Management and Knowledge Management Book Reviews
by Dr. Moria Levy

" Drive ," written in 2009 by Daniel Pink, whose previous bestseller "A Whole New Mind" garnered significant acclaim, delves into human behavior, particularly within the organizational and business context. While Pink's earlier work was more broadly focused on human nature, "Drive" focuses on the intricacies of conduct in professional settings. Pink posits a theory that, although existing for approximately 40 years, faces resistance within the organizational/business world. Despite its...

The book titled " Storytelling in Organizations ," published in 2004 spans three distinct periods: 2001, marked by a conference featuring four speakers discussing storytelling from their unique perspectives; 2003, during which each speaker reflects on the previous two years; and 2004, when Steve Denning, one of the four, endeavors to summarize the collective insights methodologically. The co-authors of this book are Larry Prusak, a renowned lecturer and consultant in knowledge management...

The book " Outside Innovation ," published in 2006, primarily delves into innovation and client collaboration. It introduces a life concept centered around collaborative work, emphasizing a reciprocal exchange of services. The book imparts insights into transforming traditional roles and fostering partnerships with clients in specific aspects of our responsibilities. Some concepts are familiar and presented in a structured manner, while others introduce innovation on various levels. It's...

The book " Managing Knowledge Networks ," authored by David Johnson in 2009, highlights the author's expertise in networks. It delves into various aspects of knowledge networks, encompassing networks of knowledgeable individuals and knowledge items. The author explores how individuals access information and knowledge within or outside an organization. However, accessibility to the book is a challenge. Its academic style caters to those who appreciate this form of writing. Beyond that, the...

This book, " The Effective Executive in Action ," represents Peter Drucker's final work before passing away. He penned the introduction in the fall of 2005; by November of that year, he had already departed. Co-authored by Drucker and Joseph Marciariello, this practical guide actively processes the "what" and "how," drawing from Drucker's earlier content in his 1966 book, "The Effective Executive." Additionally, it integrates excerpts from Drucker's later works and notable passages from books...

This book, " The Profit Impact of Business Intelligence ," authored by Steve and Nancy Williams in 2007, arises from their hands-on experience in the field. It furnishes valuable tools for advancing business intelligence within organizations, whether as a new initiative or by tapping into and leveraging existing data warehouses. Interestingly, many of the insights presented in the book are equally applicable to knowledge management. The book is enjoyable, thoroughly revisiting and elucidating...

The book " Capitalizing on Knowledge: From e-business to K-business ," alternatively titled "Creating Capital from Knowledge: From Internet Business to Internet Knowledge Business," was authored by David Skryme in 2001. Upon initially picking up the book, a sense of disappointment overcame me. A publication from 2001 is nearly considered historical eight years later, particularly in a field like knowledge management, which continues to evolve and consolidate. Nevertheless, despite this and...

The book " Predictably Irrational " 2008, was written by Dan Ariely. The book builds upon the teachings of Tversky and Kahneman, exploring how our decisions exhibit bias under conditions of uncertainty and emphasizing their non-uniform rationality. Ariely goes further, asserting that our decisions aren't merely irrational and represent predictable biases. Through a series of experiments conducted with colleagues in the United States, Ariely sheds light on captivating aspects of human...

The book " Business Agility: Sustainable Prosperity in a Relentlessly Competitive World ," by Michael Hugosת 2009, was released as part of a series of leadership books sponsored by Microsoft. At its core, the book explores how organizations can transform into entities that listen, respond, and adapt swiftly to foster continual growth in an ever-changing competitive landscape. The imperative for business agility arises from the realization that relying on the temporary strategy of lowering...

“ Transforming Performance Management: Rethinking the Way We Measure and Drive Organizational Success ”, authored by Dean Spitzer in 2007, is a remarkable book. The book stands out because, unlike other works addressing measurement and performance, it delves into the culture of measurement. It explores why effective measurement is primarily a matter of organizational culture and the reasons to change, the how, and the where. The term "transforming" is frequently emphasized throughout the...

This book, " A Sense of Urgency ," is part of a series authored by leadership and change expert John P. Kotter, alongside works such as "Leading Change," "The Heart of Change," and "Our Iceberg is Melting." It gained recognition as a New York Times Bestseller. For those familiar with Kotter's framework, he outlines eight stages of change management: Creating a sense of urgency to address the issue. Building an action team. Formulating a vision and strategy for change. Communicating change and...

PresentationZen , written by Garr Reynolds and published in 2008, explores the art of effectively conveying messages through presentations. The book, although concise, is rich with visual examples that vividly illustrate its ideas. Focused on preparing presentations that communicate messages effectively, it draws inspiration from diverse sources such as filmmaking (a rich and multidimensional channel), comics (a frugal and exhaustive world), and storytelling (akin to the world of presentation...