The book begins with a brief section called “Luck,” in which the fortuitous appointment of Kathryn Petersen, a 57-year-old woman with a reputation for building strong teams, as CEO at a flailing Silicon Valley software start-up called DecisionTech, comes about because the chairman of the board knows Kathryn socially.

“Underachievement” emphasizes the effect of team dysfunction on DecisionTech’s performance. The executives at the company include Jeff Shanley, former CEO, now head of business development; Mikey Bebe, head of marketing with a proven track record of results; Martin Gilmore, head of engineering and the inventor of the DecisionTech flagship product; JR Rawlins, head of sales, who is known for his pragmatic approach; Carlos Amador, head of customer support, who has a team-oriented mindset; Jan Mersino, CFO with a keen mind for financial infrastructure; and Nick Farrell, COO and the newest addition to the team.

While Kathryn’s extensive professional background gives her the self-assurance to do the job of rebuilding the team, her unexpected appointment, the unconventional manner in which she becomes CEO, and her limited knowledge of software do not inspire immediate confidence on the part of the executive leadership.