Spending Time Solving Problems

Many managements are involved in fire fighting and solving urgent matters which have developed into crisis situations. Time needs to be set apart to study alternative solutions to the bank of problems that lie under the surface of a running organization, constantly fighting for time. ‘Don’t fix it, if it ain’t broke’ say the Americans, meaning do not change, if it is working well. This is disastrous advice in the present context of rapid change. Alternatives have to be developed when things are going well. Status quo is the gateway to overnight obsolescence. Innovation should be planned when things are going well. When things are going badly and survival itself becomes an issue, no one has the time or energy to look for alternatives.