Page 268 - Just Promoted A 12 Month Road Map for Success in Your New Leadership Role

Creating Your New Life Integration 253

■ Research and development had evolved into small empires with lit-
tle interdependence, little coordination, and few shared procedures,
resources, or policies.
■ His division had a generally mediocre track record of getting new
products to market. The new product pipeline was barely filled.
Most new product development consisted of so-called line exten-
sions, which were actually new uses or analogs of old products.
There had been four vice presidents in about 10 years, with little
stability at the top. All were solid researchers, but none was an
effective leader. With inefficient work flow and adequate but not
cutting-edge information technology systems, product planning and
development were slow, inefficient, and too expensive.
■ There were inadequate numbers and types of researchers and sup-
port staff to meet the goals established by Bob’s boss. Quality was
lacking in several key areas. Hiring was unsystematic. Good candi-
dates were often snatched up by more aggressive competitors.
Training was virtually nonexistent.

Bob’s charge, presented clearly to him, was to significantly improve
the division’s performance. He was to bring more and better-differenti-
ated products to the marketplace faster and more efficiently. Given the
authority to hire and fire and to restructure the department as he
deemed appropriate, his boss’s parting words upon Bob’s appointment
as vice president were, “Revitalize this group once and for all. It has
dragged us down for long enough. My job and yours depend on it.”
At the time of his appointment, Bob and Linda had been happily
married for 11 years. They had a bright son who was 10 years old and
a well-adjusted but visually impaired daughter who was 8 years old.
The children attended good public schools. Their daughter was in an
excellent program headed by a caring and experienced special educa-
tion teacher. Both children loved school and were heavily involved in
sports, scouts, and church activities in their midsized suburban town.
Linda had worked as a teacher in a private school for 12 years. She
enjoyed her job and was popular with students and staff alike. She was
fond of her students, and she was respected by parents and fellow