dispatches from the new world of work

Drucker Supplanted? Re-writing the Book on Effective Management Under Life & Death Circumstances?

I'd read it before and winced, but was doubtful it could be true. Now I've read it again based on a repeat performance, so perhaps it is. Re-organizing-reforming intelligence operations may top the list of anti-terrorist defenses. Relatively new (and controversial) CIA chief Porter Goss, responding to recent defections among the old pro crowd, passed on answering a query about the departures with this record-shattering non-answer: "I don't do personnel." Having spent a little time with the CIA in my "Nixon years" in D.C., I've no doubt at all that a few senior "retirements" would/will do the Agency a world of good. But a CEO who says "I don't do personnel"? A few blocks away from my Boston house, in which I'm ensconced as I write, is the residence of J.F. Welch, he of GE fame: I could hear the cringe from here! Jack's calling card for four decades was mastery of talent development like no other.

Tom Peters posted this on 10/01/05.

Comments

When Jack Welch said "I do personnel," do you think he was referring to the thousands of people he booted out of jobs or the various clueless gals he was banging on the sly?

Posted by Barbara Lamos at October 1, 2005 10:29 PM

At last Goss used the term "personnel" rather than "human resources," which just evokes the notion of coal and how corporations burn through coal. Maybe after the gas crisis and all the work on conserving gasoline, someone might think of conserving employees, but there are just too many employees in our "human resounces" reserve right now.

Posted by David Locke at October 3, 2005 4:34 AM

Maybe Mr. Goss should read Bossidy & Charan's book, "Execution" which also focuses on the importance of the people element. Or maybe we should take that book's title at it's literal meaning and apply it to someone who can display the dumbness it takes to make a remark like, "I don't do personnel."

Posted by Mark JF at October 3, 2005 7:29 AM

Can you imagine an NFL coach (Belichick, Saban, Tuna) saying "I don't do players"?

Posted by AJ Hoge at October 3, 2005 8:05 AM