Sunfish has hit a very obvious nail right on the head.
"what is killing corporations, like Qantas, all over the world is the promotion of people with no hands on experience, or bad character, or what is even worse both afflictions"
Putting aside parochial sporting passions for a moment, look at the way the AFL took on the task of setting up a new team in Sydney's west.
Their Plan
1. Put in enough money and then some
2. Put in a tried, proven, trusted, competent professional who knows the game from the boot-studders job to field to the board room. Pay him very adequately but not bazillions
3. Stand back
No rude comments about Sheedy please-its the principle that matters.
Or look at Apple: the biggest company in the world-imagine if Steve Jobs and his ilk (there were and are a lot of similar folks there at Cupertino)-imagine if it were run by wide eyed amateurs with MBAs and bright untested ideas on how to do things better than those who know. Innovation and unparalleled enthusiasm for new things are not enough by themselves. Not by a mile.
Cheers
Algie