The World's Best Book Summaries
Have you noticed a spike in rising customer expectations? How does focusing on competition distract you from your customers? A focus on competitors distracts companies from their customers. In The Age of Agile, Stephen Denning argues that customers should be a company’s priority because customers have higher expectations than ever. Discover why customers expect more from companies now.
What’s the top-down management style? Why is this management practice considered outdated? In The Age of Agile, Stephen Denning discusses the traditional business practice of top-down bureaucratic management. This long-standing practice consolidates decision-making in a few hands through a strict hierarchy of authority. Continue reading to learn the two reasons why top-down management has become obsolete.
What’s an agile business strategy? What are the correct priorities of companies? According to The Age of Agile by Stephen Denning, companies can only thrive if they set the correct priorities and goals in response to economic challenges, which allows them to make swift changes as necessary. He covers three things companies should prioritize with an agile strategy: customers, the future, and continued innovation. Below we’ll break down the agile business strategy with three principles.
Why is it important to prioritize customer needs? What information is required to satisfy customers? In The Age of Agile, Stephen Denning argues that the customer should be the company’s highest priority, not shareholders. Additionally, firms should focus on delivering value that excites their users. Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of putting the customer first.
Is research and development important for every business? How much should you spend on these ventures? To create products and services that fulfill future demand, companies must continuously innovate. Therefore, Stephen Denning argues in The Age of Agile, companies must invest heavily in building capacity for research, development, and production. Here’s more on why every company should invest in research and development that’s beneficial to their strategy.
How can you apply agile management to your business plan? How can managers encourage a collaborative work environment? In The Age of Agile, Stephen Denning argues that to thrive, companies must ensure their management is as agile as their strategy. Denning highlights three important principles of agile management: small, self-managing, multi-disciplinary teams; networked coordination between these teams; and guidance from upper management. Let’s explore each of these practices below.
Do you want to speed up development in your company’s timeline? Why are smaller teams better than larger teams? In The Age of Agile, Stephen Denning argues that companies can continuously innovate their products and services by organizing their workers into small, self-managing, multi-disciplinary teams. These teams work at their own pace and have the authority to make decisions on their own, rather than higher-ups approving things for them. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of agile team management.
What makes the difference between a successful negotiation and one that falls flat? How can you set clear objectives that guide your decisions at the negotiating table? According to Jim Camp’s book Start With No, establishing your negotiation purpose is a crucial first step toward achieving your goals. Camp reveals practical strategies for crafting objectives that not only serve your interests but also resonate with the other party. Continue reading to learn how to develop a negotiation purpose that sets you up for success from the very beginning.
How can you make your next negotiation more effective? What key elements should you include in your preparation to ensure success? In his book Start With No, negotiation expert Jim Camp shares essential strategies for creating a thorough negotiation agenda. His approach focuses on addressing problems directly, setting clear goals, and planning the next steps to keep discussions on track. Keep reading to discover how to transform your negotiation preparation from basic to brilliant—and get better results in every business conversation.
What works better than imagining yourself in someone else’s shoes? How can asking the right questions transform your ability to understand and influence others? Perspective getting is a powerful alternative to the traditional practice of perspective taking, and it’s a crucial part of successful negotiations. In Start With No, Jim Camp says you can gain genuine insights into others’ viewpoints and guide negotiations more effectively by asking the right questions. Keep reading to learn how to ask questions that unlock the doors to better understanding and more successful outcomes in any negotiation.