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Enterprise Excellence 2Books The New Alchemists: How Visionary People make Something out of Nothing One of Britain's most influential business gurus, Charles Handy, presents in this book a review of the work of some of the most visionary business leaders of our time, including Richard Branson and Tim Waterstone. Whereas business needs a constant supply of new ideas, designs, initiatives, products and organizational configurations, it is surprisingly rare for these things to be conceived within organizations. More often they derive from the drive, passion and dreams of individuals. This book reveals the qualities of character and deeper motivations that are needed to become a dynamic and successful business person with integrity. In reading it you'll encounter an inspiring 'can do' approach to obstacles. Presence: Human Purpose and the Field of the Future Peter Senge is widely regarded as the father of organizational learning. In this book he and his co-authors develop a new theory of learning and change. Chapters recording conversations between the authors alternate with chapters exploring ideas and theories about collective change processes. The authors claim to have experienced extraordinary 'presence' – profound moments of deep change, leading to a significant shift in awareness. They believe their experience is comparable to similar shifts in the world's great religious and spiritual traditions. Such shifts are crucial, the authors believe, both to personal development and to thorough-going and lasting organizational change. The Shackled Continent: Power, Corruption and African Lives As Africa Editor for The Economist, Guest has spent most of the last decade traversing sub-Saharan Africa witnessing first-hand the problems of disease, war, corruption and bureaucracy. Despite the horrors he describes, he maintains throughout this book a confidence in the potential of the people of this great continent. In contrast, Guest is pessimistic about foreign aid as well as the idea favoured by UK Chancellor Gordon Brown and the economist Razeen Sally of a 'Marshall Plan' for Africa. The responsibility for the shackled continent, Guest argues, lies squarely with its own leadership. More transparency in governance and more respect for property rights are needed. For the Glory of God: How Monotheism Led to Reformations, Science, Witch-hunts, and the End of Slavery In this book the leading American sociologist Rodney Stark continues his long-running attack on 'politically correct' readings of history that seek to undermine the positive role played by monotheistic faith in the development of western civilization. In doing so, he denies the claims made in contemporary social science that the best aspects of our culture sprang from the secular strands of Enlightenment thought. His argument, though controversial, demonstrates prodigious learning, not least regarding major world religions. Why the Rest Hates the West This is an original and iconoclastic book about a highly topical issue. What is it about the West that incurs such hatred from non-Westerners that some of them are prepared to take their own lives, as well as the lives of others, in expressing it? The author provides brilliantly insightful yet sobering answers to this question and sets out an agenda for change. His book is particularly relevant to those working in global business. Making Globalization Good: The Moral Challenges of Global Capitalism In the debate about globalization, the ethical dimension is often overlooked. This book is particularly welcome, therefore, as its aim is to explore the moral foundations of 'responsible global capitalism'. Though academic in style, the content is not obtuse. Contributors include Joseph Stiglitz, Gordon Brown, Brian Griffiths, Jonathan Sacks, Hans Kung and Prince Charles. The Pro-Growth Progressive: An Economic Strategy for Shared Prosperity This book may come as a relief to market-minded political progressives as it provides a palpable demonstration that you don't have to be neo-liberal (or, in the US, 'neo-conservative') to believe in the positive potential of economic growth. Gene Sperling, President Clinton's longest-serving national economic advisor, argues in this book that the best economic strategy is to pursue policies that are both pro-growth and promote the progressive values of upward mobility, fair starts, and economic dignity. Trust and Entrepreneurship: A West-East Perspective The institutional features necessary for a well-functioning market economy are gradually becoming better understood. In this collection of papers, theoretical and empirical aspects of the connection between trust and entrepreneurship are explored. Entrepreneurship thrives not only on competition but also on cooperation and trust. Where these are lacking, because the legal institutions are too weak, corruption and criminal enterprise may flourish but honest business people have to rely on personal networks, increasing the risk of collusion. By comparing transition economies with mature market economies, the authors highlight the crucial contribution of trust to business performance. The Company: A Short History of a Revolutionary Idea This is a lively and concise history of the company from its earliest antecedents in antiquity to the multinational corporations of today. The authors, both of whom work for The Economist, assert that the corporation has been the most significant form of social organization in the modern era. The global spread of this revolutionary invention is not only unstoppable, the authors claim, but offers the best hope for the world's poor. This book is a breath of fresh air in the ongoing debate about globalization, in which an historical perspective on the key institution of globalization – the company – is often overlooked. The Market for Virtue: The Potential and Limits of Corporate Social Responsibility The principles and practices of corporate social responsibility (CSR) date back more than a century , but the current wave of global interest is unprecedented. This book provides the most comprehensive analysis to date of the contemporary CSR movement. Growing awareness of CSR is evident in the growth of social and ethical investment funds, voluntary codes of corporate conduct, and companies' self-reporting on social and environmental practices. A renowned authority on business-government relations, Vogel offers a thoughtful appraisal of the movement's accomplishments and limitations, including a critical evaluation of the business case for CSR. Prepare to be unsettled, whatever your perspective is on CSR. The End of Poverty: How we can make it happen in our time This book is widely regarded as a landmark exploration of the roots of economic prosperity and of the most promising paths out of extreme poverty for the world's poorest citizens. Hailed by Time magazine as one of the world's 100 Most Influential People, Jeffrey Sachs advises a broad range of world leaders and international institutions on the challenges of global poverty. In this book he draws on this wealth of experience to offer a vision of what steps are necessary to achieve prosperity for all. It is somewhat surprising, however, that aid, rather than trade, is given central place. The emphasis is on wealth redistribution, rather than on wealth creation. Cash Values: The Value of Money, the Nature of Worth Craig Gay University of New South Wales Press, 2003 An expert on contemporary moral assessments of capitalism, Gay seeks in this short book to explain what contemporary capitalism is, how it works, and what are its chief physical and cultural impacts. Gay's arguments are learned but clear and the style is easy going. Central to his perspective is the paradox that capitalism is both a product of Christian civilization and one of the principal carriers of secularisation. Spirituality and Ethics in Management This book focuses on the role of spirituality and ethics in renewing contemporary management practice. The contributors share the belief that a more inclusive and holistic approach to management is needed if business is to achieve it's potential as a positive social agent. The book uses diverse value-perspectives (Hinduism, Catholicism, Buddhism and Humanism) and a variety of disciplines to develop reflections on corporate purpose that go beyond standard formulations. Its focus on the organizational search for meaning, identity and success will appeal to management professionals but also to psychologists and scholars of religion and spirituality.The Ethics of the Market John Meadowcroft of the Institute of Economic Affairs sets out in this book a positive ethical case for the market economy. He argues that only through the impersonal signals provided by the market's price mechanism can individuals meet the needs of people with whom they have no direct contact. For Meadowcroft, the market also provides incentives for good behaviour and mechanisms that supply trust. This makes it a self-regulating economic system, offering the best prospect for prosperous, peaceful and free societies. An interview of the author by Peter Heslam can be read here. In Defence of Globalization The surge of 'anti-globalization' sentiment which began to spill out onto the streets at the end of the 1990s has put many economists and business commentators on the defensive. Bhagwati is one of them. His book presents, however, a cool-headed and well-founded case, fitting for one of the world's leading authorities on international trade. Reason and analysis require, Bhagwati contends, that we appreciate globalization for what it is - the most powerful force for social good in the world today. This is no counsel of the complacent, however. Bhagwati presents a compelling case for how globalization could be made to work better, focusing on the need for a strengthening of governance and institutions in low-income countries. Full of rigour, clarity and depth. The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth Friedman argues that periods of robust economic growth, in which most people see their circumstances palpably improving, engenders tolerance, democracy and generous public support for the disadvantaged. In contrast, economic insecurity and stagnation foster distrust and a tightfisted callousness toward the poor. Friedman's historical survey of connections between economic conditions, social attitudes and public policy throughout the world amounts to a nuanced defence of globalization. This has not, however, spared him from criticism, most notably from Joseph Stiglitz in Foreign Affairs (click here for his review). Why Globalization Works: The Case for the Global Economy Readers of the Financial Times will be familiar with the incisiveness, rigour and balance of Wolf's economic analysis. The same characteristics are true of this book, though here Wolf has the luxury of 300 pages to make his case. A self-proclaimed devotee of classical liberalism, Wolf is passionately optimistic about the potential of the global economy in addressing the world's needs for greater prosperity, democracy, transparency, environmental protection and peace. Saving the Corporate Soul: Eight Principles for Creating and Preserving Integrity and Profitability Without Selling Out This book is structured around eight principles for saving the corporate soul, including leadership, governance, transparency and integrity. All eight, the author argues, are also important for achieving long-term business success. It is not necessary, therefore, to sacrifice one's soul for the sake of the bottom line. An inspiring read from a leading business practitioner, thinker and journalist. |