Comments on: What NOT to Learn from the Undercover Boss

By: Kathleen Mennillo

Kathleen Mennillo — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:47:33 +0000

I want to continue the thought found above from Jim Fernandez about the “Big Boss” tapping into company leaders to understand what happens at Gemba. I often see the head of the company or the executive level not listening or acting on information brought up to them. I would love for the show to explore this aspect (we see the exec. leadership on the show for a few minutes) and see if these leadership teams will incorporate any of the “undercover” or “going to Gemba” activities themselves.

By: Jamie Flinchbaugh

Jamie Flinchbaugh — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:14:16 +0000

I agree David, it would have been nice to see a couple manufacturing companies in there.

By: David Drickhamer

David Drickhamer — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:24:54 +0000

Management-by-walking-around with cameras. Hooters PR attempt may or may not have backfired amidst slumping restaurant sales. I’d add that all reality TV, all TV, has to be gimmicky. That’s just the nature of the beast. Even if it were a real documentary, there has to be something compelling about the situation or the characters for us to watch. Nuance or deep insights aren’t what it’s about. Sustainability will be a challenge; the more popular it becomes the more difficult that it will be for the boss to go undercover. Too bad no mfrs. or women CEOs are on schedule:
7-Eleven (Joseph M. DePinto, President and C.E.O.)
White Castle (Dave Rife, Owner/Executive Board Member)
Churchill Downs (William C. Carstanjen, C.O.O.).

By: Lyle

Lyle — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:04:42 +0000

I was manager of a large corp, and I did a lot of walking around visiting dept managers, and the lower level workers. I actually learned from all my workers how to improve operations.you can’t learn if you lock yourself in an office.

By: Liz Guthridge, The LEAN Communicator

Liz Guthridge, The LEAN Communicator — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:47:46 +0000

Jamie, a great topic and angle for you to cover. The mistakes you suggest avoiding are so on point.

Undercover Boss is great TV but lousy leadership for 2010. Leaders need to be transparent, which is supported by the new Edelman 2010 Trust Barometer. You can’t build trust if you’re hiding who you are and what you’re doing.

I have to say it’s a sad story when so many leaders don’t regularly go to the gemba.

By: Jamie Flinchbaugh

Jamie Flinchbaugh — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:52:39 +0000

No question about that!

By: Mark Graban

Mark Graban — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:47:43 +0000

Then he could have certainly chewed him out in a less wimp-tacular way.

By: Jamie Flinchbaugh

Jamie Flinchbaugh — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:41:42 +0000

Mark, I doubt he could have fired him. This is a franchise, which means he’s not a Hooters of America employee. The franchisee has the right and responsibility.

By: Jamie Flinchbaugh

Jamie Flinchbaugh — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:38:16 +0000

This show originally aired in the U.K., as do most of the U.S. reality shows it seems. I don’t know how successful it was or if it’s led to real change. Here is one executives lessons learned, which appear pretty solid:

http://www.clugston.co.uk/group/Channel-4-Undercover-Boss/Ten-Tips.php

By: Ron Pereira

Ron Pereira — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:37:56 +0000

I see, Jamie. Agree with you 100%, it seems old Jimbo was definitely playing it up… especially when he bowed up to the CEO about how he grew sales, etc. Then, in a flash, with soothing music playing in the background to set the mood old Jimbo finds religion… tears almost come to his eyes… and he is a changed man. Yeah, right.

But one thing I am confident in is that old Jimbo’s store sales are about to SKY ROCKET for at least the next 2 months making him and the CEO happy men!