David McCoy

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David W. McCoy
Managing VP
15 years at Gartner
29 years IT industry

David W. McCoy is a managing vice president and Gartner Fellow emeritus. He currently leads the Business Process Management group as team manager and researches business process management (BPM), business rule management (BRM) and cost optimization. Read Full Bio

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The Ultimate Management Theory Book?

by David McCoy  |  August 12, 2011  |  7 Comments

I’ve not been a fan of management theory books. I have my reasons, and you probably know that from my posts in 2008. Too many of the books on the shelf are temporal ramblings from someone who has done something noteworthy and been approached by a publisher. Many are little more than comic books for adults. Every now and then, a Peter Drucker-class book comes along.

I’d like to get your take on the one (1) book that you would take to Mars, if you were being assigned as the new head of Martian commerce. If Mars is too far, then make it Albania. If you could select and read just one management theory book, which would it be? Personally, I’m still looking for the all-encompassing book, but I’ve yet to find a one called, “Stop Blinking and Move my Cheese so my Elephant can Dance like his Olive Tree is on Fire!” Until that fateful day in publishing history, what would you recommend, other than therapy?

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7 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Richard Welke   August 12, 2011 at 7:10 pm

    The title you propose is a bit long, but the thinking it embraces seems apropos for a Martian trip. When can we expect to see it as a Kindle edition on Amazon?

  • 2 Procesje   August 15, 2011 at 5:14 am

    I would say the only useful book will be “Albanian for Beginners”.

  • 3 David McCoy   August 15, 2011 at 10:52 am

    Procesje – If we open this to books in general, then one entitled, “How to avoid being transferred to Albania,” comes in at an even higher rank. I’m asking strictly about management theory books.

  • 4 Jeff Dotseth   August 15, 2011 at 6:26 pm

    The Goal – Eliyahu M. Goldratt – not all encompassing but accessible Theory of Constraints for growth and improvement.

  • 5 Albert   August 18, 2011 at 9:29 am

    Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us – Dan Pink

    Not exactly a management book more an insight into why people do what they do.

  • 6 Zawacki   September 1, 2011 at 1:01 am

    @Albert

    Here’s a TED talk by Pink. Sorry to get off subject!

    http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation.html

  • 7 Pierre Neis   September 1, 2011 at 7:13 am

    Maverick by Ricardo Semler

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