How depressing that corporate executives feel that they have to spy on their workers ("The Privacy Arms Race," July). Research shows that for a company to be able to embrace innovation, a culture of trust and inclusiveness for all employees must be engendered. Moreover, some of the best new ideas are often triggered by external events and can be suggested by anyone in the organization. Discouraging employees to surf the Web for stimulation and knowledge amid an environment of mistrust is hardly the way to tap an organization's full intellectual power. With innovation now recognized as the most important key for sustained competitiveness, use of spy software seems an excellent way to ensure that the company will wither away.
Anthony C. Warren
Director
Farrell Center for Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation
Smeal College of Business, Penn State
University Park, Pennsylvania
I was touched by John A. Byrne's "Eulogy for My Father," (July), which captured what I feel has been missing from Fast Company for a long time--soul. Under Byrne's direction, Fast Company's editorial pages express a renewed vitality, edginess, and heightened sense of purpose. The last few issues have restored my faith in the value of Fast Company.
Rosemary Brutico
Principal
Quintessence Communication
Burlington, Massachusetts
What a tribute to your father and what images: hand-in-hand meanderings, time to play endless games of Parcheesi, railroad tracks and flattened pennies, among others.
His legacy was possible because he gave you the one thing that is most needed in today's 24-7 world: his time. Your poignant writing speaks volumes for all of us. What will it take for too-fast companies to give people permission for a life outside work? What will it take, in our overheated housing market, to make sure an hourly wage is a household living wage? What will it take to cap mandatory overtime and carve out space for renewal? I just wonder, if you were a little boy today, would your dad still be able to give you the gift of his time? Please accept my condolences.
Eileen McDargh
President and chief transformer
McDargh Communications and
The Resiliency Group
Dana Point, California
I appreciate that Shoshana Zuboff ("Small Insults, Heavy Toll," July) was trying to illustrate how we as consumers, who are already overloaded in our lives, have to do more of the "legwork" for many of the services that used to be provided to us. But customer service starts with the customer. Just like the rest of us, the people who provide services to us are overworked, overtaxed, and have personal lives that continually pull them in all directions. I know that I tend to receive less-than-stellar customer service when my attitude is less than stellar. When I am not upset and when I treat reps with some respect, I get my problems solved with little or no frustration. Is this a 100% guarantee? No. But I have the right not to use their services, as well as the ability to encourage others to do the same, rather than just whine.
Beth Butler
Solution consultant
PeopleSoft Inc.
Dallas, Texas
Contrary to your claims ("CEO See-Ya!" July), Fannie Mae's chairman and CEO, Franklin D. Raines, has so far had a remarkably successful five years leading our company, with spectacular performance for our affordable housing mission and our business.
Under his leadership, Fannie Mae posted double-digit growth in core business earnings every year. We more than doubled our earnings per share, whether measured in core-business EPS (from $3.23 to $7.29) or GAAP EPS (from $3.23 to $7.91). During this time, we have posted record-breaking business volumes, near record-low credit losses (in spite of the recession), strong growth in portfolio net interest income (in spite of record interest-rate volatility), and provided more than $2 trillion in home financing for more than 18 million lower-income, minority, and other underserved families.
You may believe that our business is as easy as "wake up breathing, earn fee." We are pleased that, among others, Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan has said he thinks we manage our operations "rather well."
Chuck Greener
Senior vice president, communications
Fannie Mae
Washington, DC
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