9. September 2011 17:36
Last month, I was asked to give some thought to compiling a short list of books that make use of organization design and business transformation fundamentals and principles. While I found it difficult to narrow my list down to just three, I chose to provide titles I found particularly interesting for very specific reasons. Here is my list:
Prisoners of Our Thoughts
Alex Pattakos Ph.D., 2010. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.
This work provides perspective on how the search for meaning and the discovery of purpose is connected to how we live and work. It covers seven core principles for discovering meaning in life and work based on the world renowned work of Victor Frankl, pulling heavily from his 1946 work "Man’s Search for Meaning". It helps us to understand how to create meaning-centric workplaces in a time when workplaces have become depersonalized.
Intangibles (Management, measurement and reporting)
Baruch Lev, 2001. Brookings Institute Press
In the 21st century corporation, the organization has become increasingly connected with upstream and downstream partners and the use of the internet, social networks and collaboration have changed how we measure value. The balance between tangible and intangible assets and how to measure asses worth has changed. Innovation, intellectual property, and human resources are the keys to survival and growth. This is a comprehensive study on the nature and impact of these intangibles on corporate performance.
Breaking Through: Transforming Urban School Districts
John Simmons, 2006. Strategic Learning Initiatives
This book is compelling because it applies the great systemic thinking of socio-tech to school reform. At times, sitting in the middle of corporate transformation, leaders and drivers can’t see the forest through the trees, but this case-study read clearly shows us how a vision and a holistic and systemic approach, combined with collaboration and a strategy for change, can make a difference. I have found that sometimes reading outside our discipline sheds light on what we do and why we do it.
Adrienne Seal
Senior Consultant, OTM
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