Tag Archives: Enron

The myth of the transparent organisation.

Posted on June 11, 2014 by lawrence serewicz

We will hear that transparency is good for organisations and organisations will even tout their transparency. In many cases, the organisations believe what they are doing is transparent. They publish information on a regular basis that describes decisions, financial positions, … Continue reading →

Posted in compliance, coruption, learning organisation, transparency | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Where do you discuss bad news?

Posted on April 14, 2014 by lawrence serewicz

In any organisation, you have to discuss bad news but few people consider where it is discussed. How you discuss bad news will influence, if not determine, the success of your company. The issue is more than critical upwards communication … Continue reading →

Posted in change, change managment, culture, leadership, learning organisation, management, renewal | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Who is creating the rotten barrels in your company?

Posted on August 7, 2013 by lawrence serewicz

In an earlier post, I discussed the myth of the rogue employee. The post focused on how the term was used when an organisation wanted to scapegoat an employee. When that happened, I argued that the organisation used the term to … Continue reading →

Posted in change, coruption, culture, leadership, learning organisation, management | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Who is creating the rotten barrels in your company?

Public resignations do these change a corporate culture?

Posted on May 5, 2012 by lawrence serewicz

You chafe under an organisational hierarchy seemingly focused on the wrong goals, or behaviour, or even potentially criminal activity, and you dream that you can change it through a bold personal act.  For some, it will be a report to … Continue reading →

Posted in change, change managment, culture, leadership, learning organisation, management | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Why do companies obey the law? Compliance in a self-regulated business is habit that needs to be nurtured.

Posted on February 17, 2012 by lawrence serewicz

One of the challenges faced by businesses is how sustain compliance with corporate governance rules.  The recent corporate scandals such as Enron, WorldCom and others shows what happens when the internal corporate culture diverges from corporate governance.  The challenge is … Continue reading →

Posted in coruption, culture, management, phone hacking | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Media response to a political crisis is different from business crisis: lessons for Microsoft

Posted on November 22, 2011 by lawrence serewicz

The difference between a political crisis and a business crisis, from a media response perspective might be small, but it is important.  The structure to a political crisis has a different focus and context. Politics is structured around wrestling in … Continue reading →

Posted in change, learning organisation | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Does the fish rot from the head down? When organisations go toxic

Posted on November 21, 2011 by lawrence serewicz

An ancient phrase says that a fish rots from the head down.  The phrase is known in China as well as Europe in the middle ages. http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/fish-rot-from-the-head-down.html  What is interesting about the consistency between the meanings for the phrase is … Continue reading →

Posted in change managment, learning organisation, local government, management | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments