The Oz Principle: Getting Results Through Individual & Organizational Accountability

The Oz Principle: Getting Results Through Individual & Organizational Accountability is a management book by Craig Hickman, Tom Smith and Roger Connors that aims to describe how The Land of Oz as depicted in the children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has come to stand as a symbol for things not being as they seem. It is the first published book by the management company Partners In Leadership out of a series of three books that also includes Journey to the Emerald City and How Did That Happen?.

Background

The Oz Principle uses examples from L. Frank Baum's novel to portray the journey down the yellow brick road as one of self-discovery wherein the characters learn that only they themselves possess the power to fully realize or change their lives. The authors extend the metaphor of Dorothy, the tin man, the scarecrow, and the lion by describing the heart, courage, and wisdom needed to acknowledge, accept, and deal with circumstances and events as they are. The result is a willingness to accept responsibility, which leads to individual and organizational accountability.

Description

The Oz Principle depicts Dorothy, the tin man, the scarecrow, and the lion as examples throughout the book.

  • Just like Dorothy’s search for the Wizard of Oz for enlightenment, individuals and organizations also seek out the wizard that will save them from the maladies that afflict their workplace.
  • When a company suffers from poor performance, individuals begin finger-pointing instead of doing something to alleviate the situation.
  • Victimization grinds down productivity, competitiveness, confidence, and trust, which, if left unattended, will create a downward spiral for the organization.
  • A thin line separates failure and success, greatness and mediocrity.