The authors have anthologized commentaries by 29 CEOs who "tackle today's most pressing business challenges." In their Introduction, they note that "Global eras of fundamental change -- geopolitical, technological, economic -- that might once have taken centuries are now completed in a few years. Corporations that mapped out five-year strategic plans now review their strategies monthly." Quite true. They then identify and briefly discuss four: The Era of Internationalization (1984-1990), The Era of Global Convergence (1990-1994), The Era of Global Consolidation (1994-1996), and The Era of Acceleration (1998-2020?). The 29 commentaries are then distributed within eight chapters...for each of which the authors provide a brief introduction.
The naming and dating of these eras is much less important than the authors' comments which are coordinated with what the various CEOs have to say. Each CEO has selected a specific subject to discuss. Together, the 29 CEOs represent a wide range of global corporations which, in turn, represent an equally wide range of industries. It remains for each reader to determine which subjects are of greatest interest; also, to determine which CEOs' comments have the greatest value. Obviously, space does not permit a complete list of the commentaries and their authors. It would be rude to provide a partial list which excludes any of them.
For whom was this book written? My guess (just a guess) is that at some point, Dauphinais, Means & Price agreed that the general subject of "pressing business challenges" on a global basis would be an interesting subject for a book published in 2000. Perhaps they then considered co-authoring one. What we now have is a conceptual framework which they devised within which are clustered the observations of CEOs who (with their associates) face various "pressing business challenges" each and every waking moment. The book therefore, in my opinion, was written for whose who appreciate having such a framework, and, who are eager to know what these various CEOs have to say.
Because of the Internet and especially the WWW, by 2002 or 2003 at the latest, I am convinced that almost all companies (at least in North America) will either compete on a global basis or be strategically involved somehow with those which do. I conclude, therefore, that the collective "wisdom" provided by those who head 29 of the world's largest corporations has significant implications now for many other companies...also, that those implications will have even greater significance for most (if not all) other companies within the next 12-24 months.
If this brief commentary has stimulated your interest, I suggest that you obtain a copy of Wisdom of the CEO and check out the Table of Contents. Determine for yourself this book appeals to you as much as it did to me. Most of us have few opportunities to share the thoughts of even one CEO of a major global corporation. Thanks to Dauphinais, Means & Price, we can now do so with 29.
