Jody Hoffer Gittell

One thing that's been normal in this year’s bizarre US presidential election cycle is the debate about the proper role of the public sector in a market-driven economy. While it's an age-old discussion, it's coming to a head at a time of crumbling infrastructure and continued middle class decline.

Team-building teaches valuable skills that are needed in today's working world. But it doesn't go far enough. It's often too superficial to create the scalable and sustainable change that organizations need to respond to the performance challenges they face.

The recent collapses of Air Australia, Malev and Spanair raise questions about airline strategies and business models. With rising fuel prices and continuing economic turmoil in Europe and elsewhere, what is the sustainability of low-cost air travel and new-entrant budget airlines?

The issue of universal access has taken center stage as Congress, powerful industry players and millions of consumers debate the future of healthcare. Could it lead to healthcare rationing and diminished quality of care or prove unsustainably costly? There is some truth to both scenarios—if we increase access without remedying the way we deliver healthcare.