Direct decision making vs. oblique decision making: which is right?

The complexity of health care environments is far too complicated for solutions to be developed by a small group or isolated upper managers. This direct leadership approach often fails. Leaders who use a more oblique approach focusing on areas such as long-term economic value, creating significant benefits for the wider community, and building robust social capital within the company are successful. Obliquity leadership is very appropriate for health care because of its constantly changing environment. Obliquity leadership and shared governance are great partners in reaching higher levels of involvement and high performance.