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HBR's 10 Must Reads 2020: The Definitive Management Ideas of the Year from Harvard Business Review
A year's worth of management wisdom, all in one place.
We've reviewed the ideas, insights, and best practices from the past year of Harvard Business Review to keep you up-to-date on the most cutting-edge, influential thinking driving business today. With authors from Michael E. Porter to Katrina Lake and company examples from Alibaba to 3M, this volume brings the most current and important management conversations right to your fingertips.
This book will inspire you
Ask better questions to boost your learning, persuade others, and negotiate more effectivelyCreate workplace conditions where gender equity can thriveBoost results by allowing humans and AI to enhance one another's strengthsMake better connections with your customers by giving them a glimpse inside your companyScale your agile processes from a few teams to hundredsBuild a commitment to both economic and social values in your organizationPrepare your company for a rapidly aging workforce and society
This collection of articles includes "The Surprising Power of Questions," by Alison Wood Brooks and Leslie K. John; "Strategy Needs Creativity," by Adam Brandenburger; "What Most People Get Wrong about Men and Women," by Catherine H. Tinsley and Robin J. Ely; "Collaborative Humans and AI Are Joining Forces," by H. James Wilson and Paul R. Daugherty; "Stitch Fix's CEO on Selling Personal Style to the Mass Market," by Katrina Lake; "Strategy for Start-Ups," by Joshua Gans, Erin L. Scott, and Scott Stern; "Agile at Scale," by Darrell K. Rigby, Jeff Sutherland, and Andy Noble; "Operational Transparency," by Ryan W. Buell; "The Dual-Purpose Playbook," by Julie Battilana, Anne-Claire Pache, Metin Sengul, and Marissa Kimsey; "How CEOs Manage Time," by Michael E. Porter and Nitin Nohria; and "When No One Retires," by Paul Irving.
We've reviewed the ideas, insights, and best practices from the past year of Harvard Business Review to keep you up-to-date on the most cutting-edge, influential thinking driving business today. With authors from Michael E. Porter to Katrina Lake and company examples from Alibaba to 3M, this volume brings the most current and important management conversations right to your fingertips.
This book will inspire you
Ask better questions to boost your learning, persuade others, and negotiate more effectivelyCreate workplace conditions where gender equity can thriveBoost results by allowing humans and AI to enhance one another's strengthsMake better connections with your customers by giving them a glimpse inside your companyScale your agile processes from a few teams to hundredsBuild a commitment to both economic and social values in your organizationPrepare your company for a rapidly aging workforce and society
This collection of articles includes "The Surprising Power of Questions," by Alison Wood Brooks and Leslie K. John; "Strategy Needs Creativity," by Adam Brandenburger; "What Most People Get Wrong about Men and Women," by Catherine H. Tinsley and Robin J. Ely; "Collaborative Humans and AI Are Joining Forces," by H. James Wilson and Paul R. Daugherty; "Stitch Fix's CEO on Selling Personal Style to the Mass Market," by Katrina Lake; "Strategy for Start-Ups," by Joshua Gans, Erin L. Scott, and Scott Stern; "Agile at Scale," by Darrell K. Rigby, Jeff Sutherland, and Andy Noble; "Operational Transparency," by Ryan W. Buell; "The Dual-Purpose Playbook," by Julie Battilana, Anne-Claire Pache, Metin Sengul, and Marissa Kimsey; "How CEOs Manage Time," by Michael E. Porter and Nitin Nohria; and "When No One Retires," by Paul Irving.
267 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2019
123 people are currently reading
408 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 16, 2020
"Educators and psychologists know that novelty reinforces understanding and learning." p. ix
"The first step in becoming a better questioner is simply to ask more questions." p. 4
Challenge the traditional SWOT matrix approach and think about how to turn constraint into advantage: "Constraint plus imagination may yield an opportunity." p. 22
"When customers are cordoned off from a company's operation, they are less likely to fully understand and appreciate the value being created...One solution that my colleagues and I have investigated is the introduction of operational transparency - the deliberate design of windows into and out of the organization's operations to help customers and employees alike understand and appreciate the value being created." p. 104-5
4 behavior's of great EAs: understand the leader's agenda, include all the relevant players, recognize the value of spontaneity, and zealously protect personal and family time p. 144-5; also intentionally schedule time with rank-and-file p. 148
"By tapping ways that workers from different generations can augment and learn from each other, companies set themselves up for success over the long term. Young workers can benefit from the mentorship of older colleagues, and a promising workforce resource lies in the intergenerational collaboration, combining the energy and speed of youth with the wisdom and experience of age." p. 172
"The first step in becoming a better questioner is simply to ask more questions." p. 4
Challenge the traditional SWOT matrix approach and think about how to turn constraint into advantage: "Constraint plus imagination may yield an opportunity." p. 22
"When customers are cordoned off from a company's operation, they are less likely to fully understand and appreciate the value being created...One solution that my colleagues and I have investigated is the introduction of operational transparency - the deliberate design of windows into and out of the organization's operations to help customers and employees alike understand and appreciate the value being created." p. 104-5
4 behavior's of great EAs: understand the leader's agenda, include all the relevant players, recognize the value of spontaneity, and zealously protect personal and family time p. 144-5; also intentionally schedule time with rank-and-file p. 148
"By tapping ways that workers from different generations can augment and learn from each other, companies set themselves up for success over the long term. Young workers can benefit from the mentorship of older colleagues, and a promising workforce resource lies in the intergenerational collaboration, combining the energy and speed of youth with the wisdom and experience of age." p. 172
February 5, 2020
Good selection of articles for leaders. Not really any game changers, butI did like the view into how CEOs organize their time.
November 7, 2023
A wonderful insight into the business world of the year, delving deep into problems that haunt top executives like an ageing workforce, the future of new technology like AI and machine learning, or the impact of sociological factors like the gender bias inherent in a patriarchy.
The introduction by the curators say they wanted to focus on articles that challenge the status quo and force readers to look at things from a new perspective. For instance the ageing workforce i.e. a larger geriatric population is often seen as a problem for employers as they struggle to keep up with new technologies. However in this article, Paul Irving argues that older employees can provide:
What's more he highlights that half of all urban consumption growth comes from the 60+ demographic, and it can be as high as 80% in sectors like luxury travel, making this demographic a boon for companies.
In the preceding article, Michael E. Porter and Nitin Nohria argue that meetings are unproductive and a waste of time. A sentiment undoubtedly many corporate employees share but would rarely voice!
Another essay puts forth the argument that automation is increasing the gap between customer and worker, leading to higher customer complaints, and operational transparency is needed to ensure both customer and employee satisfaction. This of course goes against the mainstream thought that hails automation as a boon for companies, making processes faster and cheaper, leading to better service quality.
Some articles offer tips and tricks to navigate complex situations, like the article aptly titled 'Strategy for Start-ups' that delve deep into the various choices an entrepreneur must make in order to establish their company.
Some of these essays were very good, while others barely scratched the surface. But overall it was a good and enlightening read.
The introduction by the curators say they wanted to focus on articles that challenge the status quo and force readers to look at things from a new perspective. For instance the ageing workforce i.e. a larger geriatric population is often seen as a problem for employers as they struggle to keep up with new technologies. However in this article, Paul Irving argues that older employees can provide:
"...emotional stability, complex problem-solving skills, nuanced thinking, institutional know how....and guidance to younger workers."
What's more he highlights that half of all urban consumption growth comes from the 60+ demographic, and it can be as high as 80% in sectors like luxury travel, making this demographic a boon for companies.
In the preceding article, Michael E. Porter and Nitin Nohria argue that meetings are unproductive and a waste of time. A sentiment undoubtedly many corporate employees share but would rarely voice!
Another essay puts forth the argument that automation is increasing the gap between customer and worker, leading to higher customer complaints, and operational transparency is needed to ensure both customer and employee satisfaction. This of course goes against the mainstream thought that hails automation as a boon for companies, making processes faster and cheaper, leading to better service quality.
Some articles offer tips and tricks to navigate complex situations, like the article aptly titled 'Strategy for Start-ups' that delve deep into the various choices an entrepreneur must make in order to establish their company.
Some of these essays were very good, while others barely scratched the surface. But overall it was a good and enlightening read.
November 5, 2020
Most interesting topics are
Review of the survey data of what the ceos speed their time on
Followed by
Operational transparency and older populations dominance in the coming decades
Followed by how men & women are more similar than different and how dual purpose companies succeed better than singular profit purpose companies
Other topics are pretty good as well
Review of the survey data of what the ceos speed their time on
Followed by
Operational transparency and older populations dominance in the coming decades
Followed by how men & women are more similar than different and how dual purpose companies succeed better than singular profit purpose companies
Other topics are pretty good as well
February 16, 2021
I downloaded this audiobook from my local library. Most of the articles were pretty meh but I learned a lot from the last piece, which focuses on how businesses can view the aging of America as an asset instead of a problem. It offers actionable advice on how to hire and retain older workers and how to market to older customers.
August 28, 2021
full of practical advice.
right now one thing i can say, rest is as important as exercise. another thing is, stress is good for our body and mind for limited time. stress free life eventually leads to full of stress. the difference between pro and amateur is seeking feedback and responding to those feedbacks.
right now one thing i can say, rest is as important as exercise. another thing is, stress is good for our body and mind for limited time. stress free life eventually leads to full of stress. the difference between pro and amateur is seeking feedback and responding to those feedbacks.
July 30, 2020
No 5 of 2020
HBR MustReads 2020。很战略的层面... 虽然现在排不上什么用场[允悲][允悲]
职场上的性别问题，AI和人的结合，初创公司的战略布局，企业对利润和社会责任感的平衡，如何应对老龄化的劳动力/消费者。
HBR MustReads 2020。很战略的层面... 虽然现在排不上什么用场[允悲][允悲]
职场上的性别问题，AI和人的结合，初创公司的战略布局，企业对利润和社会责任感的平衡，如何应对老龄化的劳动力/消费者。
May 31, 2022
A must-read for anybody holding leadership responsibility. A collection of great articles that encourages you to new ideas.
October 11, 2024
Well written
Must read !
:)
Must read !
:)
June 22, 2025
Sorta like a written Ted talk, there are a few interesting articles in this book: gender in the workplace based on real and large datasets, CEO time management, and stitch fix story.
February 10, 2020
For me -- only about 5 articles in this was relevant. Those 5 articles did a great job of expanding how I think about each of those topics, for the better.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews