Geeks and Geezers

Citation

Ganly, J. (2003), "Geeks and Geezers", The Bottom Line, Vol. 16 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/bl.2003.17016aae.002

Geeks and Geezers

Geeks and Geezers

Warren G. Bennis with Robert J. ThomasHarvard Business SchoolBoston, MA2002221 ppISBN 1-57851-582-3$26.95Keywords: Leadership, Executives, Age groups

Warren G. Bennis is University Professor and Founding Chairman of the Leadership Institute of the University of Southern California and Chairman of the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard's Kennedy School, as well as the Thomas S. Murphy Distinguished Research Fellow at the Harvard Business School. In the 30 books that Dr Bennis has published, he has gained a reputation as a major expert in the field of leadership. Robert J. Thomas, co-author of Geeks and Geezers, is a Senior Research Fellow with Accenture's Institute for Strategic Change in Cambridge, Massachusetts and an Associate Partner specializing in the area of leadership and transformational change.

In interviews with over 40 leaders who the authors characterize as "geeks" (aged 21-34) or "geezers" (aged 70-82) an effort is made to measure the impact that era has on leadership skills. Utilizing a concept they call the "crucible", which refers to a pivotal life changing experience which altered the thinking and actions of the interviewees the authors attempt to illustrate why these experiences had the effect. The "crucible" events range from the 16 years of imprisonment suffered by "geezer" Sidney Rittenberg for speaking out against the government of China to the experience of Liz Altman a "geek", who worked in a Sony Japanese factory before becoming a Motorola Vice President.

The interviews with persons who ranged in age from 21 to 93 were designed to see why some persons benefited from the life experience while others may not. Each of the age groups is profiled in a separate chapter and the concerns and thinking of each group are identified. Not surprisingly the authors point out that the findings of the research show the groups to have very different ideas about what is important. The "geezers" pinpoint security and stability as key issues while the "geeks" see wealth and independence as paramount considerations.

The findings of the survey are used by the authors to describe a life model that makes best use of pivotal life events. Although useful in business leadership analysis the study is primarily a philosophical and sociological attempt to provide the reader with guidance in identifying and utilizing experiences to maximize leadership potential.

The book includes biographical sketches of the interviewees as well as a copy of the questionnaire used in the survey. A useful index is provided. Although the subject matter has major intellectual overtones the authors' style makes the work accessible to the layperson.

John GanlyAssistant Director for Collections, Science, Industry and Business Library, New York Public Library, New York, NY