By Pascal Dennis
I paraphrase the great Emmanuel Lasker, philosopher, mathematician, and world chess champ from 1894 to 1920.
One of the great charms of chess is its
binary nature.
You win or lose based on
- The strength of your ideas, and
- Your skill & courage in implementing them
(Note: nowadays you can download grandmaster level chess programs on to your iPad!)
Is Lasker's maxim true in business?
In small business, I'd say
Yes.
Our success or failure depends on the depth of our strategic understanding, and the energy & intelligence with which we execute.
(Luck plays a part too, of course, as always & everywhere.)
How about
BIG business?
Based on my experience, I'd say
Yes - with important reservations.
Monopoly, oligopoly, and market rigging (e.g. to keep competition out) are all too common.
(The countermeasure is
intelligent regulation in accord with the "Less is More" principle)
Another exception is large companies suffering from Big Company Disease, the villain in my last book,
The Remedy
Perhaps the greatest power of the Toyota Business System (aka "Lean") is its ability to
make problems visible.
Lasker might add, "thereby, we expose lies & hypocrisy."
Good Lean companies are thus, a
meritocracy.
The best & brightest
prosper, and bozos are exposed.
Best,
Pascal
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