Management Improvement Books - Where to Start
 | The Leader's Handbook: Making Things Happen, Getting Things Done by Peter Scholtes, 1997 In an age of increasing complexity, too many leaders resort to simplistic approaches. The Leader’s Handbook helps leaders understand complex systems and implement systemic improvement. More details |
| Lean Solutions: How Companies and Customers Can Create Value and Wealth Together by James Womack and Daniel Jones, 2005 Excellent new book by the creators of the term, lean manufacturing, in their groundbreaking book: The Machine That Changed the World. Lean Solutions is the ideal book to learn about applying the Toyota Production System ideas in all types of organizations. |  |
 | Fourth Generation Management by Brian Joiner, 1994. An excellent book for those who wish to begin the transformation to "Fourth Generation Management" and for the experienced as well. |
| Free, Perfect, and Now: Connecting to the Three Insatiable Customer Demands - A CEO's True Story by Robert Rodin and Curtis Hartman, 1999. A great look at how Marshall Industries applied Deming's ideas to improve their organization. A great place to start and get an overview of what is involved. Then use the Leader's Handbook and Fourth Generation Management for guidance on what to do as you proceed. |  |
All four books do an excellent job of presenting very important learning in an easy to read form. They have great value to those just learning about management improvement and experts alike.
- Creating the Corporate Future by Russell Ackoff, 1981.
Presents a participative systems approach to interactive planning. Describes how to formulate the system of problems and opportunities that face a corporation. Explains how to formulate goals, objectives and ideas, and how to select and evaluate the means by which they should be pursued.For Working with Teams - Team Handbook, 3rd Edition, 2003 by Peter Scholtes, Brian Joiner and Barbara Streibel
Second Edition, 1996.
Team Handbook First Edition, 1988.For Learning and Education - Orchestrating Learning With Quality by David Langford and Beverly Cleary, 1995.
Of course there are many more excellent books but these books provide an excellent start.