Abstract :
The author´s manufacturing research has been in the following areas: mechanics of metal machining in the late 1960s; NC machining, cad, cam, cad-cam integration, robotics, and computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) in the 1970s and 1980s; international collaborative cad, international collaborative cad-cam, optimization of CIM and virtual CIM in the 1990s. This is a natural progression of research from micro-to macro-scope projects. NC, cad, cam and robotics, etc are islands of technology. CIM integrates many islands of automation including management techniques whilst virtual CIM integrates enterprises globally. As the author experiences through this sequence of development, he understand the importance of scientific management. As his research moves on, he strongly believes that leadership is the determinant factor for any organization´s future success. In the past history, we saw many leaders who were determined and confident in their sense of direction, unafraid to take risks, bold and courageous, inspiring and uplifting. However, leadership is a much more difficult matter these days than it once was. The world is much more complex and confusing, continually reshaping and renewing itself, changing before our very eyes in endless and complex variations. Even as it gets tougher to be a leader, it becomes more necessary, for only capable leaders will enable an organization to survive in such difficult and demanding time. Without leadership, an organization is like a boat adrift in turbulent seas with no oars, no compass, no maps, and no hope. This paper presents practical steps that a leader can take to greatly improve her/his leading effectiveness. Making beautiful dreams come true virtually starts with the assumption that you already are a leader of an organization or aspire to become one. The organization may be large or small, new or old. It may be in the private sector, the public sector, or the nonprofit sector. You may hold a position at the very top of - he organization, or you may head a department within a larger organization. Your unit may be the local office of a public agency, a project in a research center. The practical steps include: design a vision that will serve your organization well; finding the right vision; taking vision stock; choosing the right vision; making dreams come true; and taking charge.
