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Building Intelligence: A Living Systems View

(Executive Summary in Executive Excellence, Covey’s Newsletter)

Many researchers have studied and published their findings regarding the Lima, Ohio Procter & Gamble soap business. What virtually all writers failed to grasp, however, is that the reason that it was, and continues to be, so successful. The primary training and development provided for all employees was aimed at building three core forms of intelligence, which go beyond the acquisition of skills and knowledge. Further, the work systems design was built around a belief that continuous business growth occurs by increasing the intellectual capacity of the organization.

It is the business result from this belief that caused it to be the most studied business in the history of business and organizational development research. The focus on intelligence was based on the premise that the quality of thinking of the members of the organization would be the prime determiner of business and organizational success and the one capability on which the business could depend in all markets and conditions. 16 pgs