PUC chairman
After several months, Gov. Lincoln Almond has finally nominated a replacement for James Malachowski as chairman of the Public Utilities Commission. His choice, Elia Germani, a lawyer most recently with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, had once served as a lawyer and assistant secretary at Narragansett Electric Company and is currently a member of the Board of Governors for Higher Education. Germani, if approved by the state Senate, assumes one of the most powerful positions in Rhode Island. The Public Utilities Commission is charged with oversight of a changing public utilities landscape, one that is being shaped by competition, rate changes, mergers and acquisitions. Additionally, the PUC will be central to developments in the telecommunications industry this year.
We suspect the Senate will be diligent about its review of Germani, and should pay particular attention to whether he continues to have any ties to Narragansett Electric, including stock or a pension from the New England Electric System, Narragansett Electric’s parent. Additionally some have raised concern about Germani’s independence from Gov. Almond, particularly in light of some votes relative to the Board of Governors. Yet, there are other colleagues that maintain his independence and honesty.
We urge the Senate to review Germani’s qualifications carefully to assure that whoever assumes this very powerful and important position has the utmost integrity and independence. To accept anything less would do a tremendous disservice to all Rhode Islanders.
Port development
We agree with North Kingstown legislators who oppose a proposal to move the Providence Port to Quonset Point/Davisville. While there is some sound reasoning for the move, there is more evidence against it, including the realization that advancement of the idea would only bring a huge outpouring of opposition and certain failure from the legislature to the North Kingstown Town Council.
There are also major costs involved, including that of moving or building new oil tanks. It would also change the focus of any port development, from the fading hope of some for a container port to one of basically oil tanks and tankers.
We believe, however, that this discussion points out the essential need for some sound leadership from the governor’s office to bring to conclusion any discussion of a port proposal. We need clear direction for the future of Quonset Point/Davisville. Will it include a port, develop as an industrial park, or become a commerce-technology center? If we are ever to make maximum use of this incredibly valuable piece of property we need to have the answers, and allow for development of a plan that will achieve the highest possible use of the property.
It’s okay to fail
When asked what it is that is the most important concept, central to his own thinking and his company’s philosophy, Jack Welch, General Electric CEO, said “robust experimentation and innovation” at all levels of the company. It is a philosophy that Vice Admiral Arthur K. Cebrowski of the Newport Naval War College has embraced, and one he suggests many businesses need to accept.
It is also a concept that is not without risk. It may often lead to failure, but it may also lead to incredible discoveries. And failure, says Admiral Cebrowski is not bad, since it means there’s a lot of experimenting going on.
Too many of our top executives believe that when it comes to innovation, the best, and sometimes only ideas come from senior management. Admiral Cebrowski, who is in his second year at the Naval War College, has been directing a redesign of the Navy from the Newport school. And in so doing, he has met with many business leaders to learn their philosophy, their reason for success and failure. He has come away with a strong belief that to succeed one needs to involve all employees in what he describes as a process of “experimentation and innovation.”
It is a strong lesson for many businesses, particularly smaller ones, where top executives feel they are sometimes far too busy to involve all employees in the process of change and innovation. The failure to listen to and involve every employee, is a process that only fosters employee dissatisfaction and lost ideas.
