Changing How the World Does Business

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7 A Climate of Chaos

In my 12 years at A. T. Kearney, I had adjusted to the realization that corporations rarely conducted their operations in the crisp, professional manner we had presumed in the business school classroom, but even the more disappointing consulting experiences had not prepared me for the chaos I encountered at the Arkansas Aviation Sales facility.

Irby Tedder, a retired air force colonel, was the executive vice president, controller, and “mother hen” of the group. He was well qualified for his role at Arkansas Aviation. Irby had served as inspector general of the Continental Air Command and as commander of two large air bases. The “Colonel,” as he was frequently addressed, had amassed over 8,000 hours of command pilot experience ...