Defense sector

The armed services have been in the business of leadership development much longer than the corporate world has. Today's military leaders need tools and...

Military Misfortunes: The Anatomy of Failure in War, by Eliot A. Cohen and John Gooch (New York: Free Press, 1990), 296 pages, $22.95. In 1950, Chinese forces staged a surprise attack on U.S. forces stationed along the Yalu River in Korea. Everyone knows what happened next: suicidal waves of fanatic Chinese troops drove the American […]

Leadership is often presented as an abstract undertaking, a matter of vision and values rather than practical details. But in the author's world, the...

Six ways to get started.

When responding to a complex, fast-moving crisis, leaders must constantly adapt their mental models and create a "unity of effort," argues Allen, a retired...

The battle plan for Operation Iraqi Freedom called for a rapid, responsive force capable of identifying and removing threats immediately. Commercial supply...

Author’s note: Alistair Hanna, Michael Reopel, and Stuart Flack, all of McKinsey & Company, contributed to this article. The U.S. defense industry is struggling to reorganize itself for growth, if not for survival. The disappearance of the communist threat and the desperate need to revive the U.S. economy have taken the defense industry for a […]

One assumption at the core of this blog is that military service-particularly service in the crucible of combat-is exceptionally effective at developing...

Eight lessons from some of history's greats.

Unmanned aircraft are creating a new civilian industry.

Leaders go through many transitions in their careers. Each brings new crises and challenges that are predictable. Knowing what to expect can help you...

Business has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years. So has warfare. Every executive knows firsthand the daunting challenges of the 21st...

In 2005, the host unit of North Dakota's Grand Forks Air Force Base had to reinvent itself to stay relevant. Its large fleet of tanker aircraft was being...

The game has changed in military leadership. Earlier this week, The Washington Post published a fascinating account of the recent firing of Gen. David...

After-action reviews identify past mistakes but rarely enhance future performance. Companies wanting to fully exploit this tool should look to its master: the U.S. Army’s standing enemy brigade, where soldiers learn and improve even in the midst of battle.

How to lead through turbulent times.

In recent months, which radical, tree-hugging group has upped the volume on pushing for action on climate change? I bet you wouldn't have guessed American...

Corporate America and the U.S. Navy share one big problem: employee retention. Today's knowledge workers hop from start-up to start-up. And 40% of the...

With cyberattacks soaring, corporations must step up efforts to protect their IT networks. Most firms could learn from the U.S. military, which has been...

A Q&A with former general Stanley McChrystal.