Reference no: EM133297251
Case Study: Another key element of some companies' unique ability to make the transition from Good to Great is the willingness to identify and assess defining facts in the company and in the larger business environment. In order to fully assess and understand a company's potential, the company must confront the facts about its environment and context, strengths and weaknesses, and overall current reality. By fully understanding the company's situation, good decisions will become self-evident. In today's market, trends in consumer preferences are constantly changing, and the inability to keep pace with these changes often results in company failure. Using the example of an extended comparative analysis of Kroger and A & P, Collins observes that Kroger recognized the trend towards modernization in the grocery industry and adjusted its business model accordingly, although doing so required a complete transformation of the company and its stores. A & P, on the other hand, resisted large-scale change and thus guaranteed its own demise. Collins discusses creating a climate where the truth is heard and outlines a four-step process to promote awareness of emerging trends and potential problems: 1) Lead with questions, not answers; 2) Engage in dialogue and debate, not coercion; 3) Conduct autopsies without blame, and 4) Build red flag mechanisms that turn information into information that cannot be ignored. This is also the chapter in which Collins describes The Stockdale Paradox. The bottom line is that you must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end - which you can never afford to lose - with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be (Collins, 2001). This takes amazing clarity and courage.
Question 1: Why is this important? The Bible reading this week speaks of God's love for us and cautions about false prophets.
Question 2: How can you, as a leader in an unpredictable environment, encourage faith and belief in your employees to overcome the challenges of our era?