Screen Culture Review, Screening Materials, Peter and Waterman
In 1982, Peters and Waterman published the book "In Search of Excellence" that was based on McKinsey's model elements (Collins, 2007). It focused on structure, strategy, style of management, skills, staff, and shared values to determine the exact nature in which those elements should be implemented. An essential message in their book is the importance of people to a business and the failure of particular philosophies and practices that were being implemented by some companies at the time. The book is flawed in stating that these principles would apply forever the business world when indeed some of them have become obsolete.
According to the book, there are eight common themes they argued were important for the success of any corporation (Peters & Waterman, 2006). A bias for action and active decision making is the first theme that is developed through their book. They argued that quick decision making was fundamental to the success of any business. Each time an organization is faced with a task, they must make decisions in a timely manner in order to stay ahead of the rest. This quick decision making is fundamental in problem solving to avoid bureaucratic control. Transparency in the approach to problem solving will be enhanced to ensure that effective management is enhanced.
[...] It even goes further to state that some of the best companies have a minimal number of staff. The eighth and final principle is simultaneous loose-tight properties whereby individual workers are expected to work at their best. They are supposed to engage the company's philosophies and values into the work that they so that they can produce goods and services that reflect the organization's principles (Peters & Waterman, 2006). Culture is important in an organization and employees should be engaged into it. [...]
[...] Some companies may argue that they can hire more employees for the same amount of money, a concept that can be argued differently. A large pool of staff are likely to work less efficiently as a result of the diluted amount of work and the low salaries that they may be receiving as a result. Management is another key area that should be left for very few people. The top level managers must be kept to the bare minimum to ensure efficiency of operations and management of costs. [...]
[...] Management by constant supervision may also be an aspect that is not feasible with the current economy (DuBrin, 2012). Some employees work best when they are not supervised as a result of the level of stress that constant supervision gives them. It is fundamental for employers to allow their staff to work alone for some time so that they can feel that the management has entrusted the company to them. Employees are the most fundamental people in the operation of a company and must be treated like the adults that they are. [...]
[...] When a company goes public, it should entrust the power of decision making to its members owing to the stake that they have in it. It should be done with consultation from all members with shares in the company to ensure fairness (Schein, 2011). But thus process is time consuming and will allow for quick decision making. The principles researched by Peter and Waterman as relates to a bias for action depicted several pitfalls as realized in Wang Laboratories. Decision making must not only be quick but must also include all the members with shares in the company. [...]
[...] Courteous service is an aspect that several businesses overlook when providing its services. This interaction is important for the business being that it supplies it with valuable information that can be used to tailor products to the customer's requirements. Innovations are key to the progress of any organization in the manner that it fosters the success of the business. New ideas are important for businesses all over the world as it gives them the competitive edge that they require to own the market. [...]
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