Transparency in Business? What?

Yesterday I heard something in a keynote address that really made me think. The speaker, an expert in software methodology, said that there is an ever increasing demand for transparency in business.

At face value, it sounds reasonable. The more I thought about this statement, the more I realized the tremendous potential for change, and the challenge of realizing this goal.

What is the cost of not being transparent? Lost productivity and lost opportunity are two things that come to mind immediately. Have businesses finally realized that the silo or kingdom mentality is affecting their bottom line?

Leadership is responsible for the transition to transparency. So I couldn’t help but wonder what executive leadership is doing to create this new culture. How do they deal with the tough nuts who have held back information for years?

How are they dealing with groups that refuse to change?

This is not easy. Hiding information, protecting kingdoms, and maintaining control is so much safer.

Or is it?

If any of you are in a transition towards transparency, I would be interested in sharing your story.