Wake Me Up When the Data Is over: How Organizations Use Stories to Drive Results

by Lori L. Silverman

This book includes real-life examples from over 70 respected organizations, small and large, representing a multitude of industries using stories to drive results. Leaders from organizations such as Microsoft, Lands’ End, Verizon, U.S. Air Force, and World Vision demonstrate the strong positive influence stories can have. No abstract theories or platitudes are conveyed here. The book spells out how Kevin Roberts, CEO worldwide of Saatchi & Saatchi, achieved sustained sales growth after several mergers and downsizings caused the organization to fall on hard times. It also shows how Erik Shaw, president and CEO of FivePoint Federal Credit Union, overcame resistance to an organizational name change, resulting in membership growth exceeding the national average.

Genres: Business

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book of examples from various organizations on how they use stories to accomplish their goals. The examples fall into two main categories: stories in everyday corporate life, and stories for strategic planning. The third part (moving stories into and across the organization) is, perhaps, the most interesting, as it explains in more details the process of "doing storytelling" in organizations. It cannot compete with the "how-to" nature of Annette Simmons' or Steve Denning's works, but if you learn by example this is very thorough.

[Jake Cohen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ok. The stories themselves were interesting, but more than half of the book was filled with generic platitudes about how storytelling is great and that you should use it, rather than any actual analysis of how the stories played any part in the changes they were given credit for.

[Lori Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A should-read book on analysis for knowledge workers, managers, and entrepreneurs.

[Delhi Irc]

Location: GG7 IRC, PTI IRC
Accession No: DL028531, DL028580