Fusion Formula: Take two atoms of hydrogen, agitate rapidly under titanic gravitational stress, then apply cosmic heat. Caution: Do not over-stimulate or the mixture may explode and engulf the entire solar system; but be sure to continue at a pace sufficient to keep the sphere from collapsing under it’s own weight. Repeat to Infinity! Voila! Produces helium and "Sunlight" in quantities sufficient to serve eight (or nine) planets.

A corporation is also a "Fusion Engine" -- which brings together humans with dreams, desires and energy and combines them with raw material under fierce pressures in the service of a Noble Purpose to create an "ongoing game" forming products or services exchangeable for profit. Amazing! Even Fun! It’s not merely a physical process – at its best, it involves and engages the mind and the spirit as well.

Unfortunately this "Engine" in many corporations is dysfunctional, working only to a small fraction of its innate capability: We see a lot of "dif-fusion" with people, initiatives and resources unfocused and unused. We also see "dis-integration" – with management, employees, customers, executives, shareholders, corporate investors and community stakeholders all with opposing agendas flying away in all directions. They disagree about everything -- the identity, purpose, and functionality of the corporation. They are all "absolutely right" about their separate points of view. And yet, they are all wrong as they doggedly go about creating a shared failure and a loss for everyone.

We now know that "True Fusion" is an elusive thing! Though the formula may appear to be about a million other things, it’s really about Culture. At the heart of each success or failure is the culture – that invisible ocean of shared customs, standards, practices, perspectives and values in which our corporate lives are conducted. Culture is the "Containment Vessel" in which the "Magic of Fusion" can take place. Culture is what allows people to survive the titanic pressures involved in making even a small organization survive and succeed to make a profit and come back to repeat the recipe. It is the fundamental job of Management to build, evolve and maintain culture – either "by design" or "by default." We help our clients "build culture by design": aligning, orchestrating and integrating the components to create and continue Fusion.