First Friday Book Synopsis

APRIL 11, 2011

Levers of Control: How Managers Use Innovative Control Systems to Drive Strategic Renewal Robert Simons Harvard Business School Press (1994) I read this book when it was first published in 1994 and recently re-read it, curious to see how well it has held up. My conclusion? Very well indeed. What I find especially noteworthy is [.].

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Simon Books Review System 80

First Friday Book Synopsis

MARCH 27, 2013

Ken Robinson is an internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity, innovation and human resources. He was knighted in 2003 for his contribution to [.].

Human Resources 85

Human Resources Creativity Education System 85

First Friday Book Synopsis

JULY 26, 2011

Here is an article written by Tina Vasquez (Los Angeles) for The Glass Hammer, an online community designed for women executives in financial services, law and business. Visit us daily to discover issues that matter, share experiences, and plan networking, your career and your life.”

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Hammer Diversity Innovation Article 89

First Friday Book Synopsis

SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

When conducting research for his latest book, Creating Innovators, Tony Wagner interviewed hundreds of thought leaders in creativity, innovation, and talent management. One of them is Judy Gilbert, director of Talent at Google.

Gilbert 95

Gilbert Skills Talent Management Innovation 95

First Friday Book Synopsis

SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

Forbes and Fast Company credit him for developing Holacracy, a comprehensive management system for governing and running organizations that are fast, agile, and that succeed by pursuing their purpose, free from the tyranny of top-down planning that is instantly out of date.

Agility 70

Agility Entrepreneur System CEO 70

First Friday Book Synopsis

SEPTEMBER 15, 2012

How can we design schools that foster innovative thinking? At TEDxNYED, Tony Wagner outlines how an overemphasis on individual achievement, hyper-specialization, and an aversion to risk have stymied inventiveness and describes what specifically teachers and parents can do to sow the seeds of creativity.

Innovation 85

Innovation Creativity Positioning Simon 85

First Friday Book Synopsis

MARCH 5, 2013

Idea Agent: Leadership that Liberates Creativity and Accelerates Innovation Lina M.

Review 80

Review Books Creativity Innovation 80

First Friday Book Synopsis

APRIL 13, 2012

In the winning entries in a contest co-sponsored McKinsey & Company with Gary Hamel’s Management Innovation eXchange (MIX) and Harvard Business Review, the authors of seven articles reveal executive thinking on the importance of engaging employees in an open and realistic way.

McKinsey 80

McKinsey Review Innovation Article 80

First Friday Book Synopsis

MARCH 21, 2012

An entrepreneur and veteran of the computer industry, Frank Moss spent his career bringing innovative technologies to market. Ten years ago he set out to make a broader contribution to the world, leading him to cofound a cancer drug discovery company and then to the MIT Media Lab, where he served as director from 2006 [.].

Entrepreneur 80

Entrepreneur Media Technology Innovation 80

First Friday Book Synopsis

MAY 8, 2012

A former journalist for CNN and CBS, Gallo works directly with the world’s top business leaders to craft compelling messages, tell inspiring stories and share innovative ideas. Carmine Gallo is the communications coach for the world’s most admired brands.

Brand 75

Brand Innovation Execution Customer Loyalty 75

First Friday Book Synopsis

OCTOBER 19, 2011

The 2020 Workplace: How Innovative Companies, Attract, Develop, and Keep Tomorrow’s Employees Today Jeanne C. Meister and Karie Willyerd Harper Business/An im print of HaroerCollins (2010) How and why the HR function has become so much more important than many (most?)

Review 80

Review Reference Books Innovation 80

First Friday Book Synopsis

JUNE 26, 2011

The Great Reset: How New Ways of Living and Working Drive Post-Crash Prosperity Richard Florida Harper (2010) With each reconfiguration of the economic landscape, there’s “good news&# and “bad news In the first chapter, Richard Florida explains that peaks and valleys are part of the lifecycle of any society as “obsolete and (..)

Review 80

Review Books System Engineering 80

First Friday Book Synopsis

APRIL 26, 2012

He regularly speaks and consults with companies, both large and small, about how to develop practices and systems that lead to everyday brilliance. Todd Henry is the founder and CEO of Accidental Creative, a company that helps creative people and teams generate brilliant ideas.

Creativity 70

Creativity Consultative CEO System 70

First Friday Book Synopsis

SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

Here is a brief excerpt from an article written by Tony Wagner that first appeared in Education Week (November 11, 2003). Don’t let the publication date fool you. If anything, his recommendations are even more urgently needed now than they were then. To read the complete article, please click here. © Tony Wagner * * [.].

Education 75

Education Article Simon System 75

First Friday Book Synopsis

JULY 20, 2011

Here is an excerpt from an article written by Mel Stark and Mark Royal for Talent Management magazine (5/10/2011). To check out all the resources and sign up for a free subscription to the TM and Chief Learning Officer magazines published by MedfiaTec, please click here. * * * Experts from Hay Group, which partnered with [.].

Magazine 93

Magazine Talent Management Company Resources 93

First Friday Book Synopsis

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

Zag: The Number One Strategy of High-Performance Brands Marty Neumeier Peachpit Press (2006) How to “zag” when everyone else “zigs” In a previous book, The Brand Gap, Marty Neumeier explains how companies can bridge the gap between business strategy and customer experience, noting that brand-building isn’t a series of (..)

Books 85

Books Review Brand Strategy 85

First Friday Book Synopsis

AUGUST 1, 2011

Here is a recent post by Josh Linkner. He makes several excellent points as our nation’s hamster-brain “leaders&# in Washington continue to muddle through the toxic swamp of partisanship. Given the nature and extent of current unemployment and under-employment, perhaps Jobs and jobs are becoming synonymous. * * * Get this – Apple, Inc.

System 85

System Brand Company Creativity 85

First Friday Book Synopsis

MAY 16, 2011

I highly recommend the current issue of The New Yorker (May 16, 2011) that includes Malcolm Gladwell’s article, “Creation Myth,” his latest contribution to the “Annals of Business” series. Gladwell is a brilliant journalist but hardly an original business thinker.

Article 75

Article Books System Tips 75

First Friday Book Synopsis

APRIL 13, 2011

Here is an excerpt from an article written by David Aaker for “The Conversation&# series featured by the Harvard Business Review blog. To read the complete article, check out the wealth of free resources, and sign up for a subscription to HBR email alerts, please click here. * * * When a brand sallies forth [.].

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Aaker Brand Review Blog 85

First Friday Book Synopsis

APRIL 5, 2011

Here are brief excerpts from two articles featured by McKinsey & Company. I suggest you read them in the order in which they appear here, then click where indicated to read each in its entirety. I presume to suggest, further, that you register to receive email updates on other resources that are also available at [.].

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Crisis McKinsey Resources Article 80

First Friday Book Synopsis

FEBRUARY 15, 2011

Here is an article written by William C. Taylor for BNET (January 4, 2011), The CBS Interactive Business Network. To check out an abundance of valuable resources and obtain a free subscription to one or more of the BNET newsletters, please click here. * * * Ever since the publication, nearly two decades ago, of [.].

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Taylorism Taylor Newsletter Resources 80

First Friday Book Synopsis

MAY 9, 2011

Here is a recent blog post by Josh Linkner. He is among the members of a recently formed “Greek Chorus&# of iconoclastic visionaries who are challenging business leaders to re-examine their assumptions and premises, indeed everything they think they know about business. Few of their books are now on any bestseller lists (or will be) [.].

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Blog Books Welch eBook 75