Business Problem Solving

Every successful business endeavour is born of a unique and innovative idea, and that in turn was born from the creative thinking of the people behind it. Then why is it the case that so many executives, founders and managers fail to actively develop and apply their creativity? The Creativity Factor clarifies how creativity is a key ingredient of effective leadership, before highlighting the strategies and approaches through which you can actively develop and cultivate your creative capabilities.

Countless tools and frameworks claim to make decisions objective and bias-free. But in reality, the defining decisions that leaders face are complex ones with subjective information sources and conflicting courses of action. That's why the toughest choices are left to the leaders, and that's why formulas won't answer them. In Difficult Decisions: How Leaders Make the Right Call with Insight, Integrity, and Empathy, leadership expert Eric Pliner delivers a set of practical tools for listeners to make sense of these complex, subjective decisions quickly and with integrity.

There are different kinds of difficult people, and what you'll learn first in this audiobook is to recognize them for who they are. You won't be able to cure them, they would have to go into therapy most of the time to become better versions of themselves. But you'll also find your weapons to overcome the obstacles these aggressive, negative, or just silent people erect on your path. Working in stages to assess the situation and the profile of the difficult people you face, you'll be able to shield yourself and turn their shortcomings into an opportunity for both of you.

Authored by renowned leadership, Agile, and project management trainer and coach Phill Akinwale, PMP, this book serves as a seminal guide to mastering the DIGCIV model—a comprehensive framework for decision-making in the modern digital landscape. DIGCIV: A Model for Problem Solving, Critical Thinking & Creativity is an indispensable resource for anyone looking to refine their decision-making processes in a world dominated by information overload.

“What would Jeff do?” Since leaving Amazon to advise start-ups and corporations, John Rossman has been asked this question countless times by executives who want to know “the secret” behind Amazon’s historic success. In this step-by-step guide, he provides 50½ answers drawn from his experience as an Amazon executive - and shows today’s business leaders how to think like Amazon, strategize like Bezos, and beat the competition like nobody’s business.

Think of your to-do list at work. Chances are the most important tasks require you to work with others - and the success of those endeavors depends on the effectiveness of your collaboration. According to management expert Leigh Thompson, collaboration that is conscious, planned, and focused on generating new ideas builds excitement and produces what she calls a "creative conspiracy". Teams that conspire to organize themselves, motivate one another, and combine their talents to meet creative challenges are the hallmark of the most successful organizations.

Most people hate and fear uncertainty. It causes such stress and anxiety that we often choose certain surrender over doubt, becoming passive, dependent, addicted—and more anxious than ever. Doubling down on the certainties promised by technology and micro-management only makes things worse, leaving no opportunity for innovation, adaptation or invention. Artists live with uncertainty constantly—but instead of waiting for the future, they run towards making it, with agency and freedom. What can we learn from them, about facing into a future that grows more uncertain daily?

“Ah problems, why must you annoyingly occur in my life? Can’t I just avoid you?” Unless you’re perfect (which, newsflash, nobody is)...problems are inevitable and should be expected. Let that sink in for a few seconds.

¿Por qué algunas personas son brillantes tomando decisiones y otras son torpes una y otra vez? ¿Por qué algunos siguen su instinto y triunfan, mientras que otros acaban siempre dando un paso en falso? En este libro revolucionario, el periodista estadounidense Malcolm Gladwell nos explica cómo pensamos sin pensar, de dónde proceden las decisiones que parece que tomamos en dos segundos, pero que no son tan simples como aparentan.

Dan Foxx has spent more than 50,000 hours face-to-face with over 4,500 top execs from America’s finest companies, from high-flying high techs to promising start-ups. With pressure from boards of directors and investors to deliver dollars and high-ticket IPOs and with expectations from direct reports to make the savvy decisions, these CEOs bare all behind closed doors when their leadership chops are on the line.

Costumamos acreditar que trajetórias excepcionais, como a dos gênios que revolucionam o mundo dos negócios, das artes, das ciências e dos esportes, devem-se unicamente ao talento. Mas neste livro você verá que o universo das personalidades brilhantes esconde uma lógica muito mais fascinante e complexa do que aparenta.

What if you could walk into any room, any meeting, any high-stakes moment—and think with absolute clarity? Think Smarter, Lead Better is your blueprint for doing exactly that. In a world filled with noise, pressure, and uncertainty, this audiobook shows you how to cut through the mental fog, sidestep costly thinking errors, and lead with confidence—even when the heat is on. You’ll discover why smart people still make bad decisions, how your brain tricks you under stress, and most importantly—how to outsmart those traps with practical tools that work in real life.

Are you trying to start a business, and not sure how to write a business plan? This audiobook will teach you how to create a winning business plan! So what are you waiting for? Get this audiobook now, and start creating a great business plan for your business today.

How much information is too much? Do we need to know how many calories are in the giant vat of popcorn that we bought at the movie theater? Do we want to know if we are genetically predisposed to a certain disease? Can we do anything useful with next week's weather forecast for Paris if we are not in Paris? In Too Much Information, Cass Sunstein examines the effects of information on our lives. Policymakers emphasize "the right to know", but Sunstein takes a different perspective, arguing that the focus should be on human well-being and what information contributes to it.

The language of business. In order to understand how your business is performing right now and to evaluate, assess, and devise new strategies to boost future performance, you need information. Financial statements are a critical source of the information you need. In direct and simple terms, Richard A. Lambert, Miller-Sherrerd Professor of Accounting at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, demystifies financial statements and concepts and shows you how you can apply this information to make better business decisions for long-term profit.

Should one enter a market where someone is in a monopoly position? When is going to the ER a good or a bad decision? Why is it never a good idea for rebels to concede? Practice Game Theory answers all these questions. Think about and solve problems more effectively applying strategic games models to real-life challenges. Learn how top world leaders analyze and assess their next best moves.

This elegant method prompts listeners to engage with three deceptively simple questions: What? So what? Now what? The first leads to careful observation. The second invites you to thoughtfully consider options and implications. The third ignites effective action. Together, these questions, and the tools that support them, produce a dynamic and creative dance with uncertainty.

The world is changing fast. Are you ready for what's next? Technical skills alone won't keep you ahead anymore. Creativity has now become the dividing line between those who will lead the future and those who will be automated out of it. This book shows you how to build the creative abilities AI can't touch: finding problems worth solving, linking ideas in new ways, and infusing work with meaning that only humans understand. These aren't vague ideas - they're real skills you can start building today.

A practical guide to outguessing everything from multiple-choice tests to the office football pool to the stock market. People are predictable even when they try not to be. William Poundstone demonstrates how to turn this fact to personal advantage in scores of everyday situations, from playing the lottery to buying a home. Rock Breaks Scissors is mind-reading for real life.

Are you a good boss - or a great one? Get more of the management ideas you want, from the authors you trust, with HBR's 10 Must Reads on Managing People (Vol. 2). We've combed through hundreds of Harvard Business Review articles and selected the most important ones to help you master the innumerable challenges of being a manager.