Corporate community involvement : the definitive guide to maximizing your business' societal engagement

 by Lakin and Scheubel. Lakin and Scheubel, specialists in international corporate communication and corporate community involvement programs, present a comprehensive, practical guide to developing and implementing corporate community engagement programs. For neophytes or those actively engaged in community outreach, this book is an important reference and a useful resource. Eleven well-written chapters provide a step-by-step approach, emphasizing best practices, to creating a corporate culture that embraces community engagement and effective corporate citizenry. Topics include development of the right company involvement strategy; roles in, skills needed for, and responsibilities of community involvement; costs and budgetary implications of community engagement; integration of community engagement into business and organizational cultures; effective communication of community programs; and measurement and evaluation of engagement programs. The Corporate Community Involvement Web site complements the book with chapter synopses and a Conversation section, which allows users to interact with the authors or post comments to an open forum. Excellent illustrations and a series of interviews with representatives of global companies and community involvement professionals enhance the chapters. A glossary of relevant terms and an "Organizations for Corporate Responsibility and Corporate Community Involvement" list conclude the book. --Choice (Check catalog)

The orange revolution : how one great team can transform an entire organization

 by Gostick and Elton. Why doesn't every corporate leader actively listen to employees and to veteran consultants like Gostick and Elton (authors of the Carrot Principle books)? Though the answer to that question isn't the subject of this book, adopting the how-to's for realizing dreams could indeed provide the solution to staid, stagnant, and unrewarding work in America. As with most human resources type of business books, the authors present ideas in a many-stepped process, with principles to follow, often too many to remember. Yet if readers and executives just stick to their rule of three (wow, no surprises, and cheer), the rewards of an engaged workforce will probably ensue. Examples of great teams, believe it or not, proliferate here; in addition to the well-known cultures of a Zappos, for instance, there are also stories from Medical City Dallas Hospital, Pepsi Bottling Group, the Blue Angels, and Nash Finch, all about the power of teams to transform. And lest you think that the authors simply collected anecdotes, their philosophy is based on valid and overwhelming statistics, thanks to the Best Places to Work database (350,000 employees from 28 industries): 63 percent of workers surveyed found productivity to be positively affected when coworkers are friends outside of work (to cite just one finding). Take a letter to the C-suite: it's all about work that matters. --Booklist (Check Catalog)

Naked economics : undressing the dismal science

 by Charles Wheelan. Wheelan, a magazine and radio correspondent, offers ideas about economics in plain language without equations, jargon, and diagrams. He brings us the most powerful concepts in economics while simplifying the building blocks or not using them at all. Basic principles come alive in the author's explanation of individuals acting to make themselves as well off as possible (however that is defined) and the notion that firms try to make as much money as possible by deciding what to produce, how and where to produce it, how much to produce, and at what price. In a manner that is informative and understandable, Wheelan covers such topics as the power of markets, the role of government in the economy, productivity and human capital, the Federal Reserve, and trade and globalization. This is an excellent book, which, as Wheelan posits, "is not economics for dummies; it is economics for smart people who never studied economics (or have only a vague recollection of doing so)." --Choice (Check Catalog)

Poor economics : a radical rethinking of the way to fight global poverty

 by Abhijit V. Banerjee. Highly decorated economists Banerjee and Duflo (Economics/Massachusetts Institute of Technology) relay 15 years of research into a smart, engaging investigation of global poverty—and why we're failing to eliminate it. Aiming to change the stigma that revolves around poverty, the authors explore not just how many find themselves in economic quicksand, but why. They suggest that policymakers, economists and philanthropists alike fail to understand the unique problems that lead to poverty; as such, attempts to eradicate it are often misguided. The poor need more than food, the authors write; they need programs that empower them with a real, fighting chance. Through a blend of on-the-ground observations, social experiments and psychological analysis, Banerjee and Duflo showcase an expansive understanding of poverty's traps and its potential solutions. They extol the virtues of such practices as microsaving and microfinance, which cut out debilitating interest rates and predatory moneylenders. But even these solutions aren't without their issues, including lack of trust in the lender and an unwillingness to take risk. The authors advocate for increased access to family planning, as family size is often a leading cause for why many are saddled with financial burden. They also investigate why many forego free or low-cost medical care or education. A refreshingly clear, well-structured argument against the standard approach to poverty, this book, while intended for academics and those working on the ground, should provide an essential wake-up call for any reader. --Kirkus (Check Catalog)

The India way : how India's top business leaders are revolutionizing management

 by Cappelli, Singh, Singh, and Useem. In this well-written book, Cappelli and his coauthors (all Wharton School business management professors) provide strong documentation, based on interviews with more than 100 business executives, for their claim that business management practices in India differ significantly from those in the West, especially the US. They report that Indian companies deemphasize shareholders and quarterly profits and describe and analyze special management practices of Indian businesses with respect to human resources and social responsibility. They discuss the "five pillars" that characterize Indian firms and drive competitive advantages, which focus on values and vision, resilience and adaptability, holistic engagement with employees, the creation of strong value, and the creation of culture. Three appendixes present economic growth statistics, interview and survey methods and details, and information on India's cultural roots and consequences. Given India's position as one of the fastest growing economies, this is a valuable book for business professionals interested in doing business in India and a useful resource for academics studying Indian business practices or international business more broadly. Includes chapter notes. --Choice (Check catalog)