The Right Thing

“Today, business leaders must think about more than just the bottom line when building their companies for the long term. "The Right Thing" tackles the challenges of managing a modern company and ensuring you treat employees and customers as priorities.“ Richard Branson

‘Useful, common-sense advice to help navigate the complicated world of ethical choice. The Right Thing makes you feel that a sensible and trusted friend is on hand to help settle confusing problems. This book should be distributed widely among the managerial classes.’ – Stefan Stern, Management Writer, Financial Times

'This is a timely book. It's a user's guide, rooted in practical examples. It is a handbook for good management - in every sense – and worth its place on every manager's, or would-be manager's shelf, – Michael Buerk, BBC journalist and presenter of Moral Maze

‘This book is well written and strikes the right balance between the analytical/ intellectual and the practical. I strongly recommend it to anyone who thinks ethics matters in business. And for those who don’t yet think so, beware; the empirical evidence is growing that people prefer to work for and do business with ethical companies.' – Paul Moore, HBOS Whistleblower and Senior Partner at Moore, Carter & Associates 

‘A hearts and minds, root and branch perspective on ethical business’ – Katie Alcott, Founder, Frank Water

‘Providing a useful roadmap for developing a more ethical culture and corporate code of conduct The Right Thing is a "must" read for any aspiring or seasoned executive from the Business School to the Board Room.’ – David Cox, SVP and CFO of Economist Group, Americas

‘Sally Bibb gives you practical, real-world advice on how to identify an ethical dilemma and, more importantly, figure out what the right course of action is for you.’ – Andy Maslen, author and business owner

‘This book explores the practical realities of ethical behaviour its driving forces and implications – in these times understanding ethics has never been more important.' – John Harris, former CEO of Calor

‘The Right Thing shines a much-needed light on the world of ethics; it clarifies some ethical issues you might have tussled with and provides practical advice. It is a valuable resource both for businesses and educational institutions alike.’ – Kate Saunders, Film-maker and media studies lecturer

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‘Generation Y for Rookies is impressively engaging while dealing with ideas that matter.’ – Ed Fox, former head of Graduate Development, Barclays

‘This useful and insightful book shows how and why Gen Y is different from the other generations and what we need to do to attract and engage them. It is packed with practical tips and is a must read for any manager and leader who understands the need for creating really effective cross-generational teams.' – Katherine Fenton, Director of Clinical Standards and Workforce, NHS South Central

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'A serious account of how trust lies at the heart of business and personal success.' – Financial Times

'This book is a timely reminder that one of the most important foundation stones in communication is trust.' – Ardi Kolah, Brand Republic

‘A stimulating read if you believe that trust is an essential ingredient in making organisations tick. If you do not … this is essential reading!’ – Martin McCourt, CEO, Dyson

'Sally Bibb and Jeremy Kourdi provide a clear and understandable range of conducive, supportive, practical ways to engender respect, authenticity and most of all renewed trust in contemporary organizations. This timely book is an insightful reminder of alternatives to the otherwise depressing stories of too many organizations in trouble.' – John Hofmeister, Director Human Resources, Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies

'Trust is a very important subject that is often ignored but plays a crucial role in all customer and business relationships. It is critical to building customer loyalty. You can’t build loyalty without trust and companies increasingly need to focus their resources on building customer trust. There is no time to waste. You need to read this book now.' – Jeremy Dale, Vice President, Brand Marketing, Orange

'This book touches a critical nerve. The authors take an intelligent and pragmatic look at the issues. I applaud them on tacking this sweeping and all-important topic.' – Brian Bennett, President Culinary Software Services, Inc., USA

' The authors argue with clarity of thought and a strong conviction, that building and keeping trust lies at the heart of all successful organizations irrespective of industry and culture and that without it, both organizations and leaders will ultimately fail. If any book can make a leader sit up and take notice of this essential truth, this is the one!' – Rosemarie Wallace, Regional Managing Director, Asia, Reader's Digest

'In today's world, trust is a scarce resource and like anything that is in short supply, its value has rocketed in importance. Everyone should know whether they are building trust or destroying it – and this book provides the blueprint for those looking to create and sustain trust for themselves and the organisations where they work.' – Chris Genasi, Chief Executive, Eloqui Public Relations

'It has never been more important that people understand clearly what the top leaders of an organization stand for. The examples given around leadership are very practical, and are useful for any individual or organization that internalizes the importance and benefits of leaders that create trust, an open work environment, and are dedicated to building a values-driven company.' – Susan Bowick, Human Resources and Workforce Development, Hewlett Packard

'The interesting thing about trust is that virtually every manager I have met thinks he or she inspires it in others. In a cross-cultural setting, this could not be further from the truth; the notion and development of trust is not common to all cultures. This book provides a fascinating and practical insight into a facet of business so readily taken for granted, but so often misunderstood. A must for all international leaders.' – Dr Ritchie Bent, Group Head of Human Resources, Jardine Matheson Ltd

'Trust: a precious commodity; occurs naturally but easily broken; can be made from a strong solution of openness and integrity; shines in the dark and releases disproportionate amounts of energy, innovation and creativity; an essential ingredient for satisfaction and achievement. This book shows you how to understand and develop this rare and wonderful gift.' – John Harris, former CEO of Calor Group

And some comments from amazon reviewers
‘Considering trust should underpin all business relationships and transactions it it surprising that it so frequently ignored. How timely then that this excellent book is now published. Not only can one explore case histories, highlighting where lack of trust has clearly limited business growth but also read examples from diverese sectors of both public and private corporations where trust underpins organisations to positive effect. I can commend this book both for managers seeking to increase their business success and also for employees who, wishing to enhance the quality of their working life should "gift" a copy to their manager.’

‘There are a lot of business books out there looking at what it takes to make the successful corporation. This book addresses a crucial and neglected issue, one that senior executives ignore at their peril. Business success is all about relationships and the best relationships are based on trust. Anybody who's followed the wave of corporate scandals in the States and Europe will know how true this is. Where the authors of this book really score is in their mixture of readable, persuasive arguments, clear insights and practical advice. They make a complex subject understandable and interesting.’

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‘The Stone Age Company asks why so many of today's business practices are outdated, counterproductive or, at best, inefficient. The cost of this book may be the best investment you make this year.’ – Jeremy Dale, VP Marketing Motorola

‘Too many companies are stuck in the Stone Age. And too many leaders aren’t willing to speak that simple truth. Thank heaven, then, for Sally Bibb. Her book is a badly needed call to make our organizations more effective by making them more humane.' – Daniel H Pink, author of Drive, A Whole New Mind and Free Agent Nation

‘The persistence of the myth of organisations as solid, structured edifices with a man at the top in control, holding things together with rules and procedures, has always fascinated me. If the myth was ever true those days are long gone, and in this book Sally Bibb gets to the guts of why it is such nonsense and how we can set about revealing the true nature of organisations as groups of willing individuals held together by a common purpose and trust in each other.’ – Euan Semple, former Director of KM solutions, BBC

‘So many businesses go to the wall because they refuse to change their belief in archaic ways of managing. Sally plots a new course for decent modern enterprise. She challenges the basis of what many obese and ageing companies stand for, in a clear and refreshing manner. Nice to hear some plain talk in a business book for once.’ – Dan Germain. Creative Director, Innocent Drinks

'In future, sustainable performance and growth will depend on people changing the paradigms with which they work. Sally Bibb’s analysis gives us all a challenge on how to effect personal change which will support this initiative. I believe a focus on values and greater emotional courage can make a difference. Education and business should consider how to accept and implement this challlenge’ – Bill Colquhoun, former Vice President of Shell Chemicals

‘Some people think businesses are impersonal efficiency machines. They need to be efficient but the only way to succeed is to make the world of work a place for real humans. As Sally points out, good people who are trusted in a values driven environment are the recipe for business success.' – Richard Davies, Human Resources Direector, SABMiller Europe

And some comments from amazon reviewers
‘Sally Bibb has written a sharp, incisive and rather damning analysis of the neanderthal mind-set of many companies. Well written and challenging: a must for anyone with an interest in modern business’

‘A refreshingly honest account of organisational life and the sorry tale of work-life reality for many. This book is a “must read” for leaders and followers alike, it exposes and explores what is wrong with the way companies are run and explains why so may employees become disillusioned, disenfranchised and ultimately disengaged at work. Sally Bibb’s frank, tell it as it is, approach is what makes this book a powerful read and she strikes the right balance between highlighting what is wrong with corporate life and providing inspiring examples of enlightened organisations who get it right, who create the right conditions for staff to give of their best and who flourish as a result. The tables comparing enlightened with stone age companies will serve as a useful checklist for those leaders and OD professionals who wish to bring about real culture change and will prove just as useful for potential employees who wish to audit a possible employer before committing to join them.’

‘Companies are in a rut. There is a tendency for consultants and business schools to train and coach top management in safe and conservative methods. We need to look again at the way we organise ourselves at work – The Stone Age Company is refreshing – we may not agree with it all but it is stimulating, easily read and makes you think. I wouldn't ask for more.’

‘It was a brave step to write a book that just by its title will cause controversy. Sally Bibb's straightforward no holds barred approach to this subject give the management of today's large and small companies something to think about. This has ignited the debate and companies who ignore this book do so at their own peril’.

‘Sally Bibb's The Stone-Age Company is a wonderful book not just about corporate culture but about life in general. Pearls drop like water after an afternoon's rain in this thoroughly readable and insightful book artfully descriptive of corporate management. I was able to see through what works and what doesn't and get answers to a favourite question: How did these characters get to be CEOs?’

‘I found Sally's book so easy to read and so closely related to my own experiences of working for 'Stone Age' companies. I am retired but I feel that I would have enjoyed being able to try and turn things around armed with the inspiration provided within this book. I am very tempted to send copies of it to some of my previous managers but I feel that they are so 'Stone Age' in their outlook that the words would fall on stoney ground. A truly inspirational read for all those who are creative in their approach and open to change’.

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'This book is fun - not something one can often say about a management book. It's also a compact piece of distilled wisdom. That's because it has its origins in the fertile mind of Russ Ackoff. He has been studying, advising and working with organisations of all sorts for more than 60 years and is world-renowned for his work on systems thinking - the idea that the whole is more than the parts and that any changes to one part of the system will have repercussions on others. Obvious stuff, perhaps, but incredibly important. It's the same with this little book. Many of the 81 f-Laws are obvious when you think about them, but are too often ignored or neglected. Yet they matter. Take No. 4, for instance: 'There is no point in asking customers, who do not know what they want, to say what they want.' ...Eighty-one f-Laws cannot be assimilated in one sitting. Skim it, if you like, and raise the odd wry smile of rueful recognition. Or undergo a self-examination course. Take each f-Law in turn and ask yourself how it applies to you, to your role in the organisation and to your organisation as a whole. Do it seriously and you might learn a lot. But the book might be best used as the basis for a serious conversation with colleagues. There is truth at the heart of all the laws, and it will be best dragged out in discussion, perhaps as one f-Law at a time.' – Charles Handy

'Reading Russell Ackoff's slim new volume, Management f-Laws, is like being pricked by a series of delayed electric shocks. At first glance and on their own, the book's 81 short aphorisms, paradoxes and put-downs seems nothing special. The first shock comes as the implication sinks in, followed by a chain-reaction of secondary ones as the first implication interacts with subsequent ones, until shocks are going off all over and you are left in no doubt that you are in the presence of one of the profoundest and wittiest brains ever to engage with the bizarre human activity called management." – Simon Caulkin, The Observer

'If you ever need a reality check after stumbling out of some appalling management meeting, or just need cheering up on a long business trip, this is the book for you. Just about every myth or pompous delusion about management gets punctured in the course of 160 feisty pages.' – Stefan Stern, The Daily Telegraph

'It is always exciting to meet a real subversive, especially when he (or she) is old and wise. Russell Ackoff was in London the other day to launch a new book and he fits all the categories. He is 88 and simply bubbles with ideas about what's wrong with the way business works. His new book is all about the F-Laws, uncomfortable truths about the (mistaken) way most organisations are run. The flaws come from decades of repeated management mistakes and conventional business teaching.' – Peter Day, BBC

'The ancient laws of management suck. And in this unique little book, Russ and Sally have a go at assessing them, dismissing them and revealing them for what they are - a hindrance to good business, and something that we can have a good chuckle about.' – Dan Germain, Head of Creative, innocent drinks

'Long ago, Shakespeare wrote The Comedy of Errors. Now, Russell Ackoff and Herbert Addison, with astute commentary by Sally Bibb, write with compelling wit about the errors found in the usual practice of management. In this aptly labeled tome, Management f-LAWS, using a wonderfully readable style, laced with humor and irony, the three writers skewer many conventional behaviors and practices prevalent in today's management. But do not be deceived, there is much, much more here than the piercing of sacred cows. The book is an instructive gem that should be required reading for anyone interested in effective management.' – Sheldon Rovin, Emeritus Professor at Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania

'We came to expect thought-provocation and wit from this ground-breaking intellectual and prolific writer whose two most cited and serious academic papers are titled 'the future of operational research is past' and 'management misinformation systems'. It is fitting that Ackoff once again applies his exceptional gift to reduce complex phenomena to their bare essentials. A life-time of thinking about management and experiencing its arcane rituals is summarized in the form of 80+ f-LAWS, making for very entertaining reading. But make no mistake: this is a fun way of going about serious work. Each of the laws hits hard on common sins of management, and should be taken by the reader very personally as a stimulus to think 'out of the box' about what really matters. Thoughtful commentary by Sally Bibb can be used to jump-start one's own reflections.
Law 45 states that 'all work and no play is a prescription for low quantity and quality of outputs'. I therefore recommend that each corporate meeting start with the collective reading of one f-LAW. Alternatively, the very-busy-executive-with-no-time-left-to-spare could keep this book in the restroom – an important accoutrement of executive life according to f-LAW 22 – declare reading it to be work, and be proud of adding another few minutes to the productive work-day. Either way, this book is a must.' – Dr. Wladimir M. Sachs, Affiliate Professor at CERAM Sophia-Antipolis and Visiting Professor at Leiden University School of Management

'This book offers profound thoughts in digestible bites. It is easy to read and entertaining, yet full of wisdom. How much better our organizations would be if managers could really learn these lessons!' – Michael C Jackson, Professor of Management Systems and Dean of Hull University Business School

'Wit and wisdom in small doses on the deep rooted abuse of hierarchical power. It takes a Russ Ackoff to unveil myths and illusions of this kind.' – Göran Carstedt, Vice chairman, Learning Lab Denmark and Managing Director, the Society of Organizational Learning (SoL-network), Cambridge, Massachussetts, USA. Formerly President, Volvo Cars and President, Ikea Europe

'Diverse views are a great antidote to blinkered thinking and they can be seen in this book - across the generations, across the Atlantic and across the gender divide. It is a perfect example of complementary dialogue, a resource we ought to see used a lot more in organizations. As long ago as 1993, Russ came up with the idea of a corporate jester. In his column in the journal Systems Practice, he wrote: 'Medieval royal courts had court jesters who unfortunately disappeared even when the courts remained. They should be reincarnated and placed in corporate courts … Corporate jesters must be able to ask questions that others either have not thought of, or dared to ask. In addition, they must be able to provide answers that are not expected, even by the 'kings' before whom they perform.' So, corporate royalty, wherever you are, please read this book, learn its lessons and act on them, if you wish your kingdoms to endure.' – Gerard Fairtlough, Formerly CEO, Shell Chemicals U.K and CEO, Celltech

'The small book is a delightful, if occasionally painful, read that makes it clear there are no magic formulas or simple solutions. But when confronted with the inherent uncertainty of their job, managers will still look for something simple to work some magic.' – Leon Gettler, The Age, Melbourne

And some comments from amazon reviewers
‘This inciteful, witty and rich book is the result of the collaboration between Russ Ackoff and Sally Bibb. The dialogue across gender, nationality and generations rarely happens and, if this book is anything to go by, should happen more. A fun and easy read as well as a remarkable business aid.’

‘One of the best features of this book is the contribution of Sally Bibb in her "considered responses". The f-laws are simplified / epigrammatic and Bibb is not afraid to say "Spot on!" or "Mostly true" or "There's an important exception to this f-law," etc. , as the case may be. Great minds don't always think alike, and here we get the benefit of three in dialogue. We the readers get to participate in the dialogue by our reading and can thus integrate the differences of the viewpoints.’

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