The document discusses how the top levels of management are often the biggest barriers to organizational transformation and effective strategy execution. It notes that senior managers have the least diversity of experience, are most invested in the status quo, and are often most dogmatic in their views. Several examples are given of how top management has resisted change and new ideas that later proved successful. The document emphasizes that top management must champion new initiatives for real change to occur and that generating their buy-in is critical in the transformation process.

1. " Where are you likely to find people with the least diversity of
experience, the largest investment in the past, and the greatest
reverence for industry dogma?
At the top!” ……….Gary Hamel
http://www.flickr.com/photos/noelii/2534048747/

2. Bottleneck at the top of the bottle http://www.flickr.com/photos/noelii/2534048747/

3. Thomas Watson proclaimed in 1943 that there is a world market for 5 computers

4. Bill Gates commented that 640 Kbyte should be enough memory for everyone
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43225918@N00/2244447400/

5. fiercest stumbling blocks to effective transformation are at the top.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/37022706/

6. Strategy has very little chanceStrategy has very little chance
to get executed, if the topto get executed, if the top
management refuses tomanagement refuses to
champion or sponsor the causechampion or sponsor the cause

7. An Energy Major into Real EstateAn Energy Major into Real Estate
Consider a case of a large scale real estate development for an Indian energyConsider a case of a large scale real estate development for an Indian energy
major, where themajor, where the top boss commented that the architectural design istop boss commented that the architectural design is bold &bold &
perhaps will not be easily acceptable to Indian consumersperhaps will not be easily acceptable to Indian consumers..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wang_qian_021386/2603959895/

8. Subsequent focus groups revealed that theSubsequent focus groups revealed that the consumers loved the design &consumers loved the design &
craved for a world class luxury developmentcraved for a world class luxury development in their backyards.in their backyards.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmecelab/2323995433/

9.  Senior managers (executingSenior managers (executing
the project), keptthe project), kept
emphasizing that theemphasizing that the
development plan needs todevelopment plan needs to
be alteredbe altered without givingwithout giving
any logical reasonsany logical reasons , just so, just so
that they remain on thethat they remain on the
right side of the top boss.right side of the top boss.
 TheyThey refuted all consumerrefuted all consumer
data & researchdata & research and reliedand relied
only on the focus group ofonly on the focus group of
one- the top boss.one- the top boss.
 As for the developmentAs for the development
expertise of the top boss,expertise of the top boss,
well he may have built awell he may have built a
bungalow or two forbungalow or two for
himself.himself.

10. The critical first step inThe critical first step in
transformation istransformation is
 toto generate buy-in from thegenerate buy-in from the
top bosstop boss & his senior& his senior
managersmanagers
 spend considerable time tospend considerable time to
seek inputs & encourageseek inputs & encourage
involvementinvolvement from the topfrom the top
managementmanagement
 top management needs to betop management needs to be
givengiven specific roles to steerspecific roles to steer
the programmethe programme to its logicalto its logical
conclusionconclusion
 enlisting them as championsenlisting them as champions
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrew_k/635686037/

11. Change is an imperative, not a 'good to have'. The top guy has to recognize that.Change is an imperative, not a 'good to have'. The top guy has to recognize that.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28664154@N07/2676753910/

12. Top managers need to own the change, the need to run to stay at the same placeTop managers need to own the change, the need to run to stay at the same place
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootbearwdc/14130889/

13. As Anita Roddick of the highlyAs Anita Roddick of the highly
innovative Body Shop, said,innovative Body Shop, said,
"I watch where the cosmetics"I watch where the cosmetics
industry is going and then walkindustry is going and then walk
in the opposite direction."in the opposite direction."
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21845095@N06/2828572501/

14. For more on strategy execution by Sarvajeet Chandra
http://strategy-execution.blogspot.com
http://www.mastersungroup.com