Dana Mead was one of the leaders of the '90s revolution in corporate management that ignited the United States' resurgence as the world's largest and most productive economy.

In 1992, Mead spearheaded a transformation of one of the nation’s most troubled conglomerates, Tenneco. He went on to become a policy shaper and voice of industry. But no reward comes without risk, and Mead never once shied away from his unconventional management style and visionary tactics. High Standards, Hard Choices takes a rare look at the convictions of a man on the front lines during a time when companies were reborn and heroes were made.

This absorbing memoir presents Mead’s views on timely issues including:
- Importance of character and trust in managing crisis and change in large organizations
- Assessing risks and likely confrontations in establishing a capitalist enterprise in postsocialist economies
- Identifying and advancing public policy aspects of business strategy and tactics
- Managing relationships with influential govern-ment officials and the news media

High Standards, Hard Choices documents a series of dramatic events in the widely publicized struggle of his "copilot" at Tenneco, Mike Walsh, against an aggressive brain cancer. Behind the scenes, Mead was forced to juggle increasing pressures to keep Tenneco’s recovery on course. Paramount was rebuilding one of the world’s largest makers of farm machinery and construction equipment, Case Corporation, with new leaders to embrace the mandate to reduce costs, improve quality, and innovate with new products. (text from the publisher)