dispatches from the new world of work

Just Desserts for Centralizers!

Spoke 2 weeks ago to a feisty J&J division—DePuy Spine. J&J.2005 is more or less J&J.1980 that I researched for In Search of Excellence. But before the ink on the pages of that book was dry, HP's CEO John Young was hiring MBAs & centralizing formerly feisty HP. Dave Packard called him on it. But ghost-of-Dave couldn't hold out forever. Carly, for all her merits & demerits, was a through & through ... CENTRALIZER! She was from the git-go appalled at HP's residual divisional autonomy. And attacked it ... ever so effectively.

Axiom: In the long haul ... CENTRALIZERS LOSE!
(Trust me.)

Tom Peters posted this on 02/15/05.

Comments

Tom: "CENTRALIZERS LOSE!" - would you say Rajat Gupta is a loser ?? -he's a centralizer by nature ...correct ??

Posted by /pd at February 15, 2005 11:38 AM

Amen to that Tom!

Three months ago - was it really only that long ago? - I left a hugely centralised organisation - the National Health Service here in the UK - the third largest employer in the world after the Chinese Army and Indian Railways - the NHS employs over 1 million staff.

I had a 35 year management career man aas and boy from 16 years of age and I escaped - liberated - at a young 52!!

I am now freelance and self employed. My accountability now begins and ends with the guy I see in the mirror when shaving every morning -well most mornings.

Accountabililty is at its sharpest when it looks you directly in the eyes.

I found accountability in large orgnisations never 'looks you directly in the eye.'

Thinking about that .... My mother always said 'never trust someone who doesn't make eye contact!'

Posted by Trevor Gay at February 15, 2005 12:37 PM

I agree Tom. I see descentralizing as giving to the periphery the possibility to differentiate, to increase the rate of diversity. And thatÂ´s essential for a company to foster innovation and a lively Brand.

Posted by felix gerena at February 15, 2005 4:15 PM

In fact, I think thatÂ´s the best thing you can do to push your company to innovate. It will always work, for better or for worse, but you will foster innovation.

Posted by felix gerena at February 15, 2005 4:24 PM

Empowerment = decentralization

I like Charles Handy's idea of federalization as well, something for everyone.

Posted by Dan at February 15, 2005 6:37 PM

Talk about a Wow! experience. Isn't that an eye-popping statistic? (See Trevor Gay, above.) The British NHS is the third largest employer, IN THE WORLD!!!

Posted by Doug Smith at February 17, 2005 1:09 AM

One million people - all with fantastic ideas - many of them lost forever sadly in the obsession for process and structure.

Great to have a response, Doug.

Posted by Trevor Gay at February 17, 2005 9:11 AM