The Visionary's Handbook - Softcover

Wacker, Watts; Taylor, Jim

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1841121150 ISBN 13: 9781841121154

Publisher: Capstone, 2000

Synopsis

The Visionary's Handbook is an extraordinary book. Wacker and Taylor present a vision of the present and future that strips away the chaos and complexity of our times and shows readers how to create a personal route for the future. The milestones are nine mind-boggling paradoxes that capture the imponderables of modern life, and define the business and social climates of the world in the 21st century.

About this title

Review:

At a time when business best-sellers such as Six Sigma are touting scientific management, The Visionary's Handbook desires to be different. Authors Watts Wacker, Jim Taylor and Howard Means forgo the nuts-and-bolts approach for a philosophical look at management, examining nine broad trends, or "paradoxes", they say are shaping business today.

At the heart of these paradoxes lies change--change that is occurring at an increasing rate. The more certain we are of the future, say the authors, the more likely we are to be wrong. To support their argument, they cite both online and real-world examples, including Xerox, eBay, Kodak and Cisco. Their observations, if not groundbreaking, are certainly accurate. For instance, the Paradox of Size--the bigger your company, the smaller it needs to appear--has been explored at length in Customers.com. Similarly, the need for continual innovation--even to the detriment of your core business--is a paradox that merits attention and one that readers of The Innovator's Dilemma will recognise.

The Visionary's Handbook is about more than just paradoxes, though. Interspersed throughout its pages are exercises challenging readers to pencil in the future they want to see, to visualise and outline their success. Some may find these exercises a valuable and practical addition to the text. Broadly conceived and thought provoking, The Visionary's Handbook will be an eye opener for many readers. --Demian McLean

Review:

"Reading this book will encourage the reader to step into the future. Readers are likely to change their view of their future because of this book. The Visionary's Handbook is for life not just for Christmas." -- Professional Manager, March 2001

"The authors have captured the essential ingredients required to begin building a programme devoted to enhancement, guiding the reader with plenty examples and exercises so that the points are well illustrated." -- Supply Management, 19th October 2000

About this edition

• Publisher: Capstone
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 1841121150
• ISBN 13: 9781841121154
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 270