Senior Leadership in a Changing World Order: Requisite Skills for U.S. Army One- and Two-Star Assignments

by Kenneth W. Lucas and Joan Markessini

U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences

April 1993

For this report, as part of a larger effort, interviews were conducted with 48 Brigadier Generals and 26 Major Generals to identify key position performance require· ments. The interviews were theory-based, exploring the correctness of Stratified Systems Theory (SST) formulations about the structure of work at senior and strategic levels. Content analysis of the tape-recorded interviews provided broad support for SSTo As expected, complexity of performance requirements systematically increased with increasing position grade. However, there were some inversions, eog., the addition of installation command responsibilities to table of evaluation unit command invariably increased position complexity profoundly. The analysis explicitly focused on cognitive skills required for successful performance. In the view of incumbents, key requirements included cognitive skills (mental mapping, problem management, planning/envisioning), dispositional skills/traits (dealing with uncertainty/risk taking, controlling through indirect means), interpersonal skills (networking, con- sensus building, getting feedback, using communications technology, interfacing effectively with the external environment, and communicating cross-culturally and precisely), and resources management (personnel and materiel). Findings at the one- and two-star level were compared with earlier findings at more senior levels.

 

Major organizations and consulting firms that provide Requisite Organization-based services

A global association of academics, managers, and consultants that focuses on spreading RO implementation practices and encouraging their use
Dr. Gerry Kraines, the firms principal, combines Harry Levinson's leadership frameworks with Elliott Jaques's Requisite Organization. He worked closely with Jaques over many years, has trained more managers in these methods than anyone else in the field, and has developed a comprehensive RO-based software for client firms.
Ron Capelle is unique in his multiple professional certifications, his implementation of RO concepts through well designed organization development methods, and his research documenting the effectiveness of his firm's interventions
Former RO-experienced CEO, Ron Harding, provides coaching to CEOs of start-ups and small and medium-size companies that are exploring their own use of RO concepts.  His role is limited, temporary and coordinated with the RO-based consultant working with the organization
Founded by Gillian Stamp, one of Jaques's colleagues at Brunel, the firm modified Jaques;s work-levels, developed the Career Path Appreciation method, and has grown to several hundred certified assessors in aligned consulting firms world-wide recently expanding to include organization design
Requisite Organization International Institute distributes Elliott Jaques's books, papers, and videos and provides RO-based training to client organizations