Alfred P. Sloan was born in 1875. He retired from the business world in 1956. No words of praise can do justice to the commercial acumen of this professional who steered people through two wars and a depression.
The first half of the last century seems to be more than 100 years away in management terms. There was no systematic education available in this field during such primordial industrial times. Perhaps it was this very nascence that spawned the business genius of individuals such as Alfred P. Sloan.
This first of Management Gurus did not fade away in retirement. Sloan helped to establish a Center to manage cancer. The hospital in New York, NY that bears his name continues to be at the vanguard of the fight of one of the most persistent and feared scourges of our times. The Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center continues to hold out hope for large numbers of seriously ill patients from around the world.
There are two management concepts Sloan publicly endorsed. They remain relevant decades after this legendary business leader first expressed his views. Ambitious executives and hopeful stock investors can gain in equal measures from these two of Sloan’s classic expressions.
The first relates to the value of dissent. Sloan exhorted his colleagues to be wary of unquestioning and immediate agreements. He would insist on looking for downsides so that final decisions could be fully considered. Sloan valued professional dissent. This idea is at the heart of top stock picks even today.
The other concept related to building careers, and providing growth opportunities in jobs. Sloan was opposed to forcing outsiders into top positions of corporations. Young professionals of today would do well to dwell on such thoughts.
It is only befitting that the Sloan School of Management has an equal place in the world of business education as the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
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