LONDON, May 9 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Successful companies grow, and as they grow, they become more complex and it takes more time and effort to get things done, according to research by Global Integration. Eventually complexity undermines what made the company successful in the first place; the old, entrepreneurial spirit breaks down, bureaucracy increases and progress slows.
Breaking this cycle of decline is essential to the continued success of Asian companies and outdated management techniques are the problem.
After 12 years working with ever more complex "teams" in over 200 of the world's leading companies in 40 countries and training over 40,000 people, CEO, entrepreneur and author Kevan Hall reaches some startling conclusions with major implications for management in his new book "Speed Lead(TM) -- faster, simpler ways to manage people, projects and teams in complex companies."
1. "Teamwork causes delay -- Even great companies are struggling with an
epidemic of cooperation -- Managers spend 20% of their time in
unnecessary meetings. Everyone feels the need to be involved in
everything and teams are the answer. Team working is no longer a
technique but a corporate value. Yet teams often do not work and are
expensive and difficult to run.
2. Lack of communication is a problem of the past -- the challenge now is
how to disconnect from the mass of trivia and see the few really
important messages. Over 50% of emails are unnecessary.
3. Decentralized control and information in manufacturing have given us a
quality revolution over the last 15 years. Management control in
other areas however, has become more centralized and this is causing a
damaging cycle of micromanagement and low expectations of people at
work.
4. Community at work has changed, it is more diverse and less based on
place but companies still invest in traditional "team spirit" and
"corporate values" which are often more about the home culture of the
organization.
Most team working, communication and leadership training still carries inaccurate assumptions from a much simpler management past. Managers are spending 80% of their time on cooperation, communication and control and they estimate that 50% of this is wasted. The answer is not working harder with the old skills but implementing faster and simpler ways of working.
Kevan Hall is available for interview or feature writing, please contact Kevan@global-integration.com or visit http://www.speedleading.com .
"SPEED is the key word for companies in the Asia Pacific Rim: China, Japan and Korea. Kevan's remarkable new book comes from his long practical experience and is based on Creativity and Innovation, Simplicity and Ease of applicability for managers of global companies." Professor Jae Ho Park, Founder of GRCIOP and Professor of IO Psychology at Yeungnam University, South Korea.
"An eminently practical book, good at giving pragmatic, realistic tips that can help the reader to reframe and reflect on one's practice, and change behaviour without the guilt from being 'stuck' in an outdated managerial mindset. A well-organized and enthusiastic synthesis of good managerial practice." Director Magazine.
