The Empowered Manager, 2nd Edition

Annotated Bibliography

This list is in no way a survey of the literature. It is a list of publications that have had special meaning in understanding what is at stake in empowering managers. Each entry contains a comment on the focus of the book.

1. Albran, Kellogg. The Profit. This is a parody of the master-devotee relationship. It puts our wish to find answers outside ourselves in a good perspective. It's also funny.
2. Allen, Woody. Getting Even. Woody Allen makes the absurd seem natural and normal––a process we, as managers, are constantly trying to accomplish.
3. Bean, Audrey E., Carolyn Ordowich, and William A. Wesley. 1985–1986. “Including the Supervisor in Employee Involvement Effort.” National Productivity Review (Winter: 64–77). Classic article outlining practical ways to support the empowerment of the supervisor.
4. Bennis, Warren G. and Burt Nanus. Leaders. A fine book on the loftier aspects of leadership. Very clear on the role that Vision plays in translating intentions into action.
5. Block, Peter. Stewardship: Choosing Service over Self-Interest; The Answer to How Is Yes: Acting on What Matters; and Community: The Structure of Belonging. These books expand on the ideas of The Empowered Manager. The Community book brings the line of thinking into the civic space.
6. Block, Peter. Flawless Consulting. This book is on how to be more effective as an internal consultant/staff person. It expresses, in another form, the values that underlie The Empowered Manager.
7. Bugental, James ...