ABSTRACT
This chapter explains several vision-oriented leaders and then explores seven competencies that help them and others become thoughtful executives within thinking organizations. Whether change is transformational or incremental, it can be strategically oriented for the long-term success of the organization as an outgrowth of vision-oriented leadership behaviors. The competencies are scanning the environment, strategic planning, articulating the mission and vision, and networking and partnering, performing general management functions, decision-making, and managing organizational change. Organizational change is the broadest level of change. It involves large-scale change in the direction, structure, major processes, or culture of the organization. Mixed scanning recommends that the decision-maker first scan the external environment for radical economic, technological, or competitive shifts and, simultaneously, examine the organization for major systems malfunctions. Just as problem-solving support operations planning and enhances technical innovation and creativity, decision-making supports strategic planning and enhances organizational change.
