Sacred Cows Make the Best Burgers

January 29, 1996
An iconoclastic blend of wit and psychology makes this a canny manual for business leaders focused on the biggest challenge of this and the 21st century--forging ahead of change. Keeping abreast is no longer good enough, according to Kriegel (If It Ain't Broke, Break It) and Brandt, a psychologist. Some of the sacred cows they barbecue are reports no one reads, mind-numbing conferences, an obsolete knowledge base (no one's talking about automation anymore, dummy), profitable product lines on their way out of style and sales pitches customers aren't hearing anymore. With businesses in the fast lane, formerly sound practices turned sacred cows could force them off the highway. Staying ahead of change means getting rid of sacred cows, even if that calls for risk and standing up to fear. The authors tell how to reenergize a sluggish business by turning fear to caution and providing incentives for employees to expose outmoded practices even when those cows are their jobs. Author tour.

January 1, 1996
Kriegel (If It Ain't Broke, Break It, LJ 4/15/91) and Brandt, a clinical psychologist specializing in change and transition, have written a guide to managing corporate change. They describe business's most common "sacred cows" and why they should be changed. These include "paper cows" (the more communication the better) and the "downsizing cow" (to cut costs, cut people). The authors also detail ways to build the change-ready environment and motivate people to change. A personality inventory and exercises for personnel are also included. Although other recent titles take on corporate change (e.g., Harry Woodward's Navigating Through Change, Irwin Professional Pub., 1994), none focuses on the need for change within traditional paradigms. Easy to read, with humorous illustrations, this book is recommended for public libraries.--Kathy Shimpock-Vieweg, Muchmore & Wallwork Lib., Phoenix