Wellington City Libraries’ Business Blog

Disruptive technologies: Advances that will transform life, business, and the global economy.
As enterprises adapt to a digital world CIOs will become key players in the effort to infuse info into business.
Tech-Savvy Gen Yers Still Flock to Stores
Talent remains top concern for business leaders: shortage of critical skill in changing industries via @DU_Press
Measuring City Competitiveness: Emerging Trends and Metrics
Are you Cloud ready? VIDEO: Forrester Analyst on Cloud & Security:
The Rewired Customer: Ready. Set. Change. Repeat. Via @DU_press
Check out the new Social entrepreneurship resource guide on my business pages. Open to all Thanks Ruth M for the idea
Whitepaper – From Bangalore to Boston: The trend of bringing IT back in-house via @deloitte
Report: The Rise of Digital Influence and How to Measure It

Reinventing you : define your brand, imagine your future / Dorie Clark.
“Whether you are still building your career or are on the road to reinvention, your personal brand is the ticket that will get you there. Consider this book your bus fare. In Reinventing You, strategy and communication consultant Dorie Clark provides a step-by-step guide to help you assess, build, and reinvent your personal brand. You may be taking on a new challenge or a career change, shifting into more meaningful work, or simply need to build your own narrative. No matter the reason, taking control of your brand will mean the difference between success and failure. Mixing personal stories with interviews and examples from well-known personalities, Clark walks you through the process of identifying, developing, and then launching your new brand. Reinventing You is a critical step on your road to success”–Provided by publisher.

Tipping sacred cows : kick the bad work habits that masquerade as virtues / Jake Breeden.
“How to cope with seven potentially lethal business paradoxes that are separate but interdependent
Some of the most valuable material in this book is provided when Breeden rigorously examines seven virtues that often become potentially lethal business paradoxes that are separate but interdependent. They involve, respectively, bland/bold balance, automatic/accountable collaboration, narcissistic/useful creativity, process/outcome excellence, outcome/process fairness, obsessive/harmonious passion, and backstage/onstage preparation. He devotes a separate chapter to each and details are best revealed within the narrative, in context.” Amazon reviewer

Decoded : the science behind why we buy / Phil Barden ; foreword by Rory Sutherland.“Putting Brain and Decision Sciences into Business Action… Decoded is a brilliant book for anyone in business; communication, marketing, sales, research, etc. It is a vivid translation of the latest findings of neuroscience, behavioral economics, cognitive and social psychology, and decision science into marketing. The balance of science, application, and examples, across a wide range of product and service categories, is just right. Decoded helps resolve many of the dilemmas people in business face; reason vs. emotions, product vs. brand, biology (global) vs. culture (local), and more. This book will also give you many tools to use in the future; concepts, mental models, new vocabulary, metaphors, case studies, and references. The variety of examples, pictures, and exercises make it an enjoyable reading. But the book’s main benefit for practitioners is that it is a simple, but not simplistic, clear, and practical guide to action.”Amazon reviewer

The reinventors : how extraordinary companies pursue radical continuous change / Jason Jennings.
“Change the DNA of your organization for survival and victory…. Jennings makes it crystal clear: the cost of resisting change in a world that demands constant change should fill every businessperson with dread. We’re talking once-thriving commercial downtowns practically abandoned. Busy factories grinding to a halt. It’s why everyone must become a reinventor….
He walks you through the process of learning to transform your organization. And shows how not just to stop at finding a better way to go from A to B, but explains how to become a serial reinventor, with the knowledge and momentum to go beyond, to C, D, and E.” (Amazon reviewer)

Measuring the networked nonprofit : using data to change the world / Beth Kanter and Katie Delahaye Paine ; edited by William Paarlberg.
“The tools nonprofits need to measure the impact of their social media. Having a social media measurement plan and approach can no longer be an after-thought. It is a requirement of success. As nonprofits refine their social media practice, their boards are expecting reports showing results. As funders provide dollars to support programs that include social media, they too want to see results. This book offers the tools and strategies needed for nonprofits that need reliable and measurable data from their social media efforts. Using these tools will not only improve a nonprofit’s decision making process but will produce results-driven metrics for staff and stakeholders. A hands-on resource for nonprofit professionals who must be able to accurately measure the results of their social media ventures. Written by popular nonprofit blogger Beth Kanter and measurement expert Katie Delahaye Paine. Filled with tools, strategies, and illustrative examples that are highly accessible for nonprofit professionals. This important resource will give savvy nonprofit professionals the information needed to produce measurable results for their social media”– Provided by publisher.

On making smart decisions.“This is one in a series of volumes that anthologizes what the editors of the Harvard Business Review consider to be the “must reads” in a given business subject area, in this instance making smart decisions. I have no quarrel with any of their selections, each of which is eminently deserving of inclusion”. (Amazon reviewer)

Lean in : women, work, and the will to lead / Sheryl Sandberg with Nell Scovell.
“*Starred Review* If Facebook COO (and first-time author) Sandberg succeeds, it will be because she’s made us mad and more than willing to act. With no small amount of self-deprecating humor, a massive quantity of facts and research, plus a liberal dose of very personal anecdotes, Sandberg forces each one of us woman and man to reexamine ourselves at work and in life, using a unique filter. Are we more concerned about being liked than succeeding? Do we think of our career as a series of upward ladders rather than a jungle gym? Do our authentic selves and honesty show up in business? In short, every single undoing of a woman’s career is examined thoughtfully and with twenty-first-century gentleness and exposed with recommended remedies. Her colleagues act as advocates for her theme: lean in, or take a risk and drive change for us all. And though there are no solutions offered, except in the formation of communities around the country and (we hope!) around the world, there’s tremendous reenergy in feeling that, thanks to Sandberg, the world just might be a different place.–Jacobs, Barbara Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)

Creative intelligence : harnessing the power to create, connect, and inspire / Bruce Nussbaum.
“In an unstable job market, many of us struggle to keep our skills current and marketable. To that end, Nussbaum, professor at the Parsons School of Design and a former Businessweek editor, brings us both good and bad news. The bad news is that a survey of 1,500 CEOs revealed that the most valuable management skill was no longer marketing or operations but creativity, a new literacy that employees will need to stay competitive. The good news is that these skills can be learned. Nussbaum dedicates much of the book to five practices that help individuals nurture and develop prized creative skills: knowledge mining, framing, playing, making, and pivoting. Latter sections of the book explore the economic value of creativity. The author shows the faulty thinking behind, and consequences of, the triumph of finance over product creation. More importantly, he offers a viable economic model, which suggests that creativity is a source of economic value, entrepreneurs drive growth, capitalism is a social movement, and social networks are the basic building blocks of the economy. This is a refreshing, informative, and groundbreaking new work that has implications for every level of the business arena. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly)

Take charge of your talent : three keys to thriving in your career, organization, and life / Don Maruska & Jay Perry.
“Maruska and Perry team up to help readers use their brains and talent at a time when most U.S. workers are simply not engaged. As most human-resources gurus will emphasize, careers are of your own making, which is exactly what the authors intend to teach (and, along the way, sell more than a few of their courses). The process itself is based on a Socratic dialogue, well scripted and framed, covering ephemeral hopes and fears as well as very practical actions. The three steps power up your talent story, accelerate through obstacles, and multiply the payoffs for yourself and others represent a good approach. The real issue will be identifying a talent catalyst who has these characteristics: a willing partner who asks open-ended questions, a generous listener, among others. No stumbling here: scripts and summaries and prescriptive steps are well documented. The narrative is a bit turgid, but that seems suitable for this subject.–Jacobs, Barbara Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)

Contagious : why things catch on / Jonah Berger.“This is an extremely well written and interesting book that you should read whether for business or out of personal curiosity. How do social trends spread? What makes them spread? Why do some things go viral and others do not? These are the questions this book seeks to answer. The author provides entertaining, interesting or downright scientifically verifiable examples to back his ideas. The author lays out a few comprehensive commonalities that most popular trends have in common and how they can be emulated for success.While experienced marketing practitioners may find the dearth of novel information disappointing, the author nonetheless presents the information in insightful new ways that may challenge preconceived ideas you may have about various topics the book covers. For those less experienced, this is an amazing book that you should read as it has great examples, statistics, sociological and psychological information that can be used for reference later. This is a great book to read simply to reinforce your marketing instincts, whether an experienced or novice.” (Amazon reviewer

Red thread thinking : weaving together connections for brilliant ideas and profitable innovation / Debra Kaye with Karen Kelly.“Big picture thinking with practical application…This book provides an excellent look at the big picture issues that surround idea generation. What’s great is that it also provides ways to apply ‘red thread’ thinking so that you can innovate. Highly recommended!” (Amazon reviewer)

Playing to win : how strategy really works / A.G. Lafley, Roger L. Martin.
“Amid the profusion of strategy books, this new offering by former Procter & Gamble CEO Lafley (coauthor of The Game-Changer) and Martin (dean of the Rotman School of Management and author of Fixing the Game) is a clear standout, sure to take its place on business students’ bookshelves next to Mike Porter’s classic, Competitive Strategy. This engaging look at how strategy really works draws on academic theory, but is deeply grounded in real life corporate lessons (including mistakes) learned at P&G both before and throughout Lafley’s tenure, during which time Martin served as an adviser to the firm. The authors ask basic, practical questions that separate true strategy from mission, vision, or planning, asserting that the essence of strategy is about winning and the tough choices leaders and organizations need to make to achieve that victory. Theoretical concepts about how to win in what space come to life through entertaining and engrossing stories of how P&G developed or positioned well-known brands as Bounty, Swiffer, Force Flex, and Oil of Olay. This collection of insights and captivating examples about strategy is a must-read for leaders at any level in the for-profit or not-for-profit world. Agent: Tina Bennett, Janklow & Nesbit Associates. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly)

This is collection of articles by students at Joseph H. Lauder Institute of Management & International Studies at Wharton University looks like a fascinating read. The regions discussed are Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. The articles explore the many ways that the business community in each regionhas responded to changes in our global economy.

This 2012 discussion paper is a joint collaboration between Ericsson and Joyent (a global cloud computing and systems software provider) presents a series of insights and impacts into the current business changes which are facing all businesses today. The topics covered include the real time world, economics of the future, core ICT Operator capabilities, and next generation capabilities.

Top 20 entrepreneur and small business books as voted by YFS Magazine . You can get almost all of these at Wellington City Libraries.

Big data, big analytics : emerging business intelligence and analytic trends for today’s businesses / Michael Minelli, Michele Chambers, Ambiga Dhiraj.“An Excellent Overview of Big Data & Machine Learning…This excellent summarization reveals trends that might otherwise be hidden by the forest of numerical and computational methods and will even be valuable in its observations to expert practitioners caught up in the details of computation.” (Amazon reviewer)

Business behaving well : social responsibility, from learning to doing / edited by Ron Elsdon.“Great resource for 21st century approach to business…Given the economic reports we hear on a daily basis, Business Behaving Well addresses major issues facing each of us today. With words like sustainability and stewardship being introduced into our vocabulary, contributors to this book shed light on ways for For-Profit, Nonprofit, and Government sectors to mutually benefit each other. Anyone affected by these three entities will appreciate the message delivered by Business Behaving Well. I work with an NPO that is using the book as a resource for new ways to collaborate”. (Amazon reviewer)

Crowdstorm : the future of innovation, ideas, and problem solving / Shaun Abrahamson, Peter Ryder, Bastian Unterberg.“An interesting mix of known and original examples, and a lot of insider insights…By writing this book, the authors generously share their knowledge on how to conduct so-called crowdstorm initiatives. “By learning the processes and gathering the right tools, you’ll be able to attract and motivate talent to improve your approaches to complex problem solving,” the back cover explains. And I must admit that it does this very well. Everything is in there, and I think it’s perfectly generalizable to many different crowdsourcing initiatives and platforms.” (Amazon reviewer)

Storytelling in business : the authentic and fluent organization / Janis Forman.“”Many people in business understand that storytelling has the power to shape an organization’s mission, engage employees, motivate customers, and influence public and shareholder perceptions. However, few people have the strategic and creative skills to develop their best stories and use them in the most compelling way. More than just a ‘how to’ book, Storytelling in Business provides a framework for understanding the purposes and elements of organizational storytelling. This book challenges us all to develop fluency in storytelling and guides us through the process of building a storytelling habit of mind.” (Amazon reviewer)

Midnight lunch : the 4 phases of team collaboration success from Thomas Edison’s lab / Sarah Miller Caldicott.
Thomas Edison created multi-billion dollar industries that still exist today. What many people don’t realize is that his innovations were generated through focused approaches to teamwork and collaboration. Authored by the great grandniece of Thomas Edison, “Midnight Lunch” provides an intriguing look at how to use Edison’s collaboration methods to strengthen live and virtual teams today. Edison’s four phases of collaboration success offer a simple yet powerful way to see how different combinations of live and digital resources can multiply results and deliver outstanding ROI now. Shows how to draw together individuals from diverse disciplines, ensuring multiple perspectives and rapid problem-solving. Explains how to mix specialists and generalists on the same team, preventing groupthink and discouraging a culture of “superstars.” Reveals the steps needed to reskill team members for collaboration in the digital era.”

Pinterest for business : how to pin your company to the top of the hottest social media network / Jess Loren, Edward Swiderski.“The key thing, however, in approaching “Pinterest for Business” is that it is “for businesses” … this is not really a guidebook for everybody, but a look at how companies can make use of this social media tool. …The book is structured as a walk-through, from basic explanations of what’s what, and where the various bits are on the site, and how they work, to how Pinterest interfaces with other platforms. It then goes into some “psychology” of image-based messaging ” (Amazon reviewer)

This video comes from the Big Think site and looks REALLY INTERESTING. Have a look. Thanks Robert Smith

Employee to entrepreneur : how to ditch the day job and start your own business / Chris Garden and Catherine Blackburn.“Employee to Entrepreneur shows you how to seamlessly move from employed to self-employed, how to effectively harness, utilise and exploit the skills and expertise you’ve already gained in your corporate emploment and use them all to help you start your own business and make the exciting move from employee to entrepreneur” (Book description)

What management is : how it works and why it’s everyone’s business / Joan Magretta ; with the collaboration of Nan Stone.What Management Is: How It Works and Why It’s Everyone’s Business
“Before they can treat patients, physicians must attend medical school. Before trying cases, attorneys need to pass the bar. But businessmen and managers can work without ever going to business school. It’s no wonder they are often lost or unsure when it comes to fundamental management principles. Former management consultant Magretta, with Stone’s help, provides these wanderers with a map. In simple, engaging prose, Magretta and Stone, contributor and editor-in-chief, respectively, of the Harvard Business Review, offer an explanation of what a manager does. They logically begin with a description of what’s required to be a manager, then explain, generally, how to do it. Along the way, they draw on the lessons of management authorities from Michael E. Porter (”the essence of strategy is choosing what not to do”) to Peter F. Drucker (”results are obtained by exploiting opportunities, not by solving problems”), and also quote more tangential gurus, such as Albert Einstein (”not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted”). The authors do not discuss specifically how to manage people, prepare a budget or deal with shareholders, but that’s not their intent. Magretta and Stone set out to provide the overall framework for thinking about how to be a manager, and in that, they succeed. The book also has a useful appendix listing related readings. (May 13) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly)

Social media for social good : a how-to guide for nonprofits / Heather Mansfield.
“Excellent. Provides good advice at strategic and tactial levels….This is one of the best, perhaps THE best, book on social media I’ve read. Heather Mansfield’s advice on social media strategy is excellent. And she provides practical advice on how to do the things she recommends. While the book is targeted specifically to nonprofits, it’s useful for people who are not in the nonprofit world. I consider this book a great investment. (Amazon reviewer)

Hungry start-up strategy : creating new ventures with limited resources and unlimited vision / Peter S. Cohan.
“Must-read book for anyone interested in start-ups!…This book is a terrific resource for anyone interested in starting a business. Based on extensive field research with numerous start-up companies, this book is an invaluable guide for creating a successful new business. Peter Cohan lays out useful frameworks for thinking through the key aspects of building and financing a fast-growing business. This book will definitely feed the hungry aspiring entrepreneur! (Amazon reviewer)

Masters of disaster : the ten commandments of damage control / Christopher Lehane, Mark Fabiani and Bill Guttentag.
“It’s difficult to write a “how to” book on crisis communications. Each crisis has its own set of unique challenges, and what works well in one case may cause a company’s demise in another. But authors Christopher Lehane, Mark Fabiani, and Bill Guttentag–the first two former high-ranking White House officials and the third an Ocsar-winning filmmaker–do a wonderful job of arming readers with critical information they need to know to survive a personal or professional crisis……preparing in advance for crisis is more important today than ever before. Masters helps readers do that by detailing “Ten Commandments” of damage control, the purpose of which are to help restore trust to companies in crisis. Those rules include admonitions to speak to your core audience, avoid feeding the fire, respond with overwhelming force, and “destroy” opponents who dissemble. But the greatest strength of this book is its case studies. The authors went into great detail on numerous recent scandals–ranging from those affecting Toyota, British Petroleum, Penn State University, Tiger Woods, baseball’s steroid users, and a few politicians. The case studies read like good fiction, and I found myself flying through those pages”. (Amazon reviewer)

The book of business awesome [electronic resource] : how engaging your customers and employees can make your business thrive / Scott Stratten.
The Book of Business Awesome is designed as two short books put together–one read from the front and the other read from the back when flipped over. Covering key business concepts related to marketing, branding, human resources, public relations, social media, and customer service, The Book of Business Awesome includes case studies of successful businesses that gained exposure through being awesome and effective. This book provides actionable tools enabling readers to apply the concepts immediately to their own businesses. The flip side of the book, The Book of Business UnAwesome, shares the train-wreck stories of unsuccessful businesses and showcases what not to do.

Small business for dummies [electronic resource] / by Veechi Curtis.
Thinking about starting a new business? Searching for ways to run your small business better? This essential reference covers everything any Australian or New Zealand small business needs to know, including vital topics such as business planning and franchising, budgeting and GST, marketing and online sales.

Idea stormers : how to lead and inspire creative breakthroughs / Bryan W. Mattimore.“Practical advice, compelling and clear…I just finished Mattimore’s new book. After 33 years of corporate life working with many management teams in different industries, I was impressed with how universal the concepts are and how simply they are described. I’ve also worked with many consultants and have, at times, found myself wondering how those who have never been in my specific situation can be expected to help me solve my problems. Mattimore doesn’t solve your problem. In fact, he admits that is not his role. What he gives the reader/business manager are the framework and tools to help each leader find creative answers, ideas and approaches within his/her team or work group. Two thumbs up for this well-written, must-read for those interested in bringing creativity and imagination out of their workforce. There’s something in here for every leader, manager and motivated employee who wants to add value in their organization.” (Amazon reviewer)

Superteams : the secrets of stellar performance from seven legendary teams / Khoi Tu.
What do the SAS, Ferrari and the Rolling Stones have in common? Their success is about far more than talented individuals. They are Superteams. Every organisation – whether a business start-up, a corporate giant or the local sport clubs – lives or dies by the quality of its teamwork. In a complex, fast-moving, increasingly connected world, the need to work effectively as a team is great than ever. In a book that deftly analysis and vision, renowned teamwork specialist Khoi Tu explains how to make sure your team delivers consistently superior results and emerges stronger from the inevitable crises you will face. Superteams uncovers the inner workings and defining moments of seven outstanding teams, including animation powerhouse Pixar, The Red Cross, Europe’s 2010 Ryder Cup winners and the sworn enemies who came together to achieve peace in Northern Ireland. Superteams gives you the insight and inspiration you need to build better teams.

Manager’s guide to employee engagement / Scott Carbonara.“I manage an I.T. division of a university. Without formal management training, I rely on books like this to provide me with practical tools and strategies to get the most out of our employees. This book is among the most comprehensive and approachable resources I’ve found for managing employees. It covers tapping into employees’ discretionary effort, getting to know them personally, and helping them align to the organization’s values and mission. As an I.T. leader, we are sometimes tempted to think it’s all about the 0s and 1s, but this book makes it easy for me to implement best practices and experience a happier and more productive culture. It’s easy and engaging to read, while also being rich with material–from case studies, to stories, to very practical solutions I can implement and see results from immediately. I’ll keep this book in my office library for years to come”. (Amazon reviewer)

The art of being brilliant : transform your life by doing what works for you / Andy Cope and Andy Whittaker ; illustrations by Laura E. Martin.“I first heard about co-author Andy Cope from a facilitator on a fabulous training course. I had asked the facilitator if he could recommend anybody for my company who provide dance teachers nationwide to teach dance to children. I wanted something positive, motivating and inspirational so the teachers could pass on their new found energy, enthusiasm and inspiration to the children. I borrowed this book, read it within a couple of days and found it difficult to put down. The witty sense of humour and bitesized chunks made it easy to revisit even if my reading had been interrupted. Nuggets of inspiration from quotes and anecdotes make this book wonderfully accessible without the academic jargon of positive psychology. I have now purchased this book and provided staff with a copy each. Upon revisiting it, have realised how much I had forgotten and have made a note to myself to read this on six-monthly basis to notice those mood hooverers and apply The 90/10 Principle of choosing to respond positively to those negative things that happen to us all and are out of our control. I throughly recommend this book to anyone who is wanting a simple approach to making every day life a more positive thing!” (Amazon reviewer)