The Tortoise & The Hare - A Race Against Technology

The old saying, “you must walk before you can run” holds true to every aspect of life, this includes relationships, leadership roles, and the business world. In “Good to Great” Collins, chapter Technology Accelerators gives a clear perspective as to the progression timeline of a good to great company, because seldom do babies or companies go straight from crawling to sprinting.

While this chapter was not the primary message of Collins’ book, I think it is deserving of conversation because in this day and age, having twenty-four seven connection, to be able to purchase products and services with our phones, to get into our hotel rooms without front desk agents or even a key for that matter is just the beginning. This is especially significant in the Memories Business (service sector), which now accounts for the majority of jobs within the United States. A clear-cut example that Collins’ provides is of drugstore.com; one of the first Internet pharmacies. While its’ initial stocks sky rocketed the companies endurance would soon falter accumulating massive financial loss and employee lay-offs.

Retrospectively, Walgreens, despite having its stock downgraded during this technology boom, practiced patience and trained for the marathon of the technology era that was approaching. While they were not on the cusp of the initial tech phase, their steady research, internal dialogue, they built their momentum and in October of 2000, 15 months after drugstore.com launched their Internet assault and plummeted, Walgreens sprinted ahead of the pack doubling its stock price within a year! Walgreens tackled the questions, “Not what is the role of technology, but how do good-to-great organizations think differently about technology?” While drugstore.com utilized the Internet to become a 1 stop shop for pharmaceuticals, Walgreens’ approach was long-ranged and outside the basic box. Rather than jumping to a quick and short-lived profit, they assessed how they could better service their customers to enhance already existing methods of inventory and distribution model… the concept of convenience!

Looking at companies such as Walgreens and Gillette we don’t just see the success of sophisticated technology, but the application of its purpose done so selectively with an intention that best executes its mission. Gillette as another example used technology in manufacturing to provide the best quality shaver at a competitive price by investing in mass scale laser welding; something which had been used previously for heart pacemakers (149). So like the tortious and the hare, while some might be quicker than others to react for the initial glory, the long-term outcome cannot always seen for the initial steps.

“When used right, technology becomes an accelerator for momentum, not a creator of it. The good-to-great companies never began their transitions with pioneering technology, for the simple reason that you cannot make good use of technology until you know which technologies are relevant.”(152)

Looking at this topic from a service industry lens, I think this topic holds a great amount of weight. As we see hotels and amusement parks venture into pioneering “the next” new thing, it is important as emerging leaders to focus on the question posed by Collins. Making use of technology that is RELEVANT. I cannot stress this enough. Reflecting on my own experiences putting together projects for the event and catering company that is my HTM 498 internship, the case of working smarter not harder and making sure what you do and say has relevancy to the situation is crucial. Out of the eighty-four interviews done with good-to-great companies, 80% did not even mention technology as a catalyst for their acceleration to greatness. With that being said, the advice I have taken for myself and encourage others of my generation to consider when they go into a new organization, or are asked to complete a project is what are the best methods and tools to achieve success for this project. Much as we’ve discussed about good-to-great company leadership; it is not always a new “outside of the organization” leader who brings about the success, this idea should also transition into technological immersion to make things better. Maintaining fundamentals and balance, approaching technological change with question, thoughtfulness, and strategy are far more important and telling of both a leader and a company in how they handle change.

Ironically, our generation is also consumed by FOMO (fear of missing out) and with that comes compulsion to respond without thoroughness. A company or leader for that matter, driven by fear will not be one to find the endurance to accelerate to success. With that in mind, as I take the next steps with my 498 internship and with life, putting a greater emphasis on relevancy and long-term success will not only strengthen my value as a team member but the company’s success.