What were new ideas 30 years ago, such as the concepts of participatory development and systems thinking, are now accepted norms in international development circles. The majority of professionals engaged in rural development accept the proposition that the people who participate in development should play an active role in defining, implementing, and evaluating projects intended to improve their productivity and lives. However this goal remains unrealized in many development programs....

This open access book is the result of an expert panel convened by the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability and Nature Sustainability. The panel tackled the seventeen UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030 head-on, with respect to the global systems that produce and distribute food. The panel’s rigorous synthesis and analysis of existing research leads compellingly to multiple actionable recommendations that, if adopted, would simultaneously lead to healthy and nut...

For the past two decades, Michael Porter's work has towered over the field of competitive strategy.On Competition, Updated and Expanded Edition brings together more than a dozen of Porter's landmark articles from the Harvard Business Review. Five are new to this edition, including the 2008 update to his classic "The Five Competitive Forces That Shape Strategy," as well as new work on health care, philanthropy, corporate social responsibility, and ...

BEST SELLERThis BEST SELLIING book provides a comprehensive guide to effective governance for board members and their senior executives. The author offers a new framework for understanding boards and proposes practices that boards can use to fulfill their stewardship responsibilities, strengthen board performance and improve organizational effectiveness. The book discusses the basics of governance - what it is and why it matters; essential duties and liabilities of the board and it...

"Michael Barber outlines the steps that will enable courageous education leaders around the country to execute their plans and bridge the gap between hope and reality."—Joel Klein, ChancellorNew York City Department of Education"No one knows system reform better than Sir Michael Barber. His delivery contains bold, inspiring, crystal clear ideas that are never more timely than today. A must-read for reformers at all levels of the system."—Micha...

HR thought leader Dave Ulrich—bestselling author of HR Champions, The Why of Work, HR from the Outside In, and more--is back with his international colleagues to unpack and distill the finest, most up-to-the-moment thinking from the HR world. Indeed, this book looks at best practices from companies on every continent, offering an expert survey of universal and regional HR dos and don'ts.Because new and developing global circumstances often require adaptability and...

Two experts explain the consequences for the planet when corporations use sustainability as a business tool.McDonald's promises to use only beef, coffee, fish, chicken, and cooking oil obtained from sustainable sources. Coca-Cola promises to achieve water neutrality. Unilever seeks to achieve 100 percent sustainable agricultural sourcing by 2020. Walmart has pledged to become carbon neutral. Big-brand companies seem to be making commitments that go beyond the usual...

The low-labor guide to mastering HRM!Want to dive into human resources but your brain says, "Help wanted!"? No problem! Put Human Resource Management DeMYSTiFieD on the job, and you'll solve your dilemma in no time!Using a clear, step-by-step format, this practical guide provides a firm foundation in the basics of the field. You'll master all the key issues in human resources, like benefits, legal situations, hiring, training, outplacement, worker rights, and mor...

Innovation Strategy: Seven Keys to Creative Leadership and a Sustainable Business Model provides a blueprint for success in leading an innovation renaissance in your industry and organization. This book introduces the Six Step Collective Intelligence system and the Idea Accelerator software, ground breaking tools that will prepare you for the role of Innovation Strategist in the new global economy.This book reveals strategies for becoming a creative leader...

The USA and Canada welcomes every year significant numbers of immigrant professionals who have high levels of formal education (Bachelors, Masters and Ph.D.) as well as extensive experience; yet a significant fraction of these immigrants are unemployed or underemployed. The purpose of this book is to help US and Canadian organizations make full use of the significant human capital that immigrants represent. This book will help organizations: • Modify their recruitment and selection process...

India is back! With the country’s general elections in 2014 resulting in a government formed by a new political party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, led by a business-friendly prime minister, Narendra Kumar Modi, the world’s largest democracy is once again on the minds of business leaders the world over.The renewal of interest in India is all the greater because of what’s happening in neighboring China. For over thirty years, China was the growth engine for many Western multinational...

In the world of Facebook, Twitter and Yelp, water-cooler conversations with co-workers and backyard small talk with neighbors have moved from the physical world to the digital arena. In this new landscape, organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies to government agencies to political campaigns continuously monitor online opinions in an effort to guide their actions. Are consumers satisfied with our product? How are our policies perceived? Do voters agree with our platform? Measuring ...