>...For example, I think a manufacturing company CEO would have different
>numbers for different contexts than a video game company CEO.
>
>So the tricky part is managing the complexity involved in finding those
>"few" for different areas or types of businesses. An even trickier part is
>managing the complexity involved in generating those operating parameters
>for different contexts to engage in different types of businesses in
>different sectors of the economy.
>
>So my challenge to you is, can you find a way to become interim CEO of
>a company in a totally different business area, sector of the economy?
>Andrew Moreno <amoreno@broken.ranch.org>
Your contention regarding differing needs for different organizations
is right on the money. In fact, even the same organization might need
differing time focus at different times. When an organization is bleeding
heavily from the bottom line, a quick down-sizing can buy the time
needed to effect more permanent changes.
The dilemma is that the CEO who can do downsizing might be incapable
of doing the post-downsizing visionary work for the future. This is a
case where a good present-focused COO might be combined with a
solid future-oriented CEO to gain the best of both worlds. The ideal
for a smaller organization would be a linear type who is at ease in the
present and in the future as the need arises.
This raises another aspect to time focus. The uniquely human quality of
committing to future events is what sets us apart from the lower species
that react to the events of the moment. I would contend that the amount
of time we spend "making the future happen" is an indicator of our
contribution potential as human beings. This would raise some interesting
questions about who are the contributors in our society. For example,
good teachers and good research scientists may contribute more than
average CEOs and politicians. Food for thought? ....Keith
--Keith Cowan <72212.51@CompuServe.COM>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>