Review of Goldilocks on Management: 27 Revisionist Fairy Tales for Serious Managers (Hardcover)

When I read the reviews for this book, I wonder if we are all talking about the same book.All the praise sounds like paid endorsements from friends of the authors.

Getting the idea that I didn't like this book?Not at all.Actually I loved it.It was fun to read& quick.

But, that's all it was -- animated & entertaining.

Goldilocks is purely ephemeral with management insights added inorder to convince you that what you're reading has substance.Theso-called 'business principles' are nothing more than short, shallowblurbs.

Here's how the book is arranged.There are 27 different fairytales.There are two I'm not familiar with.Ever hear of the "BremenTown Musicians?"Or "The Old Woman & Her Pig?"

Eachtales is modernized and reflects a business theme.For example, The ThreeBears operate a budget motel deep in the forest and Chicken Little readsthe Wall Street Journal because she follows the prices on corncommodities.

The story follows with details concerning a business issuesuch as:

=> marketing => team building => sales => cash flow=> hiring employees => customer service

A shaded box follows called* Basic Lesson *.Sometimes there's more:

=> how the tale applies toserious managers => a real-life story => a conclusion, called the'bottom line'

What I found is that most of the time the 'lesson' wasn'twhat I thought it was.It might be me, but I think the tale's outcomesaren't clear.

Let's talk 'Sleeping Beauty'.You all know the basicstory.In the Mayer's version Beauty's parents are wealthy beyondimagination.Think Bill Gates.She has everything she could want --wealth, beauty, intelligence.

The curse put on her by the uninvited guestis:"Nothing worldly will ever satisfy you.All this wealth is goingto bore you, enervate you, exhaust you.It will all seem so tawdry andmeaningless that you won't be able to stay awake." (p.67)

TheMayer's lesson is that you shouldn't leave people out of your planningprocess because it results in poor outcomes.(read Wicked Witch)

My take,from the way the tale is written, is this: when you give someone all theyneed in worldly goods, when they have everything, then you remove allmotivation to excel at anything.They have nothing to strive for.

Or howabout the 'Ugly Duckling'?In this version the lesson is to nurture andtolerate your staff's innate skills & differences.

Yet the storymakes it clear that the swan (ugly duckling) was forced to leave the ducksbecause he didn't fit in with the corporate culture.The way he looksdoesn't adhere to the duck dress code & he trumpets when he shouldquack.

In most of these tales the conclusions don't support the storyexamples.

Who's right?I don't know.Maybe it doesn't matter.

Whatdoes matter is the authors came up with a neat gimmick then made the talesfit their pre-conceived business lesson.At least that's myconclusion.

If you come across this book when you're browsing thebookstore & you have time, read some of it.If you see it at thelibrary, check it out.Buy it only if you have extra money around &are looking for some business fluff to break up the day's work.



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