Leading the Revolution

Rating:
Summary: Breaking away from the status quo
Review: This book provides a great incite into, what can employees and thereby companies, do to break away from the status quo. Some of the myths it explodes are

*Markets mature and hence companies will stop growing *Established companies cannot re-invent themselves *All change begins with senior managment and the rest of the organization is a mute spectator to this.

The book addresses innovation and creativity and discusses how these key business drivers can fuel wealth creation. It offers hope for all businesses competing in any market to grow and continue to create wealth for all its stake holders

In conclusion, a good book, worth reading and implementing in business.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific Book for Middle Managers
Review: Very motivating, especially if your entrepreneurial. I felt that most of the book's discussion was directed at me and not the CEO. At the end however, the message seemed to serve over towards those in upper management. Bonuses and stock options, etc... are not in my control. Overall though, the book left me feeling positive and ready to promote my ideas within the organization I work for.

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read
Review: I thought I could sit down and read this book, front to cover from Seattle to New York. No way.. this book is so jam Packed with ideas, insight and advice, Leading the Revolution is a must read. Harness the passion of your employees to take you to new heights. Hamel outlines step by step how to successfully lead a revolution of your own firm. Read it. It's well worth the time! Gary Perman [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Triple Expresso Innovation
Review: In a virtual sea of books and resources on change efforts, Leading the Revolution is a turbo-charged, triple expresso blend of:

* Facing the new, increased pace of change,

* Identifying your role in the change,

* A how-to manual for initiating change and,

* A guide for sustaining change

More a manifesto than a run-of-the-mill business book; Author Gary Hamel deftly uses well-turned phrases and inflammatory language to motivate and ignite the reader. Beneath the call-to-arms are some insightful looks at what it takes to survive and prosper in the new economy.

Hamel does a good job of backing up his lynch mob rhetoric with facts and examples. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to initiate change in an organization and especially to those who are worn down from beating their heads against the wall of the old-guard. One warning: Be prepared to channel your reignited energies. If one can read this book and not feel challenged to take at least one more try at changing the status quo, you might want to check for a pulse.

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read for Employees Having Lot of Hidden Ideas
Review: This book is worth reading for any person, from entry level executives to the CEO. Book gives a lot of practical examples of revolutionary employees, who with their own efforts brought a lot of positive changes in their organisations.

If you are a person, who has a lot of ideas hidden in your heart, but unable to give those ideas a real shape, read this book. You will definitely get some encourgement and guidance too , to how to put your ideas into reality.

It also gives some real example of how we can think in non linear ways, different from what our elder emplyees think or even our young peer. So if you are new/unaware to non linear thinking, reading of this book will enforce/bring a ray of non linear thinking in your thought process.

Considering the saying " Change is only constant" , this book can work as a guiding pointer for all, who are becoming complacent with their performance, or relying heavily on their present business model.

Rating:
Summary: Hamel is having a Tom Peters Moment...
Review: Usually, Gary Hamel's books are invaluable. So, when I saw that this book was coming out, I ordered the audio version to listen to while driving to clients' offices. I thought I would arrive energized, filled with great ideas, etc.

However, what I heard was a Tom Petersish rant. Lots of exhortations and very little practical information on what to do in real life. Lots of advice about being courageous and having wonderful ideas and getting a product champion, and... hope he is paying royalties to Tom...

The problem is probably the fact that the audio tape is an abridged version of the book. Hopefully the book has lots more meat. But this was most definitely a major disappointment.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Book that Wanted to be Great
Review: For fans of previous Hamel books, this will be very appealing. He takes complicated business concepts and ties them up into neat little packages, and he riles the little guys working for the "big corporations" who just don't get it. But the problem is that he goes from good straightforward descriptions of current business components to Y2K-type positive hysteria touting the now-debunked myth of the dot-coms taking over the market place from the plodding corporations. In that respect, the ultimate irony is that because of the speed with which his touted dot-com marketplace moves, the book may have set a modern record for obsolesence. That said, there are some good solid insights about life in the new dot-com marketplace. You just have to be able to toss aside the mounds of foamy exagerration to get to the kernals of wisdom and truth Hamel offers. And at least the book itself is nice, large, and attractive - once you've gleaned the few points of wisdom, it will look great on your coffee table.

Rating:
Summary: Innovation Without The Real Innovators?
Review: As far as Leading The Revolution highlights the need for companies to move with the times and make essential internal changes to ensure a competitive edge, this book is worthwhile reading. Its layout is also unusual and eye-catching.

However, what is called "innovation" in this book should actually be defined as "the search for management-driven marketing opportunities". Although these are important for a company, let's give credit where it's due: truly original, cutting-edge concepts are made by R&D technical staff, the crucial nature of whose innovative contributions is often under-appreciated by management and has also not been given a worthy mention by Mr.Hamel. A pity, since I agree that revolutionary changes are needed to energize not only the stagnant visions of many upper management employees, but also their antiquated attitudes and counter-productive practices. One of these is that market-oriented managers alone should not make decisions for long-term innovation without the expert advice of their technical staff. It is important to bring both technical and managerial branches of an organization together to ensure that future changes are appropriately made. The mess resulting from a lack of communication between these two company segments is perfectly illustrated in a highly enjoyable and enlightening satirical new book entitled, "Management by Vice" by C.B. Don. I sincerely recommend that anyone daring enough to implement radical change for the good of your company read Leading The Revolution followed up with "Management by Vice" for lots of good laughs and many hilarious, true-to-life examples of unsatisfactory management practices in a company not yet embracing essential internal changes. Then, you may begin to really understand your company innovators and appreciate why it is so important not just to "lead" the revolution, but to create a positive partnership with your innovators for a truly beneficial revolution!

Rating:
Summary: Speed and Convenience of electronic Format
Review: It is an entirely new experience to read an e-book. The idea of reading a book on a computer screen which consists of around 400 pages requires a slight mental adjustment. I have been using a flat panel TFT monitor where the text is very clear in contrst to the 15 inch normal monitor next to it. However, after making the mental adjustment to the e-book, I find the format very useful. I like the speed at which it is possible to purchase and download a book. Also, the lack of shipping cost is a benefit. On the downside is the fact that when comparing Leading the revolution in paper format and electronic that the paper version has more illustrations and colored text through-out. In other words the electronic version is not an exact replica of the paper version. However, the e-book is only 600K in size and therefore very fast to download. In terms of the content of the book the author is arguing that that with discontinuous technological change new business models are necessary today in order for a company to compete. This book's message of being a revolutionary reminds me the book called the Innovator's dilemma with the emphasize being also on discontinuous innovation.Therefore, a good book for anybody interested in business strategy.

Rating:
Summary: Breezy, refreshing, fun, but lightweight
Review: Hamel's latest book contains a few important ideas, such as the central importance of business concept innovation. However, the constant refrain of "innovate, innovate, innovate!" is hardly new to anyone familiar with works such as Built to Last, and The Age of Unreason. Aimed at anyone wanting to be a business revolutionary, including "gray-haired revolutionaries" in sleepy old companies, this book offers a few useful ways of thinking and steps to take to shake up your business. However, much of the useful content can be found in Hamel's recent HBR articles, and the excessively breezy writing style triumphs over actionable content. Those most attracted to this book will find the least in it, whereas those most in need of its message will be unlikely to pick it up.