I’ve noted before that America has always been a country of givers. It was heartening to see five former presidents on the stage together in October calling for donations for hurricane relief. But this gratifying image doesn’t represent the state of non-profit funding in 2017. Things are getting tight. “Giving fatigue” or “donor fatigue” is a phenomenon […]
This blog post was featured in the Huffington Post on November 29, 2017. Dr. Adizes: Jim, you have authored and published a book, Applied Wisdom, (2) in which you summarized your thirty years of leading Applied Material as its CEO and Chairman of the Board. Applied Material grew from a small company, with $17 million in revenues when […]
America has always been a country of givers. As waves of new immigrants came to this land, they built the schools, community centers, hospitals and vibrant arts organizations that now exist. Many people came to this country with very little, and yet they gave back. I made charitable giving central to Applied Materials’ mission early […]
Applied Materials will be celebrating its fiftieth anniversary on November 10. To be a 50-year-old company in Silicon Valley is quite an achievement. To be growing fast, setting new records and delivering cutting-edge innovation at 50 is almost unheard of. Few companies can make that claim. When I joined Applied in October of 1976 the […]
Sometimes impatient business people get involved with nonprofits. The nonprofit’s goals may seem remote, the results unachievable. But I’ve learned that patience and persistence can produce powerful results. In 1997 I traveled with Applied’s diverse Asia-Pacific team down the Yangtze River to China’s Three Gorges Dam. Construction on the dam had begun in 1994. It […]
This month I want to talk about systems thinking in the context of American relations with China and my experience working with China beginning the early 1980s. International trade is very much in the headlines these days. After a period of expanded trade agreements over the last several decades, the new administration in Washington is […]
Earlier this year I was interviewed by G. Dan Hutcheson for his well-known weVISION video series. The edited video, 30 minutes long, is available for free online, along with a transcript of our chat. Dan is an old friend, not just of mine, but of the whole semiconductor industry. He is chairman of VLSIresearch, a provider of […]
When I coach nonprofit managers I often repeat some of my most fundamental management tips and processes. Most of them work for any organization, for-profit and not-for-profit. As a leader, the character of your organization will never exceed your own. Make sure you exhibit every trait and quality you want your people to exhibit. A […]
Not every business practice translates to the nonprofit world, but here are some that do. I hope you’ll find them helpful. —Jim Morgan Focus on the Long Haul Most leaders are smart, knowledgeable about their business, and committed to their goals. What sets real leaders apart is their ability to maintain the pace. Social transformation, […]
At some point in almost every fast-growing company’s life there is a moment when a manager realizes business as usual is not going to cut it. As a leader you have to face facts: Change or fail. I was reminded of this recently from stories about the ride-sharing service Uber. Among other criticisms, a former employee […]