| August 9, 2000 | 03 00050 61 00080903 |
Tim Fong
tim@lassotech.com
| Subject: | Who Wants to Improve Management? |
Dear Tim,
Your interest in Drucker places you squarely in the center of ideas for improving management. Drucker looms over the past century in delineating the great challenges that lie ahead, moving from information to
knowledge based management. As a result, attention has begun to crystallize on making management productive.I have not met Drucker; but, called him in 1993 about his book. At that time he was 91, and so by now he is nearing 100. In January of 1998, Drucker made a rare appearance on national television to comment on trends and opportunities.
Government and business are striving to develop tools that support sound management practice enunciated by Drucker and others. A meeting on July 27, 2000 at SRI by Doug Engelbart's group, and a recent proposal to NASA, illustrate efforts being undertaken. As noted in the prior letter, progress is slow because lack of training prevents effective use of technology to implement ideas from cognitive science. See, for example. Landauer's book, The Trouble with Computers. Additionally, there are strong social dynamics that prevent better methods from being adopted, or even pilot tested, because better management entails better accountability, and people fear accountability.
This presents a significant Knowledge Management dilemma. Inquiries like your's help keep the spotlight on continual improvement.
If you have not already done so, you might contact the Drucker Center at Claremont College for other sources on improving management.
Sincerely,
THE WELCH COMPANY
Rod Welch
rowelch@attglobal.net