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If you think that being a writer, living in your head, romancing the most beautiful women you can imagine, daring to do any task and vie with any foe, is interesting, you should have lived my life before I retired to write stories. I was a consultant.
I pursued five careers in my lifetime: bureaucrat, soldier, marketing guru, and computer technologist. I survived the last three as an entrepreneur. Over the course of my working years, I participated in projects with every type of organization - from one-man operations to multinational corporations, for profit and nonprofit, every level of government, local, state, and national, and a variety of military units.
Frequently, I have been asked, “Which is the best managed?”
I've never hesitated, not even a heartbeat, to answer: The United States Army.
Yes, you're laughing. So have all my audiences. But, it's true. The laughter dies when they realize I'm not joking and there's a pause as they wait expectantly for me to explain.
I do, simply.
“Imagine,” I suggest, “that your organization must not only accomplish its mission – manufacture, distribute, sell, serve, whatever – but also clothe, feed, and house your employees and provide them with medical care, not just insurance, but build medical facilities, buy medical supplies, and staff medical service providers. Then, on a moment's notice, move your organization and its operations half-way around the world and operate there.”
As they consider this, I interrupt their thoughts with one more challenge. “By the way,” I add, “when you get there, someone is going to be shooting at you.” This final part usually elicits a chuckle. Then, I wait for someone to accept the challenge.
No one ever does.
Interestingly, over the years as I've visited so many organizations, I've discovered vestiges of the influence brought by other veterans who preceded me. Sometimes it's subtle. Other times, it’s blatant.
For example, a couple decades ago I found private consultants visiting corporations to introduce them to the ‘Functional Filing System’. (I'm not sure if that's still used in the Army or any other branch of the services today.)
Employees were told to move their personal effects to one drawer only before leaving for the weekend. When they returned the following workday, they found their files and desks completely reorganized and were warned to not attempt to put anything back the way it was. After a brief period of rebellion, they settled into the new structure and benefited from it.
Sadly, modern American corporations seem to be more under the pall of governmental bureaucracy than military discipline. As government regulations address more and more of the minutia of business, corporate employees become more like bureaucrats. Even more sadly, corporate employees begin thinking more like bureaucrats, more concerned with following regulations than with profitable growth.
Ultimately, I think that businesses have to rediscover customer-oriented marketing. They need to hire veterans and allow them to introduce the concepts of mission-orientation.
Do you think they can while government continues to micro-manage business through intrusive regulation?
I pursued five careers in my lifetime: bureaucrat, soldier, marketing guru, and computer technologist. I survived the last three as an entrepreneur. Over the course of my working years, I participated in projects with every type of organization - from one-man operations to multinational corporations, for profit and nonprofit, every level of government, local, state, and national, and a variety of military units.
Frequently, I have been asked, “Which is the best managed?”
I've never hesitated, not even a heartbeat, to answer: The United States Army.
Yes, you're laughing. So have all my audiences. But, it's true. The laughter dies when they realize I'm not joking and there's a pause as they wait expectantly for me to explain.
I do, simply.
“Imagine,” I suggest, “that your organization must not only accomplish its mission – manufacture, distribute, sell, serve, whatever – but also clothe, feed, and house your employees and provide them with medical care, not just insurance, but build medical facilities, buy medical supplies, and staff medical service providers. Then, on a moment's notice, move your organization and its operations half-way around the world and operate there.”
As they consider this, I interrupt their thoughts with one more challenge. “By the way,” I add, “when you get there, someone is going to be shooting at you.” This final part usually elicits a chuckle. Then, I wait for someone to accept the challenge.
No one ever does.
Interestingly, over the years as I've visited so many organizations, I've discovered vestiges of the influence brought by other veterans who preceded me. Sometimes it's subtle. Other times, it’s blatant.
For example, a couple decades ago I found private consultants visiting corporations to introduce them to the ‘Functional Filing System’. (I'm not sure if that's still used in the Army or any other branch of the services today.)
Employees were told to move their personal effects to one drawer only before leaving for the weekend. When they returned the following workday, they found their files and desks completely reorganized and were warned to not attempt to put anything back the way it was. After a brief period of rebellion, they settled into the new structure and benefited from it.
Sadly, modern American corporations seem to be more under the pall of governmental bureaucracy than military discipline. As government regulations address more and more of the minutia of business, corporate employees become more like bureaucrats. Even more sadly, corporate employees begin thinking more like bureaucrats, more concerned with following regulations than with profitable growth.
Ultimately, I think that businesses have to rediscover customer-oriented marketing. They need to hire veterans and allow them to introduce the concepts of mission-orientation.
Do you think they can while government continues to micro-manage business through intrusive regulation?
Management
Organization
Command Post
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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Sir,
I have to agree. The USMC was by far the best managed. That isn't to say they don't have their inefficiencies (heaven help, they exist), but those are "burned" out generally very quickly, or explained if you understand the system.
As for your question:
"Do you think they can while government continues to micro-manage business through intrusive regulation?"
One of the questions/statements that always makes me cringe is "There should be a law" or "the government should" which instantly makes me go "NO!"
I have to agree. The USMC was by far the best managed. That isn't to say they don't have their inefficiencies (heaven help, they exist), but those are "burned" out generally very quickly, or explained if you understand the system.
As for your question:
"Do you think they can while government continues to micro-manage business through intrusive regulation?"
One of the questions/statements that always makes me cringe is "There should be a law" or "the government should" which instantly makes me go "NO!"
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LCDR (Join to see)
I also agree and do think that part of it is they are quick in and out. When we deployed 26 MEU for KFOR that operation was the picture of planning, execution and efficiency. Not saying the Army has dead weight but the USMC has none.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
LCDR (Join to see) "We learned if from watching you!" I think all the services are strong in this regards. The Navy (on sea) is some of the hardest working individuals I've ever seen.
The Air Force is amazingly efficient.. at well.. everything. The Army as well.. Considering its size, it shouldn't be able to function, at all, just from a "scale" concept. But it does, and it does it well. Sure the USMC trims a lot of fat.. but it's like an Ultramarathoner vs a Sprinter. You need those fat reserves for the long hauls, you can't have any excess for the quick bursts.
The Air Force is amazingly efficient.. at well.. everything. The Army as well.. Considering its size, it shouldn't be able to function, at all, just from a "scale" concept. But it does, and it does it well. Sure the USMC trims a lot of fat.. but it's like an Ultramarathoner vs a Sprinter. You need those fat reserves for the long hauls, you can't have any excess for the quick bursts.
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LT Charles Baird
Let me give my two cents as I have been in the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Corporate America.
I spent 22 years in the Air Force (10 Active duty) in Air Transportation (the people who move material and troops around the world via Aircraft. When I was in, part of my job was moving people; the standard was a 2 hour show time prior to departure of the flight. Coming through a few months ago on my way to Afghanistan (being moved by the Air Force) the standard showtime was 6 - 8 hours prior. My view may be skewed but based on this I would say that the Air Force has LOST efficiency over the years.
Being here at HQ ISAF now HQ RS working with a butt load of high ranking officers (almost feel like I am at the Pentagon); I can honestly say that I would probably not hire any of them to work for me in the Civilian world. Allow me to explain (and mind you this does not reflect on the military as a whole but just my current perspective where I am at); The military being a government agency has no concept of profit; they have the concept of we have the money so SPEND, SPEND, SPEND!!!! This does not translate good to the corporate sector. They say they have a concept of fiscal responsibility but when a finance officer explains to them that they should not give money to a particular fund what they get is "the fighting season is upon us just give them the money so they can continue to fight"; no fiscal responsibility at all!!!
With that mind set I believe that those I currently work with; if hired in corporate America would run a company into the ground financially because they have been inundated with the mindset of SPEND, SPEND, SPEND or lose your budget next year. This actually makes them quite inefficient in the end because they end up spending money on material that is unnecessary. Unfortunately the military is punished for fiscal responsibility.
Just my two cents.
I spent 22 years in the Air Force (10 Active duty) in Air Transportation (the people who move material and troops around the world via Aircraft. When I was in, part of my job was moving people; the standard was a 2 hour show time prior to departure of the flight. Coming through a few months ago on my way to Afghanistan (being moved by the Air Force) the standard showtime was 6 - 8 hours prior. My view may be skewed but based on this I would say that the Air Force has LOST efficiency over the years.
Being here at HQ ISAF now HQ RS working with a butt load of high ranking officers (almost feel like I am at the Pentagon); I can honestly say that I would probably not hire any of them to work for me in the Civilian world. Allow me to explain (and mind you this does not reflect on the military as a whole but just my current perspective where I am at); The military being a government agency has no concept of profit; they have the concept of we have the money so SPEND, SPEND, SPEND!!!! This does not translate good to the corporate sector. They say they have a concept of fiscal responsibility but when a finance officer explains to them that they should not give money to a particular fund what they get is "the fighting season is upon us just give them the money so they can continue to fight"; no fiscal responsibility at all!!!
With that mind set I believe that those I currently work with; if hired in corporate America would run a company into the ground financially because they have been inundated with the mindset of SPEND, SPEND, SPEND or lose your budget next year. This actually makes them quite inefficient in the end because they end up spending money on material that is unnecessary. Unfortunately the military is punished for fiscal responsibility.
Just my two cents.
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Great insight. Next big disaster the military spearhead the recovery efforts as it is the only organization and leaders who know how to move mountains.
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