“Mountaineering” and “summitry” has recently been hailed as the “management metaphor of the moment”. Much of this interest stems from Jon Krakauer’s recent best-selling book Into Thin Air: A personal account of the Mount Everest Disaster.
Moontaineering and summitry is the metaphor of the moment, but could this metaphor be just another managerial fad and of no real value to the practicing manager?
Are you against or for Into Thin Air as an important book for managers?
I readed the book and I saw the movie. The business environment of today is without a doubt different from the one a decade ago and the work place of tomorrow will change. In my opinion any books about team sport could be used. When you are climbing your goals is to reach the top of the mountain, and to accomplish that goal you need a good team with everyone willing to do their individuals efforts to contribute toward that goal. Whatever that goal might be, is the summit. Well this could be easily interpreted in a business setting with the team leader trying to motivate the staff to achieve the company's goal. Of course along the way there is obstacle just like there is plenty of them when you climb a mountain. The big difference that I find is that most of the people in any team sports are already self-motivated to achieve the ultimate goal, like reaching the top of Mount Everest. In business not everyone share the same central goals and objective than the company. Most of the employees have their own life goals and have other interest other than maximizing profit. That is the only part that I object, in business, employees and the company do not always share the same views and "Into Think Air" most of the people volunteer to reach the top. While this is my views of this management metaphor.
Moontaineering and summitry is the metaphor of the moment, but could this metaphor be just another managerial fad and of no real value to the practicing manager?
Are you against or for Into Thin Air as an important book for managers?
I readed the book and I saw the movie. The business environment of today is without a doubt different from the one a decade ago and the work place of tomorrow will change. In my opinion any books about team sport could be used. When you are climbing your goals is to reach the top of the mountain, and to accomplish that goal you need a good team with everyone willing to do their individuals efforts to contribute toward that goal. Whatever that goal might be, is the summit. Well this could be easily interpreted in a business setting with the team leader trying to motivate the staff to achieve the company's goal. Of course along the way there is obstacle just like there is plenty of them when you climb a mountain. The big difference that I find is that most of the people in any team sports are already self-motivated to achieve the ultimate goal, like reaching the top of Mount Everest. In business not everyone share the same central goals and objective than the company. Most of the employees have their own life goals and have other interest other than maximizing profit. That is the only part that I object, in business, employees and the company do not always share the same views and "Into Think Air" most of the people volunteer to reach the top. While this is my views of this management metaphor.
