Change 2.0 - Beyond Organisational Transformation
Author: Joachim Klewes, Ralf Langen (Editors)
Publisher: Springer
Price: £30.50
Rating: 4 OUT OF 5
The last really great book I read on change was John Kotter's 1996 best-seller, Leading Change, the definitive work most other tomes can only aspire to emulate.
'Not another book on change', I found myself thinking as I looked at this latest offering. Yet none of my misgivings were realised as I read this thoroughly authoritative book. Whereas most writing on change offers you a template, or tries to sell you a single idea, Change 2.0 is a collection of different pieces from academics and practitioners alike and I was delighted to see that none of them waste time trying to persuade readers of the case for change - they all accept it is part of business.
From my own perspective, I was pleased to see the case made for the internal employer brand, with much written on the dual aims of garnering motivation and trust. The authors warn that their aim is only to provide food for thought - not the definitive solution - and to this extent they have certainly succeeded. Each writer is clearly an expert in their field, but none of them try to sell their own idea over any other. What it leaves the reader with is a lot of different concepts (from the top-down approach, to the notion of being totally inclusive) that sit neatly next to each other.
At the end of the book five change journeys are outlined that the reader could make. The aim is for them to make up their minds from these different perspectives. Other plus-points are that this work is nicely European in focus, and has a wide range of case studies from all different sectors. My only slight criticism - and it is a small one - is of the title - 2.0. My heart sank when I first saw it. There seems to be a trend to call everything new, 2.0. Sure, there is a chapter on wikis and social networking, but this book isn't presenting revolutionary ideas. If I'd seen it on a shelf, I probably wouldn't have picked it up because of this, but I'm actually glad I read it.
WHY NOT TRY ...
British Vocational Qualifications - 10th Edition
Authors: Various
Publisher: Kogan Page
Price: £40
Rating: 5 OUT OF 5
There are more than 3,500 vocational qualifications in the UK, and this 10th edition of the compendium of courses lists them all. The directory (correct up to June this year) lists all post-19 vocational qualifications. With this month's special skills supplement revealing how confused employers are by the sheer number of training courses, providers and accreditation companies out there, this guide is indispensable for any HR manager. Also included is a full directory of UK colleges, awarding bodies and a glossary of the main skills acronyms and what they mean. Noteworthy is the simple explanation of changes these qualifications will soon face. Buy it and stick it on your 'frequent reference' shelf.
Employee Share Plans - International Legal and Tax Issues
Author: Paul Ellerman (consulting editor)
Publisher: Globe Law and Business
Price: £120
Rating: 2.5 OUT OF 5
Another worthy reference book - this time on the stodgy issues surrounding employee share plans. Right from the word go there's no hiding from the legal-speak and, to be fair to editor Paul Ellerman, the book is far less heavy on the brain than it might have been. The 330-plus pages are divided into 28 mini country-by-country guides, each about 20 pages long, written by HR professionals. They cover everything from exchange control issues, data protection, securities law, tax and social security. It is useful if you have staff strewn all over the world, but not worth the price tag if you're mostly UK-based. This one is probably destined for the 'not looked at much' shelf.
- Heather Garrett director of HR at Sun Microsystems, suggests an essential text for aspiring leaders
For me, the book that stands out from the row upon row of managerial books you find today is Why Should Anyone Be Led By You? by Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones. When I served on the design panel for Sun's Leadership Institute last year, I incorporated this book in the programme. Not only is the title very provocative, but Goffee and Jones talk about being authentic as a leader, about knowing yourself. Most leaders act the way they think a leader should act, based on leader archetypes or common leadership styles and characteristics. But those who see leadership as emulating great leaders or acting out a set of competencies don't truly lead. You can only lead effectively by finding your authentic voice. This book is a must-read for anyone trying to discover that voice.
