Embracing the Counterintuitive Side of Collaboration Think of your to-do list at work. Chances are the most important tasks require you to work with others—and the success of those endeavors depends on the effectiveness of your collaboration. According to management expert Leigh Thompson, collaboration that is conscious, planned, and focused on generating new ideas builds excitement and produces what she calls a “creative conspiracy.” Teams that conspire to organize themselves, motivate one another, and combine their talents to meet creative challenges are the hallmark of the most successful organizations. In this book, Thompson reveals the keys to the kind of collaboration that allows teams to reach their full creative potential and maximize their results. She also reveals a host of surprising findings; for example: • Left to their own devices, teams are less creative than individuals • Providing “rules” to teams actually increases inventiveness • Striving for quality results in less creativity than striving for quantity • Fluctuating membership enhances a team’s innovation • Most leaders cannot articulate the four basic rules of brainstorming Thompson combines broad-ranging research with real-life examples to offer strategies and practices designed to help teams and their leaders capitalize on what actually works when it comes to creative collaboration. Creative Conspiracy challenges managers to adopt an unconventional approach to leading teams that, done right, will lead to the creative success of every team—and every organization.

Identifies the importance of a conscious, planned and shared collaborative environment that promotes teamwork, creativity and enthusiasm, revealing counter-intuitive facts while sharing research-based examples that identify the essential components of an effective team. 15,000 first printing.

Discover the Future of Creativity Through the Eyes of AI Embark on a journey where technology meets imagination, exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping the boundaries of art. From the origins of AI art to the ethical dilemmas it poses, this groundbreaking narrative invites you to witness the dawn of a new artistic era. Delve into the ingenious world where algorithms become artists, composing symphonies and crafting masterpieces that challenge our very notions of creativity. As machines begin to compose music, generate prose, and even sculpt, you'll be captivated by the seamless blend of human emotion and digital ingenuity that defies traditional artistic norms. Encounter the revolutionary concept of machines as critics and curators, redefining the landscape of galleries and exhibitions. What happens when AI not only creates but also evaluates art? Discover the mind-boggling potential of AI to analyze, curate, and influence what the world sees as artistic brilliance. As the book delves into the cultural impacts and philosophical debates surrounding AI-generated art, you'll find a thought-provoking discourse on authenticity and originality. Can machines experience emotions? What does authorship mean in an era when technology can mimic the human mind? Engage with thought leaders through compelling case studies and real-life examples, unveiling how AI is transforming not only art but also the artist's role in society. Whether pursuing a deeper understanding of AI's creative possibilities or simply appreciating the evolving landscape of modern art, this book is your guide to the next frontier of human expression.

Imagination, creativity, improvisation and play are not words that adults normally associate with their work, but many secretly lament their absence in everyday life. They are also words that many of us wouldn't put at the top of our curriculum vitae either. However, the world is changing and the emergence of an Age of Applied Artistry is calling for modern organisations to take the development of these skills more seriously, as they become capabilities that are not just nice-to-have but essential for survival in the corporate world of the future. This book crashes together ideas from the world of Organisation Development (OD), gestalt psychology and improvisational theatre and distils them into some simple stories, concepts and practices that anybody and everybody can experiment with in order to awaken and unleash their own creative spirit. It is an unusual, entertaining and insightful mix of biography and field guide that helps defrost the little creative genius inside of us all.

"The bestselling author of Love Is the Killer App unveils a methodology that sales managers and account executives can use to solve their team's toughest problems by combining the wisdom and creativity of everyone who has a stake in the sale. B2B sales reps often find that their deals get stuck at a crucial point in the decision-making process. This book is Tim Sanders's guide to breaking through the resistance and getting the deal unstuck using a scalable, repeatable process that he calls "Dealstorming." By including a diverse group of individuals in the organization who has a stake in the sale, questioning existing assumptions, and channeling the collective experience of the group, sales teams can uncover creative solutions to closing otherwise impossible deals. In Sanders's experience as a sales executive and consultant, utilizing this process has led to a stunning 70 percent close ratio. Take, for example, the way Alyssa Wichman of CareerBuilder used dealstorming to break a deadlock with staffing firm Allegis. When she found out that Allegis was sponsoring a golf tournament to raise money for their favorite nonprofit, she and her team sat down to come up with ways to meet the Allegis executives there, going so far as to take over manning a beer cart on the course to speak with the execs on the ninth hole. They were impressed she'd gone to such lengths to have a few minutes with them, so they agreed to a meeting the following week. "--

A fresh approach to managing organizational change by looking at it as complex, dynamic and messy as opposed to a series of neat, linear stages and processes leading to success. Key to the approach is the idea that change, creativity and innovation all overlap and interconnect rather than being three separate areas of study and that managing the three together is central to organizations having the competitive edge in developing new technologies and techniques, products and services. The book continues to offer practical guidelines as well as a theoretical understanding of change, creativity and innovation. It delivers an equal balance of critical perspectives and sound ideas for organizational change and development and presents the idea that change can be proactive, driven by creativity and innovation. The new edition includes additional change management content including learning, personal change, managing the self, employability, developments in conventional Organizational Development and new emergent forms including appreciative inquiry. Along with a series of rich international case studies, including TNT Australia, Amazon, Leeds Rhinos, Jerusalem Paints, Alpha Pro Pump and KPMG. It is supported by a range of learning and revision aids including reflective exercises, review and discussion questions and hands-on research tasks. All of which help students to reflect on the material covered and provide a source for more open group discussion and debate. A companion website accompanies the book, with additional material including PowerPoint slides for lecturers and video links and access to SAGE journal articles for Students. Suitable for upper-level undergraduates and postgraduate students.

The perfect gift for aspiring leaders: 16 volumes of HBR 20-Minute Manager. This 16-volume, specially priced boxed set makes a perfect gift for aspiring leaders who are short on time but need advice fast, on topics from creating business plans and giving feedback to managing time and presentations. The set includes: Creating Business Plans Delegating Work Difficult Conversations Finance Basics Getting Work Done Giving Effective Feedback Innovative Teams Leading Virtual Teams Managing Projects Managing Time Managing Up Performance Reviews Presentations Running Meetings Running Virtual Meetings Virtual Collaboration. Don't have much time? Get up to speed fast on the most essential business skills with HBR's 20-Minute Manager series. Whether you need a crash course or a brief refresher, each book in the series is a concise, practical primer that will help you brush up on a key management topic. Advice you can quickly read and apply, for ambitious professionals and aspiring executives--from the most trusted source in business. Also available as an ebook.