Comments on: We Need to Look Very Closely at Biden http://donklephant.com/2008/08/25/we-need-to-look-very-closely-at-biden/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:05:09 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Debbie http://donklephant.com/2008/08/25/we-need-to-look-very-closely-at-biden/comment-page-1/#comment-415841 Debbie Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:37:25 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=7138#comment-415841 I got here by googling to research Joe Biden's management style. Seems appropriate to share my analysis of the management styles of the presidential nominees: I have done a lot of research on the management styles of the two presidential candidates. Before retirement I managed technical teams responsible for trouble-shooting critical 7/24 online financial systems - I consider this crisis management- project management and problem management in compressed time. When I first started researching McCain's management style, I identified with him as a crisis management type. At that point I had a problem because good crisis managers tend to be instant gratification types. Although I can do a good job of managing a development project, over the long haul I get bored and lose effectiveness. One of the keys to good management is putting the right people in the right places. It became apparent to me that McCain has a problem doing this in that he turned over his management and staff twice - once when his primary campaign was in serious financial trouble and then when he switched to the Rove-acolyte team. A good crisis manager needs to understand process inside out in order to cut the quickest path to resolution. The process used by John McCain to select Palin as VP nominee shows a total lack of process. Also required of crisis management is the ability to rapidly consider and evaluate new methods and ideas - you are generally confronting stuff you haven't seen before, because you have fixed the stuff you have seen. I have seen no new campaign strategies or ideas incorporated in McCain's campaign. I no longer believe he is a crisis style manager, I now see him as a loose-canon style manager. I have also researched Obama's management style and find it solid (note: it is much easier to research than McCains, just google). One of the things I like best about Obama's style, which is rare to find, is that he empowers people - his staff, his advisors, and his grass roots supporters. At several points in my career I worked for GE. One of the keys to Jack Welch’s success was the culture of empowerment and open communications he created - the management training I got at GE was worth every bit as much as my degree. Imagine where we could take this country with an empowered citizenry. I got here by googling to research Joe Biden’s management style. Seems appropriate to share my analysis of the management styles of the presidential nominees: I have done a lot of research on the management styles of the two presidential candidates. Before retirement I managed technical teams responsible for trouble-shooting critical 7/24 online financial systems – I consider this crisis management- project management and problem management in compressed time. When I first started researching McCain’s management style, I identified with him as a crisis management type. At that point I had a problem because good crisis managers tend to be instant gratification types. Although I can do a good job of managing a development project, over the long haul I get bored and lose effectiveness. One of the keys to good management is putting the right people in the right places. It became apparent to me that McCain has a problem doing this in that he turned over his management and staff twice – once when his primary campaign was in serious financial trouble and then when he switched to the Rove-acolyte team. A good crisis manager needs to understand process inside out in order to cut the quickest path to resolution. The process used by John McCain to select Palin as VP nominee shows a total lack of process. Also required of crisis management is the ability to rapidly consider and evaluate new methods and ideas – you are generally confronting stuff you haven’t seen before, because you have fixed the stuff you have seen. I have seen no new campaign strategies or ideas incorporated in McCain’s campaign. I no longer believe he is a crisis style manager, I now see him as a loose-canon style manager. I have also researched Obama’s management style and find it solid (note: it is much easier to research than McCains, just google). One of the things I like best about Obama’s style, which is rare to find, is that he empowers people – his staff, his advisors, and his grass roots supporters. At several points in my career I worked for GE. One of the keys to Jack Welch’s success was the culture of empowerment and open communications he created – the management training I got at GE was worth every bit as much as my degree. Imagine where we could take this country with an empowered citizenry.

]]> By: mw http://donklephant.com/2008/08/25/we-need-to-look-very-closely-at-biden/comment-page-1/#comment-414194 mw Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:25:11 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=7138#comment-414194 <i> "...if Biden is going to be a major player in an Obama administration, we can’t assume we already know everything we need to know. Look how that turned out last time.</i> - ASC There is a big difference. As MDGoerge points out, GWB is completely devoid of intellectual curiosity. That , combined with his hands-off, "delegate everything", "big picture" management style made his decisions easy to manipulate by a VP who obsessively controlled all information flow into the oval office. Obama pays attention to detail and prefers to think deeply about both the issues and the political consequences of decisions. As president, he will (unlike Bush) be immune to manipulation. However, he is likely to suffer from the "analysis paralysis" that afflicts many academics, a la Jimmy Carter. “…if Biden is going to be a major player in an Obama administration, we can’t assume we already know everything we need to know. Look how that turned out last time. – ASC

There is a big difference. As MDGoerge points out, GWB is completely devoid of intellectual curiosity. That , combined with his hands-off, “delegate everything”, “big picture” management style made his decisions easy to manipulate by a VP who obsessively controlled all information flow into the oval office.

Obama pays attention to detail and prefers to think deeply about both the issues and the political consequences of decisions. As president, he will (unlike Bush) be immune to manipulation. However, he is likely to suffer from the “analysis paralysis” that afflicts many academics, a la Jimmy Carter.

]]> By: Chris http://donklephant.com/2008/08/25/we-need-to-look-very-closely-at-biden/comment-page-1/#comment-414062 Chris Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:10:34 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=7138#comment-414062 @ Jay - Actually, Bush totally ran on a change message. In 1999-2000, He talked constantly about "restoring honor and integrity" to the oval office and to Washington in general. He talked about "compassionate conservatism" and that since he was an "outsider" (ha!) he would be an example "real" bipartisanship. He railed against the institutions and machinations of big government and bureaucracy (just not against the lobbyists or the monied interests) You're absolutely right about Barack being in a corner that Bush wasn't. I personally think his "blank canvas" was the best thing he had going for him (I know so many criticize that as his weakness) The Biden pick paints him into even more of a corner, IMO. @ Jay – Actually, Bush totally ran on a change message. In 1999-2000, He talked constantly about “restoring honor and integrity” to the oval office and to Washington in general. He talked about “compassionate conservatism” and that since he was an “outsider” (ha!) he would be an example “real” bipartisanship. He railed against the institutions and machinations of big government and bureaucracy (just not against the lobbyists or the monied interests)

You’re absolutely right about Barack being in a corner that Bush wasn’t. I personally think his “blank canvas” was the best thing he had going for him (I know so many criticize that as his weakness) The Biden pick paints him into even more of a corner, IMO.

]]> By: mdgeorge http://donklephant.com/2008/08/25/we-need-to-look-very-closely-at-biden/comment-page-1/#comment-414057 mdgeorge Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:28:41 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=7138#comment-414057 Also, (and maybe this is partisan blinders), Bush has always been incurious, uninvolved, and seems happy to be a figurehead. Obama on the other hand is intelligent and involved. He may be a new figure, but he's no lightweight. Also, (and maybe this is partisan blinders), Bush has always been incurious, uninvolved, and seems happy to be a figurehead. Obama on the other hand is intelligent and involved. He may be a new figure, but he’s no lightweight.

]]> By: Jay http://donklephant.com/2008/08/25/we-need-to-look-very-closely-at-biden/comment-page-1/#comment-414053 Jay Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:57:47 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=7138#comment-414053 Another flaw in your comparision is that Bush did not run on the campaign of "change" villifying Washington insiders to win the primary, while Barack has done just that. It paints him into a pretty little corner that Bush didn't face. Another flaw in your comparision is that Bush did not run on the campaign of “change” villifying Washington insiders to win the primary, while Barack has done just that. It paints him into a pretty little corner that Bush didn’t face.

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