Leading Blog

DECEMBER 5, 2022

I IN 1982, Tom Peters and Bob Waterman released In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America’s Best-Run Companies. Yet, Peters and Waterman pointed out that there were bright spots in the economy. Productivity through well-trained, rewarded, and empowered front-line employees. Yet, 40 years later, few now speak of the book.

Waterman 249

Waterman Bureaucracy Bottom-up Real Estate 249

Michael Lee Stallard

NOVEMBER 23, 2014

Tom Peters and Robert Waterman called it “management by wandering around” or “MBWA” in their classic book In Search of Excellence. Because they didn’t address these leadership gaps, cynicism and disengagement developed among the people they were responsible for leading and it eventually sabotaged performance.

Survey 359

Survey Leadership Waterman Mentor 359

The Practical Leader

MAY 16, 2012

Part of the article reports on “a recent study conducted by Marshall Fisher, a professor of operations and information management at Wharton, and other colleagues.” An engaged workforce not only implements changes more effectively, if properly guided and trained, they make better improvement decisions.

Waterman 58

Waterman Consultative Learning-by-Doing Retail 58

Harvard Business Review

APRIL 23, 2014

The Lean Startup is an approach to developing new products that came out of “Agile” software development, with “sprints” (quick deliverables) and fast learning. There is a lot at stake here for GE’s operations strategy. Todd Waterman, GE’s corporate Lean leader, is leveraging GE Appliance’s insights with other GE units.

Ries 10

Ries Waterman Finance Competitive Advantage 10