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Are corporate CEO and President comparable management skills?

Are corporate CEO and President comparable management skills?

  • Total voters
    34
How many times have we heard folks likening the federal government's finances to a business or home finances? Through the decades. In [perceived] tough economic times people want a president who talks like a CEO.
 
Gaius46 said:
That doesn't necessarily mean that Presidents and CEOs don't require similar skills.
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There can be some overlap, yes. But there are also different skill sets needed for each as well.
 
radcen said:
Are corporate CEO and President comparable management skills?

Yes? No? In between? Why, or why not?
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In some ways yes, in some ways no. Government exists to take care of many of the functions in society that corporations don't take care of, therefore the approach should be different. But the leadership that comes from running a corporation is definitely valuable, though I'd prefer governor experience over CEO experience.
 
This depends on what you are looking for in your Government and your world leader.
Is a senator a good, comparable position to President?
Is a Social Worker a good, comparable position to President?
Is a Constitutional Lawyer a good, comparable position to President?
Is a newspaper delivery boy/girl a good, comparable position to President? :)

It all depends on the individual voting.

Some criterias I tend to like but won't necessarily sway my vote still include:
• Political Education (Have some knowledge of the position being run for)
• Military background (the Commander and Chief really should have some experience here)
• Some kind of track record (preferably as a senator or at least a Governor) so that I can see what they've done for their state. Other examples of what they have done for the country might also apply.
• A platform. I know you would think this is a no brainer but it really doesn't always seem a requirement for voters in recent years.
 
Ikari said:
Government is not out to make a profit, nor should it be. Government is a system wherein the sovereignty of the People is utilized to create a system of laws and regulations for the betterment of the People. It is a large, aggregate beast with an ability to print and regulate the value of its own currency. It wields the power of the People and military strength and must engage in domestic and international politics and diplomacy.

A business exists to make money. Government and business are two completely different entities.
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Not really. Sure, it's not a perfect 1-to-1 correlation, but the general ideas are the same. Both seek to use limited resources to the best positive effect for their shareholders (citizens). In business, the shareholders expect a return on their investment in the form of dividends. In politics, the citizens expect a return on their investment in the form of protection, services and potential success. I'd much rather have someone who recognizes the government for what it's supposed to be instead of what it's turned into.
 
radcen said:
Are corporate CEO and President comparable management skills?

Yes? No? In between? Why, or why not?
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I would say in between. A CEO knows how to use resources effectively and employ the right people.But at the same time not everything in the government should be ran like a business where only profit matters.Plus a corporate ceo can't simply just print more money.
 
radcen said:
Could it be something as simple as a person with a legal-type mind would just be more naturally drawn to creating laws and "managing" society, whereas a plumber or an auto mechanic would not?
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Except lawyers spend a lot of their time trying to get around laws, not trying to defend them.
 
radcen said:
From what I understand, Steve Jobs would have disagreed. ;)
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Steve Jobs was an idiot who used "natural medicine" instead of something that demonstrably worked and that got him killed.
 
radcen said:
But they understand them and are drawn to the environment. That was the point.
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That doesn't make them good politicians though, they aren't there to support and defend the law, they are there to get around it for the good of their clients and/or selves.
 
Cephus said:
That doesn't make them good politicians though, they aren't there to support and defend the law, they are there to get around it for the good of their clients and/or selves.
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I was just addressing the other poster's question regarding why government has such a high percentage of lawyers, that's all. I made no inference to quality.
 
radcen said:
I was just addressing the other poster's question regarding why government has such a high percentage of lawyers, that's all. I made no inference to quality.
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The question shouldn't be "why does it happen". We know why it happens, they're looking for power. The question ought to be "is this a good thing" and I can't think of a single reason why it is.
 
Gaius46 said:
Exactly. Until I worked for big corporations and got a close look at how senior executive manage and even more so was put in a position where I was managing relatively large projects or being a line manager with a couple dozen staffers, I had the naive view that bosses said "jump" and everyone said "how high." Nothing could be further from the truth. Even when you control the money - as a line manager does through the review and raise process - you lead by making people understand why they're doing what you're asking them to do. You don't give orders.
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radcen said:
From what I understand, Steve Jobs would have disagreed. ;)
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There are always exceptions, to whit, Jobs' leadership style was personally abusive and demanding, and it's what got him thrown out of Apple at least once because of it. So not really a good leader, by definition.
 
radcen said:
Are corporate CEO and President comparable management skills?

Yes? No? In between? Why, or why not?
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Yes. Absolutely there are comparable characteristics. Good leaders are good leaders, whether they are leading a company, a cost center, a sales team, a girl scout troop, or the entire nation.
 
tres borrachos said:
Yes. Absolutely there are comparable characteristics. Good leaders are good leaders, whether they are leading a company, a cost center, a sales team, a girl scout troop, or the entire nation.
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Or community organizing?
 
Obama was a community organizer who never had to meet a payroll, pay business bills, or comfort the family of laid off workers, or do a face to face with a fired worker.

His views are from academia, and social injustice viewpoints. (documented)

Trump built his own business, and has hired & fired according to his needs.
 
I mean, there are certainly some skills that are transferable. Negotiating with others, balancing budgets, enforcing rules, setting a vision....

Running a country is extremely different from running a company, however. What does a CEO know about foreign policy, education, the military, race relations? A CEO must maximize shareholder welfare, which is very different from the role of a President in relation to the country as a whole. The traits that make someone a good CEO may not be appropriate in someone in control of the nuclear codes.
 
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