| COMPARE |
The Myth |
The Truth |
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The most important job for leaders is to manage in times of crises. |
The most important job for leaders is to design the organization to avoid crises. |
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Objective |
Manage crises. |
Avoid crises. |
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Method |
Centralize decision-making and control to make quick adjustments to plans as required. |
Decentralize decision-making and control with team-based work systems characterized by coordination, flexibility and responsiveness. |
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Reasoning |
The burden of responsibility must ultimately rest at the top. Therefore, leaders must be accountable. In hard times, employees need a responsible leader to follow. |
The authority to do what it takes to satisfy customers must rest with each and every member of the organization. Management’s responsibility is to ensure that employees constantly learn how to exercise this authority for maximum benefit. When employees discover new paths, better days can be seen on the horizon. |
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Perspective |
Through force of will, the leader must deliver the company through turmoil unto stability. The Leader's Quality will win the day. |
Commitment to a vision inspires the leader to design his or her organization to manage threats and create opportunities. The goal is the mastery of change, not the achievement of stability. The Organization's Quality will win the day. |
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Internal Relations |
Orders move down the chains of command, and results are reported up the hierarchy. |
Cross-functional teams work together informally to develop strategies, implement them, measure them and improve them. Managers work in support of these teams. |
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Frame of Action |
We must react to what has already happened. |
Prepare for what may happen in the future. |
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