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Third age careers
624 pp., E19.95 (soft), E46.00 (hard). A new edition of the award-winning handbook on strategy, first published 1974, provides a valuable teaching text and general introduction to the subject. Strategy is now a vast subject, and it is impossible to cover everything, but it was surprising that the word learning was not mentioned on either the contents or index pages. ‘Strategy as Learning’ is an important theme that has been emphasized by several authors in recent years. Another volume with the same title Strategic Management: Theory and Practice, G. A. COLE, DP Publications (1994), 267 pp., E9.95. A more basic introduction to the subject aimed more at the undergraduate rather than post-graduate market, but with the same relatively low priority given to the learning issues.
Lean and Mean: The Changing Landscape of Corporate Power in the Age of Flexibility, BENNETTHARRISON,Basic Books (1994), 324 pp., E16.99. Argues that: ‘the big firm not only is alive and well but is becoming more flexible and efficient’. The author also argues that smaller companies are not responsible for most of the new jobs being created and are not using, let alone developing, the most up-to-date technologies. Controversial and worth reading but, unfortunately, written more for the academic rather than managerial audience (53 pages of notes!). Also surprising that the word ‘learning’ is not mentioned in the extensive contents (19 pp.) and index pages. Neither is the whole subject of ‘life-cycle analysis’.
International Strategic Alliances: Cooperating to Compete, DAVID FAULKNER, McGraw-Hill (1995), 221 pp., E22.95. Provides useful guidance on forming alliances and making them work; focusing on positive attitudes, organizational learning, and alliance evolution. An area where too many expensive mistakes are still made.
Book Reviews and Review Briefs
It’s Not Luck, ELIYAHU M. GOLDRATT, Gower (1994), 283 pp., E18.95. The sequel to The Goal (which sold 1.5 million copies). Continues the story of Alex Rogo who is now a successful executive Vice President, but a shift of policy at board level is about to threaten all the progress that has been made and.. .. The novel approach emphasizes the over-riding importance of ‘better healthier human relationships’. Also the key to successful stress management but rarely recognized in the thick volumes produced on this increasingly important subject.
The Business Plan Guide for Independent Consultants, HERMANHOLTZ, John Wiley (19941, 228 pp., E42.50 (hard), E13.95 (soft). Concentrates on defining the services and products, rather than raising capital. Essential reading for all involved, or aspiring to get into that area. Key question: What Business are you in? (p. 29).
Designing Effective Organizations: Traditional & Transformational Views, DAVIDK. BANNERand T. ELAINEGAGN~, Sage Publications (1995), 460 pp., E29.95. A valuable basic text for business related undergraduate or postgraduate programmes on organization theory (and practice!); particularly from a transformational perspective. Pity not more reference to strategy and the arguments in Management and Organizational Dynamics, RALPH D. STACEY, Pitman Publishing (1993). A more basic/practical approach to the issues is the focus of Improving Organizational Performance: A Handbook for Managers, PHILIP BAGULEY, McGrawHill (1994), 271 pp., fZ19.95. Another useful volume in this area is Corporate Tides, ROBERT FRITZ, Butterworth-Heinemann (1994), 158 pp., E14.99. Those with a more specialist interest in change management issues might also consider Systemic Work With Organizations, by DAVIDCAMPBELL, TIM COLDICOTT and KEITH KINSELLA, Karnac Books (1994), 206 pp., El7.95. The
authors show how an emphasis on connection, context and communication can help managers (and others) involved in change deal with issues of identity, leadership and learning faced by staff in today’s complex work environment. One particular area of increasing complexity is extensively discussed in Telematics and Work, Edited by J. H. ANDRIESSENand ROBERT A. ROE, Lawrence Erlbaum (1994), 454 pp., E39.95. The sooner these authors integrate their thinking with the others mentioned in this paragraph the better it will be for us all. In addition there are important issues raised in Developing Women Managers: Current Issues and Good Practice, MARILYN MCDOUGALL and SHEENABRILEY, HMSO (1994), 125 pp., f19.95
Third Age Careers, BARRY CURNOWand JOHN MCLEAN Fox, Gower (1994), 138 pp., fZ28.50. Shows how to turn the demographic challenge into an opportunity to achieve high levels of cost-effectiveness through flexible resourcing, to the benefit of both the individuals and the organization. A subject that is likely to be of increasing importance to us all. Other readable approaches to many of the same issues are taken in Management Development Beyond the Fringe, PHIL LOWE and RALPH LEWIS, KoganPage (1994), 159pp.,E12.95; The Unemployables: How 37 Top Entrepreneurs Achieved Success, CHRIS LEWIS, Management Books 2000 Ltd (1994), 141 pp., E9.99; Winning When the Sky Falls In, NICK THORNELY and DAN LEES, Management Books 2000 Ltd (1994), 141 pp., f9.99; and Ties that Stress: The New Family Imbalance, DAVID ELKIND, Harvard University Press (1994), 260 pp., E15.95. Overall macro-economic employment trends in the UK 1993-2001 are considered in Review of the Economy and EmpJoyment: Occupational Assessment, Institute for Employment Research, University of Warwick (1994), 70 pp., f70.00. While some of the critical generational issues are considered in a paper by David Cannon, ‘Generation X and the New Work Ethic’, Demos (1994), 21 pp., E5.0.
Lean and Mean: The Changing Landscape of Corporate Power in the Age of Flexibility, BENNETTHARRISON,Basic Books (1994), 324 pp., E16.99. Argues that: ‘the big firm not only is alive and well but is becoming more flexible and efficient’. The author also argues that smaller companies are not responsible for most of the new jobs being created and are not using, let alone developing, the most up-to-date technologies. Controversial and worth reading but, unfortunately, written more for the academic rather than managerial audience (53 pages of notes!). Also surprising that the word ‘learning’ is not mentioned in the extensive contents (19 pp.) and index pages. Neither is the whole subject of ‘life-cycle analysis’.
International Strategic Alliances: Cooperating to Compete, DAVID FAULKNER, McGraw-Hill (1995), 221 pp., E22.95. Provides useful guidance on forming alliances and making them work; focusing on positive attitudes, organizational learning, and alliance evolution. An area where too many expensive mistakes are still made.
Book Reviews and Review Briefs
It’s Not Luck, ELIYAHU M. GOLDRATT, Gower (1994), 283 pp., E18.95. The sequel to The Goal (which sold 1.5 million copies). Continues the story of Alex Rogo who is now a successful executive Vice President, but a shift of policy at board level is about to threaten all the progress that has been made and.. .. The novel approach emphasizes the over-riding importance of ‘better healthier human relationships’. Also the key to successful stress management but rarely recognized in the thick volumes produced on this increasingly important subject.
The Business Plan Guide for Independent Consultants, HERMANHOLTZ, John Wiley (19941, 228 pp., E42.50 (hard), E13.95 (soft). Concentrates on defining the services and products, rather than raising capital. Essential reading for all involved, or aspiring to get into that area. Key question: What Business are you in? (p. 29).
Designing Effective Organizations: Traditional & Transformational Views, DAVIDK. BANNERand T. ELAINEGAGN~, Sage Publications (1995), 460 pp., E29.95. A valuable basic text for business related undergraduate or postgraduate programmes on organization theory (and practice!); particularly from a transformational perspective. Pity not more reference to strategy and the arguments in Management and Organizational Dynamics, RALPH D. STACEY, Pitman Publishing (1993). A more basic/practical approach to the issues is the focus of Improving Organizational Performance: A Handbook for Managers, PHILIP BAGULEY, McGrawHill (1994), 271 pp., fZ19.95. Another useful volume in this area is Corporate Tides, ROBERT FRITZ, Butterworth-Heinemann (1994), 158 pp., E14.99. Those with a more specialist interest in change management issues might also consider Systemic Work With Organizations, by DAVIDCAMPBELL, TIM COLDICOTT and KEITH KINSELLA, Karnac Books (1994), 206 pp., El7.95. The
authors show how an emphasis on connection, context and communication can help managers (and others) involved in change deal with issues of identity, leadership and learning faced by staff in today’s complex work environment. One particular area of increasing complexity is extensively discussed in Telematics and Work, Edited by J. H. ANDRIESSENand ROBERT A. ROE, Lawrence Erlbaum (1994), 454 pp., E39.95. The sooner these authors integrate their thinking with the others mentioned in this paragraph the better it will be for us all. In addition there are important issues raised in Developing Women Managers: Current Issues and Good Practice, MARILYN MCDOUGALL and SHEENABRILEY, HMSO (1994), 125 pp., f19.95
Third Age Careers, BARRY CURNOWand JOHN MCLEAN Fox, Gower (1994), 138 pp., fZ28.50. Shows how to turn the demographic challenge into an opportunity to achieve high levels of cost-effectiveness through flexible resourcing, to the benefit of both the individuals and the organization. A subject that is likely to be of increasing importance to us all. Other readable approaches to many of the same issues are taken in Management Development Beyond the Fringe, PHIL LOWE and RALPH LEWIS, KoganPage (1994), 159pp.,E12.95; The Unemployables: How 37 Top Entrepreneurs Achieved Success, CHRIS LEWIS, Management Books 2000 Ltd (1994), 141 pp., E9.99; Winning When the Sky Falls In, NICK THORNELY and DAN LEES, Management Books 2000 Ltd (1994), 141 pp., f9.99; and Ties that Stress: The New Family Imbalance, DAVID ELKIND, Harvard University Press (1994), 260 pp., E15.95. Overall macro-economic employment trends in the UK 1993-2001 are considered in Review of the Economy and EmpJoyment: Occupational Assessment, Institute for Employment Research, University of Warwick (1994), 70 pp., f70.00. While some of the critical generational issues are considered in a paper by David Cannon, ‘Generation X and the New Work Ethic’, Demos (1994), 21 pp., E5.0.