The Renewal Factor: How the Best Get and Keep the Competitive Edge

Shows how American business can bring new vitality to a department, a division, or a company by creating flexibility in corporate direction

In this complementary volume to In Search of Excellence, which Waterman coauthored, his emphasis is on change in business; the message is: renew or go under. He outlines eight themes. The concepts are these: good companies set direction, not detailed strategy; they treat all employees as sources of creative input; they have a high regard for facts; they anticipate crises and are ready to break long-standing habits; they stress teamwork and trust within the organization; they keep everything fluid and delight in "bureaucracy-busting"; management's attention is visible, not just hortatory; they embrace such causes as product excellence and secure employee commitment to those causes. Change, i.e., renewal, according to Waterman, means opportunity for those who do not fear it. Major ad/promo.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Waterman (co-author with Tom Peters of In Search of Excellence ) would appear to be unusually well qualified to talk about what it takes to achieve and maintain corporate excellence, but readers opening this book may be disappointed. Every chapter has much valuable information, but it takes considerble patience to sift the chaff from the wheat. Most of his "Steps for Getting There" are not specific enough to translate into actiona serious flaw. Peters's book on the same topic, Thriving on Chaos ( LJ 10/15/87), is much more specific. BOMC and Fortune Book Club selections. A. J. Anderson, G.S.L.I.S., Simmons Coll., Boston
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.