Fifth Annual Wharton Leadership Conference Business firms, government agencies, and non-profit organizations know that leadership is increasingly critical throughout the ranks. Most also have a good appreciation for what their managers and administrators require for effective leadership within their respective enterprises and markets. Defining a leader as anyone regardless of formal position who serves as an effective social-change agent, the authors urge that o the topic of leadership be introduced as a common theme in freshmen seminars o student affairs offices create campus opportunities for student leadership experiences o professors practice leadership principles in their classes o presidents model leadership behavior in their relations with key administrators. Information technology is one issue. Most executives are not directly responsible for their IT systems, yet they are required to comprehend the strategic implications of technology and to lead the company in using them.
Business models are another issue.
To answer this question, the Wharton Center for Leadership and Change recently conducted a survey of Wharton alumni and on-campus speakers who are Internet managers. The survey was conducted in conjunction with Perform, a firm that provides web-based solutions for performance, career, and talent management. We received 38 responses from 144 e-managers that we approached. The e-managers identified a set of characteristics that are essential in leading the development of Internet applications in their business. CEOs are expecting quick results from their e-initiatives.