Ted

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13 May 2006Now Reading

Now Reading (May): The Apple Way

It’s funny for me to be reading a book with this title, after finishing The Toyota Way earlier this year. It’s even funnier when I compare the content between the two books. One is about what many term a “boring,” but incredibly successful company (Toyota Motor) and the management system they have created that has since been transplanted all over the world as a paragon of discipline and efficiency.

And then there’s The Apple Way, which describes management as essentially the lack of management and discipline. There’s a quote in there that the difference between Apple employees and the Boy Scouts is that the Boy Scouts have adult supervision. At the same time, Apple has a much better record on diversity than the Boy Scouts. Which illustrates the fascinating part. Apple is an interesting company that makes interesting products and pursues an approach that is contrary to established business practices. And we all benefit.

In the realm of solid management principles, I don’t really think it’s reasonable to write or read a book like this with that in mind. The little synopses at the end of the key points are a bit much. C’mon, this is basically an interesting soap opera. There’s only one Apple Computer.


Popularity: 6%
Mick - 13 Mar - 8:10 am,

It is obvious that you have never been a Scout, if you are implying that Boy Scouts are not diverse. Unless (of course) you are referring to not allowing gay leaders. This is a moral choice, and in no way impacts their ability to be diverse. If anything, it shows that they “stand for something”. Most organizations cannot claim that these days, they simply give in to outside pressures. BSA has been around since about 1910…guess they must be doing something right.

Ted - 13 Mar - 9:02 am,

Thanks for writing. No, I have not been a scout, and I wouldn’t be allowed to be, because the scouts don’t allow people with different backgrounds to serve.

On the other hand, Apple, Inc., does welcome individuals of different backgrounds.

I’m sure the BSA are doing “something” right. They are also doing something wrong, and that’s the key difference. Organizations that are growing and thriving, like Apple, Inc., learn from their mistakes and continuously do better.

As Ed Deming once said, “Change is optional. Survival is not manditory.”

Sam - 17 Mar - 3:13 pm,

“BSA has been around since about 1910…guess they must be doing something right.” Interesting logic…the KKK has been around since 1866 - does that mean they are doing something right? After all, they too “stand for something”. Obviously a group with many members is (arguably) diverse in some way, but if you make the choice to exclude some population from your group (even if it’s a “moral” decision), you are by definition less diverse. It’s OK for a group to exclude those they don’t want, but they can’t then turn around and be offended by the statement that they are not diverse. My guess is that if you are in the business of exclusion, diversity may not really be your goal.

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