Narration Ruins Excellent Book

This offering is a great example of the axiom that authors are rarely good narrator/readers of their own work. Gary Hamel is a insightful management thinker, and his books are always worth reading. Unfortunately, this audio book is barely worth listening to. The content is excellent (worth 5 stars, although it echoes 2002's "Leading the Revolution"), but Mr. Hamel's reading is awful. It's full of mispronunciations and atrocious diction (bleeve?). This is one of those rare instances where I have to recommend that you buy the book rather the audiobook. Hamel's words on the page have a much greater impact than his words on your iPod.

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5 people found this helpful

Extremely Helpful

A Fascinating look at how management is changing. I found this audio to be a great listen and extremely useful for its specific suggestions and challenges to be innovative.

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5 people found this helpful

Not my bag

I had high hopes for this book, but it reads like the author had a thesaurus by his side and the narrator would have been more bearable had he used his best "Charles Emerson Winchester III" impression. At least that would have made it more entertaining. Seriously dry and overladen with fast-talking multiple adjectives and overused rhetorical buzzwords, management has never been this dull.

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5 people found this helpful

The Future of Management

Great book, awful narrator (dry, boring)

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3 people found this helpful

More inspirational than instructional

Discussing how Whole Foods, Google and Gore are leading the management revolution was very inspirational. Hamel discusses in detail how these companies engage in what may seem unorthodox to traditional minded corporate folk. The book makes you think, how can I bring about management innovation at my company, and that's the idea behind the book. In this way the book delivers perfectly. However inspiration doesn't always translate into action. For the listener its difficult to put the lessons learned from this book into action. This book would serve an executive well, someone who has the authority and the ability to affect change at a governance level. If you're a mid level manager who is disillusioned with your company's management style and structure, you'll only be inspired to go work for Whole Foods, Google, or Gore.
I liked the book and anyone who is inspired by it will incorporate some of its principles when they go on to become executives. I enjoyed it.

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2 people found this helpful

Great

Very good read for anyone looking for fresh perspective on management. Came away with lots to think about.

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Post-Industrial Management

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, the premise of the book outlines the possibility for a new age of innovation in management. If you've previously read books like "Drive", this book will give you more of the background on where management (and the predominant "management style") come from historically, and philosophically.

What other book might you compare The Future of Management to and why?

It definitely shares some insight with Daniel Pink's "Drive".

Which character – as performed by Gary Hamel – was your favorite?

This question doesn't really fit the material of this non-fiction book.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I enjoyed listening to this book in short sections.

Any additional comments?

Don't come to this book thinking it will give you answers- it discusses history and trends more than outlining a completely new management approach. Also, some of the examples in the book are becoming trite across the management community. Even so, I really enjoyed listening to this book!

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Diferente ideas

New and fresh ideas. It motivates to use and develop a different kind of management however it doesn't provide any solution. Difficult to implement, only if you are the owner of the company. Due a new management structure would affect the whole organization.

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Thought Provoking

This is a thought provoking book. It was a great challenge to work toward innovative management.

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the world of work is changing for the better

Would you listen to The Future of Management again? Why?

yes - already listened to it twice

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Future of Management?

Whole Foods, Gore Associates, Google

What three words best describe Gary Hamel’s performance?

It's the author. There's something nice about hearing from the author. But he's not an excellent reader.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Hamel's encouragement to give management innovation a try, even though the road is uncertain, is excellent. His work is inspirational and gives plenty of educational content for getting started. I expected to only want to listen to the 3 main company profiles but the entire content was captivating.

Any additional comments?

Excellent excellent.

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