MBA 765 - Reflections on Module 1

What appears to unique about the closure stage of the organizational lifecycle?
The closure stage is about the leadership of a company waking up out of their hubris dream and having to face reality. Companies start to re-invent themselves and create a winning culture. It appears, based on the reading assignments, new leadership must be brought in during this stage and maybe even a new board of directors.

What closure stage issues appear to warrant particular attention from company leaders?
Addressing and getting rid of all of the organizational pathologies. This is necessary for the company to become successful again and for the employees to regain their motivation - also allows respect to be built.

What critical ethical issues need to be dealt with at this stage?
The leader must allows weigh the economic and social consequences of a decision. The leader is typically torn between maximizing the profit and increasing shareholder value and doing what is morally right for the other stakeholder and the environment.

This stage is about exploring the company's values and standards for doing business. Looking to see if the current ethical standards have strayed from these values and beliefs. Have the employees started to take the moral high ground and become righteous and devoid of any action.

How might I creatively express what I have learned in the MBA program to an audience of my peers?
I have learned that leadership is the most important skill a person can continually develop. As we enter deeper into the knowledge wave, people and their experience will be very valuable. Present and future leadership needs to exploit every employees knowledge through effective communication channels. Also the leader needs to continually explore the global markets for continued success and a means to stretch the employees' knowledge. Continually challenging the workforce and using education, mentoring, and coaching will sustain a company.

Many companies have leaders of the industrial age and no ability to think or manage pass this wave. The MBA have taught me that open dialogue and communication, especially bottom - up is very important. It helps to stop denial and hubris. Arrogance and "boss mentality" still dominate the styles of today.