MANAGEMENT

The Essential Management Tool Box : Tools, Models and Notes for Managers and Consultants -- Author: Dr. Simon A Burtonshaw-Gunn Reviewed by Devi Rajnikant

This book acts as a ready-reckoner for a wide range of management concepts. It also provides a set of tools and models of management concepts useful for students, practicing managers, academicians and management consultants.

© 2008 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All Rights Reserved. The Icfai University Press holds the copyright for the review.

RISK MANAGEMENT

Organized Uncertainty : Designing a World of Risk Management -- Author: Michael Power Reviewed by Siba Prasad Pothal

Tracking and managing all sorts of risks and uncertainties have become the center of organizational planning and reporting. This book provides interesting insights into the world of risk management and emphasizes on the rise of managerial concepts of risk. It also points out that it is through risk management that certain kinds of rational organizational designs can be encouraged.

© 2007 Michael Power. All Rights Reserved. The Icfai University Press holds the copyright for the review.

RISK MANAGEMENT

Strategic Risk Taking : A Framework for Risk Management -- Author: Ashwath Damodaran Reviewed by AV Vedpuriswar

The risk management philosophy must be embedded in the company's structure and culture. Aligning the interests of managers and owners, good and timely information, solid analysis, flexibility and good people are the key building blocks of a successful risk taking organization.

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Icfai University Press holds the copyright for the review.

ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE

The Performance Power Grid : The Proven Method to Create and Sustain Superior Organizational Performance -- Authors: David F Giannetto and Anthony Zecca Reviewed by Shyam Kadari

The book puts forth a new model for boosting organizational efficiency. This performance power grid model, with its various inputs, replaces confusion with sustained action by responsible units within the organization. It also helps to overcome all the impediments present in the form of human and organizational systems to produce extraordinary performance.

© 2007 David F Giannetto and Anthony Zecca. All Rights Reserved. The Icfai University Press holds the copyright for the review.

PATHBREAKING APPROACHES

Spiral Up : …And Other Management Secrets Behind Wildly Successful Initiatives -- Author: Jane C Linder Reviewed by Shireesha Mekala

This book focuses on the so-called `best practice management' methods which merely serve to avoid failure rather than produce unconventional, spectacular success. This idea is explained through case studies and real-life examples. The book is about everyday heroes who avoid mediocrity and make a crucial impact on their organizations by creating clear and inspiring visions.

© 2008 Progress Board, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The Icfai University Press holds the copyright for the review.

TEAM BUILDING

X-Teams : How to Build Teams that Lead, Innovate, and Succeed -- Author: Deborah Ancona and Henrik Bresman Reviewed by Narendranath Menon

The book explains the fundamental requirements for engineering a better team in organizations. The authors emphasize the importance of wide-ranging exploration and teamwork to facilitate innovation. They draw on their experience to show how traditional, inward-looking team models fall short in today's business environment.

© 2007 Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation. All Rights Reserved. The Icfai University Press holds the copyright for the review.

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

One Foot Out the Door : How to combat the Psychological Recession That's alienating Employees and Hurting American Business -- Author: Judith M Bardwick Reviewed by GP Mrudhula

In the current economic scenario, the world has become a global village to work, sell and manage things. With globalization and liberalization, companies have started shifting their businesses to the most promising places. The book draws attention to the impact of this on the American organizations in the face of an increasingly competitive global economy.

© 2008 Judith M Bardwick. All Rights Reserved. The Icfai University Press holds the copyright for the review.

ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKING

Groundswell : Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies -- Authors: Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff Reviewed by Srinivasa Rao Dhulipala

The book discusses how to turn the strength of one's customers to one's own advantage. With some cases from all over the world, the book highlights the practices of some leading companies in gaining insights, generating revenue, saving money, and energizing customers. It is a must-read for people engaged in marketing research, support and product development.

© 2008 Forrester Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Icfai University Press holds the copyright for the review.

SELF-DEVELOPMENT

Getting Unstuck : How Dead Ends Become New Paths -- Author: Timothy Butler Reviewed by Gowrisankar

Every one of us, at one time or the other in our lives, come to a block where nothing seems to work out wherein we feel overwhelmed by a strange feeling of boredom and ennui, a sense of helplessness and uneasiness, and a lack of will to plough further -- these are all the signs of an impasse. This book explains how we can systematically overcome this impasse and make dead ends become new paths.

© 2007 Timothy Butler. All Rights Reserved. The Icfai University Press holds the copyright for the review.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Go Kiss the World : Life Lessons for the Young Professional -- Author: Subroto Bagchi Reviewed by Subhasis Ray

In this book, the founder of MindTree, Subroto Bagchi talks about his journey from a small village in Orissa to the boardroom of a respected new generation software company. The book encapsulates his working style, his interactions with great leaders like Azim Premji, his strong ties with his family and his middle class values -- all that have helped him become a successful businessman. There are many lessons for young Indians aspiring to reach the pinnacle of corporate success.

© 2008 Subroto Bagchi. All Rights Reserved. The Icfai University Press holds the copyright for the review.

SHORT BOOK REVIEWS

Sociology in Practice: An Introduction -- Debamitra Mitra

As an intellectual discipline and at the same time having practical values, sociology is capable of catering to the requirements of almost all sectors of social and professional life of the modern times. But, unfortunately, the subject has confined itself more in the flavor of theory. Hence, this original volume is a sincere attempt to focus on the applicability of sociology in non-academic professions like in corporate, management, marketing, information technology, medical science, counseling, market research, media, public administration, social work and non-government organizations.