| EasyValue is a smaller innovation of easyGroup that has not developed to its potential yet. This site helps the customer compare product prices and the best choices available. It is also property-finding site that helps the customers find the property they want little trouble or effort. The new property-finding service searches a growing range of websites to locate as many properties as it can thus giving the best chance of finding an ideal home. EasyValue offers comparisons in books, music, DVD’s, life insurance, property and other information valuable by customers. Another smaller but important originality created by easyGroup is easyRentacar. This is a very interesting venture since it is the first Internet-only rent car company. EasyRentacar is available in only four European cities so far, UK, Spain, France and the Netherlands. Its aim is to offer customers outstanding value for money. Value for money means a reliable service at a low price. EasyRentacar achieves this by simplifying the product they offer, and passing on the benefits to the customer in the form of lower prices. This is the reason why two cars are offered, the Mercedes A-class car and the smart car. The Mercedes is thought to be in its own class by itself and the smart car is offered in European cities and has a length of only 8 feet and is the ideal car for urban cities. The last of the latest creations of easyGroup is easyDotcom. This is just a free email service that allows people to access their email from any web server at any place in the world. The competition is extremely large for this venture but it is always an addition to the “easy” brand corporation. In the making is easyMoney, another easyGroup creation to provide the public with online financial services. Estimates see it being launched in the summer of 2001. III. Application of Old Dogs, New Tricks This book is divided up in three main sections. The first section talks about tricks of the new trade. It holds trust to be equivalent to the livelihood of an organization. The “tricks” in the section are thought of as the “soft-side” of management. Seen as soft because this section focuses on the need of leaders to cater to the needs of the led and draw out their ideal performance in attempts of vision realization. Thought to be tenderhearted towards the led. In reality: objective motivated and best way to achieve goal and purpose. The first couple of tricks mention on how a leader needs follow the spirit and go with instincts and to clarify the vision and make the goals known by leading through the voice and that special vision. In EasyGroup’s case the vision and goals are obvious and the expanding of the company through the use of technology is basic structure of the company. Hadjioannou’s vision is to “explore new ventures in the easy brand” and he has made that vision reality. He has shared his purpose and when the purpose is shared, anything can be achieved. Bennis talks about a “helicopter view” granted by the perspective of the purpose. Recruiting is also another aspect that Bennis highlights in his book and the ability to bring into the company great minds and talents assists on the way to achieving that vision and purpose. EasyGroup is able to not only recruit able VP’s but more importantly is attracting young crowds with interesting and unlimited potential. It is targeted in the middle of large cities and the customers it provides services with are involved in the technology generation. Becoming a “tomorrow leader” and being more attuned to the times is a very interesting trick mentioned. Tomorrow’s leaders must learn how to create an environment that embraces change. Some of the traits of tomorrow’s leaders possessed by the heads of easyGroup are self-awareness and self-esteem, valuing the important role of women, generating of trust, being comfortable with advanced technology and not only having a vision but having a vision with a meaning to it. The second section of the book called Tricks and Team Treats defines how CEO’s differ in experience and personal style, they constitute a prism through which the fortunes of the modern world are refracted. EasyGroup has to deal not only with their own company’s demands but also with a new social reality. The factors for this are the emergence of new technology, globalization, and even dramatic demographic changes. “When all is said and done, more is said than done” This whole new bag of tricks mentioned in this section talks about sharing the wealth of the company. Bennis mentions sharing the wealth can be a very positive thing because it gives the rest of employees the understanding of working together and enjoying the profits. A leader should avoid forming an “us vs. them” mentality. In EasyGroup’s case the money is not actually shared with the employees but it is mainly reinvested into the company either for the enlargement of the airline’s fleet with the addition of some more Boeing’s or the expansion of Internet cafes in more cities worldwide. This does not necessarily cause an “us vs. them” mentality within the company because the higher paying jobs are included in the sharing the wealth policy but the lower paid employees are still a part of the company but do not have the flexibility to demand a piece of the wealth. They receive some types of benefits and a basic salary that will earn them a living. But the sharing of the profit is definitely needed and also a different way other than monetary compensation is rewarding to the higher paid employees. When they see that the money is going back in the company they could be offered a contract extension or a similar way of compensating them and reassuring them they will be a part of the success. Even though Hadjioannou is who founded this company and made it into reality, the Lone Ranger is dead. In a world of increasing globalization and rapid change, a great leader is not enough and this is very much known by Hadjioannou. Great Groups and great leaders are working together – “None of us is as smart as all of us.” A collaborative form of leadership results from the emergence of intellectual capital as the most important element in organizational success. The trick of self-nomination is very neat and deceiving because once a company is hot then the talents will be attracted to it and may want to join the group. At the same time you need to appreciate the people who are currently working for you. But many times the case may be that the company seems like it is hot when it actually is not. The last trick Bennis mentions in this section and Hadjioannou has accomplished so far is creating your own Great Group. The leader makes the group and the group makes the leader. Creating a Great Group requires not only vision but also a vision with very deep meaning. It requires the ability to seize opportunities to fulfill that vision. A leader is needed to protect this group from disruptive outside forces yet know what goes on at the same time. Finding the link to the market: the leader is the one who represents the group in the outside world, the salesman, translator, and facilitator. Hadjioannou exemplifies this at his best and has truly brought a Great Group together as seen by the results of his vision. Bennis closes in his book by talking about exemplary leadership. This type of leadership results from creative, intelligent and competitive organizations. Creating the social architecture to generate intellectual capital. Companies that invest more in educating their employees see a significant increase in productivity and have a competitive advantage. Leaders must be creative and reinvent themselves. “Leaders are made great by their followers, and followers are made great by their leaders.” A very important trick is working towards the long-term interest of the stakeholders, including the shareholders, employees, customers, and the community. One aspect that easyGroup is lacking is that of being more fully human through human relations and organizational life. The company is so involved with technology and the Internet that it seems to not be as involved as it should be in the community where it exists. Reinventing the organization is something that Bennis writes about in his last tricks concerning successful leadership. This is not the case for easyGroup because it is a new company, which keeps reinventing their services and advancing technologically but not needing to reinvent the visions and goals set out for them. |