Out of the Box Thinking for Successful Managers

Out of the Box Thinking for Successful Managers

by William F. Roth
Released August 2014
Publisher(s): Productivity Press
ISBN: 9781482247084

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Book description

During the author’s decades of experience consulting in the corporate world and teaching management theory at the university level, he has often questioned many modern-day management practices. For example, why do so many companies have evaluation and reward systems that force employees to compete against each other while these same organizations preach the gospel of cooperation and teamwork? Why do companies continue to downsize when this practice has proven antithetical to long-term success?

Out of the Box Thinking for Successful Managers explains, in a user-friendly and sometimes humorous manner, why these practices are based on worn-out logic in some cases and complete falsehoods in others. Questioning numerous management practices that have been popular for decades, it details their weaknesses and explains why they continue to hamper attempts to improve productivity.

The book reviews a range of management theories, including Six Sigma, downsizing, and management by objective. After showing where the holes lie, it offers alternative approaches that have proven effective in a growing number of private and public sector organizations, including some that enable a more positive workplace culture.

Illustrating practical application with case studies, the book provides simple suggestions for change that can be highly beneficial to your organization. It addresses the major myths that managers need to examine and eventually do away with or, at least, replace with modified versions that make more sense in today’s increasingly competitive business environment.

Table of contents

  1. Front Cover (1/2)
  2. Front Cover (2/2)
  3. Contents (1/2)
  4. Contents (2/2)
  5. Preface
  6. Chapter 1: Six Sigma: Or, Here We Go Again (1/3)
  7. Chapter 1: Six Sigma: Or, Here We Go Again (2/3)
  8. Chapter 1: Six Sigma: Or, Here We Go Again (3/3)
  9. Chapter 2: Downsizing: The Cure That Can Kill (1/3)
  10. Chapter 2: Downsizing: The Cure That Can Kill (2/3)
  11. Chapter 2: Downsizing: The Cure That Can Kill (3/3)
  12. Chapter 3: The Myth That Competition in the Workplace Is the Best Way to Increase Productivity (1/4)
  13. Chapter 3: The Myth That Competition in the Workplace Is the Best Way to Increase Productivity (2/4)
  14. Chapter 3: The Myth That Competition in the Workplace Is the Best Way to Increase Productivity (3/4)
  15. Chapter 3: The Myth That Competition in the Workplace Is the Best Way to Increase Productivity (4/4)
  16. Chapter 4: Is It Possibly Time for Management by Objective to Bite the Dust? (1/2)
  17. Chapter 4: Is It Possibly Time for Management by Objective to Bite the Dust? (2/2)
  18. Chapter 5: Get Rid of Performance Appraisals (1/4)
  19. Chapter 5: Get Rid of Performance Appraisals (2/4)
  20. Chapter 5: Get Rid of Performance Appraisals (3/4)
  21. Chapter 5: Get Rid of Performance Appraisals (4/4)
  22. Chapter 6: Doing It Wrong: Or, How Can Quality Improvement Efforts Possibly Get So Screwed Up? (1/3)
  23. Chapter 6: Doing It Wrong: Or, How Can Quality Improvement Efforts Possibly Get So Screwed Up? (2/3)
  24. Chapter 6: Doing It Wrong: Or, How Can Quality Improvement Efforts Possibly Get So Screwed Up? (3/3)
  25. Chapter 7: Doing It Right: Or, Moving Beyond the Baldrige (1/5)
  26. Chapter 7: Doing It Right: Or, Moving Beyond the Baldrige (2/5)
  27. Chapter 7: Doing It Right: Or, Moving Beyond the Baldrige (3/5)
  28. Chapter 7: Doing It Right: Or, Moving Beyond the Baldrige (4/5)
  29. Chapter 7: Doing It Right: Or, Moving Beyond the Baldrige (5/5)
  30. Chapter 8: Who Makes the Most Productive Executive? (1/3)
  31. Chapter 8: Who Makes the Most Productive Executive? (2/3)
  32. Chapter 8: Who Makes the Most Productive Executive? (3/3)
  33. Chapter 9: How to Design More Profitable Businesses (1/4)
  34. Chapter 9: How to Design More Profitable Businesses (2/4)
  35. Chapter 9: How to Design More Profitable Businesses (3/4)
  36. Chapter 9: How to Design More Profitable Businesses (4/4)
  37. Chapter 10: The Matter of Ethics (1/3)
  38. Chapter 10: The Matter of Ethics (2/3)
  39. Chapter 10: The Matter of Ethics (3/3)
  40. Chapter 11: Replacing the Protestant Work Ethic with the Development Ethic (1/3)
  41. Chapter 11: Replacing the Protestant Work Ethic with the Development Ethic (2/3)
  42. Chapter 11: Replacing the Protestant Work Ethic with the Development Ethic (3/3)
  43. Chapter 12: Training for the Modern Age (1/2)
  44. Chapter 12: Training for the Modern Age (2/2)
  45. Chapter 13: Is a Better Approach to Improving Safety Possible? (1/2)
  46. Chapter 13: Is a Better Approach to Improving Safety Possible? (2/2)
  47. Chapter 14: Unions: From Leadership to Playing Catch-Up (1/3)
  48. Chapter 14: Unions: From Leadership to Playing Catch-Up (2/3)
  49. Chapter 14: Unions: From Leadership to Playing Catch-Up (3/3)
  50. Chapter 15: Reinterpreting the Concept of Laissez-Faire Economics (1/2)
  51. Chapter 15: Reinterpreting the Concept of Laissez-Faire Economics (2/2)
  52. Bibliography
  53. Back Cover

Product information

  • Title: Out of the Box Thinking for Successful Managers
  • Author(s): William F. Roth
  • Release date: August 2014
  • Publisher(s): Productivity Press
  • ISBN: 9781482247084