dispatches from the new world of work

Tom Brings Capitalism to Havana?

Headline on a page 1 article titled "Guns and Butter," by José De Córdoba in today's Wall Street Journal:

Under Castro's Brother, Army
Built Joint-Venture Empire;
From Hotels to Dolphins
Required Reading: Tom Peters

When asked about the article, Tom [tersely] replied, "Did we get royalties?"
(I don't think you can get to the whole text without a subscription. Sorry.)

Cathy Mosca posted this on 11/15/06.

Comments

Tom is doing more than changing the direction of companies he is influencing the future of entire countries - way to go!

Posted by Brandon Muth at November 15, 2006 11:58 AM

Kate at the 800-CEO-READ Blog mentions it as well:
http://800ceoread.com/blog/
They don't use permalinks, so you may have to scroll down to find it after today.

Posted by Shelley Dolley at November 15, 2006 12:49 PM

The article mentions that at least for a time, In Search of Excellence was required reading for Cuban military officers getting training in economics. Apparently Raul Castro has shown signs of being interested in some amount of Chinese type, state sponsored business ventures.

The embargo of Cuba never made sense to me. If you want to incite democracy and capitalism, flood Cuba with Coca-Cola, Levis, Nike, etc., and bring back all the rum and cigars they can produce. A consumer goods invasion would get well beyond the Bay of Pigs.

Posted by Bruce Gerhardt at November 15, 2006 2:45 PM

Bruce, I'd agree. I don't like capitalists cutting deals with a billionare mass murder and mass torturer, but such is life.

And no tu quoques re: injustices in America or non sequiturs re: health care/literacy on that point, please. I know.

Posted by Joe Marier at November 15, 2006 7:46 PM

Bruce, I like that phrase "incite democracy and capitalism". I always said that if you put a McDonald's in downtown Havana, it would do more to stamp out Socialism than any embargo.

Posted by Brian Tingley at November 16, 2006 10:18 AM