Connecting The Goal and How the Mighty Fall

 

 

 

 

 

“Stage 1 Kicks in when people become arrogant, regarding success virtually as an entitlement, and they lose sight of the true underlying factors that created success in the first place” (Collins 2009).

“First, we do ourselves a disservice by studying only success.  We learn more by examining why a great company fell into mediocrity (or worse) and comparing it to a company that sustained its success than we do by merely studying a successful enterprise” (Collins 2009).

“The point of the struggle is not just to survive, but to build an enterprise that makes such a distinctive impact on the world it touches, and does so with such superior performance, that it would leave a gaping hole —– a hole that could not be easily filled by any other institution – if it ceased to exist.  To accomplish this requires leaders who retain faith that they can find a way to prevail in pursuit of a cause larger than mere survival (and larger than themselves), while also maintaining the stoic will needed to take whatever actions must be taken, however excruciating, for the sake of the cause” (Collins 2009).

“If you can’t make some things happen around here, you’re not going to have any labor to worry about. Because you’re not going to have this plant to worry about. In fact, you may not have a job to worry about, Rogo.” (Goldtratt& Cox 2014).

Al is told by the division vice-president “You’ve got enough people! Look at your efficiencies, for God’s sake! You’ve got room for improvement. “Don’t come crying to me about not enough people until you show me you can effectively use what you’ve got (Goldtratt& Cox 2014).

No, that is not your problem,” he says. “Your problem is you don’t know what the goal is. And, by the way, there is only one goal, no matter what the company.”(Goldtratt& Cox 2014)

How the passages relate to each other?

Both of these companies showed “team on the way down” criteria.  Their company and plant were declining, and leadership had no idea.  Being arrogant is a quick way to downfall but also not knowing what the direction and goals of the company.   The passage in both books discussed companies are declining, and leadership has to find a way to get the company on the right track.  Time is not on their side.

Leadership that exemplifies arrogance affects the employees and their performance.  It will infect all the employees in the company with the result of a computer virus.   Arrogance is a human failing that can destroy an organization.  It is the acquired the most comfortable, most natural to justify, and the most difficult to recognize in ourselves.

By Alex not clear of the direction of the company, the staff was working, but the work was not beneficial to the company.  It is hard for management to lead if they have no idea themselves.  It is like the blind leading the blind.  The company is working but has nothing to work toward.  The result of this can be just as detrimental as having an ego or being arrogant.

 

References:

Collins, J. (2009). How the mighty fall: And why some companies never give in. New York, NY:

Harper Collins.

Goldtratt,   E., & Cox, J. (2014). The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement. Great Barrington,

MA: North River Press.