Management Practices

Welcome to Con Air

January 11, 2012
Ever wonder how prisoners are moved around the country? Such transfers require careful leadership and coordination of about 15,000 prisoners a month through 40 cities, on a fleet known as “Con Air,” under the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System.

Sharpen your ‘A’ game

November 2, 2011

An organization’s health results in part from its ability to renew itself faster than its competitors. Researchers from McKinsey & Co. use a process called the “five A’s” to build a competitive advantage.

Leadership Tips: Vol. 1111

November 1, 2011
Stick to the plan: Chipotle Mexican Grill founder Steve Ells runs his place on rules. He limits the menu to four basic items, serves no coffee or dessert, and doesn’t mess with limited-time offers. Even room temperature is strictly regulated. Result: Revenue has tripled since 2006, to $2 billion.

French firm drives home diversity

October 27, 2011

Diversity is on the mind of Severin Cabannes, one of three deputy CEOs for Société Générale. The France-based global banking concern is pressing forward on a topic that doesn’t get much play in today’s economy-obsessed world:

Lay the groundwork for small miracles

October 11, 2011
Sometimes, it takes a miracle to hold an organization (or yourself) together, and sometimes, that miracle turns out to be extremely hard to maintain.

Leadership Tips: Vol. 1011

September 21, 2011
Rock icon Tom Petty challenged his record label, and won, when it wanted to raise album prices. “Look, I don’t need the extra dollar,” he told executives. “But it makes a big deal to the people buying the music.”

Leadership Tips: Vol. 911

September 1, 2011
Nobody has to tell Google co-founder Larry Page to look for the big picture. He loves the grand quest and will challenge an employee by saying, “You’re not thinking big enough.”

Bringing Army efficiency to business: Lt. Gen. Pagonis

August 15, 2011
Allied Forces commander Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf once called Lt. Gen. William G. Pagonis the “logistical wizard” of the first Gulf War. Now Pagonis applies his wizardry to the business world. What the Army taught him about business:

The 5 traits all CEOs share

July 14, 2011

Imagine a company with 100 middle managers, all smart, all hard-working. Who will get the plum promotion? Who will eventually land in the corner office? There are five essentials that most CEOs share and look for in people they promote.

Lush: Happy people selling happy soap

June 29, 2011
At Lush, happy people make happy soap, literally—the handcrafted cosmetics are fresh, free of preservatives and made with ingredients not tested on animals. The lesson of how Lush cosmetics grew from one small store to a worldwide chain in 44 countries holds valuable insights for any small business in its growth stage.