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  • 1.  Leader vs. Manager

    Posted 04-27-1999 09:30
    I am enjoying this discussion. My two cents worth:

    Leaders guide others to think and act in new ways that inspire a vision of
    the future.

    Managers influence outcomes through management of complex projects and big
    picture thinking.

    The allusion to leaders and politics does not present a complete picture. We
    know politicians who stay the course (no vision) but long survive the
    machinations of politics. We know many managers who lack basic management
    skills but are political animals.

    Nancy J. Hess
    NJ Hess Associates


  • 2.  Leader vs. Manager

    Posted 09-08-2011 12:53
    In the field of discourse concerning those large, complex, ambiguous and often camel-mannered things called systems a distinction is evident between engineering of systems and systems engineering. In the former the engineering paradigm applies in that the problem (or mission) is a given and the effort is directed toward formulating the right set of technologies for a solution. However, in systems engineering the problematic situation is a given and the effort is directed towards identifying the underlying problem system and formulating the stakeholder 'druthers' regarding various suppression objectives and strategies. The notion of problem suppression rather than problem solution is pertinent because any attempt to deal with a problem usually results in a new tension arising 'over there' in the system.
    Perhaps managers respond to problems whereas leaders respond to opportunities afforded by ambiguity and tensions.
    Of course, with this distinction of leadership comes the question, "Toward what?" Both Adolph Hitler and Jim Jones were very capable leaders.
    Inept managers can be punished for malpractice. Leaders for malfeasance.
    Does this help?