Steve’s Comments (group member since Nov 01, 2011)

Steve’s comments from the Making the World Work Better: Q&A with authors and editor group.

Readers: In this thread, tell us about your favorite story or individual covered in the book.

Yes. John Opel, who was the CEO in the early 1980s, told me about an encounter he had with the founder, Thomas Watson Sr.. It was the 1950s, and Opel ran a sales division in the midwest. His unit had missed its sales target an he was summoned to a meeting with Watson in the New York headquarters at 590 Madison Avenue. When Opel arrived at the office in he morning, he was told to sit on a bench outside Watson's office. It was like sitting outside the principal's office when you have been a bad boy at school. Open sat there all day waiting for his audience with the boss. At the end of the day, Watson's secretary told him he could go home. There would be no meeting. Opel got the point: Don't miss your sales targets. Watson Sr. was a progressive leader in many ways, but he was also a stickler for making the numbers.

I'm going to be out of pocket a bit this morning. Something came up. But I'll be checking in this afternoon.

If you don't know about it already, please get to know the A Smarter Planet blog. IBM created it, but the idea is for the blog to become a dynamic forum for ideas from IBMers and others alike.

Hisasshi wrote: "A company is a kind of living organization which consists of functions and will like human beings. All the functions are shaped as divisions or department to run the business together with other d..."

This is an important observation. Indeed, companies are like human beings--like living organisms. It's a useful exercise for people to figure out the character of the company they work for and to understand how they fit in.

Betsy wrote: "Until the modern corporation and management
science emerged in the 20th century, most
companies were shaped and ruled by the
personalities of their founders or charismatic
leaders. How importan..."

Betsy wrote: "Until the modern corporation and management
science emerged in the 20th century, most
companies were shaped and ruled by the
personalities of their founders or charismatic
leaders. How importan..."

I think the founder(s) of a company are vitally important. They set the vision and establish the initial culture. And, if they have a good vision and a set of sustainable values, those things will help the company adapt and survive for many years. Look at Steve Jobs. His vision and values stuck with Apple and its customers during the long period when he was gone. After he returned, he revitalized them.