How the Mighty Fall - And Why Some Companies Never Give In
Authors: Jim Collins
Publisher: Random House Price £15.99
Stars: 4 out of 5
Why do companies fail, while other, similar businesses thrive and grow? As Tolstoy's Anna Karenina observed: 'All happy families are alike; (but) each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way' - and so begins Collins' quest to understand why it is so much harder to explain why firms decline as opposed to how they flourish. Having analysed the peaks and troughs of tens of big-name corporations, he presents his theory - that all failing firms go through five stages, beginning with 'hubris born of success' through to 'undisciplined pursuit of more' and 'denial and risk and peril'. While HR policies are never specifically mentioned, it becomes clear that the demise of companies involves repeated failings of leadership, succession planning, culture and what makes people right for an organisation. Considering Collins is best known for the best selling Good to Great, he takes a bold step to look at the bad. But looking at the fallen can be just as meaningful and he throws light on the inner workings of some of the world's best-known brands.
Creating Magic
Authors Lee Cockerell
Publisher Ebury Publishing
Price £10.99
Stars: 3 out of 5
Remember when you believed in magic? Then the bubble was burst, and you realised it wasn't true? Thankfully, one company, Walt Disney, still believes in magic - and Lee Cockerell, its former VP of operations - still believes companies can create magic of their own. The man behind Disney's Great Leader strategy shares a commonsense approach to how HRDs can create passionate, effective teams that can transform careers, and business cultures. He reveals 10 strategies, and there are some lovely surprises: 'If your employees are overworked, it can sometimes make sense to add a layer,' he says, about the trend to strip out management. Of course, being Disney, it's as American as apple pie, and is a tad schmaltzy in places, but it's a breezy read, and gives you a little bit of faith that, however old you are, you can still believe in a little bit of magic.
