dispatches from the new world of work

If in Doubt, Change It. Now. Not Tomorrow.

Yes, I may well change my mind about MV (Most Valuable) book picks. But is changing one's mind a sin? NOT IN CHANGING TIMES! The sin, instead, is staying the course when you're on the wrong course ... in increasingly intolerant times.

Message: There's a reason Wal*Mart keeps us all in awe.
THEY'RE DAMN GOOD!
MAKE THAT ... ABSURDLY GOOD!

"Agile giant" tops my list of "probable oxymorons." No way! Thence, I read ... with dropping jaw ... the 5 January New York Times' minute-by-minute account of how the UAG (Ultimate Agile GIANT) adjusted ... strategically ... in literally hours ... to the troubled pre-Christmas economic climate. Of course it's a long-playing Wal*Mart saga of the matchless use of IS/IT. But the "soft side" of the tale is even more impressive than the technology part. That is, an executive corps processing ambiguous information at the speed of light ... & making strategic decisions at the speed of light ... & implementing those decisions at the speed of light ... & involving everyone down to the sales clerks (in a 1.5-million person outfit). Legendary war strategist John Boyd (see Boyd by Robert Coram) says victory goes to those who most rapidly transit their "OODA Loops" (OODA = Observe. Orient. Decide. Act.); OODA champs disorient their opponents—something Wal*Mart has been doing for four decades now. Just for laughs, can you imagine the new Kmart/Sears combine accomplishing this? As I said, just for laughs!

Tom Peters posted this on 01/07/05.

Comments

yes ..just for luaghs..like anything which goes grows too big.. bursts....Walmart is riding the crest of a wave.. how long will it last before it comes tumbling down ?? Laws of nature..what goes up..must come down !!

Posted by /pd at January 7, 2005 2:45 PM

Wal*Mart will continue to transform itself - and spin of into corporate entities - like Wal*China.

Wal*EU

Wal*Canada-lite

Wal*SaudiArabia

Wal*Vermontsicle

Posted by Brad at January 8, 2005 12:56 PM

Have to admit... they're pretty nimble (and humble). All in sleepy little Bentonville which is 95 minutes from where I type this very minute.

They've proven to many upstarts just what is possible with a clear, simple strategy, focus and determination. Bravo W-M! Can't wait to see what new successes they mfg.

Posted by Gerald Buckley at January 10, 2005 12:23 AM

Gerald - praise to the small city smart prowess of Wal*Mart intelligent management. Their business model has the Mexicans/Chinese/east Indians yearning to live next door to the new Wal*Mart.

Posted by John at January 10, 2005 2:59 PM