Lean Organisations Need FAT People (third edition) [Paperback]

Bay Jordan (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1905430582 | ISBN-13: 978-1905430581 | Publication Date: May 11, 2009 | Edition: 3

Ever wonder why businesses fail? Perhaps it is because most businesses do not take into account a company's biggest and potentially greatest return on investment - the people.When it comes to bottom line figures, and actions called for to trim the expe

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

When I first wrote this book it was simply intended to be a thought-provoking treatise to make the case that if organisational leaders persisted in referring to their people as their greatest asset then they needed to stop being hypocritical about it and actually account for them as such. When I wrote it, I was unaware that this was something that had been mooted by no less a luminary than Peter Drucker some 40 years ago. Thus, in blissful ignorance of earlier attempts to find the 'holy grail' of how to value people as assets, I decided that it was no good promoting the idea without promoting how to do it and set out to figure out just that. I am happy to report that I am confident I have succeeded and in this third edition I have illustrated what this would look like. I hope you will find the concept as exciting as I do and that you will help make it a reality that will truly transform the workplace - and eliminate the human economic waste of disengaged people simply going through the motions because work is simply their livelihood and not an integral part of their self-fulfilment.

About the Author

Bay Jordan has nearly thirty years experience as a Chartered Accountant working in auditing, financial management and consulting. His career focus has been primarily on the systems side of operations, looking to remove the operational drudgery while improving the quality of the information generated to facilitate informed, proactive decisions. Described by one former colleague as "A leader with a relentless dissatisfaction with the status quo and an ability to articulate a future vision and lead people towards it" he has grown increasingly perturbed at the short-termism which he sees as continually focusing on fixing symptoms rather than the causes of problems. This was exacerbated by an all-too-common practice in information systems development of imposing new systems on users with a few days training immediately prior to launch after little or no involvement in their design. Indeed, he remains convinced that no technology system has delivered either

• The benefits promised; and/or
• The potential benefits that it ought to have delivered.

He attributes this to too strong an emphasis on process and not enough on people. It is to redress this and restore a proper balance that he felt compelled to write this book. He sees the solutions he propounds here as offering a communication bridge between those focused primarily on numbers and those who are more people focused, and has formed his own company to facilitate this.

Product Details

• Paperback: 178 pages
• Publisher: Bookshaker; 3 edition (May 11, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1905430582
• ISBN-13: 978-1905430581
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,717,014 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Business Concept, March 21, 2011

By 

Ron Peters - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lean Organisations Need FAT People (third edition) (Paperback)

I believe this book lines out the key to successful business with the golden rule in mind.The idea how to treat your employees is great.

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential read for all managers, February 16, 2010

By 

Philip Avery "The Business Mechanic" (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lean Organisations Need FAT People (third edition) (Paperback)

This is a definite 'must read' for anyone in the business of managing people, which means, in effect, most of us. Probably the single most destructive move was the retitling of 'personnel' to 'human resources'. Resources are there to be consumed, they are, and it is this that Bay Jordan's book argues cogently against.

He explains exactly why it is vital for us to make the most of our workforce and how to produce an enthusiastic and effective team. It seems obvious and easy and the way Bay Jordan sets it out, it certainly is the latter, so why don't we do it? I think the reason is that we just do not see all the little things that are required, including a change in the way we look at them. He holds up a very clear mirror.

His style is personal and engaging, knowledgeable and enjoyable. Illustrated with humorous and pertinent cartoons, this is a very welcome addition to the literature.