Professor Clayton Christensen at the Harvard School of Business is one of my heroes in the business world. His series of books on disruptive innovation have changed the way I think about new products, and provide theoretical tools that have assisted my approach to intellectual property strategy in my work (even though IP strategy is not discussed in his works). I was happy to see an article from him in the February Ensign (not yet on the LDS.org site) – I hope you’ll read it. Also, I was impressed to see that he has made his personal testimony of the Gospel available on his Website, ClaytonChristensen.com. It’s in the form of an essay about his beliefs called “Why I Believe.” Since it’s almost guaranteed to cost him some business, I admire his courage and kindness in sharing that.
Harvard’s Clayton Christensen: Feb. 07 Ensign Article and His Testimony on His Website
I found it a bit amusing/interesting that in the Ensign article he essentially criticizes Church practice of “roll-keeping” during sacrament meeting, contrasting it with the Savior’s imperative to leave the ninety and nine and seek after the one.
His advice on filling “leadership” positions in the ward/branch level with those “on the periphery” so that the same “qualified” members don’t rotate around the same key callings was a refreshing insight.
From the article: “Building His Church on the backs of the simple and weak (see D&C 1:19) was not a temporary, stop-gap staffing plan to tide the Church over until enough experience, committed, qualified leaders had arrived on the scene.”
I remember being in attendance at a business leadership class at BYU a few years ago where the professor pointed out that most Church leaders, both local and general, had significant business leadership experience. I vocally took exception to that, considering a man on my mission who was a janitor that was serving as the bishop at the time and was greatly loved by the members of his ward, and the fact that my own father had served as a bishop but didn’t have the resume of a business executive.
In my own experience in a position of stewardship, I remember recommending a member to fill a calling in my organization although this person was “on the periphery”. The calling was never extended and it left me wondering if despite the good feelings I had about the recommendation, whether the bishop’s paradigm limited callings to those no “in the periphery”.
From my perspective, this is definitely an issue that needs to be addressed on a larger scale at stake priesthood leadership meetings, PEC meetings, etc.
Great find, Jeff. I really enjoyed Clayton’s articles. A PDF version of the February Ensign is available.