PART 1 A Case for Change on a complex journey, it is fair to ask the simple questions: Why not just stay put? What is wrong with the status quo, and how much will really be gained by stepping forward onto this difficult road? After all, it is human nature to cling to the comfort of what is known and resist the challenges and uncertainty of what might lie ahead. The more risky the traveler per- ceives the journey to be, the more likely that he or she will not venture far from home--which means never reaching the intended destination. Chapter 1 makes clear the basic reason that there no longer remains much choice but to venture ahead. It describes how today's environment of uncertainty and change is undermining many corporations' and institutions' ability to succeed. It explains why merely tweaking what they do now is no longer an option; why sustaining business excellence will take adopting a dif- ferent focus to better anticipate and more effectively re- spond to this growing challenge. EFORE ONE EMBARKS B 15