The Top Business Books,
July 2002

The Business Reader Review is a free, editorially-independent publication written by Theodore Kinni, and sponsored by The Business Reader. Ted is a member of The National Book Critics Circle and he has been reviewing business books on assignment for over a decade. He has reviewed books for a varied group of magazines and newspapers including Training, IndustryWeek, Quality Digest, Workforce Training News, and Amacom's Presidents. Ted is also an author and ghostwriter of business books and articles.

CAPITALIZING ON CONFLICT:
Strategies And Practices For Turning Conflict To Synergy In Organizations

The book of the month is an authoritative examination of conflict in organizations. The authors, who are professional mediators, eschew simple resolution techniques for a systems approach that recognizes that conflict is normal and has positive and negative elements. They offer a framework for management that proactively minimizes conflict and ensures conflict that does occur is surfaced, resolved, and turned into learning.

THE QUEST FOR AUTHENTIC POWER:
Getting Past Manipulation, Control & Self-Limiting Beliefs

Consultant Lawford reframes the concept of power, leaving behind its Machiavellian connotations for a more synergistic, internally generated way of leading. In a short, thoughtful presentation, he defines the characteristics of power, explores how we create our own power limits, and describes how "authentic" power is obtained and exercised.

THE RISE OF THE CREATIVE CLASS:
And How It's Transforming Work, Leisure, Community And Everyday Life

Thirty percent of the workforce  40 million people  belongs to the "Creative Class," a "no-collar" societal segment of scientists, writers, and people in all sorts of other jobs who are paid to be creative. Carnegie Mellon professor Florida explores this fast-emerging class: its values; its influence; its current home bases; and how businesses and communities can attract its members.

ZERO SPACE:
Moving Beyond Organizational Limits

This pair of KPMG consultants has evolved the virtual corporation concept into the "zero space" organization  a fast-response model that is all brains and no body. They describe eight building blocks of the model (zero matter, zero time, zero tech, etc.) and explore four foundational aspects that enable it: networks, partnerships, communities, and IT.

INVISIBLE ADVANTAGE:
How Intangibles Are Driving Business Performance

Intangibles  brands, strategies, reputation, leadership, innovation, etc.  are and will continue to be the primary sources of value creation in business, say the authors. The book identifies twelve "key clusters of intangibles," describing the value drivers for each cluster, how they can be managed, and what opportunities for profit they harbor.

THE CORPORATE UNIVERSITY HANDBOOK:
Designing, Managing, And Growing A Successful Program

Pepperdine's Allen explores design and management considerations in corporate universities with the help of ten academics, consultants, and corporate learning executives. The essays mainly address strategic-level issues, such as funding, organizational alignment, structural models, ROI, and training delivery.

MANAGING FOR THE SHORT TERM:
The New Rules For Running A Business In A Day-To-Day World

If we can't deliver short-term performance goals, says the head of the Net Future Institute, we won't be around long enough to achieve long-term visions. The book explores the practical drivers of short-term success: the measurement of everything down to the individual performance level; the incrementalization of every large-scale project into smaller goals and shorter time frames; and, streamlined communication and fast response at all levels.

WHY DECISIONS FAIL:
Avoiding The Blunders And Traps That Lead To Debacles

Half of all organizational decisions result in failure, says Ohio State professor Paul Nutt, who traces these failures to three blunders and seven traps. He explores them using fifteen high-profile "debacles" (including the Waco siege, the Barings Bank bankruptcy, EuroDisney, and the Ford Pinto's exploding gas tanks) and concludes with eight lessons for increasing decision-making success.

THE PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL QUESTION AND ANSWER BOOK:
A Survival Guide For Managers

HR pro Grote asks and answers 141 questions about structuring and conducting employee performance appraisals in this practical reference on the topic. His presentation explores the four phases of a performance management system (planning, execution, assessment and review) and details the elements of the comprehensive appraisal form and process.

THE STRATEGY MACHINE:
Building Your Business One Idea At A Time

The Internet Bubble has burst, but the technology that spawned it continues to revolutionize business, says consultant Downes. This information-based revolution will be driven by low-cost computing and appear in three stages: Efficiency  the reduction of transaction costs, Exchange  the enabling of virtual marketplaces, and Emergence  the expansion of information across the entire supply chain. Downes describes the ramifications of these changes and offers advice and tools for managing them.

THE SELLING FOX:
A Field Guide For Dynamic Sales Performance

Selling Foxes, says consultant Holden, achieve success by focusing on how they sell instead of what they sell. The book explains the "hows" including closing techniques and dynamics, blocking and trapping the competition, selling to executives, qualifying opportunities, and "de-installing" competitors.

MAKING HORSES DRINK:
How to Lead And Succeed In Business

The not-so-flattering metaphor of employees as horses drives Hiam's latest book. He sets the stage with a short tale about a "horse who wouldn't drink" and then, offers ten chapters of brief, accessible ideas and techniques for leading and motivating people. The chapters cover topics such as building commitment, communication skills, supervisory skills and employee development.