The Minding Organization: Bring the Future to the Present and Turn Creative Ideas into Business Solutions Book

Change. It's fast, furious, relentless--and we're all in the midst of it. Indeed, it's the topic of choice for most business books on the market today. The problem, however, is that so many of these books merely warn managers how to plan for and anticipate change, rather than giving useful guidance on how to successfully react to it. That's where the authors of The Minding Organization have jumped into the fray.Rubinstein and Firstenberg believe that the real issue for businesses dealing with change lies in developing a truly adaptable organisation. Being able to adapt, they argue, is the key not only to coping with a continuously changing environment, but to addressing the problems that arise within that environment with innovative, successful solutions. An adaptable organisation is a living, breathing organism, a minding organisation that coordinates its goals and efforts as a single being. Each part of the organisation knows what the other parts are doing, and is committed to creating a cohesive unit that maintains a unified focus for the future, shares information, articulates and learns from the individual errors of its members, continuously seeks to strengthen its powers of perception, and is able to creatively express itself in a variety of ways. By developing this unity, an organisation can bring the future closer to the present; it will be able to respond to events in real time, thereby transforming change from being a threat to continued existence into being a catalyst for improved performance. This type of organisation won't shy away from the chaos of change but will embrace its opportunities, ready and equipped to respond quickly and effectively.The Minding Organization is a meaty book, packed with inspiring examples, solid analyses, and practical suggestions. As co-authors, Rubinstein (a professor at the UCLA School of Engineering and Applied Science and author of Patterns of Problem Solving) and Firstenberg (an adjunct professor in UCLA's Psychology Department) make a good team. They apply theoretical knowledge and practical experience to the realities of the business world in a timely and useful manner. Forget being the CEO; this book will teach you how to be an OEC, an operator on the edge of chaos, capable of inspiring and leading a flexible, evolving and thriving organisation. --S. Ketchum, Amazon.comRead More