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Title: | The Digital way of working |
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Moderator: | QUARK::LIONEL ON |
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Created: | Fri Feb 14 1986 |
Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
Number of topics: | 5321 |
Total number of notes: | 139771 |
2005.0. "Peons, common folk and expensive suits" by ICS::DONNELLAN () Wed Jul 22 1992 01:26
I was struck by comments from Ken which indicated that he could not
accomplish what he wanted to over the past couple of years and that was
why the Board fired him.
Put another way, this CEO, founder, owner, and ultimate entrepreneur
could not produce in his own company the change that was needed in
order to restore health and vitality.
When I read these notes files, I hear the same kinds of frustration.
People have a sense of what is wrong, feel they have some thoughts
about what is needed, yet express the same sense of powerlessness that Ken
expressed. These people, however, refer to themselves as peons,
"common" folk, or whatever and refer to the top of the hierarchy as
"expensive suits", "higher ups", etc.
If the powerful do not have the power to change things, and if the
powerless persist in believing that they do not have power to effect
change, then is there any hope?
What makes us think that Bob Palmer can do what Ken couldn't? How much
impact can a leader really have, if the people s/he is leading do not
want his/her leadership? If we decide that we don't like Bob or his
style of leadership, what are the prospects of success?
T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
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2005.1 | | ANTPOL::PRUSS | Dr. Velocity | Wed Jul 22 1992 05:58 | 1 |
| Power is only powerful if you have the stomach to use it..
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2005.2 | "anatomy" of power? | USCTR1::JHERNBERG | | Wed Jul 22 1992 12:57 | 6 |
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-1. I would think that the exercise of power has more to do with
muscle than stomach, especially since the DEC stomach is now
empty. And of course, keeping the "third" eye constantly open.
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2005.3 | your power may be exercised by another | SGOUTL::BELDIN_R | D-Day: 251 days and counting | Wed Jul 22 1992 13:15 | 10 |
| Common sense will tell you that a person who sees that the only way to
solve his problem is to use methods which violate his principles, will
let someone else (with fewer scruples) do the job. I used to say that
I needed a "gorilla" to walk behind me as I toured the plant, just to
handle the ugly stuff. I've gotten a little tougher, but I don't need
him any more because I don't have the responsibility.
fwiw,
Dick
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2005.4 | Choice, not ability | DYPSS1::COGHILL | Steve Coghill, Luke 14:28 | Wed Jul 22 1992 15:35 | 19 |
2005.5 | | RANGER::PANDYA | | Wed Jul 22 1992 15:45 | 16 |
| -< Patience did not prove to be a virtue? >-
Let me mention two quotes I have heard in relation to Ken's approach
in trying to solve DEC's problems:
1. If you focus on negatives, negatives get stronger and vice a versa.
2. If you only have a small flashlight and have to climb a mountain at
night but can only see a few feet beoynd you, that is the only way
to start out (step at a time) until you reach the top.
It seems Ken tried to approach things using these two principles but
the board's patience may have run out due to the monetary pressures
from the investors. Afterall, our dollar notes say "In God We Trust".
-Atul
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2005.6 | | A1VAX::DISMUKE | Say you saw it in NOTES... | Thu Jul 23 1992 13:10 | 8 |
| as I read the basenote, I thought "there's the powerful and the
powerless and in between we have all those who THINK they are the
powerful, but should be thinking they are powerless".
-sandy
(or something like that)
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