Archive for the 'Strange' Category
SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–While public outcry over skyrocketing CEO compensation regularly makes headlines, it turns out that nearly two thirds of CEOs who responded to a BNET.com study couldn’t agree more. This is according to the first-of-its-kind CEO Report Card, compiled from the feedback of more than 1,500 respondents to a survey conducted by BNET, an online resource that helps business managers and professionals successfully navigate the corporate landscape and a property of CNET Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:CNET).
The survey also revealed that, while 64% of CEOs describe themselves as “engaged,” just 35% of employees feel that good ideas successfully bubble up through the organization to the attention of the CEOs.
While both groups agree on the issues of CEO salary, employees and CEOs have a vastly different perception of management ability. For example, 50% of execs say their leadership style is effective, but only one third of employees agree.
“The data clearly show that today’s executives lack the ‘soft skills’ to inspire their employees, appear compassionate or communicate effectively. They also are seen as inaccessible and unapproachable,” said Stephen Howard-Sarin, editorial director, BNET. “This should be a slap in the face for executives – investing some energy into improving even just their communication skills could pay huge dividends.”
More highlights of the survey:
- Despite current perceptions, only 24.8% of employees say that CEOs “tend to be unethical.”
- Nearly 70% of executives are satisfied with their performance, but only 45% of employees say their leaders are doing a good job. Employees identify communication and leadership style as their leaders’ largest weaknesses.
- More than three quarters (77%) of employees say that CEOs are overpaid and 64% of top executives agree.
- Most executives say that they most value integrity when evaluating their employees, however only 27% of employees think this is true. Employees say that delivering results is what matters most when they are evaluated.
- One in three executives say that CEOs get picked on by the media and are under-appreciated for the responsibility they shoulder. 75% of employees disagree.
To read and download the full report, including expert commentary and analysis, visit: http://www.bnet.com/2436-13070_23-173261.html.
Survey Methodology
The “CEO Report Card” survey was conducted via email among registered BNET.com users June 11-18, 2007. A total of 1,572 surveys were completed. Of employed respondents (93.1 of total%), 24.5% of respondents identified themselves as senior or executive management level; 45.2% as middle or other management; 9.4% as professional 17.6% as staff and 3.3% as “other” or n/a. 47% of employed respondents work for companies with over 1,000 employees; 24% with 100-999 employees; and 29% fewer than 100 employees. The majority of industries represented are manufacturing, business services/consulting, healthcare and finance.
Please note: For the purposes of this report, “CEO” denotes the top executive within a company and is inclusive of company presidents and owners; “respondents” refers to BNET’s registered users who completed the survey.
About BNET.com
BNET.com helps business managers and professionals successfully navigate the corporate landscape through practical and actionable content addressing the workplace issues and situations they face. BNET is a property of CNET Networks, Inc.
About CNET Networks, Inc.
CNET Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNET) is an interactive media company that builds brands for people and the things they are passionate about, such as gaming, music, entertainment, technology, business, food, and parenting. The Company’s leading brands include CNET, GameSpot, TV.com, MP3.com, CHOW, ZDNet and TechRepublic. Founded in 1992, CNET Networks has a strong presence in the US, Asia, and Europe.
Press this button and your wealth will double over the next ten years. Your neighbor’s wealth will triple over those same ten years.
If you were given a button to press and told that if you pressed that button what is written above would happen, would you press it? A surprising number of people would not press the button because they suffer from the economics of envy.
The economics of envy is an economic theory that is based on the idea that people would rather suffer than see their neighbor reap a bigger reward than them.
Think about that for a minute. Because their neighbor would gain a larger reward they would rather no one receive a reward. The people who subscribe to this system of economics would rather see a world where everyone is equal (equal results) rather than a world where some achieve greatness and others only fail (equal opportunity).
Before you fall into the trap let me point something out to you. The above hypothetical button is results based, it never mentions how much work you, our your neighbor, has to put forth to achieve the doubling or tripling of wealth. I would also never push that button but, not because I do not want to see my neighbor prosper. No, I would not push that hypothetical button because it is based on the idea of results and not opportunity.
If you are a smart business person you would likely still say no and not because of envy. You would say no because for this button to work one of two things would be in control of your income.
- What ever you make some mysterious entity makes sure your neighbor always makes more.
- What ever your neighbor makes becomes a mysterious glass ceiling that you can never rise above.
See, no matter what, pushing the button takes the power out of your hands. What true capitalist would want that? Now, if you could be the neighbor who always makes more would you tell your neighbor to press the button?
The point of this article is to show that the economics of envy are a farce. The idea that performing an action (pushing the button) should somehow benefit your neighbor more than it benefits you is profoundly wrong. If you are doing the work than you should derive the benefit. It’s not a case of the button pusher being envious of the greater reward his neighbor receives it is a case of the button pusher not wanting to perform a task and get less of a reward than someone who does nothing.
Just the other day I got a very interesting stock tip via my fax machine. I say interesting because this one was not formated in the usual manner and it did not make any claims as to the projected value of the stock by the end of the week. It just gave the stock symbol and information on their product. Intrigued I Googled them and found their website.
The picture you see above is of their prototype. It’s just an artists rendering at this point because they have not actually built one yet.
The Skyflyer (SF MK II) is a VTOL (vertical take-off and landing vehicle). It is 4.26m long, and 4.26m wide; its overall weight is about 700kg. Four horizontal rotators are individually driven redundantly by established, often used special aircraft engines. The Skyflyer has a horizontal speed of 0 to 60km/h and a rate of ascend of 0.1m/sec. Its general flight characteristics are similar to that of helicopters, while its corning capability is even more precise.
source: Skyflyer web site
As I read more and more of the information on their website I can’t help but think, “why would anyone invest money in this?” It looks like they are planning to use this vehicle in a closed structure as an amusement ride. They do talk about eventually having a vehicle for personal use outside of a flight dome but that is probably years away and would be subject to the same regulations as a private plane or helicopter.
They also mention using it as a rescue vehicle but, with the props being where they are and the limited amount of cabin space, I just can’t see why someone would choose to use this rather than a full size rescue helicopter.
Like many exotic vehicles it may find a home with some rich collectors who just want to own one. With all the licensing sure to be required to own and operate one of these I expect most folks will just stick with private planes and helicopters.
Just how much dust will those four props kick up? Do you really think your neighbors in the cul-de-sac are going to like it when you fire up those four props and send dirt and debris flying all over the place? Do you think local government will allow you to park this thing in your driveway?
I do give them some props for moving forward with the idea of a personal aviation device but I just don’t think this one is going to fly in the public sector.
I did not see any information on a maximum elevation ceiling for this vehicle and they list steering as “GPS” which tells me nothing. I see no obvious method of moving the vehicle in any direction other than up and down so I’m going to assume that turning involves slowing down the roters in the direction you want to turn and “dipping” the vehicle.
The stock SKFL is currently sitting at $0.57 per share and a hired analyst is saying the stock should pass $1 before the year is out.
The press reports I am reading indicate that the company is getting all their ducks in a row and taking on good engineers to work on the project. If they get the capital they need this project may take off. As to it getting past the prototype stage and having an actual park built for the vehicle to operate in is another question entirely.
I will be watching this one, if not no other reason than the fact that a personal flying vehicle interests me.
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