Strategy

A Sense of Urgency by John P. Kotter
Most organizational change initiatives fail spectacularly (at worst) or deliver lukewarm results (at best). In his international bestseller Leading Change, John Kotter revealed why change is so hard, and provided an actionable, eight-step process for implementing successful transformations. The book became the change bible for managers worldwide. In a Sense of Urgency, Kotter shines the spotlight on crucial first step in his framework: creating a sense of urgency by getting people to actually see and feel the need for change. This concise and authoritative guide help you set the stage for leading a successful transformation in your organization.

Bank 3.0: Why Banking Is No Longer Somewhere You Go But Something You Do by Brett King
The first edition of BANK 2.0—#1 on Amazon’s bestseller list for banking and finance in the US, UK, Germany, France, and Japan for over 18 months—took the financial world by storm and became synonymous with disruptive customer behavior, technology shift, and new banking models.In BANK 3.0, Brett King brings the story up to date with the latest trends redefining financial services and payments—from the global scramble for dominance of the mobile wallet and the expectations created by tablet computing to the operationalising of the cloud, the explosion of social media, and the rise of the de-banked consumer, who doesn’t need a bank at all. BANK 3.0 shows that the gap between customers and financial services players is rapidly widening, leaving massive opportunities for new, non-bank competitors to totally disrupt the industry.

Competing for the Future by Gary Hamel and C. K. Prahalad
New competitive realities have ruptured industry boundaries, overthrown much of standard management practice, and rendered conventional models of strategy and growth obsolete. In their stead have come the powerful ideas and methodologies of Gary Hamel and C.K. Prahalad, whose much-revered thinking has already engendered a new language of strategy. In this book, they develop a coherent model for how today’s executives can identify and accomplish no less than heroic goals in tomorrow’s marketplace. Their masterful blueprint addresses how executives can ease the tension between competing today and clearing a path toward leadership in the future.

Good to Great and the Social Sectors: A Monograph to Accompany Good to Great by Jim Collins
In his monograph, Collins explains the subtle (but seismic) concepts of good to great for the social sector. He contributes clear thinking on numerous issues that will be very familiar to social sector leaders, including how to measure success in non-dollar metrics, how to recruit and motivate a passionate (and poorly-paid or unpaid) staff, how to think differently about “restricted funds” and how to transcend systemic/external problems. Collins predicts a dramatic reversal – that one day non-profit leaders, who have mastered legislative leadership, will be wooed away to lead for-profit businesses. Also, he says that the true difference is not between for-profit vs. nonprofit, but good vs. great – regardless of organization type.

Leading Change, With a New Preface by the Author by John P. Kotter
Millions worldwide have read and embraced John Kotter’s ideas on change management and leadership. From the ill-fated dot-com bubble to unprecedented M&A activity to scandal, greed, and ultimately, recession—we’ve learned that widespread and difficult change is no longer the exception. It’s the rule. Now with a new preface, this refreshed edition of the global bestseller Leading Change is more relevant than ever.

John Kotter’s now-legendary eight-step process for managing change with positive results has become the foundation for leaders and organizations across the globe. By outlining the process every organization must go through to achieve its goals, and by identifying where and how even top performers derail during the change process, Kotter provides a practical resource for leaders and managers charged with making change initiatives work.

Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change by William Bridges and Susan Bridges
From the most trusted voice on transition, this is a thoroughly updated and expanded edition of the classic guide to dealing with the human side of organizational change. Directed at managers and employees alike in today’s business world where constant change is the norm and mergers, redundancy, bankruptcy and restructuring have become common phenomena, this work addresses the fact that it is people that have to embrace a new situation and carry out the corresponding changes. This is an expanded and revised third edition with new introduction and afterword.

Start with NO…The Negotiating Tools that the Pros Don’t Want You to Know by Jim Camp
Jim Camp, the world’s #1 negotiating coach, shows how to release the emotional pressure that’s part of any negotiation by using his proven system of safe, decision-based negotiation that enables you to meet all your objectives without needless, wasted compromises or giveaways. We live in a compromise- and assumption-based world, but Jim Camp flips conventional wisdom on its head and in the process makes you a more effective negotiator with clients, customers, spouses, kids, neighbors, and coworkers. Through Camp’s system you’ll find that “no” is just the start of the negotiation, not the end of it. With it, you’ll get everything you want and you’ll build solid relationships with those you negotiate with.

Sustaining Nonprofit Performance: The Case for Capacity Building and the Evidence to Support It by Paul Charles Light
Paul Light, renowned expert on public service and nonprofit management, strongly argues for capacity-building measures as a way to sustain and improve the efforts of the nonprofit sector. With innovative data and insightful analysis, he demonstrates how nonprofits that invest in technology, training, and strategic planning can successfully advance their goals and restore public faith in their mission and capabilities. He explains the ways in which restoration of that faith is critical to the survival of nonprofits – another important reason for improving and then sustaining performance. Organizations that invest adequately in their infrastructure and long-term planning are the ones that will survive and continue to serve.

The Nonprofit Strategy Revolution: Real-Time Strategic Planning in a Rapid-Response World by David La Piana
In this groundbreaking book, strategy expert David La Piana introduces “Real-Time Strategic Planning,” a fluid, organic process that engages staff and board in a program of systematic readiness and continuous responsiveness. With it, your nonprofit will be able to identify, understand, and act on challenges and opportunities as they arise. At the heart of this practical book is the Real-Time Strategic Planning Cycle. Based on four years of research and testing with a variety of nonprofits, this proven process guides you through the steps to sound strategy.

The Resilient Sector Revisited: The New Challenge to Nonprofit America by Lester M. Salamon
The Resilient Sector Revisited updates the state of health of America’s nonprofit organizations that Lester Salamon recently completed as part of the “state of nonprofit America” project undertook in cooperation with the Aspen Institute. Contrary to popular understanding, Salamon argues, America’s nonprofit organizations have shown remarkable resilience in recent years in the face of a variety of difficult challenges, significantly re-engineering themselves in the process. But this very resilience now poses risks for the sector’s continued ability to perform the tasks that we have long expected of it.

Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes, Revised 25th Anniversary Edition by William Bridges
Transitions has helped hundreds of thousands of readers to cope with changes by providing a road map of the transition process. With the understanding born of experience, William Bridges takes us step by step through the stages of transition.

Why Nonprofits Fail: Overcoming Founder’s Syndrome, Fundphobia and Other Obstacles to Success by Stephen R. Block
In Why Nonprofits Fail, Stephen Block explains that many well-intentioned leaders hold on to views of their nonprofit organizations that perpetuate problems rather than help fix them. According to Block, the first step to success is to challenge one’s own personal paradigms and ideas and be open to unique and alternative approaches to solving problems. This much-needed book helps nonprofits get back on track and offers advice about the seven most common stumbling blocks, including: founder’s syndrome, fundphobia, financial misfortune, Recruitment disorientation, cultural depression in nonprofit organizations, self-serving political performance and role confusion between the board and executive director.