The best purchase a company can make ... is an employee. Not the "right" employee, or the "trained" employee (although, arguably, there is merit in both those lines of thought). The single best invention that has ever, or will ever be made, is a human. God got it!!!! He nailed it!!! and He is willing to put Himself in it!!!!
Yes, there are many holes in this idea...many areas with which one could argue...argue that humans can do great - or evil, depending on ...
But, fundamentally, I believe that any employer (church, group, family,...) has the answer for the problems it encounters.
That answer is investing in its best inventions...PEOPLE. I don't mean just the "elite" knowledge bearers at the top of the company. I don't mean everyone from supervisory level, and up. I mean every single solitary person in the company.
I don't necessarily mean a financial investment, though in many cases, I think that would go a long way. Many companies just don't yet have the financial resources to pay production in the same range as the executive. But there are so many ways to invest in people other than monetary!!!
Time valuing opinions on issues...polling for alternative solutions...thinking through suggestions that don't make prima facie sense...being willing to go against the grain in order to support an employee struggling with some external issue. All of these are ways to honor the majesty (not supreme majesty owned for One) of people and their talents, abilities, and problem solving skills.
Those educated in post-secondary institutions aren't the only ones who have problem solving skills, even for large corporations. In fact, those who are successful at avoiding post-secondary education (in socially and morally acceptable ways) may be some of our best problem solvers ;o).
I have just read an article about Wal-Mart's problems with their technology paradigm. It is costing them at the bottom line. They looked for more and more technological solutions to manage changes that only people (humans) themselves could mitigate. They retained too much control in Bentonville, AR, and relied on data gathered from remote locations to make decisions, rather than trusting the local managers with their individual skills and abilities.
I, also, have been reading and reading about Larry Crabb. His perceptions on counseling, therapy, and inner healing deal with much the same stuff. He believes that there is power for personal problem solving in the simple occurences of humans (specifically Christ followers) deeply caring about and relating to one another.
I see his point. The times in my life I have experienced the clearest mind, least hindered thought life, and most simplicity, have been the times that people have been involved in my life in a deeply caring, nonjudgmental way.
