History’s Not All That Useful

Many people assume that human history must linearly and evenly build on itself if we are to have orderly social transitions and true progress. This truism is, however, not always true. It’s sort of like Alvin O’neal McBean (a Pirate’s pitcher of the 60”s) once put it, “Good pitching always beats good hitting, and vice versa.” Sometimes, when human history seems to be moving at a very consistent and constant pace, is when change is needed most; maybe even rebellious or discontinuous change, and vice versa. How can such thinking make sense?

Consider that cutting- edge societies are deeply embedded in an information and technology system that makes social, political and organizational change public to the max, and modern societies have the potential for great periods of calm and consistent momentum, but at the same time sowing the seeds for more volatile and explosive conditions; thus, leaders must also accept the fact that forces, issues and conditions in modern socio-economic systems are potentially much more polarized than the socio-economic systems of the immediate, or longer term past. Mankind has found itself interconnected in mass way, by mass-producing for mass-markets and maintaining hope for mass-success; even as a portion conspires to mass-destruct, using weapons of mass-destruction. Furthermore, progressive leaders are finding that bi-polar and rebellious assumptions need to be imagined and addressed; that they must study counter-cultures and welcome fluid perspectives, especially in organizations that are going to reasonably manage the contradictions of a heavily armed world. Especially in places like America, a strong a strong consensus is developing about being more holistic and encompassing in perspective, which include exploring the role of the family, the role of women, the meaning of a fair day’s work, the role of the practice of religion and generally how we consume and live life itself. This welcoming of fresh perspective and broad perspective in problem solving seems to be the only way to solve the deepest problems.

It’s also important to realize that new and old ideologies intermittently cycle to the forefront of modern societies to constrain and support existing and visionary ideas about management theory and its practice as different thinkers, leaders and managers around the world test aspects of traditional and emerging hypotheses, and deem them appropriate or not, which starts or kills the latest fashion or fad. Not all people realize the simple fact that capitalism has changed many facts of life. For instance, life is no longer considered very cheap and capital very dear by most of the industrializing world. This reversal in historical assumptions changes current viewpoints abruptly; and this solved contradiction has revolutionized the most basic contract between people working in organizations; that is in most of the world. The fact that Middle East is about to explode right now, or the fact that Americans are becoming more and more disliked; all suggests that frame breaking change may need to occur soon in American and Western leadership, in order to keep the pace of material and psychic progress. Another example regards the classical assumption about perfect information. This assumption no longer seems to be so ridiculous and impossible. We also know that the natural environment is no longer limitless in exploitability or benevolence; nor can we partition it into unconnected parcels for which only a few are responsible or answerable. Resource efficiency is thus constantly being redefined in this period of awareness, change and learning. Yet, many still don’t believe our world is about to evolve dramatically, and instead envision staying the old course (especially those with lots tradition, vested interest, capital or their head in the sand).

I believe there is a pressing need for the greatest era of entrepreneurship to occur, right now, to lead the great change that must occur for man to sustain growth, progress and prosperity. To my way of thinking, the only answer to the growing complexity and magnitude is mass-entrepreneurship. This means that entrepreneurial theory and everything about its definition and implementation must grow, and accelerate at least as fast as these changing times. The best leaders must better learn about refining their management imaginations, orientations, intentions, behaviors and outcomes (their capacity to systematically manage entrepreneurially) in order to truly guide small and big social organizations through a rational and progressive evolution.

Entrepreneurial management is clearly best suited to many of the organizational problems we will face in these revolutionary times, because it’s about freshness of vision. Entrepreneurship is designed to work best in the uncertain situation or the dynamic context, which exemplify modern global contexts drastically needing economic change. Entrepreneurship is the type of management that mutates effectively (Picture a mutation in your imagination right now! – now you are one step closer to becoming one). The modern world needs great entrepreneurs, who go beyond just dreaming and imagining how to create the organization that will solve problems and sustain communities; we need managers to actually create the fresh dreams. New, creative kinds of entrepreneurial systems are needed to steer and churn societies through treacherous times and discontinuities, which means that the meaning of the concept of entrepreneurship will also change. Such abstract management ideas must be carried forward with a unique boldness, style and technique. Entrepreneurial participants will need holistic perspectives that are also rigorous enough to allow for the highest standards in stewardship, performance and accountability; yet be flexible enough to logically recognize and respond to reality and truth.