Summary Navigating Complexity collects together for the first time the ideas and language of a recent development in management theory – complexity theory. The command and control approaches to management ‘no longer hold true’, complexity theory asserts. The theory states that any system contains built-in unpredictability, that every system is comprised of many components and
Thirty goals in 63 international matches for England, a remarkable average of more than 20 goals a season in the Premier League and a league championship medal for unfashionable Blackburn Rovers – you’ve definitely done well for yourself. But could you do better? Your decision to quit international football after the European Championships in the
Summary Handy’s book is a groundbreaking philosophical and practical guide to the inevitable changing ways of organizing work and the workforce. Handy starts from the viewpoint that radical change is not only desirable but essential, if economics and society are not to be irreversibly damaged. The book focuses on the necessity of becoming more creative
Summary Jack Welch Speaks is precisely what its title suggests: a collection of quotations from the chairman of General Electric Corporation (GE), one of the biggest companies in the world. These quotations are arranged by subject and deal partly with his own life, but mainly with his competitive, ruthless style of management, making it a
According to 3COM 65% of people who bought a Palm Pilot told the firm they heard about it from another person. People rely heavily on personal recommendations and as customers grow more skeptical towards advertising, Palm Pilot deliberately created a sense of something special when it showed its product to a select group of executives
Working on the twin principles that we are all obliged to lead, and that leadership can be learned, the author of the best selling The Tao of Coaching argues people are not led by plans and analysis, but by a trinity of vision, inspiration and momentum. This is more a book for aspiring leaders than
Summary In the introduction, the authors admit that this book was turned down by countless publishing houses with the objection: ‘Who cares? Who wants to read about techies pissed off at their jobs?’ Co-author Bill Lessard says he is a ‘living testament to the fact that most Internet careers are nasty, brutish and short’. So,
Summary Goffee and Jones – the BBC director of human resources – reject the assumption of some business books that the character of a corporation is a uniform, single concept. They see it as complex and multiple-faceted. Every firm is composed of several cultures, they explain. These are fluid, liable to change, and are sometimes
Kevin Keegan’s one shining quality, honesty, has been both his making and undoing. He reached the supposed peak of English football management as result of the respect he engendered in players. Having achieved more than any other English player in the history of the game, including two European footballer of the year awards at a
Career advice for an infant is difficult at the best of times, but Leo, you’re already off to a very fine start. Your problem will not be being loved too little and ignored. Or having a slightly unusual name – pity instead Brooklyn Beckham, Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon (Madonna’s first child) and Lucas Morad Jagger
If you fancy riding the waves of power, but do not want to be at the helm, one of the most high profile jobs you can do is that of a spin doctor. We assess the opportunities and risks of being a modern day king maker
Entrepreneur: in the last 12 months that word has taken a bit of a battering. It is a word seldom seen without the prefix ‘dotcom’, and automatically brings to mind the champagne-toting, get-rich-quick schemes of Boo and its confrères. ‘I saw an article in the Evening Standard the other day, saying the demise of the
Two Christmases ago Jeannine left her job in Melbourne to begin an adventure on the other side of the world. At 28 she realised there was more she wanted to do and struck out from her ‘comfort zone’ to discover Europe. Lying on a beach in Brisbane, she realised that ‘Brisbane wasn’t going to be
This year’s Olympic Games will put Sydney on the map for many people who have never thought seriously about working here. So what has it got to offer today’s job seekers? Richard Willsher reports from the major Australian city
‘It is people with the imagination, the drive, the willingness to think big and take risks…who will make the economy grow and themselves rich.’ Lee Kuan Yew, the ‘father of modern Singapore’, spoke these words at a Chinese New Year celebration in February 2000. Could this be you? Our correspondent Richard Willsher reports from Singapore.
Redundancy is becoming much more prevalent in the working society and it is now more likely that you will be the victim of a round of redundancies in your working life. But how you deal with a redundancy is extremely important; it can provide a wonderful opportunity or it could be devastating.
Sometimes, in order to change your career, you need to change yourself. There are many ways to do this – from attending a course or picking up a new skill to the wholesale reinvention of your character, appearance and attitude. So how far should you go?
Getting a new job may be cause for rejoicing, says Adeline Iziren, award winning journalist, but be careful how you handle your resignation – and not just for your boss’s sake You’ve just been offered a great new job. Congratulations! Naturally you’re fired up about starting the new one, but make sure you leave the
Kitty Donaldson takes you through your emergency kit for job survival in an economic downturn Work hard, play hard. Right? One by one your colleagues start arriving earlier than usual. They don’t take so long for lunch and they’re still toiling when you’re battling through the rush hour traffic. Are they extra keen, in line
Every year for thousands of British travellers a Working Holiday Visa to Australia provides a welcome way to travel around sunny southern climes and earn money at the same time. But, as college-leaver Kitty Donaldson discovered, it is not always that simple
