Karl Edwards presents Working Matters

Tag: greed

  • Can Leadership Be Moral?

    insightful-linkThe economic crisis in this country is not simply a result of financial assumptions gone awry.

    Decisions were made that had no connection to the benefit of anything or anyone other than the achievement of short term financial results. No connection whatsoever.

    DangerCompanies were purchased for their intangible brand value, their assets sold, loaded up with debt, long term employees fired, and resold at a premium re-presented as restructured for success. In reality they were stripped bare and abandoned before the operational implications of high debt and high turnover set in.

    All that to say you should read Mike King‘s recent article entitled, “Do You Demonstrate Moral Leadership?” It’s both insightful and practical.

    Is your team in conversation about your standards?

    If we’re going to reap the benefits of democratic capitalism, then we need to get more voices in the conversation than just the greediest, most driven and most ruthless of us.

    What do you think?

  • American Idol Savvy: Content Loses to Commercials

    IdolInteresting decision, isn’t it?!

    The judges are giving feedback in pairs in order to save time.

    It’s an interesting decision because there are still as many commercial breaks.

    In other words, to solve the problem of the show exceeding its time slot, the producers cut back on the content instead of the commercials.

    Is it pure greed?

    The biggest implication is that not every contestant is at risk of experiencing Simon’s withering critique. (Or his highly coveted praise, as was the case with Kris Allen, whose feedback time this week was dominated by Randy’s negative comments.)

    Here’s the rub. The content that has become so valuable as to attract top advertising dollar is being compromised, which in turn risks reducing its advertising value.

    Obviously the producers are supremely confident that nothing they do will lose a single viewer, which may be true. But I’m disappointed nonetheless. I want each contestant to hear from each judge. It’s more fair. It’s better entertainment.

    I already get up and complete a week’s worth of chores during the marathon commercial breaks, so I can’t protest by boycotting the commercials.

    I guess I’ll just have to redirect my frustration toward my campaign to replace Ryan Seacrest as the show’s host.