Undercover CEOs get a chance to learn value of employees

One of the highest rated television programs during Super Bowl week last February was “Undercover Boss.” According to the Nielsen ratings, it drew 6.8 million viewers. By contrast, the “Greatest Super Bowl Halftime Shows” had 5.72 million.

Viewers watched CEOs leave their comfortable corporate offices, disguise themselves as workers and risk the humiliation of doing something wrong. It is all about an awakening to what really happens on the company’s front lines.

Too often people see “big bosses” as aloof and guiding the organization using impersonal computer generated reports. But at the end...