The best business books for training in the summer
Even at the height of the Web, the texts are effective change management practices and implement innovations. But it is difficult to find a compass in the new festival. The vision and advice for authors, publishers, booksellers, and entrepreneurs.
Hidden behind wealthy parents, and others brought cheese consumption volumes quickly and neglect guaranteed business books are valuable for business people. The question is finding the above, without drowning in the sea of fads and gurus.
Among the many inhabitants of the “business book world,” the editor is a vital player (though invisible, to paraphrase The Little Prince). Because its function of bringing supply and demand, interpret trends and build a consistent catalog, you can mark-and form-to entire generations of authors, booksellers and readers.
Jorge Scarfi has embodied this figure by more than 30 years, ever since its inception very close to the business genre. After a pause in the 90-years when he chose to publish fiction authors, decided to return to the roots after the crisis of 2001, with the editorial topics.
The publisher is not sure, but speaking of trends rather than titles. Scarfi interpreted, since the collapse of Wall Street, in 2008, is a paradigm shift and, therefore, required reading: “What was known as ‘good management’, which favors only the cost / benefit analysis and forget the human and environmental consequences, was in crisis after the last crack. ” Explain that today, more than the tools, prioritize ends: “The economy must serve people, not the reverse, as Amartya Sen puts it.” The editor refers to the Indian Nobel Laureate in Economics 1998, co-authored with Argentine Bernardo Kliksberg first book-people.
According Scarfi, this change will impact full value in the formation of new entrepreneurs and managers: “This is a new way of thinking itself. It is no longer complete a master’s degree in business only to make money, but to generate virtuous circles of balance between what we think, what is said and what is done. Because the fall of financial giants also shows that behind this model of speculation, there was a sustainable project. “
Another star of this invisible activity is Granica Ariel, head of the company that bears his name, founded by his father in the early 70′s. With 30 new and 50 reprints per year, must deal with the dilemma of plenty: come to the press only two out of 10 proposals offered. When you say a positive vote? When the work makes a contribution to what Doubleday called the “management of the periphery, because many concepts born in the core countries are not applicable in our countries.” A second condition is to be useful in other markets, although printed in Argentina, exports 40% of the volumes.
The editor admits biting lips more than once, when you answer “No” to proposals that could match bestsellers like Kiyosaki and others. But he prefers to be consistent and not a best seller fleeting. “If our reader is leading an organization, we can not offer something like, ‘Buy me this book and Forget’. The book is best for us is that still being sold, not the novelty that then left behind. ” From author to reader Another centerpiece of the “free product” is, of course, the author. In this case, unlike the editor, who writes often carry much weight in the decision to purchase. One case is that of Martha Alles: author of more than 30 books, production started in the mid 90′s, from his activity in Human Resources. But he would not sacrifice his first work for developing the other, because it does not bring conflict, are fed. “In my case, I run a consulting company in human capital, as I write my books, and that prevents me isolate myself in a glass box,” he explains.
The author developed his production in three areas (Personnel Management, Human Resources and Leadership), and in all respects publications a method that could be a good ABC for a reader without a compass (or even a new author). First, Alles always exposes what others say on the matter. Then, cross-references with their own books to expand the thematic framework. Third, includes a glossary, in order to clarify questions and definitions. Finally, do not forget to add application tools, so to turn the book into something useful immediately. The place of book retail If it is, few glances are more relevant than that of Ernesto Skidelsky, son of the creator of the Yenny chain and today in front of the library Chapter Two in the Galerias Pacifico. Also has a background in Management and is a demanding reader of books of this genre.
On the one hand, the bookseller reveals the cyclical side of the business: this category of texts “goes hand in hand with economic growth. At the outset of the crisis, companies cut training, and it shows in the sale of books, “he explains. Another data point to the specialization of buyers: “Today readers see it as a title unserious type All marketing responses in 15 minutes. Require a more specific approach, and abundant demand for books for small businesses. It is common to come to find a manual to start beekeeping, for example, or other businesses very narrow. “
For the location of Pacific Galleries in the heart of the city of Buenos Aires, Skidelsky explains that their audience is different from general bookstores. “They look for specific things: a public that tends to look on the shelves in the tables.” This is an eternal dilemma for retailers: the “tables” showcase the latest, supported by effective marketing and more fleeting. The “shelves”, however, contain the greatest works of encouragement, those who wants to maintain a bookseller in stock, waiting for the most demanding buyer (and probably more accurate). Regarding the business fabric weight in the total sales of its library, the employer asserts that never exceeds 8 or 9% of total turnover, although there bestsellers include fashion, “which is another thing, books of business. ” Reader is final piece of the puzzle is, of course, the reader. Here the stories diverge as much as there are readers, because the variety ranges from students from different races to self-made entrepreneurs-men, urged on by the daily demand. An example of this is Fernando Bergman, head of Sintorgan, family unapyme solvent manufacturer, founded by his father in 1960. Pharmaceutical industry supplier, with 15 employees, industry-who has suffered the vagaries non-Argentines: “We were wrong with Martinez de Hoz and 90 years, well since 2003,” he summarizes.
With just over 20 years of age, without his father, Bergman began to manage the firm in 1984. In parallel was learning about business management for non-formal ways, through courses and seminars. For readings, recalls, “an external consultant, which was a kind of tutor, I was approaching some books. I remember among its recommendations: In Search of Excellence by Tom Peters and Small is beautiful Ernst Schumacher. Later I found myself texts and articles that interested me. ” The search was not random: his focus was customer care, a topic you are passionate.
The employer argues that the main thing in choosing a book, is clarity of concepts. Refers his example: some years ago found by chance Listen, I’m your client, a text of the mid-90 written by Ron Willingham, and adopted it as her bedside book. “I give it to each new employee to read because it is a good summary of what I myself think about the issue.” But he warns: there is no “universal book” that will be helpful to everyone in every context and market. “Try to get two or three good ideas to apply in day to day,” he concludes.