Business Exposed52
human too (yes, really) and leading a rm often seems to unleash
some primeval instincts. Moreover, an organization is, of course,
at the end of the day, just a bunch
of people. And bunches of people
– whether a tribe, a company, or
a mob – operate in particular, and
often quite similar, ways.
You will see that, in this chapter, I
also pay quite a bit of attention to
acquisitions. This is because acquisi-
tions especially seem to exemplify
(and amplify) top managers’ urge to rule and conquer. And that
doesn’t always bode well . . . Because where many top managers
seem to be overjoyed by size, they are often outright gung-ho on
acquisitions. These things really push the adrenaline pumps. Take
Ahold’s “fallen-from-grace” ex-CEO (now corporate convict) Cees
van der Hoeven. Ahold actually started out with quite a careful
approach to doing takeover deals, but over the years found itself
completely out of control, like Imelda Marcos in a shoe shop.
My guess is there are two causes of deal-eager executives. It is the
type of person who becomes CEO and it is the type of person we
make them. Let me now discuss the rst with you, and later in
the chapter turn my attention to the second part.
An interesting line of research in social anthropology analyzed
what type of person is more likely to rise through the ranks to
become the head of a tribe. Often, this would be the most erce,
ambitious, and aggressive warrior, who would be willing to take
on all his opponents in the quest for leadership.
Yet, interestingly, although characteristics such as erceness
and ambition would be helpful in becoming tribe leader, these
characteristics were not necessarily positive for the future of the
settlement, since these type of leaders were prone to take the tribe
to war. This would ultimately take its toll on the size, strength,
and survival chances of the tribe. Thus, the same characteristics
that would make people more likely to become the head were
likely to get the tribe into trouble.
‘‘
bunches of people –
whether a tribe, a company,
or a mob – operate in
particular, and often quite
similar, ways
’’