過度專注也是一種病？

過去企業談「核心競爭力」"－鼓吹企業挑選最擅長、最具成本優勢的產品線， 專注於核心商品或做好核心服務，以獲得市場認同。今天的文章提出一個新的觀點：太專注不見得是好事，管理者除了專注力，更要眼觀八方，才能夠跳脫框框綜觀全局。來看看哈佛商業評論的這篇文章，在進入文章之前，先想想下列三個單字怎麼說。

a) 近視; 目光短淺

b) 小心; 謹慎的

c) 靈光乍現

American race driver Mario Andretti once said he would stop racing when his peripheral vision began diminishing. Modern day managers will do well listening to the world champion racer and learn one or two things from him. Without the ability to take constant notice of competitors and the playing field, a driver/manager who is overly focused on what's directly ahead could 1) fall prey to the ill effects of  "too-much-focus”.

美國賽車手，安德烈帝曾說如果他的周邊視線開始衰退，他就會退休，這句話其實對於當代經理人，也有一定的啟發意義。因為就像賽車手一樣，企業領導者如果缺乏敏銳的感知能力，無法體察競爭者和局勢變化，就有可能成為"太過專注"的受害者。

Traditionally, managers were told to focus on their core competency. Yet, more and more theories are now emerging to remind business leaders to also ask themselves: "what else is going on?" and "what could I have missed?" Too much focus can result in product-developing and marketing a) myopia, as well as lost business opportunities. To remedy this condition, you need to broaden your source of information, avoid bias in weighing priorities, and b) be wary of blind spots in trusting established systems you don't fully understand, according to "The Power of Noticing", a new book discussing the subject.

傳統企管理論強調，經理人應專注於企業核心競爭力，但有越來越多新興思潮鼓吹經理人應不時跳開來問自己：其他人在做甚麼？我有沒有錯過其他機會？過於專注眼前的目標，可能導致產品和行銷上的短視，或錯失商機。為避免這樣的弊病，一本最近上市的專書"體察力"，建議經理人應擴大資訊接收來源，避免決策偏見，同時小心犯下盲從的毛病。

To debate the merit and shortfallof focus, "The Eureka Moment," an article on the New Yorker magazine 2) made a case for balance, suggesting the c) eureka moment only comes when you are relaxed and open to possibilities, after taking in large amount of info in a focused state.

紐約客雜誌的一篇文章也曾討論專注的利弊。作者認為均衡的拿捏很重要，因為靈光乍現只有在先集中精神攝取大量資訊，然後放鬆腦袋、自由聯想的時候才會出現。

In actual practice, the success of a business may well be determined by focus and broad awareness both in equal measures. In strategizing stages, a manager would want to maximize his options by taking a bird's eye view of the overall environment, while in execution phases when the visions are put into shape, keeping a focus is certainly more desirable.

實際上，成功企業需要的可能是兩者兼具，既要能專注達成目標，也要能體察時勢。在制定策略階段，經理人應該放開心胸、擴大視野，發掘任何可能的契機，而在決策定調之後，實際的執行面，就需要專注和有效落實。

1)  Fall prey to... 受到..的傷害

As the standoff continues, the whole European Union could fall prey to the diplomatic scuffle if Russia cuts gas supply.

隨著對峙延續，如果俄羅斯切斷天然氣供應，整個歐盟都有可能因為這場外交糾紛而受害。

2)  Made a case for... 針對...提出有力說法

The CFO made a case for listing on NYSE instead of NASDAQ.

財務長針對選擇紐約證交所，而非納斯達克進行股票上市，提出了有力的說法。

參考網站: http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/7618.html