There are many avenues for quickly gathering information about the business environment such as the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Online, and CNBC, to name just a few. But quiet time spent reading one of the many interesting books written about specific companies can be a good way to learn about the inner workings of a firm. Here are three new Loop Library books that discuss three very different companies.
Founded by D. J. De Pree in 1923, the Herman Miller firm has been a steward of the environment long before many companies began thinking about, let alone implementing sustainability practices. The book opens with an account of the companys 1991 landmark decision to stop using endangered rosewood in their iconic Eames chair. In the subsequent chapters, Bill Birchard chronicles Herman Millers successes and challenges with design, sustainability, and environmental issues beginning in the 1930s. Check out Merchants of Virtue: Herman Miller and the Making of a Sustainable Company to learn how their roving leaders philosophy has been integral to their ongoing commitment to the environment and their employees. (Loop Library, 658.408 B6178M)
Nanovation is the story of the Tata Nano car, an innovative product created to address the difficult and dangerous problem of transportation in India. Motor scooters are a common mode of getting around in India; often an entire family rides on a scooter together. The Nano began to take shape after Ratan Tatas (chairman of Tata Motors) car was involved in an accident with a scooter carrying a family. This defining event led to the design and development of the Nano, a small enclosed car that costs little more than a scooter. The authors of this book have written a thoughtful case study of Tata Motors culture of innovation, leadership, and generativity. (Loop Library, 338.4 F862N)
Over a 2-year period, Steven Levy (journalist with Wired, formerly of Newsweek) was granted access to the inner corridors of Google to research In the Plex: How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives. Attending meetings and interviewing employees, he developed an understanding of the culture of the organization and how they operated. What sets Levys book apart from others written about Google is his keen and detailed analysis of Googles history, economics, and culture. His experience as a technology reporter is evident throughout this work. (Loop Library, 338.7 L6689I)