January 2014
BUSINESS JOURNAL • PAGE 25
MANAGER’S MANAGER’S BOOKSHELF BOOKSHELF “True Alignment: Linking Company Culture with Customer Needs for Extraordinary Results,” By Edgar Papke, AMACOM, New York, New York; 2014; 224 pages; $29.95. The concept of alignment in a business or organizational sense means working together to achieve a common goal. It doesn’t mean that everyone has to perform the same tasks, a rare situation in large or very small businesses. It does mean that everyone ought to have the same goals such as satisfying customers or reaching a consensus on the way individual teams should work together. The goal of author Edgar Papke is to offer readers concepts of how and why alignments are essential. More than that, he introduces readers to other key elements including one he has tagged Business Code, which he explains this way: “Most leaders, teams, and companies struggle with alignment because, until now, they lacked an effective and easy-toapply framework and approach. As a result, they tackle individual aspects of business—such as vision, strategy, processes and systems, and culture— without aligning them. The following chapters will introduce you to the Business Code, a framework for alignment that can be applied to any organization or team, regardless of its size. It will show leaders and their companies how to confront and overcome the challenges of misalignment. The code also provides the tools needed to create strategies and initiatives and take actions that result in the alignment required to compete and achieve high levels of performance.” Papke goes on to explain the four elements of the “Business Code:” “The Business Code starts
simply, letting us discover the customer, brand intention, culture, and leadership…. The framework provides a measurable and observable means of articulating and aligning a company culture to customer expectations. This particular alignment presents a significant challenge. For most leaders, their organization or team’s culture is defined through values and beliefs, and then further interpreted by the individual in meeting this challenge, the Business Code provides a comprehensive lens through which to view the patterns of behavior by which culture can be intentionally led. It provides a systemic approach to aligning internal behavior—how a company or team’s members engage each other—to external behavior—how they engage the customer.” The third chapter is one of the stronger segments of the book. That’s probably because it focuses on customers. It’s more easily readable than the first two chapters and some of the following chapters. Here’s an example: “What separates market leaders from their competitors? What makes your product or different from the rest? Although a number of factors are important, the one that matters most is the answer to, Why is the customer spending money with us rather than with our competitors?” The author goes on to make a very important point, noting: “It is the difference between those companies that become market leaders and those that struggle to get and sustain customer attention. Whether competing in a small local market or
on a global stage, such clarity and relentless pursuit of customers results in successful brand identities…. Brand clarity and what it represents to customers are key to any business success. However, this is where companies often fall short and is the core reason why customers are not attracted to a particular product or service.” Even though there are intriguing points made by author Papke early during the book, some of the most interesting and strongest portions fol-
low chapter four. It’s these latter chapters of the book that bring the strongest value to readers. The clarity of the author’s language here lets the language jump off the page and truly involves the reader. Some of the early ideas in the book may be old and just a bit tired, but for the most part, “True Alignment” offers a different look at some innovative ideas. —Henry Holtzman
Best-selling Business Books Here are the current top 10 best-selling books for business. The list is compiled based on information received from retail bookstores throughout the U.S.A. 1. “Strengths Finder 2.0,” by Tom Rath (Gallup Press…$24.95)(1)* Spend less time fixing shortcomings, more time gaining strength. 2. “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead,” by Sheryl Sandberg (Knopf Doubleday Publishing…$24.95)(2) Why women’s progress achieving leadership roles has stalled. 3. “The Three Signs of a Miserable Job: A Fable for Managers and Their Employees,” by Patrick Lencioni (John Wiley & Sons…$38.14)(7) Originally published in 2007, the book has become very popular. 4. “Doing More with Teams: The New Way to Winning,” by Bruce Piasecki (John Wiley & Sons…$25.00)(3) Why and how teams offer greater flexibility when used properly. 5. “The Value of Debt: How to Manage Both Sides of a Balance Sheet,” by Tom Anderson (John Wiley & Sons…$40.00)(4) How to apply corporate financial techniques to individuals. 6. “Smart Tribes: How Teams Become Brilliant Together,” by Christine Comaford (Portfolio Hardcover…$26.95)(5) How top managers keep their teams involved and moving forward. 7. “The Map and the Territory: Risk, Human Nature, and the Future of Forecasting,” by Alan Greenspan (Penguin Group…$36.00)(6) Former head of the Federal Reserve Board has much to say. 8. “The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business,” by Charles Duhigg (Random House Publishing…$16.18)(7) A new view of human nature and our ability to change. 9. “The New Digital Age: Reshaping the Future of People, Nations and Business,” by Eric Schmidt & Jared Cohen (Alfred A. Knopf…$26.95)(9) Two of Google’s leaders offer their view of the future. 10. “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change,” by Stephen R. Covey (Free Press…$15.95)(10) How to become more effective in your business and personal life. ______________________________________________________ * -- Indicates a book’s previous position on the list. ** -- Indicates a book’s first appearance on the list. *** -- Indicates a book’s reappearance on the list.