Date: Thu, 06 May 1999 07:13:38 -0400
Subject: Quote For ITLT, May 7
From: Mike Barker <mbarker@MIT.EDU>

Another insight into what we may want to include in our vision for IS:

From Leading at the Edge of Chaos, by Daryl R. Conner, ISBN 0-471-29557-4

(p. 68)

"Leaders...are predisposed toward opportunities both inside and outside the 
organization (positive); remain attentive to the more critical objectives 
(focused); display pliability in the variety of information they consider 
when making decisions and considering the possibilities they create 
(flexible); are able to structure the ways they interpret data and 
information (organized); and build implementation plans around their new 
ideas and eagerly try new approaches (proactive)."

"Context (Vision, Mission, and Strategy)

"To succeed in unstable market conditions, the context set by leaders needs 
to articulate and embody the characteristics of resilience as well.  In 
times of frequent or continuous change, the organization's guiding framework 
must prepare associates to readily alter processes to meet shifting demands. 
Thus, it is important that the statements of direction and purpose, which 
create the common frame of reference, emphasize certain themes.  These 
themes should stress that opportunities exist and can be grasped (positive); 
that a direction, whatever its content may be, has been set (focused); that 
the gathering of information and the creation of new approaches are 
essential (flexible); that high levels of ambiguity can be addressed through 
judicious application of structure (organized); and that engaging action in 
the face of uncertainty is critical (proactive)."

[and the corresponding explanations from his section on Culture, p. 69]

"...Leaders should look for and talk about the opportunities to succeed, 
even when how to do so is not clear (positive); use a well-defined set of 
priorities as a means of differentiating and prioritizing activites 
(focused); seek out novel perspectives and incorporate them into their work 
(flexible); create structured approaches to deal with the ambiguity they 
feel (organized); and take measured risks in trying new ways of doing things 
(proactive).  In addition to any predisposition toward these behaviors that 
a person may display, an organization's culture must overtly state and 
reward the value it places on these actions."

Positive, focused, flexible, organized, and proactive.

mike