вторник, 13 марта 2012 г.

Advice on business literature from Helen Edwards

A new selection of business literature from SKOLKOVO Library Project Manager Helen Edwards - read, discuss and advise the most interesting books!
Christopher Meyer and Julia Kirby
Harvard Business Review Press, 2012.
vi, 292 pages
ISBN: 9781422131688

Emerging economies are experiencing dramatic growth. The advanced economies that in 2000 consumed 75% of the world's output will by 2050 consume just 32%. This book describes how a new version of capitalism is taking hold in places least invested in the status quo. New trends include a wider definition of success than just the return on equity, learning to "see in colour" rather than just the black and white of financial statements; a new ownership of "externalities, the environmental and social impact of business; and the growth of collaborative networks "the invisible handshake". Writing about the fourth sector, self sustaining but for-benefit enterprises, the authors remind us that the whole point of having an economy is to make people better off.

Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries
Jossey Bass, 2011.
xxv, 289 pages
ISBN: 9781119973362

Competitive advantage lies with organisations which can create a great place to work. This book discusses the central problem in teams, the dilemma between the desires for both closeness and distance, the balance between loose, inefficient connections and stifling interconnections. The author argues that a purely rational perspective on teamwork fails to acknowledge the unconscious dynamics which affect behaviour. Using fables and archetypes as well as examples from the coaching of executive teams, the book discusses the nature of teams, relationship patterns and the challenge for organisations. The book concludes with the story of an organisational change accomplished through group coaching.

Malcolm McDonald and Peter Morris
Wiley, 2012.
162 pages
ISBN: 9781119943136

Opening with a cartoon of a jungle this book goes through the whole marketing process -planning, audits, objectives and strategies, communication, pricing, forecasting and systems implementation - all in pictures. This vividly illustrates common problems such as ridiculously large and varied product lines or the difficulty the marketing planner may have communicating his function to others in the organisation. The illustrations also take the reader through processes such as the launch of a new product, advertising and distribution.


John Coleman, Daniel Gulati and W. Oliver Segovia
Harvard Business Review Press, 2012.
xiv, 296 pages
ISBN: 9781422162668

This book is about the approach to leadership and business taken by recent MBAs educated at top US schools. It is organised around six core issues: sector convergence (public, private, non-profit, social enterprise), globalisation, people leadership and diversity, educational evolution, technology and sustainability. Personal stories range from improving employee happiness by a focus on the whole person to mobile digital coupons to financial literacy to the importance of fast failure.

Scott Belsky
Portfolio Penguin, 2010
ix, 240 pages
ISBN: 9780670920600

Written by the creator of the Behance Network, whose goal is to organize the creative world, this book bridges the gap between ideas and action. Often creative types do not see themselves as organized, are involved in too many things at once without prioritizing and fail to test out their ideas on others and make use of the community to gain traction. This book describes the Action Method which enables creative people to get organized, harness networks and show leadership.

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