A survey questionnaire with 20
constructs relating to African modes of leadership was designed. This was
used as an online survey to elicit electronic
feedback from individuals within a specific organization.
It is well-known that due to globalization, the world has become a smaller
place. Multinational companies (MNCs) are Master musicians accomplish the
following remarkable feat: They constantly keep in mind the gestalt of
the entire piece they are performing while simultaneously focusing on playing
each note with unsurpassed virtuosity.
Likewise, leaders need to pursue a grand vision while not overlooking
game-deciding frontline issues. In turn, they must
never lose sight of the whole when being absorbed with all-important details.
The process of what I call `multistage idea workout' helps the guiding spirit to
master the above-described bifocal challenge. In the first stage, he must
meticulously screen proposals in a fact-based, imaginative way, together with his team.
In subsequent stages, collective intelligence again may be exploited
to reshape suggestions or generate new options altogether, if this is
expedient. The original set of proposals may
emerge from the Innovation Honeymoon™,
the unusually insightful and creative commencement period of
new organizational members, and from other
sources.
To excel in the first stage of idea workout, executives must master the intricate
details of how to use strategic winnowing tools, designed for separating idea grain from
chaff, while precisely and comprehensively screening diverse ideas. |
