BALANCE
One of the most overlooked realities of companies is their need for balance. A whaleboat has three rowers on one side and two on the other, forcing the steerer to continually compensate for the uneven number of rowers. Based on his vision, the steerer must command the rowers to make changes and must use the steering oar to set a true course. Experienced steerers assign seats to balance the boat, taking into account such factors as weight, strength, and skill.
Companies also must be balanced to be effective. Most companies are market driven or technology driven or operations driven. There is a natural tendency for one function to be stronger than others—for one side of the boat to have more pull. At times the balance changes, as marketing ...
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