Mission Possible: Becoming a World-Class Organization While There's Still Time

Bestselling business guru Blanchard (The One Minute Manager) and Waghorn, a management strategist in the Netherlands, assert that companies today, to survive and thrive, must simultaneously improve current practices while redesigning themselves for the future. They recommend the creation of two corporate-wide teams: one attacks present problems while the other uses scenario planning and intuitive thinking to envision a new organizational structure responsive to tomorrow's needs. The writing is conversational, and lively case material--for example, the reorganization of AT&T, Brandon-Weiss Bakeries' projection of upscale tastes, Steve Jobs's saga from Apple Computer to the takeoff of his computer animation company, Pixar--illumines key points. Much of the advice has a familiar ring, as in the discussions of how to build core competencies and how to transform employees into decision-making partners. Even so, this pragmatic manual will help managers spot unfolding opportunities and forecast doom's potential entryways. 100,000 first printing; $100,000 ad/promo; author tour. (Oct.)