The World's Best Book Summaries
Have you set clear rules for your employees? How well do people understand and follow the rules? CEO and venture capitalist Ben Horowitz draws on historical examples to show how you can provide cultural leadership in your organization. For lessons on workplace rules, Horowitz looks to Haitian revolutionary Toussaint Louverture and offers three tips for making rules that stick. Keep reading to learn how to set effective workplace rules.
What is the meaning of “loonshots”? What are some examples of loonshot ideas? Loonshots are ideas that are so original and ambitious that they and their creators are initially dismissed as crazy (e.g. radar, insulin, computer animation). Loonshots begin as flawed, incredibly fragile ideas that almost don’t make it, which is why they require special care. Here’s why loonshots are so fragile as well as why organizations tend to leave loonshots behind as they grow.
What are the main benefits of Scrum? Can the Scrum method really lead to happier teams? Scrum is a framework created by Jeff Sutherland made to help people and organizations efficiently solve complex problems with creative solutions. The Scrum method is also designed to create happy, productive, and creative teams. Here’s a look at the benefits of the Scrum method.
What are competitive marketing strategies? How can you assure your product will outmatch your competitors’ products? A competitive marketing strategy is a long-term plan that businesses develop to gain a competitive advantage in the market. William M. Luther provides a few strategies he swears by in The Marketing Plan. Keep reading to learn how to be the best in your market.
How does poverty affect entrepreneurship? How does running a business—paradoxically enough—keep people in the poverty trap? It’s not uncommon for the poor to run their own businesses. However, running a business seldom helps them escape the poverty trap. This is because the poor choose not to invest in their businesses because they have little means to do so. Furthermore, the poor generally don’t want to run their own businesses—they often do so because they don’t have any other options to make a living. Here’s a look at poverty and entrepreneurship.
What is The Toyota Way about? What are the main takeaways from the book? In his book The Toyota Way, Jeffrey Liker describes how workers at Toyota problem-solve on the spot and ruthlessly eliminate waste. He also explains how the company supports them by offering job security and constant on-the-job challenges. Keep reading for a brief overview of Liker’s book The Toyota Way.
Are your employees clear about the ethical expectations at your company? Are you consistently upholding behavior boundaries? CEO and venture capitalist Ben Horowitz draws on historical examples to show how you can provide cultural leadership in your organization. For lessons on ethical workplace behavior, Horowitz looks to Haitian revolutionary Toussaint Louverture, who shows us that we must not leave ethical gray areas. Keep reading to learn more about shaping ethical workplace behavior.
What is Safi Bahcall’s Loonshots about? What is the key message to take away from the book? In his book Loonshots, Safi Bahcall argues that innovations as wide-ranging and world-changing as radar, insulin, and computer animation all share a similar trajectory: They began as flawed, incredibly fragile ideas. They were repeatedly shot down or ignored, and if not for a lot of luck and persistence, they would never have made it. Bahcall’s big idea is that it’s possible to deliberately and systematically nurture loonshots. Below is a brief overview of Loonshots by Safi Bahcall.
What does “kaizen” mean? Why is it one of the pillars of the Toyota Way? In The Toyota Way, kaizen is described as continuous improvement. Author Jeffrey Liker says kaizen improves Toyota’s operations at both the modeling stage and the implementation stage. Here’s more on the concept of kaizen in The Toyota Way.
What is a tactical business plan? How can a tactical plan help you turn your business goals into reality? Identifying your business goals is important, but it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have a plan to execute those goals. In their book Execution, business leaders Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan teach you how to make a tactical plan to bring your business goals to fruition. Here’s how to create a tactical business plan.