|
|
|
July 11, 2004
Review: Managing the animal within you
A dash of humour tingles you. But humour with a dash of thought sets you thinking while you smile. Read the following:
“Scarecrow was very excited about his course. It was, he believed, the first step towards his new career. Taught by experienced chickens, it covered everything from the theory and technique of egg laying to secrets of the egg-laying professionals. While other chickens had natural ability, nobody worked harder than Scarecrow. He was a dedicated, motivated student, acing all the written tests. In fact, the only thing he didn’t do, was lay an egg.”
I nearly choked on a cherrystone as I read this — a scarecrow could lay an egg if he tried hard enough? So the book continued. Preposterous! But as you think of the countless times you try to do things you are just not cut out to do — like Scarecrow trying to lay an egg — it suddenly starts making sense. Trying harder, and perhaps wiser, is all that matters — especially in your work life.
Kenneth A. Tucker and Vandana Allman, authors of Animals Inc., extend their message to “leaders and managers who should drive growth and excellence in their organizations” (according to the review given by Major General Ronald Johnson, director of military programmes, US Army Corps of Engineers). A book about effective management, Animals Inc. attempts to broaden the horizons of those in charge.
Mo could see far beyond the Goode farm. He could see a giant agri-business, run completely by animals. He could see farms all around the world where animals would be free and safe to grow and reach their fullest potential as non-human beings.
The book, which claims to be a business parable for the 21st century, charts practical guidelines of management, imparts simple good business sense and even gets down to handling the nitty gritties of work life — preventing dissatisfaction and loss of productivity, developing the right frame of mind to move ahead in one’s career and so on. All this in a ridiculously simple way.
Using animals instead of people as role players, Animals Inc. describes a farm that is managed by animals when its owner moves to an old people’s home. Farmer Goode, in his old age, hands the farm over to Mo — one of the oldest and wisest pigs on the farm — instead of selling it to a nearby rival. With his trusty sidekicks, Lawrence the Owl and Jesse the Horse, Mo begins devouring (sometimes literally), all kinds of management books in the attempt to learn the art.
After much thought, he finally produces the business plan (“‘a plan for business, dear,” whispers one chicken to another”) where he details out a whole series of endeavours that will make the venture successful. From 360-degree reviews to competency questionnaires and career planning, Mo experiments with everything.
The animals are told they will make money, that they would have equal rights and opportunities. (“‘Every single one of us on this farm,’ he began, ‘mammal, poultry, rodent, insect and straw person, whatever your species, beliefs or gross weight, whether you’re a man, woman or it, have exactly the same rights. There is nothing that can ever change that. We all have equal rights and we all have the right to grow equally.’”)
Everyone is led to believe that they can do any job on the farm, given suitable training. The farm is computerized so that output and productivity is recorded on a daily basis. You can see Jesse the Horse painstakingly typing in his daily work schedule, Lionel Engine the Mouse driving the tractor and Crow guarding a freshly sown cornfield. Predictably, many animals are frustrated when they can’t perform each other’s tasks — despite his hard work, Scarecrow still can’t lay an egg!
Consequently, there are lapses — and losses. In the attempt to guard the cornfields, Crow eats most of the seeds — and output falls. And so on. A year after the transfer, the farm is in trouble and nothing seems to work. Just at that time, Farmer Goode returns for a rescue visit. He sets Mo thinking about three things that helped him run the farm successfully — “what’s your work, who you are, and how you’re gonna get there”.
The order of the day becomes normality, rationality and good sense. Each animal is told to do what he/she/it does best. The book ends with all the animals satisfied with themselves and their jobs and the farm begins to function normally again.
Animals Inc. is an easy read, swinging between the absolutely ridiculous and the charmingly insane at places, while you read on between chuckles and thoughtful frowns. And the beauty of it all is that you can comfortably identify each character with the animals that you encounter in your work life. Happy reading!
Animals Inc: A Business Parable for the 21st Century
By Kenneth A. Tucker and Vandana Allman
Random House Business Books Available with Liberty
Books (Pvt) Ltd, 3 Rafiq Plaza, M.R. Kayani Road, Saddar, Karachi
Tel: 021-5683026
Email: libooks@cyber.net.pk Website: www.libertybooks.com
ISBN 0-09-945316-9
152pp. Rs295
|
|
|
|
