Execution

People are not perfect, and they are not robots that can be programmed. When we design management systems, we expect people respond and carry out the tasks and subtasks like robots.

If the system looks and feels new, people have to buy-in and learn the details. If the company is already running lean and tight, these people have no incentive to learn.

I am a consultant to several companies, two are mid-size-to-large type. The rest are mosquito - one man band type. They have entirely different mindsets and face problems very differently. One of the large corp was my former company which retains me as their consultant.

When I was with them a few years back, I hired the best in the field. I hired many PhDs because I thought there was a notion that we could not allow ourselves to fail.唔衰得 which was a good motivation. 

Time changes people and we have now a new generation of employees. The executives of this company told me that they hired people with good attitude rather than expertise in the field. A very different approach from my previous philosophy. 

I was able to manage this large group of PhDs and experts because I was able to lead them with mutual respect in those days. They subscribed to my philosophy of being the best in the field.
                                     
                                                                                                 edited from a group post published June 9, 2011