Modern Globalization: The Perversion of the Word Free
Although Wayne Ellwood considers the transatlantic journey of Christopher Columbus the initiation of globalization, it’s true origins may lie even deeper in human history, dating all the way back to the origins of humanity in Africa, and their subsequent journeys to other continents. Though technology at the time prevented these early humans from creating vast […]
JSL: Just Substitute for Leaders
The Toyota corporate strategy is one of the most studied models in the business environment; this is the fourth (that I can remember) time I’ve studied Just In Time and the Toyota Production System in a business class. Before reading the articles, I knew Toyota was extremely efficient at producing quality products with a minimum […]
The Modern Charismatic Military
War, the business of a military, requires an immense commitment from a leader’s followers in order to result in success. To obtain such a strong commitment, military leaders should and are charismatic. They build trust among their followers to the point of followers trusting their leaders with their very lives. One of my first thoughts […]
Undergraduate Summer 2007 Grades – University of Massachusetts at Amherst
The final grade for the Business and Its Environment undergraduate course at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst was published to the SPIRE web-site last week. My A grade continues the trend from my classes during the Spring and Winter sessions, a trend that will hopefully continue through the graduate class, Perspectives on Leadership, I’m […]
This Is MONDRAGON!
Umass – Amherst – SCH-MGMT – 365 Business and Its Environment Summer 2007 Discussion #10 1) What are the characteristics of the Mondragon cooperatives that you find most different from businesses with more familiar organizational forms? 2) What assumptions seem to underlie the Mondragon? 3) What do you think about these characteristics and assumptions? Democracy […]
How Much Leadership Can $1 Buy?
Class: School of Management 697PP: Perspectives on Leadership. Discussion #5B Is [John] Mackey a visionary, charismatic, or transformational leader? Is he a leader at all? What has made his business so successful—leadership or something else? John Mackey is undoubtedly a leader, one of the finest examples of an exemplary leader we can study. His mission […]
Leadership Tests < Leadership Adaptability [Part 2]
Today’s post is the conclusion to the Leadership Tests < Leadership Adaptability [Part 1] post. Having given my opinion on why these assessments are not as reliable as observing a leader in action, and that some of the questions can be justified, at least personally, on both sides, I did lean to one side or […]
Leadership Tests < Leadership Adaptability [Part 1]
Umass Amherst – School of Management 697PP: Perspectives on Leadership Discussion #3 The subject of our discussion this week will be individual traits and qualities as they affect organizational leadership. Please read and carefully consider the two short cases, “The Caring Dictator,” about Jack Hartnett of Sonic rollerskating franchises (p. 59 ), and “Pernille Spiers-Lopez […]
Robot Wanted, Human Will Do
Class: Management 365: Business and Its Environment. Discussion #5 …write an imaginary job description for a Wal-Mart clerk…based on [Barbara] Ehrenreich’s experience. Refer to the skills and attitudes required, as well as the organizational and social role that is played. Pretend you are a De Tocquville-type observer/ethnographer, not your typical HR person. You’re not trying […]
Following Footprints: How Sriram Ayer and Small Dog Create Paths for their Followers
Umass Amherst – School of Management 697PP: Perspectives on Leadership Summer 2007 Discussion #2 Read the short case on Small Dog Electronics on page 7 of your textbook [Adam’s Edit: Art and Science of Leadership (4th Edition) by Afsaneh Nahavandi].Also read the very short [Adam’s Edit: Fast Company] article in the module folder about an […]