I am reading a fascinating book by the founder and current chairman
of what I'm told is South America's leading construction company
which has bought companies around the world. The company that I am
working with is one of these recently bought companies which has been
bought and sold 5 times in 6 years. Odebrecht, the new South
American parent has promised this will be the last of such ownership
transfers. Refreshing! (If skeptically received.)
The title of the book is "Survival, Growth and Perpetuity". That is,
a company is about all of these things. The message is that to exist
in perpetuity, which is the ideal proposed, the company must provide
value to customers, shareholders and community. The book is a
rigorous outline for what it takes for such an occurrence.
The point is that vision and mission are not a part of this book.
What, then is the leaders role? It is to provide *philosophy*.
The book details of the source of the above success - and its
philosophy of enterprise - as the development of people into those
who can also be responsible, be entrepreneurs, be leaders.
-- Michael McMaster Michael@kbddean.demon.co.uk