Chapter 6. Impact at Ground Zero: Where Theory Meets Practice

Patrick Doyle and C.R. Tindal

The best laid schemes o' mice and men gang oft aglee ROBERT BURNS ("TO A MOUSE")

Ground zero is the point at which managers must convert the organization's philosophy or management "style" into management practices. It is the transition between what a particular management theory or concept says should happen and what the manager actually does. However, as Robert Burns pointed out two centuries ago, things often do not work out as expected. There are numerous examples in the HRD literature of implementations that have "missed the target."

  • "Management by objectives works," says Peter Drucker, "if you know the objectives. Ninety percent of the time you don't" ...

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