Like Rumsfeld, CEOs Who Seek Questions May Not Like Them

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld got more than he bargained for when he held a town-hall meeting with Iraq-bound troops last week and invited them to ask "tough questions." He suddenly found himself fielding pointed queries about old vehicles that lacked armor for protection from roadside bombings. "Why don’t we have those resources readily available to us?" a soldier asked.

"You go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want," Mr. Rumsfeld answered.

The exchange received a huge amount of media attention. In the business world, too, some CEOs regularly hold town-hall sessions with employees. The problem is that many workers fear they will be labeled troublemakers if they confront their bosses with tough questions — even if their views might help the corporations.

IN THE LEAD
By CAROL HYMOWITZ

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