We are on the homestretch of a two-year study of the STEM talent pipeline in the US, including both K-12 and higher education. We are formulating our final recommendations. It would premature to present them. However, it may be valuable to relate a range of observations of the “system” of education in the US. Considering […]
How can we get people to understand societal changes that are desirable and achievable if they embrace and support such pursuits? More specifically, how can we energize support for transformation of health, education, and energy ecosystems to achieve desirable, high priority outcomes? Consider related achievements in similar arenas in the past. Abolitionism, or the abolitionist […]
A critical issue arises. We convene an august group of experts to address the issue and recommend ways forward. The expert panel recommends courses of action. Those empowered to act embrace one or more recommendations. They endorse and resource ways forward. Does this work? Sometimes experiences can preempt needs for evidence. Vietnam, Gulf War, Opioids, […]
Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook, now Meta, and Elon Musk at Twitter are in the process of destroying the value created by their formerly immensely successful enterprises. A recent Economist (November 3rd) outlines their misadventures, arguing that their conglomerative aspirations have set the stage for overreach. Zuckerberg is trying to move beyond the original vision, while […]
When and how do organizational change initiatives make a real and lasting difference? When there is shared recognition of existing and/or emerging value deficiencies, which requires a shared understanding of the nature of value and how the organization creates value. When there is shared agreement on the range of change alternatives that have potential to […]
I have encountered a range of situations – in industry, government, and academia – where the financial well being of the organization is severely threatened and leadership refuses to recognize the situation and accept agency for dealing with it. I recall one situation in academia where I asked the Provost how he would deal with […]
Do the times make leaders or do leaders make the times? I have long thought that great leaders understand the times and determine how to take advantage of them. More specifically, I think many great leaders have had a naturalistic orientation to understanding their worlds in terms of what is achievable, in what time frames, […]
I have worked with over 100 enterprises, many large technology-based companies, quite a few government agencies, and many smaller entrepreneurial endeavors. The large enterprises pose particular challenges. This is due to the simple fact that they became large because of successful visions, strategies, and plans, and particularly determined execution. My encounters with executives in these […]
The Life of the Automobile by Steven Parissenien (2014, Thomas Dunne Books) presents a panorama of automotive invention and innovation over the past 150 years. There have been many hits, for example, Ford’s Model T, Mustang and Taurus; GM’s ’55 Chevy, GTO, and Escalade; VW’s Beetle and Golf, and Citroen’s 2CV and DS. The number […]
Exemplary leaders face difficult circumstances, work with others to devise plans for addressing these circumstances, cultivate support for these plans, and execute plans with a degree of success. Such success in difficult circumstances is possible. However, as the following vignettes illustrate, leadership is crucial. If top leaders remain stewards of the status quo, fundamental change […]
