Re[2]: Boring firms `are killing creativity' in the workplac

GAWNE, SEAN (gawnesm@songs.sce.com)
Tue, 13 Dec 94 07:25:42 PST

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Keith -- The good news is that they aren't killing creativity, they are
only driving it out of their own company. Such short-term focus will
then result in failure, proving what many have been saying for a long
time. But those with some gumption will go forth and continue their good
work elsewhere.

I look at this time as a period of rebirth. Just as in a forest where
you need a periodic clearing out of the old, dying giants to make room
for a new bunch of saplings 'way down there at the forest floor. Only
the parasites living in the old trees mourn their passing.

Sean Gawne, gawnesm@songs.sce.com

"If two men on a job agree all the time, then one is useless. If they
disagree all the time, then both are useless." Darryl F. Zanuck


As Roland suggests, in my paraphrase, the "politically-correct" managers
are killing creativity. Tom Watson, Sr. of IBM fame used to say that he
surrounded himself with scratchy but capable men who would constantly
question his wisdom and he would try his best to keep them together and
to keep their respect as they tried to move the corporation forward.

His son, Tom Jr used to fight the old man for every inch of progress.
This combative style kept managers on their toes and made them unafraid
to fight for their convictions. The process lead to excellent vetting of
alternative actions. Most of this boring consensus BS is causing many firms
to slowly crash and burn. Some even qquickly!
--
Keith Cowan       Phone: (416)565-6253           FAX: (905)764-9604 
Toronto        Internet: cowan@pci.on.ca  Compuserve: 72212,51
     

Received: by ccmail from sequent1 >From rkarash@world.std.com X-Envelope-From: rkarash@world.std.com Received: from D033700.sce.com by sequent1 (5.65/2.00) id AA04269; Mon, 12 Dec 94 20:08:30 -0800 Received: from D037703.sce.com by sce.com (AIX 3.2/UCB 5.64/4.03) id AA04003; Mon, 12 Dec 1994 20:08:32 -0800 Received: by dnsp1.sce.com (AIX 3.2/UCB 5.64/4.03) id AA09869; Mon, 12 Dec 1994 20:08:32 -0800 Received: from europe.std.com(192.74.137.10) by dnsp1.sce.com via smap (V1.3) id sma014219; Mon Dec 12 20:08:16 1994 Received: from world.std.com by europe.std.com (8.6.8.1/Spike-8-1.0) id WAA08899; Mon, 12 Dec 1994 22:35:13 -0500 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA27635; Mon, 12 Dec 1994 22:35:25 -0500 Date: Mon, 12 Dec 1994 22:35:24 +0001 (EST) From: Richard Karash <rkarash@world.std.com> Subject: Re[2]: Boring firms `are killing creativity' in the workplace To: SEAN GAWNE <gawnesm@songs.sce.com> Message-Id: <Pine.3.89.9412122238.G14394-0100000@world.std.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII