The Rise of the Political Manager
As politics and business are becoming increasingly intertwined, many companies today conclude that a politically sensitive management is essential in furthering a company's political welfare. Consequently, a number of firms are initiating a range of programs to develop the political management skills of their managers. The goal is not to encourage managers to run for public office or to enter political life as individuals; rather, it is to make them better able to understand and communicate the company's political position as part of their regular management functions. The author holds that in time companies will stress the public affairs role of their managers to such an extent that a manager's public service performance will become a significant criterion for his or her advancement in the firm. Thus, he concludes that the time has come to cultivate a new breed -- the politically active manager.