book of the moment
The Difference
How the Power of Diversity Creates Better Groups, Firms, Schools, and Societies.
Scott E. Page, 2007, Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey
We have chosen to highlight this book because its title and subject matter appear to be so similar to our own. However, the two could not be more different in approach and outcomes. Scott E. Page is Professor of Complex Systems, Political Science and Economics at the University of Michigan and this book reflects his thinking using his own research and complex logistical tools.
Page’s main thesis is that progress and innovation may depend less on lone thinkers with high IQs than on diverse people working together and capitalizing on their individuality. He shows that groups that display a range of perspectives outperform groups of like-minded experts. He uses arresting examples such as where you keep the ketchup bottle (in the cupboard or in the fridge) to demonstrate that people co-ordinate their behaviour to match those of the people with whom they need to interact. Where co-ordination does not occur then conflict usually arises. Where co-ordination occurs there is an opportunity to build walls which become silos of their own creation and can divide people one from another.
Page also talks about putting information into different piles. What we might call categorisation and which is illustrated in our book by the example of the family butcher. The authors find that they are constantly putting information into different piles and that it makes communication a daily source of amusement and frustration.
This book goes much more deeply into the mechanics of difference and diverse fundamental preferences and will be meat to those people who like a logical explanation to conundrums rather than an intuitive or human resource based one. It should therefore be read in conjunction with our book. We are delighted that Scott Page has written it. All attempts to exploit and capitalise on diversity should be welcomed.
previous books:
The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life,
Rosamund Stone Zander & Benjamin Zander
I began by being quite sniffy about this book, its purpose and intent, and before I had read 50 pages I was quite won over. It really does have some original and powerful ideas. He is the resident conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and she has a private practice in family therapy. During the course of the book they both share with the reader the work they have been doing on themselves - eg. him as to how he was selfishly pursuing status and reknown and her, how she felt about her father - and use it as examples of how to think, and therefore, behave differently, in their professional and personal lives. Using the key catchphrase 'its all invented' they show how you can choose to see things differently - eg 'Giving Yourself an A', 'Being a Contributer', which will improve life for others as well as yourself. The book is studded with relevant and thought-provoking anecdotes which will resonate with anyone who has tried to work out what is the meaning of life to them. I am telling everyone about it.
Harvard Business School Press ISBN 0-87584-770-6
Ulrich, D. and Smallwood, N. (2003), Why the Bottom Line Isn't, How to Build Value Through People and Organization, Wiley, New Jersey
These two authors tackle the tough objective of putting together a comprehensive approach to the 'soft side' of business to build long-term market value - and succeed with a captivating mix of ideas, analysis, and real-world examples. The offer real insight into what works, what doesn't work, and why. Rick Wagoner, CEO, General Motors
Why the Bottom Line Isn't is the essential book for leaders of the future, who accept that building intangibles is a leadership imperative that permeates the entire organization and is equally applicable in the public, private and social sectors. The concepts and tools in this book are a timely gift to leaders who are ready to see the whole picture.
Frances Hesselbein, Chairman, The Leader to Leader Institute ISBN 0-471-44510-X
From Science to God: A Physicist's Journey into the Mystery of Consciousness
‘What an extraordinary, marvellous, powerful, profound piece of work.'
‘A brilliant synthesis of the empirical and spiritual views of reality.'
Just two of the reviews of Peter Russell's book, which is being issued in hardback in May 2003.
Integrating a deep knowledge of science with his own experiences of meditation, Peter Russell arrives at a universe similar to that described by many mystics - one in which science and spirit no longer conflict.
The bridge between them, he shows, is light. From Science to God invites us to cross that bridge to a radically different and ultimately healing view of ourselves and the universe - one in which God takes on a new meaning, and spiritual practice a deeper significance.
ISBN: 1-57731-409-3
Entrepreneurship is by David A Kirby, published by prestigious McGrawHill Education
The blurb says that David "draws on his extensive experience as an entrepreneurship researcher, educator, trainer and consultant, both in the UK and overseas, to produce a text that is not just about the theory of entrepreneurship, but about the application of theory to practice. Thus, it is concerned with the process of developing entrepreneurship - in society and the economy, people and organisations. Throughout. The learning is reinforced by real-life cases, practical exercises, and importantly, the reader's own experiences to encourage them to learn from doing."
David is Deputy Director of UniSdirect, the Outreach arm of the University of Surrey.
The Human Face of Corporate Governance, Lynn McGregor, Palgrave, 2002
In her book Lynn discusses the role of Corporate Governance in business today and argues forcefully that doing the right thing is not just a nice thing to do but an essential aspect of good husbandry. The book is strongly supported by Sir Christopher Hogg, non-Executive Chairman of Reuters Group plc, Allied Domecq and The National Theatre, who says that, ‘the pay-offs for business conducted in this way could be enormous'. Bob Monks, prinicipal of Lens Investment Management says that it is a ‘must read' as ‘it provides a most helpful analysis of the human ingredients of improving board functioning'. Professor Bernard Taylor, Executive Director at the Centre for Board Effectiveness at Henley Managment college, describes the book as ‘breaking new ground'.
Appreciative Inquiry, Change at the Speed of the Imagination,
J.M.Watkins and B.J.Mohr, published in The Practicing Organization Development Series by Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer www.pfeiffer.com
This is a book about a new way to conduct complex change programmes. It can involve huge numbers of people getting involved in what they want to happen in their organisation. The book details the history of the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) process from its beginnings in a Doctoral thesis in 1980 by David Cooperrider to its present day incarnation as a world-wide movement. It defines AI as -‘a collaborative and highly participative system-wide approach to seeking, identifying and enhancing the ‘life-giving forces' that are present when a system is performing optimally in human, economic and organisational terms. It is a journey during which profound knowledge of a human system at the moment of wonder is uncovered and used to co-construct the best and highest future of that system'. The book also describes several case studies in some length - what they were intended to achieve, how they went about it and what has been achieved.
ISBN 0-7879-5179-X
Batteries Included! Creating Legendary Service Random House by Nigel May Barlow
How many of us have had the experience of receiving a gift that could not be used because there were no batteries to make it work and the shops were shut? Hence the title of Nigel's new book. If the makers had given any imagination to us the users, they would have realised that what was needed was to include the batteries, just as now you can actually buy an electrical product with a plug. Legendary service is about second-guessing what the customer wants and giving it. Of course, its not as easy as that. We are all in our own comfortable ruts and thinking through our offer requires a lot of thought. Nigel uses a lot of the Deva material to illustrate his points and make the reader join-in the chase for that most elusive of holy grails - truly legendary service.
ISBN 0 7126 8063 2
The Discipline of Market Leaders by Michael Treacy and Fred Wiersema is not a new book - it was first published in 1995 by Harper Collins. However, we bought it recently as a small thank you gift for a client and it made us realise that it is one of those little management books that is standing the test of time.
Its subtitle of Choose your Customers, Narrow your Focus and Dominate your Market gives some indication of the approach. It is about the discipline needed to become and remain a market leader. It has a whiff of the core competences approach in that it suggests that successful companies are re-inventing themselves and, depending on their type of business , focussing on a key aspect, either operational excellence, product leadership or customer intimacy. The former means the lowest total cost - not necessarily the cheapest price. This is the total cost of using the company's product or service when nobody else's deal is likely to be anty better. Product leadership involves a company displaying the ability and determination to make products that customers recognise as superior. The example of customer Intimacy given is IBM, who during he 70's gave an extraordinary level of service, guidance, expertise and hand-holding to its clients.
Although full of American examples there is a chapter on European organisations including Marks and Spencer. Which only really serves to reinforce the fact that no matter what your business or how successful you have once been this book provides thought-provoking ideas and tips.
ISBN 0 - 00 - 638716 - 0
The Dinosaur Strain by Mark Brown, published by Element Books, subtitled ‘The Survivor’s Guide to Personal and Business Success’.
This was one of the first books to put together the most up-to-date thinking on how the brain operates and translate it into an easily readable description of how that affects our everyday lives. Mark is a past master of the striking term or phrase. Those such as ‘jaw jealousy’, ‘hardening of the categories’, ‘head chatter’,’ thinking afresh’ and ‘mindset’ - now in daily use, were originated by him. Mark is also very adept at explaining the relationship between these behaviours and organisational life and how it influences our approach to change, strategic thinking, customer service and creativity and innovation in products and services. One of his main concerns is that in dinosaur organisations there is no FUN. ‘This book is about the steps you can take to ensure that you and your organisation never become dinosaurs.’
ISBN 1-898379-00-9
The 7 Keys of Charisma by Joanna Kozubska, published by Kogan Page (). Subtitled 'Unlocking the secrets of those who have it'.
This book tackles such questions as, ' What is charisma?', ' Who wants to be charismatic and memorable anyway?', and 'Will you become insufferable?' if you achieve your goal. Far from being a theoretical treatise on leadership,(although it does cover those aspects too), it approaches the topic from the perspective of self-development with a step-by-step guide to the dos and don'ts and lots of uselul questionnaires. In addition, it is full of the views and opinions of well-known charismatic figures such as Evelyn Glennie, Fred Dibnah and Sir John Harvey Jones. It is particularly interesting on such subjects as hubris, (a topical subject at the moment!), use of the voice as an instrument and the importance of mystery. Leadership has never been so interesting!
ISBN 0 7494 2116 9
The Spiritual Tourist by Mick Brown, published by Bloomsbury.
Although the sub-title is the rather off-putting 'A Personal Odyssey Through The Outer Reaches of Belief' it really does answer all those questions you always wanted to ask about historical figures like Madame Blavatsky and Sweet Mother, to more recent figures such as Benjamin Creme, Mother Meera and Sai Baba. Mick Brown tackles the issues as one who wants an 'adventure of the spirit' and is not afraid to give his own views on whether or not something is 'mystical, miraculous or frankly unbelievable'. Although serious in its endeavours to understand the human spirit and its search for the divine spirit, this is also a good holiday read as it is well-written by the man who wrote the biography of Richard Branson and is freelance journalist and broadcaster.
