ABSTRACT
To begin, we can introduce the basic characteristics of stellar people. We touched on this in Chapter 1 and we can now focus more on their characteristics. As a product development engineer, I have worked extensively with various people and have interacted with a variety of leaders as well. My experience has defined a repeatable pattern of behaviors leading to four parameters that define stellar people, who are simply great people who are experts in their field of practice. They can challenge the best of the best. In addition and arguably more important, stellar people can work cross functionally. For example, a product development engineer would add more value to the organization if he or she had a full understanding of manufacturing. This would allow the product design to be manufactured in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. Let us take this example one step further and also assume that the product development engineer has an understanding of supply chain and logistics. This would also benefit the organization as the product design can utilize abundant raw materials from a key supplier that drives a competitive advantage. In addition, the understanding of logistics can aid in a product design that ships in a cost-effective manner. This chapter is about people having the necessary traits to be effective across the entire business. Such people are self-driven to understand the business better. A person with these traits is termed the cross-functional entrepreneur.
