Supply Chain Management Review

Robert A. Rudzki

Quotable Quotes – Principle III
July 17, 2008

Principle 3 of the Beat the Odds corporate health framework builds on the first two principles. For long term success, an organization needs to comprehensively and continuously monitor and assess developments that could affect its industry or business (as an initial step in this Principle). It also needs to envision the future possibilities, and work toward making an attractive future happen.

 This is a vitally-important concept, and its significance was reinforced by A.G. Lafley, CEO of Proctor & Gamble, in a by-line article that appeared in Chief Executive magazine. “So what are the unique responsibilities of CEOs who want to create … self-sustaining organizations? First, the CEO must create the conditions that are necessary for an organization to attack problems and seize opportunities. Most importantly, they have to get people comfortable with seeing things as they are…” (sometimes referred to as acquiring a “world view)

Building on that important initial step, the most successful companies envision and create the future for their industry and their company. Classic examples include Disney (“Imagineering”), Amazon (Internet bookselling, and now Internet-based marketing of a host of products), and Apple (iMac, iPod, iPhone).

To learn more, go to: http://www.beattheoddsbook.com/

Here are a few of my favorite quotes that relate to the leadership principle of Acquiring a World View and Creating the Future:

I am convinced that if the rate of change inside an institution is less than the rate of change outside, the end is in sight. - John F. Welch, former GE Chairman & CEO

If you can’t imagine a better world, you can’t change this one. - Tad Williams

A hallmark of great companies is an ability to recognize the game has changed and to adapt. - Arthur Martinez, former CEO, Sears

Imagination of what may be possible is more valuable than knowledge of what is.  - Albert Einstein

The difficulty lies not in the new ideas, but in escaping the old ones.  - John Maynard Keynes

We must reverse a paradigm drummed into us from business school to the grave:   “What worked in the past will work in the future”.  - Gary Hamel

If you have your own favorite on this theme, or a relevant story, please share it with the other readers of this blog.

Posted by Robert A. Rudzki on July 17, 2008 | Comments (0)