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Summary: Some Great Reviews from Top Business Magazines
Review: "This is a fresh and compelling thesis, backed up by some persuasive evidence."
--BusinessWeek(This) "big idea coherently and most convincingly, combines an analysis of the recent crisis of corporate America with a celebration of the technological revolution...a wake up call."
--The Economist "Tapscott and Ticoll produce compelling evidence that transparency is an inevitable social phenomenon and that such transparency is good."
--Fast Company "Tapscott and Ticoll's views are hopeful and sensible, and embodied in a highly readable volume. A good choice."
--Financial Post "This timely book has a very compelling case to make: in an era of unprecedented access to data, corporations must view the information they provide to investors, employees, and those with whom they do business as a vital contribution to the way they distinguish themselves from their competition."
--The Corporate Library "The book develops a theory, body of knowledge, and a set of leadership practices for handling this new transparency ... Impressive and eclectic research material."
--The Globe & Mail "The hard facts, delivered in a sure, clear and engaging style ... expected to send captains of industry over new learning curves."
--Singapore Straits Times
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Summary: Honest and Necessary
Review: Don Tapscott and David Ticoll's book is truly much needed in America's befuddled corporate climate. The authors show how companies do serious damage to themselves and others by concealing the truth and not playing straight. Tapscott and Ticoll present compelling arguments for corporations to, like they are, be honest and forthright, showing how the truth can directly benefit everything from brand value to everyday operations. The Corporation is packed with real world examples, a clear indicator that this is not just another management book, but rather the truth. What more do we need in this odd time we live?
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Summary: Finally, the book we have all been waiting for...
Review: Finally, the book we have all been waiting for, which explains, in no uncertain terms, the emerging age of business which requires corporate responsibility and accountability via transparency. The book outlines the systemic changes, brought about by technology and other factors, which are driving this change. Most importantly, The Naked Corporation explains stakeholder engagement and empowerment in detail - which is important for all of us to understand....this book is not only a "business" book, but a book for those of us whose lives are affected by business - all of us. It outlines the power we all have as stakeholders to effect change. The book is well-written and well researched. I find the concepts and the diagrams very useful and easy to follow. Great job!!
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Summary: The Best Policeman is the Street Light
Review: Louis Brandeis had it right. Openness and light are the answer to many of the world's problems. The present corporate environment is one of shame. We are told, for example, the particular executives must disclose fully all elements of their compensation in proxy statements; then, we find out in divorce hearings that substantial and significant items are omitted. This is not a matter of vast significance in itself. What is important is what it tells the world. Notwithstanding the clear intent of regulatory statutes, responsible people with responsible professional advisors only disclose what they want to disclose. One has to wonder how this inclination affects information about other aspects of the impact of corporations on to society.
The various communications revolutions - computer, internet, email - now make it possible to disclose information to all relevant persons virtually without cost. We should insist that this be the guiding principle of corporation functioning - disclose, even those items where cost to the corporation in the form of tightened regulations may be involved. Long term value will be enhanced for corporations that can be trusted by the public - trusted to tell the full story short of judicial proceedings.
This book opens up a new and important aspect of modern life.
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Summary: Executives Should Read This Book
Review: Obviously, The Naked Corporation was a difficult book for Tapscott & Ticoll to write. Perhaps their best book yet, but most likely the book that will attract fewer readers than one would expect. Why? - because The Naked Corporation describes a significant shift in business. Many companies will fear or try to ignore the shift and a few companies will embrace the shift. The Naked Corporation is a must read for executives and managers of performing/troubled/transitioning companies. Tapscott & Ticoll provide a compelling prescription for business success. Reading The Naked Corporation, I identified 24 "gems" (actions) to improve corporate performance and competitiveness. If you can't find at least 24 "gems" for your company to improve performance and competitiveness, then I suggest you ask Tapscott & Ticoll to help you, or get them to write a followup! Good luck and good business!
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Summary: Executives Should Read This Book
Review: Obviously, The Naked Corporation was a difficult book for Tapscott & Ticoll to write. Perhaps their best book yet, but most likely the book that will attract fewer readers than one would expect. Why? - because The Naked Corporation describes a significant shift in business. Many companies will fear or try to ignore the shift and a few companies will embrace the shift. The Naked Corporation is a must read for executives and managers of performing/troubled/transitioning companies. Tapscott & Ticoll provide a compelling prescription for business success. Reading The Naked Corporation, I identified 24 "gems" (actions) to improve corporate performance and competitiveness. If you can't find at least 24 "gems" for your company to improve performance and competitiveness, then I suggest you ask Tapscott & Ticoll to help you, or get them to write a followup! Good luck and good business!
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Summary: Be The Business
Review: Tapscott and Ticoll have written another very detailed, practical and profound book about business that shows their knack for zeroing in on the heart of a momentous change that is stirring in the world and explaining it all clearly and completely. At the heart of The Naked Corporation is the notion that shareholders and other stakeholders are empowered by technology to know more and more about organizations faster and faster, which in turn greatly emboldens them to take action based on their new knowledge. In other words, perhaps the old adage "there's one born every minute" needs updating. They're still being born, but hopefully now only a few per hour? Corporations "getting naked" can't be good news for marketing departments. Their job can no longer be about creating a nice rosy image; companies and products must be the image - for real. Yikes...David Brett, Founder, Knexa.
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Summary: A Critical "Call to Arms" for Transparency and Ethics
Review: Tapscott and Ticoll launched the Digital 4Sight research program two years before the buzz of ethical misconduct by Enron, Tyco, Woldcom, Arthur Andersen and others finally set off alarm bells and made front-page headlines. Once again, they are ahead of the curve in accurately predicting and understanding critical businesss and cultural shifts that have enormous impact. Their thesis that greater transparency is the core of the solution seems like a "no brainer". However, the response of most corporations seems to be shallowly focused on compliance with S-OX regulations--missing the point of the exercise. The authors argue that this is the time to rethink the fundamental values and leadership of the corporation in context of external and internal stakeholders. It is heartening to see examples of leaders that live and manage to their values and take the bold steps to go beyond focus on their quarterly financial results and regulatory compliance. This book convincingly outlines both the business rationale and the path to a return of trust and loyalty in the instituions we invest in, do business with, work with/for. I see light at the end of this very dark tunnel in the evoluion of business and personal conduct, only if we all take action and accountability.
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Summary: Don and Dave Do it Again
Review: The bubble burst, the hype hobbled into oblivion, but the best oracles about this fascinating period just keep getting better. Tapscott and Ticoll were pioneers in seeing how the digital age would change everything from office politics to parenting to intellectual property. Now they apply their same quirky, acid insight to the new bad guys - corporations that have lost their ethical compass. Check out the great insights into leadership in an age when 'fibbing and faking it' just won't work anymore. I love the image of naked execs in glass corporate offices, having stones thrown.... Highly recommended.
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Summary: The Best Business Case to Date for Corporate Transparency
Review: The Naked Corporation provides the best business case to date for corporate openness and transparency. It convincingly argues that the ability of our major corporations to practice openness, honesty and trust is today much more than an off balance sheet activity measured using traditional tactics such as strategic philanthropy or corporate spin doctoring. The authors compellingly argue that today's technology and information-centric business environment is forcing companies to build characteristics of transparency into the day-to-day operating environments of their companies. With rich data and case studies, the book delivers clear and irrefutable evidence that, in the age of globalization and information, those that reject transparency in favour of the information hoarding, deceitful practices of the past do so at the risk of painful and powerful rejection from customers, employees, communities and shareholders. A must read for those who want to understand some of the context behind Enron, Worldcom and other crises of transparency and for those who want to begin to execute new practices of openness inside their own organizations.
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