More than 11,000 business books are published every year—an overwhelming choice for busy professionals. Therefore, in partnership with getAbstract, Training brings you July’s top three business books recommended to our readers.
“The Decision Maker. Unlock the Potential of Everyone in Your Organization, One Decision at a Time” by Dennis Bakke (Pear Press, 2013, 224 Pages, ISBN: 978-0983263326; $6.93)
Entrepreneur Dennis Bakke co-founded energy giant AES, where he prioritized corporate responsibility and a deep concern for workers. Then he co-founded Imagine Schools, a nonprofit charter school network dedicated to applying the best learning models to each student’s unique needs. Here, Bakke explains that all employees have the ability to make important work decisions, and he champions the idea that companies should empower their staff members. Through the device of a modern-day corporate fable, Bakke explains a philosophy that celebrates the intrinsic worth of every individual. While this, like most business fables, requires some suspension of disbelief, getAbstract recommends it as an inspiring story of how to open up the decision-making process in your organization. Bakke explains why letting your employees decide is both smart business and the right thing to do.
Rating (out of 10): 8
Applicability: 8
Innovation: 7
Style: 8
“Disney U. How Disney University Develops the World’s Most Engaged, Loyal, and Customer-Centric Employees” by Doug Lipp (McGraw-Hill, 2013, 222 Pages, ISBN: 978-0071808071; $19.57)
Visitors to Disney theme parks frequently notice the seamless operations and friendly employees who put on “good show.” Although the charming outcome may appear effortless, staging good show and avoiding “bad show” at Disney resorts around the globe requires a lot of work. Over the years, the path to training employees in “friendliness, cleanliness, and safety” has required some updating and repaving—work Disney’s Human Resources team has embraced. Training and development consultant Doug Lipp provides an intriguing crash course in the Disney way of training and organizational management. The book is repetitive at times, and readers seeking a deeper look into Disney’s employee relations and the company’s ups and downs since 1955 will need to search elsewhere. Nevertheless, getAbstract recommends this understandable overview to HR professionals and supervisors seeking ways to train employees to be neater, cheerier, and more in tune with their corporate culture and their customers.
Rating (out of 10): 7
Applicability: 6
Innovation: 5
Style: 7
“Immersive Learning. Designing for Authentic Practice” by Koreen Olbrish Pagano (ASTD Publications, 2013, 216 Pages, ISBN: 978-1562868215; $29.66)
Corporate training systems often fail to improve performance. Educator Koreen Olbrish Pagano, author of the Learning in Tandem blog, says that’s because organizations have abandoned the one-on-one apprenticeship model—along with its emphasis on practice and feedback. True apprenticeship is impractical today, but you can recreate its best features with immersive learning in computerized virtual environments. Pagano details the design process for computer games, simulations, and other virtual worlds. This beginner’s guide avoids the technical nitty-gritty while offering a plethora of real-life examples. getAbstract recommends this excellent introduction to Human Resource managers, training specialists, game designers, and likely investors.
Rating (out of 10): 7
Applicability: 7
Innovation: 8
Style: 6
For five-page summaries of these and more than 10,000 other titles, visit http://www.getabstract.com/affiliate/trainingmagazine
