CE Forum

Edmondson has shaken up his senior management team, gutted one department, realigned others and forced his impatience down through the ranks. He's behaving like a newly elected president who realizes that his first 100 days may dictate the tenor of his term. He won't let RadioShack employees get comfortable, because he wants them to get better, faster, tougher -- and, in his words, move from being good to great.... When he says RadioShack will focus on great people, he's not talking about coddling employees; he's talking about amassing the best talent and demanding more from it.... Edmondson has installed five new senior executives -- two from outside the company -- and a nationwide search is under way for a sixth new face, a chief operating officer.
...Consider how organizations can take on the personalities of their top executives, from combative American Airlines under Robert Crandall to fun-loving Southwest under Herb Kelleher.
..."We as a company can do one thing better than any other company in the world," he said, "And that is attract, retain, develop, mentor and reward the most friendly, knowledgeable, well-trained sales associates, who are conveniently located, who have a passion for customer care and are willing to take the time to help customers solve complex technology problems."

Star-Telegram 5/22/05