By George Anderson
Publishers print them as fast as writers can write them. "Them" is the latest and greatest technique for answering every question or dilemma faced by modern managers.
While many of these guru guides have value, they apparently do not deliver the Holy Grail of management that many are looking for.
An article in The Wall Street Journal points out that the Six Sigma philosophy, for example, was essentially a refinement on W. Edward Deming's total-quality theory. While Six Sigma did much to improve efficiency in numerous manufacturing facilities, it was much less successful in fostering innovation.
Jeffrey Pfeffer, co-author of Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths & Total Nonsense and business professor at Stanford, said that executives are not going to find all the answers they are looking for in the pages of the book. They need to be independent thinkers and "systematically examine evidence about what's gone right and what's gone wrong" in their business.
Prof. Pfeffer said that keeping to the basics is the best way for executives to manage their business.
"If you take care of employees, they do good work and take care of customers, and then you're successful," he said.
Moderator's Comment: Does your experience tell you that managers get too caught up in the latest management advice? What are the best and/or worst management ideas you have ever heard? - George Anderson - Moderator