Throughout history, humankind has progressed in a somewhat predictable manner. Leaders have been able to leverage the accumulated knowledge residing within the world's organizations to presage tomorrow's demands and make their decisions accordingly. But there are times that defy such extrapolations, and ours seems to be one of them. Faced with a veritable maelstrom of technological innovation and ensuing social upheaval, today's organizational leaders must be risk takers, basing their decisions for the future not on the existing bodies of concrete information, but on an invaluable reserve of organizational wisdom and executive courage. The contributors to this book explore the roles wisdom and courage play in shaping our organizational lives and the implications they hold for the advancement of organizational science and practice. Filled with new thought and compelling insights, Organizational Wisdom and Executive Courage offers executives, educators, and scholars alike the means to broaden their thinking about change and management.
