People and Management March 2019 | Page 46

BOOK REVIEW NOT LONG BACK I n past 60 years, 88 percent of Fortune 500 companies have either merged, got acquired, have lost their edge, while others have simply vanished. At this rate, none of the Fortune 500 will make the list 50 years from now, in the year 2088. There have been organizations like Kodak, Nokia, Hindustan Motors and Compaq (to name a few), and yet in the same age there have been organizations such as Royal Enfi eld, Bajaj Auto and, Mahindra & Mahindra that have risen. stands out loudly and makes this book a must read for everyone involved in the business. What separates the later from the former? It’s not the fi nancial riches, infrastructure or the products and services alone that make a huge difference, it is the people and the culture of the organization which allows them to bring out their best and that’s the winning edge. In his book, the author encourages the readers to focus on the basics in the same breath as a sports person would do. It is the simple things which when done correctly and consistently over time make a difference for you and your organization. Author has narrated 7 mistakes in an engaging way, supported by well-researched data points, metaphors and analogies from day-to-day life and then smoothly transitioned and linked them to the organizational sphere. His use of the simple and a wide variety of examples to talk about complex things makes the job of the reader easy. The relatedness of these ideas to the real-life experiences by him, 46 | Vol. 10 Issue 3 • MARCH 2019, Delhi NCR Author: Pankaj Wadhwa, Founder and Managing Director, Tangible Learning Solutions LLP Publisher: Adhyyan Books Year of Publishing: November 2018 Pages: 145 Price: INR 300 The seven areas mentioned are very distinctive and yet comprehensive. Through these elements, he has covered concepts of a learning organization, shared vision, culture, talent management, leadership, systems thinking and internal customer service. Author understands that in this era, knowledge is available at the click of the button and therefore, not only has he covered the most common mistakes that organizations make in these areas but has also shared the steps they can take to avoid them. For small business, the book shares a road map on how to move away from one’s individual vision and build a more inclusive approach that inspires a shared vision and aligned organization-wide systems and processes. For a larger organization, it gives food for thought to refl ect upon its success and failures in creating a ‘learning organization’. The book will entreaty a wide spectrum of audience and ignite the thought process of a CEO. It gives practical insights to a human resource practitioner or provide a manager with leadership and team management tips. It covers interview of two prominent thought leaders - Mr. Abhijit Bhaduri & Mr. Gurucharan Singh Gandhi. Happy Reading !! P & M