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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Iosue" data-source="post: 9427382" data-attributes="member: 6680772">Setting aside the fact that the idea of "corporate culture" was just beginning to make inroads in the late 80s/early 90s, and its possible, even likely, that Williams didn't have a full understanding of the concept, one person, no matter how powerful, can't change a culture. It requires buy-in from the top down, and stringent efforts are needed at every level to make an active, conscious change. Many coordinated efforts to change a company's culture often fail.That's assuming, of course, that management recognizes a need to change, which I doubt happened here.This actually goes into another issue with the narrative, similar to one I see a lot today with WotC. And that's the idea that the CEO sees and knows all, and controls the company like strings on a puppet from their office. Williams was the CEO, and so bears ultimate responsibility for all that was done at TSR, but as an individual, she delegated decisions to others, and approved proposals brought to her. I doubt she was combing through the trades, seeing Mayfair's ads for Invincible Overlord, and clenching her fist, saying "Gygax!"All of which is a long-winded way of saying I think Lorraine Williams deserves the same benefit of the doubt we give Gygax.Certainly! I personally don't see this as needing to be about Gygax vs. Williams. My intent is not to tear Gary down to rehabilitate Lorraine. I think by now we know that Gary was flawed in many ways, as a person, and a businessman. Lorraine, no doubt, was similarly flawed in her own ways. I just don't think she deserves to be reduced to the Evil Villain of Gary's story (or D&D's, or TSR's). I think that's what Snarf is saying, as well.</blockquote>

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