Improving Performance: How to Manage the White Space on the Organization Chart

Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION: THE CHALLENGES FACING AMERICAN BUSINESS

There is nothing in this world constant, but inconstancy.

—Jonathan Swift

The pressures on management have been well publicized: formidable global competition, increasingly demanding customers, quantum leaps in technology. The theme that unites these pressures is change—relentless, multifaceted, unforgiving, blindingly rapid change.

The message has gotten through. We don't believe that managers need more "war stories" about dissatisfied customers, the impact of automation, or the dangers of focusing on quarterly results. We managers are as aware as we need to be. Now, we need to do a better job of doing something about it. We need to face the challenge of change.

All too often, ...