"Successful corporate transformation depends on effective decision making and leadership from three distinct but inter coonected entities: the CEO, the top management team, and the board of directors. The CEO is the executive who has overall responsibility for the conduct and performance of the firm; clearly his or her mindset, imagination, and behavior will have a defining effect on corporate adaptation. Ultimately, however, senior leadership is a shared endeavor, extending beyond the CEO to other top executives. Thus, the senior management group, widely referred to as the top management team, also has a central role in formulating and executing corporate transformation. The top management team is not simply an aggregation of individual executives. Rather, the dynamics and complementarities that exist within the team greatly influence corporate outcomes. Finally, the board of directors has legal responsibility for the governance of the firm...All three of these leadership entities are critically important to effective corporate adaptation under conditions of turbulence. This book examines all three, including their interconnections to one another and, particularly, their roles in designing and navigating effective corpotate change" (from the Preface).

In this context, in Chapter 6, Paul A. Allaire, chairman and CEO of Xerox Corporation, discusses in depth the role of the senior management team in bringing about a major transformation at his company. He argues that "Effective teamwork harnesses creativity and unleashes brain power; it leads to better solutions, better decisions, and improved business results through more effective implementation." In this invaluable article, after describing the centrality of teamwork at Xerox, and teamwork at the CEO level-the top management team, he concludes with some lessons from experience on what works and what doesn't work as following:

* Self-managed senior teams don't work.

* Remotely located teams work less well than teams in physical proximity.

* Laissez-faire or consensus leadership doesn't work.

* Ill-defned team objectives, processes, and rewards hamper performance.

* Teamwork starts with the CEO.

* Total Quality Management tools and processes can enhance teamwork.

* Roles, responsibilities, and expectations must be clarified.

* An effective governance process must be in place.

* Outside counsel and assistance helps.

* Teams need to be explicitly launched and then maintained over time.

Finally, Allaire writes that "Those are my insights on teams at the senioe executive level. I should also point out that there is no free lunch. No matter how deep your commitment, teamwork does have some negative aspects. Teams are time-consuming. You utilize more of the time and energy of top management than if you dictate a solution or a direction. You also run the risk that a tendency toward groupthink may develop...Continuous improvement means a continuous team approach to solving problems and staying on the right course. Team members need to know how valuable their contribution is. That's why at Xerox we not only teach teamwork, we celebrate it."

Strongly recommended.

The authors show three types of leadership create and execute corporate change: the CEO, the top executive team, and the board of directors. This collection of twenty essays (chapters) discusses the circumstances and qualities needed for achieving change including: the qualities for being an effective CEO; the keys areas of tension related to turbulent periods; achieving teamwork at the top; the role of healthy conflict; need for the board to get involved in strategy; and key factors enhancing board creativity.

This book provides some important insights into both the process of change and organizational leadership. One comes away from this book with a clear appreciation for the pivotal role of top leadership in any successful effort to transform an organization. Recommended. Reviewed by Gerry Stern, founder, Stern & Associates, author of Stern's Sourcefinder The Master Directory to HR and Business Management Information & Resources, Stern's CyberSpace SourceFinder, and the Compensation and Benefits SourceFinder.

An excellent collection of essays that examines the reasons for and dynamics of executive teams. Explores the organization, chemistry and purposes of the team. Some topics include: the jobs of the CEO and COO; governance, importance of trust, conflict resolution, feedback, developing strategy, and leading strategic change teams. The essays in this work make many important observations. Of added value are effective summary tables.

An Excellent Book.. A Must For All The Managers In Any Organistaion.

This is a very good start for Org Design consultants. The book correct addresses the key principles in designing an organization (Chap. 3) and explores the key issues that affect the key crucial design issues (Chap. 4). Don't wait for a "how to" book, this is much more a "what" one.

If you are looking for a book devoted to Organizational Design, I recommend this one. To successfully implement Organizational Change (my area of expertise) it is necessary to have the proper organizational design. I recommend this book in addition to my own.

Dr. Michael Beitler
Author of "Strategic Organizational Change"

Competing by design is a great source for for anybody who thinks about organizational design. After having read it, you will never consider "cocktail-napkin" designs again, and you will recognize when you see a design created that way. The book doesn't only explain the basic elements of design, but also the do's and dont's of a design project. The structure of the book is very well-conceived, and the level of detail is just right: Focus on the important steps, best practices and lessons, with enough backup examples, and without boring repetitions or lenghthy explanations. I'm not sure you will sleep better after having read the book, as the size of the design project becomes clear, but you will certainly have the tools to make the process a successful one.

Introduction In the book Discontinuous Change the authors use anecdotes of prestigious organizations to enhance the understanding of the theoretical and practical ideology concerning organizational change. The authors begin the text by identifying the precursors of organizational change. The precursors are shifts in industry structure, technological innovation, macroeconomic trends and crises, regulatory or legal changes, market and competitive forces and growth. The authors introduce the concept of sustained success as arrogant, insular, and complacent. By remaining in the sustained success idealism, the authors state that the organization will fall into the trap of success which tends to lead to an internal focus; the perception that knowledge, insight, and ideas are found inside the organization rather than outside. Throughout the text, the authors create a clear distinction between incremental and discontinuous change. The authors define incremental change as a continuous pattern of large and small changes that may impact the functioning enterprise in small or large increments. In contrast, discontinuous change is defined as a shocking impact that creates radical departure from the past. Using a variety of models, the authors give the reader a visual picture of the types of change that could occur in an organization. Portrayed in one of the models, the reader will identify the leadership as the "champions and gatekeepers" of the change. By setting the pace, the leaders identify the new corporate identity, the degree to which change needs to happen, the design and organization of the change plan and the interventions needed to keep the plan on course. The authors conclude with discussions concerning the different types of leaders that have been involved with organizational change throughout the years. The authors identified three types of leaders, heroic, instrumental and institutionalized. The authors concluded that the institutionalized leader would be more effective in directing the discontinuous change. Gut Reactions The authors believe that the organizational change should begin with the senior management, by analyzing their "point of view" relative to organizational strategy and policy level. In addition, they also focus on the behavioral dynamics of the organization, believing that the organization is a complex yet active system of human behavior. As practitioners, the authors give valuable insight for contemporary use in organizational change. Citing large organizations, such as, AT&T, Chrysler, and GE as examples, the authors state that the need for change in these organizations came from life-threatening business issues not just questions of organizational work life or corporate climate. In addition, the authors state that the issues that arose in the organizations were generated from external sources, such as, competition, new technology, deregulation, maturation of product sets, changes in ownership, shifts in fundamental market structure, or rapid growth opportunities. Further, the authors state that these changes altered the core of what the organizations represents to its customers and members, not just individual parts or subsystems. Based on the authors insights it has become clear that the days of effortless dominance of large organizations are history. Every organization needs to continue to develop and focus if they are to survive. The authors make it clear that change is inevitable, however, how that change is managed is the key to success. As individuals are resistant to change, so are organizations, however, the risk of an organization resisting change is much greater. The new environments demand that organizations develop speed, innovation, and flexibility, the very opposite of stability. Discontinuous change is a defined analysis of Schein's frame-breaking change in that it is more traumatic, painful and demanding on the organization than incremental change. Big Ideas The changed techniques used in the past are no longer sufficient to manage the complex transitions that are taking place in organizations today. Hence, the authors have determined that there is a need for further development of the old techniques, in order to manage the new types of transitions. Change has out grown the perception of being the exception it has now become the rule. With this perspective in mind, the authors' goal is to transform those things that are practice into theory. The authors are focused on proactive strategic responses to change, rather than, reactive. They offer propositions based on trial-and-error approaches. These propositions create the foundation for diagnoses of the readers current situation. With the understanding that not all leaders are capable of changing, the authors provide a framework to assist in assessing the ability of the current leadership. There are times when it becomes necessary for an organization to invoke change in an effort to avoid complacency. Implications In this era of intense organizational transitions, there is a need for every individual in the organization to adapt to change, beginning with the executives and management. This text speaks of long-term change that will continuously impact an organization over the period of its existence. The types of change needed in organizations are progressing towards frame-breaking, as opposed to historical cosmetic restructuring. Past techniques do not create the immediate turnaround needed to effect change. Therefore, just-in-time interventions are needed to create new behaviors immediately. However, the authors have conceded that often times tried-and-true techniques from decades ago are the most effective, but are often denounced because of the time sensitivity. The authors suggest that there are only two types of change, incremental and discontinuous. Those organizations that will be successful must create core capabilities that are not easily replicated by others. In order for discontinuous change to be effective, organizations must unlearn their old habits, orientations, assumptions, and routines.

Introduction In the book Discontinuous Change the authors use anecdotes of prestigious organizations to enhance the understanding of the theoretical and practical ideology concerning organizational change. The authors begin the text by identifying the precursors of organizational change. The precursors are shifts in industry structure, technological innovation, macroeconomic trends and crises, regulatory or legal changes, market and competitive forces and growth. The authors introduce the concept of sustained success as arrogant, insular, and complacent. By remaining in the sustained success idealism, the authors state that the organization will fall into the trap of success which tends to lead to an internal focus; the perception that knowledge, insight, and ideas are found inside the organization rather than outside. Throughout the text, the authors create a clear distinction between incremental and discontinuous change. The authors define incremental change as a continuous pattern of large and small changes that may impact the functioning enterprise in small or large increments. In contrast, discontinuous change is defined as a shocking impact that creates radical departure from the past. Using a variety of models, the authors give the reader a visual picture of the types of change that could occur in an organization. Portrayed in one of the models, the reader will identify the leadership as the "champions and gatekeepers" of the change. By setting the pace, the leaders identify the new corporate identity, the degree to which change needs to happen, the design and organization of the change plan and the interventions needed to keep the plan on course. The authors conclude with discussions concerning the different types of leaders that have been involved with organizational change throughout the years. The authors identified three types of leaders, heroic, instrumental and institutionalized. The authors concluded that the institutionalized leader would be more effective in directing the discontinuous change. Gut Reactions The authors believe that the organizational change should begin with the senior management, by analyzing their "point of view" relative to organizational strategy and policy level. In addition, they also focus on the behavioral dynamics of the organization, believing that the organization is a complex yet active system of human behavior. As practitioners, the authors give valuable insight for contemporary use in organizational change. Citing large organizations, such as, AT&T, Chrysler, and GE as examples, the authors state that the need for change in these organizations came from life-threatening business issues not just questions of organizational work life or corporate climate. In addition, the authors state that the issues that arose in the organizations were generated from external sources, such as, competition, new technology, deregulation, maturation of product sets, changes in ownership, shifts in fundamental market structure, or rapid growth opportunities. Further, the authors state that these changes altered the core of what the organizations represents to its customers and members, not just individual parts or subsystems. Based on the authors insights it has become clear that the days of effortless dominance of large organizations are history. Every organization needs to continue to develop and focus if they are to survive. The authors make it clear that change is inevitable, however, how that change is managed is the key to success. As individuals are resistant to change, so are organizations, however, the risk of an organization resisting change is much greater. The new environments demand that organizations develop speed, innovation, and flexibility, the very opposite of stability. Discontinuous change is a defined analysis of Schein's frame-breaking change in that it is more traumatic, painful and demanding on the organization than incremental change. Big Ideas The changed techniques used in the past are no longer sufficient to manage the complex transitions that are taking place in organizations today. Hence, the authors have determined that there is a need for further development of the old techniques, in order to manage the new types of transitions. Change has out grown the perception of being the exception it has now become the rule. With this perspective in mind, the authors' goal is to transform those things that are practice into theory. The authors are focused on proactive strategic responses to change, rather than, reactive. They offer propositions based on trial-and-error approaches. These propositions create the foundation for diagnoses of the readers current situation. With the understanding that not all leaders are capable of changing, the authors provide a framework to assist in assessing the ability of the current leadership. There are times when it becomes necessary for an organization to invoke change in an effort to avoid complacency. Implications In this era of intense organizational transitions, there is a need for every individual in the organization to adapt to change, beginning with the executives and management. This text speaks of long-term change that will continuously impact an organization over the period of its existence. The types of change needed in organizations are progressing towards frame-breaking, as opposed to historical cosmetic restructuring. Past techniques do not create the immediate turnaround needed to effect change. Therefore, just-in-time interventions are needed to create new behaviors immediately. However, the authors have conceded that often times tried-and-true techniques from decades ago are the most effective, but are often denounced because of the time sensitivity. The authors suggest that there are only two types of change, incremental and discontinuous. Those organizations that will be successful must create core capabilities that are not easily replicated by others. In order for discontinuous change to be effective, organizations must unlearn their old habits, orientations, assumptions, and routines.

One of the very best books read for my graduate degree. Nadler and Shaw point out that only those companies able to respond quickly and effectively to changing environmental conditions will survive in the coming decades. Successful firms must learn and act at a faster rate than their competition. Many leaders can affect some change in an organization-but it is normally short lived. But, to make change more long term and make that change take place at a faster rate-you must create destabilizing events in significant scope to get attention-and keep it! There are many take-aways in this book. If you want an outstanding "Leadership 101" book in 276 short pages-this is the one you want.

Buy this book if you are seriously into leading or coaching change in organizations. Borrow this book if you want to briefly observe another person's system for change management, and particularly if you want to see more details shared about the role of the CEO.

For me a key point made by the authors is that "this is not a book about leaders of change; this is a book about leadership and change. There's a huge difference." [page 7]

One of the things I learned from the book is that CEO's are called upon to be initiating leaders who provide appropriate and decisive leadership to their organizations during times of stability, change and transition, transformation, and crisis. However, their leadership is a key and not the key. Long-term successful CEO's know how to create and nurture a culture of leadership throughout their organizations.

Very quick service and book was also in good condition.

"Your first visit to a new company can be awfully confusing. From the outside you see the front of the headquarters building and the visitor's entrance-but not much more. Inside you see a maze of offices and work areas-but at first glance they don't seem to be arranged in any particular pattern. You see people rushing busily to and fro, but you have no idea what they're doing or what, if anything, they're actually accomplishing. If you're to have any chance of quickly making sense of what's going on-of how the company is organized and how it really operates-you need a mental template, a systemic way to observe and understand the organization. For executives and managers intent on leading change, that kind of template, or model, is essential. Without it you haven't a clue where to start...Throughout this book I'm going to be talking about organizational change in terms of a model my colleagues and I have developed and refined over the past two decades" (p.21).

In this context, David A. Nadler divides his book roughly into three sections. In the first section, he (1) overviews the forces that make change at once so inevitable and so difficult in modern organizations, (2) describes the pivotal role of top leadership, (3) describes the four basic types of organizational change, with a special emphasis on the most difficult of all-the Overhaul, or radical discontinuous change, (4) explores the inevitable resistance to change, and (5) offers some specific techniques for overcoming those barriers. In the second section, he (1) deals with the substantive tools and techniques that are required as the organization passes through the five stages of the change cycle, (2) describes in turn the issues that confront leaders as they go about changing each component of the organization. In the third section, he deals with the unique role of top managers in leading change.

In Chapter 4, he introduces five stages of discontinuous change:

1. Recognizing the change imperative: The easy description of this stage is simply that it answers the question, What's going wrong here? (for detailed discussion see Chapter 6)

2. Developing a shared direction: Providing clear direction for change and building coalition that will provide the support essential to the success of any radical change effort. (for detailed discussion see Chapter 7)

3. Implementing change: The core of the change process. (for detailed discussion see Chapters 8 to 11)

4. Consolidating change: Making change an integral part of the way the organization operates. (for detailed discussion see Chapter 12)

5. Sustaining change: The challenge of maintaining momentum, avoiding complacence, and searching for signs of the next wave of change. (for detailed discussion see Chapter 12)

On the other hand, in Chapter 5, he lists and discusses twelve action steps for overcoming resistance to change as follows:

1. Build the support of key power groups.

2. Use leader behavior to generate support.

3. Use symbols and language deliberately.

4. Define points of stability.

5. Create dissatisfaction with the current state.

6. Build participation in planning and implementing change.

7. Reward behavior in support of change.

8. Provide people time and opportunity to disengage from the old.

9. Develop and communicate a clear image of the future state.

10. Use multiple leverage points.

11. Develop transition management structures.

12. Collect and analyze feedback.

He argues that "the twelve action steps are not a recipe for transition management. They're a template to be overlaid on each organization and adjusted to its unique set of circumstances" (p.108).

Highly recommended.

This book made a sceptic more sceptical. Theory is okay but you really need more

This book isn't very useful or practical. I found that not much the authors discussed was really insightful and most of the discussion was common sense. I had no success using any of the authors techniques. I waited for months for Producing Hits to payoff and it never did. I had almost given up on the Web site when I found Increase Your Web Traffic. Following that book's instructions, I noticed tremendous gains in days

Although the book does cover some interesting stuff, there isn't a lot to work with. I got frustrated real quick.

For a different view point and a much better guide to getting your Web site noticed check out Increase Your Web Traffic in a Weekend. Talk about a book that has everything you need to bring in the masses...