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Rating: 
Summary: Heavy, But Loaded
Review: This book is written for organizational development professionals. Those not educated and engaged in the field will find the text slow reading, but loaded with information and insight. OD types will enjoy this volume, as will thought leaders in the human resource profession. It will also be well-received by futurists and strategists interested in gaining knowledge about life in the Information Age environment. Information Technology professionals will also find the book of interest . . . and validating. I have given this book a Five Star rating because, for the intended market, that's certainly the ranking it deserves. For the general public, including business executives, the book will be slow reading, but with frequent gems to highlight or write down. The book is organized into five sections: Setting the Stage, The New Strategic Basics, Collaborative Challenges, HR, OD, and Information Technology, and Conclusions and Implications. The first section is written by the editor, Stan Herman (no relation to the reviewer), who presents Uncertainty is Unavoidable, Technology, and Commerce are the Key Drivers of Organizational Change, and Three Imperatives of Change Derived from Information Technology. Part Two contains three chapters, each written by a different contributor: Strategic Navigation: Learning Viability in a World Wired for Speed, Strategic Conversations in the Networked Economy, and Inside the AOL Experience. Part Three also includes three chapters each written by a different author: Virtual Teamwork, Ready for Virtuality: A Case, and The Whole System Transformation Conference: Fast Change for the 21st Century. In Part 4, the first chapter presents Basic Info-Tech for Consultants. The second chapter, HR and IR: Metamorphosis and Opportunities delves into some practical aspects of dealing with the issues of telecommuting, e-learning, knowledge management, e-cruiting (internet-based recruiting), and approaches to HR/IT integration. These topics will be "hot" in the near future as both HR and IT cope with the problem of how to not just get along, but be happily intertwined. I was glad to see this chapter included, lending a bit of a pragmatic strength to the book. While there isn't a lot of how-to in this representative chapter that caught my attention, there's enough for HR, IT, and OD professionals to advance their work. A case study contributes to the "this is real world" aspect, but this book is oriented toward raising issues to be explored in organizations, rather than to offer step-by-step solutions. The chapter includes references to web sites and other resources to help readers go deeper. Chapter author Jana Markowitz offers insights into emerging roles in organizations-Chief Learning Officer, Chief Knowledge Officer-as she explores some of the changes underway in today's corporations. Organizational life is moving at a rapid rate. Technology is indeed a powerful driver, so those leaders concerned with the human side of the enterprise should read this book to gain a deeper understanding of what's happening . . . and what they might do to help their organizations through the evolution to a new way of operating. They'll discover some pioneering ideas, some practical guidance, and a look at some of the theory behind some major shifts in our corporate world.
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