Interesting Article from William Pfaff Again

This article somewhat continues in the vein that William Pfaff had last time with his article on the perils of shareholder rather than worker capitalism.  I find his point of view interesting, not least because to some extent it accords with my own views, naturally. 

This debate has been taking place within SAP AG of late, with the staff in Germany being asked to comment on the creeping Americanisation of the culture.  The comments were in the end more seen as being related to the perceived side-lining of the role of the German developers as off-shore development came on line, and the replacement of a founder mentality on the part of the senior management, as Hopp, Plattner, et al who founded the company are replaced by Kagermann and Agassi, who whilst undoubtedly talent and competent, did not found SAP, and run the organisation on more conventional management lines.

SAP in the time that I fist joined was a very flat organisation, with the country MD between me as an ordinary employee and the Board.  With 2,500 employees, and a very self-starting culture, that worked well.  With the current 36,000 people or so, that is not going to fly.  The trap to watch out for in all these kind of cases of growth is the tipping point where people move from working to make the company successful to wanting to work for a successful company.

SAP doesn't do too badly on that front, not least of all because we still have a pick of smart people, but it is a different kind of operation.  Also, I have joy in working to do my job well, work with my colleagues, help the customers, and so on, but frankly enriching the shareholders is a secondary outcome, at least in emotional terms.