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One, good people are far more important than a good plan. Two, a poor plan well excuted is far better than a good plan poorly executed. And finally any planning is better than no planning.
I'll grant you the last sentence, but not the first two. In fact, I disagree strongly with both of them.
In large organizations, I've personally experienced some very, very good people rendered all but useless by poor planning from those above them, just as I've seen some awfully mediocre people do superb work as a result of executing to an exceptional plan. I'm not trying to nitpick your words here John, but they seem to downplay what I believe is crucial to the RR.
The more complex the organization, the more important having a solid over-arching plan becomes. With its existing structure, a master plan is not just critical to the C&TS, it's essential. And any plans generated by either the Friends or the operator should be a natural consequence of that master plan, otherwise...
You can have the best people in the world with the best of intentions, and still ruin this irreplaceable resource through nothing stronger than natural entropy, as each little division does what it feels is best.
Scott