Contrast these quotes:

"Reformers must be able to envision a better future, but they must also find a way to turn those ideals into reality. That involves careful study and hard work to develop the machinery to achieve their ends."

--Teddy Roosevelt, 1912

"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States -- [a] strain of anti-intellectualism -- nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that ‘my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'"

-- Isaac Asimov, 1980

It's tempting, almost logical, to search for simple answers, the "quick fix," right? How many times have we heard, "KISS, keep it simple...."

But as with so many leadership decisions, when it comes to organizational design, that's not the right answer. Executives who believe in organizational quick fixes may shuffle some boxes on the organization chart; craft some lofty values; put in tough metrics. And then they think, "There! We're done with leadership (working on the machine, not just in the machine). Now we can get back to management (the issues of the day)."

Roosevelt was right.... Designing and implementing great organizations takes study, patience, and hard work. There's science involved, and there are reliable, participative implementation methods to utilize. In my (albeit biased) opinion, organizational transformation is a fundamental leadership competency -- but a competency that requires cultivation, as well as the help of experts who have dedicated their work lives to studying that science.

Here is Isaac Asimov's 1980 one-page essay, a provocative lament on the prevalent attitude of anti-intellectualism:

Reference: A Cult of Ignorance
classic article by Isaac Asimov on people's aversion to study and deep thought (a problem affecting too many leaders who are eager for "quick fixes"). Newsweek. January 21, 1980. Page 19.

And for those who are interested in the origins of the phrase, "cult of ignorance," and what motivated Asimov's interest in science fiction:

Reference: The By-Product of Science Fiction
precursor article by Isaac Asimov where he coins the term, "cult of ignorance," and explains his interest in science fiction. Chemical & Engineering News. American Chemical Society. August 13, 1956. Page 3882.

For leaders who are interested in reading about the science of organizational design, here’s a good place to start:

30-minute video for executives

Abstracts Free library

Books Speech abstracts

NDMA coaching/consulting services

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