Riaz Khadem’s Total Alignment: Integrating vision, strategy and execution for organizational success is scary. It’s scary for three reasons

1. the entire book makes perfect sense;
2. the approaches and solutions it offers are devastatingly simple; and
3. it’s a fast (just 150 pages), fun read—not always the case with business books.

Its focus is larger companies, although young companies that are planning on substantial growth can benefit from implementing the structures described when appropriate.

But the great difference is that Total Alignment is written as a story, complete with a hero and a villain and a guru. It’s fast paced, weaving the needed how-to’s into the story, showing how they work, how to draw people in, including the skeptics, and the results from implementing the ideas and philosophy presented.

No smoke, no mirrors.

In the end, it takes the thoughtful CEO to a new vision, one beyond the usual thinking and beyond just the success of his company.

“Total Alignment is aligning the [corporate] vision itself with the urgent needs of humanity.”

Once a company is completely aligned internally then true total alignment is achieved by “making a positive contribution to the local, national, and world community while maintaining the company’s financial and operational advantages.”

For those of you who aren’t in agreement with business’ social responsibility fear not, it’s only brought up on the last three pages and you can easily skip them.

Please add your thoughts on Total Alignment now or come back and do so when you’ve read it.

Image credit: Infotrac

This entry was posted on Monday, April 21st, 2008 at 12:15 am and is filed under Business info, Reviews & Recommendations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Tags: business books, business social responsibility, organizational success, riaz khadem, total alignment
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