Organizing Groups Filled With Geniuses and Conquering Creative Collaboration - Book Review
As the coordinator for a think tank which happens to operate online, it is truly amazing the innovations, ideas, concepts, inventions, and business plans for start-ups I have the privilege of perusing and thinking about.
Interestingly enough, a good bit of these originate from within my own mind and then are given to the group to expand upon - but, one thing you must know - having original thoughts even in high volume is not enough - heck, that's just the starting point.
You see, think tanks talk about stuff, which is nice, but talk is cheap, doing is grand.
Okay so, how do you do? No, I'm not asking "how are you" what I mean to say is; How do you actually put together a group of creative geniuses that go out and do something rather than just talking about it? Well, easier said than done, and although there is no actual model for it, there are many examples of how great things were accomplished in groups of people with superior intellect in creative collaboration.
In fact, there is an a great book which I pulled off the shelf of my personal library recently and re-read after many years.
Now as I've had new experiences in getting stuff done and running a think tank, I'm happy to say, I've gotten a lot more out of it this time around.
And, I bet you might as well.
The name of the book is; Organizing Genius - The Secrets of Creative Collaboration," by Warren Bennis and Patricia Ward Bieferman (forward by Charles Handy), published by Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, New York, NY, (1997), 239 pages, ISBN: 0-201-57051-3.
There is a good bit in here about Apple Computers and Steve Jobs, well prior to his return and building the largest company in the world.
It's a fascinating case study in hindsight.
Also, are stories of Lockheed Skunk Works, Disney, Political Campaigns, Xerox PARC, the Manhattan Project, and several other notable groups that pioneered their field and changed the world.
The authors conclude the book after all their interviews with some words of wisdom - 15 take away points that all these case studies had in common, along with some warnings for those who dare.
This is a must read for any corporate executive setting up an R&D department, or has the honor in organizing the very best minds focused on a single objective.
Anyone who wants to work on such a collaborative team, or do something great should read this book.
What you learn in this book will help you to greatness.
Please consider all this and think on it.
Interestingly enough, a good bit of these originate from within my own mind and then are given to the group to expand upon - but, one thing you must know - having original thoughts even in high volume is not enough - heck, that's just the starting point.
You see, think tanks talk about stuff, which is nice, but talk is cheap, doing is grand.
Okay so, how do you do? No, I'm not asking "how are you" what I mean to say is; How do you actually put together a group of creative geniuses that go out and do something rather than just talking about it? Well, easier said than done, and although there is no actual model for it, there are many examples of how great things were accomplished in groups of people with superior intellect in creative collaboration.
In fact, there is an a great book which I pulled off the shelf of my personal library recently and re-read after many years.
Now as I've had new experiences in getting stuff done and running a think tank, I'm happy to say, I've gotten a lot more out of it this time around.
And, I bet you might as well.
The name of the book is; Organizing Genius - The Secrets of Creative Collaboration," by Warren Bennis and Patricia Ward Bieferman (forward by Charles Handy), published by Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, New York, NY, (1997), 239 pages, ISBN: 0-201-57051-3.
There is a good bit in here about Apple Computers and Steve Jobs, well prior to his return and building the largest company in the world.
It's a fascinating case study in hindsight.
Also, are stories of Lockheed Skunk Works, Disney, Political Campaigns, Xerox PARC, the Manhattan Project, and several other notable groups that pioneered their field and changed the world.
The authors conclude the book after all their interviews with some words of wisdom - 15 take away points that all these case studies had in common, along with some warnings for those who dare.
This is a must read for any corporate executive setting up an R&D department, or has the honor in organizing the very best minds focused on a single objective.
Anyone who wants to work on such a collaborative team, or do something great should read this book.
What you learn in this book will help you to greatness.
Please consider all this and think on it.