Comments

Ooh! I know it! I know it! Is it "C?" Too funny!

But could you have made it a wee bit harder?

I guess, though, this is, in fact, the purpose.

Laser-beam focus. Appreciation. Nice. I like it.

Posted by Judith Ellis at March 16, 2009 9:20 AM

Now if I got this one wrong, my days as a blogger would be ended. :)

Posted by Mike Neiss at March 16, 2009 9:21 AM

© as an "Charlie", like Sir Winston's parrot. NB: parrots in fact are smarter than many scavenger.

Steven Loepfe
Switzerland

Posted by Steven Loepfe at March 16, 2009 9:27 AM

Well... the Sun rising in the West is not so absurd (lol)!
I need to read this blog more frequently.
This focus on the process may end up in kaiz... well never mind.

Posted by gerson barbosa at March 16, 2009 9:39 AM

Isn't the goal of management to create customers?
Effectively doing so drives cash flows and profits, thereby increasing shareholder returns.

What do you see as the correct goal/mission for management?

Posted by David Damore at March 16, 2009 11:13 AM

I don't think there's anything at all wrong with the idea of shareholder value. It's essential: why put your money into something that isn't either generating you a return or providing you with some other reward?

I think what we need to be clear about is the difference between shareholder value and short-term investor value. I'm not too bothered about the latter but I'm adamant about the importance of the former.

Posted by Mark JF at March 16, 2009 11:22 AM

Thanks MarkJF - that is a real issue in Tom's unfortunate heritage - the Greatest Generation of Greed & Incompetence.

Mr. Welch took GE market value from $13B to $400B - along the way creating wonderful careers that positively affected millions of people in USA & worldwide families.

Meanwhile he thankfully also cut out plenty of nefarious front-liners & middle women that were draining GE family cash flow.

And how can we not take careers offshore given the USA is the 2nd costliest country to do business in - heading for 1st under the new tax & spend - pay for play president?

Posted by C Love at March 16, 2009 7:15 PM

A would probably have the most positive impact upon world affairs.

C although interesting is not going to change very many hearts and minds. The paradigm shift is to great for such a simple statement.

I think one of the problems with this site is that we have a difficulty with focus.

Everyone of Tom's major subjects (Leadership, Talent, Implementation etc) has, I believe, an underlining meaning - or focus - that generates a cohesive vision.

I would humbly submit that focus is servant-leadership.

NB - Jack was a master of focus, but was he a servant leader?

Posted by Steve Robert at March 16, 2009 8:45 PM

David...what an interesting question. I recall reading an article in Fortune on Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne. He said his role as CEO was not to make business decisions but rather to push managers to be leaders. If a mission statement defines who we are, what we do and how we want to be perceived, making managers leaders would definitely be a performance and productivity multiplier.

Posted by dave wheeler at March 16, 2009 10:56 PM

a) is the correct statement. In the year 2015. Something about shareholder value.

Posted by Tom K at March 16, 2009 11:38 PM

I picked b. When is Tom going to tell us who won?

Posted by John O'Leary at March 18, 2009 12:15 PM