Driving Change: The UPS Approach to Business

by Mike Brewster, Frederick Dalzell

For the first time ever, one of the "World's Most Admired" companies opens its doors for a fascinating, lively, and most of all instructive look at how it does business We see them everywhere -- those brown trucks with the golden logo, the drivers delivering their share of 14 million parcels handled daily . To most of us, UPS is a reliable fact of life. But to well-informed businesspeople, Big Brown is a company to emulate. Quietly and steadfastly, UPS has earned a reputation as one of the leading companies in America, known as much for its innovative practices as its skill in creating satisfied customers and employees. Just in time for the company's hundredth anniversary, UPS has allowed authors Mike Brewster and Fred Dalzell unprecedented access to their facilities, their workers, and their history -- including their mistakes. What emerges are clear-cut lessons from which any business can benefit. Driving Change is an enlightening, absorbing, and dynamic account of a company at the very fulcrum of global commerce.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Management, History

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this far more than I expected to, especially the first half that is more focused on the earlier years of the company. I didn't really have a reason to read it (other than finding it in a box of free books brought in by a coworker). I realize that I probably need to discount the fact that consultants wrote the book, so it's likely more positive than the truth. But, it made me feel a little warm and fuzzy toward the company. Now I just need to get my own UPS delivery driver to read it; maybe then he would start ringing the doorbell.

[Ryan Manganiello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the greatest business book in the world, but it did contain a ton of tried and true business advice for new to the game entrepreneurs, so I definitely recommend it. Oh, and please take into consideration that this book was published in 2007, so it is extremely outdated.

[Mitch]

Being that my father worked for UPS for 35 plus years (1970's until his early retirement in 1995) and was in upper management in Northern California and Nevada as well as the center manager for the Chico, CA and Yreka, CA centers....I grew up learning all there was to know about United Parcel Service from the beginning. My blood runs to brown, hands down and I loved everyone who worked with and for my father. Times have changed since then and I'm very curious to read this book then pass it onto him.

[Ilana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is usually not the kind of book I read at all (ie business-related books), but my fiance had read it and I decided to give it a try. I thought it was very readable...not too much lingo and the UPS "story" is more or less told in chronological order, so it almost feels like a "biography" of a company. Given the fact that so many of us use UPS, it's interesting to learn about their origins, all their innovations over the years, and how their unique company culture has helped them succeed.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book about a fascinating organization. Really touches on UPS's history, and it's ability to reinvent itself, and inclination to do so before being forced to. Also I really enjoyed learning about the cultural challenges faced in growing into a global organization.(both internal and external).

I wish the book would have explored other challenges-competition, etc-rather then simply lionizing UPS. -that is the only thing I didn't particularly like about the book.

[Rendi · Rating 2 out of 5]

yes- this is a work book, but it was interesting. I am learning a lot...

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for work, and it was pretty interesting, probably not a great read unless your interested in business, or the history of UPS.

[Karen Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

So after owning it for 7 years, I finally read it.