytobecomemoreeffective.
CorporatePerestroika
Themajorconclusionsaboutorganizationalstructurepresentedinthischaptercanbesummarizedasfollows:
1.Aseconomiesbecomemorecomplex,theymustbemanagedby"organic"systemsoperatingfromthebottomup.
2.Presentrestructuringconceptsarelimitedbecausetheyarelargelymodificationsofthetop-downhierarchy.
3.Adifferentperspectivebasedonprinciplesofenterpriseisevolvingtocreatecomplete"internalmarketeconomies"thataredesignedandmanagedroughlylike"extemalmarketeconomies."
Page48
4.Internalmarketsarenotappropriateinallcases,buttheyarebestformostorganizationstodaybecausetheyofferthedynamicqualitiesneededtonavigateacomplexworld.
Transformingorganizationsintomarketsystemsisformidablebecauseitinvolvesaprofoundsocialupheaval;itcouldbethoughtofas"CorporatePerestroika,"somewhatlikethestrugglefacingthepost-socialisticbloc.Experiencesofcompaniesthathavemadethistransitionoffersomeguidelines,asshowninBox2.4.TheCEOdescribedhowABBcreatedthesystemdescribedinBox2.5:"Wetookourbestpeopleandgavethemsixweekstodesigntherestructuring.WecalledittheManhattanProject."
21
BOX2.4.GUIDESTOREORGANIZINGINTOMARKETSYSTEMS.
Thefollowingguidelineswerederivedbyexaminingtheexperiencesofcompaniesthathavesuccessfullytransitionedtointernalmarketsystems:
·Learnabouttheconceptofinternalmarketstogainasolidgraspofthepossibilitiesandtheproblemsinvolved.
·Startsmallinsomelimitedpartoftheorganizationwithwilling,enterprisingvolunteerswhowillseetheeffortthrough.
·Providethoroughtraininginthebusinessskillsneededtosucceedinamarketenvironment.
·Planthechangecollectivelyandsketchoutarealisticvisionofhowitwillwork.
·Preparepeoplebyshapinganentrepreneurialculture.
·Mostimportantly,givethereorganizationtoppriority.
Manyothercorporationsaremovinginthissamedirection.Inthelate1980swhencomputercompanieshadbecomebloated,Hewlett-PackardrestructuredtoavoidthebureaucracythatswampedIBM(seeBox2.6)."Wehadtoodamnmanycommittees.Ifwedidn'tfixthings,we'dbeinthesameshapeasIBMistoday,"saidDavidPackard.HPdismantledunneededcontrolstorenewitsbeliefthateachdivisionshouldbeaself-managedenterprise.FormerCEOJohnYoungendorsedthedevelopmentofradicalnewproductssuchasHP'sfirstdesktopprinterthatcompetedwiththecompany'sexistingproductswhichwouldhavebeenheresyatIBM.
Page49
TodaytheLaserJetlineaccountsfor40percentofHP'ssales.HPwasvaluedatone-tenthofIBMin1990;throughthisskillfulblendofenterpriseandsupport,HPisnowworthroughlyasmuchasIBM.
Althoughcorporationsareusingmarketmechanisms,managersdonotyetgenerallyunderstandthebroaderconceptofaninternalmarketeconomy.Table2.1showsthatmostcorporationsdonotallowprofitcentersadequatefreedom,theyimposelimitsonoutsourcing,andtheirsupportunitsarerarelyprofitcenters.Theresultisthat,throughoutlargecompanies,businessunitsstrainagainstcorporatebureaucraciesthatburdenoperationswithexcessiveoverheadandmonopolypower.
22ManagersintheCITsurveyreported:"Wecan'tuseoutsidesourcesifaproductorserviceisavailableinside,"and"Iknowofnocompanywherestaffunitsarenothingbutprofitdrains;theyarethemostsacredofcows."Sothereisalongwaytogobeforewerealizethepotentialofinternalmarkets.
Inthefinalanalysis,amarketformoforganizationseemsalmostinevitablebecauseitofferstheonlywayofadaptingtoanageofconstant,rapidchange.Insteadofrelyingontheheroicbutriskyjudgmentofexecutivestomovetheorganizationinsomewholesaledirection,theunitsofaninternalmarketfeeltheirwayalonglikethecellsofasuperorganismpossessingalifeofitsown,producingaconstantstreamofadaptivechange.Touseaphrasefromchaostheory,thecentraladvantageofaninternalmarketsystemisthatit"createsspontaneousorderoutofchaos."
Theknowledgesocietylyingdeadaheadwillpresentmorecomplexintricaciesthanwecanimagine,andmuchlesscontrol.Thisunpredictablenatureofthemodernworldcanbemanagedonlybya
localformofintelligencethatguidesaveragepeopletomeetcomplexitywhereitbeginsatthegrassroots.Informationtechnologywillprovidethecommunicationforthissystem,andmarketswillprovidetheeconomicfoundation.
Manywillthinkthischallengeistooenormous,butthatisexactlywhatweoncethoughtabouttheprospectofchangingtheSovietUnion.ThemovetomarketorganizationsseemslikelytorollonbecauseinternalmarketsofferthesamepowerfuladvantagesthatinspiredtheoverthrowofCommunism:opportunitiesforpersonalachievement,liberationfromauthority,accountabilityforperformance,entrepreneurialinitiative,creativeinnovation,highqualityandservice,easeofhandlingcomplexity,fastreactiontime,andflexibilityforchange.ImagineCorporateAmerica's
Page50
BOX2.5.ABB'SINTERNALMARKETFORAGLOBALCORPORATION.
PercyBarnavik,theCEOofAseaBrownBovari(ABB)corporation,hasbeendescribedas"movingmoreaggressivelythananyCEOtobuildthenewmodelofcompetitiveenterprise."Hedescribedhisfirm'sstructureasfollows:
AConfederationofEntrepreneurs:"Weareafederationofnationalcompanies...acollectionoflocalbusinesseswithintenseglobalcoordination."
MultidimensionalStructure:"AlongonedimensionABBisstructuredintofiftybusinessareasoperatingworldwide.Alongsidethisstructureare1,200localcompaniesthatdotheworkofbusinessareasindifferentcountries."
Decentralization:"Ouroperationsaredividedinto4,500profitcenterswithanaverageoffiftyemployees.Weareferventbelieversindecentralization.Peoplecanaspiretomeaningfulcareerladdersinunitssmallenoughtobecommittedto."
SupportUnitsasProfitCenters:"Youcangointoanycentralizedcorporationandcutitsheadquartersstaffby90percent.Youspinoff30percentintofree-standingservicecentersthatperformrealworkandchargeforit.Youdecentralize30percentintolineorganizations.Then30percentdisappearsthroughreductions."
InternalEnterprises:"Ourmanagersneedwell-definedresponsibilities,clearaccountability,andmaximumdegreesoffreedom.Idon'texpectthemtodothingsthathurttheirbusinessbutaregoodforABB.That'snotnatural.Wealwayscreateseparatelegalentitiestoallowrealbalancesheetswithrealcashflowanddividends.Managersinheritresultsyeartoyearthrough
changesinequity."
AStrategicInformationSystemThatUnitestheFirm:"WehaveaglueoftransparentreportingthroughamanagementinformationsystemcalledAbacus."
EmployeeEntrepreneurs:"Idon'tsitlikeagodfather,allocatingjobs.WhatIguaranteeisthateverymemberofthefederationhasafairshotattheopportunities."
FacilitatingLeadership:"Realcommunicationtakestime,andtopmanagersmustbewillingtomeetwith...thecompanyCEOsinanopen,honestdialogue."
Source:WilliamTaylor,"TheLogicofGlobalBusiness,"HarvardBusinessReview(MarchApril1991).
creativemanagers,engineers,andworkersbeingturnedfreetolaunchmyriadventures,allguidedbytopmanagementteamsthatprovideasupportiveinfrastructureandinspiringleadership.Yes,manyoftheseventureswouldfail,butmanymorewouldthrivetocreateanewbreedofdynamic,self-organizinginstitutions.
Managerscouldrealizeallthesebenefitsbyharnessingtheabundant
Page51
BOX2.6.HEWLETT-PACKARD'SINTERNALMARKETSYSTEM.
Hewlett-PackardhasbecomethesecondlargestAmericancomputermakerbycreatinganentrepreneurialorganizationthatallowsittoconstantlyleadintechnologicalinnovation.HP'sprofitsgrowatanannualrateof30percent.Althoughmanagementmaynotthinkoftheirorganizationasaninternalmarket,itcontainsmostelementsofthemarketmodel.
DecentralizedStructure.Thecompany's96,000employeesareorganizedintosmall,global,cross-functionalunitsthatneverexceed1,500people,creatingadecentralized,constantlychangingstructurethatproducesthousandsofproducts.
InternalEnterprises.Eachunitisanenterprisethat"ownsitsbusiness."Unitsplantheirownstrategy,workwiththeirsuppliersandcustomers,reinvesttheirprofitsintheunit,andhavetheirownfinancialstatements."Ourprofit-and-lossstatementislikeanyothersmallcompany's,"saidoneunitmanager.
InternalCompetition.Unitsareaccordedalmostcompletefreedomtomanagetheiraffairsastheyfeelisbest,includingcompetingagainstotherHPunitsanddoingbusinesswithHPcompetitors.Forinstance,theHPlaserprintercompeteswiththeink-jetprinter,andanotherunitchosetobuymillionsofchipsfromacompetitorbecausethepricewaslowerthanHP's.Saidonemanager,"Wedon'tfeelanallegiancetoanyotherpartofHP.Wefeelanallegiancetoourcustomer."
InternalCooperation.Unitsalsocooperatewhenitisusefulbyofferingthebenefitsoftheirexperience,sharingtechnology,organizingjointventures,andsoon."I'veneverseenanyonesaynoifyouaskforhelp,"saidawomanmanager.
FacilitatingLeadership.Corporateexecutivesavoidmakingoperatingdecisionsthatintrudeonunitautonomy,butfocusinsteadonfacilitatingcooperativerelationships,offeringadvice,holdingunitsaccountable,andprovidingleadership."ThebestIcandoisbringpeopletogetherandhopetheymate,"saidLewisPlatt,theCEO.
Source:AlanDeutschman,"HowHPContinuestoGrowandGrow,"Fortune(May2,1994).
entrepreneurialtalentnowlanguishingbeneaththelayersoftoday'sbureaucracies.Thefirststepistorecognizethatorganizationsmustbedesignedandmanagedasmarketeconomiesintheirownright.
Notes
1.AsummaryofthechangesunderwayisprovidedbyWilliamE.Halal,"GlobalStrategicManagementinaNewWorldOrder,"BusinessHorizons(December1993).
Page52
2.SeeMargaretWheatley,LeadershipandtheNewScience(SanFrancisco:Berrett-Koehler,1992).
3."PuttingtheByteBackintoSiemensNixdorf,"BusinessWeek(November14,1994).
4.FrankSwoboda,"TheCaseforCorporateDownsizingGoesGlobal,"WashingtonPost(April9,1995).MattMurray,"AmidRecordProfits,CompaniesContinuetoLayOffEmployees,"WallStreetJournal(May4,1995).
5."Japan,WrackedbyRecession,TakesStockofItsMethods,"WallStreetJournal(September29,1993).
6.RonaldHenkoff,"GettingBeyondDownsizing,"Fortune(January10,1994).RahulJacob,"TQM:MorethanaDyingFad?"Fortune(October18,1993).JoannS.Liblin,"Don'tStopCuttingStaff,''WallStreetJournal(September27,1994).
7.Reportedin"RethinkingWork,"BusinessWeek(October17,1994).
8.ThenetworkperspectiveisbestrepresentedbyRaymondMilesandCharlesSnow,Fit,Failure,andtheHallofFame(NewYork:FreePress,1994),andJessicaLipnackandJeffreyStamps,TheAgeoftheNetwork(EssexJunction,Vt.:OliverWight/Omneo,1994).
9.DavidOsborneandTedGaebler,ReinventingGovernment(Reading,Mass.:Addison-Wesley,1992).
10.JayForrester,"ANewCorporateDesign,"IndustrialManagementReview(Fall1965),pp.517;RussellAckoff,CreatingtheCorporateFuture(NewYork:Wiley,1981);GiffordandElizabethPinchot,TheEndofBureaucracyandtheRiseoftheIntelligentOrganization(SanFrancisco:Berrett-Koehler,1994);WilliamE.Halaletal.,InternalMarkets:BringingthePowerofFreeEnterpriseINSIDEYourOrganization(NewYork:Wiley,1993).
11.RosabethMossKanter,"ChampioningChange:AnInterviewwithBellAtlantic'sCEORaymondSmith,"HarvardBusinessReview(JanuaryFebruary1991).
12.SeeWilliamE.Halal,Fee-For-ServiceinISDepartments(AreportoftheInternationalDataCorporation,1992).
13.SeeHalaletal.,InternalMarkets,Chapters3and5.
14.AlanDeutschman,"HPContinuestoGrow,"Fortune(May2,1994).
15.SeeOliverWilliamson,MarketsandHierarchies(NewYork:FreePress,1975).TheWesternexampleisfromDavidClutterback,"TheWhittlingAwayofMiddleManagement,"InternationalManagement(November1982),pp.1016.
Page53
ThomasMaloneetal.,"TheLogicofElectronicMarkets,"HarvardBusinessReview(MayJune1989).
16.PaulLeinbergerandBruceTucker,TheNewIndividualists(NewYork:Harper-Collins,1992).JohnKotter,TheNewRules:HowtoSucceedinToday'sCorporateWorld(NewYork:FreePress,1995).
17.BrianO'Reilly,"J&JIsonaRoll,"Fortune(December26,1994).
18.R.Krishnanetal.,"InSearchofQualityImprovement,"AcademyofManagementExecutive,7,(4)(1993).
19.JordanLewis,PartnershipsforProfit(NewYork:FreePress,1990).
20."LearningfromJapan:HowaFewU.S.GiantsAreTryingtoCreateHomegrownKeiretsu,"BusinessWeek(January27,1992).RosabethMossKanter,"Pooling,Allying,andLinkingAcrossCompanies,"TheAcademyofManagementExecutive(August1989).
21.WilliamTaylor,"TheLogicofGlobalBusiness,"HarvardBusinessReview(MarchApril1991).
22.Foragoodanalysisofthisproblem,seeCraigCantoni,CorporateDandelions(NewYork:Amacom,1993).
Page55
3FromProfittoDemocracy:CorporateCommunityIstheNewFormofOrganizationGovernanceAdivisionmanagerofalargecorporationIknow(Steve)wasstrugglingwithachronicdilemma.Hewasunderpressurefromseniormanagementtoincreasehisunit'sprofits,butallattemptsfailed.Raisingpricesandcuttingcornerstolowercostsmerelyirritatedhisclientsastheybegantofeelgouged.Makinggreaterdemandsofemployeesbackfiredbecausetheyfeltoverworked.Andnegotiatingtoughtermswithsuppliersandcreditorsalsoprovokedresistance.AfterdiscussingtheproblematlengthwithSteve,Isuggestedthathemightbefocusingtooexclusivelyonprofitabilityanygoalcanbecomeelusiveifonetriestoohard.
Theideaseemedtocatchhisinterest,settingoffaseriousreexaminationofhisgoalsandworkingrelations.AfewmonthslaterSteve'sdivisionwasabsolutelyhummingwithenergy.Hehadredefinedhisunitasa"cooperativeenterprise"jointlymanagedbyhimself,hisemployees,suppliers,andevenhisclients.Thiswastheresultofmuchserioussoul-searchingandfrankdiscussion,leadingtotherealizationthatthebestwaytogainthesupportofpeoplewastoengagetheirinterests.
NowSteve'semployeesweredesigningandmanagingtheirownoperations,andtheywereeagertotakeontheseresponsibilitiesbecausethey
Note:PortionsofthischapterareadaptedfromChapter6ofmyearlierwork,TheNewCapitalism(NewYork:Wiley,1986).
Page56
receivedagenerousshareofthedivision'sprofits.Thedivision'sclientsbecamefaithfulpatronsaftervisitingSteve'sstafftodescribetheirspecialneedsandtoworkoutproblems.Asimilarrelationshipwasdevelopedwithsuppliers.
Theoutcome:Steve'sdivisionreacheditshigherprofitgoals,butitdidsobyfocusingontheneedsofitsconstituents.Stevealsofeltdelightedatthenewspiritofhisorganization.Ratherthanthedemandingbosshehadbeen,hecouldenjoyworkingwiththesepeopleinaconstructiveway.
Humannatureisnotturningaltruistic,butprogressivemanagerslikeStevearecreatinganewformofcorporategovernancethatunifiesthegoalsofallparties.ThischapterdescribesthedemocratichalfoftheNewManagementthatfocusesonintegratinganenterpriseintoaharmoniouswholeacorporatecommunity.
1SecretaryofLaborRobertReichobservesthatatellingsignofgoodmanagementisthatemployeesspeakofthecompanyintermsof"us"and"we"ratherthan''them"and"they."
Thefollowingpagesoutlinethelimitationsoftheoldprofit-centeredmodelofbusinessandthesocialresponsibilitymodel.Thenweexaminetheevolutionofcorporategoverancetowardcollaborationamongallstakeholdersofthefirm.Thismovefromprofittodemocracyimpliescreatingacoalitionofinvestors,employees,customers,businesspartners,andthepublic,therebyformingacorporatecommunitythatservesallinterestsbetter.
Iconcludethateconomicsislikelytobeelevatedtoincludeabroaderconcernforsocialandhumanvalues.Thisshouldnotharmthefinancialgoalsofbusinessbecausetheyarecompatiblewithsocialgoals.Infact,thepursuitofbothgoalsmaybea"betterwaytomake
money."FromtheviewoftheNewManagement,however,theconceptofcorporatecommunitycouldprovesoeffectivethattheprofit-centeredsystemoncethoughttobeintrinsictothemarketplacemaysoonbecomeanartifactoftheindustrialpast.
TheEvolutionofEconomicCooperation
Theissueofcorporategoverancehasalwaysbeencontentiousbecauseofbasicassumptionsabouteconomicbehavior.Throughoutindustrialization,businesswasusuallyconsideredazero-sumgameinwhichonepartygainedatthelosstoanother.Thisconflictismostapparentinthecontinu-
Page57
ingcontroversyoverwhethercompaniesshouldfocusonmakingmoneyorservingsociety.Butwiththeonsetofaknowledgeeconomy,allthathaschanged.Astoday'srushtoalliancesdemonstrates,cooperationhasnowbecomeefficient.
2
LimitsoftheProfitMotive
Theprofitmotiveissodeeplyingrainedinpresenteconomiesthatmostofuscannotimaginehowbusinesscouldbeconductedotherwise.AskanaverageAmericanifbusinessshouldfocusonprofit,andyouwillprobablygetablankstareatsuchadumbquestion.Indeed,youarelikelytohearanadorationofwealthbecausemostAmericansholdoutthehopeofstrikingitrichthemselves.MakingmoneyispartoftheAmericandream.
Ingeneral,Americanshavefaithinthecapitalisttheorythatprofitisthedrivingforceofeconomicprogress.Theprofitmotiveshouldmotivatebusinesstosatisfycustomerneeds,employworkerseffectively,usescarceresourcesefficiently,andotherwiseservesociety.Theproblem,ofcourse,isthatthemessyrealitiesofeconomiclifedonotfitthistheoryverywell.
Amajorcauseofthisproblemisthatinthezealouspursuitofmoney,managersareoftenencouragedtodisregardsocialconsequences.Aswecancommonlyobserve,manycompaniesmakelavishprofitsevenastheylayoffworkers,evadetaxes,pollutetheenvironment,andcauseothersocialdisorders.AstudybyAmitaiEtzionifoundthat62percentoftheFortune500companieshadbeeninvolvedinillegalpracticesoverthelasttenyears.3Otherstudiesestimatethecostofpricefixing,pollution,bribes,workinjuries,productdefects,andotherwhite-collarcrimetototalseveralhundredbillionsdollarsper
year,amajorportionoftheU.S.grossdomesticproduct(GDP).4
Let'sbeclearaboutwhatisgoingonhere.Thecauseisnotprimarilyattributableto"greed,"asweoftenhear,becausemostbusinessmanagersaremoral,dedicatedprofessionalstryingtodoadifficultjobasbesttheycan.Rather,theproblemissystemic.AsshowninFigure3.1,theprofit-centeredmodelisbasedonanideologicalsystemthatfocusesonservingtheinterestsofthoseowningcapitalshareholders.Inthisview,theinterestsofemployees,customers,thepublic,andotherstakeholdersarenotreallygoalsofthefirm,butsimplyameanstomakingmoney.
Page58
Figure3.1.TheEvolutionofCorporateCommunity.
Page59
Capitalismhasgreatvirtues,andmanycompaniesbehaveadmirably,asweshallsoonsee.However,ifthegoalofenterpriseisdefinedasprofitmaking,theinterestsofbusinessareopposedtotheinterestsofsociety.Anyphilosophydevotedto"taking"contradictsthevaluesofalmostallreligions,whichadvocate"giving"toserveothers.TheReverendBillyGrahamputitthisway:"ThebiggestproblemfacingAmericaisthemoralsituation,thescandalsinbusinessandWallStreet.''
LimitsofSocialResponsibility
Inanattempttoremedythisproblem,aboutthreedecadesagoAmericanbusinesssincerelytriedtoadopttheconceptof"corporatesocialresponsibility"(CSR),asalsoshowninFigure3.1.Corporationsvoluntarilycreatedprogramstoimprovethetreatmentoftheirsocialconstituencies,andtheyevenattemptedtomeasurethisprogressusing"socialaudits."
5
Buttheideabecameanemptypietybecauseitfocusedon"doinggood"whileignoringtheneedtoincreaseproductivity,salesrevenue,andprofits.Asimilarfateislikelytobefalltoday'ssuccessortoCSRtherisingpopularinterestinbusinessethics.
Theseconceptshavebeenusefulineducatingbusinesspeopleabouttheirsocialobligations.However,socialresponsibilityisalimitedideabecauseitgoestotheoppositeextremebyadvocatingsocialservicewhileignoringeconomicrealities.
TheConflictbetweenBusinessandSociety
Thiscontinualconflictbetweenprofitandthesocialwelfarehasleftsocietiesbereftofwhateconomistscallaworkable"theoryofthe
firm."AsIrvingKristolputit,"Corporationsarehighlyvulnerabletocriticismsoftheirgoverningstructurebecausethereisnopoliticaltheorytolegitimateit."6
Theproblemalsoextendsintosocialinstitutions,withseriousconsequences.Theroleofnewsmediaiscrucialinaknowledgesociety,yetmediaempiresarecontrolledtoservefinancialinterests.AfterCBSwasboughtbyLawrenceTischin1987,hefiredsixhundrednewspeopletoimproveprofits.YetstarslikeDanRatherwerebeingpaidseveralmilliondollarseach,aboutasmuchasthesavingsfromthelayoffs.Thistypeoflogicraisespuzzlingquestions.
IsDanRatherreallyworthmorethanhundredsofhiscolleagues?
Page60
CBSwasalreadyveryprofitable,andthelayoffsharmedCBSnewscoverage.WhyisincreasingthewealthofTischmoreimportantthanthelivesofhisemployees,andmoreimportantthanservingthepublicbetter?Here'showatypicalworkerseesit,"Itdoesn'tmakesense.Youcanseethemcuttingpeopletogetoutofabindbutjusttomakemoreprofit?Idon'tgetit."
7
Itwasevenharmfulfromstrictlyfinancialconsiderations.CBS'sviewerratingsdeclined,profitsplunged68percent,majorexecutiveswentelsewhere,andaffiliatesswitchedtoothernetworks.(DavidLettermanquippedonhisnightshow,"You'rewatchingCBS,thenetworkthatasksthequestion:'Hey,wheredideverybodygo?'")Asaresult,CBSwassoldtoWestinghousefor$6billion,whileABCwassoldtoDisneyforalmost$20billion.8
Thesameproblemoccursinorganizedsports.Askanyfanorcityofficialandtheywillconfirmthatbaseball,football,andothersportsarequasi-publicinstitutionsofenormoussymbolicimportancetotheircommunities.Citiesinvestbillionsofdollarsinbuildingstadiums,fansprovideloyalsupportandbuyexpensiveseasontickets,highschoolsandcollegesinvestyearsintrainingtheplayers,andthemediaprovidelucrativeTVcontracts.
Yetthesegroupshavenorights.Ownerscanmoveteamstoothercitiesatwill.Theysetthepriceofadmissionandfranchisestovendors.Theydraftyoungplayersinaformofservitude,andenjoyexclusiverightstocontrolplayintheircity.Theresultisthatthisbelovedpublicfunctionisaccordedthestatusofamonopolyunderthesolecontrolofowners.
Itshouldbenosurprisethatastreamofdisturbingincidentsflows
fromthisuncheckedpower.Thebaseballstrikeof1994soangeredfansthatsomeorganizedtonegotiatewiththeowners,and25percentboycottedthegamewhenplayresumedin1995;lowattendancewillcausetheownerstolose$400millionin1995.9WhentheowneroftheWashingtonRedskinsthreatenedtomovetheteamtoanotherlocation,aprominentWashingtonianhadthisreaction:"TheRedskinsaren'tonlyabusinessforthisregion;theyareaunifyinginstitutionformostofuswholiveandworkhere...acentralforceinbringingpride,cooperation,andasenseofonenesstothemetropolitanarea."10
Page61
Althoughsomemanagersmaytrytobalanceprofitandthesesocialinterests,theyareconstantlyswampedwithfinancialdata,scrutinybyWallStreetanalysts,andthethreatoftakeover.Thesepowerfulforcescrowdoutsocialconcernsandtheirsheerinertiaresistschange.That'swhynoblemottoessuchas"Ourcustomerscomefirst"and"Ouremployeesareourmostvaluableasset"areusuallymereplatitudes.Inanagewhenitiscommonlyunderstoodthatknowledge,satisfiedcustomers,andacommittedworkforcearecriticaltoeconomicsuccess,onecanonlymarvelthatwecontinuetotreatcorporationsaschatteltobe"owned"byinvestors.
Whyhavesmart,proudcitizensofthemostpowerfulnationonEarthvoluntarilyyieldedthepowertocontrolthemajorinstitutionsoftheirsociety?BecausemoneyholdsthestatusofareigningtheologyinAmerica.Itisasacredcowthatcannotbequestioned,adogmathatblindsustoamorecomplexreality.Profitmaking,therightsofownership,andothercanonsofcapitalistideologyconstitutethedefactoreligionthatgovernsourfadingIndustrialAgesystem,roughlythewaymedievalChristianitygovernedtheagrariansocietiesoftheMiddleAges.
Medievalcivilizationwasdominatedbythechurch:massiveGothiccathedralsprovidedthefocusofcitylife;dailytaskswerecenteredaroundtherhythmsofmassandprayer;andsocietywasguidedbyahierarchyofpriests,abbots,andbishops.Today,civilizationisnolessdominatedbycapital:massivecorporateofficesbuildingshavereplacedthecathedrals;leveragedbuyouts,hostiletakeovers,andarcanederivativeshavereplacedthereligiousrituals;andthechurch'shierarchyhasgivenwaytoahierarchyofaccountants,securitydealers,andfinanciers.
11
TheRiseofStakeholderPower
Withinthepastfewyears,however,powerfultrendsincorporategovernancesuggestthatseriouschangeisunderway.
Fordecades,controloflargecorporationsresidedalmostsolelywiththeCEO,whilethecorporateboardandstockholdersprovidedafigleafshieldingoureyesfromthisnakeddisplayofunilateralpower.FewbelievedthatthetypicalboardofdirectorswasmuchmorethanasocialgatheringoftheCEO'sassociates,andtheannualstockholdermeetingwaswidelyridiculedasafarce.Onlyasmallportionofshareholdersattended;they
Page62
wereunorganized,poorlyinformed,andusuallypreoccupiedwithtrivialcomplaintsthatseemedmainlyintendedtohumblecorporateexecutives."It'stheonlyforumthatmakesCongresslookgoodbycomparison,"notedRobertMonks,amajorinstitutionalinvestor.
Butnowstockholders,employees,andotherstakeholdersaresteadilygainingpower.
Institutionalshareholderspensionfunds,mutualfunds,insurancecompanies,banksownthemajorityofstockatmanylargecorporations.TheCaliforniaPublicEmployeesRetirementSystem(CALPERS),oneofthelargestpensionfunds,beganusingitsuntestedpowerin1990toinfluencepoorlymanagedcorporations,whichbroughtaboutthefallofCEOsatGM,IBM,Sears,AmericanExpress,andothertroubledfirms.Today,mostlargecorporationsregularlymeetwiththeirinstitutionalinvestors.
12Thisrelationshiphasbeenshowntoimprovefinancialperformance,solargeinvestorshavebecomepermanentplayersinthemanagementoflargecorporations.13
Anothernewforceincorporategovernanceistherisingpowerofemployees,aswewillseeinChapter6.Employeestockownershipplans(ESOPs)control12percentofallcorporatestock,andemployeessitontheboardsofthreehundredlargecorporations.Atsomelargecompanies,suchasUnitedAirlines,workersownamajorityofshares.Further,theESOPmovementisgrowing10percentperyear.
Womenarealsobecomingmoreinfluentialincorporategovernance,therebyintroducinganewsetof"feminine"valuesthatstressamorehumane,community-orientedformofmanagement.Womensitonmostcorporateboards,andone-quarterofallnewcorporatedirectors
arenowwomen.Thenumberofbusinessesownedbywomenisgrowingmorerapidlythanthoseownedbymen.
Othersocialconstituencieshavealsogainedinfluenceinrecentyears.Aswewillseeinlaterchapters,almostallcompaniesnowstrivetobuildtrustinglong-termrelationswiththeircustomers;theyworkcloselywiththeirsuppliersanddistributors,theyaredevelopingpartnershipswithgovernment,andtheyvoluntarilyprotecttheenvironment.
Finally,thelegalbarriersarebeingeliminated.Americanlawoncepresumedthatstockholderswerethesolebeneficiariesofthecorporation,butthisischanging."Whatrightdoessomeonewhoownsthestockforanhourhavetodecideacompany'sfate?"askedAndrewSigler,chairmanof
Page63
ChampionInternational."That'sthelaw,andit'swrong."Atlastcount,thirtystateshaveadoptedstatutesthatrecognizetheinterestsofcorporatesocialconstituencies,andtheconceptisspreadingtomostotherstates.
14
Thesetrendshaveacceleratedthemovementtowardabroaderformofgovernance.In1992,fiftycompanies,includingLevi-Strauss,theBodyShop,Stride-Rite,Reebok,andLotus,formedtheBusinessforSocialResponsibility(BSR)alliance,andayearlatermembershipleapedtoeighthundredcompanies.ThisisonlythemostvisibleexampleofabroadermovementthatincludestheWorldBusinessAcademy,theSocialVentureNetwork,andmanyothergroupsofprogressivebusinessmanagersandscholars.15
Unliketheoldformofsocialresponsibility,today'smovementadmitstheneedforfinancialgain."Weareheretogetpeopletorecognizethatthereisalinkbetweenprofitableperformanceandresponsiblecorporatepractices,"saidMichaelLevett,formerpresidentofBSR.16In1984,investorsconcernedwithsocialcriteria(ethicaltreatmentofemployees,productsafety,environment,etc.)owned$40billionofcorporatestock,whilein1990thatsumpassed$500billion.17
Whatallthesetrendsshareincommonisthatstakeholderswhopreviouslyremainedpassivearenowdemandingtobeheard."There'sapopulistwindblowingthroughthiscountry,"saidRalphWhitworth,presidentoftheUnitedShareholdersAssociation."Weseelesswillingnesstoacceptthestatusquo,whetherit'sinCongressorinacorporation."
Howaremanagersgoingtohandlethisrevolutionofthestakeholders?Byredefiningabroader,moreeffectiveroleas"stewards"ofthis
emergingcorporatecommunity.
TheStakeholderModeloftheCorporation
Thisneedcanbebetterunderstoodifwelookatthestakeholdermodel.AsshowninFigure3.1,thismodelviewsthecorporationasasocioeconomicsystemcomposedofvariousconstituencies:employees,customers,associatedfirms(suppliers,etc.),thepublicanditsgovernmentrepresentatives,andinvestors.Pleasenotethatthismodeldiffersfromthesocialresponsibilitymodelinthatstakeholdershaveobligationstothefirmaswellasrights.Thisviewhaslongprevailedamongsomecompanies,suchasthosediscussedinBoxes3.1and3.2.Nowtheideaisbecomingwidelyaccepted
Page64
BOX3.1.IKEA.
Sweden'sIKEAhasrecentlybecometheworld'slargesthomefurnishingscompanybyformingcollaborativerelationshipswithitscustomers,suppliers,andemployees.In1993,thecompanyhadonehundredretailoutletsaroundtheworld;itwasgrowingata15percentannualrate,anditsprofitmarginof8to10percentwassohighthatallcapitalwasobtainedinternally.
ActiveCustomers.IKEAhasdefinedan"active"roleforitsclientsthatbenefitsboththemandthecompany.Strollers,freechildcare,andrestaurantsareprovidedtoencourageparentstobringtheirchildren.Customersaregivencatalogues,tapemeasures,pens,notepaper,anddetailedinformationtohelpthemmakeinformedpurchases.High-qualitySwedishfurniturecanbepurchasedat20to50percentbelowcompetitivepricesifbuyersarewillingtoassembleitinahourortwo.Anythingcanbereturnedatanytime.
Supplier-Coproducers.IKEAfurniturecomponentsareproducedbyaglobalnetworkoftwothousandsupplierslocatedinmorethanfiftylow-costcountriesaroundtheworld;fivehundredsuppliersarefromEasternEurope.IKEAstaffsupportsuppliersbyleasingequipment,locatingpartnersandmaterials,andprovidingproductionadvice.Theresultislow-cost,high-qualityproduction,coordinatedtomeetcomplex,changingmarketdemandsinatimelyfashion,whilealsocreatingbusinessopportunitiesinundevelopednations.
Source:RichardNormannandRafaelRamirez,"DesigningInteractiveStrategy,"HarvardBusinessReview(JulyAugust1993).
becausemanagersrealizethatthesuccessoftheirenterprisedependsongainingthesupportofthesegroups.
Thisessentialroleofsocialinterestsisclarifiedbymystudies,whichestimatetheresourceflowsbetweenstakeholders.Thereturn-on-resourcesmodelanddatainTables3.1and3.2showthatallstakeholdersinvestfinancialandsocialresources,theyincurcosts,andexpectgains,justasinvestorsdo.Theseresourcesconstitutetheir"stake"intheorganization,whichissospecificthatitcanbecomparedquiteaccuratelytocapitalinvestments.
Thesedatarevealhowseriouslylimitedisthetraditionalviewofthefirmthatfocusesonfinancialaspectsalone.ThetotalfiguresatthebottomofTable3.2aregreaterthanthefinancialsumsshownforinvestorsbyroughlyafactoroften.Thus,socialconcerns,whichareusuallyregardedas
Page65
BOX3.2.EXEMPLARSOFCORPORATECOMMUNITY.
Hewlett-Packardhasbecomeamajorforceinthecomputerindustrybyusingitsstatedmission:"Profitisnottheproperendandaimofmanagementitiswhatmakesalloftheproperendsandaimspossible....Ourmaintaskistodesign,develop,andmanufacturethefinestelectronicequipmentfortheadvancementofhumanity."
IBMcontinuestofollowaphilosophythatthefounder,JamesWatson,Sr.,statedintermsofthefollowinggoals:"obligationstostockholders,""respectfor[employees],""servicetoourcustomers,""fairdealtooursuppliers,''and"corporatecitizenshipincommunityaffairs."
Johnson&JohnsonsurvivedtheTylenolpoisoningcrisisandotherchallengesbecauseofacompanywide"credo"thatstates:"Ourfirstresponsibilityistothedoctors,nurses,patients,mothers,andallotherswhouseourproductsandservices."
NCRCorporationdefinesitsmissionas"creatingvalueforalltheconstituencieswithastakeinthecompany:consumers,NCRpeople,suppliers,communities,andinvestors.Whileitmayappearthatthevariousstakeholderswillhaveconflictingdemands,thepointsofconflictarefewandthepointsofcommoninterestsaremany."
MerckCorporation'sfounder,GeorgeW.Merck,definedthemissionofthecompanyintermsofservice:"Wetrytoneverforgetthatmedicineisforpeople.Itisnotforprofits.Theprofitsfollow,andifwerememberthat,theyneverfailtoappear."
Japanesecorporationshavetraditionallypracticedahumanformofmanagement.AkioMorita,thefounderofSony,and
KonoshukeMatsushita,thefounderofMatsushitaElectronics,amongotherJapaneseCEOs,describethetypicalJapanesephilosophy:"Profitshouldnotbetheprimarygoalofbusiness.Therealpurposeoftheenterpriseistocontributetosocietyinreturnforusingitsresources."
Source:WilliamE.Halal,TheNewCapitalism(NewYork:Wiley,1986).
"economicexternalities,"arefargreaterthanfinancialconsiderationsbecausetheycompriseavastbutmoresubtleworldofhumanandsocialrealitiesthathaseludedtheOldManagement.
18HicksWaldron,chairmanofAvonProducts,describedthisreality:
Wehave40,000employees,1.3millionsalesrepresentatives,alargenumberofsuppliers,customers,andcommunitiesaroundtheworld.Theyhavemuchdeeperandmoreimportantstakesinourcompanythanourshareholders.19
Page66
Thedataalsoshowthatallpartiesbenefit.Businessdoesnotsimplyredistributeresources,asinazero-sumgame,butisinherentlyaproductiveinstitutionthatcreatesvalueforallitsconstituencies.Althoughthegainsofvariousstakeholdersmayconflictintheshortterm,theyarecompatibleinthelongterm.Thisisconfirmedbyvariousstudiesandcommonexamples,whichshowthatbusinesscreatesjobs,educatespeople,paystaxes,andmore.
20
Forexample,theBodyShopisasociallyorientedcorporation,yetitisalsoveryprofitable.Thedifferenceisthatprofitsareputinperspectiveas
TABLE3.1.THERETURN-ON-RESOURCESMODEL.ConstituentGroup
ResourcesInvested(R)
BenefitsProvided(B)
CostsIncurred(C)
ReturnonResources[(BC)/R]
Investors Equity/debtcapital
Dividends/interests,capitalgians
Capitallosses Returnoninvestment
Employees Upbringing,education,training,health
Wages&benefits,training,jobsatisfaction
Disabilities,meals&travel,jobdissatisfaction
Returnonhumanresources
Customers Purchasesprice,searchcosts
Utility(consumersurplus)
Productdamages,depreciation,maintenance
Returnonpurchases
Thepublic Publicassets
Taxes,contributions
Governmentservices,environmentaldamage
Returnonpublicassets
Associatedfirms
Assetsofassociated
Salesofassociatedfirms
Expensesofassociated
Returnsonassociated
firms firms assetsTotalcorporation
Totalresources
Totalbenefits Totalcosts Overallreturnonresources
Note:Thismodelwasusedtoconductacomputersimulationofcorporatebehavior,whichproducedtheresultsdisplayedinTable3.2.Forfurtherdetailsofthisresearch,seeWilliamE.Halal,"AReturn-on-ResourcesModelofCorporatePerformance,"CaliforniaManagementReview(Spring1977),andTheNewCapitalism(NewYork:Wiley,1986),Ch.6.
Page67
onegoalamongmany."Profitsarejollygood,"saidAnitaRoddick."Buttheyareameanstoalargergoal."TheBodyShophasbuiltplantsinpoorareas,fundedenvironmentalprojects,andmadeothereffortstocombinebothsocialandeconomicgoals."Now,that'swhatyoudowithprofits!"saidRoddick.
21
Thisanalysisleadstoaprecisetheoreticaldescriptionofthenatureofthefirm.Corporatemanagersaredependentonstakeholdersbecausetheeconomicroleofthefirmistocombineaseffectivelyaspossibletheuniqueresourceseachstakeholdercontributes:theriskcapitalofinvestors;thetalents,trainingandeffortsofemployees;thecontinuedpatronageofcustomers;thecapabilitiesofbusinesspartners;andtheeconomicinfrastructureprovidedbygovernment.Theneedforcapitalisessential,ofcourse,butthecontributionsofotherstakeholdersarenolessessential.Becausecompaniesaresocioeconomicsystems,thesefunctionsareallasessentialasthediverseorgansofabody.
Thus,managersshouldactasstewardsengagedina"socialcontract"todrawtogetherthismixofresourcesandtransformitintofinancialandsocialwealth,whichtheycanthendistributeamongstakeholderstorewardtheircontributions.Theclosertheintegrationintoacohesivecommunity,thegreaterthewealth.
Thegoodnews,then,isthattheredoesnotseemtobeaconflictbetweenprofitandsocialwelfare,aswewillseemorefullyinthenext
TABLE3.2.ANNUALRETURN-ON-RESOURCESSTATEMENT.(INTHOUSANDSOFDOLLARS)
ConsituentResourcesInvested
BenefitsProvided
CostsIncurred
NetReturn
ReturnonResources[(B
Group (R) (B) (C) (B-C) C)/R]Investors $9,993 $583 $234 $349 3.5%Employees 36,520 1,691 57 1,634 4.5Customers 10,533 4,066 2,249 1,817 17.3Thepublic 2,536 338 375 37 1.5Associatedfirms
507 314 312 2 .4
Totalcorporation
$60,089 $6,992 $3,227$3,765 6.3%
Page68
chapter.Yes,stakeholdershavedifferentintereststhatflowfromtheiruniquerolesinthecorporatecommunity,buttheseinterestscanbereconciledIFtheyareorganizedtocreateamoresuccessfulenterprise.Allpartiescouldtherebybenefit,includinginvestors.Thus,amoreeffectivegoalforbusinesswouldbetoservethepublicwelfarerepresentedbyallstakeholders.HenryFordsaidthesamedecadesago:"Peoplebelievethattheonlypurposeofindustryisprofit.Theyarewrong.Itspurposeisthegeneralwelfare."
TheComingEconomicCopernicanRevolution
Letmesuggestananalogythathelpsputthesedifferentviewsofcorporategovernanceinperspective.
Theprofit-centeredmodelofbusinessiscomparabletotheEarth-centeredmodeloftheuniverse.LikethecentralroleonceattributedtotheEarth,profithasbeenratherarbitrarilyselectedasthecenteroftoday'seconomicuniversebecausethatistheviewweinheritedfromanIndustrialAgewhencapitalwastheprimaryfactorofproduction.Thesocialinterestsofstakeholderswereplacedinsuccessivelydistantorbitsasbeingoflesserimportance,eventhoughtheymayinfactbeashugeastheSun.
Incontrast,thesocialresponsibilitymodelgoestoanotherextremebypositinganeconomicuniversethatrevolvesaboutsocialinterestsbutignoresfinancialrealities.ThisisroughlyequivalenttoasolarsystemthatrevolvesaboutMars,Saturn,orVenusratherthantheEarth.
Ithinkthisanalogyclarifiesthedebatethatcontinuestoconfuseallofus.AdherentsoftheOldManagementwhoinsistontheprofit-centeredmodelareroughlycomparabletothosewhobelievedinanEarth-centereduniverse,whileadvocatesofasocialresponsibilitymodelcanbeseenas"prophets"or"revolutionaries"whoproclaimthattheuniverserevolvesaboutotherplanets.
Thestakeholdermodelreconcilesthisconfusionbyshowingthatallsuchinterestsareequallyimportant.Shareholderwealth,employeewelfare,customersatisfaction,thepublicgood,andothercorporateinterestsallrevolveaboutacommoneconomicgoalthatisascentraltosocietyastheSunistooursolarsystemservingthehumanneedsofallthesediversemembersofthecorporatecommunity.
Ifthiscomparisonisvalid,ithighlightsthechallengefacingmanagers,
Page69
scholars,andothersinvolvedindevelopingaNewManagement.JustasthestudiesofCopernicuscausedastronomers,philosophers,andtheologianstoacceptaradicallydifferenttheoryoftheuniverse,thedatainthischapterindicatetheneedforaneconomicequivalentoftheCopernicanRevolution.
PrinciplesofCorporateCommunity
Theoriesanddatacanhelpusseeadifferentreality,buthowcansuchadramaticallydifferentviewbetranslatedintopracticalguides?Basedonstudiesandtheexperienceofprogressivecompanies,threecentralprincipleshavebeenfounduseful:communityspirit,performanceevaluation,andstewardship.
CreateaSpiritofCommunity
Likeanyothercommunity,ahumanenterprisemustbecreatedbyleaders"stewards"whoinstillavisionofthecorporationasacommunityunitedbycommonlycherishedvaluesandprinciples.
22Becausepeopleinadvancednationstodayarehungryforthissenseofbelonging,thereisarisingtideofinterest.
ThebestexampleisofferedinBoxes3.3and3.4,wherethecloseparallelbetweenGM-Saturn'sphilosophyandthestakeholdermodelcanbeseen.Richard"Skip"LeFauve,thechairmanofSaturn,describedhisgoalthisway:"Peoplehavebeenanunderutilizedassetinthisindustry.Saturn'smissionistochangethatbycreatingnewrelationshipswiththeUnitedAutoWorkers,dealers,andsuppliers.Saturnismorethanacar,it'sanidea,awholenewwayofworkingwithourcustomersandwithoneanother."
Tohavesuchidealsacceptedasaworkingpartofday-to-daylife,however,stakeholdersmustdiscuss,modify,andaffirmthesevalues,
ortheywillremainaloftysetofplatitudes.Levi-Strausshastakentheleadinshapingacorporateculturethatactuallybehavesasanethicalcommunity.ManagementdraftedastatementoutliningthevaluesLevi-Straussaspiresto,andsixthousandofthecompany'sthirty-sixthousandemployeesprovidedsuggestionsonreplanningcorporatepractices.23AsimilarprocesswasusedbyJohnson&Johnsonsomeyearsago.
Althoughthisbroaderformofgovernancehasadvantages,institutionalrolesarealwaysdefinedbypersonalbeliefs.Therealityisthatmanypeoplefeelkeenlythatbusinessshouldbeastrictlyprofit-makingaffair,and
Page70
BOX3.3.THESATURNDIVISIONOFGENERALMOTORS.
TheSaturndivisionwascreatedtodevelopprogressivemanagementmethods.Thecompany'sadvertisingcampaignsaysitall:"Adifferentkindofcompany.Adifferentkindofcar."AlthoughSaturnhasnotyetrecoveredits$5billioninvestment,itisanunusualsuccessbymostcriteria.ThedemandforSaturncarsissogreatthatasecondplantisplanned,anddistributorshipsarebeingsetupabroad.GMplanstomakeSaturnthefirstofitselectricvehiclesandtointroduceamid-sizecar.Saturnownersareamongthemostsatisfiedintheindustry,qualityisnearperfect,dealersalesaretwicetheindustryaverage,andtheentireorganizationisenergizedbyunusuallyhighcommitmentandmorale.Saturnrepresentsahistoricbreakthroughbecauseitprovidesahighlyvisibleillustrationofhowacorporatecommunitycanproduceoutstandingresults.
CustomerSatisfaction.Thesuperbdesign,quality,andserviceprovidedtoSaturnownershasattractedalargeandgrowingnumberoffaithfulpatrons.SaturnhasearnedthispatronagebymakinginexpensiveautosthatmatchJapanesequality,byusingasoftsalesapproachthatavoidspressuringbuyers,andbycontinuedattentiontoservingtheneedsofSaturnownersthroughoutthelifeofthecar.
EmployeeCommitment.Saturncreatedcollaborativelabor-managementrelationsinanindustrynotedforunionconflict.Workersareorganizedintoself-managedteamsthatcontrolallaspectsoftheirjobs,theyparticipateinallmajordecisionsandshareinthecompany'sfinancialsuccess.In1993whenthecompanyearneditsfirstprofits,all8,000employeesreceivedbonuses.Aunionmembersaid"WearethefutureoftheAmericancarindustry."
Distributor-Partners.Saturn'sdistributorsobtainanexclusiveterritorytoavoidcompetingwithotherSaturndealers.Moreover,theyareassistedindeveloping"electronicshowrooms"thatuseinteractivemultimediatoinformcustomersaboutthecar,andtheyofferfixedpricestoavoidhagglingandpressure.FranchisesarerenewedbasedonperformanceandservicedeliveredtoSaturnbuyers.
Supplier-Partners.ThesamecollaborativerelationshipisextendedtoSaturnsuppliers.Inchoosinganadvertisingagencytohandleits$100millionaccount,aSaturncommitteeofmanagers,workers,unionleaders,anddealersspenttimedevelopingatrustingrelationshipwithwhatitcallsits"communicationspartners."Theagency'scompensationistiedtoSaturn'ssalesperformance.
OtherOrganizationsWantto"Saturnize."TheSaturnconceptofmanagementisbeingadoptedbyotherGMdivisionsandotherautomakers,schoolsareusingitsphilosophy,andpoliticianssuggestitshouldbeadoptedbytheU.S.Congressandtheentirenation.
Source:"HereComesSaturn,"BusinessWeek(April9,1990).GabriellaStern,"SaturnIsDeemedSuccessfulEnoughtoExpand,"WallStreetJournal(April18,1995).
Page71
BOX3.4.SATURNPHILOSOPHY.
WE,THESATURNTEAM,INCONCERTWITHTHEUAWANDGENERALMOTORS,
BELIEVETHATMEETINGTHENEEDSOF:CUSTOMERS·SATURNMEMBERS·SUPPLIERS·
DEALERS·NEIGHBORSISFUNDAMENTALTOFULFILLINGOURMISSION.
TOMEETOURCUSTOMERS'NEEDS:
·Ourproductsandservicesmustbeworldleadersinvalueandsatisfaction.
TOMEETOURMEMBERS'NEEDS:
·Wewillcreateasenseofbelonginginanenvironmentofmutualtrust,respect,anddignity.
·Webelievethatallpeoplewanttobeinvolvedindecisionsthataffectthem,careabouttheirjobsandeachother,takeprideinthemselvesandintheircontributionsandwanttoshareinthesuccessoftheirefforts.
·Wewilldevelopthetools,trainingandeducationforeachmember,recognizingindividualskillsandknowledge.
·Webelievethatcreative,motivated,responsibleteammemberswhounderstandthatchangeiscriticaltosuccessareSaturn'smostimportantasset.
TOMEETOURSUPPLIERS'ANDDEALERS'NEEDS:
·Wewillstrivetocreaterealpartnershipswiththem.
·Wewillbeopenandfairinourdealings,reflectingtrust,respectandtheirimportancetoSaturn.
·WewantdealersandsupplierstofeelownershipinSaturn'smissionandphilosophyastheirown.
TOMEETTHENEEDSOFOURNEIGHBORS,THECOMMUNITIESINWHICHWELIVEANDOPERATE:
·Wewillbegoodcitizens,protecttheenvironmentandconservenaturalresources.
·Wewillseektocooperatewithgovernmentatalllevelsandstrivetobesensitive,openandcandidinallourpublicstatements.
BYCONTINUOUSLYOPERATINGACCORDINGTOTHISPHILOSOPHY,WEWILLFULFILLOURMISSION.
ReproducedbypermissionoftheSaturnCorporation.
Page72
alltheevidenceintheworldisnotlikelytoswaythem.Itisalsotruethatahuman-centeredformofbusinessmaynotbeusefulinsomeindustries,anditmaynotbeacceptableforsomenationalcultures.
Forexample,managerssurveyedintheCITstudyexpressedawiderangeofopiniononthispoint,usuallyinstrong,emotionalterms.Amajorityconfirmedtheimportanceofservingallinterests:"Ourgoalistoserveallgroupsequally,""Thetrickisbalancinginterests.Howelsecouldoneoperate?"Butsomebelieveintheprimacyofclients:"Ourprimarygoalistomakesuretheclientissatisfied,"and"Theunderlyingreasonforalloureffortsistoprovidethebestproductpossibleandtoexceedtheexpectationsofourcustomers.''Andafewstronglyaffirmthetraditionalview:"Profit,profit,profitforshareholders."
Theseconsiderationsremindusthatchanginginstitutionalgoalsisunchartedterritory.Subtleissuesofpersonalvaluesandpoliticalideologyareinvolved,whicharepoorlyunderstood,andthereislimitedknowledgeoftheeffectsoneconomicproductivityandsociety.Ausefulwaytoexplorethisdomainistogatherusefulinformation,whichleadstothenexttopic.
EvaluateStakeholderPerformance
Anoldmanagementaxiomholdsthatonecannotmanagewhatisnotmeasured,andsoevaluatingthebenefitsandcostsexperiencedbystakeholdersisneededtoguidedecisions.Otherwise,howcanmanagersknowhowwellgroupsarebenefiting?Whichgroupsarereceivingpreferentialtreatmentandwhicharebeingslighted?Wherearetheproblemareas?Whatlevelofbenefitisjustifiedatwhatcost?Andsoonforothercomplexissues.
Corporationshavedevelopedsystemsfordoingthisinspecificareas(suchasevaluatingthemanagementofemployeesandcustomers),
whichwewillsurveyinlaterchapters.Somebroadframeworkshavebeenusedtoprovideasystematicevaluationofallstakeholders,butfeworganizationshaveattemptedambitiousprojectsofthistype.
24Box3.5showsthemainsystemsofthistype.Aprominentadvanceisthatthe1995Fortunelistof"America'sMost-AdmiredCompanies"washeavilyweightedbyhowwellmanagersservetheircustomers,treattheirworkers,andbehaveresponsiblytotheircommunities,inadditiontomeasuresofprofitability.
Page73
BOX3.5.STAKEHOLDEREVALUATIONSYSTEMS.
Inadditiontothereturn-on-resourcesmodeldescribedinthisbook,thefollowingsystemshavebeenusedtoevaluatecorporateperformanceintermsofthebenefitsreceivedbyvariousstakeholders.
Fortune500companieshavebeenevaluatedbyFortunemagazinesince1982intermsofvariousmeasuresthatreflectthebenefitsrealizedbyshareholders,employees,customers,andcommunities.
Stakeholderratingsareopinionsurveysobtainedfromcorporatestakeholders.ProfessorRobertHaysdevelopedamethodforsurveyingoverallcorporateperformanceusingratingsfromemployees,clients,thelocalcommunity,andgovernmentofficials.
Socialauditsorsocialreportshavebeenperformedbymanycorporationstoitemizetheprogramsandbenefitsdeliveredtovarioussocialconstituencies.Forinstance,theAmericanCouncilofLifeInsurancehaspublishedsuchreportsforroughlyfourhundredinsurancecompaniessince1972.
100BestCompaniestoWorkFor(publishedbyRandomHousesince1984)isahandbookcoauthoredbyRobertLeveringandMiltonMoskowitzthatratescompaniesintermsoftheiremployeebenefitsandothersocialperformancefactors.
ThebalancedscorecardsystemwasdevelopedbyprofessorsRobertKaplanandDavidNortontotranslatecorporatestrategyintomeasuresofoverallperformancetostakeholders:providingservicetocustomers,developingskilledandmotivatedemployees,andearningattractiveshareholderreturns.ThesystemhasbeenappliedbyRockwater,AppleComputer,andAdvanced
MicroDevices.
StakeholderinfluencehasbeenevaluatedbyprofessorGrantSavageandhiscolleaguesasaframeworkforassessingtheextenttowhichvariousstakeholderscanposeastrategicthreattoacorporationorofferstrategicadvantagesthroughcooperation.
Thebestwaytounderstandstakeholderevaluationsystemsistoseethemasanextensionoffinancialmeasures.Socialdataareusedtomanagesocialperformance,justasfinancialdataareusedtomanagefinancialperformance.Bothtypesofinformationcanhelpmanagersunderstandtheattitudesofvariousstakeholders,forecasttrends,identifycriticalissues,andproposestrategiestoresolveproblems.Estimatingcomplexsocialfactorsisdifficult,ofcourse,butwhatwethinkofas"hard"datapresentmuchthe
Page74
sameproblem.Accountantsknowthatarbitraryassumptionsunderliestatementsofprofitandloss,andeconomistshaveequallytroublingquestionsaboutmeasuresliketheGDP.
Inthefinalanalysis,managersmustconstantlymakedecisionsthatguidetheiractionsinsuchmatters,andtheavailabilityofsound,comprehensiveinformationsystemsofthistypecanonlyhelpbyreplacingignorancewithknowledge.Ifafractionoftheenormouscostsnowdevotedtofinancialmeasurementwereappliedtosocialmeasurements,wewouldhaveapowerfultoolformanagingthecommunityofcorporateinterests.
ProvideCorporateStewardship
Aninspiringvisionandsoundinformationareuseful,butultimatelymanagershavetoputtheseintousewithgroupsofstakeholderswhomaydisagreevehemently.Thisisdifficultterrainforanyleader,butitisespeciallywrenchingforcorporatemanagerswhoaremiredinaperennialroleconflictoverprofitversussocialwelfare.
Thislackofawell-defined,defensibleroleisagreatdilemmafortoday'slargecadreofyoungprofessionalmanagerswhoarestrugglingtosortoutconfusingissuesbetweentheirjobsandtheirideals.Ifamanagerisatrueprofessional,whoistheclienttobeserved?Onlytheinvestor,bymakingmoney?Theboss,byfollowingorders?Howcanmanagersgaintheallegianceofsubordinatesifemployeesaresecondarytoprofit?Whatdoestheprofessionalmanagerdowhentheinterestsofemployees,customers,andothergroupsconflictwithmakingmoney?Thesetoughissueshavebeenmadeworsebecausethemythoftheprofitmotiveplacesmanagersinanimpossiblesituationwheretheirdutiesareopposedtothestakeholdergroupsonwhomtheyaredependent.
Thestakeholdermodel,however,definesafarmoreconstructive,
legitimaterolethatprovidesmanagersastrongsenseofprofessionalidentity.Fromthisview,managersare"servantleaders,"orstewards,responsibleforservingthecollectivewelfareoftheconstituenciesthatmakeuptheirorganizations.
25Theyusetheirspecialexpertisetohelpthiscommunitycollaboratefortheirmutualbenefit,andtheyareaccountabletothesegroups,justasphysiciansandattorneysareaccountabletotheirclients.CEOGeorgeFishersetaboldchallengeforthemanagersatKodakbytyinghisannualcompensationtoperformancemeasuresthatareweightedby50
Page75
percentforstockholders,30percentforcustomers,and20percentforemployees.
26
Role-playinga"stakeholdermeeting"canhelppeopleunderstandhowtomanagethesecomplexinterrelationships.Thisexercise,containedinAppendixB,asksfivetotenpeopletosimulateacompanymeetingtowhichrepresentativesofallstakeholdergroupshavebeeninvited.Theimpactcanbeprofoundbecausetheabstractideaofthecorporationasanextendedsocioeconomiccommunitycomesvividlytolife,offeringrichopportunitiesforexploringtheroleofcorporatestewardship.
Rememberthatstewardshipisnotintendedto"dogood"inthesenseofperformingphilanthropicdeedsthatgivethingstoothers,whichiswhyconceptssuchassocialresponsibilityandbusinessethicshavehadlimitedeffect.Soundstakeholdermanagementisapragmatic,two-waysetofcollaborativeworkingrelationshipsbetweenthecorporatecommunityanditsmembersthatbenefitstheenterpriseasawhole.Becausevaluecanbedistributedonlytotheextentithasbeencreated,theroleofcorporatestewardsistoensureamatchbetweencontributionsandrewards.Theestablishmentofthisreciprocitybetweenwhatonecreatesandreceivesisfundamentaltothehealthofanycommunity.
Alargebodyofresearchshowsthatorganizationsdefineandenforcesubtlenormstosetanappropriatebalancebetweenthebenefitseachindividualorgroupreceivesversusthecontributionstheymake.Ifsomegroupisslighted,theycorrectthisimbalancebywithholdingcontributionstoreestablishequity.ThissenseofequityissopreciseandsostrongthatoneidealisticCEOtriedasysteminwhichemployeescouldsimplyaskthepaymastertogivethemanysumfor
theirregularpay.Itseemedtobeanoutrageousideathatwouldbewildlyabused,butitactuallyworkedprettywell.Veryfewpeopleaskedformorethansmallincreases,andalmostallrealizedtheywerefairlypaidbyaconsiderateemployer.
ThesepowerfulnormsofequitymeanthatmanagerscannotusuallyobtainmorefromtheirconstituentsthantheyconsidertobereasonableManagersmustearntheircontributionsbyprovidingcorrespondingbenefits.Methodsforevaluatingstakeholderperformanceareusefultoguidethegive-and-takebargainingneededtoreachagreement.Buttomakesuchcomplex,trustingrelationshipswork,anewbreedofmanagerisneededwhocanprovideskillfulleadership.AswewillseeinChapter9,goodleaderstoday
Page76
inspireotherstoshareresponsibilityfortheenterpriseTheylistentoreallyheardifferentpointsofview,buildbridgesbetweenconflictinginterests,andaregenerallyskilledinthepoliticalartofformingcoalitions.
DatafromtheCITsurvey(seeTable3.3)indicatethatthistypeofcollaborationisoccurringtosomeextent.Themajorityofmanagerstodaycooperatewithstakeholdersandtrytoservetheirinterests,butathirddonotevaluatestakeholderperformanceandalmosthalfdonotseatstakeholdersontheirboards.OnemanagerintheCITsurveyhighlightedtheproblem:"Ourboardiscomprisedofninewhite,affluent,maleswithnofemalesorminorities."
Ifitmakessensetocooperatewithstakeholders,thelogicalconclusionwouldbetomeetwiththemperiodically.Forinstance,ifmanagersreallywanttoservetheircustomersbetter,whyhaveresponsibleclientsandconsumeradvocatesremainedsoconspicuouslyabsentfromcorporateboards?WhenLouisGerstnerreplacedJohnAkersasCEOofIBMin1993andwasexploringwaystorevitalizeBigBlue,aprominentanalystadvisedthefollowing:"IfGerstnerissincere,heshouldcreateanewboardmadeupofIBMcustomers,suppliers,partners,employees...anewkindofIBMthatcouldn'thelpbutbemoreresponsivebecausethepeopleinchargerepresentthecompany'sfuture...andclearlysignalthatbusinessasusualisdeadatIBM."
27
Thissameconceptcanbeusedthroughouttheorganization.RussellAckoffhasproposedanambitiousformofdecentralizedcorporategovernanceinwhichlower-levelboardssetpolicyforeachproductdivisionormajorproject.Membershipontheseminiboardscanincludestakeholders,supportpersonnel,higherandlowerlevel
groups,andsoon.AtHewlett-Packard,forinstance,eachmajorprojectisgovernedbyacrossfunctionalboard,andmanyothercorporationsuseboardstogovernindividualdivisions.28
TheExtensionofDemocracy
Theevidencewehavesurveyedleadstothefollowingconclusions:
1.Corporationslackaworkabletheoryofgovernancebecausetheprofitandsocialresponsibilitymodelsignoretherealitythatbusinessisbothaneconomicandasocialinstitution.
Page77
TABLE3.3.ADOPTIONOFCORPORATECOMMUNITYPRACTICES.(SAMPLE=426CORPORATEMANAGERS.)
Practice
NotPracticed(03)
PartiallyPracticed(46)
FullyPracticed(710)
Mean(010)
Thecompanystrivestomaintaincooperativeworkingrelationshipswithimportantstakeholders(forinstance,investors,employees,customers,suppliers,distributors,thelocalcommunity,andpossiblyothergroups). 5% 10% 85% 8.1Thecompany'sprimarygoalistoservetheinterestsofimportantstakeholders,includingmakingmoneyforinvestors. 5 7 88 8.3Inadditiontoitsprofitability,acorporation'sperformanceisevaluatedbyaformalsystemthatassesseshowwellimportantstakeholdersareserved. 29 20 51 5.8Theboardofdirectorsincludesemployeesandotherimportantstakeholders. 41 14 45 5.0Means 19% 13% 68% 6.8Source:WilliamE.Halal,CorporationsinTransition(anunpublishedstudyinprogress).Notethatdatainthethreecolumns("NotPracticed,"etc.)areaggregatedbycollapsingportionsofthequestionnaire
scaleasshown("03,"etc.).SeethequestionnaireinAppendixC.
2.Thestakeholdermodelresolvesthisconflictbytreatingallcorporateinterestsasequallyimportantconstituenciesthatreceivebenefitsinreturnfortheircontributions.
3.Collaborationwithcorporatestakeholdersisoccurringnowasinvestors,workers,women,clients,thepublic,andotherinterestsgainincreasingpowerandbecausemanagersneedtheirsupport.
4.Acorporatecommunityofstakeholdersoffersthepossibilityofincreasingboththebenefitstosocialconstituenciesandprofitsforinvestors.
Page78
Somecautionarypointsshouldbenoted.Thismorecomplexsystemofgovernancecouldbecomeunwieldy,time-consuming,andemotionallydisruptiveifmanagersareunabletohandlethepoliticaltensionsthatareinevitable;aswewillseeinthenextchapter,corporatecommunitymaybeinspiredbyouridealofdemocracy,butmanagersarelikelytoavoidthisproblembyusinganinformalsystemratherthansomeformofrepresentativegovernment.Itisalsotruethatthepracticeofhumanenterpriseisnotlikelytobecomeuniversalsinceitmaynotbeappropriateinsomeindustriesnordesiredbysomepeople.Instead,itmaybecomeestablishedonlyinlarge,quasi-publicinstitutions,suchastheFortune500companies,andamonganavantgardeofprogressivebusinessleaders.Eveninthesecasestherewillalwaysbeoccasionsofdoubtfulethicalbehavior.DowCorningwaslaudedforitsmodelcodeofethics,butthisfailedtoavoidthecrisisthateruptedoverthedangersofitssiliconebreastimplants.
Theselimitationsnotwithstanding,thetransitiontocorporatecommunityshouldproveawatershedineconomics.Drivenbytheliberatingpowerofinformation,thebenefitsofcooperation,andtherisingaspirationsofmodernpeople,democraticidealsarebeingextendedintodailylifetoformapowerfulnewmodelofbusinessthatisincreasinglyproductiveandsociallybeneficial.
29
Thishistoricchangeshouldalsohelpresolveothernaggingproblemsthathavelongresistedsolution.Inflationcouldbebettercontrolledbecauseaunifiedcorporatecommunitywouldspurproductivitywhilealsoconstrainingwageandpricedemands.Growthmaybedirectedinmorefruitfulavenuesasunmetsocialneedsarebetterunderstoodandrespondedtomoredirectly.Hostiletakeoversmaybecomeathingofthepast,sincethefirmwouldnotbesimplychatteltobeboughtand
soldbutacommunitygovernedbyitsconstituencies.Governmentregulationcouldbeminimizedbecausebusinesscouldbecomearelativelyself-regulatedsystem,reducingtheneedforexternalsafeguards.Theconceptwillnotbelimitedtobusiness,butshouldchangegovernmentandothersocialinstitutionsaswell.30
Thosewhofavortraditionalviewsshouldnotethatthisconceptdoesnotclashwiththeprofit-centeredmodel.Infact,thestakeholdermodelisalogicalextensionofWesternideals.AsIstressedintheIntroductionofthisbook,theNewManagementdoesnotrefutetheOldManagementbutgoesbeyondittoprovidemorepowerfulideasthatabsorbtheirolderver-
Page79
sions.Einstein'sreformulationofphysicsdidnotprovethatNewtonwaswrong;itwassimplyaspecialcaseofEinstein'smoregeneraltheory.Likewise,thehumanenterprisedoesnotimplythatprofitisbad;ratheritisaspecialcaseofthegeneralconceptthatbusinessshouldservemultiplegoals,oneofwhichisprofit.Corporatecommunitycanbethoughtofasabetterwaytomakemoney,possiblyevenmoremoney.
BeyondthisrationaleoftheOldManagement,however,thisNewManagementviewholdsthepromiseofresolvingthebusiness-societyconflictthathasplaguedcapitalismfortwocenturies.DanielBellcalledit"theculturalcontradictionsofcapitalism"thatdestructiveclashbetweenthehardnecessityofsurvivalinamarketeconomyandtheidealsofhumancooperationandsocialwelfarethatweaspiretoinademocraticsociety.
Inanagetornapartbyconflict,corporatecommunitymayproveourmainbulwarkagainstcivildecay.Becausebusinessisthemostpowerfulinstitutioninmodernsociety,managerscouldtakeagreatstepforwardinhumanaffairsbydevelopingthisbadlyneededabilitytocooperateforthebenefitofeveryone.
Notes
1.Forafinerecentsurveyofviewsoncorporatecommunity,seeKazimierzGozdz,CommunityBuilding(SanFrancisco:Sterling&Stone,1995).
2.TheclassicworkonthistopicisbyRobertAxelrod,TheEvolutionofCooperation(NewYork:BasicBooks,1984).
3.AmitaiEtzioni,"ShadyCorporatePractices,"NewYorkTimes(November15,1985).
4.MarkGreenandJohnFBerry,"CorporateCrime,"atwo-part
reportappearinginTheNation(June8and15,1985).
5.WilliamE.Halal,TheNewCapitalism(NewYork:Wiley,1986),Ch.6.
6.IrvingKristol,"'Reforming'CorporateGovernance,"WallStreetJournal(May12,1978).
7.MattMurray,"AmidRecordProfits,CompaniesContinuetoLayOffEmployees,"WallStreetJournal(May4,1995).
8.ElizabethJensen,"CBS'sTischIsFaulted,"WallStreetJournal(May22,1995).
9."KevinMcManus,"BaseballFans:StrikeToo,"WashingtonPost(October9,1994).AllenSanderson,"BreakUpBaseball,"WashingtonPost(December9,1994).
Page80
10.SterlingTucker,"TheRedskins:MorethanJustaBusiness,"WashingtonPost(July24,1992).
11.ThispointisnicelymadebyJamesRobertson,FutureWealth(NewYork:BootstrapPress,1990),p.93.
12."AnInsideLookatCALPERS'BoardroomReportCard,"BusinessWeek(October17,1994).
13.SeethespecialissueofBusinessWeek,RelationshipInvesting(March15,1993).
14.StevenM.H.Wallman,"TheProperInterpretationofCorporateConstituencyStatutes,"StetsonLawReview(1991),Vol.XXI,pp.163196.
15.AcentralsourceofinformationontheprogressivebusinessmovementisTheNewLeaders,aperiodicalpublishedbyJohnReneschinSanFrancisco,California.
16.KaraSwisher,"GettingDowntotheBusinessofBeingSociallyResponsible,"WashingtonPost(November22,1993).
17.Fromascientificview,onemightquestionwhichiscauseandwhichiseffect.Dohuman-orientedfirmsperformbetter,orisitthatbetter-performingfirmscanaffordtobehuman?Itseemslikelythatbotharetruebecausecauseandeffectarecircular.Ahumanorientationimprovesperformance,whichthenprovidestheresourcestocarrythisapproachfurther,andsoon.SeeTroySegal,"PuttingYourCashWhereYourConsciousIs,"BusinessWeek(December24,1990).
18.SeverynBruyn,TheSocialEconomy(NewYork:Wiley,1977).
19.Thespecialissueoncorporatecontrol,BusinessWeek(May18,1987).
20.SeeThomasDonaldsonandLeeE.Preston,"TheStakeholderTheoryoftheCorporation:Concepts,Evidence,Implications,"AcademyofManagementReview(1994).
21.JamesO'Toole,"GoGood,DoWell,"CaliforniaManagementReview(Spring1991).
22.AmitaiEtzioni,TheSpiritofCommunity(NewYork:Crown,1993);JuanitaBrown,"CorporationasCommunity,"inJohnRenesch(ed.),NewTraditionsinBusiness(SanFrancisco:Berrett-Koehler,1992).
23.RussellMitchell,"ManagingbyValues,"BusinessWeek(August1,1994).
24.Socialevaluationsusingacomprehensivesystemofrigorousmeasurements,suchasdollarequivalents,havebeenconductedbyClarkAbtAssociatesandAtlanticRichfieldCompany.SeeHalal,TheNewCapitalism,p.218.
25.RobertGreenleaf,ServantLeadership(NewYork:PaulistPress,1977),andPeterBlock,Stewardship(SanFrancisco:Berrett-Koehler,1993).
Page81
26."TyingExecutivePaytoSocialResponsibility,"BusinessEthics(September/October1995).
27.MichaelSchrage,"ToReshapeIBM,GerstnerShouldWorkfromtheBoardroomDown,"WashingtonPost(April2,1993).
28.RussellAckoff,TheDemocraticCorporation(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1994);ChristineFerguson,"Hewlett-Packard'sOtherBoard,"WallStreetJournal(February26,1990).
29.FrancisMooreLappéandPaulMartinDuBois,TheQuickeningofAmerica:RebuildingOurNation,RemakingOurLives(SanFrancisco:Jossey-Bass,1994).PatBarrentine(ed.),WhentheCanaryStopsSinging:Women'sPerspectivesonTransformingBusiness(SanFrancisco:Berrett-Koehler,1994).
30.Forinstance,hospitals,banks,andpublicagenciesareadoptingsimilarconceptswithgreatsuccess.SeeNancyNichols,"ProfitswithaPurpose,"HarvardBusinessReview(NovemberDecember1992);PeterJohnson,"HowIturnedaCriticalPublicintoUsefulConsultants,"HarvardBusinessReview(JanuaryFebruary1993),RonaldGrzywinski;"TheNewOld-FashionedBanking,"HarvardBusinessReview(MayJune1991),andRonaldTaub,CommunityCapitalism(Cambridge,Mass.:HarvardBusinessSchoolPress,1994).
Page83
4TheNewManagementSynthesis:UnitingInternalMarketsandCorporateCommunityThetwopreviouschaptersshowedthatthefoundationoftheNewManagementisbeingbuiltbyextendingenterpriseanddemocracyintoorganizations.Justafewyearsago,thetypicallargecorporationwasanauthoritarian,top-downstructurethatbehavednottoodifferentlyfromthecentrallyplannedeconomiesofCommunistnations.Buttoday'slargeorganizationsaredisaggregatingintolooselyconnectedclustersofautonomousbusinessunitsthatform''internalmarkets."Andtogainthesupportoftheirstakeholders,managersareforming"corporatecommunities"thatunifyfinancialandsocialinterests.
Whilethesetwomajortrendsareunmistakable,theyalsoelicitverystrong,differentreactionsfrompeople.
Ifindthat"liberals"tendtoconsidertheideaofinternalmarketsunimaginablydisruptive.Ispoketoagroupofsociologistswhomadeitclearthattheythoughtthiswasthe"laststraw"intrusionofcapitalismintopersonalspheresoflife.Folkswiththisorientationseemtodislikethemessy,competitivenatureofenterprise.Theideaofcorporatecommunityisusuallyfinewiththem,however,becauseitfavorshumanvalues.
Thosewitha"conservative"bentusuallyhavetheoppositereaction.Theylovetheentrepreneurialfreedomofinternalmarkets,butabhorthethoughtthatacorporatecommunitywoulddetractfromtheprofitgoalofbusiness.
Page84
Thismuchisfairlypredictable,butifoneprobesabitdeeperitalsoseemsthatpeoplehavedoubtsaboutthesefirststrongreactions.Liberalsmayliketheideaofcommunity,buttheywanttobefreeofthecontrolsthatcommunityauthoritiesmustimpose.Ihaveheardfiercedenunciationsofauthorityfromtheverypeoplewholovethethoughtofcorporatedemocracy.Andconservativesmayfavormarkets,butthedirtysecretofcapitalismisthatmostbusinesspeopledisliketoughcompetition.Thatgreatcapitalist,J.P.Morgan,putitbest:"Businessmenhatecompetition.Aman'scompetitorholdsdownhisprofits,threatenshismarkets,andjeopardizesthefutureofhisfamily."
1
Thisambivalenceatbothendsofthepoliticalspectrumnicelyillustratesthecreativetensionbetweenthesetwoverydifferentconcepts.Peopletendtofavoreithermarketsorcommunity,andtheyseemtobeopposedtoeachanother.Butthetwoarereallycompatible.Likeenterpriseanddemocracyinsociety,internalmarketsprovidethecreativity,productivity,andfreedompeopleneedtomanagetheircomplexjobsinlargeorganizations,whilecorporatecommunityprovidesthesocialcohesivenessneededtomakemarketsworkharmoniously.Bothliberalsandconservativesusuallyconsiderthisnewcombinationamorereasonablesystemformanagingmoderninstitutionsthantheoldhierarchy.MarketsandcommunityformindispensablehalvesoftheNewManagementfoundation.
ThischapterfirstshowshowtheInformationRevolutionunleashespowerfuleconomicforcesthatpullorganizationsinthesetwoopposingdirections:complexitydemandsentrepreneurialfreedom,whileaknowledgeeconomyrequiresproductivecollaboration.ThenIshowthatthesesamerevolutionaryforcesalsoleadtoa"New
ManagementSynthesis"thatunitesthiscreativetensionintoamorepowerfulorganization.TheNewManagementusesinternalmarketstorootorganizationsintotheeconomywhileacorporatecommunityorientsittosociety.Iliketothinkoftheorganicsystemthatresultsasan"organizationtree."Weconcludethatachievingthissynthesisallowsmanagerstoharnessunusualpowerbydrawingtoday'sexplodingdiversityintoaproductivewholeaneconomicsystemof"DemocraticEnterprise."
TheCreativeTensionbetweenMarketsandCommunity
Organizationsarelikeallorganismsinthattheirsurvivalhingesonadaptingtoenvironmentalchange.Today,thetideofthatstruggleisturningas
Page85
theexplodingcomplexityoftheInformationAgeforcestheneedformarketsandcommunitywithinorganizations.
AComplexEnvironmentDemandsEntrepreneurialFreedom
Thisshiftinourviewoftheworldissostrikingthatanewfieldofsciencehasemergeddevotedtothestudyofcomplexityandchaos.
2Whereoncemanagersthoughttheirworkwasamenabletoanalysisandcontrol,nowtheyflounderinanunpredictablefluxofwhatthegreateconomistSchumpetercalled"creativedestruction."
Entireindustriesarebeingtransformed,asintheconvergenceofthecomputer,communication,andentertainmentfields.Roughlyhalfofalljobsarebeingeliminatedbyautomation,leavingmassesofworkersfloatingintemporarypositions.Consumermarketsaresplinteringintoanendlessassortmentofuniqueculturalsubgroupsfromeco-feministstoRushLimbaughfans.Andgetreadyformorecompetitionamongutilitiesthatwillmaketoday'sbruisingbattlesbetweenAT&T,MCI,andSprintseemmild;allofthe"BabyBells"arelikelytoenterthefray,andafreemarketenergysystemisevolvinginwhichuserschooseamongcompetingpowersuppliers.3
Naturally,thisupheavalhasledtoareshufflingofeconomicstructures.U.S.corporationscompletedmorethan42,000mergersandacquisitionsbetween1976and1993,andlargeorganizations,suchasIBM,aredisaggregatingintodecentralizedunits,whichinturnformallianceswithotherfirms.Theeffectshavebeendynamic.Forinstance,theundisputedAmericanleadincomputersisadirectresultoftheseflourishingbusinessalliancesamongsmallenterprisesthatconstantlyrealigntalent,knowledge,andresourcesintoproductivenewcombinations.
Meanwhile,theconstantadvanceofinformationsystemsis
encouragingevenmorerestructuringbymakingiteasierandmoreefficient.TheInternet,forexample,hasbecomefamousforcreativechange,butthisisjustthebeginningofanenormousexplosioninelectronicinteractionasopen-systemarchitecturesmakesalltypesofhardwareandsoftwarecompatible.WemaysoonseethedeclineofMicrosoft'smonopolyinPCoperatingsystems,justasIBM'smonopolyofmainframesendedearlier.
Theconclusion:allthiselectrifyingcommunicationacrossshiftingeconomicmarketsisshort-circuitingtheoldchainofcommand.AswewillseeinChapter6,therapidgrowthofteleworkingisproducingchangingassembliesofpeopleandenterprisesthatconstantlyformandreformon
Page86
thegridofglobalcyberspacetocutacrosshierarchieseverywhere.
4Business-Weekdescribedtheresultas"electroniccorporationsmadeupofindividualsandgroupsscatteredallovertheworld."WheretheIndustrialAgeproducedfirmsorganizedby"verticalintegration,"theInformationAgeiscreating"virtualintegration."5JohnHagel,apartneratMcKinsey&Company,putitthisway:
AsthecostsofusingITsystemsfall,we'regoingtoseeawidespreaddisintegrationofU.S.businessandtheemergenceofverydifferentcorporateentities.6
Chapter2showedthatthishistoricdismantlingofhierarchiescanonlybemanagedeffectivelybyviewingmodernorganizationsasinternalmarketsystems.Corporationsandgovernmentsarebecomingaggregationsofsmallautonomousunitsthatcoalesceintonear-perfectglobalmarketsthefloweringofenterprise.
AKnowledgeEconomyMakesCooperationEfficient
Wetendtofocusonthis"markethalf"oftheNewManagementbecauseitismostobvious,butthe"communityhalf"comprisesanequallycompellingcounterforcethatreceiveslessattention.Competitionmaybeincreasingbetweenenterprises,butcooperationisincreasingwithinenterprises.
Butwhataboutthetraditional"tough"approachtobusiness?Whywouldcenturiesofself-interestedbehaviorchange?BecausetheInformationRevolutionisoverthrowingthissystemassurelyastheIndustrialRevolutionoverthrewthemedievaleconomicsystem.Justastheassemblylineshiftedthecriticalfactorofproductionfromlabortocapital,todaythecomputerisshiftingthecriticalfactorofproductionfromcapitaltoknowledge.Knowledgeisdifferentfromcapitalbecausethemarginalcostofduplicatingitistrivialandits
valueincreaseswhenshared,whichmakescollaborationadvantageoustoallparties.Thisneweconomicrealityisleadingtothedramaticrealizationthatcooperationwithallstakeholdersisnowefficientinmoderneconomies.7
Theresultisthattheoldprofit-centeredsystemisinadequatetocopewithtoday'sworld.Thegreatneedsfacingmodernmanagersnolongerrevolvearoundcapitalbutconcernavastandgrowingrealmofmoresubtlesocialfactorsthatareincreasinglyimportantinaknowledge-basedeconomy.Here'showPeterDruckerdefinedthenewroleofeconomics:
Page87
FormalknowledgemaycometooccupytheplaceinaKnowledgeSocietywhich...propertyandincomehaveoccupied[during]theAgeofCapitalism.
8
Thedecliningpowerofcapitalwasdemonstratedduringthe1980swhenGeneralMotorsinvested$70billioninnewtechnologytocombattheJapaneseinvasionofitsmarkets.GMcouldhavesimplyboughtToyotaandHondawiththissumofmoney.Yetthecompanycontinueditsslideintodecline,whichwassignifiedin1989whentheHondaAccordreplacedtheChevroletasAmerica'smostpopularcar.GM'stotalworthhasnowfallenfromroughly$50billionto$20billion,soabout$100billionofvaluehasbeenlost.
SuchincidentsillustratethatthepowerofcapitalaloneisinsignificantwhencomparedwiththepowerthatJapanesecompetitorswieldedduringthe1980spowerthatoriginatedbycultivatingharmoniousworkingrelationswithemployees,customers,suppliers,distributors,andgovernment.9CharlesHandynoted:"Whentheassetsofanenterpriseareprimarilyitspeople,itistimetorethinkwhatitmeanstosaythat[shareholders]caninanysensibleway'own'thecorporation."10
Peoplemayfinditdifficulttoaccepttheuseofdemocraticprinciplesinorganizations,butthatwastheoriginalintention.DuringtheAmericanRevolution,ThomasJefferson,JamesMadison,andotherfoundingfathersenvisionedtheapplicationofdemocracytoworklife.AlbertGallatin,SecretaryoftheTreasuryunderJefferson,said,"Thedemocraticprincipleonwhichthisnationwasfoundedshouldnotberestrictedtopoliticsbutshouldbeappliedtoindustryaswell."11
AsChapter3showed,thatgoalmaynowberealizedasbusinessevolvestowardaquasi-democraticformofgovernance,acorporate
community.Progressivefirmsareinventingwaystoservetheirclients,sharepowerwithworkers,cooperatewithbusinessassociates,formpartnershipswithgovernment,andprotecttheenvironmenttheextensionofdemocracy.
TheOrganizationTree
Eitherinternalmarketsorcorporatecommunitybythemselves,however,leadtoseriousdistortions.Competitionaloneisdestructive,whilecooperationaloneisstifling.Profitaloneunderminesstakeholdersupport,butsocialresponsibilityaloneundermineseconomicsurvival.Forinstance,as
Page88
marketforcesacceleratethecompetitionforwealthtoday,disturbingquestionsarebeingraisedaboutthelossofcommunityinmodernlife:Arewedestinedtosufferdog-eat-dogcompetition?Isself-interestfeasibleinanagewhenpeoplearestrugglingtoresolvesystemicproblems,suchastoday'scrisisoftheenvironmentalcommons?
Somanagersmuststrikeabalancebetweenthesetwopowerfulsetsofforcesthatpullorganizationsandmodemsocietiesinopposingdirections.Themarketplacefosterscompetition,afocusonprofit,individualism,diversity,andconstantlyshiftingrelationswhilecommunityencouragescooperation,socialwelfare,unity,equity,andcommitment.ThispolarityiswhatLawrenceandLorschcalled"differentiationandintegration."
12Ithasalwaysexistedinnations,organizations,andothersocialsystems,butnowitislikelytoreachnewheightsascompetitivepressuresdemandhigherperformanceofmorecomplexorganizations.
Resolvingthistensionbetweenadecentralizedentrepreneurialsystemandacohesivecorporatecommunitywillbenoeasytask.ButtheInformationRevolutionisnotonlyheighteningthetensionbetweenthesetwoopposingneeds,italsoprovidesacreativesparkthatunifiesthemintoamorepowerfulwhole.ManagementintheInformationAgeseemstobemarkedbysynthesis.
InChapter1,oldmanagementpracticesabsorbedtheforcesofchangetoproduceanewmanagement.SynthesisisalsoseeninthefoundationoftheNewManagement:internalmarketsintegratesmallenterprisesintoamoredynamicorganization,andcorporatecommunityunifiesstakeholdersintoapowerfuleconomiccoalition.Box4.1summarizeshowthisNewManagementSynthesisisspreadingthroughoutmanagement:itfirstunifiestheprinciplesof
democracyandenterprise,whichthendoesthesamefortheOldandNewManagements,andthenforleft-andright-wingpolitics.
ThisevolutionofanewbreedoforganizationsthatisbothentrepreneurialandcollaborativecanbegraspedmoreeasilywithametaphorthatIfinduseful.Thetwoconceptsofinternalmarketsandcorporatecommunitycanbethoughtofasformingan"organizationtree"(seeFigure4.1).
Atthebottomlevelwheredailyoperationstakeplace,internalmarketsconnecttheorganizationtothegrassrootsoftheeconomy,therebyprovidingrevenue,information,andothernutrientsthatfeedthetree.Note
Page89
BOX4.1.MAJORDIMENSIONSOFTHENEWMANAGEMENTSYNTHESIS.
DemocracyandEnterprise.TheNewManagementcarriestheidealsofdemocracyandfreeenterprisetotheirlogicalconclusionbyincorporatingthemintoeverydaylife.Thesetwoprincipleshaveusuallybeenconsideredincompatible,whichiswhywehaveisolatedtheminseparatecompartments.Enterprisehasbeenrelegatedtomarkets,whiledemocracyhasbeenrestrictedtopolitics.Today,theimperativesofinformationtechnologyareextendingthemintoallspheresoflifeandintegratingthemintoacoherentwhole.Marketsarespreadingtomanagecomplexity,whiledemocracyisequallyessentialtounifythisdiversityintoharmoniouscommunities.
OldandNew.Atanintellectuallevel,thissynthesisofenterpriseanddemocracyconstitutesaneweconomicparadigmforaknowledge-basedeconomicsystem.Likeallparadigmshifts,however,theNewManagementdoesnotrefuteenduringtruthsinheritedfromthepastbutoffersabroaderframeworkthatabsorbsthemasaspecialcase.Thatis,theoldapproachisnotconsidered"wrong"or"bad"butlimited,whilethenewapproachisneither"right"nor''good"butmorepowerful.Forexample,progressivefirmscollaboratewithstakeholderstocreateabroaderformofgovernancethatservesallsocialinterests,andtheyalsomakemoremoney.
LeftandRight.AcentralimplicationoftheNewManagementparadigmisthatitresolvestheperennialconflictbetweenleft-andright-wingideologies.Oneofthebiggestobstaclestoprogressivechangeisthatliberalsdemandgovernmentprogramstoservesociety,whileconservativesinsistonself-reliance.TheNewManagementintegratesbothofthesetraditionsintoamore
powerfulsocialcontract.Forinstance,thecollaborativemodelofcorporategovernancenotedabovesuggestscorporationscouldbecomesself-regulatingenterprisesystemsgovernedbytheconstituenciestheyaffect,relievinggovernmentofmuchofitsregulatoryrole.
thatafewlargedivisionswouldonlyconstituteatree'staproots,soitisessentialthattheorganizationbedispersedintoafinenetworkofsmallinternalenterprises,somewhatlikeanetworkofsmallfeederroots.
Atthetopwherepolicymakersestablishthecorporatemission,collaborativegovernanceamongstakeholdersexposestheorganizationtothelightofdiversevaluesthatfuelgrowthandguideittoserveausefulroleinsociety.Large,powerfultreesamassenormousenergyfromahugecanopyofleaves.Sothegreatertherangeofdiverseinterests,thegreatertheamountandbalanceofthismotivatingenergyavailabletodriveanorganization.
Page90
Figure4.1.TheOrganizationTree.
Page91
Thetrunkandmajorlimbsofthetreewouldthenrepresentmanagement'srole.Managerscreatetheorganizationalstructure,communicationchannels,andfinancialsystemsthatsupportinternalenterprisesandstakeholders,connectthemtogether,andcoordinatetheirfunctions.Managersalsoactascatalystsforstrategicactionbyprovidingtheenergizingguidanceofleadership,roughlythewayphotosynthesiscombinessunlighthittingleavesandmoisturefromthesoiltoproducegrowth.
Weshouldnotpressthismetaphortoofarbecauseallmetaphorsbreakdownatsomepoint.Forinstance,theneatdichotomybetween"economy"and"society"isnotquiteaccurate.Inreality,socialinterestspenetrateintoeconomicaffairsasvariousstakeholdersexerttheirinfluenceindailyoperations,andsomecompaniesmakeapracticeofinvitingstakeholderparticipationatdivisionlevelsaswellasatthecorporateboardlevel.Thismoreelaboratesystemsuggeststheimageoforganizationsascomplexorganismsthatgrow"fractals"ofthesamestructureatlowerlevels.
13
Buttheorganizationtreeisgenerallyausefulimagetohelpusunderstandtoday'stransitionfromthepyramidtoanorganicorganization.14Concentriccircles,invertedpyramids,networks,andotherpopularsymbolsareuseful,buttheymorecloselyrecallthemachineparadigm.Onlyalivingorganismliketheubiquitoustreecancapturetheorganicessenceofmodemorganizations:theirabilitytoexhibitalifealltheirown,toderivepowerfromtheirenvironment,torespondandgrowtochangingconditions.
GuidestoAchievingOrganizationalBalance
Itisnotgenerallyknownthatthiscomplementarybalancebetweenthe
forcesofenterpriseandcommunityisaconstantthemeinmanagement,anditisconfirmedbyalargebodyofevidencethatsuggestsusefulguidesformanagers.
SupportingEvidencefortheNewManagementSynthesis
Awealthofresearchstudiesconsistentlydemonstratethattwomajorfactorscorrelatewitheffectivemanagement.Onefactorisusuallydefinedas"taskfacilitation,""concernforwork,""initiatingstructure,"orothertermsthatroughlycorrespondtowhatIhavecalledenterprise.Theotheris"groupsupport,""concernforpeople,''"consideration,"orotherconceptsthataresynonymouswithcommunity.Thesetwofactorsrepresentauniversal
Page92
polaritybetween"hard"and"soft"science,''male"and"female"orientations,theChineseyinandyang,andotherenduringdichotomies.Theevidencefurthershowsthatwhileeitherfactoraloneimprovesorganizationalperformance,thecombinationofthetwoisfarmoreeffective.
15
Thissameconclusionisreflectedinaplethoraofexpertopinions.RussellAckoffconcursthatablendofinternalmarketeconomiesandcorporatedemocracyisbadlyneededtoday.SumantraGhoshalandChristopherBartlettclaimthatprogressivecorporationsnowfocusondevelopingflexible,entrepreneurialorganizationsdirectedtoservinghumangoals.DatafromtheCITstudyshowastrongcorrelationbetweenmanagers'scoresforinternalmarketsandcorporatecommunity.16
ExamplesofBalance
Togetabetterfeelfortheorganizationtreeinaction,let'sexaminehowthissynthesisrunsthroughtheremainingchaptersofthisbook.
Modernmarketingstrivesforeconomicsuccessbutthisisbestdonethroughatrustingclientrelationshipthatdeliversgenuinevalue.Knowledgeworkersmustbeallowedwidefreedomtodotheirjobs-yettheymustalsobeaccountableforperformance.Environmentalsustainabilityrequirescorporationstobecomeecologicallybenignwhichwouldpermitthehugeincreasesineconomicgrowthneededbydevelopingnations.Strategicchangemustbeeconomicallysoundtosucceedbutitmustalsobesupportedbysocialinterests.Participationdrawsontheideasofaleaderaswellastheviewsofactivefollowers.TheInformationRevolutionunleashesnewforcesthatareunifyingtheglobebuttheyalsodisperseglobalinstitutions
intopocketsoflocalcommunity.
Theseexamplesillustratethekindofbalancethatsomeofourbestcorporationshaveperfectedbygrowinglarge,robustorganizationtrees.WesawinChapter2thatHewlett-Packardisanimbleconfederationofsmall,autonomousbusinessunitsyetwealsosawinChapter3thatithasasystemofdemocraticgovernancethatembracesallinterestsinitscorporatecommunity.AT&Thasdecentralizedalldivisionsintofiftyorsoprofit-centersbuttheyareevaluatedandrewardedusingequallyweightedmeasuresofprofitability,customersatisfaction,andemployeemorale.Motorolahasbecomeoneofthemostadmiredcorporationsintheworldbycreatinganentrepreneurialsystemofcompetingunitswhichareallunifiedabout
Page93
commongoalsofservingclientswithflawlessproductsandhelpingworkersusetheirtalentstosucceed.
AvoidingExtremes
Tomaintainbalance,itmightnotbewisetoformpermanentrelationswithanyparticulargroupofstakeholders.Thefactisthatdemocraticgovernancecanrestrictmanagement'sautonomytosomeextent.Itisacommitment,justasamarriageormergerisacommitment.That'swhymanydynamiccompanies,suchasNikeandDell,maintainallianceswithdifferentpartners,whointurndothesame.Thesecompaniesneedthemutualbenefitsofcooperation,yettheymustalsoavoidbecomingtoodependentonanyonesetofpartnersbymaintainingtheoptionofswitchingtoothers.
Thus,itmaybebesttokeepstakeholderrelationshipssincerebutprovisionalsoallegiancecanbemovedtomoreappropriatepartnersifnecessary.Thatexplainswhytheconceptofcorporatecommunitydoesnotnecessarilyimplyallofthefeaturesweusuallyassociatewith"democracy,"asnotedinChapter1.Forinstance,itisunlikelythatwewillseethecorporationbecomearepresentativedemocracycomposedofsomefixednumberofdirectorsappointedbyeachstakeholderconstituency.Rather,powerfulbutreasonablyagreeablestakeholdersshouldbechosenbymanagerstoformapoliticalcoalitionthatcanworktogethereffectively.Thecorporationmaybecomeacommunity,butthiswilllikelybeafluidcommunityoffrequentlychanging,selectedmembers.
Wecouldsaythatmanagersmaynotcommitthemselvesto"marrying"stakeholdersbutsimply"goingsteady."Afterall,treesdroptheirleaveseveryfallandgrowanewsetinthespring.
Thereverseisalsotrue:organizationscannotbesolooselyconnectedthattheyareindistinguishablefromtheexternalmarketplace.Ifan
internalmarketpermitsexcessivefreedom,itisnotanorganizationatall,sotherewouldbenoreasonforitsexistence.Ratherthanatree,then,itbecomesmoreofaweedpatch.Asthegrowthofvirtualrelationshipsopensupunheardoffreedom,maintainingastrongsenseofcorporatecommunitywillbeaformidablechallenge.Leaderswillbetestedtoformaproductivesenseofpurposethatdistinguishestheirorganizationfromothersanddrawspeopletowardtheattractionsitoffers.
Balancedorganizationscreateastrong"infrastructure"oflimbsand
Page94
connectingvesselstoachievethisintegrationofmarketsandcommunity,aswesawinChapter2.Theirmanagersformpoliciesthatguidemembers'behavior,designfinancialincentivesystemsthatrewardcontributions,createapowerfulinformationsystemtoshareknowledge,andcultivateacorporateculturethatunifiestheentireorganizationwithsharedvalues.
However,manyorganizationsandnationssufferseverelimitationsbecausetheytendtofavoroneoftheseorientations;therootsandbranchesaretoomismatchedtosupportoneanother.
17Americansarenotoriousfordemandingtheirrightsandfreedomsasindividuals,buttheyhaveadifficulttimesubordinatingthisfreedomtoformcohesivecommunities.Ontheotherhand,Japaneseculturestressescooperativeworkingrelationsandsocialharmony,butitisnotverygoodattoleratingindividualfreedom.PerhapsthegreatestchallengefacingAmericanmanagersistoinstillasenseofcommunityandself-responsibilityininstitutions.Conversely,Japanesemanagersfacethedifficulttaskoflooseningsocialbondssomewhattopermitmorefluid,individualfreedom.
AMiniCaseStudy:TheVirtualUniversity
Universitiespridethemselvesonbeingdemocratic"communitiesofscholars"withflexiblesystemsthatforma"marketplaceofideas,"yetmyexperienceisthatthisislargelyamyth.Therealityisthatfacultycommitteeshavebecomesoovergrownandpreoccupiedwithdetailedrulesthattheyaretooentangledtomove,leavingadministratorsfreetomakemajordecisions.Asaresult,departmentbudgetsareallocatedalmostsolelybythepresidentaccordingtosomearcaneformulafromthedimpastthatnowmakesnosense.Thearbitrarynatureofthissystemisseeninthefactthatthereisusuallynorelationshipbetween
departmentperformanceandfunding.
Thus,halfofthetypicaluniversityisembitteredbecausetheyfeeldeprivedwhilesupportingothers,whilethehalfbeingsubsidizedfeelcomplacent.Neitherhalfismotivatedbythesystem,andtheirentrepreneurialtalentsareconstrainedbythisacademicbureaucracy.Theresultisthatuniversitiesdonotverydoselyresembletheirprofessedidealofanentrepreneurialintellectualcommunitybecausetheorganizationtreehasbeenengulfedbyimpenetrable,strangulatingivy.
Academicsprefernottogetinvolvedinresourceissuesbecauseofanethicthatclaimsscholarsshouldremainalooffrommoney.But,infact,
Page95
mostprofessorsaredeeplyconcernedbecausefundsarescarceinmostuniversities,whichcommonlyleadstointensebickeringovercourseloads,researchfunds,salaries,graduateassistants,andahostofotherpettyfinancialmatters.Nowthatcorporations,governments,healthcaresystems,andeventhepost-Communistblocarerestructuring,perhapsthisinstitutioncanfinallyreconsideritsoldsystem.
Thereisaconsensusthatthe"virtualuniversity"willarriveabouttheyear2000,anditsabilitytotransmitknowledgeanywhereshouldintroduceintenseglobalcompetitionamongacademics.Themostprominentneedistomakedepartmentsself-supporting,entrepreneurialunitsbyrequiringthemtooperatewithsomeagreed-uponportionoftherevenuetheygenerate.Theyshouldthenbeleftalmostcompletelyfreetomanagetheirownaffairs.Budgetscouldbemodifiedtoreflectmeasuresofacademicexcellence,research,publication,communityservice,oranyotherfactorsthattheuniversitycommunityagreesonasitscommongoals.But,whateverthecriteria,resourcesmustbeallocatedinaccordancewithsomecommonlysharedstandardofperformancetoensurethatcriticalsenseofequitythatisessentialfortheformationofagenuinespiritofcommunity.
Withallofitsrootsandleavesingoodworkingorder,thisoldorganizationtreecouldblossomagaininthefertilesoilandlightofaknowledgeage.
DrawingUnityoutofDiversity
ItisusefultoseethatthissynthesisoftheNewManagementissimplypartofthefargreatersynthesisthatisnowintegratingtheglobe.Themostsignificantforceforchangetodayistheinexorableadvanceofcommunicationnetworksthatseemsdestinedtowiretheplanetintoa
centralnervoussystemforaunifiedworld.
AnAgeofSynthesisIsatHand
Thepowerofsynthesisisclearlyvisibleintheastonishingmovementtosteadilyexpandtoday'seconomicblocsintosomeformofglobaleconomicsystem.Theveryideaofaglobaleconomywasinconceivablejustafewyearsago,yetitisnowauniversallyacceptedicon,repeatedeverywhereasatenetoffaithintheprospectthataunifiedworldisimminent.
Thus,adramaticallydifferentperspectiveisemergingbasedonthe
Page96
principleofwholism,theintegrationofallviews,systems,peopleeverythingintoasinglecoherentwhole.
18Iknowthismaysoundfar-fetched,butsodidthenotionsthattheEarthisroundandthatitrevolvesaroundtheSun.Nowwearefacinguptotherealitythatalllifeisconnected:societytonature,citizentonation,mindtobody,persontoperson,humantoanimal,nationtonation,andsoon.VaclavHavel,presidentoftheCzechRepublic,notedthatAmerica'sDeclarationofIndependencemustbeaugmentedbyanew"DeclarationofInterdependence":
Weenjoytheachievementsofmoderncivilization,yetourexperienceseemschaotic,disconnected,confusing.Wedonotknowwhattodowithourselves,weunderstandourliveslessandless.WhatismissingisanawarenessofbeinganchoredinthemiracleoftheEarth,themiracleoftheuniverse.19
AsHavelsuggests,civilizationseemstohavereachedacriticalpointatwhichnothinglessthananewcosmologyisneeded,acosmologythatplacesthehumanexperienceinabroadercontext.Progressivethoughtnowrecognizesthatalllifeisunitedbyitsessentiallyspiritualnature.20Regardlessofwhetheroneisdevotedtomanagingabusiness,workinginpolitics,orcreatingart,thesepathsinvariablyconvergeontranscendentidealsthatmotivateallbehavior.
Thinkofthoseexistentialmomentsinyourownlife,suchasadeathinthefamilyorthebirthofachild,agreatfailureoragreatbreakthroughinone'sworkorpersonallife.Attimesliketheselifetranscendsourfrailhumanpowers,andmostpeoplefindthemselvesfacetofacewiththoseultimateissuesofmeaningandpurposethatconcernusall.Speakingformyself,Ihavecometoseethatthisspiritualdomainistheprimarysourceofmyenergy,motivation,andideas.Likeallofus,Istrivetosucceedinmywork,tocareformy
family,andtoachieveothersuchmundanegoals.ButIalsorealizethatmyabilitytodothesethingsisadirectresultofmystateofmind,ofmysenseofawarenessthatflowsfromsomepoorlyunderstoodworldofthespirit.Idonotreallyknowwhatitisorwhereitcomesfrom,butIhavelittledoubtthatitisthemostpowerfulforceintheuniverse.Spiritpervadeseverything.SpiritISwholism.
Thisintegratingnatureofthespirithelpsusseethattheunifyingpowerofinformationnotedaboveismerepreludetotheevengreateruni-
Page97
fyingpowerofthespiritthatissoontocome.AswewillseeinChapter6,theInformationAgeisalmostcertaintomatureandfadeintothepastinadecadeortwo,justastheAgrarianandIndustrialphaseshavedone.Andbeyondtheadvanceofknowledge,wearelikelytodiscovera"SpiritualAge,"inwhichpeoplewillstrivetoharnessthatvastbutsubtlepowerthatlieseverpresent,everywhere.Thisremindsmeofthepropheticvisioninthatcommonprayerweoftentakeforgranted:"ThyKingdomcome,thywillbedone,onEarthasitisinHeaven."
Iconcludefromthisevidencethatan"AgeofSynthesis"isathand.Whileotheranalyststodayseeparadox,
21ifwecanlookbeyondtheseemingincongruitiesbetweendemocracyandenterprise,leftandright,smallandbig,localandglobal,amongothers,weshouldbeheartenedtoobservethattheworldismovinginexorablytowardaunifyingwholeness.TheIndustrialAgewascharacterizedbytheneedforanalysistherationaldisaggregationoflargeproblemsintotheirconstituentparts,whichthennecessitatedhierarchicalstructurestocoordinatethosediverseparts.ButtheInformationAgeischaracterizedbytheoppositeneedthesynthesisofdisparatenations,socialdiversity,andotherfragmentedsubsystemsintoabalanced,integral,functioningwhole.
Thisprocessofunificationdoesnotproceedoutofhumankind'sgoodnessorotherutopianmotives,butsimplyasacountervailingforcethatkeepstoday'sspiralingcomplexityintact.Differentiationbalancesintegrationinallsystems.MargaretWheatley,inherpioneeringstudyofthe"NewScience,"describesauniverseinwhichatoms,organisms,andsocialsystemsareunifiedbyfieldsofenergy,information,andthought.22
Muchlikesynthesisinthephysicaldomain,synthesisintheeconomicdomainoffersboldnewprospects.Inphysics,theunionofelementsinachemicalreactionorinanuclearreactorreleasesvastamountsofphysicalenergy.Whyshouldtheeconomicworldbehavedifferently?Weareabouttoobservehowtheunionofeconomicdifferencesreleasesanuntappedreservoirofeconomicenergy.Itmayevenbethattheunionofgreatereconomicdifferencesproducesequallygreaterlevelsofenergy.Ifthisisso,thegrowingdiversitythatisnowthesourceofconflictamongindividualsandnationsmayproveanassetastheInformationRevolutionunitestheenormousculturaldifferencesthatnowposeoneofthegreatestbarrierstohumanprogress.
Page98
TheUnifyingPrinciple:EPluribusUnum
Findingtheleadershiptoguideustowardthisdifficultsynthesiswillbeahugechallengebecauseimbalancesaboundininstitutions,andtheproblemislikelytobecomemoresevere.
Manyentrepreneursandtechnophilesaresocaptivatedbytherevolutionarypossibilitiesofinformationsystemsthattheyyearntocreateacompletelydecentralizedworldthatglorifiesindividualfreedom.Onesaid,"Cyberspacerepresentsthetriumphoftheindividualagainstdehumanizinginstitutions.Corporationswilleitherradicallydecentralizetograntemployeesunheard-ofautonomyorcrumblealtogether.Governmenthasno...future."
23Attheotherextreme,therealsoexistsalargecontingentofpeoplewhofavorstrongcommunitybonds,governmentcontrols,andthelike.PresidentBillClintonandhiswifeseemtoexemplythisorientation,thoughtheytryhardtoprofessbeing"neo-democrats."
Ioftenthinkthatwomenmanagersmayprovecrucialtothischallenge.Manystudiessuggestthatwomenareusuallymorebalancedandopentonewideasthanmenare.Womenseemtobesuperbentrepreneurs,yettheyalsoappreciatetheneedtounifyorganizationsintosupportivecommunities.Thatmaybewhywomen-ownedbusinessesnowemploy35percentmorepeoplethantheentireFortune500,aregrowingmorerapidlythanotherfirms,andhaveahighersuccessrate.
Further,womenmaybemoreforcefulinbringingaboutchangebecausetheyaredissatisfiedwithcurrentmanagementpractices.Afterstrugglingtosucceedformanyyears,femaleexecutivesnowrealizethatthepresentsystemisineffective,undulystressful,andemptyofmeaning.24Mystrongimpressionisthatwomenareleadingtheway
towardadramaticallydifferentvisionofmanagement.Theyareshowingusthatsomethingfundamentalisseriouslylackingininstitutionstodaytherecognitionthatpeopleareessentiallyspiritualbeingswithneedsformeaning,purpose,fulfillment,belonging,andalloftheotheridealsreligionshavealwaystriedtoinstill.Theyarealsosayingthatwehaveignoredthisrealitynotonlytothedetrimentofourpersonallivesandsocietybutalsotothedetrimentofinstitutionsthemselves.
Anincreasingnumberofmenarealsodiscoveringthiscrucialinnerworldofthesoul,thespirit,thepsyche,orwhateveronechoosestocallit.25
Page99
Butwomenseemfartheroutinfrontbecauseoftheirbiologicalroleasmothers,theirspecialtalentsandinterestinrelatedemotionalareas,andpossiblybecausetheyhavebeenplacedhistoricallyas"outsiders,"challengingthemalestatusquo.
Idonotintendthistomeanthatwomenwillbeoursalvation,becausemen,racialminorities,andallothergroupshaveequallyimportantrolestoplay.Infact,today'sexplosionofdiversityinmodernworkforcesislikelytobeakeyfactordrivingthischange.Amarketformoforganizationwillbeessentialtoaccommodatethisgrowingdiversity;andsomeformofdemocraticgovernancewillbeneededtointegratesuchdifferences.
IhavearguedthattheAmericanheritageofdemocracyandenterprisecanguidethecreationofaNewManagement,andnowwecanseethatanotherpartofthisheritagecanalsoguidetheintegrationofthesetwoprinciples.CurrencyoftheUnitedStatesbearsthemottoEPluribusUnum,meaning"Unityoutofdiversity,"toremindusofthatuniqueAmericanspirit.Americanshaveimmigratedfromcountriesthroughouttheglobe,andthusrepresentawealthofracialandculturaldifferencesunitedmainlybytheidealsofAmericansociety.Wemaylooklike"mongrels,"withourhodgepodgeofmixedcolorsandtraits,butthisdiversityisexactlythesourceofAmerica'sunusualstrength.
LiketheUnitedStates,institutionsinaglobaleconomywillderivetheirstrengthfromthesameidealsofenterpriseanddemocracy.Tooperateeffectivelyacrossthewildlydifferentnationsoftheworld,managerswillhavetoencouragearichdiversityamongtheirconstituents,andtheywillhavetounifythisdiversityintoastrongcorporatecommunity.
TheComingofDemocraticEnterprise
Let'sreviewthelogicthatleadstothisconclusionthatmodern
organizationsmustmaintainabalancebetweeninternalmarketsandcorporatecommunity:
1.TheInformationRevolutionisheighteningorganizationaltensionsastheneedforenterpriseandcommunityincreasinglypullsmanagersinopposingdirections.
2.ButtheInformationRevolutionisalsoleadingtoan"AgeofSynthesis"thatwillunifytheseopposingforcesintomorepowerfulorganizationalsystems.
Page100
3.Managersmustbalancethiscreativetensiontokeeporganizationsdynamicyetunified.
Asthisshiftingof"conceptualplates"beneaththesurfaceofawarenessdislodgesthepillarsofclassicaleconomictheory,amorepowerfulperspectiveof"socioeconomics"isemergingbasedonbothenterpriseandcommunity,andcompetitionandcooperation.
26Whilecooperationmaynowbeessential,risingglobalcompetitionwillalsorequireustolookafterourownwelfare.Theunavoidablefactisthatacomplexeconomyisevolvinginwhichpeoplemustoftenbothcompeteandcooperatetogether.GM,Ford,andChryslercompeteferociouslywithToyota,Fiat,andRenaultwhiletheyalsoworktogetheraspartnerswiththesesameadversaries.Tomanagethistension,acultureisneededthathandlescompetitioninaconstructivewaythatallowspeopletocooperateaswell.
Thisdynamicunionbetweencommunityandmarketsleadstotheinterestingconclusionthatknowledgesocietiesmaynolongerbe"capitalist."PeterDruckercalledtheemergingsystemofpoliticaleconomya"post-capitalistsociety."27Economiesarelikelytobedesignedtoservehumaninterestsaswellasthoseofcapital,buttheywillnotbe"socialist"becausebusinesswillstillbegovernedbyfreemarkets.Infact,marketsystemsshouldenjoyfargreaterentrepreneurialfreedomandvigorthanbefore.
AswewillseeinChapter10,theneweconomicsystemnowemergingisademocraticformoffreeenterprisethatgoesbeyondcapitalismandsocialismaltogether.Itcouldbethoughtofasablendofdemocracyandenterprisethatdrawsonthebestfeaturesofbothideologiesasystemof"DemocraticEnterprise."
Notes
1.QuotedfromEdwardCarr,TheNewSociety(Boston:BeaconPress,1957),p.25.
2.Onthenewscienceofcomplexity,seeMitchellWaldrop,Complexity:TheEmergingScienceattheEdgeofOrderandChaos(NewYork:Simon&Schuster,1992),andDavidFreedman,"IsManagementStillaScience?"HarvardBusinessReview(NovemberDecember,1992).
3.TimFerguson,"CaliforniaToyswithLiveWires,"WallStreetJournal(March21,1995).
Page101
4.SeeWilliamE.Halal,"TheInformationTechnologyRevolution,"TechnologyForecasting&SocialChange(August1993),Vol.44,pp.6986.
5.WilliamDavidowandMichaelMalone,TheVirtualCorporation(NewYork:HarperBusiness,1992)."ThePortableExecutive,"BusinessWeek(October10,1988).
6.ThomasA.Stewart,"BoomTimeontheNewFrontier,"Fortune(Autumn,1993).
7.RobertAxelrod,TheEvolutionofCooperation(NewYork:BasicBooks,1984).
8.PeterDrucker,"TheAgeofSocialTransformation,"AtlanticMonthly(November1994).
9.RobertOzaki,HumanCapitalism:TheJapaneseSystemasaWorldModel(Tokyo:KodanshaInternational,1991).
10.CarlaRapaport,"CharlesHandySeestheFuture,"Fortune(October31,1994).
11.MiltonDerber,TheAmericanIdeaofIndustrialDemocracy(Chicago:UniversityofIllinoisPress,1970),pp.6,89,374.
12.PaulLawrenceandJayLorsch,"DifferentiationandIntegrationinComplexOrganizations,"HarvardBusinessReview(June1964).
13.SeeMargaretWheatley,LeadershipandtheNewScience(SanFrancisco:Berrett-Koehler,1992),p.132.
14.Forananalysisoforganizationalimages,seeGarethMorgan,ImagesofOrganization(NewburyPark,CA:Sage,1986).
15.ThisconclusionwasmostnotablyreachedintheclassicstudybyE.A.Fleischmanetal.,LeadershipandSupervisioninIndustry
(Columbus:OhioStateUniversityPress,1955).
16.RussellAckoff,TheDemocraticCorporation(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1994).SumantraGhoshalandChristopherBartlett,"ChangingtheRoleofTopManagement:BeyondSystemstoPeople,"HarvardBusinessReview(MayJune1995).
17.GertHofstede,Culture'sConsequences(NewburyPark,Calif.:Sage,1980).
18.WillisHarman,GlobalMindChange(Indianapolis:KnowledgeSystems,1988).
19.AsreportedbyWilliamRaspberry,"Havel'sMessageof'ForgottenAwareness,"WashingtonPost(July6,1994),andBruceShenitz,"MoreThanOurselves,"Newsweek(July18,1994).
20.Forinstance,seeHarman,GlobalMindChange.
21.Forinstance,CharlesHandy,TheAgeofParadox(Cambridge,Mass.:Harvard
Page102
UniversityPress,1994),andJohnNaisbitt,GlobalParadox(NewYork:Morrow,1994),claimthatparadoxisthemostcharacteristicfeatureofourtime.
22.Wheatley,LeadershipandtheNewScience,p.68.
23.CharlesMcCoy,''VisionaryorCyberspaceCadet,"WashingtonPost(November14,1994),Technologysection,p.R20.
24.BetsyMorris,"FedUp:ExecutiveWomenConfrontMidlifeCrisis,"Fortune(September18,1995).
25.Foragoodtreatmentofthisfundamentalissue,seeThomasMoore,CareoftheSoul(NewYork:HarperCollins,1992).
26.Forprominentworks,seeAmitaiEtzioni,TheMoralDimension:TowardaNewEconomics(NewYork:FreePress,1988).
27.PeterDrucker,Post-CapitalistSociety(NewYork:Harper&Row,1992).
Page103
PARTTWOBUILDINGANENTREPRENEURIALCOMMUNITYThispartofTheNewManagementprovidesdetailedblueprintsforbuildinganorganizationonthefoundationsofenterpriseanddemocracy.
Chapter5addressestheriseofintenseglobalcompetitionfordemandingclientswhostrivetoimprovetheirqualityoflife.Weconcludethata"servingenterprise"isneededthatusestechnologytocustomizeproductsandservices,thathelpsemployeesimprovequality,andthatmakescustomerspartnersinthecreationofvalue.
Chapter6focusesontheotherorganizationalplayerwhohasmovedtocenterstagetheknowledgeworker.Today'seconomicupheavaliscreatinganewemploymentrelationshipinwhichteamsofknowledgeworkersuseinformationsystemstomanagetheirownsmallinternalenterpriseandarerewardedforperformance.
Chapter7resolvestheconflictingneedstoprotectafragileenvironmentwhileraisingthelivingstandardsofbillionsofpeople.Leadingcorporationsnowregardsoundecologicalmanagementasacompetitiveadvantage,andsotheyareusingtheirbusinessskillstocreateaneconomicsystemthatisenvironmentallybenign.
ThesethreechaptersshowthattheNewManagementfoundationcanhelpmanagersperformtheirthreemajorresponsibilitiesbetter:internalmarketsandcorporatecommunityserveclientsmoreeffectivelyandprofitably;theyorganizeknowledgeworkersintoaflexible,high-performinglaborforce;andtheysafeguardtheenvironmentwhilepermittingvastincreasesineconomicgrowth.
Page105
5TheServingEnterprise:RelinquishingOurGriponSelf-InterestGreatbattlesarebeingjoinedinthemarketplacetodaytodecidewhichorganizationswillsurviveanonslaughtofcreativedestruction.Asrivalsfromaroundtheworldvietomeetgrowingdemandsforsuperiorvalueandservice,oldallegiancestofamouscorporationsofthepastarebeingoverthrowndaily.SearswasreplacedbyWal-MartasAmerica'sdominantretailer,theAT&TmonopolywasshatteredbyMCI,RCAhasbeeneclipsedbySony,GMChevroletsmustnowcompetewithHondasandToyotas,andevenIBMisfightingforitslifeagainstMicrosoftandIntel.
Despitebusinessattemptstowintheheartsandmindsofficklebuyers,however,excellenceremainsanexceptioninAmerica.Surveysfindthatroughlyhalfthepublicthinksthevaluetheyreceiveispoortofair,andathirdthinksitisbadandgettingworse.Swappinghorrorstoriesaboutterribleserviceandshoddyproductsremainsapopulartopicofconversation.
1
Atellingincidenthighlightstheproblem.OnrecentatriptoRussia,IhadtoflyontheRussianairline,Aeroflot.Althoughconcernedaboutputtingmyselfinthehandsofaforeignflightcrewflyingoutdatedaircraftinalandwherenothingworks,IwaspleasantlysurprisedtofindthatRussianflightswerebetterbecausetheydepartedandarrivedpunctually.Uponreturninghome,however,myAmericanflightsweresolatethatterminalswerefilledwithiratepassengers,hopelesslywatchingtheirconnectingflights,meetings,waitingfriends,andother
carefullymade
Page106
plansdisintegrate.TheDepartmentofTransportationreportsthat25percentofUnitedStatesflightsarelate.AirtravelintheUnitedStateshasbecomearecurringnightmare,aspassengersstrugglethroughabewilderingmazeofprices,connectinghubs,frequentdelays,andlostbaggage.
2
Andwhataretheairlinesdoingtosolvetheproblem?Theairlineindustryseemsmoreconcernedwithpromotingfrequent-flyerprogramstodiscouragecustomersfromswitchingtocompetitors.Therearenonetbenefitsbecausethefortunatesoulswhopatronizethesystemlongenoughtoreceivefreeflightsareinfactbeingsubsidizedthroughtheinflatedfarespaidbyotherpatronsandtravelexpensespaidbytheirownemployers.TheIRSestimatesthatemployerslose$4.5billioninexcessiveairfareeveryyearbecauseemployeestakeunnecessarybusinessflightstoearnfrequent-flyercredits.Airlinesthemselvesloseanother$2billionasfreetripsdisplacepayingcustomers,inadditiontothecostofmaintainingthiscomplexsystem.3Andbecauseallmajorairlinesofferthesameprogramsnow,anycompetitiveadvantagehasbeenlost.Inbusinessterms,novalueisadded.
Despitethefactthatalmostnoonebenefits,thepracticeisspreadingtohotelchains,carrentalcompanies,andcreditcardcompaniesbecausebusinesscannotresistseducingbuyerswiththeillusionofgettingsomethingfree.Thissystemmaysooncollapselikeachainletter,theway"GreenStamps"didafewdecadesago.In1994,thebacklogof"miles"creditedtofrequent-flyersrosesohighthatairlinesincreasedthenumberneededtogetafreeflightby30percent.Employersareorganizingtoeliminatethesystem,andpassengersaresuingairlinesfordiscountingtheirearnedmiles.4
Theurgentneedtoattractclientsisunderstandabletoanyonewhohaseverbornetheresponsibilitytomakeabusinesssucceed.Butfrequent-flyerprogramsareasymptomofhowtheOldManagementoftentriesgimmickstogetclientsratherthanseriouslyimproveserviceandvalue.Incontrast,SouthwestAirlineshasbecomethemostprofitablefirmintheindustrybyforsakingfrillsforthethingsthatcount:keepingfaresbelowthecompetition,maintainingpunctualschedules,offeringdirectflights,andencouragingemployeestohelppassengers.OneharriedbusinessmanwasrunningtocatchhisSouthwestflightastheplanepulledawayfromthegate;uponseeingtheanguishedlookontheman'sface,thepilotreturnedtopickhimup."Itbrokeeveryruleinthebook,"saidaSouthwestman-
Page107
ager,"Butwecongratulatedthepilotonajobwelldone."
5NowotherairlinesareemulatingSouthwest.
Ifitcanbedone,whyaregoodserviceandgenuinevaluesorarethattheyarecelebratedasheroic?Whymustcustomersstrugglewithpoorlymadeproducts?Storeswhereyoucannotfindahelpfulclerk?Afailingeducationalsystem?Costlyhealthcare?Governmentbureaucracy?Ontheothersideofthecounter,whydomanagerstoleratesuchdismalperformance?Whatcantheydotoregainthepublic'strust?Andhowintheworldcansellersfigureoutwhatbuyersreallywant?
Thischapterdrawsoninsightsintotoday'schangingsocialneedsandexamplesofexcellencetoidentifytheprinciplesofcreativemarketinginanInformationAge.Wewillseethatmodernmanagersarechallengedtofocusontheneedsoftheirclientsratherthanthefirmresultinginthe"servingenterprise."Byformingatrustingrelationshipwithcustomers,theNewManagementcanbemoreprofitablewhilealsoservingthegenuineneedsofthesestakeholderswhoarecentralmembersofthecorporatecommunity.
FromSellingtoServing
Thecruxoftheprobleminmarketingtodayisanoutmodedfocuson"selling."Whileitseemedperfectlyreasonableatonetime,nowthispreoccupationwiththeinterestsoftheenterpriseisoutmodedbecauseitexcludestheinterestsofclients.TheodoreLeavittcallsit"marketingmyopia."
TheWastefulNoiseofAdvertising
Theproblemisillustratedbytoday'sbarrageofadvertisements.TheaverageAmericanisbombardedby30,000adseachdayfromTV,
newspapers,andjunkmail,allpromotingyetanothercontrivedbargain.TwentymillionAmericanhomesareinvadedduringdinnereacheveningby300,000telemarketers.Andadsarenowappearinginschools,onshoppingcarts,andineveryconceivablenookandcrannyoflife.6ThesocialeffectsofTVadvertisingaresodisturbingthatparentsconsiderTVan"enemy"theymustfighttoraisehealthychildren(seeBox5.1).Inoururgencytosell,wehavereducedthemiracleoftelevisiontoasewerofcommercialismthatsetsasqualidmoraltoneforthenation.
Theironyisthatthisstampedetoseizethebuyers'attentionislargelyineffectual;eachmessageaddstotheburgeoningmazeofadvertisingnoise,
Page108
BOX5.1.MEDIAANDSOCIALVALUES.
Advertisements,purchasedbycorporations,accountfor80percentoftheincomeofnewspapersandalloftheincomefortelevisionnetworks.Sincethesecorporatesponsorsarethepayingclients,ratherthanthepublic,theirneedsinfluencenewsandentertainmentitselfinsubtleways.Oneeditorofamajordailyacknowledged:"Weshouldstopkiddingourselvesthatweareinthenewspaperbusinessandadmitthatweareintheadvertisingbusiness."Becauseofthisinfluence,TVtendstopandertocommontastestojustifythehugecostsofadtime,floodinghomeswithviolence,sex,andconsumption.TheAmericanPsychologicalAssociationestimatesthattheaveragechildwitnesses8,000murdersand100,000otheractsofviolencebyagetwelve.TheDirectoroftheCenteronAggressionResearchatSyracuseUniversitysummeduptheeffectofthispowerfulmediumonsociety:"Hundredsofstudiesallpointtothisconclusion:televisionviolencebegetsreal-worldviolence."
Sources:RichardHarwood,"NoAlternativetoaMarket,"WashingtonPost(December12,1992);ChrisWelles,"HelloSweetheart,GetMeAdvertising,"BusinessWeek(March3,1993);WilliamRaspberry,"CuttheAct,"WashingtonPost(January28,1994).
turningallthiscostlycommunicationintoanindistinguishableblurthatdeadensthesenses.Peoplehavebeensooverhypedthattheyeitherignoreit,refusetobelieveit,orjustplaindislikeit.Recentstudiesfindthatonlyasmallpercentageofadvertisingrecoversitscosts,andeventheseareeffectiveonlyforamatterofmonths.Promotionsdoevenworsebecausetheyencouragecompetitorstoretaliateandtheylowerthecompany'simage.
7
Special"sales"areaparticularproblem.Atonetime,asalereallymeantaspecialsituationthatofferedunusualvalue.Nowthepracticehasbeenoverusedtothepointthatitisalmostimpossibletosellproductsatregularpricesbecausepeopleexpectdiscounts.Thus,thepublicbecomesconfusedoverwhatconstitutesafairprice,theydistrusttheseller,andmerchantswastetimeandmoneyonthesefutileexercises.MontgomeryWardspent120workdaysfillingout15,000rainchecksforonesaleitemthathadrunoutofstock.Thecompany'sCEOacknowledgedthatthisapproach"erodesyourcredibility."8ListentohowthepresidentoftheNationalAutoDealersAssociationviewstheproblemintheautoindustry:
Thepublicistiredofon-again,off-againrebateprogramsthatconfusedealersandbuyers.Achildcanfigureoutthattheconsumer
Page109
paysthebill.Soendthephonyrebateandlowinterest-rates,establishasingle,no-nonsensepriceandtrysomethingrevolutionary:buildgood,reliablecars.
9
Fromaneconomicview,thissell-at-any-costapproachissimplytoocrudetosolvethecomplexjobofservinganexplodingarrayofhighlydifferentiated,subtlesocialneeds.Becausebuyersarelefttofindtheirwaythroughmisleadingclaims,Americansmakesuboptimalpurchasesthatwasteanestimated$1trillionoutofa$4trillioneconomyeveryyear.10Thepredictableresultisthatpeoplethenlookelsewhereforbettervalue.
"Selling"alsocreatesanadversarialrelationshipwiththebuyer.Iamstruckbythecommonassumptionthattheclientisnotapartoftheorganization,sothewelfareofthisimpersonalfigureisnotofconcern.Managerssetthetoneforthisviewiftheirmaingoalismakingmoney,andthismessageisthenconveyedtotheirorganization.That'swhyclerksoftentreatcustomersasanirritatinginconvenience.11AmanagerintheCITstudysaid,"Ourphilosophyseemstobe'bill,bill,bill,sowecangrowrich,rich,rich,'"andanotheradmitted,"Ourclientshateus."
ConsumerismIstheOtherSideofSelling
WhileAmericansarecriticalofshoddygoodsandpoorservice,theyalsoencouragethesellingenterprisebyrespondingsoeagerlytothelureofquickmaterialgratification.Americansspend300percentmoretimeshoppingthanEuropeans,andtheyconsumeroughlytwiceasmuchenergyandresources.12Allthisconsumerismtakeseffort,sopeopleareoverworked,overwrought,andoverweightfrompursuinghigherlevelsofconsumptionthatareunrelatedtopersonalhappiness.13Thus,consumerismistheothersideofselling.They
supportoneanother.
The"selling/consumerismsyndrome"isnotsolelythefaultofmanagersorthepublic.Toalargeextent,thisoutmodedwayoflifepersistsasresidualinertiafromthedyingforcesthatpropelledtheIndustrialAge:massproductionofsimpleconsumergoods,abusinessfocusonprofitthatexcludesthepublicwelfare,athrowawayculture,exploitationofwhatseemedalimitlessenvironment,andtheuseofmediatostimulatedemand.
Mostattemptstoimprovequalityandservicearepalliativefixesbecausetheyfailtoaddresstoday'seconomictransitionourchanging
Page110
assumptionsabouttheneedsofsociety,thegoalsoftheenterprise,anditsrelationshipwithclients.
TheRisingDemandforValueandQualityofLife
Considertheaveragefamily.Typically,bothhusbandandwifeworktoday,solifeisastruggletocleanandmaintaintheirhome,totakecareoftwocars,afewTVsandVCRs,severaltelephones,ahomecomputerortwo,andkitchenappliances.Thentheymustsomehowattendtolaundryanddrycleaning,shopforgroceries,buyclothesanditemsforthehome,preparemeals,entertain,jugglecomplexfinances,andfigureouttheirtaxes.Simplyfindingaffordablechildcarethatcanbetrustedisanenormouschallenge,letaloneputtingkidsthroughcollege.Tocopewiththesedemands,manypeopleareturningtheircarsintomobilelivingandworkingunits,equippedwithcellularphones,faxmachines,portablePCs,andevenmicrowaveovens.
Theseneedsarebeingenshrinedinanewsetofsocialmoresthatfocusonhandlingstressandusingtimeproductively.Peopletodayoftencompetewithoneanotherovertheirdemandingresponsibilitiesthe"busierthanthou"syndrome.Thisisnotlimitedtotheharriedmiddleclass.Someofthewealthiest,mostdistinguishedpeopleintheworldBillGates,WarrenBuffett,andPresidentClintonworksohardthattheyhavetobeforcedtotakevacations;theywearordinaryclothesanddrivetheirowncars.
14ThorsteinVeblen'sethicof"conspicuousconsumption"mayhavedescribedtheIndustrialAge,buttheInformationAgeiscreatinganewethicthatcouldbecalled"anxiousachievement."
Notonlyaresocialneedsmorecomplex,peoplearefarmorediscriminatingbecausetheyarebettereducatedandtheyhaveaccesstoawealthofproductinformation.Caughtbetweenstagnating
incomesandrisingcosts,buyerslookoverworldwidecompetitorstoselecthigh-qualityproducts,competitivepricesstrippedofunneededfrillsorfancybrandnames,andthoughtfulservice.15Here'showFortuneputit:"Thecustomerisn'tkinganymore.Thecustomerisadictator.Insteadofchoosingfromwhatyouhavetooffer,thenewconsumertellsyouwhathewants."16
Somepeoplewillcontinuetoseekmaterialextravagance,ofcourse,sincethatisoneofthecelebratedfeaturesofAmericanlife,andeveryonewillwanttoridethenewinformationsuperhighways.Butasurveyof2,000
Page111
Americansfoundthat"three-fourthssaythey'vefilledmostifnotalloftheirmaterialneeds."Otherpollsshowthat70percentofAmericanswouldliketoleadsimpler,moresatisfyinglives.
17Peopleincreasinglyyearnforrelieffromstress,financialsecurity,lesscrimeandviolence,recreation,cleanairandwater,meaningfulsocialrelations,andothercomplexsocialneedsthatarenowthegoalsofhumanprogress.Thus,themissionofbusinesstodaymustbenothinglessthantoraisethequalityoflife.
ReversingtheBuyer-SellerRelationship
Advertisingandothermarketingtoolswillremainimportant,ofcourse,buttherearemanywaystoattractclients.Justasmanagersnowunderstandtheymustcreatea"learningorganization"tostayapaceofchange,theyalsoneedtocreatea"servingorganization"thatsatisfiessocialneedsmoreeffectively.
PaulHawken,anauthorandbusinessman,identifiedthischangeasthereversalofthatold"centrifugal"marketing,whichpushedproductsoutoffactoriesintothehandsofpassivecustomers.Initsplace,a"centripetal"roleisemergingthatdrawsadeeperunderstandingoftheclient'sneedsandproblemsintothefirm.18JohnScully,formerCEOofAppleComputer,putitthisway:
Itusedtobethatmarketingdrovethings.Butmarketingisreallyamass-production-basedconcept.It'saboutcreatingsomethingthatyoucanpushouttothewholeworld.Today,everythingisbeingcustomized,soit'sreallybeingdrivenbytheotherside,bythecustomer.19
Wal-Mart'shumblingdefeatofKmarttellsitall.In1987,Kmartdominatedthediscountmarketwithits2,223stores,bringinginannualsalesof$26billion.Confidentinitsstrength,Kmartfocuseditsstrategyontraditionalmarketing,usingnationalTVcampaigns
featuringglamorouswomentobolsterits"image."
Meanwhile,Wal-Marthadhalfasmanystoresandwasalmostunknown.Butinsteadofadvertising,thecompanydevelopeditsnow-famouslogisticssystem.Asatellitenetworkwasestablishedtomonitorsalesnationwide,analyzethesedatatodeterminewhichproductsshouldbeorderedforeachstore,andautomaticallyreplenishinventoriesbysend-
Page112
ingordersto4,000supplierswhowereconnectedtoWal-Martthroughcomputersystems.Wal-Martwastherebyabletooptimizethechoiceofgoodsstockedateachstore,minimizetransportationandinventorycosts,andpassthesesavingsonindeepdiscounts.Threeyearslater,Wal-MartsurpassedKmartwithsalesof$33billion.SamWalton,thearchitectofWal-Mart'ssuccess,knewinhisbonesthatAmericanswerehungryforvalueandservice,andheprovidedit.
20
PrinciplesoftheServingEnterprise
Tomeetthischallenge,creativeentrepreneursarereorientingallphasesinthelifecycleofaproductorservice:high-techmarketing,truthfuladvertising,clientparticipation,empoweredemployeesfocusedonquality,accountabilityforcustomersatisfaction,andinvolvedleadership.
High-TechMarketing
AstheInformationRevolutiondrivesthepowerofITupanditscostdown,anewformofhigh-techmarketingisemergingtotransformbuyer-sellerrelations.AsBox5.2shows,electronicshoppingservices,computerizedsalessystems,automatedproductdesign,andmuch,muchmorepromisetoreducedistributioncosts,makeshoppingconvenient,andallowpeopletomakewiserpurchases.Theprospectsaresoenormousthattheycannotbeaddressedfullyhere,butafewexamplesillustratethepossibilities.
Two-thirdsofU.S.companiesoperatedtoll-freeinformationlinesin1993,andthisnetworkisspreadingoverseasasforeignmanufacturersuseittotapintotheAmericanmarketplaceandviceversa.TheGEAnswerCenter,forinstance,receivesthreemillioncallseachyear
frompeopleaskingaboutproducts,seekingadvice,makingcomplaints,requestingrepairs,andotherinformationthatisthenanalyzedformarketingpurposes.21
ITalsoiscreatingfarmoreefficientdistributionchannels.Ontheinputend,sellersaregainingaccesstounprecedentedamountsofvaluableinformationthatallowthemtounderstandtheirdiversemarketsandpinpointthesaleofproductstomeethighlyspecializedneeds"nichemarketing."Ontheoutputend,buyersaregaininganequallyvaluablesourceofinformationthatevaluatesvariousproductstoallowbetterchoices"precisionshopping."
Page113
BOX5.2.EXEMPLARSOFHIGH-TECHMARKETING.
ThefollowingcompaniesareexemplarsofhowpowerfulITsystemscanbeusedtodeliversophisticatedproductsandservicesthatservediversesocialneedseffectively.
CanonComputerSystemsistypicalofthemanycompaniesthatuselargedatabasestoanalyzecustomers'needsandcustomizemarketingprograms.Itrecentlytargetedpotentialbuyersofanewcolorprintersoaccuratelyfromits1.3millioncustomersthatresponseratestodirectmailapproachedanunheardof50percent.
ProgressiveInsuranceprovidesitsclaimrepresentativesanair-conditionedvanequippedasaportableofficesothattheycanworkatthesceneofanaccident.Thecompanynowsettles80percentofitsclaimswithinoneday.''Thisisgreat,comingrightouthereandtakingcharge,"saidapolicyholderwhowasinanautoaccident.
MusicWriterisahigh-techdistributorofsheetmusic.Ratherthanstockthousandsofdifferentsongsinmusicstores,itsetsupacomputerizedkioskthatsimplyprintsoutanyrequest.
HallmarkCardshasinstalledcomputerizedkiosksinstoresthatallowcustomerstodesigntheirowncards.
AndersonWindowsdevelopedamultimediasystem,"WindowofKnowledge,"thatallowssalespeopleandcustomerstodesigncustomizedwindows,generatepricequotes,andsenddetailedinstructionstothefactory.Saleshaverisenandmistakesvanished.
Astra/Merckequippeditssalesstaffwithlaptopcomputersthataccessaknowledgebasemaintainedbythecompanytohelpphysicianssolvecomplexpatientproblems.Saidonephysician:"It'sdistinctive.They'resupportingusnow.There'snoselling."
SchwabCorporationoffersinvestorsasoftwaresystemtheycanusetoobtainsecuritiesprices,buyandsell,anddomostotherfunctionsperformedbyabrokeratdiscountedfees.Schwab'sassetshaveskyrocketedas800,000newaccountshavebeenopened,andthecompany'sownstockhasrisenfivefold.
AucNetisasatelliteauctionsystemusedtosellusedcarswholesaleinJapan.DealersuseaPCtoexaminephotosanddetailedinformationoncarsofferedforsale,andthenmakebids.Becausethemarkethasbeenextendedtocoveranentirenation,thelargernumberofbuyersallowssellerstocommandhigherprices.
Source:"TheBestWaytoReachYourBuyers,"Fortune(specialissue,Autumn/Winter,1993).
Page114
Notonlyaredistributionchannelsbecomingsmarter,buttheyarealsobecomingshorterasmiddlemenareeliminated.DellComputerbecameapowerfulcompetitortoIBMwhenMichaelDellrealizedhecouldsellPCsthroughthemail"just-in-timeretailing."
22Withouttheneedformanufacturingshops,warehouses,retailstores,andsalespeople,thecostofaDellcomputerdrasticallyundercutIBMtolaunchthePCcloneindustry.23
AttheadvancedendoftheITspectrum,interactivevideoshoppingshouldenterthemainstreaminthelate1990s.24Evennow,theHomeShoppingNetworkoffersthewaresofNordstrom,Bloomingdale's,J.C.Penney,andotherretailchainsto60millionhomesthatmadeupa$3billionmarketasof1993.25TVshows,newspapers,andothermediamaysoonincludeinteractiveadvertisementsthatcarrytheshopperintoa"virtualstore"whereproductscanbeexamined,pricesdetermined,andordersplaced.Peapod,anelectronicgroceryservice,allowsclientstocreatea"virtualsupermarket"customizedtotheiruniqueneedsbysettingupstandardshoppinglistsforreorderingandcomparingpricesatalllocalstores.
Truthful,UsefulCustomerRelations
Itmayappearhopelesslynaiveintoday'sworldofhard-selling,glitzyads,butmanyfinecompaniesowetheirlastingsuccesstotheoppositeapproach:advertisingandcustomerrelationsthattellthetruth.L.L.Bean,HersheyFoods,Toyota,Johnson&Johnson,andcountlessotherexamplesofhighlysuccessfulorganizationsdemonstratethatbusinesscanbeconductedhonorably,anditisusuallymoreprofitable.
In1993Saturnhadtorecallallthecarsithadeversold.Ratherthanprofferingthetypicalevasionsandhalf-truthsthatarenormalinthe
autoindustry,Saturnimmediatelyannouncedthefulldetailsoftheproblemanditsproposedsolution.Thepresidentofthecompany,Richard(Skip)LeFauve,appearedontelevisiontopersonallyexplainthesituation,apologize,andtellcustomerstocontacttheirdealertoarrangeafreeretrofit,orthecompanywouldcallthem.ThiscandidapproachturnedapotentialdisasterintoproofofSaturn'sclaimtoanewformofmanagement,andtherebyincreasedpublic'strustinthecompany.(SeeBox5.3.)
Saturn,Nordstrom,Toys"R"Us,Wal-Mart,Procter&Gamble(P&G),
Page115
andothercompaniesexemplifytheuseof"everydaylowprices"insteadofcontrivedsalesorpromotions.AP&Gmanagersaid:"Wewantourbrandstobeagoodvalueeverytimetheyareboughtratherthanabargaineverynowandthen.Ourcustomersappreciatethat";andaContinentalAirlinesmanagersaid:''Customersareallunderthesameconstraintsofpriceandtime,whichiswhysimplicityandconsistencyhavegreatappeal."
26
Pursuingapolicyoftruthfulclientrelationsisnotsimplyamoralissuebutamorepowerfulformofmarketing.Honestybuildslastingpatronagebasedontheconfidencethatthecompanyiscommittedtoprovidingvalue.AsshowninBox5.4,theBodyShophasenjoyedremarkablegrowth,
BOX5.3.GM-SATURNONSERVINGCAROWNERS.
Saturnhasusedinnovativemanagementtocreatethehighestqualitycarsandthehighestbuyersatisfactionlevelsintheautoindustry.
ASoftApproachtoCarSales.Saturn's"soft"salesapproachavoidsthetraditional"hard"salesjobofhagglingovercarprices.Pricesareestablishedatafairbutcomfortablemarginoverinvoicebythemanufacturer.DealersarecarefullyselectedandgivenanexclusiveterritorysothattheydonothavetocompetewithotherSaturndealers.Salespeopleavoidpressuringcustomersbutfocusonprovidinginformationandhelp.Asaresult,customersatisfactionamongSaturnbuyersranksabovethatofMercedesandLincolnbuyers.
EmpoweredWorkerTeams.ThegreatdemandforSaturncarsis
attributedtothehigh-qualityproductionmethodsthataremadepossiblebyaparticipativemanagementstyle.Workersareorganizedintoteamsoftenpeoplewhocontrolallaspectsoftheirjobs:workingwithsuppliers,selectingco-workers,settingtheirownworkschedules,performingtheirownqualityinspections,andevenadvisingontheselectionofsuppliers,dealerships,andadvertisingagencies.Employeecompensationisbasedonqualityandotherfactorsthatensurecustomersatisfaction.
ACompany-CustomerRelationship.Anunusuallycandidapproachtohandlingproductdefects,sales,andotherrelationswithcarbuyershasmadeSaturnownersthemostloyalrepeatpurchasersintheindustry.
SpreadingoftheSaturnSalesApproach.TheSaturnconceptofmarketinghasproventobesuchafreshandwelcomedchangethatGMdivisionsaretryingitsmethods,andFordandChryslerareemulatingthesingle-pricesalessystem.
Sources:"Saturn:Labor'sLoveLost?"BusinessWeek(February8,1993);"Saturn,"BusinessWeek(August17,1992).
Page116
eventhoughitdoesnoadvertising;itdoesnotevenhaveamarketingdepartment.Byofferinghealthful,inexpensivecosmeticswhileprotectingnature,thecompanyhasignitedaroaringdemandamongsatisfiedcustomerswhothendothemarketingforthefirmbytellingtheirfriends.PaulHawkendescribedthemeritsoftruthfulcustomerrelations:
Thereisonemistakenoentrepreneurcanaffordtomakemisleadingcustomers.Theystopbuying.Inthetawdryworldofbraggadocios,thetruthringswithclarity.Itchangesthesignal-to-noiseratio.Thenoiseisthe$95billionspentonadvertising.Thesignalisthecleartoneofhonestythatcomesthroughascompellinglyasthesirenofanambulance.
27
ClientParticipation
Studieshavelongshownthatmostsuccessfulnewproductsaredevelopedinresponsetosuggestionsbycustomers.Ratherthanstudyingpeople'sneedsthroughmarketsurveys,progressivefirmsactivelyinvolvetheirclientsinthedesignprocess."Ithinkthecurrentnotionofmarketresearchisgoingtobecompletelyoverturned,"saidthevicepresidentofamarketingfirm.28Thisisespeciallytrueforthenewproductmarketsandcustomersthatmakeupthefrontieroftheemergingknowledgesociety."Youcan'tmarketresearchsomethingthatdoesn'texist,"saidPeterDrucker.
Companiesareusingthisconceptinnumerouswaystoachieveexcellence.GE,forexample,asksitsdesignengineerstoworkwithcustomersindefininganidealappliance.Hewlett-Packardinvitesbuyersofitsproductstogivepresentationstoengineersandmanagers,pointingoutproblemstheyencounterandsuggestingimprovements.Fisher-Pricecreatedanurseryinitscorporateheadquarterswhereparentscanbringchildrentotryoutnewtoys;the
waitinglistrunsintothethousands.(SeeBox5.5formoreexamples.)
Thisisjustatrickleofwhatmaybecomeafloodof"do-it-yourself"marketing,asbuyersshuntheservicesofbuildingcontractors,repairpeople,retailers,andothertraditionalproviders.HomeDepotoffersrepairclinicsthatallowcustomerstocreatevaluebyreplacingcontractors.Estimatessuggestthattheamountofworkdevotedtohomeprojectsisequivalentto40percentoftheGDP.TheCEOofPriceClubexplainedwhyhis
Page117
BOX5.4.THEBODYSHOPONMARKETING.
ThemarketingaspectsoftheBodyShopexemplifytheNewManagementbyprovidinggenuinevalue,honestdealings,andconcernforhuman,social,andenvironmentalwell-being.
NaturalValue.TheBodyShophaschallengedthefoundationsofanindustrythatexploitedtheglamourfantasiesofwomen.Ratherthansellexpensivechemicalcosmeticsofdubiousworthindesignerbottles,BodyShopcosmeticsarewholesome,naturalproductsintendedtopromotetheinherentbeautyofahealthy,well-caredforbody,andtheyarepackagedininexpensive,refillablecontainers.
NoAdvertising.Contrarytoacceptedpractice,theBodyShopconductsnoadvertising,andhasnomarketingdepartmentbecauseitdoesnottryto"sell"intheordinarysense.Rather,itprovideseducationalinformationinpamphletsandpostersatitsstores,andreliesonwordofmouthamongsatisfiedpatronstospreadthemessage.Storepersonneldonotpushproductsbutareavailableforadviceandassistance.Inshort,theBodyShop'sphilosophyistoeducateratherthansell.Thisapproachhasincreasedsales50percentperyearandthecompanyhasexpandedto1,400shopsinforty-sixnations.
Leadership.TheenergizingforcethatguidesthisenterpriseisAnitaRoddick,thefounderandCEO,whounderstandsthatwomenneedamorereasonableapproachtocosmetics.Herphilosophy,"Peoplewantcompaniestheycanbelievein,"hasbeensosuccessfulthattheBodyShoparousestheenthusiasm,loyalty,andcommitmentofpoliticalmovements.WhenoperationsweretobeextendedtotheUnitedStates,2,500peopleappliedforfranchises.
Source:BoBurlingham,"ThisWomanHasChangedBusinessForever,"Inc.(June1990),andpersonalcorrespondencewithAnitaRoddick.
no-frillsbulksalesaresosuccessful:"[Allcompanies]saytheyprovidegreatservice,butself-serviceisthebestkindofservice."
29
Thereisalsoaneedtoinvolveclientsatthepolicylevelbycreatingconsumeradvisorypanelsoftypicalcustomerswhoadviseorganizations.Amorepowerfulapproachistoappointclientsorconsumeradvocatestothecorporateboard,anditispuzzlingwhymorecorporationshavenotdoneso.Ifwereallyhopetomanageorganizationstoserveclients,whatbetterplacetostart?
Page118
BOX5.5.EXEMPLARSOFCLIENTPARTICIPATION.
HermanMillerhasdesignteamsworkatclients'officestounderstandtheirfurnitureneedsandproduceprototypestotestonsite,therebyspeedingdevelopmenttime,reducingcost,andincreasingclientsatisfaction.Onemanagersaid,"Webringcustomersinattheverybeginningtobecomepartnersindesign."
Black&Deckerassignedadesignteamtoworkwithfiftytypical"do-it-yourself"homeownersaroundtheirhomes,workshops,andonshoppingtripstolearnwhattheywantedintools.Thisfreshunderstandingproducedanaward-winningproductline,"Quantum,"withinterchangeablepowersources,newsafetyfeatures,freemaintenancecheck-ups,andatoll-freehotlineforadvice.
Hondavideotapedcustomerstestingnewcarsandhadlineworkerscall4,700Hondaownerstogettheircriticismandsuggestions.TheresultswereusedtomakethousandsofchangesoverthepastfewyearsthatmadeHondathetop-sellingautoinAmerica.
Westinghousehasdevelopedsuchacloseworkingrelationshipwiththepublicutilitiesitservesthatsomemanagersexchangebusinessplansandengageinjointreviewsofeachother'soperations."Weworkwiththeutilitiesinpartnershiparrangementstoshareourresponsibilities,"saidaWestinghouseprogrammanager.
BaxterLaboratoriesprovideson-siteinventorymanagementofmedicalsuppliesforhospitals,sharinginbothlossesandgains."Thisgoesbeyondloyalty,"saidaBaxterexecutive."WeshareacommonP&L.Youbothmakemoneybykeepingcostsdown."
GeneralElectricformscross-companyteamsofitsownemployeesandthoseofitsclientstohandletoughtechnicalproblems,evensendingteamstotrainingprogramstogether."Workingasasingleentityenhancedcommunications,"saidaGEvicepresident.
Sources:"TheToughNewCustomer,"Fortune(Autumn/Winter1993);RahulJacob,"WhySomeCustomersAreMoreEqualthanOthers,"Fortune(September19,1994).
Theusualobjectionisthatconsumeradvocatesarelikelytobecritical,whichwoulddisrupttheharmonyoftheboard.Butperhapsthis"harmony"shouldbedisturbedtourgeunresponsivefirmsintoaction.Ourcriticsarethepeopleweshouldpayclosestattentiontobecausetheyarekeenlyawareofourweaknesses.That'swhytheyinfuriateussomuch.Asoundenterpriselistenscarefullytocriticismbecauseitisvaluablefeedbackandasourceofenergythatdrivescreativechange.Mostpeoplearereluctant
Page119
tocomplain,sobravemanagershirefirmslike"FeedbackPlus,"whouseprofessionalshopperstoevaluatehowwelltheircustomersaretreated."Storesthatscorehighonourshoppingservicehavethebestsales,"claimsavicepresidentofFeedbackPlus.
30
Butitispossibletobecometooclosetocustomers.Peopleoftenlacktheimaginationtoenvisionmajorchangesinlifestyles,leadingcompaniestomimicpresenttrendsratherthanradicallycarveoutthemarketsofthefuture.Themicrowaveoven,minivan,fax,andVCRsallboredprospectivecustomersuntiltheywereavailable.Conversely,customersinsistedtheyweremadabouttheNewCoke,picturephones,andotherproductsthatfizzled.Soitisessentialtokeepthebuyer-sellerrelationshipinperspective.Client-drivenmarketingismorethansimplydoingwhateverclientssay;itisatwo-wayexchangeinwhichcompaniesmustmaintainfaithintheirjudgmentabouthowtobestservenewneeds.31
Thepossibilitiesareendless,buttheyareallvariationsonacentralprincipleofthenewmarketingphilosophy:companiesaremorelikelytodesignuseful,economicallysuccessfulproductsbymakingtheclientanactivepartnerintheenterprise.
TheQuality-and-ServiceRevolution
TQMhasassumedmythicalproportionsbecauseitispartofa"quality-and-servicerevolution"thatismovingfrombusinesstogovernmentandallotherinstitutions.Contrarytotheprevailingpriorbeliefthatqualityis"nicebutcostly,"soundmanagementreducescostsbybuildingqualityintosuperiordesigns,therebyeliminatingtheneedforrework,avoidingcustomerreturnsandlostbusiness,andpermittingeconomiesofscale.
Qualityisoftenshroudedincomplexterms,butthekeyfactorsaredisarminglysimple.WesawinChapter2howcrucialenterpriseistomakingTQMwork.HomeDepot(Box5.6)andSaturnshowhowsuccessfulfirmsformself-directedteamschargedwiththeresponsibilityofservingclientsthroughcontinuousimprovementprocesses.
Beyondtoday'sstruggletoimprovequality,acornucopiaofnear-perfectcustomizedgoodsshouldsoonflowoutofautomatedfactories,aswewillseeinthenextchapter.Agoodexampleofthis"masscustomization"isthewayDellComputerbuilds90percentofitsPCstoorderanddeliversthemintwodays.32
Page120
BOX5.6.HOMEDEPOT.
Thischainofaboutfourhundredlumber-hardware-home-supplystoreswaspaidtheultimatecomplimentbytheCEOofWal-Mart:"They'rerunningthebestretailorganizationinAmericatoday."HomeDepot'searningshavegrownanaverageof43percentoverthepasttenyears,highestintheFortuneService500,andreturnoninvestmentaveraged46percentperyear.Here'swhy:
CustomerValueandService.Ratherthansalesorpromotions,customersareofferedeverydaylowpricesthatconsistentlyunderpricetheircompetitors,andserviceisoutstanding.TheCEOdescribeshisphilosophythisway:"Everycustomerhastobetreatedlikeyourmother,father,sister,orbrother."Aclientsaid,"I'veneverhadsuchapositiveserviceexperience."
EvaluationofClientSatisfaction.Intensiveevaluationsofclientneedsandsatisfactionareobtainedfrom5,000interviewsannually.Inresponsetotheseanalyses,thecompanystartedfreeclinicsthatteachcustomersplumbingandconstruction.
EmployeeSupport.Shoppersareassistedinsolvingproblemsbyemployeeswhoaretrainedinproductknowledgeandhomerepairs,andwhoareinstructedtospendtimehelpingpeopleinacourteousmanner.Toensurethislevelofservice,payissetwellabovethemarketrates,employeesareofferedcompanystockatadiscount,andmanagerscanearnbonusesof50percent.
Leadership.AllofthisisinspiredanddirectedbytheleadershipofCEOBernardMarcusandpresidentArthurBlank,whoareconstantlyavailableatstores.ThetwoholdacompanywidemeetingeverySunday,"BreakfastwithBernieandArthur,"thatisbroadcastoverclosed-circuitTVtoall45,000employees.HomeDepot'ssevenoutsidedirectorsareeachrequiredtovisittwelve
storesperquarter.
Sources:"BeyondQualityandValue,"Fortune(Autumn/Winter1993);"TheManWhoWalkedOutonRossPerot,"Forbes(November22,1993).
EmployeeRewardsLinkedtoClientSatisfaction
Itisalsonecessarytomeasurehowwellthesegoalsareaccomplished.Salesandprofitareimportant,buttheyfocusontheneedsoftheorganizationratherthantheneedsoftheclient.Financialperformanceistheresultofclientsatisfaction,sotheprimaryfocusshouldbeonevaluatingthiscrucialfactor.
33OnemanagerintheCITsurveyexpresseditwell:"Customerfeedbackisthekeytosoundbusiness;revenuesarealaggingindicator."Searswasthesubjectofnationalscornin1992becauseworkersinitsautorepair
Page121
shops,underpressuretoincreasesales,weregougingclients;nowthecompanyisusingclientsatisfactionevaluations.
McDonald'sandL.L.Beanuseperiodicsurveystoevaluatecustomersatisfaction.MarriottandWesternUnionmakeunannouncedinspectionsofoutlets.GiantFoodsandAvishaveemployeesandexecutivespatronizetheirstoresincognitotoobservehowtheyaretreated.Fordinvitescarownerstomeetengineersanddealerstodiscussproblemswiththeircars.StateFarmandToyotameasurecustomer"loyalty"and"retentionrates."
34
Anoldmanagementaxiomthatholdsthatorganizationsgetwhattheyreward,soitisalsoessentialtobaseemployeepayatleastpartlyonevaluationsofclientsatisfaction.GTE'ssystemallocates35percentofemployeeandmanagerpayinaccordancewithclientsatisfactionratings.Xeroxbases30percentonclientsurveys.Chryslerhasbeguntopaybonusestoitsdealerswithhighclientsatisfactionscores.35
Assomeoftheseexamplessuggest,itisbesttorewardanentireteamorbusinessunit,ratherthanindividuals.Grouprewardsareeasiertomanageandtheypromoteunitcohesion.WewillsaymoreaboutthemanagementofteamsinChapter6.
InvolvedLeadership
Organizationsthatdeliverproductsoflastingvaluewithgenuineserviceareusuallyblessedwiththeleadershipneededtobringaservingenterprisetolife.Onlyexecutivescanprovidethevisionandpersonalexamplethatfocusesalargeorganizationonservingitsclients.HomeDepotwouldnotbethesamewithoutBernardMarcusandArthurBlank.TheBodyShopisinspiredbyAnitaRoddick.SamWaltoncreatedWal-Mart.
Xeroxexecutivesspendonedayeachmonthtakingcomplaintsfromcustomers.ThepresidentofHyattHotelsoccasionallyworksasabellhop.SkipLeFauveinvitedall700,000Saturnownerstoattendabarbecueatitsplant;28,000peopleshowedup,makingitthe"Woodstock"oftheautoindustry."It'sagoodwaytosaythankyouandfosteracloserrelationship,"saidSaturn'smarketingmanager.
Harley-Davidsonhasorganized700HarleyOwnersGroups(HOGClubs)thatholdanannualrally;thehighlightoccurswhenthecompany'sCEO,RichTeerlink,roarsinonhisowngleamingtop-of-the-lineHarley.WhenTeerlinkfirststartedthisapproach,thecompanywasalmostbankrupt.
Page122
Thestockhassincegonefrom$1.20pershareto$26,andbuyershavetowaityearstogetaHarley.
HerbKelleher,theCEOofSouthwestAirlines,isaclowninggeniuswhosetssuchafriendlytonewithclientsthatSouthwestpersonneloftenjokemercilesslywithpassengers.OneflightheardthisannouncementoverthePAsystem:"Goodmorningladiesandgentlemen.Ifyouwishtosmoke,pleasegotoourloungeonthewingwhereyoucanenjoyourfeaturefilm,GonewiththeWind."
36
AsmallOregonrestaurantchainhighlightstheimportanceofleadershipbyillustratingalloftheprinciplesdiscussedinthischapter.Afterstrugglingtoimproveservice,theCEOestablishedapolicythatallpatronsmustenjoyapleasantdiningexperience.JustasAvisclaims"WeTryHarder"andFederalExpresspromises"Absolutely,Positively,Overnight,"thiscompany'sprimarygoalwas"YourEnjoymentGuaranteed.Always."AstheCEOputit,"Mycompanyexiststomakeotherpeoplehappy."
Hethenchangedoperationstoensurethatthisguaranteewasfulfilled.Employeesweretoldtodoanythingnecessarytosatisfyacustomerofferfreedrinks,meals,orspecialattentionandtheyweretrainedtodosoeffectively.Customersatisfactionwasevaluatedusingamonthlyphonesurveyandbymeasuringthenumberofcomplaints,andthetotalcostofresolvingthemwastallied.Thecompanyfoundthatmanycustomershadbeenunhappybutreluctanttocomplain,sotheyhadsimplyvotedwiththeirfeetandgoneelsewhere.Underthenewguarantee,thecostsofcorrectingcomplaintsrose,makingtheproblemsthatwereformerlyhiddenvisible.
Wheremostmanagerswouldbeaghastatseeingcostsrise,thisCEO
recognizedthatsuchcostsaresymptomsofdeeperproblems,andassucharevaluableinformation.AstheCEOsaid:"Everydollarpaidoutisasignalthatthecompanymustchange."Asthesesystemfailureswerefoundandcorrected,costsdroppedtomodestlevels,clientsbecamedelightedattheservice,employeestookpleasureintheirworkandwerebetterpaid,salesincreased,andprofitsdoubled.37
MakingtheClientaPartner
Butwhyshouldwegothroughallthistrouble,cost,risk,andpersonaldiscomforttosatisfydemandingpeople?L.L.Beanworkedhardtobecome
Page123
customer-focusedandwasrewardedbyawaveofmerchandisereturnsvaluedat$82million.Let'sfaceit.Manyclientsareimpossibletosatisfyatall,muchlessataprofit.TheCEOofSouthwestAirlineswritestocustomerswhoabuseemployees,askingthemtoflyonanotherairline.
It'salsohardtochangethehabitsofpeoplewhohaveraisedthenarcissisticpursuitofself-interesttoanartform.AdmonitionstoserveclientshavetofighttheinfluenceofanAmericanculturethaturgesemployeesto"LookOutforNo1."Therealityisthatgenuineservicerequiresdisciplineandhardwork.Afieldofstudyhasemergedtounderstandtherigorsof"emotionallabor"performedbyservicepersonnel,andanindustryhassprunguptotrainemployeesindealingwithquarrelsomepeople.Flightattendantsmustbefriendly,nursesareexpectedtoshowsympathy,andteachersmustbesupportive,evenwhentheymayfeelupset.
38
Andhowcanemployeespleasecustomerswhentheymuststruggleagainstbureaucracy,authoritariansupervisors,andothercommonmanagementproblemsthathinderserviceandquality?TheservingenterpriseisapartoftheNewManagement,soitisnecessarytochangetheentiremanagementsystem,asotherchapterswillshow.
SeeingProblemsasOpportunities
Thereislittlechoicebuttoovercomesuchobjectionsbecausetheynowconflictwithreality.Managershavebeentoldendlesslythattheymustbeprimarilyconcernedwithsellingandfinancialgoals,yetthatbeliefisbeingchallengedasanewbreedofclients,complexsocialproblems,andglobalcompetitorsdemandashifttoservingtheneedsoftheclient.Table5.1showsthattheseconceptsarenowwidely
practiced.
Eachlostcustomertakestwotothreeothersawayaftercomplainingtoanaverageofninefriends,anditcostsfivetimesasmuchtorecruitanewcustomerastoretainanexistingone.39Eachlostclientcostsanautomaker$400,000overalifetimeandagrocerystore$25,000everyfiveyears.Improvingthecustomerretentionrateby2percentwilltypicallyincreaseprofits10percent.Drivenbysucheconomicrealities,anexecutivedescribedthereaction:"It'snotlikewesathereandsaid,'Let'schangethewaywesell.'Wehadnochoice."40
Thisenlightenedformofmarketingalsooffersimportantlong-term
Page124
TABLE5.1.ADOPTIONOFSERVING-ENTERPRISEPRACTICES.(SAMPLE=426CORPORATEMANAGERS.)
Practice
NotPracticed(03)
PartiallyPracticed(46)
FullyPracticed(710)
Mean(010)
Inadditiontosaleslevels,customersatisfactionisevaluatedbysurveysandinterviews,monitoringcomplaints,andotherformalsystems. 17% 15% 68% 7.1Theviewsofcustomersaresolicitedbypreoductdesigners,managers,orotherpersonnelwhenmakingdecisionsaboutproductsandservices. 13 20 67 7.0Customerscanuseatoll-freelineforinformationandtohaveproblemscorrected. 31 7 62 6.1Advertisingisdesignedtoprovideusefulinformationratherthaninflatedclaims. 12 15 73 7.3Asignificantportionofoperatingmanagers'payisbasedoncustomersatisfaction. 46 26 28 4.1Means 24% 17% 59% 6.4Source:WilliamE.Halal,CorporationsinTransition(anunpublishedstudyinprogress).Notethatdatainthefirstthreecolumns("NotPracticed,"etc.)areaggregatedbycollapsingportionsofthequestionnairescaleasshown("03,"etc.).SeethequestionnaireinAppendixC.
benefits.Aworkingpartnershipwithclientsbetterpositionstheorganizationtounderstandcomplexnewsocialneedsinordertoconverttheseproblemsintobusinessopportunities.
Theautoindustry,forinstance,couldenterafreshcycleofgrowthby
findingabetterwaytosatisfythepublic'stravelneeds.TheJapanesemadegreatinroadsintoAmericanmarketsbyrealizingthatacarismorethanastylishpieceofmachinery.Rather,theyviewedacarasatransportationsysteminvolvingfuelefficiency,maintenance,safety,andinsuranceallofwhichhavebecomevitallyimportanttocarowners.Anaverageautocostabout$17,000in1993,buttheseadditionalfactorscostanother$40,000overatypicalproductlifeoftenyears,makingtheownershipofanautomobileamajorinvestmentofroughly$60,000.
41
Page125
Theamountofmoneyspentonautorepairandmaintenancealoneisaboutasgreatasthatspentonthepurchaseofnewvehicles.Roughlytwo-thirdsofthissumiswastedbecauseofimproperdiagnosis,poorworkmanship,andfraud.
42Businesspeopleshouldseethatthisproblemisactuallyanopportunitycryingoutforasolution.Bylearninghowtomaintainautosbetter,dealerscouldsavecustomersthousandsofdollarsperyearwhileminimizingthetimeandaggravationinvolvedincarownershipcreatingavirginmarketthatroughlyequalstheentirenewcarmarket.Similaropportunitiesarepossibleinreducingthefuel,safety,andinsurancecostsofthissystem.
AsHamelandPrahaladpointout,allindustriesmustredefinetheirmissiontomeettheneedsoftomorrow.43Swedennowproduces95percentofitshomesinfactories,andtheJapanesearemovingtowardautomatedconstructionofhigh-qualityhousingmodulesthatcanbeassembledquicklyintoaninfinitevarietyofpleasing,inexpensivehomes.WilltheAmericanbuildingindustrysufferareplayoftheJapaneseinvasionofU.S.automarkets?Whichcompanieswilldevelopthefirstreasonablypriced,convenienttelecomputer?Automaticlanguagetranslation?Mechanicalheartsandothervitalorgans?Personaltutoringsystems?Opticalcomputers?Andanendlessarrayofotherrevolutionarynewproductsthatwillmaketoday'smicrowaveovensandPCslookprimitive?
Otherinstitutionswillbeforcedtosurmountsimilarchallengesintheyearsahead.Medicinemustmovebeyondcuringillnesstodevelopconvenient,inexpensivewaystohelpeachindividualfindahealthystyleofliving.EducationmustuseITtomakelearningacontinualpartofeverydaylifeinafast-pacedtechnologicalage.Andgovernmentmustregulatethisentiresysteminawaythatassists
peoplewhileminimizingtaxesandregulations.Thesegoalsconstituteavastfrontierofprogresspreciselybecausetheworldisswampedwithsomanydifficultsocialproblemsthatcanbeconvertedintoopportunities.AfewyearsagoInoticedasmallsigninashopwindowthatquietlyannouncedthesecretofsoundbusinessthatsuccessfulentrepreneurshavealwaysknown:
Businesssuccessisnotforthegreedy.Onthecontrary,lastingsuccessresultsfromgivingmoreandchargingless.Thepossibilitiesareinfinite.
Page126
YieldingSelf-Interest
Thisdiscussionofmodernmarketingleadstofourmainconclusions:
1.Aglobaleconomyoffiercecompetitionanddemandingclientsrequiresthatcustomers'interestsbecomeparamount.
2.Appealsthrough''selling"havebecomelargelyineffectualbecausetheymerelyaddtothenoiseofadvertising.
3.Managersmustcreatea"servingenterprise"thatusesinformationtechnologyandinvolvedemployeestoformaworkingpartnershipwithclientsthatservestheirgenuineneeds.
4.Thisconceptofaservingenterprisecanhelpmanagersreorienttheirorganizationssoastoconverttoday'ssocialproblemsintoprofitableopportunitiesforimprovingthequalityoflife.
Althougheconomicshasbeencalled"thedismalscience"becauseithasgenerallyassumedscarcity,economiclifecanbeabundantwhenapproachedwithfaithinthecreativenatureofabountifulworld.Thekeytothispivotalchangeistoseethataservingenterprisecombinesthetwopowerfulforcesofinternalmarketsandcorporatecommunity,aswenotedinChapter4.Inventivemanagersorganizeoperationsintoentrepreneurialteamsthatserveclientsbetter,therebyunitingfinancialandsocialgoals.Bygivingthoughtfulconsiderationtoothers,itmaybereturnedtousmanyfold."Castyourbreaduponthewaters,"astheBibleexpressedit.
Puttingthewelfareofclientsforemostdoesnotmeanmanagersandemployeesmustbecomeself-sacrificingmartyrs,althoughtheydohavetogiveofthemselves.AswestressedinChapter3,theideaistodevelopaworkingrelationshipbasedonmutualrightsandresponsibilities.Likeanypartnership,bothpartnershavetogive,includingtheclient.PartoftheNewManagementwouldbetohelp
clientslearnhowtousetheproductorservicewisely,toholdreasonableexpectations,andseekresolutionofproblemsbeforewithdrawingpatronageorpressingalawsuit.
Individualsandorganizationsmusthandletheseissuesintheirownways,andmanywilloptforconventionalmethods.Despitethegrowthofasoftsalesapproach,forinstance,somecardealerscontinuetothriveon
Page127
overstatedadsandsalespressure.Thefactisthatmanybuyersarereluctanttogiveupthethrillofhagglingoverprices.
44WeareremindedagainthattheNewManagementcannotbeusedasdoctrineifithopestomeetthediverseneedsfacingorganizations.
Becauseadiversityofapproachesispossible,toughchoicesmustbemadethathingeonourpersonalvaluesandwillingnesstochange.Dowereallyhavetoacceptthischallengeofyieldingourself-interest?IknowthatIhavetroublesubjugatingmyinterests.Ifitistruethatservingothersismoreeffective,whatpreventsusfromdoingit?Whatwouldwegiveup?Whatwouldwegain?Whatwillhappenifwedonotchange?
ImustadmitthatIdonothavegoodanswerstothesequestions,butIdoknowthatthetrendsnotedabovearegoingtoseverelytestusallduringthedifficultyearsahead.
Notes
1."Pul-eeze!WillSomebodyHelpMe?"Time(February2,1987).AmandaBennett,"MakingtheGradewiththeCustomer,"WallStreetJournal(November12,1990).
2."IsHerbKelleherAmerica'sBestCEO?"Fortune(May2,1994).
3.RexTohetal.,"Frequent-FlierGames:TheProblemofEmployeeAbuse,"TheExecutive(February1993).
4."15FirmsTargetWorkers'Frequent-FlyerAwards,"WashingtonPost(May9,1994)."FrequentFlyerChangesRilePassengers,"WashingtonPost(February2,1995).ForagoodanalysisseeJeffBlyskal,''TheFrequentFlyerFallacy,"Worth(May1994).
5."20CompaniesonaRoll,"Fortune(Autumn/Winter1995).
6.DonOldenburg,"Don'tJustHangUp,"WashingtonPost(January14,1993).
7.MagidM.AbrahamandLeonardM.Lodish,"GettingtheMostOutofAdvertisingandPromotion,"HarvardBusinessReview(MayJune1990),pp.5060;JohnPhilipJones,"TheDoubleJeopardyofSalesPromotions,"HarvardBusinessReview(SeptemberOctober1990).
8.PaulFarhi,"TheEverlastingSale,"WashingtonPost(June20,1993).FrancineSchwadel,"The'Sale'IsFadingasaRetailingTactic,"WallStreetJournal(March1,1989).
9.In"LetterstotheEditor,"BusinessWeek(July3,1989).
Page128
10.JamesH.Snider,"ConsumersintheInformationAge,"TheFuturist(JanuaryFebruary1993).
11.Asurveyof260marketingexecutivesfoundthat"profitability"wasratedastheirhighestpriority,"quality"wasthird,"bettercommunicationswithcustomers"wasfifth,and"customersatisfaction"wasnotmentioned.''MarketingPriorities,"ResearchBulletinNo.205(NewYork:TheConferenceBoard,1987).
12.SeeJamesPattersonandPeterKim,TheDayAmericaToldtheTruth:WhatPeopleReallyBelieveAboutEverythingThatReallyMatters(EnglewoodCliffs,N.J.:Prentice-Hall,1992).
13.JulietSchor,TheOverworkedAmerican:TheUnexpectedDeclineofLeisure(NewYork:BasicBooks,1992).
14.RichardTodd,"Po'BoysonParade,"Worth(September1993).
15.SeethespecialissueValueMarketing,BusinessWeek(November11,1991).
16.MeettheNewConsumer,specialissueofFortune(Autumn/Winter1993),pp.67.
17."MostConsumersShunLuxuries,"WallStreetJournal(September19,1989).DuaneElgin,VoluntarySimplicity(NewYork:Morrow,1993).
18.PaulHawken,"TruthorConsequences,"Inc.(August1987).
19.QuotedfromRichKarlgaard,"AnInterviewwithJohnScully,"Forbes(December1992).
20.ChristinaDuffandBobOrtega,"HowWal-MartOutdidaOnce-ToutedKmart,"WallStreetJournal(March21,1995).
21.ConferenceBoardMonthlyBriefings(February1987).
22.GretchenMorgenson,"TheFalloftheMall,"Forbes(May24,1993).
23.AliceLaPlante,"It'sWiredWillyLoman,"ForbesASAP(June1994).
24.PatriciaSellers,"TheBestWaytoReachYourBuyers,"Fortune(Autumn/Winter1993).
25."RetailingWillNeverBetheSame,"BusinessWeek(July26,1993).
26.PatriciaSellers,"KeepingtheCustomersYouAlreadyHave,"andRahulJacob,"BeyondQuality&Value,"bothinFortune(Autumn/Winter1993).
27.Hawken,"TruthorConsequences."
28.MichaelSchrage,"CustomersMayBeYourBestCollaborators,"WallStreetJournal(February27,1989);"The'Bloodbath'inMarketResearch,"BusinessWeek(February11,1991).
29.RonaldHenkoff,"WhyEveryRed-BloodedConsumerOwnsaTruck,"Fortune(May29,1995).
Page129
30.KevinHelliker,"Smile:ThatCrankyShopperMayBeaStoreSpy,"WallStreetJournal(November30,1994).
31.JustinMartin,"IgnoreYourCustomer,"Fortune(May1,1995).
32.B.JosephPineetal.,"MakingMassCustomizationWork,"HarvardBusinessReview(SeptemberOctober1993).
33.Thereiscontroversyoverthispoint.Someauthoritiesclaimthatclientsatisfactiondoesnotcorrelatewellwithretention,soitimportanttodistinguishclientsatisfactionfromloyalty.SeeFrederickReichheld,"Loyalty-BasedManagement,"HarvardBusinessReview(MarchApril1993),andLeonardBerryetal.,"ImprovingServiceQuality,"AcademyofManagementExecutive(May1994).
34."KingCustomer,"BusinessWeek(March12,1990).RahulJacob,"WhySomeCustomersAreMoreEqualthanOthers,"Fortune(September19,1994).
35.Theseexamplesarenotedin"SmartSelling,"BusinessWeek(August3,1992);"KingCustomer,"BusinessWeek(March12,1990).
36.KennethLabich,"IsHerbKelleherAmerica'sBestCEO?"Fortune(May2,1994).
37.TimothyW.Firnstahl,"MyEmployeesAreMyServiceGuarantee,"HarvardBusinessReview(JulyAugust1989).
38.SeeArlieHochschild,TheManagedHeart(LosAngeles:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,1983),andBlakeAshforthandRonaldHumphrey,"EmotionalLaborinServiceRoles,"AcademyofManagementReview(January1993),pp.88115.
39.J.C.Szabo,"Service=Survival,"Nation'sBusiness(March1989).
40."SmartSelling,"BusinessWeek(August3,1992),p.47.Emily
Thornton,"RevolutioninJapaneseRetailing,"Fortune(February7,1994).
41.Halal,TheNewCapitalism(NewYork:Wiley,1986),Ch.3.
42.SeeHalal,TheNewCapitalism,Ch.3.
43.GaryHamelandC.K.Prahalad,CompetingfortheFuture(Cambridge,Mass.:HarvardBusinessSchoolPress,1994).
44.DouglasLavin,"Youwannadeal?"WallStreetJournal(July8,1994).
Page131
6KnowledgeEntrepreneurs:AWorkingContractofRightsandResponsibilitiesNotlongago,worklifewasaprettystraightforwardaffair.Youfoundajob,didwhatyouweretold,andwerepaidasalary.Butrecentlythissystembegancomingapart.Layoffshaveshatteredthebondsofemployee-employerloyalty.Wageshavebeenfallingfortwodecades.Unionmembershiphasdroppedtoafractionofitsformerlevels.Andone-thirdofthelaborforcehasbecomelostina"contingent"statusofpart-timeortemporarywork.
Atthesametime,otherchangeshavebegunintroducingmoreenlightenedworkpractices.Employeesareencouragedtoparticipateinmajordecisions.Manynowowntheircompanies.Theyenjoybroaderrightstocontroltheirwork.Thelaborforceisbecomingdiverse.Andmostjobsarefarmoreinterestingthantheyoncewere.
Thesecrosscurrentsintheemploymentrelationshipflowoutofaturbulentpassageinourconceptofwork.Thepaternalisticsysteminwhich"bosses"supervised"employees"inrunningthemachineryofanIndustrialAgeisyieldingtoacomplexworldofknowledgeworkwheremoreisaskedofus.Organizationstodayneedtheintellect,involvement,andcreativeideasofeveryonewhoworksinthem.Theconfusingchangesnotedabovearesearchingstepstowardredefiningworklife.
Thischaptersketchesouttheworkrolesmostpeoplewilloccupyinadecadeorso.Inaworldgovernedbyknowledge,change,andcomplexity,
Page132
peoplewillincreasinglyworkinaself-directedcapacitytosolveintellectualproblems.Mostworkerswillbepartofaself-managedteamthatcollaborateswithotherteamsandorganizations,alloperatingfreelyovertheglobalgridofinformationnetworks.AsIoutlinedinChapter2,managerswillhavetoorganizethesepeopleintoInformationAgeequivalentsoftheentrepreneurknowledgeentrepreneurswhoenjoythefreedomandrewardsofbeingself-employed,whilealsobearingtheresponsibilitiesandrisksthatareinvolved.
RedefiningtheEmploymentRelationship
Thistransitionposesdauntingconflictsaspeoplearewrestledoutoftheiroldroles,butitalsopromisestorealizethehumanpotentialthathaslaindormantthroughouthistory.Forinstance,knowledgeworkersmustbetreatedasself-employedprofessionalsbecausetheirworkisinherentlycomplex,innovative,andrequiresdeeppersonalinvolvement,soitcannotbe"supervised."That'swhyallprofessionsinvariablydevelopanethicofself-control.
TheLabor-ManagementConflictIntensifies
Theseadjustmentsarenotgoingtobemadebysimply"empoweringpeople"insomevaguesense.Howdoesone"empower"100,000employeesofatypicalFortune500companytojoininmajordecisions?Cananygrouplargerthanafewhundredpeoplereachconsensusquicklyenoughtosurvive,orwoulditresembletheU.S.Congress?EventhefamedMondragonsystemofSpainsufferedabreakdownasaresultofgrowingbureaucracy.
Considertheconceptofemployeestockownershipplans(ESOPs),whichisoftenconsideredthewaytosalvation.ESOPsarespreadingthroughtheairlineindustrybecausetheyofferemployeesprideofownership,apartialdefenseagainsthostiletakeovers,taxdeductions,
andotheradvantages.In1985EasternAirlinesbecamethefirstlargeAmericancompanytobeemployee-owned,andfouremployeesgainedseatsontheboardofdirectors.IvividlyrecalltheexcitementofseeingEasternpilots,flightattendants,andticketagentsappearinginTVcommercialsannouncingthesuperiorserviceontheirairline.Yetseverelabor-managementconflictsoonledthisgreatairlinetobankruptcy.
1Aworkerexpressedthe
Page133
yawninggapbetweenpromiseandreality:"Iworkedherebefore[theESOP]andIworkedhereafterward.Idon'tseeanychange.Thingsgoonexactlyasbefore."
ThisisachronicprobleminESOPs.Theevidenceshowsthatemployeeownershipitselfisrarelyadvantageous;rather,itistheself-managementthatESOPsallowinsmallfirmsthatismostuseful.However,anysysteminvolvingmorethanafewhundredmembersissimplytoobigforopendecision-makingamongallconcerned.Alargemeetingcouldholdeveryone,butgroupsofmorethantwentytofiftypeoplecanrarelyworktogetherwell,andsoaformalmanagementhierarchyofsometypeisunavoidable.Also,resourcesarealwaysscarce,whichleadstotheeconomicrealityofmakingtoughdecisionsthatwillnotpleaseallparties.AswesawinChapter3,amorefundamentalproblemisthatemployeesrepresentbutonestakeholder,soESOPscannotprovidethebroadergovernanceneededtoformacorporatecommunity.ThatmayexplainwhythepatternofemployeeownershipinAmericahasbeenlimitedtoaminorityofstockinalmostallcorporationswhereitisused.
Thelistofsuchobstaclestoahumanworkplaceislong,usuallyleadingESOPsbacktotheverysystemtheyweredesignedtoavoid.ItwillbeinterestingtoseeifthefateofEasternAirlinesisvisitedonthenewestbigESOP,UnitedAirlines.
Mostoftheotherinnovationsinemployeerelationshaveexperiencedsimilardisappointments.ScholarssuchasAbrahamMaslow,DouglasMcGregor,andRensisLikertdemonstratedthevirtuesofparticipativemanagementinthe1950s,yetverylittlechangeduntilthe1990s,andsomeofthisisquestionable.Thedemoralizingeffectsofdownsizing,TQM,andreengineeringaresonotorioustheyareusuallyconsideredtobeeuphemismsfor"layoffs";oneofthehottesttrainingseminarsformanagersin1995was"HowtoFireEmployees."
2
TheseproblemsmayescalatebecauseadvancednationssuchastheUnitedStatesarepassingthroughachronicallydepressedphaseofeconomicdevelopment.Thereareminorhighsandlows,ofcourse,causedbythenormalfour-yearbusinesscycle.Butsuperimposedovertheseshorttermoscillationsisthetroughofasixty-yearKondratieffcyclethatshouldcontinuethroughoutthe1990s.TheGreatDepressionwascausedbythe
Page134
previoustroughthatoccurredinthe1930s.AndglobalcompetitionisintensifyingasLatinAmerica,Asia,andotherdevelopingnationsthatpaytheirworkers$1perhourtakeworkawayfrommodernlaborforcesthatcost$20perhour.Notonlyarejobsgoingtolow-wagecountries,theirworkersarecominghere.Justasaglobaleconomynowallowscapitaltoseekitshighestreturnsaroundtheworld,poorpeoplefromEasternEurope,China,Mexico,andotherdevelopingnationsareflowingacrossborderssearchingforhigherwages.
3
Thus,relentlesslaborcompetitionislikelytoproducefurthereconomicpressuresonemployment.Knowledgeworkersmayremainlargelyimmunetothesepressuresbecausetheirvaluableskillsareinshortsupply.Butunskilledworkerswhomustcompeteinaglobalmarketforblue-andwhite-collarjobswillsufferincreasingdemandsforlowwagesandhighproductivity.4
Thesepressuresaregrowingatatimewhenworkersneedhigherincomes.Becausethecostoflivinghassoared,surveysshowthat75percentofcollegestudentsareprimarilyinterestedin"beingwell-offfinancially."5Littlewonderwhenthepriceofamiddle-classhomeinNewYork,Paris,orTokyostartsathalfamilliondollars.Itdoesnottakelongtodiscoverthatonecannotaffordareasonablycomfortablelifestylewithanincomeoflessthan$50,000peryear.
Thisreviewofemploymentrelationsdoesnotdisputetheimportantprogressthathasbeenmade.Employeeshavegainedmanybenefits,andemployershavegainedincreasedresponsibilityforperformance.Itdoes,however,cautionmanagersagainstlettingoverlyoptimisticintentionsandunreasonableexpectationsturnintodisappointingfailures.Thelabor-managementconflictthatpersistedthroughoutindustrializationremainsalivetoday.Bothpartiesremainstuckinan
adversarialposturebecausewelackaninstitutionalsystemforsortingoutthiscomplexrelationship.
RiseoftheKnowledgeWorkforce
InroughlythesamewaytheGreatDepressionpreparedthegroundfortheboomingserviceeconomythatflourishedbetweenthe1950sandthe1980s,today'srecessionshouldleadtoarobustknowledgeeconomystartingduringthedecadeof20002010.Thepainfulsymptomsofeconomicdeclinehighemployeeturnover,lowwages,andrestructuringareunfor-
Page135
tunatepreludesintheprocessof"creativedestruction"thatclearstheeconomiclandscapeforthiscomingburstofgrowth.
Thefirstpriorityistoputtheindustrialpastbehindbyautomatingasmuchroutineworkaspossible.Manypeopleresistautomationbecauseiteliminatesjobs,andothersfeartechnologygenerally.Automationiscertainlytraumatic,butbetterjobsarecreatedbyopeningupnewfrontiers.That'swhythehistorictrendcontinuallymovesinthisdirection,asshowninFigure6.1.
Blue-collarworkhasdeclinedfromitshighpoint,whenhalfofthelaborforceworkedinfactories,toroughly20percentin1995.Automationshouldcontinuetothepointwhere10percentorlessoftheworkforcewillperformblue-collarworkinadecadeortwo,justasagriculture,whichonceclaimedtwo-thirdsofallworkers,nowemploysonly3percentoftheworkforce.TheServiceEconomybeganabout1950,whenthenumberofwhite-collarworkersfirstexceededthenumberofblue-collarworkers.Aswelearntousepowerfulnewinformationtechnologiesbetter,officeautomationshouldalsodecreasethenumberofwhite-collarworkersfromitspresent40percenttoabout20to30percentoverthenextdecadeortwo.Theremaining60to70percentorsooftheworkforcemaythenbecomposedofknowledgeworkers:skilledmanufacturingteams,informationsystemdesigners,managers,professionals,educators,scientists,andthelike.
6
Thisprocessrepresentsanaturalcycleineconomicdevelopmentthatisdisruptive,tobesure.Nonetheless,workisslowlybutinexorablymovingfromphysicallabor,tosocialrelations,tocreatingknowledge,therebyboostingproductivity,livingstandards,andthequalityoflifetounprecedentedlevels.
Someeconomistscontendthatserviceworkissoinherentlypersonalthatitcannotbeautomated.ButATMs,electronicshopping,computerizedcommunications,educationaltelevision,andotheradvancesareprovingotherwise.AT&Tusedcomputersystemstoreduceitsforceofphoneoperatorsfrom250,000in1956to50,000today,andthenumberisstillfalling.7Imaginetheimpactonuniversitieswhencoursesfeaturing"star"professorscanbebroadcastaroundtheglobe.AsFigure6.1alsosuggests,thisprocessshouldintimeleadtoafocusonthe"mental/spiritual"domain,aswenotedinChapter4,butthatisanotherstory.
Page136
Figure6.1.TheEvolutionofWork.
Page137
PrinciplesofKnowledgeWork
Naturally,knowledgeworkwilldramaticallychangeorganizations.Americanbusinessinvested$1trillioninofficeautomationduringthe1980s,butsawlittlegainbecausethetechnologywassimplylaidoveroutmodedorganizationstructures.PaulStrassmann,whowaschiefinformationofficeratXeroxandattheU.S.DepartmentofDefense(DoD),noted:"ForthirtyyearsAmericabroughtincomputerstospeedupthekindofworkthatjustaccentuatesbureaucracy."
Thepayoffbeganinthe1990sasmanagerslearnedhowtoredesignorganizations.
8Althoughscholarsandconsultantshavestruggledtodefinetheemergingprinciplesofwork,Iammostimpressedbytheremarkablepragmatismanddiversityallaboutus,asillustratedinBox6.1.Itistrulyamazingtosee,timeandtimeagain,howthemyriadvariationspeoplecandevisealmostdefyanymodel.AlthoughtheconceptsofferedherereflecttheNewManagementthemesofinternalmarketsandcorporatecommunity,theyaregeneralguidesratherthanfirmprinciples.
UseInformationSystemstoCreateSmallSelf-ManagedUnits
Thefocusisonbreakinglargeorganizationsdownintosmall,self-managedunits.Thelargemanufacturingplantisgivingwaytosmall"focusedfactories"thatproduceavarietyofsmallproductsorsubassembliesoflargeproducts(suchasautos).Thesameconceptisbreakinglargewhite-collarorganizationsintosmallofficesthatprovidesomewell-definedservice.Thismovefromeconomiesofscaletosmall,autonomousunitsminimizesbureaucracy,encouragesunitcohesion,andpermitsflexibilityforchange.
Intelligentinformationsystemsthenintegratealloperationsintoaworkingwhole.Withinfactories,computer-integratedmanufacturing(CIM),usesdistributednetworksofpowerfulPCstoassistallphasesofwork,fromcomputer-aidedproductdesign(CAD),tomanufacturing(CAM),toinventorycontrol,todistribution.Inoffices,localareanetworks(LANs)orgroupwaresystemsaredoingthesame,allowingpeopleto"telework"fromanylocation.TheresultwasnicelysummedupbyRamchandranJaikumar:"Thebehemothisgone.Theefficientfactoryisnowanaggregationofsmallcellsofelectronicallylinkedandcontrolledflexiblemanufacturingsystems."9
Page138
BOX6.1.EXEMPLARSOFKNOWLEDGEWORK.
IBM,Motorola,GE,andHewlett-Packardhavedevelopedassemblyplantsthatuseteamsofskilledworkerstoproducedozensofdifferentproductssimultaneously.Theseoperationsarecoordinatedbycomputersystemsthatreceiveorderselectronically;theythenspecifyallpartsneededtoassembleeachunit,transportthepartstoanassemblyline,assistlineworkersintheiroperations,andshipfinishedgoods,oftenwithinhoursofreceivingtheorder."Ourvisionissimultaneousmanufacturing,"saidonemanager."Tomakeproductsevenasthecustomertalks.We'regettingclose."
AetnaLife&Casualtyploddedalongfordecadesprocessingpolicyapplicationsthroughthehandsofsixtydifferentstaffs.AfterredesigningthesystemsothatoneemployeeperformsallstepsusingaPC,thenumberofemployeesdroppedfrom3,000to700andcustomersgettheirpolicyintwodaysinsteadofthirty.
Lockheedcreatedafocusedfactorytofabricateaircraftparts.Automatedmachinerywasrearrangedintoanintegrated,self-containedunit,reducingmovementfrom2,500feetbeforethechangetonomorethan150feetafterward,andallowingasmallteamtomanagetheentirefacility.Thetimeneededtodesignandmanufacturingpartsdroppedfromfifty-twodaystotwodays.
NationalBicycleCompanyusesanassemblylineoperatedbycomputerizedrobotstoproduce11,231,862variationsofbicycles,eachdesignedtomeetacustomer'sspecifications,at10percentabovenormalcosts.Thesalesmanagerdescribetheirgoal:"Ourideawastomakeaseparatemodelforeverycustomer."
CoorsBrewingopenedanewfacilitythathandlestwicetheoutputofitsotherplantsbyusinganintegratedinformationsystemto
coordinatealloperationsofits350workersfromthefrontofficetotheshopfloor.Ithasbecomethelowest-cost,safest,mostproductivebreweryintheindustry.
TravelersInsurancehasautomatedtwo-thirdsofitsofficework,sothebulkofemployeesarenolongerclerksbutprofessionalnurseswhosuperviseaccounts.Theyusemedicaldatabasesandexpertsystemstodeterminewhetherasecondorthirdopinionisneededinanygivencase,questionunreasonablecostsorprocedures,andcoordinatebetweenclientsandmedicalstaff.Ultimately,thecompanyexpectstohavetwothousandnursesworkinginthiscapacity.
BoeingusednineIBMmainframes,aCraysupercomputer,and1,500workstationstobuildamassiveinteractivecomputernetworkthatcoordinatesthedesign,testing,andconstructionofitsnew777aircraftinthreedimensions.LikeagiantCAD/CAMsystem,itcanaccessalldetailsofthreemillionparts,operatethematwill,andcheckallinterfaces.Thesystemreducedthetimerequiredtobuildtheplaneby90percentandproducedunheardofaccuracy.
Sources:"RethinkingWork,"BusinessWeek(October17,1994);"TheDigitalFactory,"Fortune(November14,1994);TheProductivityPayoff,''Fortune(June27,1994).
Page139
Eachunitisthenmanagedbyaself-directedteamofknowledgeworkerswhoaregivenalmosttotalcontrolfromproductdesign,tomanufacturing,tosales,toservice,todisposal.Computerizationpermitssuchflexibilitythatproductscanbecustomizedtosuitindividualneeds;thuscloseliaisonwiththeclientinitiatesthemanufacturingcyclebyspecifyingproductdesign.Suppliersanddistributorscanbeintegratedintooperationsusingon-linecomputersystemstoautomaticallymovemerchandise.Andecologicalconcernsincreasinglyrequirepriorplanningduringproductdesignandmanufacturing.
Teamsareheldaccountablebyallocatingbudgets,pay,bonuses,andotherresourcesinproportiontoperformance,andtheyarethenallowedtoruntheiraffairsastheythinkbest.Theytypicallychoosetheirco-workersandleaders,selecttheiroperatingsystemsandtools,andworkwithsuppliersandotherunits,usuallydoingabetterjobthanformallyappointedsupervisors.Self-directedteamsareparticularlygoodatdiscipliningtheirownmembers."Sometimeswehavetotellourco-workerswhoaren'tcarryingtheirloadthatthisishurtingus,"saidonewoman.
Althougheveryunitshouldideallybemanagedbyaself-directedteam,goodteamscannotbemuchlargerthanabouttwentypeople.Largerunitsmaybebrokendownintoseveralteamsthatassumeresponsibilityforsomemorelimitedfunction.And,obviously,teamsmustcoordinatetheirworkwithotherteamstocreateacoherent,collaborativeorganization.
TheNewEmploymentContract
ThesechangespresentaHerculeanchallenge,ofcourse,becausetheyrequirenewconceptstoredefinetheemploymentrelationship.Note,forinstance,thattherehasbeennomentionofthetraditional"job"inthisdiscussion.In1994,Fortunemagazineannounced"TheEndof
theJob":
Thejobisvanishinglikeaspeciesthathasoutliveditstime....Theconditionsthatcreatedjobsmassproductionandthelargeorganizationaredisappearing.[Managers]willhavetorethinkalmosteverythingtheydo.
10
Alongwiththemovetoself-managedteams,organizationsaremovingawayfromtheoldconceptof"pay-for-position,"inwhichworkersweretraditionallypaidforfulfillingspecifiedduties:arrivingatworkpunctually,
Page140
beingcooperativewithothers,andotherbehaviorscoveredinthetypicalannualperformanceevaluation.Thissystemmaintainedasenseoforderliness,butithadlittletodowithproductivity,anditwashighlysubjective.Itisnowbeingreplacedbyamorebusiness-likearrangementinwhichemployeesaresimplypaidfortheoutputtheyproduce"pay-for-performance."Roughlythree-quartersofAmericanworkplacesnowusesometypeof"variablepaysystem":incentiverates,meritbonuses,profitsharing,andotherplans.''Performancepayisgrowinglikewildfire,"saidoneexecutive.
11
Thesetrendsappeartobemovingtowarda"newemploymentcontract"thatlinksemployeerightswithresponsibilities.Thisisthesame"participativemanagement"thatwasadvocatedfordecades,butwenowseethatitwouldbeunworkablewithoutunifyingthesetwofunctionsintoabalancedsystem.Ifemployeesenjoyfreedomintheirwork,goodpay,andotherrightswithoutbeingaccountableforresults,theorganizationmaynotsurvive;converselyiftheybeartheburdenofresponsibilitieswithoutcommensuratepowersandbenefits,theywillbeneitherwillingnorabletocarryouttheirduties.
WeshouldnotethatthenewemploymentcontractembodiesthesamelogicthatformsthefoundationforinternalmarketstructuresdiscussedinChapter2:workersarepaidanagreed-uponsumforanagreed-uponresult,andtheyarefreetoperformtheirworkastheyseefit.Thiscanbethoughtofasanextensionofaninternalmarketsystem.Whereinternalmarketsconcernthestructureofenterpriseswithinanorganization,theemploymentcontractconcernsthestructureofteamswithinenterprises,somewhatlikean"internallabormarket."
Thenewemploymentcontractoffersthesameadvantagesasdo
internalmarketsystems:organizationsareassuredofperformance,workersenjoyopportunitiestoearnandcontroltheirwork,thesystemlendsitselftocomplexityandchange,andsoon.Butitincursthedisadvantagesofmarketsystemsaswell:thelevelofdisorderishigher,thereisariskofoccasionalfailures,andsoon.
Manythoughtfulpeopleinsistthatworksystemsbasedonfinancialincentivesareinherentlyflawedbecauseonlyself-initiatedworkmotivatedbypersonalgoalscanbeeffectiveandelevating.InplainEnglish,thisviewholdsthatmoneydoesnotmotivate,norshouldit.Thislogicisappealing,butitfliesinthefaceofcommonexperienceandtheopinionsofalmostallbusinessexecutives.Thefallacyinthisviewcomesfromseeingmoneyand
Page141
higher-orderinterestsasmutuallyexclusive.Awealthofresearchevidenceshowstheyarebothnecessary.
12
Motivationsurveysconsistentlyshowthatmoneyalonewouldcauseseriousdisenchantmentwithwork,asthecriticscontend,butthesurestwaytodevastateanorganizationistonotpaypeopleequitably.Thenewemploymentcontractresolvesthemoneyissuebyensuringthatpeoplearepaidfairlyfortheircontributions,anditthenencouragesthemtochannelalltheirtalentsintothecreativemanagementoftheirwork.Whatmorecouldoneaskfor?
Myriadvariationsinworkpracticesandpaysystemsexistthatmaygrowevenmorediverse,astheexamplesinBox6.2illustrate.Somepeoplelikeincentiveplans,whileothersprefersalaries.Someplansfocusonindividuals,othersonteams,andstillothersoncompanywideplans;manyorganizationsuseallthreelevelsofincentives.Thedifficultyofmanagingthousandsofindividualarrangementsisoneofthefactorsthatmakeself-managedteamssoattractive.Teamsarealsousefulbecausetheybuildcohesion,whereasindividualpay-for-performancesystemsoftenflounderbecausetheyareseenasforcingpeopletocompeteforalimitedpooloffunds.
Inschools,forinstance,meritpayfacesanuphillfightbecauseindividualperformanceevaluationspitteachersagainsttheircolleagues.Abettersolutionwouldbetouniteallteachers,administrators,andparentsintoasingleself-managedenterprisethatservesstudentsbetter,therebyattractingmoreresourcestobesharedequitablyamongmembersoftheteam.
Whateverthepaysystemandtheorganization,thecentralideaistoensureasenseofequitybetweenthecontributionseachindividual
makesversustherewardstheyreceive,asnotedinChapter3.Sinceequityissuchacrucialbutsubjectivematter,theoptimalpaysystemcanonlybedeterminedbythepeopleinvolved.Box6.2showsthatawidevarietyofsystemscanbeperfectlyworkable.
Itisimportanttonotethattheconceptofself-managedteamslendsitselftovariousotherarrangements,asshowninChapter2.Teamsmaybeinternalconsultantsservinginternalandexternalclients,theycanbeexternalbusinessgroupsservinginternalclients,andmembersofteamsmayalsobeinterchanged.Becauseteamsareself-managed,theycanorganizetheirworkstyletoincludejobsharing,rotationofassignments,using
Page142
BOX6.2.EXEMPLARSOFPAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE.
SpringfieldManufacturingeducatesemployeesonallphasesofmanagement,givesthemaccesstofinancialinformation,encouragesteamstomakedecisionsfortheirunits,andprovidesstockownershipandprofit-sharingplans."Whenanemployeejoinsthiscompany,"saysJackStack,president,"Wemakeitclearthathis/herjobisnottoturnmetaloranswerthephone,itistoboostprofits."
NucorSteeliswidelyregardedas"theclosestthingtoaperfectcompanyinthesteelindustry."Minimillsarerunbyteamsoftechnicianswhohavealmostcompletecontroloveralloperationsandreceivebonusesthatcandoubletheirincomes.In1994,JohnDoherty,whoheadstheNucormillinNorfolk,Nebraska,earnedanadditional$80,000incashand$40,000instock."We'rerunningourownbusinesses,andwe'dbetterperform,"heobserved.
Theautoindustryintroducedprofit-sharingbonusesin1984.Sincethen,GM,Ford,andChryslerhavepaidhundredsofmillionofdollarseachyearto600,000employees,averagingabout$750each.In1994,Chryslerpaiditsemployeesanaveragebonusof$4,000.
AT&Tbasestheincomesof80,000middlemanagersand30,000technicalpeopleonprofitsatthreelevels:teams,businessunits,andthecompanyasawhole.Teammemberscanreceive5to10percentbonusesfortheirteam'sperformance,businessunitmanagerscanreceiveanadditional10percent,andallmanagersreceiveanother7.5percentifthecompanyhitsitsperformancetargets.
GeneralMillsfixesmanagementsalariesbelowindustrystandards
andthenrewardsmanagersforexcellentperformance.Forinstance,theYoplaityogurtteamdidsowellthatahalf-dozenmanagerscollectedanadditional$30,000to$50,000inbonusmoney.Theproductmanagerexplained:"Ifyoudoagreatjob,yougetabiggerreward."
MarshallIndustriesreplacedanincentivesystemwithfixedsalariesandacompanywidebonus.Nowsalesareupandpeoplepreferthepredictability.Thestarsalespersongaveupher$400,000paycheckforlessthanhalfthatsum,butissatisfiedbecausetheplanislessstressful."AtfirstIthought,'God,doIreallywanttodothis?'Butyoucan'tputadollarvalueonthebenefitsIhave."
Munger,Tolles&Olsen,aLosAngeleslawfirm,asksallfifty-threepartnerstorateeachother'sperformanceeveryyear,andtheaveragesarepostedinrankorder.Thecompensationcommitteereviewsthedata,talkstoeachpartner,andallocatespaythatcanvaryasmuchasfivetimesthelowestsum."Thestandardbywhichweassesseachotheriswellunderstood,"saidonepartner.
Sources:ShawnTully,"YourPaycheckGetsExciting,"Fortune(November1,1993);JacylnFierman,"ThePerilousWorldofFairPay,"Fortune(June13,1994).
Page143
temporaryworkers,oranyotherarrangementstheyprefer.Itisthenaneasysteptovisualizeanorganizationasachangingassemblyofteamsandindividuals,heldtogetherbyinformationnetworks,commonvalues,andotheraspectsofinfrastructure,therebycomposinga"virtualorganization."
Insuchproteanorganizations,thechallengewillbetostrikeabalancebetweentheadvantagesofcreativeflexibilityandthedifficultyofunitingpeoplewhoareworkingincyberspace,asnotedinChapter4.Bothareessential,andtheneedfortheseopposingqualitiesislikelytogrow.Tumultuouschangewilldemandcontinualadaptation,yetdiverseeconomicactorsworkingaroundtheglobemustremainintegratedintoacoherentwhole.
Thisfundamentaltransitiontoknowledge-basedworkissovastinitsimplicationsthatweprobablycannotreallyanticipatewhereitwilllead.Butthenewemploymentcontractseemsareasonabledirection,anditfitsinnicelywithotherimportantfacetsofworktoday,towhichwenowturnourattention.
Teleworking
AsChapter1showed,thedrivetomakeITsystemscheap,powerful,andconvenientisproducingarevolutioninworkthatwillenterthemainstreamsoon.RoughlyfortymillionAmericanswereengagedinvariousformsofteleworkingin1994,andthatnumberisgrowing50percentperyearasthecostofevermorepowerfulinformationsystemsdropsbyafactorofteneveryfewyears.
13
Peoplewillalwaysneedpersonalcontact,andthereareproblemsworkinginan"electroniccottage,"tobesure.Butteleworkingoffersconvenientwaystoaugmentface-to-facemeetingsasinformation
systemsbecomeuser-friendlyandinexpensive.Ratherthanpermanentemployeesworking9to5withinthesamebuilding,then,thismodeof"electronicallymediatedwork"willtranscendpreviousrestrictionsoftimeandplace.Inaworldofsuchvastpossibilities,theideaofhavingemployeesdutifullyreporttotheirsupervisorbecomespositivelyquaint.Underthenewemploymentcontract,however,thingslookmorereasonable.Withaccountabilityestablished,teamscanuseITcapabilitiestoworkwhereverandwhenevertheythinkbest.Box6.3describessignsofspeedingtrafficalongtheinformationsuperhighway.
Page144
BOX6.3.GROWTHOFTELEWORKING.
DecreasingITCosts.ITcostsaredroppingbyafactorofteneveryfewyears,makingfarwiderusagefeasible.Ateleconferencingsystemthatcost$1millionin1982couldbeboughtforabout$50,000in1994,andtransmissiontimehasgonefrom$2,000perhourto$100.Thecoming"telecomputer,"whichwillcombinethefunctionsoftoday'sPC,TV,andtelephone,islikelytosellforroughly$1,000orpossiblylessbyabouttheyear2000.
Telecommuting.NinemillionAmericansweretelecommutingfulltimein1994,butthenumberleapsto40millionifpart-timetelecommutersandself-employedpeopleareincluded.BellAtlantichasits16,000managerstelecommutingatleastpart-time,andplanstoaddits50,000employees.Thefederalgovernmentisincreasingitsprogramfrom3,000to60,000employeeswhoareexpectedtobetelecommutingby1997.CompaniessuchasChiat/Dayareturningtheirofficesintomeetingroomsforoccasionalgatheringsbecauseeveryoneusesportablecomputerstoworktogetherfromtheirhomesandinthefield.Roughly60percentofallofficeproductsaresoldtolawyers,stockbrokers,andotherentrepreneurialpeoplewhoworkathome,whiletraveling,andfromotherlocations."Thinkofanyjob,andsomeone'sdoingitfromhome,"saidtheeditorofHomeOfficeComputing.
Teleconferencing.Variousformsofteleconferencingaregrowingat40to60percentperyear,andthiscommunicationmethodshouldbecommonlyusedbeforetheyear2000.CompaniessuchasBoeing,3M,andHewlett-Packarduseinteractiveteleconferencingacrossseveralorganizations,reducingthetimerequiredtocompleteatypicalprojectby90percent.Asof1994,
therewereabout30millionPCsintheUnitedStates,wiredtogetherby6,000localnetworksthatareoperatedby300typesofgroupware,suchasLotusNotes.Internetisexpectedtohave100millionusersaroundtheworldbythelate1990s.Theinstallationoftelecommunicationandfiberopticnetworksisgrowingat50percentperyeartoconnectallelectronicsystemsintoonegreat.digitalsoup.
AllFunctions.ITusenowcoverstheentirespanofbusinessandsocialactivity:electronicbanking,shopping,education,publishing,medicine,andotherfunctionsarebeingaddedtothislistdaily.SmallruraltownslikeAurora,Nebraska,haveaccesstotheinformationsuperhighwaythroughfiberopticcablesthatpermitvideoconferencing."We'reanothersuburbofChicagonow,"boaststhemayor.Thus,allformsofsocialinteractioncan,inprinciple,bereplacedbyelectronicequivalents.
Sources:WilliamHalal,"Teleworking"(Washington,D.C.:InformationStrategiesGroupReport,1992);"TheInformationTechnologyRevolution,"TechnologicalForecastingandSocialChange(August1993).
Page145
Workingathomenowbecomesafeasibleoption.Atonetime,ahomeofficewasanembarrassmentbecauseitimpliedthelackofaregularjob,butnowithasbecometrendy.Pickupanymagazineandyouwillseephotosoflavishhomeofficesequippedwiththelatestinformationsystems,beckoningthehigh-pressuredexecutivetounwindinatranquilsettingandreleasethecreativeintellectualwithin."ThebiggestbenefitisthatIcanmaintainafullschedulewhilealsobeinginvolvedinmyfamily,"saidoneconsultant.
Buttherearecosts."Youcan'tleavebecauseit'salwaysthere,"saidasaleswoman.Employeesworkingathomeoftenworrythattheyarenotnoticedbeingproductive,andsupervisorsgetuneasynotbeingabletosupervise.AmanageratBellAtlanticsayssometelecommutersare"afraidtogotothebathroomforfearofmissingaphonecallfromtheoffice."
Thisdoesnotmeanthatwewillbecomehermitsslavingawayaloneinourhomes.Thegrowthofelectroniccommunicationsisunlikelytoreplacedirectinteractionbecausepeoplewillalwaysseekopportunitiesforcontactwithothersatwork,atschool,andinothersettings.However,informationsystemswillbecomeaviablealternativetotherealthingasITgrowsmoreconvenient,sowewillusethesesystemstoaugmentpersonalcontacts.Travelisbecomingevermoretimeconsuming,environmentallydamaging,wastefulofenergy,andhectic;allthisincreasesincentivestouseITpartofthetimewhilemaintainingsocialrelationsthroughoccasionaldirectcontact.
Asurveyconductedin1987foundthat56percentofrespondentswouldcontinuetogototheofficeeverydayifgiventhechoiceofworkingathomeelectronically,36percentwouldsplittheirtimebetweenhomeandoffice,andonly7percentwouldworkathomeexclusively.
14RecentstudiesIhaveconductedshowasimilarmixofacceptance,butwithasomewhatstrongerleaningmoretowardcombiningofficeandhomework.
Thisisthedirectionprofessionalgroupsaremovingin,particularlysalespeople,consultants,andotherswhomustworkinthefield.In1993CompaqComputerautomateditsroutinesalesworkbyofferingclientstoll-freeinformationlinesforinquiries,andthenshifteditsentiresalesforceintohomeofficestomakethemmoreeffectiveastravelingconsultants.Eachsalespersonwasprovidedstate-of-the-artITsystems(high-
Page146
poweredPCnotebook,fax,copier,cellularphone,accesstocentralizedaccountlistings)andotherneededsupport.Revenuesdoubledwhilethesalesforcedroppedbyone-third.IBMismakingsimilarchanges.SomanymanagersarenowroutinelyconnectedtotheirofficesusingportableITsystemswhiletravelingthattheyhavebeendefinedasanewbreedof"perpetualmotionexecutive.
15
Plansarealsounderwaytoachieveahappycompromisebetweenworkingattheofficeandworkingathome.Employerswanttosparetheirpeoplelongtripstoofficesinurbancenters,yetmanagersoftenfeeluncomfortableallowingemployeestoworkathome.Onesolutionisthe"teleworkcenter"asatelliteofficecontainingITequipmentthatenablesemployeestoworkintheirneighborhoods.TheU.S.governmentestablishedsuchcentersaroundtheWashington,D.C.,area,andPacificBellhasbeenoperatingcentersinCaliforniaforyears.16SimilarcentersarebeingexperimentedwithinEuropeancountriesandJapan.Ifthistrendcontinues,theconflictbetweenworkingathomeandworkingattheofficecouldberesolvedbyanintermediatesolutionworkinginasatelliteofficenearhome.
ContingencyWork
Arelatedtrendinvolvesthemanypeoplewhoarejoiningthe"contingentworkforce"ofpart-timeemployees,temporaries,andothermarginalgroups.Thecontingencyworkforcecomprisedone-thirdofAmericanworkersin1994andisgrowingsorapidlyitshouldincluderoughlyhalfby2000."Atremendousshifttocontingencyworkisunderway,"observedaneconomist.17
Thisisnotatemporarysolutiontothelackofregularjobs,butamajorshifttoanindependent,morematuremodeof"self-
employment."Contingencyworkersarebecomingtrueknowledgeentrepreneurswhotakechargeoftheircareersbypackagingthemselvesasself-employedcontractorsabletomovefromcompanytocompany,consultantsworkingforvariousfirms,andindividualsstartingtheirownbusinesses.18About20percentofallprofessionalsnowworkas"temps,"includinglawyers,doctors,andevenexecutives."ThetemporaryexecutiveisnowapermanentfixtureinAmericancorporatelife,"claimedanexecutiverecruiter.19
Self-employmentisattractivetomanypeopleanditprovidesimpor-
Page147
tantprofessionalservicestolargeorganizations.Manyindividualspreferthefreedom,challenge,rewards,andexcitementofbeingonone'sown.Afterall,whatbetterwaytofullysatisfythosehigher-orderlongings?Despitethelowpayandbenefitsofmarginalcontinencyworkers,studiesfindtheaveragepayofself-employedpeopleis40percenthigherthanthatoftheiremployedcounterparts.
Andcompanieslikeworkingwithsmallsuppliersbecausetheyminimizecostsandbureaucracyandareusuallymorecompetent.AT&Tbuysgoodsandservicesfrom100,000smallcompanies."Smallfirmshaveanadvantage,"saidAT&Tsdirectorofprocurement.Anentireinfrastructureofhomeequipment,professionalassociations,andotherservicesisspringinguptosupportsmallentrepreneurs.Onefirmcalled"HQInc."leasesofficespace,secretarialservices,meetingrooms,andanythingelsefledglingCEOsmightneedat152locations."Weprovideinstantcredibilityforstartups,"saidthepresidentofHQinNewYorkCity.
20
ITalsoencouragesaneasy-flowingexchangeofpeoplebetweenthesetwosectors.Largecompaniesareincreasinglytrollingthroughinformationservicestofindsmallsuppliers,andviceversa.AcompanyrepresentativedescribedhisexperiencefindingspecializedconsultantsovertheInternet:"Icangetfiftyresponsesinafewminutes."Telecommutingathomeoftenleadstotakingtheleapintostartingone'sownbusinessand,conversely,sellingone'sservicestoalargecompanyoftenleadstoaregularjob.
Ausefulwaytograspthisupheavalinworkistoseethatemploymenthasnowspreadoutalongacontinuum.Atoneendisthetraditionalfulltimejob,whileattheotherendistheself-employedentrepreneur.Thenewemploymentcontractliesatthemiddleofthiscontinuum,
offeringalooseassociationwiththeemployerbutalsotheautonomyoftheentrepreneur,somethinglike"in-sourcing"ratherthan"out-sourcing."Inthisstrategicposition,itactsasagatekeeper,allowingthespeedypassageofemployeestoandfrotosuittheirneedsaswellasthoseoforganizations.Withthedeathofcompanyloyaltytoworkers,employerscannolongeroffersecureemployment,buttheycanassistpeopleinmovingalongthiscontinuum.21
Whatwillitfeelliketoworkthisway?Box6.4presentsahypotheticalscenariothatprojectscurrenttrendsintotheyear2000toconveythefeelandflavorofatypicalknowledgeworker'sdailylife.VeraPaceisamemberofa
Page148
BOX6.4.WORK2000:ADAYINTHEWORKLIFEOFVERAPACE,ASIANREPRESENTATIVE,BIOTRONICS,INC.
Verawasawakenedbythepersistentbeepofherpersonalassistant,Vera-2,lyingonthenighttable.SheaskedwhoitwasandheardAzmiIbrahim'sundulatingvoiceannouncingthathehadaseriousproblematthebioplantinSarawak."TheMalayUnionofPipefittershasstruckthefactory,andnothingisgettingdone,"hewailed."TheyareoffendedatbeingforcedtoworkonaMoslemholiday."
SheaskedAzmitoarrangeameetingwiththeunionleadersat10:00A.M.overthehotel'svideoconferencingsystem,andshestartedpreparingfortheday.Veraaskedherassistant,Vera-2,torescheduleherbreakfastmeetingwithHenriLatourforlunchinsteadandtotransmittheBiotronicsproposalforhimtolookoverinthemeantime."ThisprojectwiththeFrenchisagreatopportunitytoentertheThaimarket,"shemused.
Atteno'clockpromptly,AzmiwaspatchedthroughwhileVerasatatthedeskinherroomattheHongKongHilton."GoodmorningMs.Pace,"heintonedformally.Lookingupatthewallmonitor,VeraattributedhisunusuallydiplomaticmoodtothethreeunionleadersseatedwithhimattheBiotronicsplantinSarawak,Malaysia."PleaseallowmetointroduceMisterSeriAnwar,chiefoftheMalayPipeFittersUnion,andhisassociates,"hesaidwhilebowingslightly.
AlthoughAzmispokegoodEnglish,thethreeunionleadersreliedontheautomatictranslationsystemtoconverttheirMalay."BlessedbeAllah,"theysaidingreetingtoVera,whoreturnedthesalutationinEnglish,asshehadlearnedtodo.
"MisterAnwar,"Veracontinued,"pleaseexplainthecauseofyour
unhappinessandIwilldowhatIcan."Afteranhourofdiscussion,itwasagreedtoreleasetheworkforceforthethree-dayholidaywithhalfpayandtojointlyplanaschedulethatwouldavoidMoslemtraditionsinthefuture.Veraandtheunionchiefthensignedtheelectronicagreementonthescreenusingpenentrysystemsatbothendsofthevideoconference.Whenthegood-byeswereautomaticallytranslatedfromEnglishtoMalayandfromMalaybackintoEnglish,thescreendimmed.
VerastillhadanhourbeforemeetingwithHenri,soshecalledupherNewYorkofficetotellherteam,thePlantDevelopmentUnitofBiotronics,abouttheincident.Hercolleagueswereout,soshetoldVera-2tolocatethemandtotransmitabriefreportoftheunionagreementculledfromthevideoconferencethemachinehadbeenmonitoring.Shethenmadeafewcallstosortoutplansforfiveotherprojectsherteamwasworkingon,suchasthejointventurewithHenriLatourofCompanieBiogenetiqueOrientaleinFrance.Finally,shecalledheryoungstersinPortlandtomakesuretheywereusingtheirnewIBMPersonalTutortogooverthelessonsassignedbytheirteacher.Sureenough,theyhadbeengoofingoffonVirtualReality.
Page149
teamthatdevelopsbiofactoriesforitsparentcompany,Biotronics,andforotherorganizationsaswell.Ifyouhavetroubleimaginingyourselfinthissetting,thinkofpeoplelivingamerehundredyearsago.Whatwouldtheyhavethoughttowitnesstoday'sworldofTV,jetflight,andsupermarkets?TheworldofVeraPacemaybeequallyunsettling,butitwillbenolessrealverysoon.
WorkLifeintheInformationAge
Thisrestructuringofworklifeisnotwithoutitsproblems.Newtechnologiesmustautomateoldprocesses,workmustbereorganizedintoself-containedclustersofactivitiesperformedbyteams,performancegoalsandincentiveplansmustbedefined,andorganizationalarchitecturesneedtobeestablishedtosupportthissystem.Thesocialproblemsofself-managementcanbeespeciallyknotty.JonHart,presidentofOverlyManufacturing,summeduphowheexperiencedthechange:"It'slikePandora'sbox.Youopenupthedoorandeverythingcomesout."
Someunionleadersclaimthatteamworkamountstoasystemof"managementbystress,"intendedtopushworkerstomaximumproductivity,sotheyaretryingtoreversethistrend.
22Yes,peoplecanbeexploited,butratherthanopposetheseinevitablechanges,unionsshouldlookaftertheinterestsoflaborconstructively.Asoneunionleaderputit:"Theunion'sjobistopreventmanagementfromspeedinguptheline.There'snothinginherentinwork-teamsystemsthathastobestressful."23
Thereisalsoadawningrealizationthatthesechangesarenotaone-shotthing,butamoredemandingnewwayofworklifewithnoend.Thecomfortabledaysofcoastingalonginahierarchy,typifiedbytheoldBroadwaymusical"HowtoSucceedinBusinessWithoutReally
Trying,"areover."Intenyears,anybodywhorunsabusinessontheoldmodelisn'tgoingtobeinbusiness,"saidtheownerofamanufacturingfirm.24
Weshouldalsocautionthatalargeclassofunskilledworkersmaybeunabletocompeteinthedemandingnewworldofknowledgework.Evenwithgoodeducationsandremedialsocialprograms(agenerousassumption),somesectorsofsocietyarelikelytobecomechronicallymarginalized,leadingtounemployment,crime,andotherdisorders.InTheBellCurve,hiscontroversialworkonintelligence,CharlesMurraydescribedtheprospectoflifebeinggovernedbya"cognitiveelite":
Page150
Thetwenty-firstcenturywillopenonaworldinwhichcognitiveabilityisthedecisivedividingforceindeterminingwhereanindividualwillendup.Unchecked,thesetrendswillleadtowardsomethingresemblingacastesystem.
25
Thisthreatisrealbutnotinevitablebecauseourgrowingpowertospreadknowledgeshouldallowanyonetobeeducatedeffectively,andhumannatureisfarmoremalleablethanwecommonlythink.Weshouldalsobearinmindthatsophisticatedinformationsystemscanincreasinglysupportpeopleindoingtasksthatwouldotherwisebeyondtheirabilitiessomecallit''just-in-timetraining."26Therealissueisfindingthepoliticalwillandthepersonaldisciplinetoaddresssuchproblems.
WorkingwithFlexibility
Table6.1showshowwidelythisnewworkroleispracticednow,andtheideashouldcontinuetospreadsimplyoutofthehardnecessityofcopingwithanavalancheofchange.Onemanagerexpressedtheprospectssuccinctly:"Thiswillbecommonpracticeforjustaboutanyfirminthenearfuture."ThismoresharplyfocusedbusinessarrangementshouldprovidepeopleinanInformationAgetheentrepreneurialfreedomandresourcestoworkastheychoose,whilealsoprovidingorganizationsthefreedomandproductivitytheyneedtocompete.
Organizationsaredestinedtoconfrontmoreturbulenceinthenexttenyearsthanwehaveeverexperienced,whichwillrequireanexceptionaldegreeofflexibility.Self-managedworkteamswillbeessentialtocreateorganicstructurescomposedofinterchangeablemodulesthatcanbeaddedtomeetarushofdemand,droppedduringadownturn,revisedtoobtainadifferentmixofskills,andsoon.
Peopleincreasinglyneedthesameflexibilitytocopewiththehecticnatureofmodernlife.Nowthatthetwo-careerfamilyisthenorm,bothmenandwomenmustchoosetheirtimeandplaceofworkinordertobalancethedemandsofjob,family,education,andwhoknowswhatelse.JakeMascotte,CEOofContinentalAirlines,noted:"Somuchofbusinessisstillstructuredlikefourthgrade."In1990,Continentalbeganencouragingtelecommuting,stoppedtrackingabsences,andinstitutedotherfamily-friendlypractices.Productivityroseandturnoverfell.27
Page151
TABLE6.1.ADOPTIONOFKNOWLEDGEENTREPRENEURPRACTICES.(SAMPLE=426CORPORATEMANAGERS.)
Practice
NotPracticed(03)
PartiallyPracticed(46)
FullyPracticed(710)
Mean(010)
Asignificantportionofemployeepayisbasedonperformanceincentivesystems. 39% 25% 36% 4.9Employeeattitudesurveysareconductedperiodically. 41 16 43 5.1Employeesareencouragedtodeveloptheircreativeideasintonewventures. 23 27 50 6.0Employeesareorganizedintoself-managedteamsthatchoosetheirleaders,workmethods,equipment,hours,co-workers,andmostotheraspectsoftheirwork. 67 20 13 2.7Employeescanuseinformationsystemsto"telework"fromhome,inthefield,andotherlocations. 57 21 22 3.5Means 45% 22% 33% 4.4Source:WilliamE.Halal,CorporationsinTransition(anunpublishedstudyinprogress).Notethatdatainthefirstthreecolumns("NotPracticed,"etc.)areaggregatedbycollapsingportionsofthequestionnairescaleasshown("03,"etc.).SeethequestionnaireinAppendixC.
Flexibilitywillalsobeindispensableinhandlingtheuniqueneedsofolderpeople,youngpeople,minorities,thehandicapped,andcountlessothergroupsofworkerswhowouldotherwiseposespecialproblems.Anddespitemuchtalkofempoweredworkersseekingself-fulfillment,thefactisthatmanypeopledonotreallywanttotakeonsuchresponsibility;thenicethingaboutthenewemploymentcontractisthatteamscanmanagetheiraffairsinwhateverstyletheyprefer:afull-fledgeddemocracy,somesortofspiritualunity,orold-fashioned
authoritarianleadership.Theextensiveskillsofthosewhofocusonbehavioralissues(humanresourcemanagement,organizationallearning,projectmanagement,andthelike)willbeinvaluableformakingthisdiversityworkeffectively,andforhelpingteamsworktogethertoformcompletecorporatecommunities.
Page152
Mostofthecomplextrappingswethinkofasindispensablepartsofajobmaydisappear.Theproportionofemployersofferingmedicalbenefitshasdroppedfrom84percentin1982to56percentin1995.Annualreviews,supervisors,stepgrades,trainingprograms,andsoonarealldeclininginuse.Whyshouldanyonewanttoengageinthisancillarybusyworkwhentheirrealinterestistogettheirtaskdoneeffectively?ListentohowauthorWilliamBridgesdescribedthesimplifyingadvantagesofbeingfreedfromouroldnotionofa"job":
Whatwouldhappentoourpresentpoliciesonleaveofabsence,vacation,retirement,etc.?Leavefromwhat?Vacationfromwhat?Retirementfromwhat?
28
AcceptingSelf-Responsibility
Thesearethemainfeaturesthatshouldmarkworklifeintheyear2000orso:
1.Thenaturalevolutionofeconomiesislikelytomakeanewphaseofknowledgeworkcommoninadecadeorso.
2.Theoldemploymentrelationshipinwhichpeoplewerepaidforholdinga"position"isdyingbecauseitistooconfiningforaturbulenteconomy,leavingemployeeswithoutsecureworkroles.
3.Knowledgeworkersshouldideallybeorganizedintoself-managedteamsthatarefreetocontrolalmostallaspectsoftheiroperationsandarerewardedforteamperformance.
4.Thissystemshouldpermitbothemployersandemployeestousealternativessuchasteleworkingandcontingencyworktogaintheflexibilityneededtocopewithadynamiceconomy.
Likemostacademics,Ispendabouthalfofmytimeworkinginaself-
employedstatusathomeandwithavarietyoforganizations,andIfindthatitrequiresgreatself-discipline.Indeed,thatisboththegreatestadvanceaswellasthegreatestchallengeofthenewemploymentcontract.Itrequiresmanagerstotreatworkersasfullycompetentadults,andworkersinturnmustaccepttheresponsibilityforcarryingouttheirtasksdiligently.Althoughthedemandsarehard,Icannotimagineworkinganyotherway.
Despitethedauntingnatureofthesechallengesandthefailuresthat
Page153
arecertaintocome,thenewemploymentcontractseemslikelytorollon.Forallthepitfallsofperformancepay,forinstance,mostmanagersbelieveintheconceptbecauseitrepresentsanimportantfuturedirection."Wedon'tthinkthealternativepayingeveryonethesameisbetter,"saidJohnHillins,vicepresidentforcorporatecompensationatHoneywell.
OrganizationsarebeingtransformedbytheInformationRevolutionintoafinewebofsmall,automatedsystems,managedinrealtimebychangingassembliesofself-employedteams,withsuchcompleteinformationavailablethattheirbehaviorbecomestransparent.It'snotgoingtobeeasy,butthishistorictransitionpromisestoeliminatethedrudgerylongassociatedwithwork,therebyfreeingpeopleforthemoresophisticatedtasksthatnowformtheprinciplechallengesfacingaknowledge-basedeconomy.
Notes
1.AlexGibney,"ParadiseTossed,"WashingtonMonthly(June1986).
2.AndreaGerlin,"SeminarsTeachManagersFinerPointsofFiring,"WallStreetJournal(April26,1995).
3.Lars-ErikNelson,"UnwelcomeGuests,"WashingtonPost(August14,1995).WilliamB.Johnston,"GlobalWorkForce2000:TheNewWorldLaborMarket,"HarvardBusinessReview(MarchApril1991).
4.ThispointiseffectivelymadebyRobertReichinTheWorkofNations(NewYork:Knopf,1991).
5.SeetheannualsurveyoftheAmericanCouncilofEducation,UCLA.
6.AsoundanalysisofthesetrendsisprovidedbyNualaBeck,ShiftingGears:ThrivingintheNewEconomy(NewYork:Harper
Collins,1995).
7.G.PascalZachary,"ServiceProductivityIsRisingFast,"WallStreetJournal(June8,1995).
8.Seethespecialreport"TheTechnologyPayoff,"BusinessWeek(June14,1994),andMyronMagnet,"GoodNewsfortheServiceEconomy,"Fortune(May3,1994).
9.RamchandranJaikumar,"PostindustrialManufacturing,"HarvardBusinessReview(NovemberDecember1986).
10.WilliamBridges,"TheEndoftheJob,"Fortune(September19,1994).
11.JayMathews,"DoJobReviewsWork?"WashingtonPost(March20,1994).TheConferenceBoardBriefing(JulyAugust1989),and"BonusPay,"BusinessWeek(November14,1994).
Page154
12.Forinstance,thewell-knownstudiesbyFrederickHerzbergshowedthatpay,benefits,andother"extrinsic"factorswerenecessarytopreventpeoplefromfeelingdissatisfiedwiththeirwork,whilechallenge,creativity,andother"intrinsic"factorswerealsonecessarytoprovideactivemotivation.
13.SeeWilliamE.Halal,"TheInformationTechnologyRevolution,"TechnologyForecasting&SocialChange(1993),Vol.44,pp.6986.
14."HomeorOffice?"WallStreetJournal(March31,1987).
15.MichaelMalone,"PerpetualMotionExecutives,"ForbesASAP(January1994).
16.MitchBetts,"'Telework'HubsSproutinSuburbanAmerica,"ComputerWorld(July22,1991).
17.JaclynFierman,"TheContingencyWorkForce,"Fortune(January24,1994).PeterKilborn,"NewJobsLacktheOldSecurity,"NewYorkTimes(March15,1993).
18.ForafineaccountofthisperspectiveseeCliffHakim,WeAreAllSelf-Employed(SanFrancisco:Berrett-Koehler,1994),andKennethLabich,"TakeControlofYourCareer,"Fortune(May1992).
19."Part-TimersAreIn,"ConferenceBoard'sMonthlyBriefings(March1988);"AndNow,'Temp'Managers,"Newsweek(September26,1988).
20.LizSpayd,"GrowingRanksofSelf-EmployedReshapeEconomy,"WashingtonPost(April4,1994);BrianO'Reilly,"TheNewFaceofSmallBusiness,"Fortune(May2,1994).
21.BrianO'Reilly,"TheNewDeal,"Fortune(June13,1994).
22.SeeMikeParkerandJaneSlaughter,"ManagementbyStress,"TechnologyReview(October1988);"UAWDelegatesDispute
'Jointness,"WashingtonPost(June24,1989);and"WorkersAren'tAnxious,They'reProud,"WashingtonPost(October29,1988).
23.JohnHoerr,"IsTeamworkaManagementPlot?"BusinessWeek(February20,1989).
24.MarcLevinson,"PlayingwithFire,"Newsweek(June21,1993).
25.CharlesMurray,TheBellCurve:IntelligenceandClassStructureinAmericanLife(NewYork:TheFreePress,1994).
26.LewisJ.Perelman,School'sOut(NewYork:Avon,1992).TimFerguson,"Help!HowBesttoAvailtheLaborForce,"TheWallStreetJournal(May16,1995).
27."Work&Family,"BusinessWeek(June28,1993).
28.Bridges,"TheEndoftheJob."
Page155
7IntelligentGrowth:BalancingEcologicalHealthandEconomicProgressItistemptingtothinkthatMotherNaturewillbesafenowthatanenvironmentalethichassweptaroundtheworld.Evenbusinessfirmsarecompetingtoprovehow"green"theyare.Butrecenteventssuggestthattheproblemsremainformidable.The"BigGreen"initiativeinCaliforniawasdefeatedsoundlyin1994,andanantienvironmentbacklashisunderwayinotherpartsoftheUnitedStates.
1
Thesereactionsrepresentmorethanresistancebygrowthadvocates.Inawholisticworld,theyareanotherpartofthewhole,tellingusthatenvironmentalismisnoteasilyreconciledwithprotectingjobs,improvinglivingstandards,avoidinggovernmentintrusion,andotherissuesthatconcernmostpeople.
The"McDonald'sClamshellDecision"offersagoodexampleofthecomplexityinvolved.Environmentalistsdemandedthatthecompanyusepaperpackagesratherthantheplastic"clamshells,"which,itwasclaimed,causepollutionanddonotdecomposewell.Butthecompanyhadspentmillionsofdollarsdevelopingabiodegradableplasticpackage.Furthermore,studiespublishedinScienceconcludedthatplasticislessenvironmentallyharmfulthanpaperwhenallfactorsareconsidered,suchasthelossoftreesandtheenergyneededtomakepaperpackages.Yetthepublicpressurebecamesointensewhendrovesofchildrenwereorganizedto
Page156
writelettersofprotest,thatMcDonald'srelentedandswitchedtopaper,againstthebetterjudgmentofitsmanagers.
2
Thusthecallforenvironmentalprotectionmaybelongoverdue,butitisnotsimplyamoralissue.Asweepingtransformationoftheentiretechno-economicsystemisinvolvedthatproducescomplexconflictsbetweenequallyvalidbutopposinginterests.Theconceptof"sustainability"hasbecomewidelyacceptedbecauseitisnowcleartoallthattheenvironmentmustbesustainableindefinitely.Butthispointofviewfailstorecognizetheenormousdemandsposedbybillionsofdeprivedpeoplewhoarejuststartingtoindustrialize.SomebroadervisionisrequiredthatreconcilestheurgentneedtoprotecttheEarthwiththeequallyurgentneedtovastlyimprovehumanlife.
Thischapterdescribesaneconomicperspectivenowemergingthatoffersthepromiseofresolvingthisdilemma.Itmayseemtoogoodtobetrue,butan"ecological-economictransformation"isunderwayasprogressivecorporationsaroundtheworldusethepowerofinformationtechnology(IT),thecreativityofenterprise,andthecollaborativeidealsofdemocracytodeviseanintelligentformofgrowththatisbothproductiveandecologicallybenign.Inplaceofthebegrudgingcompliancewithregulationsthatmarkedthepast,mostbusinessleadersnowunderstandthattherecanbenofuturewithoutasoundecologicalsystem,andsotheyareturningtheirformidableproblem-solvingtalentstothisgoalinearnest.MatthewKiernan,CEOofaSwiss-basedglobalcorporation,putitthisway:
Wearecurrentlywitnessingthebeginningofnothinglessthanaglobalindustrialrestructuring[inwhich]acompany'senvironmentalperformancewillbeincreasinglycentraltoitscompetitivenessandsurvival.3
ReconcilingEconomicsandEnvironment
Althoughanideologicalbattleovertheenvironmenthascontinuedfordecades,pollsshowthatthegreatmajorityofpeoplefromallwalksoflifeandallnationsnowunderstandtheimperativeneedtosafeguardtheenvironment.4
Page157
RiseoftheEnvironmentalEthic
TheurgencyofsoundenvironmentalmanagementbecamestarklyclearwhenthecollapseofCommunismrevealedwhatcanhappenifnatureisignored.ShoddypracticeshadsounderminedtheecologicalsystemoftheentireSovietUnionthatonetrilliondollarsmaybeneededtorestoreittohealth.Thishighlysymbolicfailure,combinedwithsimilarincidentsintheWest,suchastheExxonoilspillinValdez,Alaska,drovehomethewisdomofecologicalprotection.In1993,81percentofbusinessexecutivesthoughtprotectingtheenvironmentwasnecessaryandreasonable.
5
Tobesure,muchofthisnewfoundmotivationistheresultofsternsocialpressures.Consumersaresoconcernedabouttheenvironmentthat80percentarewillingtopaymoreforecologicallysafegoods.TheU.S.governmenthaspasseddemandinglegislation,andtheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)increasedindictmentsofillegalpracticesdramaticallytoenforcetheselaws.Manycorporationshavebeenfinedmillionsofdollars,andoffendingexecutivesspent550monthsinjailduring1993.6
Themostobviousjustificationforenvironmentalprotectionisthatpollutantscausedisease.Cancerratesarerising1percentperyearandnowaccountforroughlyone-thirdofalldeathsinmodemnations;asaresult,peoplelivingtodaysuffertwicetheriskofcancerthattheirgrandparentsdid.Theincidenceofbraincancerhasdoubledduringthepasttwodecades.7Althoughthisispartlyduetopeoplesmoking,livinglonger,andothersocialfactors,cancerratesarehighestinindustrializedareas,suggestingthatamajorcausemaybethepresenceofchemicals,combustionexhausts,andotherpollutants.8Itisestimatedthatthethinningoftheozonelayeralonewillcause
200,000deathsoverthenextfewdecades."Theproblemismoreseriousthanwebelieved,"saidWilliamK.Reilly,formerheadoftheEPA.9
Buttheproblemgoesbeyondpracticalconcerns.PeoplenowgrasptheprofoundrealitythattheEarthisaunifiedglobalorganismsupportinganintricateweboflife.Toputitinsymbolicterms,theplanetisagreatlivingbeinginitsownright.Andifalllifeisintimatelyconnected,thenhumansshareafamilylikerelationshipwithotherspecies.That'swhypsychologistsfindacutesignsofdistressoverthedestructionofnature."Iam
Page158
amazedatthenumberofpeoplewhobreakdownintearswhentheythinkaboutwhatwe'redoingtotheEarth,"saysTheodoreRoszak.
10
Manyclaimthatecologicalawarenesstodayrepresentsahistoricshiftinconsciousness,comparabletothereligiousconsciousnessofoldandthetechnologicalconsciousnessoftheIndustrialAge.WillisHarmandefinesitasa"globalmindchange,"afundamentallydifferentphilosophythatviewstheentireEarthasasacredcreationimbuedwithspiritualmeaning.11
TheComingLeapinGlobalIndustrialization
It'swonderfulthatsomanypeoplenowfeelacompellingneedtoprotectnature,buttheyoftenfailtorecognizeotherunavoidablerealities.ApartfromthesatiatedWest,mostoftheworld'spopulationisstarvedforthesamematerialcomfortsnowenjoyedbyafewprosperousnationssuchastheUnitedStates.TrytellingtheMexicans,Indians,orChinesethatmaterialgrowthisabadidea.DespitethefactthatpollutionhasmadelungdiseasetheleadingcauseofdeathinChina,thenationisdeterminedtopursueeconomicgrowthasrapidlyaspossible.12
Moreover,thenumberofpeopleinundevelopednationsisfivetimesgreaterthanindevelopednationsandisalmostcertaintodouble.Thus,thestarkrealityisthatindustrialoutputislikelytoincreasebyroughlyafactoroffivetotenoverthenextfewdecades.TheindustrializationofChinaaloneshoulddoubletheloadontheenvironment,andIndiamaydoubleitagain.13
Inshort,therapidindustrializationoftheglobeseemsalmostunstoppable.Theworldfacesanunprecedentedchallengeofcreatingsomenewandasyetunknowntechno-economicsystemthatcan
managesuchagreatleapineconomicgrowthonaplanetalreadysufferingfromsevereenvironmentalstress.
BetweenTwoGroupsofTrueBelievers
Beyondgeneralagreementonprotectingtheenvironment,opinionsdividesharplywhentoughquestionsareraisedabouthowtohandlethisimminentburstinindustrialization.
Theideaofsustainabilityadvocatedbyenvironmentalistsisausefulconcept,butitdoesnotaddressthishugeproblem.Somewhatliketheequallypopularappealof"corporatesocialresponsibility,"sustainability
Page159
focusesonanecologicalgoalwhileignoringtheeconomicgoalamassiveincreaseinindustrialgrowthisneeded."Sustainabilityhasbecomedevaluedtothepointwhereitisnowjustacliché,"notedoneanalyst.
14
Sustainabilityalonewouldberealizedadmirablyifwereturnedtotheagrarianpast,buthowmanyofusarewillingtogiveupourcomfortablelifestyles?Ioftenwonder,whenhearingpeoplelectureanaudienceabouttheevilsofindustrialization,Didn'ttheytakeajetairplanetoattendthismeeting?Theymustdrivecars?Don'ttheyshopatsupermarkets?Thefactisthatwealldependonmoderntechnologyandindustryforthenecessitiesofmodernlife.
Asimilarmyopiaprevailsattheotherendofthepoliticalspectrum.Manyconservativesstillcelebratethevirtuesofunboundedeconomicgrowth,andsomeeveninsistthatpopulationgrowththekeyfactordrivingthedespoliationoftheplanetshouldnotbecurbedbecausepeoplearethe"ultimateresource."15Withbillionssufferingfrompoverty,famine,andothersymptomsofoverpopulation,onecanonlymarvelatsuchfaith.
Thus,theprimaryobstacletoenvironmentalprogresstodayisaclashbetweentwogroupsoftruebelieverswhoobscurethecomplexnatureoftheproblem:onesideisintentonprotectingtheenvironmentatgreatcosttohumanwelfare,whiletheothersideisintentongrowthatgreatcosttotheenvironment.
Afewyearsago,bigbusinesswasunreasonableinitsoppositiontotheenvironment,butnowmanyenvironmentalistscanbejustasunreasonable.Someenvironmentalistsarethemselvescriticalofthemovement.JohnHeritageblamedthe"go-for-the-throat"attitudeof
hiscolleaguesfortoday'santi-environmentbacklash,andGreggEasterbrookhadasimilarcriticism:"Throughthenextfewyears,conventionalenvironmentalviewpointswillcollapse,doneinbytheirowndisjunctionfromtherealitiesofthenaturalworld.IntheirplacewillemergeanewmiddlepathIcall'ecorealism.'"16
Anobviousexampleofthelackofcommunicationisthecontinualattacksonprominentcorporations.Businesscouldimprove,certainly;however,92percentofcorporateexecutivesnowunderstandthattheenvironmentmustbeoneoftheirtoppriorities,andmanyhavevoluntarilytakentheleadoncriticalissues.17Whendataontheozoneproblemwasannounced,DuPontimmediatelyaccelerateditsplanstophaseoutall
Page160
harmfulgases.ThechairmanofDowChemicalwasthefirstCEOtocallforfull-environmentalpricingofallproducts,aboldsteptowardusingeconomicincentivestocurbpollution(seeBox7.1).
18Yetenvironmentalistspersistincondemningthesecompanies,oftenhandcuffingthemselvestocorporatefacilitiesunderTVcoverage.Aretheseattacksjustified?Dotheyserveanyusefulpurpose?
ThisclashbetweentheLudditementalityofenvironmentalpuristsandthezealotryofunlimitedgrowthadvocateshassquanderedtheleadAmericaonceheldintheexplodingenvironmentalindustry.GermanyandJapannowdominatethemarketforproductrecycling,solarcells,high-efficiencyappliances,pollutioncontrolequipment,andotherboomingfields.19
BOX7.1.THEGREENINGOFDOWCHEMICAL.
AlthoughDowChemicalmayhaveapoorimagewhereenvironmentalmattersareconcerned,infactthecompanyhasbeenamodelofcorporateenlightenmentonenvironmentalmanagement.
ALongHistoryofEnvironmentalProtection.Thefounder,HerbertDow,hadareputationfordespisingwasteandpollution,andpioneeredindevelopingmanyoftoday'senvironmentalprotectiontechnologiesduringthe1920s.Later,in1972,CEOCarlGerstackersaid:''Solvingpollutionproblemsisgoodbusinessaswellasgoodcitizenship.Solet'sgetatitwithenergyandenthusiasm."
FirstEnvironmentalAdvisoryCouncil.In1991,DowbecamethefirstAmericancompanytoformacouncilofoutsideauthoritiesto
provideadviceonenvironmentalmatters.ThecouncilisheadedbyDavidT.Buzzelli,VicePresidentfortheEnvironment,Health,andSafety,andincludesroughlyadozenindependentauthoritiesfromgovernment,academe,andjournalism.
LeadershiponFullEnvironmentalPricing.In1992,ChairmanFrankPopoff,tooktheboldstepofcallingforfull-costenvironmentalpricingonallproducts.Byincludingthecostsattributabletopollutionpreventionoveraproduct'sfulllifecycle,marketforceswouldbeharnessedtoprotecttheenvironment.
Sources:LauraM.Petty,"IstheGreeningofCorporateAmericaReal?"(Unpublishedpaper,GeorgeWashingtonUniversity,1991);MarthaHamilton,"DowtoNameAdvisersonEnvironment,"WashingtonPost(October16,1991);MarthaHamilton,"MakingaProduct'sCostReflectPollution'sCosts,"WashingtonPost(November29,1992).
Page161
TheEcological-EconomicTransformation
Curbingwastefullifestylesandbusinesspracticesisurgent,butmoralizingagainsteconomicgrowthignoresthevastdimensionsofthetask.Evennowweseearisingtideofindustrializationdoomwildlifespeciestoextinction,destroyforests,turnfarmlandintodesert,wipeoutfishingstocks,foulourairandwater,andcauseseveredisease
20whiletheunderdevelopednationsarelikelytomagnifytheseproblemsmanyfoldoverthenextfewdecades.
Theonlyfeasiblesolutionistodeviseamoresophisticatedwayoflifethatisbotheconomicallycomfortableandecologicallybenignan"ecological-economictransformation,"or"eco-economictransformation."Therearefeweasyanswersbecausethisenormoustaskwillrequireseriouscompromiseaswetradeoffthecostsandgainsofvarioussolutions.ExpendituresforenvironmentalprotectionintheUnitedStatesrosefrom0.8percentofGDPin1972to2.4percentin1992,about$200billion,causingtotaldeclinesofseveralpercentagepointsinproductivity,economicgrowth,andpercapitaincome.21
Forinstance,theproblemofautoemissionsisnotlikelytoberesolvedeasily.Theworld'sfleetof500millioncars,whichevennowhasmadedrivinginmajorcitiesalmostunbearable,isexpectedtodoubletoabillionvehiclesby2010.LeadingAmericanstates,suchasCalifornia,havemandatedelectriccarstoreduceautoexhausts,butthisapproachhasitsdrawbacks.Theaddedcostandlimitedrangeofelectricswilllimittheiruse,oldbatterieswithtoxicchemicalsmaysoonlittertheGoldenState,andpollutionislikelytomovetopowerplantsthatprovidetheelectricity.Indeed,astudyconductedbythe
EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyfoundthatelectriccarscouldincreasepollutantlevels.22
Wecouldsimplyrecycleeverything,peoplesay,andsolvetheproblem.Well,it'snotthatsimple.Thesystemicnatureoftherecyclingproblembecameapparentwhencitiesfoundthemselvesholdingbulgingwarehousesofoldnewspaperbecausepresentrecyclingprogramsarehavingtroublecoveringcosts.
IntegratingEconomicProgressandEcologicalHealth
Fortunately,awaveofinnovationisunderwayasbusinessmanagers,environmentalists,governmentofficials,andconsumersstruggletoprotect
Page162
naturewhilealsoservinghumanneeds.These"greeneconomicpractices"gobeyondtheoldwarbetweenbusinessandtheenvironmentbecausethetwocanreinforceoneanotherifapproachedproperly.Justasthequalityrevolutionrevealedthatwecanhavebothhigh-qualitygoodsandlowerprices,theeco-economictransformationisbasedonthecarefulintegrationofenvironmentalandeconomicgoals.
Havingacceptedtheeconomicreasonsforchange,pragmaticbusinesscorporationshavemovedaheadontheissue.Indeed,thereisarefreshingtoneofboldinnovationbecausesoundenvironmentalmanagementcanavoidlitigation,reduceoperatingcosts,attractcustomers,andbeinaccordwithsocialvalues.Environmentalprotectionisnowregardedbyprogressivemanagersaroundtheworldasaneweconomicfrontierofferinghugeopportunities.StephenSchmidheiny,aSwissbusinessman,expresseditbest:"Sustainabledevelopmentmakesgoodbusinesssensebecauseitcancreatecompetitiveadvantagesandnewopportunities.Butitrequiresfarreachingshiftsincorporateattitudesandnewwaysofdoingbusiness."
23
PrinciplesofEnvironmentalManagement
Managingthisleapingrowthprudentlyrequiresdramaticchangesinallphasesofmanagement,somanyauthoritieshavedevelopedconceptstohelpunderstandthiscomplexundertaking:the"threePs"("PollutionPreventionataProfit");"threeRs"("Recycling,Reclamation,andRemanufacturing");andprogressivephasesofenvironmentalmanagement("Reactive,Receptive,Constructive,andProactive'').24Mystudiesshowthatthisfieldcanbedescribedin
termsofthefiveprinciplesdiscussedinthesectionsthatfollow.
InternalizeEnvironmentalCostsandBenefits
Possiblythesinglemosteffectiveactionwecantakeistointernalizeenvironmentalcosts.Peoplemayfavorecologicalprotectionintheabstract,buttheiractionsareguidedbyeconomiccostsandbenefits.Oneofthereasonsautocongestionissoheavyisthat$300billionofpublicfundssubsidizeautotravel.IncitiessuchasSingaporewherethecostofenvironmental"externalities"arepassedontodrivers,or"internalized"theproblemalmostsolvesitselfaspeopledecidethatotheralternativesarecheaper.
Theconceptisbeingadoptedwidely.Agoodexampleisprovidedby
Page163
the1990CleanAirAct:byallowingfirmstosellpollutionrightstooneanother,companiesbalancethecostsandgainsofvariouscleanupfacilitiesagainstthecostofpollutionrightstoarriveatoptimaldecisions.Earlyestimateswerethatthiswouldcost$600to$1,600pertonofpollutantsremoved,buttheactualcostwas$150perton."Onceyougivepeopleachoiceandtheyhaveanincentive,theyfindawaytodoit,"saidanEPAadministrator.
25
Otherexamplesabound.Powercompaniesinthirtystatesarepayingthepublictoavoidusingenergy,therebysupplyinghalfoffutureenergygrowththrough"negawatts."Governmentsaroundtheworldareusingvariousmethodstoestimatethecostspollutersmustpaytocompensateforenvironmentaldamage,aswhentheU.S.governmentfinedExxon$1billionfortheValdezoilspill.Citiesarebeginningtochargepeopleforpickinguptheirtrash.Somefirmsarebasingmanagers'paypartlyonenvironmentalperformance.26
ExtendPreventionthroughouttheProductCycle
Pollutionpreventionisnolongerlimitedtocleaningupwastebutisnowregardedasaconstantactivityextendingthroughouttheproductcycle.AstheexamplesinBox7.2suggest,companiesnowdesignproductswithmaterialsthatminimizeenvironmentalimpact,theydevelopmanufacturingprocessesthatareenergyefficientandnonpolluting,simplifyconsumerpackagingtoavoidwaste,refillusedcontainers,repairproductstoextendtheirlife,andrecyclethefinaldiscardedproduct.27
Thesignificanceofthisnewperspectivecanbeassessedbycomparingittoprogressinotherfields.JustasTQMnowemphasizesmorerobustproductdesignsandcontinualimprovement,andjustas
healthcareischangingfocusfromcuringillnesstopreventionandwellness,environmentalprotectionisbestachievedearlyintheproductcycle.
ClosetheManufacturingCycle
Whenaproduct'susefullifecomestoanend,anotherprinciplecomesintoplay:closethemanufacturingcyclebyusingwasteasthesourceofrawmaterials.
Thelarge-scalerecoveryofuseableresourcesfromwasteisimprovingtothepointwherebusinessoftenprefersrecyclingmaterialsbecauseitis
Page164
BOX7.2.ENVIRONMENTALPROTECTIONTHROUGHOUTTHEPRODUCTCYCLE.
ProductDesign.Productsrangingfromlightbulbstoentirehomesarebeingredesignedtoreduceenergyconsumption,avoidtoxicmaterials,andfacilitaterepairandreuse.AmoryLovinsclaimsthatsuchchangeshavesavedfourtimesasmuchenergyasthatobtainedfromnewenergysourcesoverthepastdecade,andheexpectswecouldsave90percentofpresentelectricityuse.
Production.TheMinnesotaMiningandManufacturingCompany(3M)hasbecomefamousforits"PollutionPreventionPays"program.Bychoosingless-pollutingmaterials,devisingmoreefficientmanufacturingprocesses,andrecyclingwastematerials,thecompanyhasconvertedanotherwisemassivepollutantstreamintosavingsof$1billionoverthepastdecades.HermanMiller,Inc.,thefamousfurnituremaker,savestwotothreemilliondollarseveryyearbyrecoveringmanufacturingwastes,recyclingscrapmaterials,reducingpackaging,andrefurbishingoldfurniture.Thecompanyexpectstobeawaste-freesystemby1995.
RecyclingUsedProducts.Europeanmanufacturersareactivelyplanningtoreclaimalldiscardedproducts.Thecompanieswillreuseoldcontainers,repairselectedproductpartsforreuse,andrecycletheremainingmaterials.Lawshavebeenpassedrequiringthisplanforconsumergoods,andtheyarebeingextendedtoincludeappliancesandevenautomobiles.
Sources:WilliamBryantLogan,"TheFuturists,"Worth(DecemberJanuary1993);FrancisCairncross,"HowEurope'sCompaniesRepositiontoRecycle,"HarvardBusinessReview(MarchApril,1992).
cheaper."Theenthusiasmoutthereforrecyclingisoverwhelming,"saidDeanBuntrock,chairmanofWasteManagement,Inc.,theprimaryrecyclingcorporationinAmerica.
28Majorportionsofaluminum,copper,steel,glass,paper,andotherproductsareproducedfromrecycledmaterialsnow,especiallyinJapan,wherehalfofallwasteisrecycled.
Tofacilitaterecycling,manufacturerssuchasBMW,IBM,Xerox,andHParerapidlyintroducingatechniquecalled"designfordisassembly"(DFD).BMWestimatesthat20millionEuropeancarswillberecycledbytheendofthisdecade.GM,Ford,andChryslerhavebuiltajointlaboratoryfordevelopingDFDmethods.Americanautosarenowbuiltof75percentrecycledmaterials,andBMW'sareapproaching95percent.Manymanagersclaimallproductswillberecycledinabouttenyears.29
Thusmanufacturingismovingtoapositionthatregardspollutantsas
Page165
notinherentlybad,butsimplyresourcesthatareinthewrongplace.Thetaskthenbecomesoneofconvertingwasteintousefulresources.Bydevelopingsophisticatedrecoverymethods,thelevelofrecycledmaterialsshouldapproach100percentintime,turningtoday'soverflowinggarbagedumpsintoveritableminesofvaluablematerialdeposits.
ObtainAccurateInformationonEnvironmentalImpacts
Inordertoguidesuchcomplexmatters,effectiveinformationsystemsareneededthatwillallowmanagerstoassessthetrade-offsbetweenenvironmentalandeconomiccosts.Sounddecisionsdependonaccurateinformation.
StudiesbyAlcan,alargeCanadianmakerofaluminumwindows,showthatconstructiononlyconsumes1to2percentofthetotalenergycostsincurredduringawindow'stypicallife.Therestispassedthroughthewindow,soattentionshouldfocusonbetterinsulateddesigns.Procter&Gambleandmanyothercompanieshaveconductedsuchlifecycleanalyses(LCAs)andfoundthemequallyuseful."Ifyoudon'tusesoundsciencetomakethesedecisions,you'llmakeenvironmentallybadchoices,"saidaP&Gvicepresident.SophisticatedsoftwareprogramsarebeingdevelopedthatconvenientlyconductLCAsontypicalPCs.
30
Companiesarealsoevaluatingtheenvironmentalimpactsoftheirpractices.Variousformsof"ecologicalaudits,""greenaccounting,"and"socialindicators"arebeingdeveloped,includingthetranslationofenvironmentalimpactsintodollarequivalents.Anda"greenGDP"isbeingdevelopedthatwillbringenvironmentaldamage,renewableresources,andothernonmarketcostsandbenefitsintonational
economicaccounts.31
DevelopCollaborativeWorkingRelations
Becauseecologicalproblemsarewide-rangingissuesthatspandifferentinstitutionsandnations,theycanonlybehandledbyinterestedpartiesworkingtogether,anditisintheinterestsofallpartiestodoso.
TheEnvironmentalDefenseFundhasjoinedwithMcDonald's,GeneralMotors,andothermajorcorporationstoadvisethesecompaniesonimprovingtheirenvironmentalpolicies.Roughlyone-thirdofmajorcorporationshadorganizedpermanentenvironmentaladvisorycouncilsasof1993.TheU.S.governmenthasformedtheGreenLightsProgramtoassist
Page166
companiesindevelopingbusinesspracticesthatareecologicallysoundandprofitable.
ThePowerofEconomicReality
Thehopefulfeatureoftheprinciplesofenvironmentalmanagementisthattheyareeminentlypractical,sotheyreinforcetheinterestsofaveragepeopleratherthanrequiringheroicaltruismthatcannotoftenbesustained.Table7.1showstheyarebeingadopted,albeitslowly,andPeterCoors,CEOofCoorsBrewing,knownforhisconservativeviews,expressedthehard-corebusinessperspectiveintheseterms:
Environmentalperformanceisadependablepathtoprofitability.Findpollutionorwasteandyou'vefoundinefficiency...fundamentally,allpollutionislostprofit.Bystrivingtoeliminateit,wecantogethergrowamoreefficient,competitiveeconomy.
32
TABLE7.1.ADOPTIONOFINTELLIGENTGROWTHPRACTICES.(SAMPLE=426CORPORATEMANAGERS.)
Practice
NotPracticed(03)
PartiallyPracticed(46)
FullyPracticed(710)
Mean(010)
Environmentalimpactsarestudiedastheyaffectproductdesign,manufacturingprocesses,packagingwastetreatment,recycling,andotheraspectsofoperations. 30% 24% 46% 5.4Environmentalcostsandbendfitsareincorporatedintomanagementdecisions. 34 26 40 5.1Thecompanysolicitsadvicefromanenvironmentaladivisorycommittee
and/orvariousenvironmentalgroups. 49 22 29
4.0
Means 38% 24% 38% 4.9Source:WilliamE.Halal,CorporationsinTransition(anunpublishedstudyinprogress).Notethatdatainthefirstthreecolumns("NotPracticed,"etc.)areaggregatedbycollapsingportionsofthequestionnairescaleasshown("03,"etc.).SeethequestionnaireinAppendixC.
Page167
Obviously,thisapproachlackstheloveofnaturethatmotivatesenvironmentalistsandsomeothercompanies.AsshowninBox7.3,theBodyShopnotonlystrivestooperatebytheaboveprinciples,butitgoesbeyondthemtoconductpublicinterestcampaignsthatprotecttheenvironment.However,itseemsunlikelythatmorethanaminorityiscapableofsuchadmirableconduct.
ThatispreciselywhytheviewofordinarybusinesspeoplelikePeterCoorsissopromising:itmakessenseinhardeconomicterms.Thisfundamentalconclusionremindsusonceagainthatmarketscanbecompatiblewithsocialvalues,asarguedinChapter4.
Recentsurveysofhundredsofenvironmentalbusinessinvestmentsfoundaverageannualreturnsrunningfrom63percentto204percent.Theresearcherconcluded:"Pollutionpreventionisoneofthefundamentalshiftstakingplaceinbusinessthroughouttheworld.Everycompanycanincreaseitsprofitsandproductivitybyreducingpollutants."
33Otherstudies
BOX7.3.THEBODYSHOPONENVIRONMENT.
AcentralpartoftheBodyShop'sunusualsuccessisitsfocusonsafeguardingtheenvironment.WhenAnitaRoddickstartedthecompanyherapproachseemedaradicalidea;nowithasalteredthemainstreamofbusinessintheUKasBritishcompaniesrushtoadvertisetheirecologicalawareness.
NaturalProducts.Theshopsarebright,aromatic,individualizedsettingsfilledwithcolorfulpostersandliteraturedescribingproductsmadeofnaturalsourcesfromaroundtheworld:amudshampoofromMoroccowithspecialproperties,agrapeskin
toner,apeppermintfootlotion.Theresultisatantalizingarrayofethniccosmeticsthatdeliversvalueandstresseshumansafety.
EcologicalProtection.Everythingthecompanydoesisdesignedtominimizeitsenvironmentalimpact.Productsarebiodegradableandcomeinrefillablecontainers.Threeindependentlyverifiedenvironmentalimpactauditshavebeenconducted,anda"ValuesReport"isunderwaytoassesstheBodyShop'senvironmentalandsocialperformance.
EnvironmentalCampaigns.Thecompanycampaignstoprotecttheenvironment.ItspenthundredsofthousandsofdollarstohelpindigenoustribesinBrazilsavetheirrainforests,operatedpubliccampaignstopromote"Refill,Re-Use,andRecycle,"andcollected70,000signaturesand$57,000toprotectseaotters.
Source:BoBurlingham,"ThisWomanHasChangedBusinessForever,"Inc.(June1990).
Page168
findthatchemicalplantsusingpollution-preventiontechnologytypicallyrecovertheirinvestmentinsixmonthsorlessandthengoontosavehugesumseveryyearafter.Anenvironmentalthinktankconcluded,"ThepollutionpreventionethicisfirmlytakingrootinAmericanbusiness."
34Box7.4describessuccessfulprojectsunderway.
Theeconomicadvantagesareenormous.Asof1991,theenvironmentalmanagementindustryinAmericaconsistedof70,000businessesemploying1millionworkersandgenerating$130billioninsales.Consideringthenormaleconomicmultiplier,thetotalimpactlikelyproduces3.5millionjobs,$270billioninsales,and$76billioninfederaltaxes.IfAmericanscouldconserveenergyasefficientlyastheJapanese,wecouldsave$200billionperyear,whichwouldeliminatethefederalbudgetdeficit.35
Achievingthissocietaltransformationwillbeameanfeatthatissuretotestferventenvironmentalistsandstaunchgrowthadvocatesalike.Neitherapureallegiancetotheenvironmentnortogrowthwillbepossible;instead,amoreintelligent,balancedsynthesisisneededthatgoesbeyondsustainability.GunterPauli,CEOofEcover,aEuropeancorporation,putitthisway:"TheeraofLeftGreens[environmentalists]isover.TheeraofRightCapitalists[growthadvocates]isover.Thetwosidesareconverging."36
Theconceptof"sustainabledevelopment"isclosertoreality,butitisalsosomewhatmisleadingbecausetheword"development"isreallyaeuphemismthatavoidsthenegativeconnotationsof"growth."Ifindtheconceptof"intelligentgrowth"or''smartgrowth"moreusefulbecauseitacknowledgestheneedforgrowth,butinamoresophisticatedmannerbasedontheuseofknowledgetomakechoices
thatprotectnatureandservesocietyaswell.
Thesedistinctionsmayappeartobequibblingoverwords,buttheycanbecrucialbecausetheyoftenleadtodifferenttypesofaction.Forinstance,muchattentionisbeingdevotedtodefiningsustainabilityinprecisetermssoitcanbeimplemented,andmanypeopleareconvincedthatonlybyabandoningthefreeenterprisesystemcanwecreateanequitableenoughdistributionofresourcesandreasonableenoughlifestylestosolvetheenvironmentalproblem.37
Suchascenariomaybepossible,butitishardtoevenvaguelyenvisionwhatitwouldlooklike.ThefallofCommunismhasaffirmedthatfreeenterpriseistheonlyviablewaytomanagetoday'scomplexworld.
Page169
BOX7.4.ENVIRONMENTALBUSINESSPROJECTS.
TheSuperRefrigerator.Twenty-fivepowercompaniesputupa$30millionrewardforthedevelopmentofanecologicallysaferefrigerator.ThecompetitionwaswonbyaWhirlpoolteamthatproducedadesignbenefitingallparties.Theutilitieswillavoidtheneedtobuildnewpowerplants,Whirlpoolwillgainaleadinthemarket,buyerswillsave$500inoperatingcostsofeachunit,thenationwillsave$250millionperyear,andtheenvironmentwillbespareddamagetotheozonelayer.
TheGreenCar.AutomakersareformingR&Dprogramstoproducea"GreenCar"thatwillbenonpollutingandenergyefficient.Anannualracehasbeenheldforyearsamongsolar-poweredcarstheSunrayceCompetition.In1992,GM,Lockheed,andPacificGas&Electricformedaconsortium(CALSTART)toproduceanelectriccarforCalifornia.Mazdahasanoperablehydrogen-fueledcarthatproducesnopollutants.TheClintonadministrationhasannouncedaconsortiumofU.S.carmakersthatwilldevelopa"CleanCar"thatburnshydrogeninafuelcell.
The"GarbageHouse."TheNationalAssociationofHomeBuildershaserectedanattractive,comfortablehouseinMarylandthatisconstructedcompletelyoutofrecycledmaterials.Thesteelframeismadefromjunkedcars,insulationisfromoldpolystyrenepackages,andtheceilingtilesaremadefromnewspapers.
MoltenMetalTechnologies.Thiscompanyiscommercializinganewprocesstorecyclemetalintousefulgases,metalalloys,ceramics,andothervaluableproducts.MauriceStrong,abusinessmanandenvironmentalist,said:"I'veseenalotofenvironmentaltechnologies,butI'veneverseenanythingasexcitingasthis."
GreenChemistry.NovoNordiskinDenmarkisusingnaturalenzymestoreplacechemicalsusedforindustrialpurposes.Thecompanyhasdevelopedfortyprocessesformakingpenicillin,cleaningagents,pesticides,andagrowingrangeofotherproducts."We'refindingnaturalsolutionstoindustrialproblems,"saidtheCEO.
The"Fling"Camera.Kodakdevelopedathrowawaycamera,the"Fling,"whichsooutragedpeoplethatsalesslumpedeventhoughitservedarealneed.Thecompanythenbeganrecyclingitin1990,causingunitsalestohit22millionin1992."Iseesalesquadruplingwithinthreeyears,''saidaKmartmanager.
InteractiveManufacturingEcologicalSystems.ThetownofKalunborg,Denmark,hasintegratedseveralcompaniesintoanecologicallysupportivecomplexofmanufacturingandenvironmentalsystems.Apowergeneratingplant,oilrefinery,biotechnologyplant,plasterboardfactory,sulfuricacidproducer,cementcompany,andlocalfarmsarealldesignedtosharethesamewater,energy,andecologicalinfrastructureinthemosteconomicallyproductiveandecologicallybenignmanner.
Sources:JamesTeece,"TheGreatRefrigeratorRace,"BusinessWeek(July15,1993);"HandlewithCare,"NewYorkTimes(April11,1990);"TheHottestThingSincetheFlashbulb,"BusinessWeek(September7,1992).
Page170
Likewise,achievingsustainabilityisfartoocomplextobeentrustedtosomegovernmentagency,agroupofscientists,orotherelites.Likeothercomplexundertakingsachievingsuccessinacareer,acorporatestrategy,oranationalgoalitcanonlybepursuedbyincrementallymovinginageneraldirectionasourunderstandingimproves.Thus,anecologicallysustainablefuturecannotbeplanned,butmustemergeoutoffreemarketsguidedbydemocraticinstitutionstocontinuallybalancetheneedsoftheEarthanditsinhabitants.
FindingourwaywillbeeasierifwebearinmindtheprinciplesoftheNewManagement.TheInformationRevolutionshouldmakeitpossibletodrawondemocracyandenterprisetocreateanintelligentformofgrowththatprotectstheenvironment.Corporationsandgovernmentsshouldinvolvetheirconstituenciesincreatingagreeneconomicinfrastructureandthenallowinternalmarketforcestosortoutconflictingclaimsintooptimaldecisions.Thetaskwillbedaunting,butinformationsystemsshouldimproveourabilitytomonitorenvironmentalconditions,understandthetrade-offs,internalizecosts,educatepeople,embracenonpollutingmodesof"teleworking"and"teleliving,"andgenerallyshapeamoreconservingsociety.
TheconceptofcorporatecommunitydescribedinChapter3helpsputtheroleofenvironmentalmanagementinperspective.Protectingecologicalsystemsisafundamentalprioritybecauseitaffectsnotonlythegeneralpublicbutallstakeholdersaswell.Afterall,theenvironmentistheultimatecorporatestakeholder.
ReconcilingtheObstacleswithin
Thefollowingconclusionsstandoutasaguidetothemajorchangesthatareneeded:
1.Theworldisverylikelytoexperienceafive-totenfoldincreasein
economicgrowthoverthelongterm.
2.Acompletetransformationintechnological,economic,andsocialsystemsisneededtomakesocietiesecologicallybenign.
3.Businesswillhavetodevelopsystemsforgreenmanufacturing,recoveryofdiscardedproducts,andfullenvironmentalcosting.
Page171
4.Governmentmustbeartheresponsibilityformonitoringtheenvironment,passingprotectivelaws,andinternalizingcosts.
5.Thepublicmustadoptamoretemperatestyleoflivingthatiscompatiblewithecologicalhealth.
Thistransformationwillinevitablyalterthewaymodernsocietiesarestructured,butthetrulydifficultobstaclesliewithinusasindividuals.Thechangetoanecologicallyhealthyeconomywillrequireaninnerchangeinourpersonalvalues.Canpeopleinadvancednations,especiallytheUnitedStates,tametheirextravagantconsumptionhabits?Howmanybusiness-peoplewillbeabletoseebeyondtheirimmediatefinancialperformance?Canenvironmentalistsaccepttheneedforeconomicgrowth,especiallyasitracesthroughtheundevelopedworld?
ItissuretobeadifficultstruggleforaverageAmericanstoacceptlimitsontheirindulgentlifestyles.Isitreasonableformanyfamiliesoftwoorthreepeopletolivein5,000-square-foothomes,consumingenoughresourcestosustainseveralfamiliesinotherpartsoftheworld?Isn'tasecondhomeusedforafewweekendsayearwasteful?Canwetolerateathrowawaycultureinwhicheverythingfromcigarettelighterstoautosisdisposable,withoutbearingenvironmentalcosts?(IknowthefirstreactionofmyfamilywhenfacedwithanythingoutmodedistojusttossitoutthenIretrieveitfromthetrash.)
Althoughbusinesshasmadegreatadvances,oneofthethemesthatemergedfromtheCITsurveyisalackofawarenessofhowpervasivetheproblemreallyis.Mostmanufacturingmanagersareworkingonenvironmentalprotection,buttimeandagain,othersclaimeditdidnotapplytotheirwhite-collarorganizationbecausethey"didnotmanufactureanything."Yettheyoperatedbuildingsthathadtobeconstructed,lighted,heated,andcooled.Theyemployedpeoplewho
drovecarstowork,usedelectricalequipment,anddiscardedpaper.Onemanagernoted:"Iamamazedtoseelightsleftonduringlongvacationsandreamsofpapertrashedwithoutbeingrecycled."
Oddlyenough,environmentalistsmayprovethemostresistant.SharonNewsome,vicepresidentoftheNationalWildlifeFederation,noted:"Iwonderediftheenvironmentalcommunitywascapableof[compromise]?
Page172
I'vecometothecondusionwe'renot.Takingonyourenemiesismorefun."
38IfweAmericanscannotagreeamongourselves,howcanweexpecttheMexicans,Indians,Chinese,andmembersofothernationstoagreewithusontheurgencyofdiscipliningtheirbirthratesandtheirnewfoundappetitesforconsumption?
Resolvingtheseconflictsinvolvesacceptingtherealitythatlifeismorecomplexthananysingleperspective.Forinstance,despitethefactthattheweatherhasbeenunseasonablyhotinrecentyears,scientificevidenceforglobalwarmingremainscontroversialbecausethetemperaturerisethathasoccurredsince1900lieswithinthenormalrangeoftemperaturecycles.Onewondershowmuchoftoday'sconcernhappenstobearesultofpoliticalfashion?GeorgeWillnotesthatadecadeortwoagoweweredelugedwithsimilarfearsoverglobalcooling.39
Itseemstomethatitisnecessaryinthesepersonal,overwhelminglycomplexmatterstogobeyondmanagementandtechnologybycarefullyattendingtothesubtleinteractionsbetweenlifeanditsenvironment.Anewformof"biologic"isneededthatappreciatesthesesubtleecologicalconsiderations,thatrecognizestheuniquecharacterofeachnaturalsystem,senseseachone'sstateofecologicalhealth,learnshowtodrawwhatweneedwithminimaldisruption,anddevelopsappropriatemeansfordoingso.40Ifwecancultivateasocietyattunedtotheneedsofotherspecies,wemaythenlearntocoexistwiththeminharmony.
Asmallaccomplishmentinmylifehadagreatimpactonmyunderstanding.Ilovetobesurroundedbynature,andsoIhavecultivatedagardenthatenvelopsmyhomeinprofusegreenery.It's
notpracticalinanyeconomicsense,anditrequiresconsiderabletimeandresourcestomaintain.ButIbuiltacompostsystemthathelpsmakegardeningconvenient.Ratherthanhavingtobagleaves,grass,andthetonsofotherorganicmatteranygardenproducesandthenhavingithauledmilesawaytosomedump,Ijusttossitintomycompostbin.ThroughouttheyearIcanthenextractrichblacksoilfromthebottomthatnourishesmygardenwithbetternutrientsthancostlyanddamagingchemicals.
It'samodestsuccess,ofcourse,butI'vefoundthatthishumblesystemisnotonlyconvenient,itisalsospirituallyrefreshing.Thereissomethingaboutclosingthecycleofnaturethatstrikesmeasproper,inkeepingwith
Page173
therhythmofseasons.TendingagardenwithgraceismysmallbutcherishedofferingtothepropagationoflifeonahealthyEarth.
Ifwecanbecomeattunedtothelargergardencomposedofthevastecologicaldiversitythatsurroundscivilization,thereisnogoodreasonwhywecannotdevelopabenignglobaleconomythatallowsustoliveinharmonywiththeEarth.Wewouldthenfindawaytobuildcleanfactories,turnfarmsandparksintochemical-freenaturalsettings,reforestdenudeddesertsandcities,downsizeourhomesandpublicbuildings,harnessthepowerofITtoreplaceneedlesstravel,andemploycountlessotherwaysofmaintainingabountiful,healthyenvironment.
Thesedifficultchangesshouldbeeasierifweseethattheyconstituteanhistoricinnovation,somewhatcomparabletotheinventionofdemocracy.Wheredemocracycreatedasustainablesocialorderbasedonthesacredrightsofpeople,theeco-economictransformationshouldformasustainableeconomicorderbasedonthesacredrightsofNature.Recognizingthatalllifeissacreddoesnotmeanwecannotharvestplantsandanimalstoservehumanneeds.Itmeansthatweshoulddososparingly,withreverenceforthepassingoftheirlivesintoours,likeasacrament.
Notes
1.SeeCarlDeal,TheGreenpeaceGuidetoAnti-EnvironmentalOrganizations(Berkeley,Calif.:OdonianPress,1993).
2.GeorgeC.LodgeandJeffreyF.Rayport,"Knee-deepandRising:America'sRecyclingCrisis,"HarvardBusinessReview(SeptemberOctober1991).ArtKleiner,"WhatDoesItMeantoBeGreen?"HarvardBusinessReview(JulyAugust1991).
3.MatthewJ.Kiernan,"TheEco-IndustrialRevolution,"Businessin
theContemporaryWorld(Autumn1992),p.133.
4.PollsterGeorgeGallupsummeduptheresultsofhissurveysonenvironmentalisminatalkgivenattheNationalPressClubinWashington,D.C.,onMay4,1992:"Thestateoftheenvironmentisnolongeranexotic,elitistissue[but]atrulyglobalconcern,reachingalllevelsofsocietyandnationsaroundtheworld."
5.MarkStarik,"WhenBusinessGoesfortheGreen,"GWMagazine(Summer1993).
6.Starik,"WhenBusinessGoesfortheGreen."
Page174
7.DavidBrown,"CancerRiskUpSharplyinThisEra,"WashingtonPost(February9,1994).
8.EliotMarshall,"ExpertsClashOverCancerData,"Science(November1990),pp.900902;SusanOkie,"CancerRatesinIndustrialCountriesRise,"WashingtonPost(December9,1990).
9.MichaelWeisskopf,"SkinCancerRiskIncreases,"WashingtonPost(October23,1991).
10.TheodoreRoszak,VoiceoftheEarth:AnExplorationofEcopyschology(NewYork:Simon&Schuster,1992);TerrenceO'Connor,"TherapyforaDyingPlanet,"Networker(September/October1989).
11.WillisHarman,GlobalMindChange(Indianapolis:KnowledgeSystems,1988).
12.HeBochuan,ChinaontheEdge(ChinaBooks,1991);VadavSmil,China'sEnvironmentalCrisis(Armonk,NewYork:Sharpe,1993);andSherylWuDunn,"ChineseSufferfromRisingPollution,"NewYorkTimes(February28,1993).
13.Seethe"BruntlandReport"bytheWorldCommissionofEnvironmentandDevelopment,inOurCommonFuture(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1987),andJimMacNeill,PieterWinsemius,andTaizoYakushiji,BeyondInterdependence:TheMeshingoftheWorld'sEconomyandtheEarth'sEcology(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1991).Manyolderstudieshavepredictedatenfoldincreaseinindustrialconsumption,suchasHerbertRobinson,"CantheWorldStandHigherProductivityandIncomes?"TheFuturist(October,1977),andJayForrester,"CounterintuitiveBehaviorofSocialSystems,"TechnologyReview(January1971).
14.JohanHolmberg,MakingDevelopmentSustainable(London:
Earthscan,1992).
15.OneofthemostarticulateproponentsofthisviewisJulianSimon,oftheUniversityofMaryland.Foroneofhisrecentstatements,see"TheUnreportedRevolutioninPopulationEconomics,"ThePublicInterest(Fall1990),pp.89100.
16.SeetheviewsofWallaceKaufman,formerpresidentoftwoenvironmentalgroups,NoTurningBack(NewYork:BasicBooks,1994).JohnHeritage,"WhenEnvironmentalistsGofortheThroat,"WashingtonPost(June2,1995).GreggEasterbrook,AMomentontheEarth(NewYork:Viking,1995).
17.TheCorporateResponsetotheEnvironmentalChallenge(Amsterdam:McKinsey&Company,1991).PieterWinsemiusandUlrichGuntram,"RespondingtotheEnvironmentalChallenge,"BusinessHorizons(MarchApril1992).
Page175
18.BoyceRensberger,"DeclineofOzone-HarmingChemicalsSuggestsAtmosphereMayHealItself,"WashingtonPost(August26,1993)."Quick,SavetheOzone,"BusinessWeek(May17,1993).
19.CurtisMooreandAlanMiller,GreenGold:Japan,Germany,theUnitedStates,andtheRaceforEnvironmentalTechnology(Boston:BeaconPress,1994).
20.ForanassessmentoftheenvironmentalproblemseeLesterBrown,StateoftheWorld(NewYork:W.W.Norton,1993),andDonellaMeadowsetal.,BeyondtheLimits(PostMills,Vt.:ChelseaGreen,1992).
21.BruceBartlett,"TheHighCostofTurningGreen,"WallStreetJournal(September14,1994).NoahWalleyandBradleyWhitehead,"It'sNotEasyBeingGreen,"HarvardBusinessReview(MayJune1994).
22.OscarSuris,"ElectricCarsAlsoPolluteAir,ERAStudySays,"WallStreetJournal(April5,1994).
23.StephanSchmidheiny,ChangingCourse:AGlobalBusinessPerspectiveonDevelopmentandtheEnvironment(Cambridge,Mass.:MITPress,1992),p.xii.
24.TheseexamplesarefromWilliamK.Reilly,"Environment,Inc.,"BusinessHorizons(MarchApril1992),pp.911;JosephF.Coates,"WasteNot,"AmericanWay(November1,1992);andWinsemiusandGuntram,"RespondingtotheEnvironmentalChallenge,"pp.1220.
25.MarthaHamilton,"SellingPollutionRightsCutstheCostofCleanerAir,"WashingtonPost(August24,1994).
26.PaulKlebnikov,"Demand-Siders,"Forbes(October26,1992).RobertRepettoetal.,GreenFees(Washington,D.C.:WorldResourcesInstitute,1992).EmilySmithetal.,"TheGreeningof
CorporateAmerica,"BusinessWeek(April23,1990).
27.SeeJimJackson(ed.),CleanProductionStrategies(BocaRaton,Fla.:Lewis,1993).
28.BrianBremner,"Recycling,"BusinessWeek(March5,1990).
29.GeneBylinsky,"ManufacturingforReuse,"Fortune(February6,1995).
30."TheGreenMachine,"Enterprise(October1994).
31.HazelHenderson,ParadigmsinProgress(Indianapolis:KnowledgeSystems,1991).HermanE.DalyandJohnB.Cobb,Jr.,FortheCommonGood(Boston,Mass.:BeaconPress,1989).
32.PeterCoors,"TheNewCorporateEnvironmentalism,"BusinessWeek(May11,1992).
Page176
33.JosephRomm,LeanandCleanManagement(NewYork:Kodansha,1994).
34.MarthaHamilton,"FirmsSavingMoneybyPreventingPollution,"WashingtonPost(June17,1992).
35.TimothyWirth,"EasyBeingGreen,"WashingtonPost(October4,1992).
36."GunterPauliCleansUp,"FastCompany(November1993).
37.WillisHarman,forinstance,isaleadingspokepersonofthisview,whichiswelldescribedin"GlobalDilemmasandthePlausibilityofWholeSystemChange,"TechnologicalForecasting&SocialChange(May1995).
38.DanielGlick,"BarbariansInsidetheGate,"Newsweek(November1,1993).
39.GeorgeWill,"ChickenLittles,"WashingtonPost(May31,1992).
40.Theconceptof"biologic"wascoinedbyDavidWann;seehisBiologic:DesigningwithNaturetoProtecttheEnvironment(Boulder,Colo.:JohnsonBooks,1994).
Page177
PARTTHREELEADINGINTHENEWECONOMICORDERInthisfinalpartofthebook,weturnourattentiontohowtheNewManagementhelpsmanagerscarryouttheirroleasleaders:providingguidanceinaworldofconstantchange,empoweredpeople,andaglobaleconomy.
Chapter8showsthatcreatingstrategicchangerequiresunitingtheorganizationwiththeforcesthatcausechange.Aninternalmarketrootstheorganizationintoitseconomicenvironment,whileacorporatecommunitydrawsonthediversevaluesofstakeholderstointegratebusinesswithsociety.Modermanagersusethisorganicformoforganizationtoproducecontinuouschangethroughtheebbandflowofexternalforces.
Chapter9exploreshowthecomingshifttoempoweredworkers,demandingclients,andtemporarybusinesspartnersrequiresmanagerstofindcollaborativesolutionsinthefaceofstronglyhelddifferences.Leadingwithoutformalpowercanbebestaccomplishedbydrawingontheleader'sinnerresources:reallylisteningforthemeaninginother'sviews,livingwithproblemsandcrises,andexpandingawarenesstoheightenone'sinnerwisdom.
Thefinalchapterexaminestheimplicationsofadecentralizedglobaleconomythatisemergingastheoldstructuresofbigbusinessandbiggovernmentgivewaytoshiftingnetworksofsmallenterprisesspanningtheworld.Tothriveinthisunstructuredarena,managerswillhavetoworkacrossvastculturaldifferencestoformpocketsofentrepreneurialcommunityatthelocallevel.
Page179
8ContinuousChange:RootingtheOrganizationintoItsEnvironmentAllagreethatcopingwithchangeiscriticalnowthattheInformationRevolutionisroaringuponus,yetattemptstomanagechangedonotsucceedveryoften.Lookatthefailedpromiseofnuclearpower"toocheaptometer,"theAT&TPicturePhone,theGreatSociety,andmanyotherformidableundertakings.Ifwehopetomanageacomplexfuture,itisbesttohavenoillusions.Strategicchangeisanunusuallydifficultundertaking.ConsidertworoughlysimilarattemptstoproducemajorsocialchangeintheUSAandtheformerUSSRthattookverydifferent,unexpectedpaths.
ThehealthcaresystemintheUnitedStatesissufferingfromskyrocketingcosts,alargeuninsuredpopulation,andmediocreperformance.
1EliGinsberg,anauthorityonhealthcare,saysthat"thesystemislikelytobederailedsometimethisdecade,"andformerSurgeonGeneralC.EverettKoopclaimsthat"thereissomethingterriblywrong.Weneedacompletechange."2ThenwhydidattemptstoreformthesystemfailwhenPresidentClintonarousedthenationtoact?HereisasophisticatednationthatplannedthesuccessofWorldWarIIandlandedmenontheMoon,yetitseemsunabletochangeahealthcaremessthatislikelytogrowfarworse.
Contrastthiswiththetransitionofcommunismtocapitalism.TheSovietUnion'ssystemwassofiercelysupportedbygenerationsoffaithfuladherentsthatitdominatedhalftheglobe.Infact,Western
nationsfeared
Page180
itwasmorepowerfulthandemocracybecauseanauthoritarianstatedoesnothavetopleaseaficklepublic.YetsuddenlythisformidablestructurebeganaconversiontothemarketsystemRussiansconsideredtheirnemesisforseventyyears.
Thereisnobetterwaytounderstandchangethanbyprobingthemeaningofthesetwocontrastingexperiences.WasMikhailGorbachevamoreskillfulchangeagentthanClinton?GorbachevhardlyintendedtobringdownCommunism;hesimplywantedtoimproveit.DidGorbachevhavegreatersupport?AsChapter10willshow,mostSovietsdidnotwanttoendCommunism,whereas,whenClintonproposedhealthcarereformin1993,morethan60percentofthepublicsupportedhimandhehadsolidbackingfromthemediaandcongress.True,theSovietsystemwasstartingtofail,butsowasAmericanhealthcarewhenClintonbecamepresident.
Ithinktheseexamplesillustratethattheprimaryrequirementforeffectivestrategicchangedoesnotlieintheleaders,theirfollowers,orthesystemitself.Thenwhatdiddrivethechangefromcommunismtocapitalism,andwhatpreventedthechangeofAmericanhealthcare?Itwastheeconomicandsocialenvironmentthatsurroundedeachofthesesystems.Amorecomplexglobaleconomyisbeingbornthatdemandsorganicmarketsratherthanthemechanisticbureaucraciesofthepast.ThisimperativeforcedtheSovietstoreplacetheirplannedeconomywithamarketsystem,anditcausedAmericanstorejecttheClintonhealthcareplanbecauseitwasseenfinallyasmorebiggovernment.
3
Thus,effectivestrategicchangerequiresfarmorethanaskillfulleaderabletoarousehisorherconstituentstoredesigntheirorganization.Executivescertainlyattempttobringaboutchange,andsomebrilliant
leadersshineatthistask.However,therealityisthattheirpowerislimitedbecausestrategicchangecanonlyoccurwhenitissupportedbytheenvironment.Skillfulmethods,soundforecasts,cleverstrategies,competentworkers,andbrilliantleadershipareneeded,tobesure-butultimatelytheirresistiblemovementofexternalforcesdetermineswhicheffortssucceedandwhichfail.Thetruesourceofstrategicchangeliesinthelargerenvironment,andmanagersareservantsofthismaster.
Thismayshockmanagersbecauseitimpliesthattheyarenotreallyincontroloftheirorganization'sdestiny,buttheimplicationsaremoresub-
Page181
tle.Thekeytocreatingchangeistoworkcloselywiththeseexternalpowersinordertoharnesstheirenergy.Japanesecorporationsthrivedinthe1980sbecausetheyunderstoodthatmodernconsumerswerehungryforvalue,quality,andservice;theyareintroublenowbecausetheyhavenotbeenabletoalignthemselveswiththenewrealityoffast-moving,freeenterprise.TheSaturndivisionofGMstandsoutbecauseithonorsthenewattitudesofworkers,carowners,andotherforcesinitsenvironment.TheBodyShopisahugesuccess,butthisislargelyaresultofhavingchosentherighttimetotapthevastsocialchangesfavoringahealthyecologicalsystem.
Thischapterdescribesaperspectiveof''continuouschange"basedonthesymbiosisbetweenorganizationsandtheirtechnical,economic,andsocialenvironment.Justasallorganismsadapttotheirenvironmenttosurvive,organizationsmustalsoadapttotheirenvironment.ThisanalogyhelpsusseethattheOldManagementapproachestochangestrategicplanning,topdownrestructuring,andbottom-uplearninghaveproveddisappointingbecausetheyunwittinglyisolatedorganizationsfromthisexternalreality.
Butsupposewecoulddirectoureffortsoutwardtobuildexternalrelationshipsthatconvertthepowerfulbutchaoticforcesintheenvironmenttousefulpurposes?
ThatisexactlyhowtheNewManagementderivesitsspecialadvantageincreatingstrategicchange.Justasnationsrelyonenterpriseanddemocracytochange,thesesametwoimperativeshelporganizationschange.Smallenterprisesinaninternalmarketconstantlyadapttoeconomictrends,whiledemocraticgovernancebringsthechangingviewsofstakeholdersintomanagementdecisions.Ratherthanfighttheenvironment,theNewManagementusesitasaconstantsourceofenergyandinformation.
OldApproachestoaNewChallenge
Afterdecadesofdebate,thefuturearrivedinthe1990swhenmanagersrealizedthatmajorstructuralchangewasinevitable.TheConferenceBoardnoted:"Intoday'sbusinessenvironment,ignoringtheneedforchangeplacesacompanyatperil,"andBusinessWeekissuedaspecialeditionin1992on"ReinventingAmerica."
4
Page182
Notonlyhaschangebecomeamajorconcern,ithasbecomewhatPeterVaillcalls"permanentwhitewater."
5Productionengineeringwascrucialearlyinthiscenturywhenmanufacturingsystemswerebeingdeveloped;marketingdominatedthe1950'sand1960stostimulateconsumerdemand;andfinancehasthrivedintherecentperiodofmergersandacquisitions.Asthecenturyends,however,thechallengeofadaptingtoacontinuallychangingfutureisbringingstrategicchangetothefore.AsTable8.1shows,thefocushasmovedfromproductionmanagement,tomarketingmanagement,tofinancialmanagement,andnowtostrategicmanagement.
TABLE8.1.THEEVOLUTIONOFSTRATEGICMANAGEMENT.Period MainNeed ManagementFocus19001930Manufacturingefficiency Productionmanagement19301960 Createdemand Marketingmanagement19601990Mergersandacquisitions Financialmanagement1990? Continuouschange Strategicmanagement
Theideaofstrategicmanagementhasbecomeverypopularforthisreason,butmostviewsofthisfieldseemlimitedbyconceptsoftheOldManagement.Textbooksandmanagersthemselvesusuallydiscussstrategicmanagementinessentiallythesametermsastheprocessofstrategicplanningwhichbecameoutmodedadecadeago.
StrategicPlanning:TheApproachThatFailedCommunism
Whenstrategicplanningwasatitspeakofpopularity,IconductedasurveyamongFortune500companiesandfoundthatmostofthemhaddevelopedsophisticated,corporatewideplanningsystemstocopewithanonslaughtofsocialturbulence.6Underdirectionfromthe
CEO,largecorporateplanningstaffscoordinatedacomplexprocessthatshepherdedalloperatingunitsthroughanannualplanningcycle.Theonlyproblemwasthatthisrarelyproducedstrategicchange.Yes,managersweredeeplyengrossedinformulatingimpressivestrategicplans,buttheywerenotusuallyimplemented,forahostofreasons.OnemanagerinmyCITsurveysaid:"Rarelyarestrategiesturnedintoreality."
Page183
Thefirstroundoftheplanningcyclewasusuallystimulating,butinterestsaggedasitscomplexityescalatedintoanelaborateandpointlessannualevent.Operatingmanagerssoonfoundthemselvesspendinghugeamountsoftimefillingoutformsandattendingmeetings.Theresultwasthatstrategicplanningbecameabureaucraticroutine.Fortunesummeditupin1982tomarktheendofstrategicplanning'sinfluence:"Theprocessendsuphavingtheperverseeffectofdesensitizingpeopletostrategicissues."
7Thedisenchantmentwassobadthatmostcompaniescutbacktheirplanningefforts,andmanyabandonedthepracticecompletely.
Inretrospect,itisnowclearthatchanginglargeorganizationsissodifficultthatitcannotbe"planned"inthissense.Indeed,conventionalplanningitselfistheproblem.Ifcompaniesaremanagedfromthetopdown,planningaddsmorebureaucracybecauseitissimplygraftedontothehierarchy.Asthefailureofcentrallyplannedeconomiesshows,anytypeofcentralplanningistooslowtorespondtorapidchange,itdrivesoutcreativethoughtinfavorofworn-outroutines,underminesmotivation,andproducesotherbureaucraticsymptoms.8IrecallvisitingIBMbeforethecompany'sfallfromgraceandmarvellingathowcumbersometheirplanningsystemwas,almostlike"socialism."
Strategicplanningisstillneededtocopewithchange,asweshallsee,butitisnowconductedinaninformalmannertominimizetheseproblems.Mostimportantly,itisinitiatedbyoperatingmanagersratherthanimposedasacompanywideprocess.
RevolutionfromtheTop:ShockTherapyforCorporations
Anotherschoolofthoughtcontendsthatstrategicmanagementavoidstheseproblemsbyfocusingontheactualimplementationofstrategicchange,ratherthanontheplanningprocess.
Thisapproachmayadvocateinstilling"strategicthinking"anda"readinessforchange"throughoutthefirm,buttherealityisthatitremainsflawedbyarelianceonpower.Withoutreplacingthehierarchywithsomeformofdecentralizedsystem,thisisusuallyatop-downprocessinitiatedbyasmallgroupofcorporateexecutives:theyusuallyestablishanurgentlyfeltneedforchange,defineaguidingvision,communicateittotherankandfile,andensurethatitisaccomplished.9Widespreadparticipationmaybeinvolved,butthisisusuallyavoidedbecauseitistime-consumingand
Page184
disruptive.Managersinoursurveyoftentoldthesamestory:"Strategyiscentralized,""Notenoughisdoneatlowlevels,"and"Employeeshavenoknowledgeofwhatisgoingon."
Forexample,thewayJackWelchrestructuredGEistellingbecauseitwasa"revolution,"inthewordsofNoelTichy,oneofthe"revolutionaries."Welchandotherexecutivesplannedthechange,somewhatlikeaplot.Asinanyrevolution,theyseizedtheleversofpowerallocationofresources,corporatecommunicationsystems,trainingprograms,andsoonandturnedthemtotheiragenda.Inasymbolicevent,WelchandhisfollowersburnedtheGEBlueBooks(policymanuals)toannouncetheendoftheoldsystem.
10GEisabetterorganizationnow,butthewayitwaschangedbearsastrikingresemblancetotheoverthrowofagovernment.
Notonlydoesonewonderaboutthelegitimacyofforcedchange,therearequestionsaboutitseffectiveness.AswenotedinChapter2,TQM,downsizing,reengineering,andotherstrategiesareusuallyforcedoncorporations,leavingbehindatrailoforganizationaldamage.Someanalystshavenotedtheclosesimilaritybetweentheseforcedattemptstoget"leanandmean"anddietingtoloseweight.Neitherworks,butweseemdeterminedtokeeptrying.Whydoesthis"managementanorexia"goon?
Thecommonbeliefseemstobethatchangeisnowessentialtosurvive,andsoCEOsimposeitinwaystheybelievewillovercometheinevitableresistanceandgetoverthepainquickly.Itisroughlyakintothe"shocktherapy"usedonsocialisteconomies.JackWelchnotedthattheroleofcorporateleadersistocreate"shock"andthenleadthecompanyintorecovery.11
Thisapproachmaysucceediftheleadersarebrilliant,asinthecaseof
JackWelchandmanyotherunusuallycapableCEOs.Butitisriskybecauseitisdrivenbythelimitedvisionofafewpeople.Thefactisthatmostleadersarefairlyordinary,andoftenflawed,humanbeings,sotheycaneasilyleadtheirfollowersoveracliff.CountlessattemptsatstrategicchangehavefailedwithvaryingdegreesofdamagebecauseCEOsthoughttheyknewbest.AmericanhealthreformdiedbecausetheClintonstriedtoimposetheirsolution."Thebillwastheproductofanivorytower,"saidSenatorCharlesGrassley.FormerCEOWilliamAgeealmostdestroyedMorrisonKnudsenCorporationbyimposingamisguidedstrategyuntilhewasoustedbyarevoltoftheboardofdirectors.12
Page185
Suchexamplesarenotuncommonbecausetheyareamongtheintrinsicdisadvantagesoftop-downchange.Foreveryorganizationthatisrevitalizedbyagreatleader,manyothersareheldhostagebymediocreleaders.Thefuturepresentssuchcomplexitythatnosinglegroupofpeoplecanplaniteffectively.
Wewillcontinuetoseemoreofthistypeofchangebecauseitappealstothoseholdingatough,expedientviewofmanagement.However,corporateshocktherapyisallshockandlittletherapy.Economicshocktherapymaybejustifiedtoconvertsocializedeconomiesintomarketsystems,butmostcorporationsremaincentrallycontrolledhierarchiesafterallthedustsettles.
Thatisthemostseriousfaultofthisapproach.Itisatemporarysolutionthatreliesonexecutivestoperiodicallyintroducetop-downchange,ratherthancreateanorganicsystemthatisinherentlyadaptive.Top-downchangeisroughlycomparabletoforcingtheoldUSSRthroughacourseofshocktherapyonlytorestructurethesystemintoamoreefficientformofcentralplanning.
LearningattheBottom:AReplayofOrganizationalDevelopment
Attheriskofseemingdifficulttoplease,let'sexamineabottom-upapproachtochange,"organizationallearning"(OL).OLfocusesonhelpingteamscreateasharedvision,engageinhonestdialogueonhowtoachievethisgoal,andsolveorganizationalproblems.
13Theintentistolearnhowtocutthroughthemisunderstandingandconfusionthatpreventsworkingtogether.
Whowouldnotagreethatweneedtolearnhowtoworktogetherbetter,especiallyinacompetitiveworld?However,suchintensepersonalinteractioncanonlybedoneinsmallgroups.LikethelimitsofparticipationdiscussedinChapter6,thesegroupprocessmethods
aregreatforunifyingteamsofabouttwentypeople,andpossiblyunitscontainingafewhundredpeople.Buttheycanrarelyaddressthecomplexstructuralproblemsoflargeorganizations.
Iwasdeeplyimpressedbyasimilarmovementthatsweptthroughthe1960s."Organizationaldevelopment"(OD)alsousedgroupprocessmethodstovitalizeorganizationsbyalteringpersonalvaluesandworking
Page186
relationships.DuringtheheydayofOD,mostmanagerstriedthisapproach,andtheresultswereoftendramaticaspeoplerediscoveredtheirhumanityandvowedtofosterharmony.
Thesewerefleetingeffects,unfortunately,becausethehardrealityofworklifereasserteditself,usuallycausingthesystemtoreturntothestatusquoante,oftenwithavengeance.Itbecamedearthatalargeorganizationismorethanthegoodintentionsofitsmembers.Ifthereisonethingthatmanagementsciencehasdemonstratedthroughdecadesofstudy,itisthatorganizationsarenotsimplycollectionsofpeople.Theytranscendindividualsbecausetheyaresomuchlarger,morepowerful,intricate,mythical,andenduringthatittakesaheroicacttochangethem,likeWelch'srevolutionatGE.Thatiswhypeopleoftenfeeltrappedintheirinstitutions.Thepressuresofcompetition,thelabyrinthofcommunicationchannels,persistentdifferencesinvalues,complexdepartmentalroles,lastingheritagesoffailureandsuccess,andotherstructuralfeaturesofworklifeimposeexactingdemandsalltheirown.
MymainimpressionisthatOLrepresentstherebirthofOD.Thefocusoncatharsisofpent-upemotions,authenticexpressionofdifferences,andonachievingaunifyingvitalityarestrikinglysimilar.Eventhenamesarealike.Idothinkthesegroupprocessmethodsareneededtobuildeffectiveworkteams.However,IalsosuspectthatOLpractitionersarelikelytorealizeintimethatsomethingelseislackingthedesignofsophisticatedorganizationalstructuresthatcanmakesuchbehaviorawidespread,enduringwayoflife.OLclaimstoofferinsightsfromsystemsthinking,butthatappearstobeaminorgoal,anditdoesnotrecognizethedominantneedtotransformorganizationsintoentrepreneurial,democraticsystems.Afterstrugglingtochangethewayhisemployeesworked,onefrustratedmanagerfinallygotthepoint:"Itisn'tthepeople,it'sthesystem."
ItisinterestingtonotethatOLrepresentstheoppositeofcorporateshocktherapy.Shocktherapyusespowertoforcechangefromthetop,whileOLusesteamlearningtoencouragechangefromthebottom.Thelimitsofshocktherapywerenotedabove,butconsiderthelimitsofOL.RelyingonOLtoproducestrategicchangeisroughlyanalogoustotransformingtheoldSovieteconomybyhelpinggroupsofRussianslearntoworktogetherhopingthattheywilldiscoverhowtocreateacomplexmarketeconomy.
Page187
PrinciplesofContinuousChange
Ifcentralizedplanning,top-downchange,andbottom-uplearningdonotprovideaneffectiveformofstrategicmanagement,whatwill?Institutionsarelikepeoplewritlarge.Theyhaveahardtimeunderstandingthemselves.Theydon'tknowwhattheywant,orhowtogetit.Theyoftencan'tbringthemselvestotakeactionstheyknowareintheirbestinterests,andsotheyawaitexternaleventstomovethem.Whatunusualforcecanovercomethisinertia?
ThereaderwillnotbesurprisedtofindthatIproposeadifferentapproachtostrategicchange.Asthefollowingsectionswillshow,effectivemanagerstodaycombineinternalmarketsandacorporatecommunitywithinanintelligentinfrastructuretoharnessthepoweroftheenvironment.
AnOrganizationTreeHarnessesthePoweroftheEnvironment
Alittlereflectionwillacknowledgethatanyinstitutionisaninseparablepartofthelargerenvironment.Indeed,itismeaninglesstothinkofchangeotherwisebecauseanyorganismexistsinareciprocalsymbiosiswithitssurroundings.Allmaterials,energy,information,andeverythingelseanorganizationdependsonforitsexistenceflowfromthedynamiclifeoftheeconomy,technologicalprogress,society,andnatureitself.Likeindividuals,institutionsatrophyifisolatedfromlife,andtodayorganizationsareimmobilizedbyOldManagementstructuresthatshieldthemfromthevitalenergiesswirlingallabout.
Thecaseoftheautomobileindustryoffersanobjectlesson.DisasterbefellthebigthreeAmericancarmakersinthe1980sbecausetheylosttouchwithenvironmentalforcesbeyondtheirpower:risingglobalcompetition,theecologicalcrisis,demandsforquality,andthelike.Inaveryrealsense,thecrisisoftheautoindustrywaslife'swayofforcingthesecompaniestoreestablishcontactwiththechanging
worldaboutthem.Theyarerecoveringnowonlybecausetheyhaveyieldedamisplacedarrogancetoadapttotheseexternalforces.
Fromastrategicperspective,thepoweroftheNewManagementisthatitispreciselydesignedtoharnesstheseforcesoftheenvironment.Onlymarketscantapthevitalizingenergyofeconomiclife,anddemocracyisessentialtoconvertsocialdifferencesintolegitimategovernance.
Page188
AswesawinChapter2,MCI,Johnson&Johnson,Hewlett-Packard,ABB,andmanyotherdynamiccompaniesareenergizedbyentrepreneurialsystemsthatcontinuallyprobetheenvironmentforopportunities.Thereissimplynosubstituteforthepowerofenterprise.Small,freeenterpriseformstheveryessenceofeconomiccreativity,andmostlarge,mechanisticorganizationsaredyingbecausetheystiflethisenergy.
AsChapter3alsoshowed,GM-Saturn,theBodyShop,HomeDepot,IKEA,andagrowingnumberofothercompanieshaveharnessedanothersourceofpowerbydrawingontheideasandvisionoftheirstakeholders.Thispowerofhumanvalues,cooperationandotherdemocraticprinciplesdiffersfromthatofenterprise,butitisequallyenergizing.Theycomplementoneanother.
WealsoshowedinChapter4thatthesetwoprinciplesforman"organizationtree,"whichisreproducedhereforyourconvenience.Atthebottom,internalenterprisesconnecttheorganizationtothegrassrootsoftheeconomy,therebyprovidingrevenue,information,andothernutrientsthatfeedthetree.Atthetop,democraticgovernanceamongstakeholdersexposesthisentrepreneurialcommunitytothelightofdiversevaluesthatfuelgrowthandguideittoserveausefulroleinsociety.
AnIntelligentInfrastructurefortheEntrepreneurialCommunity
AswesawinChapters2and3,thisentrepreneurialcommunityneedsan"intelligentinfrastructure"tohelpitcreatenewknowledgeandlearnhowtoactstrategically.OLtriestodothis,butseriousorganizationallearningismorethanthesumofindividuallearninginteams;itisthelearningofanentirecorporatesystemtoproduceahigherformofintelligence.Buthowcanweincreaseanorganization'sabilitytolearn?Byusinginformationtechnologytocreateatotallearningsystem.
Itwillsoonbepossibletocombinehigh-performinginformationnetworksanddynamicorganizationstructurestoproduceanunusualcapacitytoamassrawinformation,distillitintousefulnewknowledge,storethisintelligenceincommonknowledgebases,andretrieveitfromanypartofthenetwork.
14Theorganizationtreewouldprovidethemanagementsystem,andadistributednetworkofPCswouldprovidethe
Page189
TheOrganizationTree.
Page190
informationsystem.Microsoft's"Cairo,"Novell's"Tuxedo,"andotherPCnetworksarenowbeingdevelopedforthispurpose.
Thesesystemsshouldserveasthebackboneoftheintelligentorganization,constitutingacentralnervoussystemthatleveragesordinarylearningintopowerfulnewstrategiesforguidingacomplexinstitution.Ifwecarrythislineofthoughtfurther,eachindividualorteambecomesanodeintheinformationnetwork,whichthenformsasortof"corporatebrain"possessingpowersofmassintelligence.AmanageratSunMicrosystemsdescribedtheconceptthisway:"Thenetworkisthecomputer."
15
McGraw-Hilldevelopedanearlyprototypethatillustratesthisconceptnicely.Thecompanyworksinindustriesthatproducevariousformsofknowledge:publishing,informationservices,andsoon.TheCEOcreatedacorporatewideinformationnetwork,performanceincentives,andtrainingprogramstoengageallunitsinan"intellectualcommunity,"somewhatlikeauniversityorresearchlab.Thecentralelementinthissystemwasacomputerizedknowledgebasethatpooledinformationgatheredbytheunits;theycouldthendrawonthatinformationtoservetheirclientsbetter.Thesystemwasaptlycalledan"informationturbine"becauseitconvertedrawdataintoastreamofknowledgethat"powered"theorganization.
Theabilitytocreatethistypeofintelligentorganizationwouldhavevastimportanceforcreatingeffectivestrategicchange.InanIndustrialAge,competitiveadvantagewenttocompaniesthatproducedvaluablegoodseffectively,butinanInformationAgeitwillgotothosewhocanproducevaluableformsofstrategicknowledgequicklyandconstantly.
AnOrganicFormofStrategicManagement
Theutilityoftheseconceptsliesintheinsighttheyofferforcreatinganorganicformofstrategicmanagement:anorganizationthatcombinestheentrepreneurialcreativityofinternalmarkets,thepoliticalsupportofcorporatestakeholders,andtheknowledge-generatingpowerofanintelligentinfrastructure.
ThisorganicapproachissodynamicthatittranscendsthechangemethodsoftheOldManagementdiscussedabove,butthisdoesnotmeanthatthosemethodshavenouse.Onthecontrary,aswenotedinChapter1,
Page191
theOldManagementcanplayaneffectiverolebybeingincorporatedintotheNewManagement.Here'showAndrewGrove,CEOofIntel,describestheroleofplanninginaflexibleorganizationcapableofrapidchange:
Letchaosreign,thenreigninchaos.Doesthismeanyoushouldn'tplan?Notatall....Youplanbyshapingaflexibleorganizationcapableofrespondingtounpredictableevents.
16
Considerhowanorganicformofmanagementcanovercomethedrawbackswedescribedaboveforstrategicplanning,top-downchange,andbottom-uplearning.
Strategicplanningwillalwaysbeindispensablebecauseitrepresentstheproblem-solvinglogicallorganizationsneedtosurvive.AsMichaelPorterputit,''Thequestionsthatgoodplanningseekstoanswer...willneverlosetheirrelevance."17Theneedistofreeplanningsoitisperformedvoluntarilybyentrepreneursthroughouttheorganization,ratherthancentrallyplannedbybureaucrats.AtGE,theformercitadelofstrategicplanning,strategyformulationnowconsistsofbusinessunitsdevelopingaone-pageoutlineofcriticalissuesandpossiblestrategiesforthenexttwoyears.AndrewGrovedescribesthisapproachasanaturalpartofeverydaybusiness:"Peopleformstrategydayinanddayoutastheyrespond,byvirtueoftheproductstheypromote,thepriceconcessionstheymake,thedistributionchannelstheychoose."18
Thisorganicqualityisseenintheintuitive,unpredictablewaythatmanagersmakestrategicdecisions.19Formalplanningmethodsmayusealinear,rationalprocess,butthatisnothowdecisionmakersactuallythink.Onemanagertoldmethat"strategicplanningiswhatgoesoninsidetheCEO'shead."Strategicdecisionsaresocomplex
thatmanagersmaytakeyearstodefinetheproblemandreachasolution.Theyseekinformationandideasfromavarietyofsources,continuallycyclethroughtheprobleminaratherhaphazardwayuntilitbeginstotakeshape,andfinallyreachadecisionwhenallthepiecesfittogetherintoacoherentwhole.AmarBhide'sstudyofstrategicdecisionmakingamongentrepreneursfoundthatonly28percentdevelopacompleteplan,26percentsketchoutaroughplan,5percentworkupfinancialprojectionsalone,and41percenthavenoplanatall.Bhideconcluded:
Page192
Toomuchanalysiscanbeharmful;bythetimeanopportunityisinvestigatedfully,itmaynolongerexist....Theentrepreneuronlydoesasmuchplanningasseemsusefulandmakessubjectivejudgementswhennecessary.
20
Thisshowsthatstrategicplanningisasnaturalasordinarylearning,thesearchbehaviorofwildcreaturesstrugglingtosurvive,andallotherformsofadaptivechange.Aneffectiveorganizationhelpsitsmanagersimprovetheirownidiosyncraticapproachesbydevelopingintelligentinformationsystems,internalmarkets,andastrongcorporatecommunity.TheseelementsoftheNewManagementassistoperatingmanagersbyprovidingusefulknowledge,entrepreneurialfreedom,colleagueswhocanhelp,andthesupportofstakeholderswhomustmakeaventuresucceed.
Likewise,top-downchangeisessentialtoredefinethecorporateinfrastructure,thecorporatemission,andotherbroadelementsofplanningthatareneededtoguidebusinessunits.Thedifferenceisthatthisplanningshouldbedonedemocraticallybysomeprocessthatincludesstakeholdersandoperatingmanagerssothatitisenergizedbythediverseviewsthateveryorganizationmustreconcile.Box8.1describeshowapublicpowercompanyresolvedcrisesbyinvolvingstakeholdersinpolicydecisions.ListentohowtheCEO,PeterJohnson,describedtheadvantages:
Byinvitingthepublictoparticipate,ouradversarieshelpedusmakebetterdecisions.Wegainedauthorityandlegitimacy,avoidedcostlylawsuitsandpoliticalchallenges,andarrivedatcreativesolutionstoseeminglyintractableproblems.Havingseenourvictories,Iamconvincedthatpublicinvolvementisatoolthattoday'smanagersmustunderstand.Withexternalstakeholdersnowexertingsubstantialinfluenceineverysector,conflictisinevitable.Theonlychoiceiswhethertododgethecontroversyorlearn
howtoharnessit.
Bottom-uplearningisalsoessentialtocreateeffectiveteams,butitshouldbedonebysmallautonomousbusinessunitsaspartoftheirstrategyformulationtosucceedinamarketsystem.Box8.2describesthetransformationatXeroxfromahierarchicalstructureintoalooseassociationofself-managed,entrepreneurialbusinessteams.Here'swhattheCEO,PaulAllaire,hastosayaboutthisapproachtostrategicchange:
Page193
Wehaveembarkedonaprocessto[become]moreentrepreneurial,moreinnovative,andmoreresponsivetothemarketplace.Ienvisionatimewhenthiscompanywillconsistofmanysmallworkgroups...tieddirectlytothecustomer[with]thecapabilitytodesigntheirownworkprocessesandtoadaptcontinuouslyasbusinessconditionschange.
21
Notethecommonelementthatmakesalloftheaboveapproacheseffective.Ineachcase,amethodisusedbecauseallpartiestoasmallenterprisechoseitasamoreusefulwaytomanagetheirownaffairs.
BOX8.1.STRATEGICCHANGEUSINGSTAKEHOLDERPOWER.
TheBonnevillePowerAdministration(BPA)wasoncemanagedinatraditionalway,whichtheagencyheaddescribed:"Iviewedconflictwithpeopleoutsidethecompanyasanannoyance.Thoseofusontheinsideknewwewerecapableofmakinggooddecisionsandmadeeveryefforttoexplainourreasoning.Wewereessentiallytellingpeoplethatweknewwhatwasbestforthem.Meanwhiletheyweretellingusthatthefather-knows-bestapproachisunacceptable."Here'swhathappenedlater:
TheFormationofWorkingRelations.BPAbegananambitiousprogramtoengageitscriticsindirectdiscussions.Managersinvitedinputfromanyone;theyheldpublichearings,adoptedsuggestions(suchasmovingtransmissionlines),releasedinternalreportsand"issuealerts"tothemediaonupcomingdecisions,andevenmetwithenvironmental"crazies."Afterthesedemonstrationsofsincerity,frank,tension-freediscussionscouldbeheldonanytopic.
SavingtheAluminumIndustry.WhentheWashingtonPublic
PowerSupplySystem(WPPSS)failed,energyratesleapedeightfold,threateningthelocalaluminumindustry,whichdependedoncheappower.BPAformedacommitteerepresentingutilities,localgovernments,thealuminumcompanies,laborunions,andprivatecitizens.Afterdozensofmeetings,attendedbyatotalof4,600people,aconsensuswasreachedthatsavedtheindustry,jobs,andthelocaleconomy,andestablishednewfoundlegitimacyforBPA.
ReconciliationonNuclearPower.Whenconstructionoftwonuclearplantsstalledduetopoliticalopposition,lossestotalinghundredsofmillionsofdollarshadtobeabsorbedbypublicandprivateutilities.BPAheldmeetingswithbothgroups,whichatfirstgreetedthemwith"hootsandhollers,"butfinallyreachedasettlementthatsatisfiedallparties.
Source:PeterJohnson,"HowITurnedaCriticalPublicintoUsefulConsultants,"HarvardBusinessReview(JanuaryFebruary1993).
Page194
Whetheritisaunitmanagerplanninghisorherinternalenterprise,theboardofdirectorsguidingacorporation,orasmallworkteammanagingitsoperations,goodstrategicmanagementisanentrepreneurial,collaborativeprocessofproblemsolvingthatmayattimesinvolvetheuseofstrategicplanning,top-downchange,organizationallearning,oranyotherapproach.
Mostorganizationsaremovingtowardthisorganicformofstrategicmanagementasunitmanagersarefreedtopursuetheirownstrategies,assistedbyacorporateplanningprocessandcommittedexecutives(seeTable8.2).Wealsofindwidevariationinthewaydifferentindividualsandorganizationsgoaboutit.Somefeeltheneedtodefineacreativemission;othersforecasttheenvironment;manyfocusonresolvingcriticalissues;
BOX8.2.STRATEGICCHANGEUSINGMARKETPOWER.
CEOPaulAllairesetouttotransformXeroxfromatraditionalhierarchyproducingcopiersintoanentrepreneurial,market-drivensystemdedicatedtothecreation,storage,andtransmittalofreports,financialrecords,andallothertypesof"documents."Hedescribedthetaskthisway:"Thechangewearemakingwillaltercompletelythewaythiscompanyismanaged."
ManagingtheChangeProcess.A"FutureArchitectureTeam"ofXerox'sbestmanagersandemployeeswasorganizedtoplanthetransition.Theysurveyedthefieldforconceptsandexamples,studiedvariousalternativestructures,andpassedtheirrecommendationsonfordiscussionandimplementation.
NineIndependentBusinessDivisions.Themajorchangewastomovefromastaff-drivenstructuretoaproduct-drivenstructureinordertorespondquicklytotheflurryofnewtechnologiesbeingspewedoutbytheInformationRevolution.Ninebusiness
divisionshavebeenorganizedasprofitcentersthatproduceproductsfordifferentmarkets.Thesedivisions,inturn,havedozensofsmallerbusinessteamstoserveparticularcustomerneeds.Additionally,overadozenothernewproductsarebeingdevelopedbysmallXeroxsubsidiaries.
PerformanceIncentives.Tomotivateentrepreneurship,aplanhasbeensetupthatrewards2,000peoplewithannualbonusesbasedontheirperformanceatteam,division,andcorporatelevels.Allaireexplainsthelogic:"Wewantpeopletothinkintermsoftheirindividualunits,butalsointermsofthecompanyasawhole."
Sources:RobertHoward,"TheCEOasOrganizationalArchitect,"HarvardBusinessReview(SeptemberOctober1992);"RedesigningtheCorporation,"Enterprise(January1994).
Page195
stillotherssimplyturntheirintuitionfreetothinkcreatively;somestrivetodesignnewproductsandventures;andothersprefertrainingandeducation.
22Nosingleapproachisbestbecausetheoptimumtypeofplanningshouldbechosenbytheunittosuititsspecialneeds.
Whatevertheapproach,thecentralideaistocreateafluid,organicformofstrategicproblemsolvingtobeusedfreelybyallunitsfromthecorporateboardroomtotheblue-collarworkbenches.Ifmanagershopetothriveinaworldofconstant,massivechange,strategicmanagementwillhavetobebuiltontheNewManagementfoundationofinternalmarketsandcorporatecommunitytocreateanorganicorganization.Theoutcomewouldcombinethepowerofbothtop-downleadershipandwidespreadparticipation,constantlearninginentrepreneurialunits,andvoluntaryplanningeverywhere.
Thisapproachoffersnopanaceas,certainly.Transforminginstitutionsintothistypeofsystemisitselfachallenge,andhelpingpeoplemanagethemselvesinademocratic,entrepreneurialwayisalwaysdifficult.These
TABLE8.2.ADOPTIONOFCONTINUOUSCHANGEPRACTICES.(SAMPLE=426CORPORATEMANAGERS.)
Practice
NotPracticed(03)
PartiallyPracticed(46)
FullyPracticed(710)
Mean(010)
Aformalstrategicplanningprocessisconductedperiodicallytodeterminehowcorporatestrategyshouldrespondtotechnologicaladvances,economicconditions,social
attitudes,andothercriticalissues. 11% 20% 69% 7.2Unitmanagersarefreetopursuetheirownstrategiesfortheirunits. 18 32 50 6.0Topmanagementrncouragesmajorstructuralchangeswhentheyareneeded. 12 16 72 7.3Means 14% 23% 63% 6.8Source:WilliamE.Halal,CorporationsinTransition(anunpublishedstudyinprogress).Notethatdatainthefirstthreecolumns("NotPracticed,"etc.)areaggregatedbycollapsingportionsofthequestionnairescaleasshown("03,"etc.).SeethequestionnaireinAppendixC.
Page196
issuesofleadershipareaddressedinthenextchapter.Whattheconceptcanrealisticallyhopetoachieve,however,istoinjectavitalflowoffreshopinionanddisciplinedactionintotoday'sbureaucraciesinsum,toconnectthemwiththeforcesofcreativedestructionintheirenvironment.
ControlofLivingOrganizations
Effectivestrategicmanagement,then,cannotbesimplysophisticatedplanning,boldleadershipfrombrilliantCEOs,orenlightenedpeopleworkinginteams.Thesewillonlybeusefuliftheyarepartofadramaticallydifferentorganicinstitutionexpresslydesignedtoproducestrategicchangerapidly,effectively,andcontinuously.TheheadoftheXeroxPaloAltoResearchCentersaid,"Themostimportantinventionthatwillcomeoutofthecorporateresearchlabinthefuturewillbethecorporationitself."
23
ConstantResponsesEverywheretoExternalForces
Idon'tthinkweappreciatethefullimplicationsofwhattheseorganicsystemswouldbelike.Trulyorganicorganizationswillnotbesimply"flexible,""empowered,"orotherwise"better.''Theywillbeasfullyaliveasacolonyofbees,atree,oramarket.Onlylivingsystemsoperatingonselforganizingprincipleswillbeabletosustainthemselvesthroughthewhirlwindahead.24
Themostdistinguishing,andperhapsthemosttroubling,featureisthattheywillhavetooperatebeyondthecontrolofmanagement.Onecancontrolamachineandahierarchicalorganization,butnotabeecolony,atree,oramarket.Evenifonecould,itwoulddefeattheorganicsystem'spurposebecauseitsverynatureistoadaptthrougha
freeflowofcreativeresponsiveness.ThinkoftheInternet;whocouldpossiblycontrolthisvastoceanofcommunication?KevinKelley,editorofWiredmagazine,describedtheoutcomeoftoday'sracetoinformationnetworksthatwillsoonmergeintoaglobalwebofcommerce:
Asweunleashlivingforcesintoourmachines,welosecontroloverthem....Thisisthedilemma.[Humans]cannolongerbesovereignovertheirfinestcreations....[Systems]willbecomeautonomous,adaptable,andcreativebut,consequently,outofourcontrol.Ithinkthat'sagreatbargain.25
Page197
Indeed,someofthecorporationsI'veworkedwithdidlosecontrolofinnovativepractices.Onefirmshowedaburstofvitalityaftermovingtoamarketsystemthatspawnednumerousventures,butpoorcontroloftherisksresultedinseriousbusinessfailures.Thisproblemmighthavebeenavoidedwithstrongerleadership,butitillustratesboththechallengeandthepotentialthatareinvolved.Organizationalfreedomunleashesgreatreservoirsofcreativeenergy,andthisenergymustbecarefullychanneledintoconstructiveavenues.
WhenIclaimthattheNewManagementrepresentsasourceofgreaterpower,Iamnotbeingrhetorical.Theintroductionofdemocracyandenterprisewillchargetoday'sorganizationswithnewlife,andmanagerswillhavetolearntoguidethislifemorecarefully.Thetaskshouldbecomparabletooperatinganuclearreactor.Enormouspowerisavailabletoserveusefulpurposes,butpulltherodsouttoofarandthereactionwillrunoutofcontrol.
Thisdoesnotmeanthatorganicorganizationswillbeoutofcontrolinthesenseofbehavinginwild,unpredictableways.Itmeansthatthelocusofcontrolwillmoveoutofthehandsoftopexecutivessothatitcanbesharedbyoperatingmanagers,workers,clients,andotherswhoareinvolved.Anorganicorganizationcanbeunderfarmoreeffectivecontrolbecausedecisionsaremadethroughoutthesystembypeopleclosetotheaction.
Thestrengthofanorganicsystemisthatitismoresensitivetotheneedforchangebecausecontrolisexercisedconstantlyallaboutinresponsetotheebbandflowofenvironmentalforces.Peopleordinarilyresistchange,notbecausetheyareobstinate,butbecausetheyarefearfulwhenchangeisforcedonthem.Ifchangeoriginatesfromthem,however,theycanacceptitbecausetheyareincontroloftheirlives.Manythriveonself-createdchangebecauseitgivesthemasenseofmasteryovertheirfuture.
Weliketothinkthatleadersbringaboutchange,especiallyinbusiness,wheredynamicexecutivesareadmiredfortheirabilitytotakechargeofcorporationsandturnthemaround.Managerscertainlystrivetoformulatestrategiesbyintroducingnewproductsandchangingtheirorganizations.ButthesearemoreliketherandommutationsthatDarwinianevolutionpresentswhensearchingforanadaptivefitbetweentheorganismanditsenvironment.Thefactisthatmanagersfacesuchuncertaintyintryingtosurviveaturbulentworldthattheireffortsoftenamounttoan
Page198
informedgamble,almostasthoughtheywereplacingbets.Outofallthediversestrategiesthatvariouscompaniesdevise,theenvironmentselectsthosethatrepresentafunctionaladvantage.
Forinstance,PaulAllaireisrevivingXeroxonlybyacceptingthefactthatanalogphotocopiershavebeenmadeobsoletebythedigitalizationofdata,andthecompanywasthenabletodefineanewproductlinebasedondigitaldocuments.ThinkofotherrecentchangesthefallofCommunism,theenvironmentalcrisis,theriseofaglobaleconomy.Wecan'tpossiblycontrolthesehistoricturningpoints,butwecanusetheirpower.
FacingUncertainty
Here'swhatthischapterhasconcludedaboutthecriticalneedforamoreeffectiveapproachtostrategicchange:
1.Organizationsarelikeotherorganismsinthattheyaredependentontheirsurroundingsforallresourcesandinformation.
2.MostattemptstocreatestrategicchangefailbecausetheyusemechanisticelementsoftheOldManagementthatisolateorganizationsfromenvironmentalforces.
3.TheNewManagementincorporatesanorganicapproachtostrategicchangebecauseinternalmarkets,corporatecommunity,andanintelligentinfrastructureintegratetheorganizationintotheexternalforcesthatdrivechange.
4.Managerswillhavetolearntocontroltheseorganicsystemsinsubtlewaysthatinfluenceandguidetheirself-organizingbehavior.
Acknowledgingthatwearenotinfullcontrolmayprovokeanxiety,butitwillalsomakemanagementafarmoreexciting,creativeadventure.Iknowmyexperiencemanagingaerospaceprojects,businessstart-ups,conferences,andeventhepublicationofbookshas
alwaysbeen"organic."Whencontemplatinganewventure,Imaytryto"plan"itinthesenseofestimatingitsfeasibility,theobstaclesahead,andotherconcerns.Butonceunderway,everyimportantprojectIhaveeveraccomplishedhastakenonanunpredictablelifeofitsown.
Managinganewventureislikegivingbirthtoachild.Onecreatesthislivingcreature,anditthentakesovertorunitsownlife.Ihavethesense
Page199
thatIamnotinchargeoftheventure,buttheventureisinchargeofme.Ihaveunwittinglybecomeitsservant,holdingonfordearlifeasitroarsahead.Yetsomehowthingsusuallyworkoutjustaboutastheyshould.Iftheventureisnotagreatsuccess,IfindthereweregoodreasonsthatIcanlearnfrom.ButmostoftenIamamazedatthegoodfortuneIreceive.Despitemyfears,therightpeopleseemtoappearattherighttime,eventsunfoldinwaysIcouldnothaveimagined,andcrisesusuallyturnouttobeblessingsindisguise.
Bylearningtofacetheinevitablerealitythatmanagementinvolveshugeamountsofuncertainty,wemayfindtheawarenessneededtoinfluencethosewispyforcesintheenvironmentthatshapeevents,andwewouldcertainlybebetterpreparedtoreactwhentheysurpriseus.Allthoseexternalenergiesthatnowposesuchthreatstooursenseofcontrolcouldthenpossiblybeusedtomoveprojectsahead.Justasthemartialartsconvertthestrengthofanaggressortoone'sbenefit,thisabilitytoconnectmoresolidlywiththatinvisible,fleeting,oftenmysteriousenvironmentmayallowmanagerstoconvertitsexternalthreatstotheirstrategicadvantage.
Notes
1.AlthoughtheUnitedStatesspendsmorepercapitathananynation,longevity,childmortality,andotherhealthindicesareonlyaverage.FortymillionAmericanswithnoinsuranceuseexpensiveemergencyclinicsfortheirroutinecare,whichweallpayfor.Thosewhoarecoveredhavenoincentivetoreducecosts,andthereislittlecomparativeinformationavailabletoguidechoicesanyway.Theseproblemshaveincreasedhealthcoststo14percentofGNP,andexpenditurescouldreach20percentsoon,asthepopulationages.
2.EliGinsberg,MedicalGridlockandHealthReform(Boulder,Colo.:WestviewPress,1994),C.EverettKoop,"TheHealthCare
Mess,"Newsweek(August28,1989).
3.SeeMichaelRothschild,"WhyHealthReformDied,"WallStreetJournal(September22,1994).
4.KathrynTroy,ChangeManagement(NewYork:TheConferenceBoard,1994).ReinventingAmerica,aspecialissueofBusinessWeek(1992).
5.PeterVaill,ManagingasaPerformingArt(SanFrancisco:Jossey-Bass,1991).
Page200
6.WilliamE.Halal,"StrategicManagement:TheState-of-the-Art&Beyond,"TechnologicalForecasting&SocialChange(May1984).
7.WalterKiechel,"CorporateStrategistsUnderFire,"Fortune(December27,1982).
8.SeeDanielGray,"UsesandMisusesofStrategicPlanning,"andRobertHayes,"WhyStrategicPlanningGoesAwry,"InArthurA.Thompson,Jr.,etal.(eds.),ReadingsinStrategicManagement(Homewood,Ill.:Irwin,1990).AlsoseeIanWilson,''TheStateofStrategicPlanning,"TechnologicalForecasting&SocialChange(1990),Vol.37.
9.AgoodsummaryofthecurrentstateoftheartisJohnKotter's"LeadingChange,"HarvardBusinessReview(MarchApril1995).
10.NoelM.Tichy,"RevolutionizeYourCompany,"Fortune(December13,1994).
11.FrankSwoboda,"UpAgainsttheWall,"WashingtonPost(February27,1994).
12.DanaPriest,"WhereHealthCareReformEffortFailed,"WashingtonPost(September15,1994).BrianO'Reilly,"AgeeinExile,"Fortune(May29,1995).
13.PeterSenge,TheFifthDiscipline(NewYork:Doubleday,1990).
14.GiffordandElizabethPinchot,TheEndofBureaucracyandtheRiseoftheIntelligentOrganization(SanFrancisco:Berrett-Koehler,1994).
15.BrentSchendler,"WhatBillGatesReallyWants,"Fortune(January16,1995).
16.AndrewGrove,"FromtheFront,"Fortune(September18,1995).
17.MichaelPorter,"TheStateofStrategicThinking,"TheEconomist(May23,1987).
18.RonaldHenkoff,"HowtoPlanfor1995,"Fortune(December31,1990).
19.WilliamE.Halal,StrategicPlanning(CollegePark:UniversityofMaryland,1991).
20.AmarBhide,"HowEntrepreneursCraftStrategy,"HarvardBusinessReview(MarchApril1994).
21.RobertHoward,"TheCEOasOrganizationalArchitect:AnInterviewwithPaulAllaire,"HarvardBusinessReview(SeptemberOctober1992),pp.107121.
22.SeeJohnBryson,StrategicPlanningforPublicandNonprofitOrganizations(SanFrancisco:Jossey-Bass,1988).
23.JohnSeelyBrown,"ResearchThatReinventstheCorporation,"HarvardBusinessReview(JanuaryFebruary1991).
24.MichaelRothschild,Bionomics(NewYork:Holt,1990).
25.KevinKelley,OutofControl(Reading,Mass.:Addison-Wesley,1994),p.4.
Page201
9InnerLeadership:HowtoHandletheComingPowerShiftReadingthepreviouschapters,you'veprobablywonderedhowintheworldmanagerslikeyourselfaregoingtoaccomplishallthesedifficultinnovations.Theideasmaymakesense,buthowwillyourestructuretoday'sbureaucraciesintomarketsystems?Unitediverseinterestgroupsintoapoliticalcoalition?Reorientsalestoservingpeople?Organizeworkteamsthatmanagethemselves?Transformoperationssothattheyareecologicallybenign?Andkeepthisentiresystemconstantlyadaptivetochange?
Youarenotgoingtodoitusingauthority,butbydrawingoutthetalentsofothers.Iwasprivilegedtowitnessavividdemonstrationofthistypeofleadershipwhenvisitingamanufacturingcompany.Incontrasttotheantagonismbetweenvariousgroupsthatwasoncerifeinindustry,thisorganizationhadlearnedtoworktogetherbyconfrontingitsdifferencesinaconstructivespirit.Seatedataconferencetableweremanagers,laborleaders,suppliers,distributors,andevenofficialsfromthelocalgovernment.Moststrikingwasthatthepresidentofthecompanydidnotseemaparticularlyimposingperson.Hehadnocommandingpresence,wasnotagenius,andshowedlittlecharisma.How,Iwondered,didhemanagetopullthisdiversegroupofbigegostogetherintoaharmoniousteam?
Asthemeetingprogressed,itbecameapparentthatthiswasadifferenttypeofleader.Hesawhisroleasencouragingthetalentsofthepeoplein
Page202
theorganization,andsoherarelyspokehimselfbutwasmoreintentonaskingothersfortheirviews.Remarkably,hereallylistened.Unlikealmostallotherleadersoneusuallymeets,thismanwasgenuinelyhumbleinthesensethathefocusedonunderstandingtherealityofthesituation.Itwaslikeabreathoffreshair!Aleaderwhocareswhatpeoplereallythink?Whowantstohearthemessytruth?Whodoesnotimposehissolutions?Surelythiswaseitheraruseoritdidn'twork,Ithought.
Butitdidwork.Itenergizedthemeeting.Peoplebroughtouttheirproblems,theirideas,theirdoubts,theirmisunderstandings,andalltheotherhiddenagendaswenormallykeepcontainedwithinus.Thepresidentsimplyaskedanoccasionalquestion,madeafewsuggestionsforthegrouptoconsider,andtriedtoclarifywhattheyweredoing.Otherwise,thegroupcontrolledthemeeting.Mostimportantly,themeetingaffirmedthatthiswastheirorganization.Theywereresponsibleforitssuccessorfailure,sotheydidwhateverwasneededtomakeitwork.
OK,thishumbleapproachreallyworks,butwhatabouttheleader,Iworried?Hewasobviouslynot"incharge,"andinfactheseemedabitawkwardanduncomfortableattimes.Littlewonderwhenpeoplewouldsayharshthingsdirectlytohim,suchascomplainaboutsomeaspectofthecompanyandcriticizehisbehavioroccasionally.Theyevencalledhimbyhisfirstname!Howcouldhepossiblymaintainhisdignityandself-respect,muchlessthepowerneededtobeeffective?
Beneaththisappearanceofcasualdisregardwasadeepsenseofrespectandaffection.Notbecausethisleaderheldthepowerofthepresident,butpreciselyfortheoppositereason.Hehadvoluntarilyyieldedhisauthority.Theheartofthisrelationshipwasthatthepresidentwasgenuinelyconcernedabouttheneedsofthepeopleinthatorganization,andheprovidedasubtle,supportiveguidancethat
helpedthemfindthewayahead.Ironically,bygivinguphisformalpower,hewasgivenfarmorerealpower.Theywoulddothingsforthismanthatnoordinarybosscouldevenaskfor.
Hewasnotsimplyanothermemberoftheteam,however.Attimeshehadtobeartheresponsibilityfortakingsomedifficultactionontheirbehalf,suchasaskingfordisciplineorbringingupaseriousissue.Butbecausehewasatrueleaderratherthanaboss,hewasabletodothiswiththeirwillingsupport,ratherlikea"servantleader"ora"goodfather."
Page203
Thisisonlyoneexample,ofcourse,ofthemanydifferentwaysthatgoodleaderswork.ButIthinkithighlightsakeyprincipleofleadershiptoday:Inaworldofescalatingcomplexityandempoweredpeople,leadersmustcultivatetheartofhelpingotherstosharetheresponsibilitiesofmanagement.Andthepriceoftheirsupportistorelinquishthatcomfortableoldsenseofcontrol.
Genuineparticipationisanintense,creativeactinwhichpeoplestepoutoftheircomfortablerolestoengagetheirdifferences.Ifthispainfulexplorationcanbesustainedthroughitstwistsandturns,anewclarityofawareness,ora"vision,"maybegivenustoguidethewayahead.Becausethisprocessinvolvesnurturinganexpandedsenseofawareness,itcanbesaidtobe"spiritual."Participativeleadership,then,isthefusionofhumanspiritsthatreleasesnewenergyandvision.
Thischapterexploresthisinnerdimensionofmanagementinwhichparticipativeleadershipoccurs.Webeginbyclarifyingtheillusivenatureofpowertoshowthatbothleadersandfollowersmutuallyshapeeachothers'awareness.Thenweexaminehowahistoricshifttoaformofsharedpowerisunderwaytodaythatexposesallofustostressanduncertainty.Butifleaderscandrawontheirinnerresourcestokeeptheorganizationalertinthemidstofproblemsandcrises,creativesolutionsmayemergebeyondthepowersofeithertheleaderorthefollowers.
TheChangingIllusionofPower
Wheneverpeoplediscussleadership,attentioninvariablygravitatestothatillusiveissueofpower.Theveryessenceofleadershipistogetotherstodosomething,soleadersmustfocusontheskillfuluseofpower,influence,orwhateveronechoosestocallthisforcethatpropelsaction.WarrenBennisputitthisway:"Leadershipisthewise
useofpower."
1
Inthisbroadersense,everyoneactsasaleader.Undersomecircumstances,wealltrytoinfluenceourco-workers,bosses,spouses,children,andotherrelationships.Thus,powerisaneverpresentreality,sincepeoplealwaysattempttoexertinfluence,andtheresultofallthismutualinfluenceiswhatsocialscientistscall"thesocialconstructionofreality."Powerisnotsomefixed,officialauthorityheldbyoneperson,butachanging,somewhatarbitrarywayoforganizingsocietyanillusion.
Thisfluidnatureofpowerisseeninthewidevariationittakes.Intheexampleatthebeginningofthischapter,forinstance,thecompany
Page204
presidentshowedthatpowercaneasilybesharedwithfollowersiftheyfeelcommittedtotheleaderortheorganization.Infact,thisbenigntypeofpowerisusuallyfarmoreinfluentialbecausepeoplefeelunitedbyacommonsenseofpersonalempowerment.Witnessthemutualempowermentsharedbygreatleadersandtheirfollowers:GandhiandhisIndiancountrymen,MartinLutherKing,Jr.,andhisblackbrothersandsisters,PopeJohnPaulIIandtheCatholicChurch.
Suchexamplesarefairlycommonbecausepeoplewanttofeelasenseoftheirownpower.Psychologistsidentifythisasahealthydrivetobeeffectual,tohaveanimpactontheworld,andtoseeone'sactionsasmeaningful.Thisneedcanbepervertedinto"dominance,"ofcourse,whichiswhyanopen,aggressivedriveforpowerisoftentabooinsociety.Butweshouldacknowledgethatallpeoplehaveahealthyneedtofeelpowerfulandtoinfluenceothers.
PowerIsanInnerExperience
Thewidespread,changingpursuitofpoweris,however,oftenaccompaniedbyconflict,confusion,anddoubt,largelybecauseitissooftenaforbiddensubjectandisusuallypursuedaloneandinsilence.
AfewyearsagowhenIwasaconsultanttoamajorcompany,Iexperiencedanexhilaratingbutpainfullessoninthewaysofpowerthathelpsclarifythisproblem.IhadbeenaskedtoadvisetheirmanagersabouttheNewManagement,andtheywereintriguedtoseethatamoreeffectivetypeofcorporationcouldbedevelopedusingtheseprinciples.Iwasthenaskedtohelpimplementthisconceptintheiroperations.
Well,youcanimaginethatIwasflyinghighattheprospectofseeingmyideasbroughttolife.Itmademerealizetheattractionno,theaddiction,thatgripsthosewhotastegreatpower.Usingone'sabilities
toswaytheopinionofothersisaheady,deliciousfeeling.Incontrasttothestruggleofdailylife,powerconveysasenseofmasteryoverourenvironment.AsthepoliticalTVtalkshowhostJohnMcLaughlinputit,"Powerisanexperienceasintenseassex."
Butthestorygetsbetter.Thecompanyaskedmetoconductaprojectthatrequiredgainingthesupportoftwenty-fiveotherbigcorporations.Whentheprojectwascompleted,Iorganizedameetingofallthemanagers
Page205
todiscusstheresults.Atthemeeting,Istrodetothepodiumsavoringthethrillofaccomplishment,madesomebriefremarks,andnotedthatthisprojecthadsucceededbecausetheyhadallworkedtogethercooperatively.
Unfortunately,Imadethemistakeoftakingmyobservationstoofarbysayingthattheyshoulddevelopasimilarcooperativespiritwiththeiremployees,customers,andotherstakeholders.Suddenly,lookingoutatallthosefaces,Ifeltwavesofresentmentflowingtowardme.TheyrightlyfeltthatIwasmisusingmyroletolecturethem.Whenthefullforceoftheirangerhit,Iwasplungedintothenightmarethathauntsspeakers,apanicattack.InfrontofallthoseimportantpeoplewhoIhadwantedtoimpress,Ijuststoodthere,wordless,unabletofindawayoutofmyterror.Itwasonlyafewsecondsreally,butitseemedlikeanendlessordeal.
Idescribeboththehighsandthelowsofthisexperience,eventhoughtheyarebothembarrassingindifferentways,toillustratehowdeeplyweoftenexperiencetheuseofpower.Thinkofatimewhenyouhandledatoughinterpersonalsituationwellandfeltaglowingsenseofachievementorwhenyoumishandledasituationandfeltthepowerdrainfromyou.Suchdeepfeelingsarecommonbecausejoustinginthearenaofpowerisafactoflife,andtodaythegameisplayedatapsychiclevelaswetestourbeliefs,knowledge,andwillagainstoneanother.Itwouldbegreatifwecouldallworktogethercooperatively,butthatdoesnothappenveryoften.
Entirelibrarieshavebeenwrittenonleadershiptraits,styles,andskillstoclarifythesemurkymatters.
2This"outer"view,focusingontheleader'sbehavior,isuseful,butitmissestheinnerrealityfromwhichpoweremanates.Intheexperiencedescribedabove,myouterbehaviorandthatofmy
audiencemakesnosensewithoutunderstandingtheinnerforcesatwork:mypushyneedtochangethesemanagers,theirsenseofresentment,myfearfulreactioninthepanicattack,andsoon.Here'showRobertRabbin,headofaconsultingfirmthathelpsmanagerscultivatethistypeofinnerunderstanding,describesit:
Learningaboutawarenessteachesusthatlifeisactuallyan"insidejob."Ourexperiencesandabilitiesareanimprintofourawareness....Thequalityofourawarenessdeterminesthequalityofourlifeandactions.3
Page206
TheComingShiftinPowerStructures
Theinnerdomainofleadershipisbecomingespeciallyimportantnowbecauseahistoricshiftintheuseofpowerisdisruptingtheoldrelationshipbetweenleadersandfollowers.
Figure9.1illustratestheevolutionofpoweroverthelongterm,showinghowthedominantformofleadershiphaschangedinresponsetotwocentralfactors.AsnotedinChapter6,increasinglycomplextechnologiescreateafundamentaladvanceintheeconomicfoundationofwork,which,inturn,drivestheprevailingculturetowardhigher-ordervalues.Theresulthasbeenaslowbutsteadyincreaseinfreedomateachstageofdevelopment:fromtheabsoluteruleoffeudallords,totheauthorityofindustrialbosses,tothehumanrelationsleadersoftoday'sserviceeconomy,andsoon,toself-managedteamsofknowledgeworkers.
4Thisisonlyageneraltendency,ofcourse,butaquickscanofhistorybearsoutthistrend.
Agrariansocietiesareusuallymarkedbyautocraticleadersbecausetheseareprimitiveculturesinwhichpeopledosimpleworkandliveatasubsistencelevel.Itisnocoincidencethatmostundevelopednationsarestillgovernedbykingsanddictators.
Industrializationgenerallymovespowerupanotchtotheuseofformalauthorityforinstructingprofitmaximizers"economicmen"atroutinejobs.Industrialbossesdidnotrulebysheerforce,butdevelopedarationalformofcontroltomanagefactoriesefficiently.
Asautomationreplacedindustrialjobs,aservicesocietydevelopedinthe1950stofocusonpersonalservices.Becauseworkwasmainlyconcernedwithmanagingsocialrelationshipsamongwhite-collaremployeesharmoniously,a"humanrelations"styleofleadership
emerged.Theleaderwasstillinchargebuthadtocultivateawarmemotionalatmosphereamongaunifiedcorporatefamily.Thismodelgenerallyprevailsinmostorganizationstoday.
Now,asrobotsandinformationsystemsautomatefactoriesandoffices,teamsofskilledprofessionalsmustmanagecomplexbusinessventures,solvetechnicalproblems,andprobetheboundariesofaknowledgeeconomy.Notonlyareeconomiesbecomingunusuallycomplex,amoreeducated,sophisticatedbreedofknowledgeworkerisappearingthatismotivatedbyachievement,creativity,and,especially,controlovertheirwork.
Page207
Figure9.1.TheEvolutionofLeadership.
Page208
Theresult:ahistoricupheavalinpowerstructuresisunderway.JackWelch,CEOofGE,summeduptheneed:"Ina[world]wherewemusthaveeverygoodideafromeverymanandwoman,wecannotaffordmanagementstylesthatsuppressandintimidate."FrankDoyle,GE'svicepresidentforhumanresources,added:"Powerintheninetieswillbepeoplepower.Powerwillgotoemployeeswithadaptablemindsandflexibleskills."Here'showAlvinTofflerdescribedthecomingpowershift:
Theentirestructureofpowerthatheldtheworldtogetherisnowdisintegrating[dueto]theriseofaradicalnewsystemforwealthcreationinwhichinformationplaysadominantrole.Theessenceoftheneweconomyisinnovation.
5
ThispowershiftamountstoapeacefulrevolutionthatcouldproveasunsettlingasthegreatrevolutionsthatcreatedmoderndemocracyintheUnitedStatesandEurope.Evennowemployeesaregainingcontrolovertheirtimeschedules,theyoftenhaveaccesstothecompany'sfinancialrecords,determinehowtoperformtheirjobs,chooseco-workersandsuppliers,challengeunjustfirings,andevenevaluatetheirsuperiors.6Aspowermovestoworkers,howwillmanagersguideallthisrawenergyintousefuldirections?
RiseoftheInformalOrganization
Thesedemandsforsharingpowerarelikelytoproveemotionallyvolatile.Theproblemcanbeunderstoodbycomparingthe"formal"and"informal"levelsoforganizationtothe''conscious"and"unconscious"levelsofhumanthought.Fromasystemsperspective,bothorganizationsandindividualsmanifestoutwardbehaviorthatseemsrational.Formostofus,theconsciouslevelofthoughtseemsfairlycoherent,andmostorganizationsappeartobemanagedinan
orderlyfashion.Butbeneaththesurfaceofbothsystemsliesaseaofturbulentenergy.
Theunconsciouslevelofthoughtcomprisesthatinnerdomainoffantasyandprimalurges,whichSigmundFreudidentifiedaslyingdeepwithinthehumanmind.ItscounterpartinmanagementistheinformalorganizationthattheHawthornestudiesdiscoveredatroughlythesametimeFreud'sworkwasgaininginfluence.Itistheunofficial,hidden,andsomewhatzanywayorganizationsactuallybehavebeneaththeformalsurface:
Page209
thebootleggedjobsand"skunkworks,"unofficialleaders,thegrapevine,andalloftheothernatural,rawbehaviorthatemergesspontaneouslywithinanysocialsystem.
7
ApopularexampleoftheinformalorganizationisattheheartofthefamousmovieandTVseriesM*A*S*H.Twosurgeons,HawkeyeandBJ,makebathtubgintotoleratethehorrorsofwar.Thecompanyclerk,Radar,actuallyrunstheunitbecausetheCO,ColonelBlake,isalwaysbusyfishing.Andeveryoneacceptsthefactthatoneofthemedicalcorpsmen,Klinger,isacross-dresser.Yetthebizarrebehaviorofthismilitaryunitsomehowhasalogicofitsownthatallowsitsmemberstoworktogethereffectively.
Althoughmanagersknowthatinformalactivitygoesonunderground,today'spowershiftiscausingtheinformalleveltosurface.Asauthoritariancontrolyieldstoparticipation,theinformalorganizationrisestochallengetheformalsystem.Educatedemployeesinsistoncontrollingtheirwork.Customersmakegreaterdemandsforqualityandservice.MajorinvestorsreplaceCEOs.
Theproblemisespeciallyvisibleonthecommunicationnetworksthatwillsoondominate.IntheInternet,greattimeandenergyisdevotedto"flaming"becausetheanonymityofnetworksbringsoutthehiddenimpulsesinpeople.Whenpersonalityclashesoccur,peopleoftenunleashthoseimpulses,spewingbileincyberspace.Thesamehappensinbusiness.OneCEOconvenedan"electronicmeeting"tospuropendiscussion,onlytoseetopmanagementattackedsoviciouslythathehadtopulltheplug.8
Thesavingfeatureisthatthisriseoftheinformalorganizationalsopresentsavastnewsourceofcreativeenergy.Infact,thisunionofthe
formalandinformalorganizationsiswhatmakestheNewManagement"organic."HalHinson,ajournalist,hasclaimedthat"weareonthebrinkofarenaissanceofspiritthatwillmakethe'60slooklikeadressrehearsal.Thesignsofthisculturalrevolutionareeverywhere."9Thesignscanbeseeninthe"liberated"womenwhopursuecareers;the"men'smovement''thataimstonurturemalesensibilities;andawaveofinterestinspirituality.Fortunesaidofthisperspective:"Thenewparadigmputspeopleatthecenteroftheuniverse."10
Obviously,managerswillhavetobefarmoreskillfultodirectthisrawenergyintoproductivedirections.Theywillhavetoshedtheirmaskofauthoritytomeetpeopledirectly,facingallthestingingcriticism,outrageous
Page210
demands,andotherdisplaysofhumannaturethathavebeensuppressedbyauthoritariancontrols.Andemployeeswillbeequallyunsettledatseeingthatmanagersarenotreallydemigodswithalltheanswersbutfalliblehumanslikethemselves;theywillthenhavetoassumetheresponsibilitiesthatmanagersarebeingaskedtorelinquish.Withmanagersandemployeesstrippedoftheiroldillusions,bothpartiesmaythenbeabletosettleinforthehardbutrealistictaskofmakingparticipationwork.
PrinciplesofInnerLeadership
Asillustratedinthischapter'sopeningexample,theparticipativeleaderplaysaneutralroleoffacilitatingashareddecision-makingprocess:encouragingopendiscussion,clarifyingissuesandresolvingconflicts,summarizingkeythemes,anddrawingoutasatisfactoryconclusion.Table9.1showsthatmanagersgenerallyaccepttheneedforparticipationnow,anditisevenbeingpracticedinpolitics.Oregon'sGovernorBarbaraRobertsorganizeda"ConversationwithOregon"programin1992usingwidespreadopinionpollsandelectronictownmeetingstoengagecitizensinapublicdebateovercrucialstateissues.
11
TABLE9.1.ADOPTIONOFPARTICIPATIONPRACTICES.(SAMPLE=426CORPORATEMANAGERS.)
Practice
NotPracticed(03)
PartiallyPracticed(46)
FullyPracticed(710)
Mean(010)
Theleadershipstyleofmanagementisparticipativeinmostrespects. 13% 24% 63% 6.9Thecorporatemissioniswell-definedandgenerallyaccepted. 8 20 72 7.5Majordecisionsanddisagreementsare
discussedopenlyamongthoseconcernedtoreachconsensus. 11 20 69 6.7Means 11% 23% 66% 7.1Source:WilliamE.Halal,CorporationsinTransition(anunpublishedstudyinprogress).Notethatdatainthefirstthreecolumns("NotPracticed,"etc.)areaggregatedbycollapsingportionsofthequestionnairescaleasshown("03,"etc.).SeethequestionnaireinAppendixC.
Page211
Whiletheconceptissimple,itsexecutionissurprisinglydifficultbecausetheoutcomemaybesotryingthatitteststheskillofthebestleader.That'swhymanagerscontinuallyagonizeovertheproblemofgettingemployeestoassumeresponsibilityfortheirbehavior.Thereisnoreallygoodsolution,obviously,butthefollowingsectionsdescribethebenefitsoflearningtolivewithproblems,tolistenforunderstanding,andtotrustone'sinnerwisdom.
TheseapproachesmakeevenbettersensewhenweseethattheyreflectthethemesofdemocracyandenterpriserunningthroughtheNewManagement.Thepurposeofparticipationistwofold.Onegoalistoengageknowledgeablepartiesinmanagingtheorganizationmoreeffectively;this"enterprise"dimensionrequiresasharpfocusonproblemsolvingandaccountabilityforperformance.Theotherpurposeistoensurethatmembersofthecorporatecommunityareinvolvedsothattheoutcomereflectstheirinterests;this"democratic"dimensionleadstotheneedforlisteningcarefullytooneanotherandtoourinnerwisdomaswell.
LivingwithProblemsandCrises
AstheroutineworkoftheIndustrialAgeyieldstothecomplexdemandsoftheInformationAge,theveryessenceofworkisincreasinglyconcernedwithproblemsolvingonaregular,continuingbasis.Afterall,thepurposeofaknowledgeeconomyistogainbetterinformationandtouseitinsolvingproblemsmoreeffectively.Thus,managerstodaymustaccepttherealitythatthecentraltaskoftheirorganizationistolivewithproblems.
Now,thisistoughbecauseproblemsareusuallydefinedinnegativeterms.Theyareseenasdeviationsfromthenormalorderandsatisfactionwewant,bringinginsteadthestressandconfusionwetrytoavoid.ManagerswhorespondedtotheCITsurveydescribedthetypicalsituationthisway:"Problemsarenotopenlyaddressed,which
causesmuchdissension,"and"Disagreementsfrequentlyescalateandhavetobetakenbehindcloseddoors."
However,problemsareactuallynaturaleventsintheprocessofchange.Acrisisinsomeinstitution,forinstance,highlightsthelimitsofthesystemsothatallcanseetheirdangeroussignificanceinstarkclarity,therebymobilizingopiniontomovethesystemtoitsnextstageofdevelopment.TheUnitedStatesisacrisis-drivensocietybecauseactingoncrisisispractical.It
Page212
wouldbeniceifcrisescouldbeaverted,butthatrequiresunusualforesightanditwouldnottriggertheattentionneededtodriveseriouschange.
Moreover,problemsareprevalentbecausetheworldispassingthroughaperiodofupheaval,soitisonlyrealistictoacceptthisturbulentstateofaffairsandlearntolivewithitgracefully.Wemightthenfindthatlivingwithproblemshasitsbenefits.Oneofthegreatesttestamentstothepowersofthehumanspiritistheremarkablewaypeoplefindthecouragenotonlytoendurebutalsotofindmeaninginpoverty,failure,andeventerminalillness.
12Wemayneverenjoyproblems,buttheyhelpusshedourpreconceptionsabouttheworldsothatwemayacceptrealityinstead.
IwasshockedattheelectionofRonaldReaganin1980becauseitviolatedmyliberalinstincts.Butafterponderingthemeaningofthiscrucialvote,Icametoseethedebilitatingproblemofbiggovernmentandthefundamentalimportanceofindividualfreedom.Thiscrisisinmyintellectuallifehasprovencentraltomypresentfocusonsynthesizingliberalandconservativephilosophies.Indeed,thisbookwouldbefarweakerifIhadavoidedfacingthemeaningofthe"ReaganRevolution."
Thus,problemsservetheessentialpurposeofdemandingthatwelearntocopewithacomplexworld.Theyforceustogrowincharacterandwisdom.Withoutproblems,wewouldremainchildren,andourinstitutionswouldbeprimitive,boringplaces,ratherthantheexcitingarenasofactiontheyaretoday.TheNewManagementchallengesustoacceptproblemsasanessentialpartofcreativework.Ratherthanresisttheirdemands,problemscanbewelcomedasaninvigoratingdisciplinefromwhichwecandrawstrength.
OneofthemosteffectivelecturesI'veevergivenwasdeliveredduringapersonalcrisis.Myinfantsonwasinintensivecare,strugglingtosurvivethethreatofagravedisease.Ihaveneverbeensoterrifiedinmylife,butIhadaclasstoteachandthoughtitmighthelpdivertmymindfromthisordeal.Ifeltnumbgoingtotheclassroom,yetoncethereanextraordinarycalmnesscarriedmethroughthemeeting.BecauseIhadtranscendedmynormalworriesaboutdoingagoodjob,thelecturewentfarbetterthanIcouldhaveimagined.Withouttryingorthinking,pointafterpointflowedbetweenmeandmystudents,backandforthinagentle,accuraterhythmthatleftusallalittlehigh.
Mysonsurvivedandisfinenow.Ilearnedthatthereisasmallcenter
Page213
ofpeacewithineventhemostdevastatingordeal,aplacewherewemustsurrenderourwilltoeventsbeyondourcontrol,hopefullytobecaredforbysomehigherpower.ThismustbethewayJohnKennedyfeltduringtheCubanmissilecrisisashewaitedtoseewhethertheSovietswouldstartWorldWarIII.
Creativemanagersgothroughasimilarprocess.SpringfieldManufacturingfacedthelossofacontractthatthreatenedtoidleone-thirdofitslaborforce.AsBox9.1shows,theCEOtookthedecisiontohisemployees,andafteragruelingyearofall-outeffort,theyavoidedlayoffsandgainedasenseofpurpose.InBox9.2,WilliamPeace(Iamnotmakingthisnameup)findsthatconfrontingsensitiveproblemsproducessurprisingbenefits,eventhoughheisoftenembarrassedandpainedbytheexperience.
FeelingvulnerableisincreasinglycommonbecausenobodyreallyknowshowtohandlethaupheavaloftheKnowledgeRevolution.Yes,afew
BOX9.1.SPRINGFIELDMANUFACTURING'SMOMENTOFTRUTH.
SpringfieldManufacturingwasthrivingduetoalargecontractwithGeneralMotors.Suddenly,GMcancelleditsplanstohave5,000enginesrebuilt,threateningtolayoffone-thirdofSpringfield's500-personworkforce.Afteragonizingoverthecrisis,JackStack,Springfield'sCEO,thought,"WhyamIsittingheretryingtomakethisdecisionforallthesepeople?Theyshoulddecideforthemselves."
TheCompanywideDecision.TheCEOcalledacompanywidemeetingatwhichheexplainedthesituationascandidlyaspossible,pointingoutthealternatives.IfSpringfielddidnotcarryoutlayoffsandwasunabletogenerate50,000hoursofnewwork,
theresultinglossofincomewouldrequirelayingoffevenmorepeople.Theunanimousdecisionwasto"goforit."
TheStruggle.Theentireworkforcestruggledtobringinnewwork,venturingintoproductsandmarketsunknowntothem.Peopleworkedsuchlonghoursunderstressthatsomebrokedownintears.Buttheresultwasanincreaseinrevenueoverthepreviousyear.
TheRealization.TheCEOrealizedthatthecompanymighthavediedifithadacceptedthelayoffsandthathewasrighttohavetakenthedecisiontotheworkers:"Icouldn'tmakethedecisionmyself.Itwastheirfuture.Maybethat'swhywe'rehere.I'dfeltforalongtimethiscompanyranondivineintervention,thattherearehigherlawsinthisworldwedon'tunderstand."
Source:JackStack,"CrisisManagementbyCommittee,"Inc.(May1988).
Page214
BOX9.2.THEHARDWORKOFBEINGASOFTMANAGER.
WilliamPeacecallshisapproachtoleadershipbeinga"softmanager":"Itrymybesttobetentative,andIcherishmyownfairshareofhumanfrailty.Openness,candor,sensitivity,andawillingnesstosufferpainfulconsequencesareproductivemanagementapproaches.Beingvulnerabletothegive-and-takeofemotionalcrossfireandintellectualdisagreementmakesusmorehuman,morecredible,andmoreopentochange."
FacingPeopleYouHavetoLayOff.AsageneralmanagerofaWestinghousedivision,Peacehadtolayofffifteenpeople.Ratherthanhaveastaffmembertellthem,hetoldthemhimself."ItwaswithoutadoubtoneofthemostpainfulmeetingsI'veeverattended.Yet,Ifeltacertainnewclosenesstothosepeople."Laterhenoticedtheremainingemployeesseemeddeterminedandcheerful,andwhenhehadanopportunitytorehirethefifteenfiredworkers,theyallcamebackingoodspirits."Iammoreandmoreconvincedthatthe'success'ofthatmeetingwasduetothefactthatitmademevulnerabletothecriticismandangerofthepeoplewelaidoff."
ConfrontingUnionOpposition.Onanoccasionofunionconflict,Peaceheldameetingwiththeunionmembershiptoaskforsupport.Thepresentationwasanightmare.Theyheckledhimmercilessly,theyshoutedabuseandthreats.Butlaterhewastreatedwithrespect."TheywouldlistentowhatIhadtosayreallylisten."Becauseheopenedhimselftocriticism,peoplewereinclinedtobelievehim.
Source:WilliamPeace,"TheHardWorkofBeingaSoftManager,"HarvardBusinessReview(NovemberDecember1991).
outstandingpeoplearesmarterandbraverthanmostofus,buttheyalsohavethesameunavoidabledoubts.Goodleaderswilloftenadmitthattheyreallydonotknowwhattodoindifficultsituations.RandyBerggren,manageroftheEugeneWater&ElectricBoardinOregon,wasrestructuringalargepublicutilitytomeetnewcompetitionwhenhefoundhimselfacknowledgingthatheneededhelpfromhisfellowworkers:"Ijustcameoutandsaid,'I'mconfusedandalittlescared.'Itisn'twhatpeoplewanttohear,butI'mnotall-knowing.Ihelppeopletohelpme."
13
AsBox9.3shows,socialscientistsunderstandthatpeopleinvolvedincreativeproblemsolvingalmostalwayspassthroughthistypeofintense,painfulprocessinordertogainavisionofsomefreshinnovation.Leadingoldinstitutionsintoaneweraisoneofthemostcreativetasksofourtime,somanagerswillhavetolearnhowtoliveinthemidstofformidableproblemsandcrises.
Page215
BOX9.3.THENATUREOFCREATIVEPROBLEMSOLVING.
Thefollowingcommentsfromthestudyofcreativityillustratethatstrugglingthroughaturbulent,painfulproblem-solvingprocessisessentialtoproducecreativesolutions:
IraProgoff:"Thereisnosuchthingasacreativeactwithoutanxiety,depression,ordifficultyprecedingit."
ErnestBecker:"Thecreativepersonbecomesthemediatorofnaturalterroranddevelopsanewwaytotriumphoverit."
RolloMay:"Oneneedscouragetobringanythingnewintotheworld,toconfrontthe"nothingness"ofone'sfuture...andgiveitmeaning."
Sources:ErnestBecker,"TheDenialofDeath,Co-EvolutionQuarterly(Fall1977);RolloMay,TheCouragetoCreate(NewYork:Norton,1975).
ReallyListening
Thesecondrequirementforparticipativeproblemsolvingistoreallylisteninordertofullyunderstandthemessycomplexityofproblemsandthewildlydifferentideasothersholdaboutthem.
Theartoflisteningisoftendiscussedbutseldompracticedbecauseitisademandingdiscipline.Itisunfortunatelytruethatmostpeoplefeelchronicallydeprivedofbeingheardinadeepwaythatfullyappreciatestheiruniqueviewsandstruggles.Whensomecaringsouldoescomealongtoreallylisten,theaveragetroubledindividualwillsoeagerlyunburdenhim-orherselfthatthelistenermayhaveahardtimedisengaging.Thebeneficialeffectsaresogreatthatanentireschoolofpsychotherapyhasthrivedbasedonnothingmorethan
listening.
ItmaybeOKforatherapisttopatientlywaitforaclienttoprobethewindingrecessesofhispsyche,buthowdoaction-oriented,hard-drivingmanagershandleaimlesstalk?Iamstruckwiththeevanescentqualityofmostdiscussions,theunpredictablewaythatagroup'smoodcanformoutofnothing,meanderabout,andmoveinimprobabledirectionsonwhatappearstobesheerwhim.Itiscommontoseeagroupreachconsensus,whensuddenlysomesmalleventwillswingthemooddramaticallytoanoppositeconclusion.
IvividlyrecallwhenRonaldReaganwasdebatingWalterMondale
Page216
duringthe1984presidentialelectioncampaign.Reaganhadbeenshowingsignsofoldage,andpublicopinionwaspoisedtoleapatanyfurtherhintofweaknessasconfirmationthathewasnowtoooldforoffice.WhenMondalebroughtuptheissueofage,Reagansummonedhismasterfulwittoannouncethathewasnotgoingtotakeadvantageofhisrival'syouthfullackofinexperience!Theaudienceroaredatthiscleverreversal,andevenMondalejoinedinthelaughter,therebyburyingtheissueforgood.WalterMondale'scampaignwentsteadilydownhillafterthatturningpoint,leavingadistinctsensethatthereelectionofRonaldReagantohissecondtermwasdecidedbythattrivialbitofhumor.
Howcanmanagerscopewithsuchflightybehavior?Someofitispurefroth,butIhavefoundthatthereisusuallyadeepwisdomtogroupdiscussionsthatisnotreadilyapparent.Groupsmaypursuecircuitouslogic,butiftheleadergivesuppriorexpectationsandlistenswithacareful,receptivemindtocapturesubtlemeanings,themostoutlandishpointscanprovetobenuggetsofgoodfortunedroppedquietlyintoone'slap.
Forinstance,thereisnobetterwaytoconfirmanargumentthantobechallengedbyanespeciallystrongobjection,andthentoturnthatobjectionintosupport.Asateacher,Ihaveanguishedoverobjections,andtimeandtimeagain,Iinvariablyfindthattheywereopportunitiestolearn.Ifonecancontainthefearofbeingprovedwronginordertolistencarefullyandaskprobing,honestquestions,aresolutionusuallyappears.
FindingThatInnerWisdom
Listeningtoothersinordertounderstandthemisessential,butparticipationisatwo-waystreet,andthemostprofoundsourceofunderstandingislikelytobefoundwithinoneself.Theinnerexperienceofleadership,then,ultimatelytakesustothespiritual
domainfromwhichallpoweremanates.
Withoutapproachingthatcontroversialrealmknownasthe"divine,"wecanadequatelydiscussthespiritualdomainasconsistingofthehumanspirit,thatvastinnerworldofperception,knowledge,emotion,intuition,andothersubtlesourcesofunderstandingthatcreatesouruniquesenseofawareness.Managersareapproachingspiritualitytodaybecauseitis
Page217
becomingapparentthatthisisthesourceofallvalues,beliefs,andothertranscendentqualitiesthatgovernthewaywelive.ListentohowJerryRosenbaum,presidentofanaffiliateofConnecticutMutualandaformerGreenBeret,describedit:"I'mconvincedthatlifeisamanifestationofmysubconsciousthoughts.SoIhavetodevelopabeliefsystemthatwillallowmetocreate[thetypeoflife]Iwant."
14
AsRosenbaumsuggests,today'sinterestinspiritualityisdistinctivebecauseitisoftenseenasameanstocontrolone'slifemoreeffectively.ThatmayexplainwhyAmericansdespitealonghistoryofcynicismareembracingspiritualityinrecordnumbers.ItisestimatedthatalmosthalfofAmericansareactivelyinvolvedinsomeway.Thisisnotthe"old-timereligion"butapersonal,practicalvarietylearnedthroughpersonaldevelopment,meditation,twelve-stepprograms,andotherapproaches.15Amajorreasonsocietyisawashinirresponsiblebehaviorcrime,drugabuse,violenceisthatwehaveignoredtheserealities,andsoatleastpartofthesolutionliesinsomeformofspirituality.WilliamRaspberry,aPulitzerPrizewinningjournalist,notesthatonlyspiritualconversionseemstocuredrugaddicts.16
Speakingasonewhohaspracticedthisformofspiritualityfortwodecades,Iseeagrowinghungerformakingpeacewithone'sinnerselfandforfindingmeaningbeyondmaterialgratification.AswesawinChapter4,societyisalwaysevolving,andbeyondtheInformationAgewearelikelytodiscoveraninfiniteworldofthespirit.
AsBox9.4shows,anumberofleading-edgemanagersnowusemethodsforshapingawarenesswiththesamefervortheyhavepreviouslyembracedothermanagementpractices.Someofthesemethodsmayprovetobepassingfads,butthedomainofthespiritissopowerfulthatitseemslikelytobecomeacentralpartof
management.Lotus,AT&T,Boeing,andothercompaniesareformingvariousspiritualityprogramstoexaminetheirapproachtomanagement.ABoeingmanager'sfirstreactionwas"Whatawasteoftime."Helateradmittedit"helpedustothinkdifferentlythanweeverhadbefore.Wehadtolookinsideofourselves."17
Ifbusinessmorefullydevelopsitsuseofvision,reflection,andotheressentiallyspiritualdisciplines,managersmaycometoresemblesamuraiwarriorsastheydrawonthesehigherpowerstotransformalargecompany,introduceaglobalproduct,ortakeotherheroicactions.Here'showa
Page218
BOX9.4.MANAGEMENTPRACTICESFORSHAPINGAWARENESS.
While"spirituality"mightseemdifferentfromothermanagementtechniques,itisremarkablehowspiritualpracticeslendthemselvestobusinessuse.Thefollowingexamplescanbethoughtofas"managementtoolsforshapingawareness."
StrategicVision.Theideaof"vision"wasoncerestrictedtomystics.ButnowtheconceptissoingrainedinbusinessthatIBM'sCEO,LouisGerstner,createdascandalbyannouncing,"ThelastthingIBMneedsisavision."
CorporateCultures.Someofthemostsuccessfulcorporationshavecorporateculturesinfusedwithspiritualmeaning.Forinstance,MaryKayCosmeticshasgrownfrom$198millionsalesin1963toalmost$1billionin1993asaresultofaspiritualphilosophyandtheCEO'scharisma."Sheisrevered....Thegiverandreceiveroftruelove.Cynicsdonotremaincynicsinherpresenceforlong,"saidFortune.
ProcessFacilitation.Oneofthemainpurposesofprocessfacilitationistoclearupinterpersonaltensionsinordertocreateamoreproductivesenseofawarenessandtoreleaseconstructiveenergy.ManypractitionersoforganizationallearningandHRDmaketheirspiritualagendaquiteexplicit.
CreativityTraining.Theonsetofaneconomydrivenbyinnovationhasmadecreativityessentialtosuccess,soconsultantshavebeenconductingcreativitytrainingthatemploysvariousexercisestoliberatethemindandotherwiseinduceacreativestateofawareness.
ManagementIntuition.Studiesshowthatintuitioncorrelates
stronglywithmanagementsuccess.Thefieldhasspawnedvariousapproaches,books,andprofessionalsocietiesfortrainingmanagerstousetheirintuitionbetter.
Meditation.Agrowingnumberofmanagersaremeditatingbecausethepracticerelievesstress,clarifiesthought,andencouragesinsight.ThechairmanofJohnGibbsAssociatessays,"Throughpsychicattunement,we'reintherightplaceattherighttime.That'sthebigthinginbusiness."
Prayer.JerryHarveyreportsthat90percentofCEOsprayduringdifficultdecisions,roughlythesameproportionofAmericansthatpray.Onemanagerclaimsprayer"doeswondersforyourcolleagues,clients,andthecompany."
QuietReflection.Someorganizationsinterruptdiscussionsforafewminutesofquietreflection.OneCEOdescribedtheneed:"Anenormousamountoffactshavetopassthroughyourmindtomakeadecision.Thattakestimeandquiet."
ManagementStudy.Anewtypeofbusinessbookhasbeengainingattentionduringthe1990sfocusingonhumanandspiritualvalues.ExamplesincludeTomChappell's,TheSoulofaBusiness(NewYork:Bantam,1993)andCarolOsborn'sInnerExcellence:SpiritualPrinciplesofBusiness(NewWorldLibrary,1993).
Sources:AlanFarnham,"MaryKay'sLessonsinLeadership,"Fortune(September20,1993).AlanFarnham,"HowtoNurtureCreativeSparks,"Fortune(January10,1994).Franz-TheoGottwald,"CreatingSynergyThroughMeditation,"ICISForum(Winter1993)."GodattheWorkplace,"Newsweek(March10,1986).
Page219
womanmanagerdescribedtheadvantagesofherspiritualpracticeinwork:''Ifeelpluggedintothefundamentalpoweroftheuniverse."
18
Manywillthinkthisconstitutescorporatebrainwashingorreligiousindoctrination.Thereisadangerofconformitybecausespirituallifecanbesuchapowerfulexperiencethatsomepeoplebecomezealots.Butthatisasmalldetouronthejourneytoenlightenment.Infact,thereverseofmindcontrolismoreusual.Withincreasingawareness,wearelesslikelytoimposeourmoralityonothersandmorelikelytoappreciatethediversityoflife,toseetherichnessofthissubtleinnerworld,andtoacceptitsownsenseoforder.Aconsultantdescribedthechangeinmanagersthisway:"Oncetheybecomeself-reflective,theyrealizetheydon'tknowalltheanswers."19EdMcCracken,CEOofSiliconGraphics,whohasbeenmeditatingforadecade,seesitthisway:
Weallhavethefantasythatwecontrolwhathappenstous.Butinfactnoneofushasthatkindofcontrol.Meditationhelps[by]givingmemoreconfidencethatIcanletgoofthefeelingthatIhavetocontroleverythingandthingswillstillturnoutallright.20
Speakingfrommyownexperience,Ihavecometorealizethattheverystuffoflifeisinherentlymysterious.Inspiteofmanyyearsofstudyandreflection,everydayissomewhatpuzzlingpreciselybecauseitallremainssoopen.AsIgrowolder,lifebecomesamorethinlydisguisedapparition,ateemingblendofimages,memories,andfeelings,somewhatlikea"cosmicsoup"withsuchsubstancethatIcansavoritsflavorandtexture.
Mymaintaskincreasinglyseemstoinvolvepayingcarefulattentiontothisfloodofexperienceinordertoselectwhatseemsrightatthetime.AndmybestguideisaninnerwisdomthatIhavecometo
respect.Idonotknowwhereitcomesfromorwhatitis,andIsupposewealldothiswithoutgivingitmuchthought.But,still,Idon'tknowhowIwouldcopewithoutit.Manymanagers,suchasWillowShire,avicepresidentatDEC,alsorelyontheirinnervoice:"Whenyouneedananswer,ifyoulistentoyourselfandjusttrusttheprocess,theanswerwillcome."21
AsIhavegrownmorefamiliarwiththisinnerwisdom,IfindthatitisutterlydependableifIlistencarefullyandinterpretitfaithfully.Thatdoesnotmeanallwillbesmoothsailing,becauseitgetsmeintoserioustroublenowandagain,asinthespeechthatbombed.Frankly,attimesIwishitwouldleavemealone.ButIcallonitwhenIneedguidance,suchasright
Page220
nowasIwritethisbook.I'velearnedthatmyinnervoicecancutthroughtheconfusionaboutallthethingsthatcouldbesaidinordertofocusonthethingsthatshouldbesaid.
MakingParticipationWork
Despitemyespousaloflivingwithproblemsthroughlisteningtoothersandtoone'sinnerwisdom,Iwanttoavoidimputingsacredmeaningstothisinnerworldofmanagement,asifitwere"altruistic"or"holy."Itmaybethesethingsformanypeople,andattimesitcertainlyisforme.Butforourpracticalpurposeshere,itisprimarilyanetherealdomainofthoughtandactionthathaslargelybeenignoreduptonow.Today,theadvanceofaworldbasedonknowledgeoffersanopportunitytocometogripswithitsspecialpower.Progressivemanagersarecultivatingthisdomainofthehumanspiritbecauseitistheterrainonwhichtheymustleadcompetentemployees,successfulventures,andstrongorganizations.
Idonotthinkthismeansthat"spiritual"leaderswillbelesspowerful.Quitethecontrary,innerleadershipseemstoofferleadersmorepower,eventhoughitisusuallybenign.Thedifferenceisthatpowerisnotexertedthroughforceorformalauthority,butthroughthehigherawarenessandsheerwilloftheleader.Andpreciselybecausethistypeofpowerishardtounderstand,thereisalwaysaseriousriskthatsuchleaderswillgoastray.Hitlerwasanunusuallypowerfulcharismaticleader.
Toensurethatthispowerisnotmisusedandtodrawoutthetalentneededforaknowledgesociety,managerswillhavetoreversewhatwasonceconsideredadmirable.Ratherthanactingwithbolddeterminationandextendingabrilliantvisiontoguideothers,today'sleadersmustdirectattentionawayfromthemselvestofocusontheirfollowers.Theyshouldcertainlyoffertheirownideas.Butiftheycan
unitetheirvisionwiththemanyothervisionsalsowaitingtoberealized,theresultingsynthesisofviewsisinvariablyfarricherandmorepowerful.
Sofarwe'vefocusedontheadvantagesofthisinnerpower;italsoinvolvesdemandsthatareformidable.Thereislittletoleranceforfeel-goodhumanrelationsorshamparticipation;peoplecannotbefooled,soleadersmustbehonestiftheyhopetomaintaincredibility.RespondentsintheCITsurveyoftenreportedthatempowermentwas"justalotoftalk."Anespeciallyunpleasanttaskisholdingpeopleaccountablefortheirperfor-
Page221
mance.Here'showonemanagerputit:"Oneofthemostpainfulthingsistopointouttosomeonethattheyarenotcominguptoexpectations."It'salsoessentialtoavoidgettingcarriedawaywithgrandiosevisions.ListentohowGeraldLangeler,presidentofMentorGraphics,describedtheescalatingrhetoricoftheircorporatevision:"AsIsatinameeting,itdawnedonmethatwewerenotconvergingonaproduct,wewerecirclingendlesslyaroundadream.Wenolongerhadavision,thevisionhadus.Wewerenolongermaking[business],weweremakingpoetry."
22
Perhapsthemostdifficultchallengeistoreconciletwoopposingneedsthatseeminevitable.Managersincreasinglyknowtheymustyieldcontrol,butthisveryprocessoftenreleasessuchchaosandpersonaldiscomfortthattheymayhavetoreassertthemselvestokeeptheorganizationfromflyingapart.Thiscontinualoscillationbetweenfreedomandcontrolformsanuncertaindilemmabecausethereisnogoodsolution.Theonlyfeasibleapproachistograntpeopleroomtogrow,trytoguidethemskillfully,andtrustthattimeandexperiencewillleadthemtoincreasinglyresponsiblebehavior.Itshouldbeobviousthatthisrelationshipcloselyparallelstheambiguityparentsfaceinraisingchildren.JamesAutry,aFortune500executive,calledthecomparison"atouchysubject,butonethatallmanagerscometounderstandatsomepointintheircareers."23
TheNeedforFreshUnderstanding
Ifwecanhangintherelongenough,wemaybeblessedwithagiftofunderstandingthatopensupnewpossibilities.Thisfreshsenseofawareness,thisvisionthattheworldcouldoperateinsomedifferentway,isthestuffthatfinallyleadstoallhumanadvances.AfterfiftyyearsofhostilitybetweentheUnitedStatesandtheformerU.S.S.R.,
theonsetofaunifiedworldhelpedMikhailGorbachevenvisiontheSovietUnionasanintegralpartofaglobalcommunity,endingthecoldwar.IttooktwohundredyearsofcivilrightsconflictbeforeAmericanscouldunderstandthatwomen,African-Americans,andotherminoritygroupsshouldbeequalmembersofadiversesociety.Afterfiftyyearsofcontroversyoverauthoritarianinstitutions,nowmanagerscanseetheirwaytosharedgovernance.
Wearestillalongwayfromrealizingthisvisionbecauseanoutmodedformofpowercontinuestoposeseriousobstacles.Imeetcountlessworkingpeople,andmanyofthemarestillsuffocatingundercoercivebosses,
Page222
complexbureaucracies,andmeaninglessjobs.Itisestimatedthatonefourthofemployeesaresoabusedbyauthoritythattheycallinsick,limitproductivity,anddeliberatelysabotageoperations.
24
Themostdiscouragingthingaboutthemisuseofpoweristhatweusuallydonotfaceitopenly.Theobstaclesseemsohuge,sopervasive,sobeyondtheabilityofmereindividuals,thatmostpeoplehavegivenuphopethatthingswillchange.Tomaintainasemblanceofsanityandpeace,wehavecometoaccepttheseassaultsonourhumanityasaninevitablepartoforganizationallife.Managementcultureseemsswathedinasortofemotionalfogwheretheseabusesareconcerned,apolitenonsenseofhumanrelationspumpedouteverywheretoblankettheharshnessofauthority,makelifebearable,keepthingsworking,andrenderusallpowerless.
Butasmoremanagers,employees,customers,andothersarethrowntogetherbythehistoricshiftinpowerthatisgatheringforce,thisinteractionbetweendiverseviewsshouldcarrythecollectivespiritofmodeminstitutionstonewvistas.Evennowpeoplearevoluntarilysubmittingtounprecedentedopencommunications,suchas"360-degreeevaluations"fromemployees,peers,andbosses.Wehavelongknownthatmanagersholdfaultyperceptionsofhowothersseethem,andnowthoseblindspotsarebeingexposedtoaccuratefeedback.25
Scholarsandintellectualslikewisepersistinholdingontotheirlimitedviewsofrealitybecausetheyhaveinvestedalifetimeindevelopingsomeparticularmodeofunderstanding.Ihavenumerouscolleagueswhoinsistthatthesolutiontotheworld'sillsliesinacceptingtheirparticulartheory,andIsupposeIdothesame.Overmydeskhangsacartoonshowingapsychotherapisttellinghispatientonthecouch:"Butyoucan'tgothroughlifeexplainingeverything
withHeisenberg'sUncertaintyPrinciple."
Thereinliesthegreatestlimitationtheworldisstrugglingwithtoday:weareallcreaturesofbelief,andweareusuallytrappedinsideofourownheadsbylimited,outmodedbeliefs.ThefirstresponsibilityofaleaderintheKnowledgeAgeistounderstandthatitisOKtoadmitwedon'thavealltheanswers.Leadersshouldmakethesearchforunderstandingnotonlyacceptablebutalsopraiseworthyandshowthewaybymodelingtheabilitytolearnthroughhonestinteraction,thushelpingothersdothesame.
Whenthinkingaboutthis,Irealizehowlittleweunderstandthewisdomoftraditionalsayings,suchasthebiblicalprophecy"Themeekshall
Page223
inherittheEarth."Theverythoughtseemsludicrousintoday'shigh-stakespowergames.Buttherealmessageisnotthat"weakness"willbecomewidespread,butthatagentle,trustinghumilityismorerealisticthanself-prideinaworldthatistoomysterioustofullycomprehend.Ratherthanasignofweakness,humilityisavirtueofstrongpeoplewhodonotneedtoprovetheirmight,sotheyareopentonewunderstanding.
BreakingMentalBarriers
Thefollowingconclusionsfocusonhowaninnerformofleadershipcanhelpmanagersindifficultsituations:
1.TheNewManagementcreatesashiftinpowerthatiscausingtheinformalorganizationtosurfaceandchallengeformalauthority.
2.Effectivemanagersleadinthissituationbylisteningcarefullytotheirfollowersandtheirowninnerwisdomastheyfocusattentiononsolvingdifficultproblems.
3.Participativeleadershipdrawsontheorganization'sfullrangeoftalenttoreleasecreativeenergyforimprovingperformanceandcreatingastrongercorporatecommunity.
Participativeleadershipisnothinglessthatameansbywhichisolatedsoulscantouchoneanothertosetoffsparksofinsightandinitiative.AswebrieflynotedinChapter4,thissynthesis,whichliesattheheartoftheNewManagement,isacreativeprocessforreleasingsocialenergy,andGodknowswewillneedvastnewamountsofsocialenergytocopewithafarmoredemandingworld.
Consideringtheenormouschallengesposedbytoday'srevolutionininformationtechnology,anemergingglobalorder,aloomingtenfoldincreaseinenvironmentaldemands,andthesocialupheavalallthisimplies,morecreativeinstitutionsaresorelyneeded.Onlyanew
socialorderbasedonparticipationcanprovidetheknowledgeandwillneededtosolvethisgrowinghostofnaggingproblems.PatriciaMcLaganandChristoNelcallitthe"AgeofParticipation."
26Managers,then,arechallengedtoredirecttheenergynowwastedincrime,violence,drugs,andjustordinarysocialturmoiltowardusefulpurposes.
Forallitspainandperil,comingtogripswithalltheseunpleasant
Page224
realities,andwitheachother,isessentialtocreatetheneededbreakthroughsinawareness.
Notes
1.ThecentralroleofpowerisdescribedbyFernandoBartolomeandAndreLaurentin"TheManager:MasterandServantofPower,"HarvardBusinessReview(NovemberDecember1986).
2.Forsomeofthebetterworks,seeWarrenBennisandBurtNanus,Leaders(NewYork:Harper&Row,1985);JohnGardner,OnLeadership(NewYork:FreePress,1990);andJohnRenesch(ed.),LeadershipinaNewEra(SanFrancisco:NewLeadersPress,1994).
3.BrochureoftheHamsaInstitute,MillValley,California.
4.Forafullerexplanationofthismodel,seeHalal,TheNewCapitalism(NewYork:Wiley,1986),pp.162166.
5.WelchisquotedbyMarkPottsin"ANewVisionforLeadership,"WashingtonPost(March8,1992).AlvinToffler,PowerShift(NewYork:Bantam,1990).
6.SueShellenbarger,"CompaniesExperimentwithFlexibleSchedules,"WallStreetJournal(January13,1993);TimothyO'Brien,"CompanyWinsLoyaltybyOpeningItsBooks,"WallStreetJournal(December20,1993);FrankSwoboda,"MotorolaExperimentswithLettingPeersWeighTheirPay,"WashingtonPost(May22,1994).
7.Thissamedichotomybetweentheformalversusinformallevelsoforganizationisseeninentireeconomicsystems.ThePeruvianeconomistHernandodeSoto,forinstance,hasshownthattheinformaleconomysuppressedbygovernmentcontrolsrivalstheformaleconomy.SeehisbookTheOtherPath(NewYork:Harper&Row,1989).
8.SeeAmyE.Schwartz,"LearningCivilityinCyberspace,"WashingtonPost(December16,1994),andMichaelSchrage,"HowtoTaketheOrganizationalTemperature,"WallStreetJournal(November7,1994).
9.HalHinson,"AndtheWinnerIs...Us,"WashingtonPost(November1,1992).
10.AwonderfulsurveyoftheriseofhumanfocusinacademicdisciplinesisbyJamesOgilvy,"FutureStudiesandtheHumanSciences,"FuturesResearchQuarterly(Summer1992).TheFortunequoteisfromFrankRose,"ANewAgeforBusiness?"(October8,1990).
11.SeeJudyRosener'sarticle,"WaysWomenLead,"HarvardBusinessReview
Page225
(NovemberDecember1990),andherbookStylesofLeadership(Washington,D.C.:NationalFoundationforWomenBusinessOwners,1994).SeealsoMichaelAbramowitz,"OregonGovernorGetsanEarfulfromthePeople,"WashingtonPost(April10,1992).
12.Forinstance,seeJeanneMandelker,"ShiftingintoHighGear,"Venture(April1986).
13.ThomasA.Stewart,"HowtoLeadaRevolution,"Fortune(November28,1994).
14.DonOldenburg,"ZenandtheArtofMakingMoney,"WashingtonPost(January9,1987).
15.Forinstance,ahalfmillion12-stepprogrammeetingsareheldweeklyintheUnitedStatestohelp80millionAmericansovercomeaddictionstodrugs,alcohol,andfood,andtosolveotherproblems.RobertWuthnow,directoroftheCenterforAmericanReligionatPrinceton,says40percentofAmericansnowparticipateinvariousprograms."TheSpiritualityThatMovesUs,"WashingtonPost(August27,1994).
16.Conservativeshavelongclaimedasmuch,andprogressiveliberalssuchasHillaryRodhamClintonhaverecentlycalledfora"politicsofmeaningredefiningwhoweareashumanbeingsinthispostmodernage."MarthaSherrill,"HillaryClinton'sInnerPolitics,"WashingtonPost(May6,1993).WilliamRaspberry,"ThePowerofSpirituality,"WashingtonPost(December7,1992).
17."CompaniesHittheRoadLessTravelled,"BusinessWeek(June5,1995).
18."PRExecStrivesfor'ContinualConsciousness,'"NewLeaders(MarchApril1995).
19.StratfordSherman,"LeadersLearntoHeedtheVoiceWithin,"
Fortune(August22,1994).
20.Sherman,"LeadersLearn..."
21.Sherman,"LeadersLearn..."
22.GeraldLangeler,"TheVisionTrap,"HarvardBusinessReview(MarchApril1992).
23.JamesAutry,"RandomObservationsAfterTwenty-EightYearsofManaging,"inJohnRenesch(ed.),LeadershipinaNewEra(SanFrancisco:NewLeadersPress,1994),p.15.
24."Good-ByeMr.Dithers,"BusinessWeek(September21,1992).
25.BrianO'Reilly,"360-DegreeFeedbackCanChangeYourLife,"Fortune(October17,1994).
Page226
26.PatriciaMcLaganandChristoNel,TheAgeofParticipation(SanFrancisco:Berrett-Koehler,1995).
Page227
10ManagingaUnifiedWorld:GlobalOrderoutofLocalInstitutionsWhilepreviouschaptershavefocusedontheUnitedStates,similareconomictransitionsareunderwayinothercountriesthroughouttheworld.EastEurope,Russia,andChinaarestrugglingtomakemarketsystemswork,andtheEuropeanUnionisbeginningtodismantleitswelfarestate.EvenJapan,oncethoughttobeinvincible,isbeingforcedtofreeitseconomyfromoverregulationandsocialconformity.
JustastheNewManagementusesawholisticperspectivetovieworganizationsascompletesocioeconomicsystems,theseglobalchangescanbebestunderstoodbyseeingtheEarthasawholesysteminitsownright.Today,afragmentedworldiscomingtogetherastheelectrifyingforceofknowledge,technology,andcapitalflowsinstantaneouslyaroundtheglobe.Throughouthistorytheideaofaunifiedworldwasunthinkable.ButjustwithinthepastfewyearstheEarthhasbeenintegratingbeforeoureyes.
1
In1994,theAsiaPacificEconomicCooperation(APEC)forum,whichincludestheUnitedStates,Japan,China,andfifteenothernations,makinguphalftheworld'seconomy,agreedtoeliminatealltradebarriersoverthenexttwodecades.TheEuropeanUnionisplanningtointroduceacommon
Note:PortionsofthischapterareadaptedfromWilliamE.HalalandAlexanderNikitin(oftheRussianAcademyofScience),"EastIsEast,andWestIsWest,"BusinessintheContemporaryWorld(Autumn1992),pp.95113.
Page228
currencybytheyear2000asitexpandstoincludealmostonebillionpeople.Andtheleadersofthirty-threenationspledgedtounifyeconomicallytheAmericancontinentfromAlaskatoArgentinabytheyear2005.Inadecadeortwo,thesameself-interestedcooperationnowdrivingthegrowthoftheseregionalblocsshouldmergethemtogetherintoasingleglobalmarket.AkioMorita,formerchairmanofSony,hascalledfortheremovalofalltradebarriersbetweenNorthAmerica,Europe,andAsia.
2
Thischapteroffersaglobalperspectivetohelpmanagersguidetheirorganizationsthroughthecomplexworldsystemthatisnowevolving.3WeexaminetherevolutionaryforcesthatareintegratingtheEarthintoaglobalorderandothersthatarecreatingglobaldisorder:boththeunificationofmarketsandcommunications,aswellasthedisintegrationofcorporationsandgovernmentsintoamazeofglobalnetworks.Theemergingglobaleconomyisbecomingachurningoceanofsmallenterpriseoperatingacrossdiverseculturalregions,producingatidalwaveofcreativedestructionthatcouldsweepawaythecomfortablecommunitiesofthepast.Anempiricallygroundedframeworkshowsthatthisdilemmaofcapitalismversuscommunitycouldberesolvedasmanagersaroundtheworldcreateahumanformofenterprise.
MyguidingpremiseisbasedonthesynthesisdescribedinChapter4butcarriedtoagloballevel.Today'supheavalismerelytheonsetofaprofoundtransitiontoaneweconomicordergovernedbytwocentralimperatives:markets,entrepreneurship,competition,andotherprinciplesofenterpriseareessentialtomanageanexplosionofcomplexity,whilecooperation,humanvalues,thepublicwelfare,andotheridealsofdemocracyarealsobeingadoptedbecauseitisequally
importanttointegrateenterpriseintoaproductive,harmoniouswhole.
Thus,themostdistinguishingfeatureoftheworldsystemseemstobesynthesis:thesynthesisofeconomiesintoaunifiedglobalmarket,thesynthesisofdemocracyandenterprise,andintimethesynthesisofcapitalismandsocialism.
TheDilemmaofCapitalismversusCommunity
Thefallofcommunismhasmadeitclearthatmarketswilldominatetheneweconomicorder,buttheabandonmentofcentralplanningandwelfarestatesisopeningaPandora'sbox.Withoutthesupportofbiggovernment,peoplearebeinglefttostrugglealonewithunemployment,poverty,con-
Page229
flict,andothersocialdisorders,causingmountinginsecurityandpoliticalunrest.Thus,thesameforcesthataredecentralizingcorporationsintointernalmarketsaredecentralizinggovernmentsaswell,posinganurgentneedforsomewaytocreatecivilorder.Howwillcivilizedcommunitiesberestoredinadecentralizedworldgovernedbycapitalism?
Thisdilemmaisexacerbatedbythecollapseoffaithinthefamiliaroldideologiesthatguidednationsthroughthepastepochwithgoodsuccess.WiththeU.S.S.R.nowdefunctandtheUnitedStatesstrugglingthroughanidentitycrisis,thelackofsuperpowerleadershiphasleftavacuumofpower,ideas,andmoralguidesattheverytimewhentheworldisfacingHerculeannewchallenges.Toavoidchaos,anewparadigmofpoliticaleconomymustsomehowbeformedthatallowsustomakesenseoftoday'sradicallydifferentglobalrealities.TheCEOofJapan'sNECCorporationhassaid:''Itwon'tbeeasybecausenobodyhasreallycometogripswiththeshifttoaninformationeconomy."
4
Thiscriticalneedisnothelpedbythecommonbeliefthatthecollapseofcommunismprovesthatsocialismisdeadandcapitalismreignstriumphant.Yes,theeraofcentralplanningisover,butmarketsarenotthesamethingascapitalism.ThecompetitivestrengthofJapanesebusinessflowsfromacollaborativetypeofcorporationcalleda"HumanEnterpriseSystem,"andothernationsalsohavewidelydifferingmarketeconomies.5Therealquestioniswhattypeofmarketwouldbebestinpost-CommuniststatesandeveninWesternnationsliketheUnitedStatesitself?
ChallengetotheEast:InventingPost-CommunistMarkets
AseriousexampleofthisdilemmacanbeseenintheformerCommunistbloc.ThereislittledoubtamongEastEuropeansandRussiansthatthereisnogoingbacktotheoldsystemofcentralplanningandone-partypoliticsthe"OldSocialism."However,thesenationshavecommunitarianculturesthatencouragesocialwelfareandeconomicsecurity,andsotheabruptshifttoamarketsystembasedoncompetitionforpersonalgainhasleftpeopleunabletocopewithriskandinequality.Nowthattheeuphoriaofoverthrowingcommunismhasfaded,theseoncefunctioningsocietiesaresufferingseverepoverty,crime,andalienationasanoverdoseofrawcapitalismthreatensthebodypolitic.
EvenEastGermans,whowereexpectedtoadaptimmediatelybecause
Page230
oftheirtiestoWestGermany,nowoftenlongfortheirsocialistroots.Pollsshowthatonly30percentofEastGermanssupportthepoliciesoftheirWesterncounterparts.Here'showmanyseethechange:"Therevolutionbenefitedonly10percentofus,"and"Irealizetomydeepresentmentthatwehavelostsomethingofmuchmorevalue."Onepersonsummeditupthisway:''YoumayhavefreedomintheWest,butwehadsecurityintheEast,afeelingofbeingcaredfor.Itislesscutthroathere."
6
Thetenacityofthis"socialistethic"isprovingamajorobstacletoeconomicreform,asseeninBox10.1.Onthesupplyside,afrenzyofnewventureshasbeenunleashedbyentrepreneursandformerCommunistofficials,buttheprivatizationofstateenterpriseshasfalteredbecauseoflimitedeconomicprospects,thelackofinfrastructure,andpoorbusinessskills.NowgreatplantsthatwereonceproductivebackbonesoftheoldSovieteconomyarerunningatafractionoftheircapacity,andworkerssitidle.
Onthedemandside,thelossofproductivityhasplummetedlivingstandardstohalfofthemeagrelifestylesCommunistsonceenjoyed.Amiddleclassisemergingthatiseagertobuycars,televisions,andtheothergoodsofaconsumersociety,butthosewhocanaffordsuchluxuriesamounttoamere10percentorsoofthepopulationwhileone-thirdormoreareimpoverished.7Understandably,resentmentismountingaspeopleseetheoldCommunistelitessimplyreplacedbycapitalisteliteswithstillmorewealthandprivileges(seeBox10.1).PeterReddaway,formerdirectoroftheKennanInstituteforSovietStudies,describedtheproblemasfollows:
Whyisshocktherapynotworking?BecauseRussia'sdeeplypoliticalcultureishighlyunsuitedtofreemarkets.Yeltsinnowrealizeshemadea
mistakeinoptingforarapidtransitiontocapitalism.8
Meanwhile,theRussianeconomyisbeingrunbyformerCommunistapparatchiks,Mafiabosses,andfinanciersseekingtheirownfortunesratherthancreatingjobsandgoods,reminiscentofthe"robberbarons"ofAmericancapitalism.GeorgeSoros,thefamousHungarian-bornAmericanfinancier,calledit"robbercapitalism."Itisironicthatseventy-fiveyearsofSovietpropagandaaboutthe"evilsofcapitalism"wereneverreallybelievedbytheRussianpeopleuntiltheytrieditthemselves.NowtheimpoverishedproletariatthatMarxwarnedofisrisinginhisownhomeland.9
Ofcourse,theEastEuropeansaredoingbettergenerally.Andsome
Page231
BOX10.1.THEPOST-COMMUNISTCRISIS:OBSTACLESTOADOPTINGCAPITALISM.
ThefollowingpassagessummarizetheobstaclesthatRussiaandEasternEuropearefacinginthetransitiontocapitalism:
AttitudesAgainstCapitalismPersist.ManyRussianscontinuetodislikemarkets,andtheyrejecttheideaofprofitmaking.A1994pollfoundthat30percentthinkcapitalismwillimprovetheirlives,33percentthinkitwillmakethemworse,and37percentareunsure.Anotherstudyconcluded:"ThereislittleevidencethattheRussianpublicisready,willing,orabletoadapttoamarketeconomy."
EconomicProgressHasBeenMeager.Although70percentofstateenterpriseshavebeenprivatized,mostarefailingeconomically,yettheycontinuetobesubsidizedtoavoidmasslayoffs.Theresultisthateconomicproductionhasfallen10to20percentperyearsince1990,foratotaldeclineofroughly50percent.FormerEastGermany,evenwiththesupportfromWestGermany,experienceda50percentdropinemploymentasitsGNPdeclined40percent.
StandardofLivingHasFallenDrastically.Inflationhasincreasedpricesahundredfoldwhilewagesonlydoubled,pricingmostgoodsoutofreachforaveragepeople.Itisestimatedthatathirdtohalfofthepost-Communistblocnowlivesinseverepoverty.Here'showaRussianengineerdescribedhisplight:"Thisishowwelivenow.Wethinkeverydayofhowtosellourselves."Andateachersaid:"NowIamjustabeggar.Icannotaffordtobuyanythingtoeat."
ResentmentoftheRichIsGrowing.Theriseofcapitalistmillionairesflauntingflamboyantlifestylesisignitingkeen
resentment.APoleobjected,"Thenewsystemisturningouttobebestfortherichandstrong."AndaRussiansaid,"Wehavesomerichpeople,whiletherestofusgetpoorerandpoorer."
NeedsforCapitalAreEnormous.FormerEastGermanywillrequire$1trilliontoturnitseconomyaround.ThesumneededtodothesameforRussia,anationroughlytwentytimesthesizeofEastGermany,withlessbusinessexperienceandnocomparablesupport,isinestimable.
Source:WilliamE.HalalandAlexanderNikitin,"EastIsEast,andWestIsWest,"BusinessintheContemporaryWorld(Autumn1992).
Russiansareoptimisticbecausetheythinktheworstisover,sotheseproblemscouldbealleviatedintime.
10Butmanyothersthinkthenationisinserioustrouble.ThechiefeconomistoftheWorldBanknotedthat"zealousreformersunderestimatedthetask,"andaRussianpoliticianworried,"The
Page232
situationisworsening.Someotherwaymustbefound."GeorgeSorosisevenmoredour:"Iwashopingtoseeamarket-orienteddemocraticsystem.Thatattempthasbasicallyfailed.[Thepresentsituation]iscreatingatremendoussenseofsocialinjustice."
11
ByembracingtheiconofcapitalismheldupbytheWest,communismhassheditsoldideologyonlytosubmittoanewideology.ManyRussiansbitterlycondemntheblindfaithincapitalismthatnowimprisonsthemasbadlyascommunismusedto.GeorgeBernardShawputitbest:"Revolutionshaveneverlightenedtheburdenoftyranny.Theyonlyshiftittoanothershoulder."
ChallengetotheWest:InventingaHumanCapitalism
WhilethevirtuesofcapitalismwerebeingpromotedtocuretheRussianmalaise,thesamesystemwassufferinginthelandofitschiefproponent.Americahasenteredaperiodofsocialdeclinebecauseitseemstooconcernedwithfreemarkets,profitmaking,andothercapitalistidealsbeingadvocatedforsocialists.
NoonedeniesthattheAmericansystemhasextraordinaryvirtues.U.S.citizensenjoyanexceptionaldegreeoffreedom,whichhasfloweredintoavibrant,creativecultureandoneofhighestlivingstandardsintheworld.ThesestrengthshavelongattractedafloodofeagerimmigrantstoAmericanshores,andtheyhaveinspiredtoday'srevolutionsaroundtheworld.
Butfreedomentailsaprice,andthepriceAmericanspayistheabsenceofthatessentialsenseofcommunity.Thecompetitivestress,lackofsocialsupport,andsheermaterialismofAmericanlifearemajorcausesfortherampantcrime,druguse,violence,andothersocialproblemsthatarethehighestintheworld;that'swhythe"Land
oftheFree"hasmoreofitspeopleinjailthananyothercountry.OnestudyrankedtheUnitedStates'overallqualityoflifeatthebottomofalistofindustrializednations.12
Yes,productivityandcorporateprofitsaredoingwell,butlayoffshavedemoralizedemployees,peopleareoverstressed,loyaltyisdead,wagesarestillfalling,mostwivesmustnowwork,andmarginalworkersstruggletosurvive.Inthemidstofallthisloss,CEOsareawardingthemselveslavishpayincreases,asBusinessWeekannouncedrecordcorporateearnings:"HotDamn!Profitssurgedanother45percent."13TheresultingdisparityofincomesbetweenthetopandbottomlevelsofAmericansocietyexceeds
Page233
thatofallotherindustrializednations,andithasreturnedtothelevelsreachedpriortotheGreatCrashof1929.
14
Now,itistruethatincomedifferencesareunavoidable,andprofitsareneededforcapitalinvestment.Butwithoutaddressingsuchmountingconcerns,today'supbeatfaithintheOldCapitalismmayproveatemporarylullinthelongdeclineofAmerica'seconomicdominance.Duringthepastthreedecades,theshareofworldwidesalesbyU.S.firmsfellfrom83percentto38percentinautos,71percentto11percentinelectricalgoods,and74percentto21percentinsteel.Evencomputersalesfellfrom95percentto70percent.15Since1985,theAmericandollarhasdeclined70percentagainsttheJapaneseyenand60percentagainsttheGermanmark.16CanthissystemthriveinaKnowledgeAgethatdemandsthesupportofeducated,motivatedpeople?
ThesamelossofsocialsupportisoccurringingovernmentastheRepublicanRevolutionrollsbackthefederalprogramsthathavebeenrelieduponsincetheNewDeal.Ofcourse,thisisanindispensablepartofthehistoricmovetodecentralizeallinstitutionsforanewera.Butdecentralizationcannotsimplyabandonpeopletofendforthemselves.Someformoflocalcontrolmustbedevisedtotakeuptheslackleftbyeliminatingfederalregulations,socialassistance,andotherformsofsupport.Piousclaimsthatthiswillbedoneby"themarket,"the"states,"and"voluntaryinstitutions"arelittlemorethanwishfulthinking.
AsshowninBox10.2,theresultinglossofconfidenceovergovernment,corporations,andotherinstitutionshascausedtheAmericansystemofpoliticaleconomytobewidelyquestionedaswell.
TheDemocraticPartydoesnotshowmuchtalentforexploringnewdirections,andtheRepublicanRevolutionseemsdestinedtorollonbecauseithashistorybehindit.Thus,aseriousquestionisbeingraised:HowwillAmericansavoidthetraumathatseemslikelyasaharsheconomyandthedismantlingoffederalprogramsleavethenationbereftofsocialsupport?
AsimilarconflictisseeninotherWesternnationsthatalsopracticeamorepureformofcapitalism.TheThatcherRevolutionmayhavehaltedthegrowthofthewelfarestateintheUnitedKingdom,butpollsshowtheBritishpeopleareconcernedthatcrime,greed,andpovertyhavereplacedthequalitiesthatmadeEnglandagreatcivilization,andtheeconomyremainsweak.17
Page234
BOX10.2.THEAMERICANCRISIS:LOSTCONFIDENCEANDSIGNSOFCHANGE.
ThefollowingpassagesindicatethattheUnitedStateshasenteredanidentitycrisisthatcouldproducesignificantchange:
AmericansThinktheNationIsHeadingintheWrongDirection.Thenumberofpeoplewhothink"thecountryisheadinginthewrongdirection"rosefrom40percentduringthe1980sto80percentin1995.
EmployeeConfidenceinCorporateManagementHasFallen.Surveysshowthatemployeesareangryovertheincompetenceandexcessivepayofcorporateexecutivesatatimewhentheyareforcedtomakegreatsacrifices.RobertSwain,CEOofaNewYorkconsultingfirm,says,"Everybodyisexhaustedandnobodythinksitwillgetbetter.They'rehangingonbytheirfingernails."Fortunereportedthat"confidenceintopmanagementiscollapsing."
AmericanQualityofLifeRanksBelowAdvancedNations.StudiesplacetheUnitedStates'qualityoflifebelowthatofCanada,WestEurope,Scandinavia,andJapan.Althoughtheirmaterialstandardoflivingishighestintheworld,Americansaretheonlypeopleinanadvancednationwhodonothaveuniversalhealthcareorprotectionagainstworkerfiring;theyhavethehighestratesofinfantmorality,illiteracy,crime,druguse,homelessness,andout-of-wedlockbirths.TheUnitedStateshasthelowestratesforsaving,voting,andrecycling;thegreatestgapbetweenrichandpoor;andthepoorestpubliceducationandtransportationsystems.
APopulistRevoltIsUnderWay.KevinPhillips,theRepublicanpoliticalanalystwhoforecasttheReaganRevolution,counsels
thata"politicalcounterreaction"isunderway,"aresurgenceofeconomicpopulismbasedonresentmentoftherichcombinedwithaconcernoverthedeclineoftheU.S.economy."
ANewParadigmSeemstoBeComing.ThereisgrowingacceptanceoftheideathattheUnitedStatesmustadoptaneweconomicpoliticalparadigm.Timemagazinenoted:"The1990shavebecomeatransformingboundarybetweenoneageandanother,betweenaschemeofthingsthathasdisintegratedandanothertakingshape."
Sources:RichardMorinandPaulTaylor,"PollsShowPlungeinPublicConfidence,"WashingtonPost(October16,1990);AnneFisher,"MoraleCrisis,"Fortune(November18,1991);AlanFarnham,"TheTrustGap,"Fortune(December4,1989);JoaniNelson-Horchler,"ThePayRevoltBrews,''IndustryWeek(June18,1990);SpencerRich,"U.S.RanksSixthinQualityofLife,"WashingtonPost(May18,1993);MichaelWolf,CanAmericaMakeItintheGlobalRaceforWealth,Health,andHappiness?(NewYork:Bantam,1992);KevinPhillips,ThePoliticsoftheRichandPoor(NewYork:RandomHouse,1990);LanceMorrow,"OldParadigm,NewParadigm,"Time(January14,1991).
Page235
Theseproblemsarenotasdramaticasthecollapseofcommunism,buttheyarealsoseriousandtheystemfromthesamecauseoutmodedeconomicbeliefs.Theideologicalflawincapitalismisthewishfulfantasythatruggedindividualisminastruggleforprofitwillsomehowbesublimatedintohealthyprogressbythemagicofaninvisiblehand.Thismayhaveworkedinanindustrialpast,butitignoresthatvastrealmofhumanandsocialrealitiesthatnowdrivesaknowledge-basedeconomy.
18
TheIdeologicalCrisisofOurTime
TheseproblemsareformidablebecausetheyemanatefromaprofoundideologicalcrisisfacingtheentireglobethatismostclearlyseeninRussiaandtheUnitedStates.HistorianCharlesMaierfindsthatboththecollapseofSovietCommunismandthedeclineofAmericancapitalismarearesultofthesamehistorictransitiontoanewerathatisrenderingallpastideologiesobsolete.19
ThereisanintriguingsymmetrytothesedilemmasofEastandWestthatisseldomunderstood.Bothsocialismandcapitalismproduceseriousdistortions,butinoppositedirections.Generallyspeaking,socialismisincrisisbecauseitboughtsecurebutmeagerlivesattheexpenseoffreedom;butcapitalismisincrisisbecauseithasboughtaprosperousfreedomforsomeattheexpenseofsecurityandcommunityforall.Socialismsuffersfromscarcity,whilecapitalismsuffersfromoverconsumption.Socialismproducesangrydissidents,capitalismproducescrimeandlostsouls.20
Evenmoderatenationsarestrugglingwiththisdilemma.AlmostallEuropeangovernmentsareunderextremeeconomicpressuretodismantletheirwelfarestatesandtorejuvenateenterprise.For
instance,Italy,Spain,andFrancearerunningmassiveannualgovernmentdeficits.GermanyhasinflatedwagestoalmosttwicethelevelsoftheUnitedStatesandJapan,socapitalinvestmentproduceslessthanhalfofnormalreturns.TheCEOofaGermancompanysaid:"Wecannotgoonsupportinghighwagesandbenefits.Eitherwechangefast,orwedonotsurvive."21InJapan,thecollapseofthe"bubbleeconomy"isforcingamovetoacceptforeigncompetition,reduceregulation,andcreatemoredynamiccompanies.22
Theconflictbetweencapitalismandcommunityisnotsoeasilyresolved,however,becausethesenationsarealsounderenormouspoliticalpressuretocontinuesupportingtheircitizens.InFrance,54percentofthe
Page236
TABLE10.1.MANAGERS'ATTITUDESTOWARDTHENEWMANAGEMENT(TNM).(SAMPLE=426CORPORATEMANAGERS.)Question U.S.A.EuropeJapanMeanDoyouthinkthesepracticesmakingupTheNewManagement(TNM)areneeded?No 5% 2% 0% 4%Yes 77 93 83 82Unsure 18 5 17 14
WhyaresomefirmsnotusingTNM?Resistancetochange 54 70 68 61Short-termfocus 20 18 17 19Ideasareunacceptable 8 2 4 6Unsure 18 10 11 14
WhatwillhappentofirmsthatdonotadoptTNM?Theywillsurvive 20 3 2 12Marginalexistence 38 65 27 45Likelytofail 14 20 54 33Unsure 28 12 17 10
WhenisTNMlikelytoenterthemainstreamofbusiness?1995 9 12 5 112000 38 40 45 412005 17 29 20 22Later 6 14 13 9Unsure 30 5 17 17
Source:WilliamE.Halal,CorporationsinTransition(anunpublishedstudyinprogress).SeethequestionnaireinAppendixC.
publicwantsmorestatecontroloftheeconomyandonly11percentwantsless.AGermanbusinessmansaid:"Weunderstandthatpovertyandothersocialillsaremorallyunacceptableandeconomically
harmful."TheJapaneseshareasimilarview:"Wesimplycannotfirepeople,"saidNorioOhga,CEOofSony."Itwouldonlycontributetotheworseningoftheeconomy,andwereallycan'taffordthat.''
23
Thesameconfusingdilemmapersistsinotherregions.LatinAmerica
Page237
suffersfromchronicpoliticalunrestbecausewealthissoconcentratedthataformofmonopolycapitalismoftenexploitsanimpoverishedworkingclass.DevelopmentintheMiddleEasthasstalledbecausefreemarketsconflictwithIslamicprinciplesthatrequireservingthecommunity.
EconomicImperativesoftheInformationAge
Itiseasytobepessimisticovertheenormityofthischallenge,buttheimperativesoftheInformationRevolutionseemtobedrivingnationstowardanewglobalorderbasedonenterpriseanddemocracythatmayresolvetheconflictbetweencapitalismandcommunity.Here'showLechWalesaexplainedthewaythisrevolutionoccurredinPoland:"Howdidallthesereformsappear?Theresultofcomputers,communicationsatellites,television."
24
AGlobalNetworkofLocalEnterpriseandCommunity
Chapter3showedthatthesesameforcesofdemocracyandenterprisearealsotransformingorganizations.ThisishappeningnotonlyintheUnitedStatesbutalsothroughouttheglobe.Europeancompanies,suchasABBandSiemens,arebeingrestructuredtospurentrepreneurship,whilethevirtuesofcorporatecommunitywereshowcasedasJapanesefirmscapturedforeignmarketsbycultivatingharmoniousworkingrelations.Table10.1showsthatAmerican,European,andJapanesemanagerstendtoagreethatthistrendtowardaNewManagementislikelytoentertheeconomicmainstreambetween2000and2005.
Asaresult,corporationsarebecomingglobalentrepreneurialnetworksorganizedintopocketsoflocalcommunity.Theynow
operatehundredsofinternalenterprisesinternationally(suchasABB's5,000profitcenters),eachformingcollaborativeallianceswithforeignsuppliers,distributors,andotherbusinesspartnerstoraisecapital,launchnewventures,acquiretechnology,andgainaccesstolocalmarkets.Thesecomplexoperationsaremanagedbyaninternationalclassofprofessionalsdrawnfromallovertheworldwhocanadapttoadiversetapestryofpoliticsandculturesbyworkingeffectivelywithlocalemployees,unions,andgovernments.Thus,aseamlesswebofentrepreneurialcommunityisincreasinglyjoiningandrejoiningoveraworldwideinformationgridtotameacomplex,changingglobalsociety,asshowninBox10.3.25
Page238
BOX10.3.THEKNOWLEDGE-BASEDGLOBALECONOMY.
Thefollowingexamplesillustratetrendsthataredefiningthecentralfeaturesofaknowledge-basedglobaleconomy.
RiseofaGlobalMiddleClass.MiddleclasseswithdiscretionarybuyingpowerareforminghugenewconsumermarketsinChina,India,Russia,andotheronce-slumberinggiantsthataretentimesthesizeofAmericanmarkets.Fortunemagazinenoted"FromSingaporetoSantiago,customerwantsandneedsareconverging."
WorldwideRetailChains.McDonald'sisextendingitsnetworkfrom15,000to42,000restaurantsservinglocaltastesaroundtheworld.Toys"R"Usisgrowinginternationallyata35-percentannualrate.Wal-Martisnowtheworld'sbiggestretailer,operatingsixty-sevendiscountstoresinMexicoalone.Italy'sBenettonoperatesin120countries.TheChinesecompany,Yaohan,isexpandingto1,000stores;onewillhandleamillionshopperseachweekend.
AGlobalInformationRevolution.Businessesinless-developedregionsarebuyingcomputers,cellularphones,faxmachines,andotherinformationsystemsfasterthandevelopedregionsbecausetheyareunhinderedbyinvestmentsinoldsystems.Forinstance,ChilehasonlythreePCsperhundredpeople,comparedwiththirtyPCsintheUnitedStates.
TheTrulyGlobalCorporation.Ford'schairman(Scottish)andCEO(Lebanese)managethecompanyfromajetaircraftequippedwithvideoconferencingsystemsconnectingthemtothirtymanufacturingplantsspanningtheglobe,whichusestandardautomotivesubsystems(frames,engines,andsoforth)toproducecustomcarsformarketsin230countries.GEisfocusingitsstrategyonjointventuresinChina,India,SouthAmerica,and
otheremergingmarkets.
TeleshoppingAroundtheWorld.Long-distanceshoppingusingsuchservicesasCompuServeandtelephonenetworksisattractingbuyersfromaroundtheglobe.L.L.Beannowhas200foreignlanguageoperatorstakingorders,boostingglobalsalesfrom$25millionin1990to$130millionin1994.Microsoftobtainsmorethanhalfofitsrevenuefrominternationalsales.Retailerssaytheyaremerelynibblingattheedgesofanenormousmarket.
TheGlobalTravelandTourismIndustry.Tourismisnowthelargestindustryintheworldandgrowingrapidly.Airlinesarederegulatingandformingalliancestoprovidefarmoreconvenient,inexpensive,andsafetransportationtoanywhere.
Sources:RahulJacob,"MiddleClassesExplodeAroundtheGlobe,"Fortune(May30,1994);CarlaRapoport,"RetailersGoGlobal,"Fortune(February20,1995);"GESeestheFuture,"BusinessWeek(November8,1993);WarrenBrownandFrankSwoboda,"Ford'sBraveNewWorld,"(August12,1994);WorldInvestmentReport(U.N.ConferenceonTradeandDevelopment,1994);SharonWaxman,''GlobalShoppingBooms,"WashingtonPost(June21,1994).
Page239
Governmentsarealsomovinginthissamedirection.In1994,votersinItaly,France,Sweden,Japan,Canada,andtheUnitedStatesrevoltedagainstpoliticalsystemsthatruledthecoldwarerawithcumbersomeregulations,poorservices,hightaxes,andcorruption.U.S.CongressmanRobertAndrewsacknowledged,"Weareinthemidstofamiddle-classpoliticalrevolution.Thepublicisabsolutelyright.Governmentisoutofcontrol."
26
Caughtbetweenpoliticaloppositiontoraisingtaxesandcuttingservices,growingdeficitsarenowforcingtherestructuringofgovernmentthroughouttheworldinroughlythesamewaythatbusinesshasbeendoing:byprivatizingoperations,introducingcompetitiontoimproveservices,andcollaboratingwithpublicstakeholders.27Theseforcesarealsodisaggregatingnationsintosmallercommunities.Thenumberofindependentstateshasdoubledinthepastfewdecades,andsomeclaimtheworldwillholdathousandnationssoon,eachwithnumerousindependentregionsandcities.HenryCisneros,U.S.secretaryofhousingandurbandevelopment,saystheneedisto"decentralizewithavengeance."28
Theemergingroleforgovernmentistoprovideacooperativeeconomicinfrastructurethatsupportssoundeconomicgrowth.Asaglobaleconomyenablesfirmstolocateanywhere,governmentsareunderincreasingpressuretoattractresponsiblebusinessformationbyprovidinglowtaxes,informationsuperhighways,minimalregulations,accesstoadvancedtechnology,educatedworkers,productmarkets,andsocialamenities.29CultivatingthisnewrolemadeSingaporeoneofthemostprosperousregionsoftheworld.Withnonaturalresourcesandasmallpopulation,thecityhasattractedthreethousandcorporationsbycreatingthemostadvancedpublicITsystemand
economicinfrastructureanywhere.
Further,theneedforbothenterpriseandsocialsupportisencouragingasymbioticrelationshipbetweenthesetwopivotalinstitutions,whichcanbeseeninthewaveofbusiness-governmentpartnerships.Governmentsareeagertohelpbusinessrejuvenatetheireconomies,andbusinesscanonlythriveinhealthysocieties."Thegovernmentcan'tdoitbyitself,"saidGovernorGeorgeVoinovichofOhio."Theprivatesectorhastogetinvolved."30
Rememberthatthisemergingformofeconomiccooperationisnotaltruismbutmutualself-interestthatbenefitsallparties.RayNorda,formerCEOofNovell,calledit"coopetitioncooperating,oftenwithone's
Page240
rivals,outofenlightenedself-interest."Infact,itispreciselytheheightenedlevelofcompetitionthatdrivesacorporatecommunitytogether.Thebattleforeconomicsurvivalisnolongerwagedbetweensinglefirms,buttakestheformofcompetitionbetweenthese"clustersofentrepreneurialcommunity."
It'sobviousthatonlyaleadingedgeofprogressivemanagersareadoptingtheseinnovations,especiallytheideaofcorporatecommunity.AndtherewillalwaysbeacrucialrolefortheUnitedNationsandotherinternationalinstitutions.Butthemostlikelyscenarioformaintainingsocialorderinacomplex,changing,decentralizedglobaleconomyisthroughcultivatingcommunityamonglocalinstitutions.
Therevolutionaryforcesdescribedinthischapterandthemanyexamplescitedinthisbookhighlightthepoweroftoday'stechnologicalearthquakethatiscausingaglobalupheaval.Informationtechnologyexertsaforceasrevolutionaryasthatofindustrialtechnologytwohundredyearsago.TheInformationRevolutionrequiresfreeenterprisetomanagearisingtideofcomplexity,whileeconomiccooperationisalsonecessarytounitethiscomplexityintoproductivecommunities.Drivenbythesetwindemands,managersaroundtheglobearetransformingcorporationsandgovernmentsintothesameformofentrepreneurial,collaborativeinstitutionsneededtomaintainacivilizedalthoughturbulentworld.
TheTendencytowardDivergenceandConvergence
Idonotclaimthatthisneweconomicsystemwillbecomeuniversal.Figure10.1depictshowtherelationshipbetweenenterpriseanddemocracyformscomplex,changingpatternsinresponsetotwoopposingtrends:atendencytowarddivergencecausedbydifferencesinculturalvalues,andatendencytowardconvergencecausedbythecommonimperativesofinformationtechnology.
31
Studiesindicatethatnationsdevelopdiverseeconomicsystemsthatarecompatiblewiththeircultures.Figure10.1showshowcountriesliketheUnitedStates,theUnitedKingdom,Canada,Taiwan,SouthKorea,andtheSouthAmericanstatesfavorentrepreneurialfreedomandothereconomicvalues,whichcharacterizethelower-rightendofthepoliticalspectrum.Attheupper-leftendofthespectrum,China,Russia,EastEurope,Sweden,India,Africa,andtheMiddleEastleantowardsocialvalueslikesecurityand
Page241
publicwelfare.Itishardtocategorizenationsneatly,andallthisischanging,ofcourse.Butculture,oneofthemostpowerfulforcesintheworld,seemstoproducethesebroad,generalpatterns.
32
Whilewidevariationswillremain,overthelongtermtheimperativesofinformationshouldcontinuetourgemostnationstowardaroughlysimilarcombinationofdemocracyandenterprisethatintegratessocialandeconomicvalues.Theattractiontowardthiscenterpositionisillustratedbythefactthatthemostproductiveeconomiestendtofavoracombinationofenterpriseandcollaboration;Switzerland,Germany,France,Italy,Scandinavia,andJapanhavecreatedthehighestoverallqualityoflifeintheworldduringthepastfewdecades,althoughtheytooarenowfacingnewadjustments.AEuropeanmanagerexplained:
Thecompetitivebattleseniormanagersfaceisastruggleamong[market]systems,eachwithitsdistinctivesetofvalues.IbelieveourEuropeansystemofalliancesamongworkers,suppliers,distributors;andgovernmentisbettersuitedtomeettheeconomicandsocialchallengesahead.33
Althoughdifferenceswillflourishtosuitculturaltastes,thisdiversityislikelytoevolveintovariationsonthesameorganizingprinciplesbecauseallnationsarepressuredbycommoneconomicrealitiesoftheInformationAge.Theinstantaneousflowofelectroniccapitalaroundtheglobeisnowforcinginterestratesandwagestoconvergeandgovernmentstoadoptsimilareconomicpolicies.In1995,forinstance,theMexicanpesofellprecipitouslybecauseofalargetradedeficit,whiletheJapaneseyenclimbedduetoatradesurplus.34Thisconvergencemaybemostpronouncedinthedevelopingcountriesthataresearchingforamiddleway.MujmulSaqibKhan,aPakistani
ambassador,claimsthat"leadersofdevelopingcountrieswillblendcapitalistandsocialistmodels."35
Thisperspectiveontheemergingglobaleconomy,then,offersmanagerssomeinsightsintothecomplexproblemstheymustsolvearoundtheworld.Notonlymusttheylearnhowtooperateacrosswildlydifferenteconomies,laws,currencies,andcultures,theymustalsoadapttoawidevarietyofdeeplyrootedpoliticalideologies,whichshouldincreasinglycombinevariousblendsofenterpriseandcommunity.Whilethisglobalorderissuretogrowevenmoreintricate,itshouldhelptokeepinmindthatthis
Page242
Figure10.1.TheEvolutionofPoliticalEconomy.
Page243
confusioncanbesortedoutbyusingNewManagementconcepts.Ihopethischaptershowsthatthesameforcesareatworkinaglobalcontext.
Thesetrendsareasyetlimitedtoanavantgarde,ofcourse,buttheirimplicationsareprofound.AsshowninFigure10.1,theconceptofDemocraticEnterprisemayeventuallyintegratesocialismandcapitalismintocompatiblebutsomewhatdifferentversionsofthissameoverarchingglobalparadigm.Wecouldthenwitnessabreakthroughinpoliticaleconomythatfosterstheformationofrobustlocalcommunitywhilesimultaneouslycreatingamoreproductivetypeofenterprise.Aneweconomicepochisathandinwhichenterpriseandhumanvaluesareefficient,sosuchasystemmaybecomecommonplace,makingitpossibleformanagerstooperatemoreeasilythroughoutatrulyunifiedglobaleconomy.
Irealizethatthereismuchcynicismoversuchprospects,butconsiderthechangestheIndustrialRevolutionbroughttotheaverageagrarianpeasant,whosufferedashort,gruelinglifeoflaborinthefieldsunderservitudetoadictatorialmonarch.Averagepeoplelivingindevelopednationstodaycertainlybearhardships,buttheyarewhite-collarworkersenjoyingthefreedomofmarketeconomiesanddemocraticgovernment.WhyshouldtheKnowledgeRevolutionbelessdramatic?
TheEmergingShapeoftheNewEconomicOrder
Projectionsofthesetrendsprovidesomeintriguingforecaststhatdefyconventionalwisdom.
DemocraticEnterpriseintheEast:ANewSocialism?
ThemainobstaclefacingtheformerSovietblocistoday'santisocialistfervor,whichblindsustothemoresubtletruth.Aswe
haveshown,mostpeopleinsocialistcultures,andevenmanyAmericans,disliketheharshnessofcapitalismandpreferthehumanvaluesthathaveinspiredsociallyorientedeconomiesnowthrivinginWesternEurope,Japan,andotherleadingeconomicareas.That'swhyhalftheworldmovedtosocialisminthefirstplace.
ThekeytoresolvingthecrisisgrippingRussiaandEasternEurope,then,istorecognizethatsocialismwasnotanaberrationbutanimportantadvance.Intheheatoftoday'sreforms,itiseasytoforgetthatsocialistphilosophywasoncepraisedasaconstructiveresponsetotheexploitationof
Page244
labor,monopolycontrolofmarkets,andotherinjusticesofearlycapitalism.Communismwasaharshsystem,certainly,butthecapitalismoftherobberbaronswasequallyharsh,andeventhecapitalismoftodaycanbeharsh.WhatmoralitytoleratesasystemthatrewardspeoplelikeMichaelMilkinwithmorethan$500millionperyearwhileaquarterofitsinfantsliveinpoverty?Thepresentloveaffairwithcapitalismislikelytorunitscourseinafewyearsasexcessesmount,takingthepoliticalcyclebacktowardsocialpolicies.
Ratherthanexpectsocialiststoabandontheirheritage,therefore,itismoreusefultoviewtheRussiandilemmaasroughlycomparabletothetransitionAmericansexperiencedduringtheGreatDepressionofthe1930s,whichthrewtheviabilityofcapitalismintoquestion.TheDepressionresultedfromaseverefailureinthemarketsystem,butitwascorrectedwithinsuredsavings,unemploymentbenefits,andothersocialwelfareprogramsthatstabilizedtheAmericaneconomy.
EconomicprogressinRussialagsbehindthatoftheUnitedStatesbyaboutfiftyyears,sothenationismakingasimilartransitionatroughlythesamepointinitsdevelopment.JustasAmericansdidnotabandoncapitalismduringtheGreatDepressionbutcorrecteditsflawsbyadoptingsomeelementsofsocialism,Russiansmayintimedevelopanadvancedformofsocialismincorporatingmarketsanddemocraticenterpriseitcouldbethoughtofasa"NewSocialism."
Manyeconomistsdisputetheconceptofa"ThirdWay,"yetsometrendsaremovinginthisdirection.PollsshowthatmostRussiansandotherpost-Communistpeoplefavorademocratic,marketsocialism.ACzechpoliticiansaid:"Wedonottalkabout'socialmarkets'toavoidheadlines,buttheconditionforoursuccessistokeeppublicsupport."InPoland,theDemocraticLeftAlliancethatwonthe1993electionsbaseditssuccessoncombiningthebestfeaturesofsocialismandcapitalism:"ThebigmistakethatSolidaritymadewastothrowout
everythingfromthepast,"saidthepartychairman.AndaChineseofficialsaid,"Capitalismdoesn'thaveapatentrightovermarkets.We'retryingtoestablishasociallyorientedmarketeconomy.''
36
Justasmarketsarenotnecessarilycapitalism,then,socialismisnotnecessarilygovernmentplanning.TheconceptofDemocraticEnterpriseoffersalogicalsolutiontothecurrentRussiancrisisbecauseitcouldpro-
Page245
videtheadvantagesoffreemarketswhileretainingsomesenseofharmonioussocialcontrol.Intermsoftraditionalsocialistthought,thistypeofsociallyguidedmarketeconomywouldservethepublicwelfarethroughdecentralizedplanning,conductedattheleveloftheindividualenterpriseratherthanthestate,andmanageddemocraticallybystakeholders.
37Themainobstacletorevitalizingthepost-Communistblocisbuildingviableinstitutions,andthisapproachcoulddrawontheircommunitarianculturetoformproductivebusinesscorporationsandothersocialinstitutions.
Let'ssketchoutwhatthissystemmightlooklike.TheprivatesectorinRussiashouldcontinuetobemanagedwithfreemarkets,butthisisbasicallyasocialistsociety,sogovernmentcouldassistwithemployment,medicalcare,housing,andpensionstobufferitscitizensfromthevicissitudesofmarkets.Itmightalsobebesttomaintainstrategiccontroloverbanking,utilities,transportation,andotherquasi-publicindustries,eitherthroughregulationorstateownership.A1995pollof4,000Russiansfoundthat66percentwantmorestatecontroloftheeconomy.38
ThemostcrucialstrategywouldbetohelpRussianmanagersdevelopaformofdemocraticgovernanceinwhichworkers,businesspartners,government,andcustomerssharecontroloforganizations.Thiscrucialstepwouldallowafreshapplicationofsocialistvaluestoformanacceptabletypeofcommunitarianenterpriseabletothriveinavibrantmarketeconomy.Box10.4showstypicalpractices.
Thepaththesenationsfollowiscertaintobemessy,andtoday'srawcapitalismwilllikelycontinueuntilthepublicdemandsreforms,followingtheAmericanexperience.However,opinionpollsshowthe
followingprobabilitiesforthreealternativescenarios:Russiansbelievethereisa22percentchancethatthenationwilldevelopanAmericantypeofcapitalism;a15percentchancethatitwillrevertbacktocentralcontrols;anda63percentchanceitwillfollowthemiddlepathofDemocraticEnterprise.OtherstudiesshowsimilarresultsforChina.39
DemocraticEnterpriseintheWest:ANewCapitalism?
Aninterestingfeatureofthisthesisisthatthecapitalistworldmaymovetowardaroughlysimilarsystem,althoughitwouldbeviewedintermsofWesternvaluesanditwouldbeapproachedfromtheoppositedirection,asshowninFigure10.1.
Page246
BOX10.4.DEMOCRATICENTERPRISEINTHEEAST.
ThefollowingexamplesillustratenewpracticesinRussiaandEasternEuropeinwhich"democratic"enterprisesoperateinafreemarketsystem.
DemocraticCentralism.Tomeettheirtwoculturalneedsfordemocraticpolicymakingandcentralizedcontrol,Russianmanagersperiodicallyengagetheirsubordinatesinafreedebatetoproduceaconsensusonpolicies,afterwhichthedecisionisimplementedinanauthoritarianmanner.Thus,leadershipalternatelymovesfromdemocracytodictatorship,inkeepingwithdifferentneedsatdifferenttimes.
WorkerCouncils.Workercouncilshavebeenformedinlargeenterprisestoparticipateintheselectionofmanagersandinpolicyformation,roughlysimilartotheGermanandJapaneseapproaches,whicharefamousforcreatingproductiveorganizations.
DiverseApproachestoCorporateControl.Poland,theCzechRepublic,andRussiahaveadoptedprivatizationplansthatofferdifferenttypesofeconomiccontrol:sellingcompaniestoprivateinvestors,cross-ownershipamongsuppliersanddistributors,givingstocktoemployee-owners,anddistributingvouchersthatallowcitizenstobuysharesofdifferentbusinesses.
EmployeeStockOwnershipPlans.ESOPsaregainingpopularity.OneofRussia'slargestlumbermills,theUstLlimskWoodIndustrialComplex,recentlysoldsharestoits12,000workers,whonowboastofbeingthemill'sowners.AttheKonveyerplant,asimilarsystemhasbeenrunningsmoothlyforyears,andemployeesreceiveda20percentdividendrecently.
Joint-StockCompanies.Joint-stockcompaniesofferademocraticformofgovernanceinwhichallstakeholdersshareinownershipandcontroloftheenterprise.AgoodillustrationisthefamousGUMDepartmentStoreonRedSquare,whichhasbeenconvertedintoa"joint-stocksociety"whosesharesareheldbyemployees,financialbackers,suppliers,andtheMoscowCityCouncil.
Self-ManagedTeams.Russianshaveorganizedself-managedteamsthatshareresponsibilityandfinancialrewards.Atafamoushospital,forinstance,surgicalteamsarejointlymanagedbydoctors,nurses,andtechnicians,andreceiveincentivepaythatdiffersbynomorethanafactorofthreeamongteammembers.
Sources:WilliamE.HalalandAlexanderNikitin,"EastIsEast,andWestIsWest,"BusinessintheContemporaryWorld(Autumn1992);PaulLawrenceandCharalambosVlachoutsicos,BehindtheWalls:Decision-MakinginSovietandU.S.Enterprise(Cambridge,Mass.:HarvardBusinessSchool,1990).
Page247
Americaisacrisis-drivensociety,sothedrivingforceforsuchadifficultchangeseemslikelytobetheidentitycrisisthatgripstheUnitedStates.ButtheAmericanpotentialformeetingnewchallengesisenormous.AfterPearlHarborforcedAmericaintoWorldWarII,theUnitedStatesemergedasthemostpowerfulnationintheworld.WhenSputniklaunchedthespacerace,Americasoonlandedthefirstmanonthemoon.AndtheAraboilembargoproducedsuchaburstofenergyconservationthattheUnitedStatesbecamegluttedwithcheapoil.Thedemandforchangeduringthe1992and1994electionssuggeststhatasimilarsurgeofreformcouldemergeoversuchideasas"HumanCapitalism"ora"NewCapitalism."
Americansarepracticalpeople,andacontinuationoftoday'ssocialdeclinemayconvincethemthatthenation'sobsessionwithprofit,capitalinvestment,taxes,andothereconomicpoliciesmissestherealissue.ThegreatneedfacingtheUnitedStatesistomakeasubtlebutcrucialshiftfromacapital-centeredsystemtoahuman-centeredsystemthatwouldcreateasenseofcommonpurposetounifyitsinstitutionsandthenation.HerbertStein,formerchairmanoftheCouncilofEconomicAdvisers,saysAmericaneedstoestablishanewgoalof"improvingthequalityoflife."
40
Somemovementhasbeenbuildinginthisdirectionforyears.AssummarizedinBox10.5,thetrendsreportedinthisbookshowthatmanyAmericanmanagersrealizethatacollaborativeformofbusinessisneededbecauseeconomicsuccesshingesongainingthesupportoftheirvariousstakeholders.Whyshouldtough-mindedexecutiveswanttodothis?Becauseitismoreproductive.
Moreover,businessistheleadinginstitutionthatsetsthetoneforsocietytoday,soitsexamplecouldencouragegovernment,education,
andourothersocialinstitutionstodothesame.ThecrisisinAmericaneducation,forinstance,couldberesolvedaspublicschoolsmovefurtheralongthepathtowardinternalmarketsandcorporatecommunitybeingblazedbyinnovativecorporations.Adozenorsostatesallowparentstochooseschools;roughlytwentystatesnowpermitteacherstoformcharterschools,andmanyoffermeritpay.Likewise,participativegovernanceisbeingadoptedtomanageschoolsbybringingadministrators,teachers,andparentsintopolicymaking.Inshort,theprinciplesoftheNewManagementareatworkrevitalizingeducation.
Page248
BOX10.5.DEMOCRATICENTERPRISEINTHEWEST.
ThefollowingtrendssummarizeconceptspresentedthroughoutthisbooktoshowthatWesterneconomiesarecombiningdemocraticcooperationwithcreativeenterprise.
ParticipativeEmployeeRelations.VarioustypesofemployeeparticipationareunderwayatroughlyhalfofAmericancompanies.Also,about15,000firmshaveemployeeownershipplanscovering20millionworkersbecausetheyimproveproductivityandprovideadefenseagainsthostiletakeovers.Asaresult,no-nonsenseexecutiveswhoabhoranywhiffofidealismaremovingtowardthedemocratizationoftheworkplace.
Client-DrivenMarketing.AsforeigncompetitionhasenteredAmericanmarkets,almostallAmericanfirmshavebegunshiftingattentionfromsellinggoodstoservinggenuinecustomerneeds;theyemphasizequalityandcustomersatisfaction,andbringclientsintothepolicy-makingprocess.BusinessWeekmagazinesummedupthismovetoclient-centeredmarketing:"Entirecompaniesarebeingreorganizedaroundgivingcustomerswhattheywant."
StrategicAlliances.Almostallcorporationsarebeingconnectedbystrategicalliances,evenwiththeircompetitors.About250researchconsortiaofcompetingcompaniesand1,600business-governmentresearchagreementshavebeenformedrecentlyintheUnitedStates.Theautoindustryalonehastwelveconsortiainwhichallthreemajorcarmakersworktogether,oftenwithgovernmentsupport,ondevelopingeverythingfromnewfuelstoelectriccars.
Government-BusinessPartnerships.AmericancitieslikeBaltimore,SanAntonio,andIndianapolis,andstateslike
MichiganandPennsylvania,areformingworkingpartnershipsamonglocalcorporations,universities,laborunions,andcivicgroups.Roughlyfortystatesaredevelopingcollaborativegovernmentrolesthatfacilitatethesuccessfuloperationoffreemarkets.
DemocraticModeloftheFirm.Thetrendsnotedherearecreatingcorporatecommunitiesthatunifyworkers,clients,associatedfirms,governments,andinvestors,asillustratedbyGM-Saturn,theBodyShop,andotherprogressivefirms.Morethan80percentofmanagersintheCITstudysaytheircompaniescooperatewiththesestakeholders(seeTable3.3).WilliamAndres,CEOofDayton-Hudson,putitbest:"Wefindnoconflictinservingallourconstituentsbecausetheirinterestsaremutuallyintertwined.Profitisourrewardforservingsociety."
Page249
Apowerfulnewformofgovernmentisalsoneededthatassiststheresponsibleoperationofafast-moving,high-techsociety.Creativepoliticianstodaycouldbemoreeffectivebyhelpingcorporations,schools,andotherinstitutionsdevelopahumanformofenterprisethatdrawsonAmerica'sdemocraticheritage.OnestrikingpossibilityistoformaDemocratic"ContractwithAmerica."WheretheRepublicansgainedpowerbyseizingtheironneedtodecentralize,theDemocratscouldgainpowerbyensuringtheironneedforresponsiblelocalgovernance.Governmentscouldoffercorporationsandotherinstitutionsfreedomfromregulationsandtaxesiftheyadoptdemocraticgovernancesystemsthatassumeresponsibilityfortheirsocialimpacts.
41
Ifadecentralizedsocietyistowork,thistypeofsoundlocalgovernancewillbeneededtocreateself-regulating,vibrantcommunitiesthatreplacefederalcontrolsandwelfareprograms.
AGlobalRacetoInventtheEconomyoftheFuture
Thischapterhasdefinedthefollowingmajordilemmaandhowmanagerscanbestoperateinthenewglobalorder:
1.Althoughtheworldismovingtowardunification,theemergingglobaleconomyisincreasinglycharacterizedbywidespreaddisintegrationofcorporationsandgovernments.
2.Thisdecentralizationiscausingaseriousdilemmabetweencapitalismandcommunity,althougheachnationmayexperienceitdifferently.
3.Managershaveanopportunitytocreateanewformofpoliticaleconomythatdrawsitsstrengthfromcreatingpocketsof
entrepreneurialcommunityatthegrassrootslevel.
Eventswillnotevolvethisneatly,sincearaceisunderwaytodiscoverthesecretsofsuccessforaneweconomicerathatnobodyreallyunderstands.Italmostseemsasthoughtheglobehasbecomeagreatlaboratoryinwhichcompetingnationsandcorporationsmustworkfeverishlytoinventneweconomicprototypesforthefuturebeforedisasterstrikes.
IfRussiansandAmericansareunabletomeetthischallenge,Germany,Japan,andChinaseemmostlikelytoemergeasthedominantglobal
Page250
powers.GermanyispoisedtobecomethegatewaybetweenEastandWest.JapanisformingalliancesthroughoutAsiaandtherestoftheworld.AndChina'sgreatsizealmostensuresitacentralroleintheworldeconomy.Withoutmajorchanges,theUnitedStatesmaybecomeamarginalglobalactorthatcelebratesinnovativefreedomandextravagance,albeitaccompaniedbyincreasingpoverty,crime,andothersocialproblems.Russiawouldprobablysinkfurtherintoitspresentquagmireofoutlawcapitalism,unworkablebureaucracy,andpoorlivingstandards,punctuatedbyperiodicsocialrevoltsthatarebrutallysuppressed.
ButIammoreimpressedbytheimperativesofinformationtechnologywhicharenowforminganewglobalorder.SomethingsimilartoDemocraticEnterpriseseemsinevitableforthesamereasontoday'seconomyreplacedthefeudalsystemtwohundredyearsago:notbecauseofgoodintentions,altruism,orevensoundplanning,butbecauseamoreproductiveblendofmarketsanddemocracyisnowessentialtomeetthedemandsofanInformationAge.Theinexorablelogicofthishistoricdevelopmentislikelytoprevailoverthenexttentotwentyyears,andthebigquestioniswhowillprovidetheleadershipformovinginthisdirection?
Capitalismandsocialismsufferseveredisadvantagesbecauseofstructurallimitsinbothsystems:economicfreedomisproductivebutsociallydisruptive,whilegovernmentcontrolsareorderlybuteconomicallystifling.Itseemstomethatthenextgreatstepinhumanprogressisthetransformationofthesetwofadingideologiesintomodernequivalentsthatcanintegratesocialandeconomicvalues.Andaseminalnewideaisemergingthatmayfinallyresolvethisnaggingolddilemma.Managersaroundtheglobeareredefiningtheverynatureofenterprisetoincorporatesocialvaluesdemocraticallyatthegrassrootslevel.
Notes
1.SeethespecialissueofFutures,TheGlobalEconomy,editedbyWilliamE.Halal(December1989).
2.C.FredBergsten,"ClintonMakesthePacificConnection,"WashingtonPost(November13,1994).JohnGoshkoandPeterBehr,"LeadersofWesternHemisphereAgreetoFormFreeTradeZone,"WashingtonPost(December11,1994).AkioMorita,"TowardaNewWorldEconomicOrder,"AtlanticMonthly(June1993).
Page251
3.SeeHeidiVernon-WortzelandLawrenceWortzel,GlobalStrategicManagement(NewYork:Wiley,1992),andthespecialissueonglobalstrategypublishedbyStrategicManagement(Summer1991).
4.EmilyThornton,"Japan'sStruggletoRestructure,"Fortune(June28,1993).
5.RobertOzaki,HumanCapitalism:TheJapaneseSystemasaWorldModel(Tokyo:KodanshaInternational,1991).Foragoodanalysisofdifferencesinmarketsystems,see"TheManyFacesofFreeEnterprise,"BusinessWeek(January24,1994).
6.PeterGumbel,"EastGermansCan'tShedCommunism,"WallStreetJournal(September29,1994).JaneMayer,"ManyEastGermansFindThereIsNoPlaceLikeHome,"WallStreetJournal(December8,1989).
7.SteveLiesman,"MoreRussiansEnterMiddleClass,"WallStreetJournal(June7,1995).
8.PeterReddaway,"NextFromRussia:ShockTherapyCollapse,"WashingtonPost(July12,1992).
9.FredHiatt,"HistoricChancetoAidRussiaSaidtoBeSlippingAway,"WashingtonPost(March1,1993).
10.ThepresidentofABBRussiasaid:"InanotherfiveyearsyoungRussianswillhavethesameworkhabitsastheWest,"andtheRussiangovernmentclaimsthatrealincomesrose11percentin1994.Buttherearedoubtsaboutthevalidityofthesestatistics.See"InPoland,ReformBringsPainfulProgress,"WashingtonPost(September6,1993),and"Russia'sStrivers,"BusinessWeek(1994,specialissue).
11.HobartRowen,"SovietIceberg,"WashingtonPost(May21,1992).SorosisquotedinBusinessWeek(October3,1994),p.105.
12.GuyGugliotta,"IndexofSocialHealth,"WashingtonPost(October25,1994).
13.TheheadlineisfromBusinessWeek(November14,1994),p.108.Forananalysisofthisconflictbetweenbusinessandsociety,see"We'reNo.1,AndItHurts,"Time(October24,1994).TheeditorialpageofBusinessWeek(April26,1993)notesthataverageCEOpayrose56percentfromthepreviousyearto$3.8million;theeditorialconcluded:"CEOpaycontinuestoclimbtoridiculousheights....Thedisparitytearsatthesocialfabric."
14.AnauthoritativeanalysisisprovidedbyGaryBurtlessandTimothySmeeding,"America'sTide:LiftingtheYachts,SwampingtheRowboats,"WashingtonPost(June25,1995).
15.LawrenceFranko,"GlobalCorporateCompetition,"BusinessHorizons(NovemberDecember1991).
Page252
16.MichaelDobbs,"WhoWontheWar?"WashingtonPost(May7,1995);JudyShelton,"AFlatTaxforaStrongDollar,"WashingtonPost(September6,1995).
17.BasedonaGallupPollconductedforTheDailyTelegraph(April1989).
18.SeeAmitaiEtzioni,TheMoralDimension:TowardaNewEconomics(NewYork:FreePress,1988).
19.CharlesMaier,"TheCollapseofCommunism"(Workingpaper,CenterforEuropeanStudies,HarvardUniversity,1994).
20.SeeClarkKerr,TheFutureofIndustrialSocieties(Cambridge,Mass.:HarvardUniversityPress,1983).
21."EuropeFacesPressuretoCutSocialSpending,"WallStreetJournal(May8,1995).RickAtkinson,"GermanWorkersGettingStiffShotofReality,"WashingtonPost(February22,1994).
22.IchiroOzawa,BlueprintforaNewJapan(Tokyo:KodanshaInternational,1994).
23.HerbertHenzler,"TheNewEraofEurocapitalism,"HarvardBusinessReview(JulyAugust1992).BrenyonSchlender,"Japan:IsItChangingforGood?"Fortune(June13,1994).
24.Walesa'sstatementisfromNewsweek(November27,1989),p.35.AgoodaccountoftheroleoftelevisioninbringingaboutthefalloftheEastGermanCommunistgovernmentisprovidedbyTaraSonenshine,"TheRevolutionHasBeenTelevised,"WashingtonPost(October2,1990).AlexanderKingandBertrandSchneider,TheFirstGlobalRevolution(NewYork:Pantheon,1991).
25.AsnotedbyJohnNaisbitt,GlobalParadox(NewYork:Morrow,1994),p.14.
26.RobertAndrews,"Democrats:ChangeorDie,"WashingtonPost(November10,1994).AlsoseeJohnFund,"TheRevolutionof1994,"WashingtonPost(October19,1994).
27."America'sHeartland:TheMidwest'sNewRoleintheGlobalEconomy,"BusinessWeek(July11,1994).
28.DavidBroader,"ThePowerofOurDiscontent,"WashingtonPost(September6,1995).
29.MichaelPorter,TheCompetitiveAdvantageofNations(NewYork:FreePress,1990).
30.DavidVise,"ComebackonLakeErie,"WashingtonPost(November11,1994).
31.SeeWilliamE.Halal,"PoliticalEconomyinanInformationAge,"inLeePreston(ed.),ResearchinCorporateSocialPolicyandPerformance(Greenwich,Conn.:JAIPress,1988).
Page253
32.SamuelHuntington,"TheClashofCivilizations,"ForeignAffairs(Summer1993).
33.HerbertHenzler,"NewEraofEurocapitalism."
34.SeethespecialissueofBusinessWeek,21stCenturyCapitalism(1994),andJoelKurtzman,TheDeathofMoney(NewYork:Simon&Schuster,1993),whichdescribetheeffectsoftoday's$200trillionvolumeofannualtradeinglobalfinancemarkets,whichisroughlytentimestheentireoutputoftheworld'seconomies.
35."JapaneseFusion,"inthespecial1994issueofBusinessWeek,21stCenturyCapitalism.
36."SovietsRejectU.S.StyleCapitalism,"WashingtonPost(July26,1991)."Prague'sProgress"WallStreetJournal(July6,1994)."PolesSplitinVoteforParliament,"WashingtonPost(October28,1991).LenaSun,"China'sPartySeesThreatfromtheWest,"WashingtonPost(November12,1991).
37.TherationaleforasociallyorientedformofmarketeconomywasfirstdescribedbyOskarLangeinOntheEconomicTheoryofSocialism(NewYork:McGraw-Hill,1964),pp.57143,andPatDevineinDemocracyandEconomicPlanning(Boulder,Colo.:WestviewPress,1988).
38.ReportedinWashingtonPost(November12,1995).
39.JohnBradford,"TheProspectsforChangeintheSovietEconomy"(Unpublishedresearchreport,GeorgeWashingtonUniversity,1990).ZhihuaChen,"TheNewChina:CapitalismorMarketSocialism?"(Unpublishedresearchreport,GeorgeWashingtonUniversity,1991).
40.HerbertStein,"TheShowIsOver,"WallStreetJournal(October25,1994)
41.RobertKuttner,"GoodCorporateCitizens,"WashingtonPost(August23,1995).
Page255
CONCLUSIONDRAWINGONTHEPOWEROFHERITAGEAlthoughmygoalinthisbookhasbeentodefineacomprehensiveapproachtotransforminginstitutions,Iexpectthatreaderswillseetheirgoaldifferently.Youhaveyourownuniqueproblems,yourownideasaboutwhatisneeded,andyourownsetofprinciples.Ialsorealizethatyouarefloodedwithlotsofadvicethatdiffersenormously,sowhyshouldmyconceptsbespecial?
MakingSenseofManagementToday
IhopeyouhavefounditusefultoseethataNewManagementisemergingandthatitsunderlyingconceptsofinternalmarketsandcorporatecommunityofferunusualinsights.Whatsetsthisbookapart,however,isthatitfocusesverysharplyonwhatreallycounts.ManagementcouldbefarmoreeffectiveifwedrewonthepowerofourAmericanheritage:democracyandenterprise.
Itseemstomethatwehavebecometrappedinagreatirony.AttheverytimewhenAmericanidealsarecreatingrevolutionsaroundtheworld,ourowninstitutionsarestillsufferingfromauthoritariancontrol.Theunpleasanttruthisthatwehaverelegatedourprinciplestoloftyoccasions,suchaspresidentialelections,whileignoringtheirrelevancetoourworkplaces,schools,hospitals,churches,andotherordinaryaspectsofdailylife.Thisproblemiscompoundedbytoday'sjumbleofincompatibleframeworksthatscatterattentioninmanyotherdirections:Petersand
Page256
Waterman's''EightAttributesofExcellence,""Deming'sFourteenStepstoTQM,""TheEightPrinciplesforReengineering,""FiveDisciplinesofOrganizationalLearning,"onandoninanendlessstreamofmind-numbinglists.
Iwonderifwerealizehowconfusingthepracticeofmanagementhasbecometoday?Asonewhoinstructsinthisfield,Ioftenfeelembarrassedthatitlacksasolidbodyofknowledgeandacceptedprinciples.Yes,Iknowthat'sbecausemanagementismoreartthanscience,andsomeconfusionisunavoidablebecausemanagementwillcontinuetochange.
ButtheconceptofhierarchyeffectivelyorganizedmanagementthroughthroughouttheIndustrialEra,sowhycan'twedefineaconceptualfoundationfortheKnowledgeEra?Ratherthanstrugglingtosortouttheusefulideasfromtoday'smazeofmanagementfads,almosteverythingweneedcanbefoundinthetwogreatprinciplesofdemocracyandenterpriseAmericahasgiventheWest:
·Isyourcorporationunderpressuretoimprovequality?Restructureintosmallinternalenterprisesthatareheldaccountableforservingtheirclients.
·Howareyougoingtoempoweremployeeswhilemaintainingasenseofcontrol?Byhelpingthemorganizeintoself-supportingteamsthataremanageddemocratically.
·Arealliancesandnetworkingmakinghashofyourorganizationchart?Setupacommoneconomicinfrastructure,andletinternalmarketsdotherest.
·Yousaythedemandsofdifferentconstituenciesarepullingyouapart?Bringthemtogethertocreateademocraticsystemofgovernancethatsortsoutalltheirrightsandresponsibilities.
·Yourcompetitionisrelentless?Adynamicmarketsystemofsmallinternalenterprisesguidedbyskilledstakeholderswouldbeapowerfulcompetitiveadvantage.
Irealizethatnotallproblemswouldfitintothisframework,lotsofsituationswillalwaysrequirefirmcontrol,andfreedomisamessy,difficultthingtomanage.Buttheevidencesummarizedinthisbookshowsthat
Page257
democracyandenterpriseofferauniversal,enduring,readilyunderstoodfoundationthatintegratestoday'sbewilderingblurofmanagementinnovationsintoacoherentwhole.
ManagingtheDailyNeedforCommunityandFreedom
Ifthisheritageissogreat,thenwhydowehavesuchahardtimeacceptingsuchabasicidea?Iamnotentirelysure,butIdoknowthatpeoplefeelambivalentaboutcommunityandfreedom.
Iexperiencedapersonalexampleofthisproblemrecently.Myextendedfamilyhasheldaone-weekreunionformanyyears,whichmybrothersandtheirfamiliesattendfaithfully.Notoneofus,eventheteenagerswhoaresoeagertodissociatefromtheirparents,wouldthinkofmissingthisannualfeastofcommunity.Itisaveritableorgyofreminiscing,tellingstories,huggingandkissing,workingonfamilyproblems,exchangingphotos,admiringeachother'skids,swappingadvice,andmakingfutureplans.
Yetthereisalwaysasubtlebutsolidresistancetointegratingourlivesbeyondacertainpoint.Whowantstotaketheresponsibilityfororganizingnextyear'sreunionwhentheyarestrugglingtokeeptheirownlivesundercontrol?Iwouldlovetohelpmybrother'ssonwithhiscollegestudies,butI'mworriedaboutmyownkids.Anddoesanybodyreallywanttogothroughalltheargumentsthatarepartofacloserrelationship?
Afamilyisnotalargeorganization,butIthinkthesametwoopposingforcesareatworkinallsocialsystems.Mostofuswanttobeaclosepartofagroup,butwealsoinsistonretainingourindividualfreedoms.Forinstance,employeesshouldbepartofthecorporateteambuttheymaynotagreewitheachother.Citizenswantstronggovernmentsupportbuttheyalsowanttoavoidrulesandtaxes.Thebasicproblemisthatwerarelyacknowledgetheseconflictingneeds
forcommunityandfreedom,sotheyarenotaddressedverywell,leavingeveryoneconfusedandirritated.Iknowourfamilyreunionsgofarbetterifwemakeexplicitplansforcommongatheringsandblockouttimeforindividualactivities.
Thesetwobasicneedsarestrongandgrowingstronger,andtheonlyrealsolutionistoplanhowtoservethembetter.Bringingdemocracyandenterpriseinsideorganizationswillnotmagicallydissolvethefears,doubts,andothercomplexissuesweexperienceoverthisdilemma.ButIdothink
Page258
theNewManagementwillprovideaframeworkfordealingwiththesemattersmoreeffectively.
TheUniversalPoweroftheNewManagement
IwouldliketoconcludethisbookwithapersonalexperiencethathelpedmeappreciatetheessentialnatureoftheNewManagementmorefully.It'seasytodiscusswhatweshoulddointheabstract,butsomehowthingsalwayslookdifferentlywhenputintopractice"managementfromtheinsideout."That'swhathappenedwhenIhelpedmakeamajorchangetomyneighborhood.
IliveinalovelyoldcommunityofEnglishTudortownhouses.ItisconvenientlylocatedinGeorgetown,closetodowntownWashington,D.C.,yetitretainsthespaciousfeelofasuburb.Oneofthegreatlegaciesleftbythebuildersisthreeparklike"circles"thatdotthecommunity.Theoneinfrontofmyhomeisa150-footcirclesurroundedbyotherhomes,creatingalarge,graciousopenspacethatresemblesapublicsquare.
Althoughlivinginsuchmagnificentspaceisrareinanycity,thiscirclehadgrownintoauselesslotovertheyears.Largebushesandtreeswereplantedinthecenter,whichbecameovergrownandchokedwithweeds,makingtheentirecircleanimpenetrablejungle.Theonlypurposethisprizedpieceofrealestateservedwasasaconvenientplaceforpeopletowalktheirdogsithadbecomealatrine.Theproblempersistedbecause,likemostcommunities,mineconsistsofawidevarietyofpeoplewithstrongbeliefs,andthedifficultyofachievingconsensushadlefttheneighborhoodimmobilizedintoinaction.Thesadstateofthecircleswasmerelyasymptomofthispoliticalparalysis.
Becomingdesperateoverthisgrowingjungle,twoneighborsandItooktheleadinrelandscapingit,whichledtoagreatadventurein
communitybuilding.Aftermuchdiscussion,thereseemedtobeagreementthatthecircleshouldbechanged.Butwhowasgoingtodoallthehardwork?Wherewouldthemoneycomefrom?Howwouldweeveragreeonanewdesignthatallcouldlivewith?Inshort,wefacedthetypicalobstaclesthatparalyzemostorganizations.
Itoccurredtomethatwecouldignitesomeenergybyorganizingasmallgroupofneighborhoodmentobeginbymovingthetreesandbushesinthecircle.Theideawasappealingbecausethereisasymbolic
Page259
powerin"gatheringtheneighborhoodmentoworkontheircommonland."Thiswasahuge,difficulttask,butitwasalsoaveryvisiblegoalthat,ifcompleted,wouldmakeanequallyhugeimpactonthewayneighborsviewedtheircommunity.
Sureenough,itworked.AbouttenmenshowedupthefirstSaturday;theymadealargedentinthejobandhadagreattimetogether.Onceeveryonesawwhatcouldbedone,therestwasfairlyeasy.Iorganizedahalfdozensuchworkteams,whichtransformedthecircleintoanopen,usefulspace.Astheneighborswatchedthisprogressandcameouttodiscussit,theybecameconvincedwewereseriousandbegandonatingmoneytosupportthework.And,althoughwehaggledoverdetails,theseconflictswereresolvedalongthewayasweallowedtheprojecttoevolveofitsownaccord.
Thisformereyesoreisnowcarefullylaidoutwithpathsleadingtoshadedspacesforsittingandplaying,allenhancedbyappropriatelandscaping.Theeffecthasbeentoinjectavitalnewspiritintothecommunity.Peoplenowinteractinwaystheyrarelydidbefore,especiallybecausethisgorgeousnewpublicspaceinvitesthemtobetogether.Thegreatestachievement,however,isthatanempoweringexamplehasbeenset.Neighborsnowthink,"Ifwecandothis,whycan'twe?"
Thistaskwasnotaschallengingasmanybusinessprojects,butitnicelyillustratesthebasicelementsneededtocreateorganizationalsuccesstoday.Thefirstthingtonoticeisthatthisprojectwasnotinitiatedbyformalauthorities,butsprangupfromthegrassroots.Icannotimaginehowitcouldhavemovedsuccessfullythroughthecomplexstepsoursmallcommunityassociationrequiresforformalaction.EvenmorebizarreisthethoughtthatitcouldeverbedonebyGodforbidtheD.C.orfederalgovernments.No,itwasaccomplishedbythevoluntaryeffortsofasmallteamthathadabetter
idea.Iliketothinkthatthishighlightsmyskillsasanentrepreneur,althoughmywifecallsme"amadman"fortakingonsuchchallenges.Butmadmenareexactlythestuffthatallgoodentrepreneursaremadeof,andthegreatesttaskfacingmanagersacrosstheglobetodayistounleashtheentrepreneurialpowersofordinarypeople.
Theothermajorpointtoobserveisthattheentrepreneurcannotaccomplishthetaskalonebutisutterlyreliantonothers.Oureffortswouldhavefailedwithoutthewillingeffortsofmanymenwhovolunteeredtodothehardwork,withoutthefinancialbackingofmyneighbors,andwithout
Page260
thecollaborativesenseofcommunitythatallowedustoreachtoughdecisionsamicably.DespitealltheattentionshoweredonheroicCEOs,therealityisthatmanagersandorganizationscandoverylittlebythemselves;localpocketsofcollaborativecommunityareneededtoprovidetheenergy,support,andvisionthatdriveallhumanefforts.
WecouldshowhowthissimpleexampleillustratestheotherconceptsoftheNewManagement,butIthinkthepointisclear.Managersaroundtheworldarestrugglingmightilytodiscovernewprinciplestocopewithachangedworld,yetthekeyideasthatareneededliewaitinginourcommonheritagewetakeforgranted.
Societyisadriftinvariouscrisestodaybecausebusiness,government,education,medicine,andallotherinstitutionslackawayofdealingeffectivelywithatechnologicalandeconomicrevolution,thatiscreatingadecentralizedglobalorder,of10billionindustrializedpeople,whoallshareafragileEarth.Isuggestthatthecommonmodelneededtomanagethishuge,far-flung,enormouslycomplexglobalsystemisthehumbleblendoflocaldemocracyandenterpriseatworkincommunitieslikeminearoundtheworld.No,itwillnotsolvealltheworld'sproblemsbyalongshot.Itwould,however,establishasolidfoundationoftwowell-established,easilygraspedprinciplesthatofferenormousnewprospectsbecausetheycanharnessthepowerofordinarypeoplespontaneouslyfromthebottomup.
ItAllBeginswithYou
Inviewofthestrugglethatgoesonwithinmostofusoversuchissuesandthemassivemomentumofthestatusquo,ImustadmitthatprospectsforcreatingaNewManagementdonotappearoverwhelming.Itmaybethatthereislimitedpotentialforthistypeofmanagement.Nobodyreallyknows.
Butthegeniusofmarketsanddemocracyisthatitisnotnecessaryfor
anyonetoreally"know"howtomanagethissystem.Thesystemmanagesitselfbydrawingoutthetalentsandenergiesofordinarypeople.Itisopenended,richinunlimitedpossibilities.Leadersonlyhavetocreatesuchasystemandthenallowpeopletodowhattheycanwithit.ThatbasicfreedomisresponsiblefortheremarkableachievementsAmericahasrealizedduringitsshort200-yearexperimentinself-governance.Ifthisprinciplecanbeextendedintoinstitutions,wemaybeevenmoresurprisedbythecre-
Page261
ativetalentthatisunleashedastheseidealspenetratedowntothenittygrittyofdailylife.
Therearemanyformidableobstacles,ofcourse,butthepathtoaNewManagementstartswithmanagerslikeyourselfwhoarewillingtoreconsidertheirbasicideasaboutthewayorganizationswork.BusinessleadersinparticularhaveagreatopportunitytoshowthewaybydevelopingtheNewManagementforalltosee.ItissaidthatJohnAdamstoldThomasJeffersonwhathethoughtwasthepivotalfactorinthesuccessoftheAmericanRevolution:"TheRevolutionoriginatedinthemindsofthepeople."
Considertheexcitingpossibilitythatwecouldactuallymanageourinstitutionsinamannerthatisconsonantwithourmostcherishedidealsthebeliefthatmembersofallorganizationsshouldhavethefreedomtostartandmanagetheirowninternalenterprisesandtocontroltheircorporatecommunitiesdemocratically.Ifwecouldsimplyacknowledgethattheseidealsareasappropriatewithinorganizationsasissocietyatlarge,theworldcouldtakeagreatstepforward.
Somanagersarethepeopletotakeonthischallenge,andAmericanmanagersshouldleadthewaybecauseofourspecialheritage.Afterall,evenRussiaandotherpost-Communistcountriesarebeginningtoembracedemocracyandfreeenterprisenow.Canwedoanythinglessthanliveuptoourownideals?
Page263
APPENDIXES
AppendixATheOrganizationExerciseThisexerciseisdesignedtoallowparticipantstoexperiencetheeffectsofdifferenttasksonorganizationstructure.
Method
Theinstructorshouldassignparticipantstogroupsof3to7peopleandhaveeachgroupselectaleader.Theleadersarethenaskedtohavetheirgroupsperformtwodifferenttasks,andtheresultsarepostedonachalkboardorflipchart.
Thefirsttaskistoaddupapagefullofrandomnumbersandproduceatotal.(SeeExhibit1.Thecorrectansweris161,280.)Theinstructorshouldmakeitclearthatgroupleadersarefreetogoaboutthisassignmentanywaytheychooseandthattheyarecompetingagainsttheothergroupstoobtainareasonablycloseanswerintheshortesttimepossible.Afterstarting,theinstructornotestheelapsedtimeaseachgroupproducesagoodanswer,andpoststhetime.Groupsarethenaskedtodescribehowtheyorganizedthemselvesonascaleof0(mechanistic)to10(organic).Theseresultsarepostedundertheheading"OrganizationStructure"
Groupsaretheninstructedtocompletethesecondtask,whichinvolvesamorecomplexassignmentofassemblingapuzzle,suchasthecutoutshowninExhibit2.Theinstructoragainnotescompletiontimesandobtainsdescriptionsofgrouporganizationrangingfrom0to10,andpoststheseresults,asbefore.
Results
Withthesedataposted,theinstructorthenmovestotheanalysisphaseoftheexercise.
Thedatafor"organizationstructure"areaveragedforeachtask,andgroupsareaskedtodescribehowtheyexperiencedthetwotasks,focusing
Page264
onthetypeoforganizationstructurestheycreated.Basedontheassumptionthatthetwotaskspresentchallengesofdifferingcomplexity,thesedatausuallyshowthatthemorecomplextask(thepuzzle)encouragesmoreorganicstructures.
Theinstructorcanalsodemonstratemoresophisticatedresultsbyplotting"organizationstructure"versus"performancetime"andotherrelationships.Manydifferentandinstructivescatterplotsofthistypecanbeused,especiallyifadditionaldataareobtainedfromgroups,suchas"satisfaction"measures.Itisalsousefultoencouragegroupstodiscussandcomparetheirexperiences.
Conclusion
Thisexercisetendstoconsistentlydemonstrateafewcentralconclusions.First,morecomplextaskstendtorequiremoreorganicstructures.Second,peopletendtopreferworkinginorganicstructures.Finally,organicstructures,suchasnetworkingandinternalmarkets,shouldbemoreeffectivefororganizationsgenerallybecauseofthecomplexityofmosttaskenvironmentsandbecauseofpersonalpreferencesofmostworkers.
EXHIBIT1.ASIMPLETASK:ADDINGNUMBERS.
2856 2658 56399487 4979 47693756 3759 56387658 4579 34793467 4738 50484529 3602 49302389 4869 29584760 3960 47683406 4869 23855689 2649 47694579 9586 4768
2306 4869 2130
Page265
EXHIBIT2.ACOMPLEXTASK:COMPLETINGAPUZZLE.
Apuzzleasshownbelowcanbemadeveryeasilybysimplycuttingsheetsfromamagazineroughlyasshown.Pageswithphotosandadvertisementsareespeciallyuseful.
Page266
AppendixBTheStakeholderMeeting:ARole-PlaySimulationoftheOrganizationasaSocioeconomicSystemThisexerciseisdesignedtosimulateastakeholdermeetingthatapproximatestherealityoforganizationallifeasanextendedsocioeconomicsystemconsistingofvarious"subsystems,""constituencies,"or"stakeholders,"asdescribedbelow.Themanagersofthisorganizationshouldopenthemeeting,definetheagenda,conducttheproceedings,andclosethemeeting.Althoughmanagersshouldbehaveastheyseefit,thesimulationismostvaluableiftheyalloweachgrouptobeheard,addresstheissuesraised,andgenerallyencouragealotofinteraction.Totaltimefortheexerciseshouldbelimitedtoaboutthirtyminutes.
Theobjectiveistoengageinafreshlearningexperiencethatsimplyallowsustoexplorehowsuchasystemwouldwork,itsstrengthsandweaknesses,pointsofconflictandagreement,andhowthesystemcouldbemanagedmoreeffectively.Simplydowhatseemsreasonablefromtheperspectiveoftheroleyouareplaying.
SomeIssuestoConsider
Management
ThiswouldbetheCEO,president,orgeneralmanagerofacorporation;thesecretaryordirectorofapublicagency,andsoforth.Managershavethecentralroleinastakeholdermeetingbecausetheyserveasthehubofthisextendedsystem,soideally,theirjobistoreconcileallstakeholderinterestsanddrawthesegroupsintoaunified,productivecoalition.Todothis,itisusefuliftheycanpresent
acoherent,stimulatingvisionoftheorganizationthatwillinspirepeopletoworktogether,andthentohelpironoutdifferences:theneedforcapitalfrominvestors,productivityandserviceofemployees,needsofclients,assistancefromassociatedorganizations,regulatoryreliefandsupportfromgovernment,andsoon.
Page267
Investors
Officersfromafinancialinstitutionmayrepresentstockholdersofacorporation;congressionalrepresentativeswouldstandupfortaxpayersinthecaseofagovernmentagency.Investorstypicallythinkthey''own"theorganization,sotheytendtoimposetheirconcernsaboutpoorperformance,focusingonprofitinthecaseofbusinessandtaxesinthecaseofgovernment.Management'schallengeistohelpinvestorstoacknowledgethatothergroupshaveequallylegitimateclaimsontheorganization'sperformanceandthattheseinterestsdonotnecessarilyconflictwithmakingmoney.
Employees
Employeesareusuallyrepresentedbylaborleadersand/orordinaryworkersinstakeholdermeetings.Thisgrouptypicallyfeelsabusedbymanagement'sauthorityandconcernedaboutlowwages,dulljobs,layoffs,andlackofdignity,sotheyusuallymakeunreasonabledemandsandopposemanagementproposals.Theirmainissueistofindawaytobeinvolvedasconstructivepartnersinraisingproductivity,quality,andthelike,inreturnforhigherpayandotherbenefits.
Clients
Thisgroupmightberepresentedbyaverageclientsorpossiblyaconsumeradvocate.Clientsareusuallycriticalandhardtoplease,oftenthreateningtotaketheirbusinesselsewhereiftheycan.Yettheycanbeasourceofcreativeideassincetheyusuallyknowtheirneedsbest,eveniftheyhavedifficultyarticulatingthem,andtheirfaithfulpatronageisessential,obviously.
AssociatedOrganizations
Inbusiness,associatedorganizationsaresuppliers,distributors,
partners,andthelike,whileingovernmenttheyareprivatecontractorsandotheragencies.Thesegroupstendtofeeldefensivebecausetheyaredependentuponthelargerhostorganizationfortheirsurvival,whereasthereverseisalsotrue.
ThePublic
Politiciansusuallyrepresentthepublicatlocal,state,andfederalgovernments.Theyprovidetheinfrastructurebutalsocontrolorganizations
Page268
throughregulationsandtaxes,soaconstructiverelationshipisneededthatenhancesthebenefitsforthevariouslevelsofgovernmentandtheorganization.
SomeQuestionstoConsiderFollowingtheExercise
Wasthissimulationrealistic?
Whatiscommontoalltheserelationships?
Istheinvestor'srelationshipunique?
Towhatextentarealltheseinterestscompatible?
Howcouldtheirinterestsbebetterserved?
Whatshouldbethegoaloftheorganization?
Whatinformation,typeofgovernance,etc.,isneededtomanagethissystembetter?
Howdoyoupersonallyfeelaboutthissystem?
Whatdoyouthinkwillhappenoverthelongterm?
Whataretheimplicationsofthistypeoforganizationalgovernancefornationaleconomies?Woulditstillbecapitalism?Freeenterprise?Socialism?Aworker'sdemocracy?Aconsumercooperative?
Areothertermsmoremeaningful?
Page269
AppendixCCorporationsinTransitionStudyThequestionnaireinthisappendixwasusedtosurvey426managersfromtheUnitedStates,Europe,andJapan.Resultsarereferredtothroughoutthisbook.
Thequestionnaireisreproducedheretoallowyoutoseehowthestudywasconductedandtoinviteyoutoextendthestudytoyourorganization.Sopleasefeelfreetocopythenextfewpagesinordertohavethequestionnairecompletedbyyouandyourcolleagues.Youcanthencompareyourresultswiththoseoftheentiresampleinthisbook,usethedatatoanalyzeyourmanagementapproachandthatofyourorganization,andconsiderwhatchangesyouwouldliketomake.Iwouldbeextremelypleasedifyoucouldsendmecopiesofyourresponsestoaddtomygrowingdatabase,alongwithanysuggestions,criticism,newquestions,oranyotherfeedbackyoucaretooffer.Alarger,moreup-to-datecollectionofdatawouldgreatlyhelpinunderstandinghowtheNewManagementisevolving.Icanbereachedatthefollowingaddress:
ProfessorWilliamE.HalalDepartmentofManagementScience,MonroeHallGeorgeWashingtonUniversityWashington,D.C.20052PHONE:202-994-5975FAX:202-994-4930E-MAIL:[email protected]
Page270
CorporationsinTransitionStudy
Thissurveyisintendedtoassessthetransitionfromthe"OldManagement"tothe"NewManagement."TheOldManagementisdefinedasthehierarchical,authoritarianformofbusinessthatworkedwellintheIndustrialAge,whiletheNewManagementisdefinedastheentrepreneurial,collaborativeformofbusinessnowemergingforanInformationAge.Theresultsaretobeusedforuniversityresearch,whichmaythenbepublishedinbusinessjournals.Naturally,yourresponseswillbetreatedwithstrictconfidenceandonlyaggregateddatawillbeused.
Instructions:Eachquestionbelowdescribesa"NewManagementpractice"asclearlyaspossibleandasksyoutoindicatehowyourcompanyisnowmanaged.Circleonenumberalongthescalefor0to10thatbestdescribestheextenttowhichthistypeofmanagementis"NotPracticedatAll"versus''PracticedCompletely."Pleasetryyourbesttomakeanaccurateestimate,butleavethequestionblankifyoureallydonotknoworifthisdoesnotapplytoyourcompanyforsomereason.Wewouldalsoappreciateanycommentsyoucanoffertoexplainyouranswer,todescribeanewmanagementpracticethatdoesnotfitourcategories,offersuggestionsforimprovingthestudy,oranythingelse.Ifyouneedmorespace,usethebackofthisform.
MygraduatestudentsandIthankyousincerelyforyourhelp.Inreturn,wewillbehappytosharetheresultswithyou.
ProfessorWilliamHalal
Page271
BackgroundData
Nameofyourorganization:
Numberofemployees:
Annualrevenue:
Typeofindustry:
Yourposition:
Countryinwhichtheoperationsyouaredescribingarelocated:
OrganizationalStructure
1.Operatingunitsaretreatedassemiautonomousenterprisesthathavecontroloftheirownoperationsandkeepmostoftheirrevenue.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
2.Staffandsupportunits(HRD,Legal,IS,etc.)aretreatedasprofitcentersthatobtainrevenuebysellingtheirservicestootherunits.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
3.Operatingunitsaregenerallyallowedtobuyproductsandservicesfromanyorganization,insideoroutsideofthecompany.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
4.Staffandsupportunitsaregenerallyallowedtoselltheirservicestoanyorganization,insideoroutsideofthecompany.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
5.Apartfromproprietarysecrets,employeeshaveaccesstocentralinformationsystemsthatcontainallavailablecompanyinformation.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
Page272
GoalsandGovernance
1.Thecompanystrivestomaintaincooperativeworkingrelationshipswithimportantstakeholders.(Forinstance,investors,employees,customers,suppliers,distributors,thelocalcommunity,andpossiblyothergroups.)
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
2.Thecompany'sprimarygoalistoservetheinterestsofimportantstakeholders,includingmakingmoneyforinvestors.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
3.Inadditiontoprofitability,corporateperformanceisevaluatedbyaformalsystemthatassesseshowwellimportantstakeholdersareserved.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
4.Theboardofdirectorsincludesemployeesandotherimportantstakeholders.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
5.Apartfromproprietarysecrets,employeeshaveaccesstocentralinformationsystemsthatcontainallavailablecompanyinformation.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
MarketingandSales
1.Inadditiontosaleslevels,customersatisfactionisevaluatedbycustomersurveysandinterviews,monitoringcomplaints,andotherformalsystems.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
Page273
2.Theviewsofcustomersaresolicitedbyproductdesigners,managers,orotherpersonnelwhenmakingdecisionsaboutproductsandservices.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
3.Customerscanuseatoll-freelineforinformationandtohaveproblemscorrected.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
4.Advertisingisdesignedtoprovideusefulinformationratherthaninflatedclaims.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
5.Asignificantportionofoperatingmanagers'payisbasedoncustomersatisfaction.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
EmployeeRelations
1.Asignificantportionofemployeepayisbasedonperformanceincentivesystems.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
2.Employeeattitudesurveysareconductedperiodically.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
3.Employeesareencouragedtodeveloptheircreativeideasintonewventures.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
Page274
4.Employeesareorganizedintoself-managedteamsthatchoosetheirleaders,workmethods,equipment,hours,co-workers,andmostotheraspectsoftheirwork.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
5.Employeescanuseinformationsystemsto"telework"fromhome,inthefield,andotherlocations.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
EnvironmentalManagement
1.Environmentalimpactsarestudiedastheyaffectproductdesign,manufacturingprocesses,packaging,wastetreatment,recycling,andotheraspectsofoperations.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
2.Environmentalcostsandbenefitsareincorporatedinmanagementdecisions.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
3.Thecompanysolicitsadvicefromanenvironmentaladvisorycommitteeand/orvariousenvironmentalgroups.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
StrategicChange
1.Aformalstrategicplanningprocessisconductedperiodicallytodeterminehowcorporatestrategyshouldrespondtotechnologicaladvances,economicconditions,socialattitudes,andothercriticalissues.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
Page275
2.Unitmanagersarefreetopursuetheirownstrategiesfortheirunits.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
3.Topmanagementencouragesmajorstructuralchangeswhentheyareneeded.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
Leadership
1.Theleadershipstyleofmanagementisparticipativeinmostrespects.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
2.Thecorporatemissioniswelldefinedandgenerallyaccepted.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
3.Majordecisionsanddisagreementsarediscussedopenlytoreachconsensusamongthoseconcerned.
NOTPRACTICEDATALL 012345678910PRACTICEDCOMPLETELYCOMMENTS:
General
1.Generallyspeaking,doyouthinkthesepracticesmakingupTheNewManagement(TNM)areneeded?
NO YES UNSURECOMMENTS:
2.WhyaresomecompaniesnotusingTNM?
RESISTANCETOCHANGE
SHORT-TERMFOCUS
IDEASAREUNACCEPTABLE
UNSURE
COMMENTS:
Page276
3.WhatwillhappentofirmsthatdonotadoptTNM?
THEYWILLSURVIVE
MARGINALEXISTENCE
LIKELYTOFAIL
UNSURE
COMMENTS:
4.WhenisTNMlikelytoenterthemainstreamofbusiness?
1996 2000 2005 LATER UNSURECOMMENTS:
Thanksverymuchforyourtimeandthoughtfulresponses.
Page277
INDEX
A
Accountability:
empowermentand,7-8,140,220-221;
inhierarchies,30-31;
ininternalmarkets,36;
leadershipand,211;
organizationalstructureand,44
Ackoff,Russell,5,6,92
Advertising:
interactive,114;
truthful,114-116;
wastefulnessof,107-108
AetnaLife&Casualty,138
Agrariansocieties,leadershipin,206,207
Airtravelindustry:
ESOPsin,132-133;
problemsof,105-106
Alcoa,35,40
AndersonWindows,113
AseaBrownBovari,13,31,48,50
AsiaPacificEconomicCooperation(APEC)forum,227
Astra/Merck,113
AT&T:
internalmarketsin,40;
organizationalbalancein,92;
paysystemsin,142
AucNet,113
Authority:
inhierarchies,30-31;
leadershipand,11,16,17,221-223;
misuseof,220-223
SeealsoPower
Autoindustry:
electriccarsand,161;
environmentalmanagementin,164,169;
opportunitiesin,124-125;
paysystemsin,142;
problemsof,108-109,187;
subsidationin,162
Automation:
effectsof,85;
trendsin,136
Avis,121
B
Balance,organizational,90-95
Barnard,Chester,4,5
Bartlett,Christopher,92
Baseballstrike,60
BaxterLaboratories,118
Beliefs,limitationsof,222
BellAtlantic,37
TheBellCurve,148,150
Bennis,Warren,4,5
Berggren,Randy,214
100BestCompaniestoWorkFor,73
Biogenetics,trendsin,3
"biologic"concept,172,176n.40
Black&Decker,118
Boardsofdirectors,76,77,117-118
BodyShop,12,13,66-67,115-116,117,121,167
Boeing,138
Bolman,Lee,5,6
BonnevillePowerAdministration(BPA),193
Buildingindustry,opportunitiesin,125
Bureaucracy:
strategicplanningand,17,180,183;
theoryof,28
Business:
attitudetowardenvironmentalprotection,157,171;
conflictwithsociety,59-61,79;
cycles,133;
partnershipswithgovernment,239,248;
associoeconomicinstitution,63-79;
spiritualityin,10,217-219;
strategicalliancesin,85,248;
aszero-sumgame,56-57
Businessethicsmodel,59
BusinessforSocialResponsibility(BSR),63
Businessincubators,47
Businessschools,internalmarketsin,27-28
C
Caironetwork,190
California,greeninitiativein,155
Cancer,pollutionand,157
CanonComputerSystems,113
Capital:
decliningpowerof,86-87;
investment,63-68;
aswrongeconomicfocus,61,247
Capitalism:
comparedtomarkets,43,228;
comparedtosocialism,235-237;
dilemmaof,227-237;
lackofcommunityin,232;
newvs.old,18,245,247-249;
obstaclestoadopting,230-231;
problemsof,59-61,79,232-235
CBS,59-60
Centralplanning,31,34,39,49,179-183
Change:
continuous,16,17,19,195;
crisis-driven,211-212;
currentforcesof,12,14;
oppositionto,20;
organizationallearningand,185-186;
strategic,179-183;
top-down,8,183-185,192,197-198;
womenand,98
Chaostheory,49,85
Chiefexecutiveofficer,asenterpriseunit,38
Children,influenceoftelevisionon,108
China:
industrializationof,158;
politicaleconomyin,244,245;
roleinglobaleconomy,249-250
ChryslerCorporation,121
CITStudy:
NewManagement
conceptspracticed,xviii,19;
questionnaire,269-276
Civilrights,221
ClarkEquipment,35
CleanAirAct,163
Client-drivenmarketing,116-119,248
Clientrelations.SeeCustomerservice
Clinton,Bill,98,179,180,184
Communication,222
Communism:
conversiontomarketsystem,49,179-180;
strategicplanningunder,182-183
SeealsoPost-Communistbloc;
Socialism
Community:
undercapitalism,232;
creationof,69,72;
entrepreneurial,237,238,259-260;
vs.freedom,257-258
SeealsoCorporatecommunity
CompaqComputer,145-146
Compensationsystems,120-121,140-141,142,151
Competition,increasein,20,85,105,134,156,166-167,249-250
Complexity:
entrepreneurialfree-
Page278
domand,85-86;
ofglobaleconomy,241,243
Computers,2-4
Conflict,marketsystemsand,44
Conservativeandliberalsynthesis,83-84,89,212
Consumeradvisorypanels,117
Consumerism,sellingand,109-110
Contingencywork,146-148
Continuouschange.SeeunderChange
Contracts:
withAmerica,249;
employment,139-143,147,151,152-153;
betweenfirmsandstakeholders,67
Control:
inorganicorganizations,196-198;
oscillationsin,221
Convergenceineconomicsystems,240-243
Cooperation:
efficiencyof,86,188;
evolutionof,12,56-69;
inknowledgeeconomy,86-90;
trendsin,xvii,3,95
Coors,Peter,166
CoorsBrewing,138
Copernicanrevolution,68-69
Coming,47
Corporatecommunity:
adoptionofpractices,19,76,77,237-238,240,248;
benefitsof,77-79;
defined,ix,9;
exemplarsof,65;
limitsof,78;
maintaining,93-94;
managementeffectivenessand,90,92;
marketsand,14,84-90;
politicalviewsof,83-84;
principlesof,69,72-76
Corporategovernance:
democracyin,xii,8-9,11,12,13,55-79,76-79,87,93;
economiccooperationin,12,56-69;
globaltrendsin,7,246;
profit-centeredmodelof,57,58,59,68;
social-responsibilitymodelof,58,59,68;
stakeholdermodelof,63-69;
stakeholderpowerin,61-63
Corporateperestroika,47-50
Corporatesocialresponsibility(CSR)model:
environmentalmanagementand,159-160;
illustrated,58;
limitsof,59
CorporationsinTransition(CIT)study:
NewManagementconceptspracticed,xviii,19;
questionnaire,269-276
Creativitytraining,218
Crisis:
ideological,235-237;
livingwith,211-214
Culturaldiversity,85
Culturalvalues:
economicsystemsand,240-243;
evolutionof,207
Culture:
entrepreneurial,40;
organizationalstructureand,44;
inpost-Communistbloc,229-232;
revolutionin,209
Customerservice:
adoptionofpractices,123;
costsoflostcustomers,124;
evaluatingsatisfaction,120-121,129n.33;
partnershipsand,116-119,122-127,248;
publicopinionabout,105;
fromsellingtoserving,11,14,15,105-127;
truthfulnessand,114-116
SeealsoServingorganization
CypressSemiconductor,35
D
Deal,Terrence,5,6
Decentralization:
ofbusiness,37,39,40,42-43,98;
ofgovernment,229,233,239
Decisionmaking:
amongentrepreneurs,191-192;
shared,210
SeealsoParticipatorymanagement
DeclarationofInterdependence,96
DellComputer,93,114,119
Deming,W.Edwards,5,6
Democracy:
incorporategovernance,8-9,11,12,13,55-79,76-79,87,93;
global,237-243;
heritageof,xvii-xvii,255-257;
leadershipand,211,215-220;
powerof,188
Democraticcentralism,246
Democraticenterprise,11,16,18,89,99-100,242-249
DemocraticParty,233,249
Developingcountries,economicpoliciesin,241
Differentiationandintegration,88,97
Disease,pollutionand,157,158
Distributionchannels,112,114
Divergenceineconomicsystems,240-243
Diversity:
cultural,85;
unityoutof,95-100
DowChemical,160
Downsizing:
limitsof,8,29-30;
inmarketorganizations,46
Drucker,Peter,20,44,86-87,100
DuPont,159
E
Easterbrook,Gregg,159
EasternAirlines,132-133
EasternEurope:
inventingmarketsin,229-232;
NewSocialismin,243-245,246
EastGermany,socialistethicin,229-230
Ecologicaltransformation:
economicprogressand,16,158-162,166-168;
asglobaltrend,3,156;
intelligentgrowthas,11,16,168-173;
needfor,161
SeealsoEnvironmentalmanagement
Economiccooperation:
efficiencyof,86,188;
evolutionof,12,56-69;
inknowledgeeconomy,86-90;
trendsin,xvii,3,95
Economics:
goodmanagementand,20-21;
newroleof,86-87;
opposingtrendsin,240-243
Economy:
corporatecommunityand,78-79;
declinein,233;
ecologicalhealthand,16,158-162,166-168;
evolutionofpolitical,240-243;
governmentrolein,239;
greenGDPand,165;
informalvs.formal,224n.7;
obstaclestoprogressin,8;
restructuringin,45,85,227-228;
trendsin,131-137;
wastein,109
SeealsoGlobaleconomy
Ecorealism,159
Education:
internalmarketsin,31;
needforrestructuringin,94,247
Employeeattitudesurveys,151
Employeerelations:
entrepreneurshipand,11,14,15,45-46;
newcontracts,139-143,147,151,152-153;
problemswithinnovationsin,133;
redefining,131-137,248
SeealsoWork
Employeestockownershipplans(ESOPs):
growthin,62,246,248;
influenceoncorporategovernance,62;
layoffsand,7;
problemsof,132-133;
inRussia,246
Empowerment:
accountabilityand,7-8,140,220-221;
keytoachieving,256
Enterprise:
global,16,18,237-243;
heritageof,xv-xvii,255-257;
fromhierarchyto,11,13,38;
internal,8-9,36;
managementeffectivenessand,90,92;
powerof,188;
synthesiswithdemocracy,11,16,18,89,99-100,242-249
SeealsoInternalmarket
Entrepreneurialorganizations,28-35,46-47
Entrepreneurship:
complexityand,85-86;
decisionmakingand,191-192;
ininternalmarkets,
Page279
40;
powerof,33-34,258-260;
womenand,98
Environment:
organizationalstructureand,43-44;
strategicchangeand,179-181,196-198
EnvironmentalDefenseFund,165
Environmentalmanagement:
backlashagainst,155,159;
businessprojects,169;
collaborationin,165-166;
corporategreeningand,159-160,164,166,170;
economicsof,160-163,162-163,165,167-168;
governmentrolein,170,171;
growthofindustry,160,168;
interestin,155-158,171,173n.4;
needforcompromisein,159,171-172;
pollutionprevention,161,162-164,166-169;
principlesof,162-166;
recycling,163-165,169;
throughoutproductcycle,163,164;
useofinformationtechnologyin,165,170
SeealsoEcologicaltransformation
EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,157
Ethic:
achievement,110;
business,59;
enterprisevs.work,46,152-153;
socialist,229-230
EugeneWaterandElectricBoard,214
Europe:
Eastern,229-232,243-245,246;
economyin,235-237;
employeegovernancein,7
Seealsospecificcountry
F
FeedbackPlus,119
Fisher,George,74-75
Fisher-Price,116
Flexibility:
inplanning,191;
inself-managedteams,150;
workingwith,150-152
FordMotorCompany,121
Forrester,Jay,40-41
France,economicdilemmain,235-236
Freedom:
undercapitalism,232;
controland,221;
increasein,206;
vs.community,257-258
Frequent-flyerprograms,106
Frost,Peter,5,6
G
Gandhi,Mahatma,204
Gates,Bill,4
GeneralElectric:
clientparticipationin,116,118;
knowledgeworkin,138;
restructuringof,184;
strategicmanagementin,191
GeneralMills,142
GeneralMotors(GM),2,30,47,87
Germany:
economicdilemmain,235,236;
roleinglobaleconomy,249-250
Ghoshal,Sumantra,92
GiantFoods,121
Globalcorporations,238
Globaleconomy:
competitionin,20,134,156,166-167,249-250;
complexityofproblemsin,241,243;
featuresof,237-243;
maintainingorderin,98-99,240;
strategicchangein,180-181;
synthesisin,95,97,227-228
SeealsoEconomy
Globalnetworks,47
Globalwarming,171-172
GM-Satur,12,13,69,70-71,114,115,119,121
Gorbachev,Mikhail,180,221
Governance.SeeCorporategovernance
Government:
corporatecommunityand,78;
decentralizationof,229,233,239;
emergingrolefor,239;
asenterpriseunit,38;
environmentalmanagementand,170,171;
needforlocalcontrolin,233,249;
partnershipswithbusiness,239,248;
problemsofbig,212;
restructuringof,239;
revoltagainst,239
Grassroots,259-260
GreatDepression,244
GreenLightsProgram,165-166
Greenpractices,155,160,161-173
Growth,intelligent:
adoptionofpractices,19,166-170;
corporatecommunityand,78;
sustainabledevelopmentvs.,168;
transitionto,14,16,159
SeealsoEcologicaltransformation;
Environmentalmanagement
GTE,121
H
Halal,William,5,6,277-278
HallmarkCards,113
Harley-Davidson,121
Havel,Vaclav,96
Hawken,Paul,111,114-116
Hawthornestudies,208
Healthcarereform,125,179,180,184
HermanMiller,Inc.,118,164
Hewlett-Packard:
comparedtoIBM,49;
corporatecommunityin,65;
intraprisesin,36;
knowledgeworkin,138;
leadershipin,41;
marketsystemin,13,48,51;
organizationalbalancein,92;
participationin,76,116
Hierarchies:
formingintraprisesin,36-37,38;
asobsolete,28,43;
replacementsfor,11,13,30-31;
strengthsandweaknessesof,27-29,43-45
HomeDepot,116,119,120,121
HomeShoppingNetwork,114
Honda,118
HQInc.,147
HumanEnterpriseSystem,229
Humility,223
HyattHotels,121
I
IBM:
businessincubatorsin,47;
businesslosses,2;
comparedtoHewlett-Packard,49;
corporatecommunityin,65;
knowledgeworkin,138;
revitalizationof,76
Ideology:
crisisin,235-237;
political,83-84,89,212,241
IKEA,13,64
Income:
convergencein,241;
disparityin,232-233;
dropin,29,134;
expectations,134
IndustrialAge,1,18,97,109,135
Industrialization:
global,158,174n.13;
impactonenvironment,157,161;
leadershipand,206,207
Inflation,78
Informalorganizations,208-210,224n.7
InformationAge:
achievementethicin,110;
economicimperativesof,20,49,237-243;
marketsasfoundationfor,49;
spiritualityin,96-98;
synthesisin,97;
worklifein,148-153.
SeealsoKnowledgeeconomy
Informationnetworks,30,47,52n.8,63,190,196
Informationtechnology:
asenterpriseunit,38,40;
environmentalmanagementand,165,170;
global,3,238;
impactof,18,20,85-86;
inmarketing,112-114;
opportunitiesin,125;
organizationallearningand,188,190;
self-managedteamsand,137,139;
teleworkingand,143-146;
transactioncostsand,43-44;
unifyingpowerof,86-90,240
Infrastructures:
economic,creationof,37,40-41;
forintegratingmarketsandcommunity,93-94;
Page280
fororganizationallearning,188,190
Innerleadership.SeeunderLeadership
Institutions:
authoritariancontrolin,255;
confidencein,2;
failureof,1-2;
shareholder,62
Interdependence,96,157-158,172
Interestrates,convergencein,241
Internalmarket:
adoptionofpractices,19,34,43,49;
advantagesof,49-50;
inbusinessschools,27-28;
comparedtofreeenterprise,8-9;
corporatecommunityand,14,84-90;
defined,9;
employmentcontractsand,140;
entrepreneurialenergyin,33-34;
examplesof,31,35,37,39;
guidestoreorganizinginto,48;
inappropriatesituationsfor,45;
leadershipof,41-42;
mechanismsvs.economy,49;
politicalviewsof,83-84;
principlesof,33,36-42;
skepticismabout,33;
strengthsandweaknessesof,36,43-45
SeealsoEnterprise
Internet,30,85,209
Intraprises,36-37
Intuition,spiritualityin,218
Italy,economyin,235
J
Japan:
collaborationin,229;
corporatecommunityin,65;
downsizingin,29;
economicdilemmain,235,236;
NewManagementchallengesin,94;
roleinglobaleconomy,249-250
Jobs,lossin,29,85
Johnson&Johnson,35,41-42,65,69
Juran,J.M.,6
K
Kennedy,Allen,5,6
King,MartinLuther,Jr.,204
Kmart,111
Knowledgeeconomy:
developmentof,134-136;
leadershipin,206,207,208;
management'srolein,1,41-42,47,67,90;
needforcooperationin,86-90
SeealsoInformationAge
Knowledgework:
adoptionofentrepreneurialpractices,11,15,19,151;
employmentcontractsfor,139-143,147,151,152-153;
exemplarsof,138;
jobs,45-46,143-148;
newdemandsof,148-153;
self-managementin,137,139,141,143
KochIndustries,35
Kodak,74-75
Kondratieffcycle,133
L
Labor-managementconflict,132-134
LatinAmerica,economicdilemmain,236-237
Lawrence,Paul,4,5
Leadership:
evolutionof,11,206-208;
innerdomainof,16,17,19,203-205,216-220;
ofinternalmarkets,41-42;
needforglobal,229;
participative,17,201-203,206-210,223-224;
principlesof,203;
inservingorganizations,121-122;
stewardshipand,75-76;
strategicchangeand,184-185;
synergyfrom,42;
aswiseuseofpower,203
SeealsoAuthority;
Power
Learningorganization,111
LeFauve,Richard,12
Legalissues,incorporategovernance,62-63
Levi-Strauss,69
Liberalandconservativesynthesis,83-84,89,212
Lifestyles,ecologicalhealthand,171-173
Listening,problemsolvingand,215-216
L.L.Bean,121,122-123
Lockheed,138
Lorsch,Jay,4,5
M
Malone,Thomas,44
Management:
comparedtoscience,21;
conflictwithlabor,132-134;
confusionoverparadigms,6-8,18-19,23n.11,255-257;
employeeconfidencein,234;
evolutionof,2,4-6,11;
leadershipand,41-42,201-224;
mechanisticviewof,2;
organicviewsof,6,196-198;
risein,1,22n.2;
roleinknowledgeeconomy,1,41-42,47,67,90;
spiritualapproachto,217-219;
stewardshipand,74-76;
strategic,182-185;
useofdemocracyandenterprisein,8-11,255-257,260-261
SeealsoNewManagement
Marketing:
centripetalvs.centrifugal,111;
client-driven,116-119,248;
asenterpriseunit,38;
focusonsellingin,107-109;
high-technology,112-114;
niche,112;
truthful,114-116
Marketorganizations,28-35,46-47
Markets:
comparedtocapitalism,228;
entrepreneurialenergyin,33-34;
socialvaluesand,167;
sustainabilityand,169-170;
vs.centralplanning,34,49
SeealsoInternalmarket
Marriott,121
MarshallIndustries,142
M*A*S*H,209
Maslow,Abraham,4,5
Matrixorganizations,31,32
Matsushita,35
Mayo,Elton,4,5
McDonald's,121,155-156
McGraw-Hill,190
McGregor,Douglas,4,5
MCI,12,13,35,40,41
Media,59-60,107-108,114
Meditation,218
Men'smovement,209
MentorGraphics,221
MerckCorporation,35,65
MiddleEast,economicdilemmain,237
Miles,Ray,xi-xiii,5,6
MinnesotaMiningandManufacturingCompany(3M),164
Mintzberg,Henry,4,5
Motivation:
organizationalstructureand,44;
forwork,140-141,154n.12
Motorola:
internalmarketsin,35;
knowledgeworkin,138;
organizationalbalancein,92-93
Munger,Tolles&Olsen,142
Murray,Charles,149-150
MusicWriter,113
N
NationalBicycleCompany,138
Nations,disaggregationof,239
NCRCorporation,65
Networks:
global,47;
information,63,190,196;
managedbymarkets,46-47;
assuccessortohierarchies,30,52n.8
NewCapitalism,18,245,247-249
SeealsoDemocraticenterprise
TheNewCapitalism(Halal),xvii-xviii,6
NewManagement:
CITstudyquestionnaireon,269-276;
comparedtooldmanagement,6-8,10-12,78-79,89,270;
confusionover,
Page281
6-8,18-19,23n.11;
defined,270;
foundationsof,8-11,12,25;
guidingcriteriain,21;
managers'attitudestoward,236,237;
organizationtreemetaphor,14,88-90,91;
originsof,xvii-xviii;
synthesisin,11-12,14,88-90,242-249;
transitionto,10-21,260-261;
universalpowerof,258-260
NewSocialism,18,243-245,246
SeealsoDemocraticenterprise
Newspapers,59-60,107-108
Nike,93
NucorSteel,142
O
OldManagement,6-8,10-12,78-79,89,270
OldSocialism,229
Opportunities,problemsas,123-125
Organicorganizations,90,196-198
Organizationaldevelopment,185-186
Organizationallearning,185-186,188,190,192
Organizationalstructure:
conclusionsabout,47-50;
environmentand,43-44;
evolutionof,11,12,13,31,32,42-43;
exerciseon,45,263-265;
impactofinformationsystemson,85-86
Organizations:
balancein,90-95;
barrierstochangein,183,186;
economicroleof,67;
entrepreneurial,28-35,46-47;
informalvs.formal,208-210,224n.7;
innovationsin,4-6,18-21,85;
learning,111;
marketsaseconomicframeworkfor,31,33-34;
matrix,31,32;
organic,90,196-198;
serving,11,14,15,19,111-127;
virtual,94-95,143
Organizationtree:
described,14,88-90;
environmentalforcesand,187-188;
illustrated,90,189
Ouchi,William,5,6
Ozonelayer,thinningof,157,159-160
P
Participation,ageof,223
Participatorymanagement:
adoptionofpractices,210;
historyof,133;
informalorganizationand,208-210;
linkbetweenrightsandresponsibilitiesin,140;
needfor,220-224;
purposeof,211;
spiritualityin,203,209-210,216-220
SeealsoLeadership
Partnerships:
business/customer,62,116-119,122-127,248;
business/government,62,239,248;
withstakeholders,76,77,93,192
Paysystems,120-121,140-141,142,151
Peace,William,214
Peapod,114
Performanceevaluation:
CEO,74-75;
measures,36;
stakeholder,64,66,67,72-74
Performancepay,140-141,142,151
Personalcomputers,2-4
Peters,Tom,5,6,10
Pinchot,Gifford,5,6,36
Planning.SeeStrategicplanning
Poland,237,244
Politicaleconomy,evolutionof,240-243
Politicalideologies,83-84,89,241
Pollution:
automobile,161,162;
diseaseand,157,158;
prevention,161,162-164,166-169
Populationgrowth,159
Populism,234
Post-capitalistsociety,100
Post-Communistbloc:
inventingmarketsin,229-232;
NewSocialismin,243-245,246
Seealsospecificcountry
Power:
author'sexperienceof,204-205;
evolutionof,206-208;
misuseof,220-223;
natureof,203-205;
shared,201-203,206-211,223-224
SeealsoAuthority
Prayer,218
PriceClub,116
Problemsolvingprocess:
creative,215;
listeningduring,215-216;
livingwithproblems,211-214;
seeingopportunities,123-125,216;
spiritualityand,216-220;
instrategicmanagement,191,194-195
Processfacilitation,spiritualityin,218
Productquality:
keytoimproving,256;
publicopinionabout,105;
risingdemandfor,110-111
Profit:
environmentalperformanceand,156,166-168;
relationshiptosocialresponsibility,13,63,80n.17;
andsocialwelfare,conflictbetween,67-68
Profit-centeredmodel:
analogytoEarth-centereduniverse,68;
illustrated,58;
limitsof,57,59,78-79,86-87;
replacementfor,11,13,58
ProgressiveInsurance,113
Q
Quality:
keytoimproving,256;
publicopinionabout,105;
risingdemandfor,110-111;
totalqualitymanagement,46,119
Qualityandservicerevolution,119
Qualityoflife:
demandfor,110-111;
inUnitedStates,232,234;
inworld,241
R
Ray,Michael,5,6
Reagan,Ronald,212,215-216
Recycling,161,163-165,169
Reengineering,46
Reflection:
author'sexperiencewith,219-220;
spiritualityin,217,218
Republicanrevolution,233
Restructuringprograms:
guidelinesfor,48;
limitsof,29-31;
inmarketorganizations,46-47;
top-down,184-185,192;
varietyin,4-6
Return-on-resourcesmodel,64,66,67
Rightsizing,46
Roberts,Barbara,210
Roberts,Bert,12
Roddick,Anita,12,117,167
Russia:
inventingmarketsin,229-232;
NewSocialismin,243-245,246;
roleinglobaleconomy,249-250
SeealsoSovietUnion
S
Saturn,12,13,69,70-71,114,115,119,121
SchwabCorporation,113
Science:
globalprogressin,3;
managementcomparedto,21
Self-employment,146-149,152-153
Self-interest,servingvs.,14,15,126-127
Self-managedteams:
adoptionof,151;
compensationof,141;
informationsystemsand,137,139;
newdemandsof,149-153;
inRussia,246
Selling:
consumerismand,109-110;
focuson,107-109
Semco,35
Senge,Peter,5,6,40-41
Servantleader,74-76,202
Serviceeconomy,135,136,206,207
Page282
Servingorganization:
adoptionofpractices,19,122-125;
principlesof,11,14,15,112-122;
vs.selling,111-112;
yieldingself-interest,126-127
SeealsoCustomerservice
Shocktherapy,corporate,183-185,186
Shopping,high-technology,112,114
Singapore,economicprogressin,239
Smith,Raymond,37
Snow,Charles,5,6
Socialaudits,72-74
Socialinstitutions,corporatecommunityin,78,81n.30
Socialism:
comparedtocapitalism,235-237;
newvs.old,18,229,243-245,246
Socialneeds:
businessopportunitiesand,110-111,123-126,166-169;
forenvironmentalprotection,157;
inUnitedStates,232
Socialresponsibility:
corporatemodelfor,58,59,159-160;
profitand,13,63,67-68,80n.17
SocialVentureNetwork,63
Society,conflictwithbusiness,59-61,79
Socioeconomics,76,100
Soros,George,230,232
SouthwestAirlines,106-107,122,123
SovietUnion,157,221
SeealsoRussia
Spain,economyin,235
Spirituality:
ageof,96-98;
innerwisdomand,216-220;
innature,173;
inparticipativeleadership,203,209-210,216-220;
inUnitedStates,217,225n.15;
inworkplace,10,217-219
Sports,focusonprofitin,60
SpringfieldManufacturing,142,213
Stakeholdermodel:
analogytoCopernicanrevolution,68-69;
communityin,69-72;
examinationof,58,63-69;
stewardshipin,74-76
Stakeholders:
evaluationsystemsfor,64,66,67;
influenceof,61-63,73;
involvementinplanning,76,77,192;
performanceevaluationof,72-74;
provisionalrelationshipswith,93;
simulationofmeetingwith,75,266-268
StateFarm,121
Stewardship,roleof,74-76
Strategicmanagement:
bottom-uplearningand,185-186,192;
centralizedplanningand,179-183;
organicformof,190-196;
top-downchangeand,8,183-185,192;
visionand,217,218
SeealsoChange
Strategicplanning:
centralized,31,34,39,49,179-183;
organization-wide,191-192,195;
problemsof,181-183;
shifttocontinuouschange,11,16,17
Structureoforganizations
SeeOrganizationalstructure
Sustainability:
conceptualacceptanceof,156;
freemarketsand,169-170;
intelligentgrowthand,16,168;
limitsof,158-159
Sustainabledevelopment,162,168-173
Synthesis:
ageof,95-97;
balanceand,93-94;
energyreleasedby,97;
inglobaleconomy,97,227-228;
betweenliberalandconservativeviews,83-84,89,212;
inNewManagementparadigm,11-12,14,88-90,242-249
Systemsthinking,186
T
Teams.SeeSelf-managedteams
Telecomputer,144
Teleshopping,112,114,238
Television,advertisingand,107-108,114
Teleworking,143-146
Tisch,Lawrence,59-60
Toffler,Alvin,208
Totalqualitymanagement(TQM),46,119
Tourism,238
Toyota,121
TQM(totalqualitymanagement),46,119
Tradebarriers,eliminationof,227-228
Transactioncosts,inmarketsystems,43-44
TravelersInsurance,138
Travelindustry,238
Tuxedonetwork,190
U
Uncertainty,acknowledgmentof,197-199
Undevelopednations,industrializationof,158
Unification,asglobaltrend,3,16,18,95-100,227-228
UnitedKingdom,capitalismin,233
UnitedNations,239
UnitedStates:
ascrisis-driven,211-212,247;
indecline,1,21-22n.1,232-235;
NewCapitalismin,245,247-249;
NewManagementchallengesin,94,260-261;
roleinglobaleconomy,249-250;
spiritualityin,217,225n.15;
wagesin,29,134,232-233,241
V
Vaill,Peter,5,6
Value:
demandfor,105,110-111;
inhierarchies,30-31
Values:
economicsystemsand,167,207,240-243;
focusonhumanandspiritual,218;
powerof,188;
statementof,69
Violence,televisionand,108
Virtualorganizations,94-95,143
Vision,217,218
W
Wages:
convergencein,241;
disparityin,232-233;
dropin,29,134;
expectationsfor,134
Walesa,Lech,237
Wal-Mart,111-112,121
Wasterecovery,163-165
Waterman,Robert,5,6
Weber,Max,28
WeirtonSteel,7
Welch,Jack,184
WesternAirlines,43-44
WesternUnion,121
Westinghouse,118,214
Wheatley,Margaret,97
White-collarcrime:
costsof,57;
againstenvironment,157
Wholism,21,96,97
Women:
influenceoncorporategovernance,62;
managementroleof,98-99
Work:
contingent,146-149;
electronicallymediated,143-146;
evolutionof,11,15,135;
knowledge,137-153;
newdemandsof,148-153
SeealsoEmployeerelations
Workercouncils,246
Workethic:
enterpriseethicvs.,46;
self-responsibilityand,152-153
Worklife,newdemandsof,131-132
WorldBusinessAcademy,63
X
Xerox,35,121,192-193
Page283
THEAUTHORBillHalaldiscoveredtheinterestthatledtothisbookwhileworkingasanaerospaceengineerontheApolloprogram.HehadobtainedaB.S.inaerospaceengineeringfromPurdue,servedinEuropeforthreeexcitingyearsasanAirForceofficer,andthenjoinedGrummanwhenthecompanywasawardedtheNASAcontracttobuildtheLunarModule.Itwasthethrillofalifetimetoseethatfirst''spaceship"landontheMoon.Buthefeltakeenneedtobecomeengagedinsomethingthatconcernedpeopleandsociety,someasyetundefinedinterestclosertotheheartoflife.
WhentheFreeSpeechMovementeruptedatU.C.Berkeley,Billwascapturedbythefresh,intellectuallyprovocativespiritofthetimes.Collegestudentsjusthadnotactedthiswaypreviously.Drawntothissourceofchange,heattendedBerkeleyforsixyears,obtainingM.B.A.andPh.D.degrees,andawiderangeofexperienceinvariousorganizations.Hismostsignificantgain,however,wasalastingfascinationwithtoday'stransitiontoaknowledge-basedsocietythatstartedduringthosehecticyears,swungabruptlytotherightduringtheReaganadministration,andcontinuestoseekoutitsresolutioninanewsocialorder.
HalalisnowprofessorofmanagementatGeorgeWashingtonUniversityinWashington,D.C.,andanauthorityonemergingtechnologies,strategicmanagement,andinstitutionalchange.HehasconsultedforGeneralMotors,AT&T,InternationalDataCorporation,Japanesefirms,theU.S.government,andmanyotherorganizations.Hisworkhasappearedinavarietyofpublications,includingTheNewYorkTimes,TheChristianScienceMonitor,TheAcademyofManagementExecutive,TheCaliforniaManagementReview,TheFuturist,TheNewPortableMBA,andseveralbooks,includingThe
NewCapitalism.Oneofhispapers,"BeyondtheProfitMotive,"wonthe1977MitchellPrizeof$10,000.
Billisnotquitesurewhatthisodysseyreallymeansorwhereitwillend.Onethingthatdoesstandoutisthealmostunpredictablenatureof