The Perils of Top-Down Management and RTO Mandates
Chaos at Amazon Shows Disconnect Between Leadership and Reality My three industrial engineering degrees drove home the perils of top-down management early on. Leading companies for decades reinforced what I learned at Purdue. So, I’m not surprised at the chaos...
For Trump, It’s Leadership at the Speed of Business
Flexible Planning, Strategic Execution Turns Negotiation into a High-Stakes Masterclass I wear two hats. Dr. James A. Tompkins analyzes supply chains, while Jim Tompkins studies leadership. For many nights, I have not been able to sleep as “Jim.” Like many...
The Worker Motivation and Flexible Work Debate, Circa 2025
Humans Aren’t Pigeons, and There Are Only So Many Things You Can Drive Can leaders drive results? Drive growth and profits? Drive worker motivation and employee engagement? I think not. You can drive cattle or golf balls. But driving people for results,...
Digital Enablement Helps Reinvent Your Organization
Artificial Intelligence Tools Drive Decision-Making Down, Excellence Up Digital enablement and artificial intelligence tools could help end the frustration I have when serving on boards of directors. For years, I have watched board members bury themselves in revenue,...
So How Did Trump Do in Week 1?
47th President of the United States Starts Strong Disclaimer: This is not a political editorial. It is an assessment of the negotiation and leadership effectiveness of President Trump’s second term as president. I am unsure of the frequency of this review. But at this...
For Your Students’ Future, Use AI in the Classroom
Youth Need to Learn the Latest Tools & Technologies for Professional Success Educators should teach students how to use AI in the classroom, not forbid it. I recently blogged about how many people in education are missing the boat on artificial intelligence and...
Missing the Boat on AI in Education
In Days of Yore, Today’s Naysayers Fought Calculators Imagine not being able to use a calculator or a computer in today’s world. If AI in education naysayers have their way, such a future awaits today’s students. This thought was sparked by my grandson, who...
VUCA, from the Cold War to Perpetual Disruption
Vulnerability Makes Strong Alliances More Necessary than Ever For years, I’ve been using the term VUCA to describe the world’s growing tendency toward disruption. VUCA is an acronym that stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. The...
Scraping the Barnacles Off DEI and ESG
Good Coaching Helps Executives Turns Ideals into Reality Many executives are uncomfortable discussing the terms DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) and ESG (environmental, social and governance). On the surface, who could oppose these ideals? Because the acronyms...
Coaching the Exec Set on Inventory Turns
Supply Chain Pros, C-Suite Need Help Bridging the Boardroom Divide The new Chief Supply Chain Officer started talking inventory turns in the boardroom. She was surprised to see eyes glaze over at a term so obvious. But is that term really obvious to the grey flannel...