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Innovate to survive

D. Murali

IN Age of innovation: Profit from the non-linear characteristics of innovation, Felix Janszen starts with the premise that successful enterprises will be those who harness the creative talent of every individual in a systematic way. The book p rovides a knowledge base for understanding the role and effect of the various types of non-linear mechanisms in the innovation process.

While talking about reputation, Janszen writes: ``Reputation is increasingly recognised as being a very important asset in certain industries -- even more important than specialist knowledge.''

Though many myopic organisations do not see it, a good reputation with investors can easily translate into a good rating, lower capital costs and, therefore, a higher shareholder value.

Doctors' finance

THE updated edition of Making sense of practice finance, edited by John Dean, is a standard text for young doctors entering general practice. ``They soon discover that they must acquire the administrative skills needed to run a small business with a subs tantial annual turnover,'' writes John Chisholm in the foreword. ``Without those skills, they will fail the patients they serve and the staff they employ; and they will fail to maximise their income.''

``The GP and his accountant'', and ``the GP and his solicitor'' give the doctor survival tips when facing the other professionals.

Well, here is some Q-A from the solicitor chapter:

Question: ``What have you got when a lawyer is buried up to his neck in the sand?''

Answer: ``Not enough sand.''

Question: ``Why do they bury lawyers 12 feet under?''

Answer: ``Because deep down they are good people.''

Systematic search

IN Research methods for business students, Mark Saunders, uses real-life case studies and writes with a student-centered approach, providing students with the necessary knowledge and skills to enable them to undertake a piece of business research. The re aders get to know how to make the best use of IT where appropriate.

What can be a good research topic? It should be ``something you are capable of undertaking and one that excites your imagination,'' says Saunders. ``At the personal level, you need to feel comfortable that you have, or can develop, the skills that will b e required to research the topic.''

However, let not imagination run riot, else you would end up with a work of fiction rather than a research paper.

Going to work

HOW does a company recognise achievement and loyalty among its employees? A pay rise, bonus or shares? Management consultants Kimberly Gram and Sue Glassock have outlined their own ideas in Workplace recognition: Methods, myths and magic.

The authors point out how the majority of us spend over one-half of our waking hours at work. ``Unfortunately, most of us undergo a personality change as soon as we arrive at work. Our job descriptions do not call for common sense, common courtesy, hones ty, sincerity, gratitude or being personable, so we abandon these personal attributes in the parking lot,'' they lament.

Now you know why the parking lots become full too soon!

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Tailpiece

``You know how I have built my collection of books...''

``Spending a lot of money, of course?''

``No, by borrowing books from others.''