AWWA JAW62298

This article presents the findings of a Malcolm Pirnie Inc. 2004 national survey of 71 water utility industry experts with regard to their views on the future issues facing U.S. utilities. The survey challenged respondents to predict the future and outline how utilities can best prepare themselves for upcoming issues. According to respondents, effective leadership and management are key to the success of the U.S. utility industry. Respondents also suggested that leadership and management will be very different in the years ahead. The effective leader of the future will provide: emotional direction, driving effective interpersonal relationships at all levels; strategic thinking, driving development of vision and planning and operational excellence; and, business and technical leadership, driving complex financial and environmental decision-making. Key to this type of leadership in the future are succession planning, strategic planning, and asset management plan implementation today. Includes 5 references, figures.