Discussion:
What if a sustained focus on safety changed everything in a sagging business? That's what happened at Alcoa, when Paul O'Neill took over in 1987 and it's one of the most fascinating chapters in the "The Power of Habit -- Why We Do What We Do In Life and Business," a book by New York Times writer Charles Duhigg. Investors at an initial meeting with O'Neill were confused when he started talking about worker safety. At the meeting, some started asking the usual questions about inventories and capital. One analyst immediately called his clients and suggested they sell the stock. "I'm not certain you heard me," Duhigg wrote, quoting O'Neill. "If you want to understand how Alcoa is doing, you need to look at our workplace safety figures. If we bring our injury rates down, it won't be because of cheerleading or the nonsense you sometimes hear from other CEOs. It will be because the individuals at this company have agreed to become part of something important: They've devoted
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Coffee and the power of habit
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/jobs/142918325.html