Great business leaders bring outstanding habits of mind and disciplined processes to developing and implementing solutions to complex problems, thereby driving extraordinary results no matter the obstacles or constraints they face. Solving complex problems rests on three equally interwoven dimensions: uncompromising values, clarity of thought, and tenacity in action. By learning to simplify complex problems by ask probing questions, develop pragmatic solutions or hypotheses, and lay the foundation for change throughout an organization, leaders can address the most staggering challenges. Bartkus and Conlons powerful message is that one can work through almost any problem in a calm and confident way. Borrowing insights from consulting, management, and academia, this book can help anyone – seasoned leaders, new managers, MBA students – improve their problem-solving skills. The authors split their problem solving framework into three themes: solving the problem; moving from analysis to action; and driving solutions through the organization. Combining theory and practice, they illustrate every aspect of the integrated framework with case studies and explore common obstacles like improper diagnosis of problems, understanding when solutions are good enough, and barriers to execution. What makes this book unique is that its model has formed the basis of Notre Dames business education, is the model taught at Mendoza College, and has been tested in corporate settings, as demonstrated by contributions from school president John Jenkins, former president Father Ted Hesburgh, head football coach Charlie Weis, and distinguished alumni like Keith Sherin, CFO of GE. Along the way, leading executives from GE, Google, McKinsey, HP, Baxter, Lilly and others narrate their own unique insights on the toughest problems they have faced.
Book Details:
- Author: Viva Bartkus
- ISBN: 9780470245880
- Year Published: 2008
- Pages: 304
- BISAC: BUS071000, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS/Leadership
About the Book and Topic:
Great business leaders bring outstanding habits of mind and disciplined processes to developing and implementing solutions to complex problems, thereby driving extraordinary results no matter the obstacles or constraints they face. Solving complex problems rests on three equally interwoven dimensions: uncompromising values, clarity of thought, and tenacity in action. By learning to simplify complex problems by ask probing questions, develop pragmatic solutions or hypotheses, and lay the foundation for change throughout an organization, leaders can address the most staggering challenges. Bartkus and Conlons powerful message is that one can work through almost any problem in a calm and confident way. Borrowing insights from consulting, management, and academia, this book can help anyone – seasoned leaders, new managers, MBA students – improve their problem-solving skills. The authors split their problem solving framework into three themes: solving the problem; moving from analysis to action; and driving solutions through the organization. Combining theory and practice, they illustrate every aspect of the integrated framework with case studies and explore common obstacles like improper diagnosis of problems, understanding when solutions are good enough, and barriers to execution. What makes this book unique is that its model has formed the basis of Notre Dames business education, is the model taught at Mendoza College, and has been tested in corporate settings, as demonstrated by contributions from school president John Jenkins, former president Father Ted Hesburgh, head football coach Charlie Weis, and distinguished alumni like Keith Sherin, CFO of GE. Along the way, leading executives from GE, Google, McKinsey, HP, Baxter, Lilly and others narrate their own unique insights on the toughest problems they have faced.
Most leadership books focus on leaders attributes and effective behavioral styles, how leaders came to have them, or how to produce a sense of shared purpose, empowerment, and persistent energy in an organization. They pay far less attention to solving both day-to-day and complex business problems. Normal business training emphasizes competence in individual functions, rather than how to integrate problem-related information from several disciplines. As a result, great business problem solvers are scarce; even rarer are great leaders who are also great at solving problems.
BASED ON CORE NOTRE DAME VALUES: (1) Uncompromising Value, (2) Clarity of Thought, (3) Tenacity in Action. FEATURED NOTRE DAME LEADERS: The book’s leadership lessons will be illustrated by contributions from well known members of the ND community, including COO of Google Shona Brown, CFO of GE Keith Sherin and CEO Jeff Immelt, CEO of Baxter Bob Parkinson, Former President Father Ted Hesburgh, Current President Father John Jenkins, Football Coach Charlie Weis, and Dean of Notre Dame Business School Carolyn Woo. *ND’s legal department has approved all university figures to endorse the book to the media. NOTRE DAME PUBLICITY AND MERCHANDISING: The University’s publicity department has signed on to market and promote the book, as they have with top selling books by or about Coach Charlie Weis and Father Ted Hesburgh. They will target influential ND alumni in business and the media, like Regis Philbin. The school has also committed to sell the book through its bookstores and hundreds of national outlets for ND memorabilia sales. ND bookstore events already confirmed to coincide with games on 9/6/08, 9/13/08, 9/27/08, 10/4/08, 11/1/08, 11/22/08. ONLINE PROMOTION: Authors will promote through ND’s connections with its loyal alumni base of over 100,000, including blasts to the alumni community email list. COMPREHENSIVE SPEAKING SCHEDULE: Both authors are experienced speakers and are pulling together an aggressive speaking schedule, leveraging Bartkus’ McKinsey client contacts, ND’s business contacts and hosted conferences and events, as well as Conlon’s contacts at the Academy of Management.
About the Author
Dr. Viva Bartkus is an Associate Professor of Management at the University of Notre Dame. Bartkus graduated summa cum laude from Yale with degrees in economics, then completed her doctorate and masters in international relations at Oxford as a Rhodes scholar. Prior to Notre Dame, Dr. Bartkus spent ten years at McKinsey & Company, and remains a partner of the firm. Dr. Ed Conlon joined Notre Dame in 1992, served as chair of the Management Department until 1998, and as Associate Dean for Graduate programs since 2003. He was previously chair of the Management and Organizations Department at the Univ. of Iowa, and has also served as faculty at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He served as Editor of The Academy of Management Review, and has conducted executive workshops with Maytag, Bally’s, John Deere, the U.S. Air Force, and other organizations.