When I was 15, I lived for mates, rugby, cricket, soccer, music, freedom and girls – with side interests involving modern ‘hip’ literature, poetry, history, geography and Divinity (aka Religious Studies), especially the simplicity of The Old Testament.
The Sciences didn’t move me.
That is until in one of Tusker Briggs’ never-ending Biology lessons I stumbled upon the very humble, very small, very simple, single celled organism – The Amoeba.
I was blown away by its Superpower.
It could form and reform at will to meet the changing circumstances of its environment. It left the more sexy chameleon for dead!!
I was enamoured by the possibilities. What if I could do that? What if my team could? What if an army could? What if a Family could? And then … as is the way with 15 years olds, I forgot all about it – and duly failed Biology ‘O’ Level! (No surprise to anyone.)
Until sometime early in my business career (I was at Procter & Gamble at the time), I stumbled upon a book by a Japanese business leader – Kazuo Inamori talking about Amoeba Management. (An irresistible title in my opinion. Who could ignore that – especially if you’d dreamed about Amoeba 10 years previously!!)
The two objectives (as I remember them) were – I think:
- To develop leaders with managerial awareness,
- To practice Management by all.
And the basic idea was to dismantle the structure, bomb the hierarchy and form/reform small teams to profitably delight customers – and to reform as soon as the market/problem changed.
I loved this (as outlined in my Key Beliefs KRC 8th April) as you can imagine. I’ve believed in it ever since – form/reform, RASCI every meaningful project, React – Recover – Regain.
I was thinking about the Amoeba the other day as I listened to yet another manager telling me how his multinational was in the throes of yet another major restructure – which was all about organisational charts, boxes, titles, lay-offs, blah blah (nothing substantial about customers or creativity) and I thought, WOW – he should think like an Amoeba – forget all about the restructuring – eliminate, raise, reduce, create – just like an Amoeba.
So, I googled Mr Inamori – who sadly passed away a couple of years ago aged 90 – a philanthropist, entrepreneur, author of 55 (yes, 55!) books, Zen Buddhist priest and Chairman (and Saviour!) of Japan Airlines – and all time Great.
Amoeba Management was a concept he created dividing a large organisation into small, autonomous groups with individual leaders (very RASCI!) who had to find a way to collaborate with all the other units in the Company to benefit the whole. I checked out his 12 management principles:
- Clearly state the Purpose and Mission of your business.
- Set specific goals.
- Keep a passionate desire in your heart.
- Strive harder than anyone else.
- Maximise revenues and Minimise costs.
- Pricing is Management.
- Success is determined by Willpower.
- Possess a fighting spirit.
- Face every challenge with Courage.
- Always be Creative in your work.
- Be Kind and Sincere.
- Always be Cheerful and Positive. Hold Great Dreams and Hopes in the Pureness of your Heart.
Love ‘em all (except for No. 6 which I don’t understand, but No. 12 is a two idea ‘cheat’! So we can replace No. 6 with the second sentence of No. 12).
Banzai!
Here’s to the Amoeba!
KR
