I'd like to second Rol's request for clarification.
Does anyone agree that the learning process among children is enhanced
when goals are defined and direction indicated?
Granted, arguments will forever exists about the extent to which
assistance can and should be provided. But there is a fairly universal
agreement that there should be some assistance.
If parents assign value on their personal scales to the actions of their
children, and then provide feedback to their children in constructive
ways, no one argues the efficacy.
In the workplace, goals are set. The hair-splitting comes (and I assume
this is what Roxanne alludes to) because of the ways in which business
leaders provide information about these goals. So, we get phrases like
"top down".
Japanese quality-based organizations are currently undergoing in some
areas a transformation based upon the input from the American model. what
is the world coming to? The flexibility which best-in-class U.S.
companies bring to their organizations is being recognized as a powerful
trait.
I'm talking here about people who are motivated and have incentive; about
people who receive and share feedback; about growth and learning on a
factory floor; about judgement of PROCESS, #005#from which judgement of
individuals may spring, even in the most personal way.
While I think I have slid a bit from Roxanne's central theme, there is a
relationship of my thoughts to hers. Judgement, she'll no doubt agree, is
necessary. We humans do it every second. Working to satisfy customers
requires it every moment. Setting a standard is essential for an
organization. The Japanese have carefully defined the system of Hoshin
planning, and in this country we have molded this concept into deployment
of strategic goals down to the lowest organizational level.
There's much to be said for this kind of alignment in a customer-driven
organization. Such alignment requires judgement, rating, along with
openness and flexibility. And a strong dose of empowerment. Once again I
repeat the equation for the latter: it equals freedom x direction x
support.
Happy New Year,
-- Barry Mallis bmallis@markem.com