push back

[unpakwon]

Please help me understand the following in bold in easy English.

1. Pursuing truth also means pushing back, sometimes many times, and often against people in senior positions. Gibby Carey expressed the idea perfectly: "Pushing back is a way of life at P&G. It is grounded in the trust that the best ideas ahd hardest data will prevail over the biggest initials. It happens at all levels...... Tom Muccio had to push back to get the Wal-Mart team formed in the first place, and he had to push back again to get the needed financial and marketing staffing located at Wal-Mart's headquarters in Arkansas.

* In the above context, "do 'push backs' mean 'hold fast to one's own views' or 'not act against one's will'?"
* What does "the biggest initials" mean?
* What's the difference between 'staffing' and 'staff'?

2. We have to have the courage to face the facts. At times, I wish I had faced the facts more directly. If I had it to do over again, I would have been more realistic in setting the profit goals that we adopted with Organization 2005.

Thank you.

 

[jamiep]

"Push back" means to disagree with your boss and tell them that you disagree. Make your views known even though they may not be liked.

 

[Anglika]

Please help me understand the following in bold in easy English.

1. Pursuing truth also means pushing back, sometimes many times, and often against people in senior positions. Gibby Carey expressed the idea perfectly: "Pushing back is a way of life at P&G. It is grounded in the trust that the best ideas ahd hardest data will prevail over the biggest initials. It happens at all levels...... Tom Muccio had to push back to get the Wal-Mart team formed in the first place, and he had to push back again to get the needed financial and marketing staffing located at Wal-Mart's headquarters in Arkansas.

* In the above context, "do 'push backs' mean 'hold fast to one's own views' or 'not act against one's will'?" jamiep has answered you on this.
* What does "the biggest initials" mean? senior/upper management
* What's the difference between 'staffing' and 'staff'? "staffing levels" = the number of employees needed.

2. We have to have the courage to face the facts. At times, I wish I had faced the facts more directly. If I had it to do over again, I would have been more realistic in setting the profit goals that we adopted with Organization 2005. If I had to start again and do what I have done a second time, I would [with hindsight] be more realistic about profit levels.

Thank you.

.

 

[unpakwon]

I see. Thank you all for the helpful explanation.