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Vice-President, Comtech Services, Inc.
http://www.comtech-serv.com
As a manager in your company, you are constantly in the dilemma
of wanting your staff to take responsibility and initiative
while at the same time wanting them to make decisions in line
with company goals. Too little staff responsibility brings all
decisions to management, while too much responsibility can lead
to chaos.
This problem is magnified in many publications departments
because you are not only managing your own office but probably
some remote locations, telecommuters, as well as a variety of
contract workers. How do you encourage initiative in such a
diverse organization?
In an article entitled "Transforming Corner Office Strategy
into Frontline Action" in the May 2001 issue of the Harvard
Business Review, Orit Gadiesh and James L. Gilbert suggest a
tool that many successful companies are already using.
The tool is the "strategic principle." The authors give
examples:
| AOL |
"Consumer connectivity first—anytime, anywhere" |
| Wal-Mart |
"Low prices, every day" |
| Dell |
"Be direct" |
How does a strategic principle differ from a mission statement?
A mission statement describes company culture, while a
strategic principle describes a company strategy.
Your diverse staff, using the company strategic principle, can
have guidance to help them make their own decisions in line
with company strategy.
What is your company's strategic principle?
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