The Soul at Work: Listen...Respond...Let Go : Embracing Complexity Science for Business Success - Hardcover

Lewin, Roger; Regine, Birute

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0684843846 ISBN 13: 9780684843841

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2000

Synopsis

Shows how to use complexity science to make businesses more flexible and spur employees to become more involved with their work

About this title

Review

For businesses to succeed in the 21st century, people can't be treated like cogs in a wheel, ready to be sacrificed for profits, say authors Roger Lewin and Birute Regine in The Soul at Work. Instead, people must "become the new bottom line", they say, drawing this conclusion with the help of complexity science and their own study of companies that profit by putting people first. "In today's business environment of rapid change, a collective effort, a recognised need for others, becomes the means of survival and success", say Lewin, a science writer, and Regine, a psychologist. Businesses that follow the principles of complexity science are distinguished by fewer levels of hierarchy and more open communication, and they value people "as a way to promote adaptability and business success."

To show the principles of this new science at work, the authors profile organisations as diverse as the VeriFone division of Hewlett-Packard, DuPont, Monsanto, Babel's Paint and Decorating Stores in Massachusetts, Greenwich Village restaurants in New York and St Luke's, one of the UK's most exciting advertising agencies. And they identify three practices common to these organisations: A style of leadership that guides without being controlling, the creation of dynamic teams and the development of strong relationships among workers, customers and community. The Soul at Work is an excellent resource for businesses and individuals interested in succeeding by getting the best out of people. --Dan Ring,Amazon.com

Review

The Soul at Work is a wonderful blend of complexity theory with riveting examples of its use in both small and large businesses. -- John Seely Brown, Chief Scientist for the Xerox Corporation

The Soul at Work tells fascinating stories of people who build resilient organisations by thinking hard about the 'soft' side of business. -- Adam Brandenburger, Professor, Harvard Business School

Translate "chaos theory" into usable business practice? Roger Lewin and Birute Regine do it! "Brilliant"...that's my one-word summary. -- Tom Peters

Edition details

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0684843846
• ISBN 13: 9780684843841
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 336