Discusses criticisms of downsizing and its perceived demise. Spells out that perhaps downsizing has not led to the gains in productivity that it should do, and has therefore led to damaged employee morale. Produces evidence that 40% of executives were unhappy with the results of downsizing....

States there is a persistent view that a perfect business model exists — which is managed by a logical, rational leader. Posits that the most successful organizational leaders are not exactly rational, logical, sensible, and dependable human beings — but are prone to irrational behaviour....

States that personal development activities are not integrated with the development of organizational structures and processes. Contends that people running organizations need two key skills — learning continuously, and giving direction — most people at the top have not been trained in...

Alludes to the concept of the value chain — which was seen as a powerful tool enabling strategists to diagnose and enhance competitive strategy (first put forward in Porter's 1980 book ‘Competitive Strategy’). Describes the value system as having at least three additional value chains of...

Contends that, as competition becomes truly international, as company boundaries blur, and expertise is recognized as a valuable resource, the strategy‐structure‐systems model appears static and mechanistic ‐ needing to be replaced with one that is in touch with today's highly complex...

Proclaims that the hard approach (referred to here as theory E) is the creation of economic value/high returns to shareholders; and that the soft approach (theory O) sees organizations as having many stakeholders, developing employees and their loyalty. Posits that, for organizations to prosper,...