Book Review: SILOS, POLITICS AND TURF WARS

Book Review: SILOS, POLITICS AND TURF WARS

SILOS, POLITICS AND TURF WARS

Author: Patrick Lencioni
ISBN-13:  0787976385
Topic:  Management
Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2006

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REVIEW:

The book touches on what many of us experience but are unable or unwilling to confront.  I think about the offices I worked in and how hard it was for some departments to work together and how that had a negative impact on not only the customer experience and profitability but on the quality of life of the employees.

The way the information in the book's layout is easy to read and the concepts are quickly grasped in the fable then helpful advice style that is typical of Patrick Lencioni and his management series.  SILOS, POLITICS AND TURF WARS is a relief for managers at any levels.  If you ever felt lost, thwarted or betrayed by your own organization, and can't quite identify the cause of your anxiety. If the issue causing you trouble is not readily identified, then its probably the structure of the organization.

There is a little too much time devoted to identifying the problem of Silos rather than solving.  This could be due to the fact that sometimes the silo can be hidden by other issues.


OUR SPONSOR: BUSINESS BOOKS

Openness is the solution to turf warfare in a company.  In an open environment, people work together towards a common goal.  Information is shared without reservation.  With openness,  hidden agendas dissolve and collaboration takes hold.  Overarching goals take the focus instead of political infighting.  By asking questions about the organization's goals, metrics, and strategies, it can know what it needs to mature into a cohesive unit.  People need to know their role and how they fit into the plan and the organization.  Leadership must be vigilant and active as turfs and silos flourish without strong top down leadership and communication of direction and philosophy.

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Book Review: FROM THE BUREAU TO THE BOARDROOM

FROM THE BUREAU TO THE BOARDROOM

FROM THE BUREAU TO THE BOARDROOM
Author: Dan Carrison
ISBN-13:  9780814410639
Topic:  Business Management
Format:  Hard Cover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2009

REVIEW:


30 Management Lessons from the FBI - The analogy seems to work in this business management book by Dan Carrison.  As a manager, I am always reading to improve my skills.  While I may not be able to drastically alter my organization to mirror the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there are some insights.  The chapter regarding "infiltrate the customer" was humorous but also serious.  The FBI infiltrates criminal and terrorist organizations and the consequences are dire, but as a business, you MUST know what your customers think and want, the consequences are the life and death of your business.  Two of the best ideas for me are: not second-guessing my decisions and winning with the tools I have not the ones I wish I had

The other lessons are equally informative.  In the end, the book is a quick read and provides motivational insight into how a business can adapt and improve using the FBI as a model.


INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Managers will learn how to:
* Encourage and accept new roles
* Publish and maintain a ten most wanted customer list
* Infiltrate the customer all the way to the top
* Manager failure and success
* Cultivate a One for All, All for One Corporate Culture
* Win with the tools you have, not the tools you wish you had
* Leverage the employee and the customer base
* Integrate Fidelity, Bravery and Integrity in the workplace
* Institutionalize Best Practices
* Cultivate maturity and good judgment

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dan Carrison who served in the US Marine Corps Reserve from 1965–1970 and is co-founder of Semper Fi Consulting, is a nationally recognized speaker, a writer and has been a sales executive for over 20 years. Dan has taken his & Rod Walsh's leadership message to countless audiences of business executives and government officials.  Dan received a BA in English Literature (cum laude) from the University of California.

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Book Review: ACHIEVING CLASS A BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

ACHIEVING CLASS A BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

Achieving Class A Business Excellence

Authors: Dennis Groves

ISBN-13: 9780470260340

Topic:  Business & Economics

Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2008

Rare Books

REVIEW:

A tough, challenging, and eventful journey is outlined in this cutting-edge business story. Greg, the company President, uses the latest edition of the trusted industry standard, The Oliver Wight Class A Checklist for Business Excellence, to transform his business from mediocrity to industry leading performance. What he learns about senior management responsibilities and behaviors drives him to achieve outstanding rewards and benefits, not the least of which is his company's survival.

Crucial reading for anyone aspiring to or newly promoted to management.  A very good book for learning and critically thinking about business.

About the Authors

DENNIS GROVES is Chairman of Oliver Wight Americas and President of Oliver Wight International.

KEVIN HERBERT is a partner in Oliver Wight Europe, Africa, and Middle East, and is coauthor of the Wiley book Gaining Control.

JIM CORRELL is a former co-chairman of Oliver Wight International and chairman of Oliver Wight Americas. Jim is a Principal in Oliver Wight Americas, and is coauthor of the Wiley book Gaining Control.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Prologue.

Introduction.

1. Opportunity.

2. Fact-Finding—Greg Meets His Team.

3. Greg's Directives.

4. Breakdown.

5. Listening . . .

6. . . . and Learning

7. Observing.

8. Possibilities.

9. Beginning.

10. Hope.

11. Decision Time

12. Kick-Off . . .

13. Involvement.

14. Education, Education, Education. . .

15. Process Design.

16. Customer Service.

17. Customer Satisfaction.

18. Competitive Pressure.

19. Class A Leadership

20. Sustainability, and More . . .

Epilogue.

Readers's Reference.

Index.

Book Review: CLOSING THE EXECUTION GAP

CLOSING THE EXECUTION GAP

Closing the Execution Gap

Authors: Richard Lepsinger

ISBN-13: 9780470531303

Topic:  Business & Economics

Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2010

SPONSOR:  Art Artifacts

REVIEW:

Closing The Execution Gap provides a clear, practical and proven approach to moving from strategic intent to action and results. Unlike many on this topic, Lepsinger's book provides a "how to" guide.  Clear steps are provided and the cycle of decision making is mapped out.

Anyone struggling with implementing strategy should read this book, many books attempt to address the need for implementing strategy. None have come close to addressing the need in such a way.

It provides practical tools in a user-friendly format in which managers at any level in their organization can identify. It is obviously a very-well researched book that adds another level of credibility for the reader. The book contains excellent information and insights that are well connected to meaningful bodies of research. Lepsinger hones in on tangible, real-world problems that many leaders will recognize and then offers practical solutions.  Line managers and Learning and Development professionals will find this book of interest because it captures the critical concepts that make an organization and its people successful.

Many of the books on strategy development and execution are "mechanical" in that the topic is presented as a "connect the dots" exercise with only cursory attention paid to the human element. Lepsinger does a great job recognizing that organizations are built of flesh and blood people with ambitions, fears, insecurities and agendas to promote. 

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Book Review: BOLD LEADERSHIP

BOLD LEADERSHIP

Bold Leadership

Author: Jim Tompkins

ISBN-13: 9780965865999

Topic:  Business & Economics

Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2007

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REVIEW:

Everyone suffers from extreme overload today. Fast-paced schedules, conflicting priorities and overburdened days can leave us feeling as if we are continually trying to fit 15 pounds of apples into a 5-pound bag. The remedy for extreme overload can be found in this book.

From personal experience, Tompkins knows what it means to be a bold leader and how to inspire others to reach new heights. He founded Tompkins Associates, a supply chain consulting and integration firm, more than 30 years ago with two staff members in a spare building in his back yard. Today, the company is one of the most respected consulting firms in the world.

From my experience, various tasks and initiatives come up during the course of business.  This book allows for their possibility and provides insight on how managers can lead during implementation and execution. 

This quote from the book makes you think about your own company’s business model:

The number of companies admitting that their business models do not work anymore is increasing. Recently, Ford and Viacom admitted that they need to change the way they do business or they will not make money, and even Dell and pharmaceutical giants Merck, Pfizer, and Bristol-Myers Squibb say that they must develop new ways of doing business. The pressure is on and company boards and other stakeholders are not patient -- if you do not fix things in a short period, you are toast. In some ways, it's almost better to be like the company that gives up, because they haven't expended all their energy trying to get ahead by doing the same things they've always done.

About the Author

Written by Jim Tompkins, CEO of Tompkins Associates and noted business expert, Bold Leadership holds the keys to simplifying and enhancing life—professionally and personally.

Tompkins maps out Bold Leadership with three essential themes: inspirational leadership, defining core competencies, and business resiliency. Each topic is illustrated with current case studies from well-known organizations such as Google, Wal-mart and IBM, along with his experience improving the supply chains of some of the world’s foremost companies.

Book Review: YOUR BUSINESS BRICKYARD

YOUR BUSINESS BRICKYARD

Your Business Brickyard

Author: Howard Mann

ISBN-13: 9780980154306

Topic:  Business & Economics

Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2007

Rare Books

REVIEW:

The basics. That is what you lost when you went from feeling like, I am going to make my mark, to It is too hard to keep up so let us just try to survive. It is time to admit you re not having fun anymore. Only then can you find your way back to the beginning when your business was all promise and no misery. Only then can you build (and keep building on) the basics that will never let you down. This small book contains the secret basics to unlock the true power and potential of your business.

Strategist, speaker and consultant Howard Mann has collected twelve bricks essential to any business foundation. Mann shows you how to get back to basics, reconnect with your purpose, and grow your business, instead of getting stuck following the latest trend or innovation. Most important of all, Your Business Brickyard provides a game plan for how to make your business fun to run again. You will learn how to Reconnect to Your Purpose and keep your goals uppermost in your mind. You will say goodbye to worries over competition when you Lose Your Nemesis. You’ll appreciate the powerful simplicity of Pay Fast, Get Paid Even Faster. You will learn how to Goaljump and work backwards from your most ambitious goals to actionable tasks you can do today. Your Business Brickyard shows you how to eliminate whatever it is that hinders your ability as a business owner to enjoy your position properly. With practical, hands-on exercises and a fresh, concise format, The Brickyard will help you establish a brick solid foundation so your business can grow without limit while you enjoy the journey.

The book is short and respects your time at 64 pages.  Mann writes with a simple elegance and not a word is wasted.  Approximate reading time is 2 hours.  I took lots of notes while I read this and then went back for a second read.

The basic premise is that we can make running our businesses fun again if we simply go back to the basics - and that’s why it works so well. It’s the diary of things that made a lot of sense back then that we’ve sadly grown out of. When you read it, you might kick yourself, I did.

The “practice drills” the author provides will keep you in tune and focused after you put the book down.

Sample quote: 

The ideas behind your purpose transcend your company. The truths of your idea exist whether or not a company is there to put them into practice. The ideas are universal.

This is a book for business owners of any size, however I believe senior management will get a lot out of it too.

About the Author

Howard Mann is the president of Brickyard Partners, a leading strategy, marketing and communication consultancy based in New York, and a founder of Sideshow Digital, an award-winning interactive agency. Prior to founding The Business Brickyard in 2001, Mann was the President of a premier customs broker and international freight forwarder with six U.S. offices and a network of over 35 agents worldwide.

Mann currently works as an adviser to entrepreneurs and business owners. His highly focused workshops and year-long programs help executive teams dig down to unlock the power of the perfect execution of the basics of business. His clients learn how to build brick-solid foundations that sustain growth and make their businesses more fun to run. In addition to consulting, Mann speaks and writes frequently about the importance of the basics and reconnecting to the passion that too often gets lost as businesses mature.