Animals, Inc.: A Business Parable for the 21st Century

by Kenneth A. Tucker, Vandana Allman

With its previous bestsellers - First, Break All the Rules and Now, Discover Your Strengths - The Gallup Organization rewrote the book on great management. Now Gallup finally makes its classic, hilarious parable, Animals, Inc. , available to the general public. A story that has proven effective and popular with Gallup clients for over thirty years, this tale introduces you to a group of unforgettable barnyard animals trying to run a successful business. Deciding that education is the key, the members of Animals, Inc. conduct employee surveys, evaluate competencies, and set up training classes. Filled with the excitement and hope that accompany any new project, they work hard to overcome their natural shortcomings. The workhorse tries to operate the computer, the shy sheep makes sales calls, the scarecrow attempts to lay eggs. What results will seem uncannily familiar to the human reader.

As revelatory as Who Moved My Cheese? and as funny as Fish!, Animals, Inc. will have you laughing and learning at the same time. Recharge your thinking with invaluable practical insights. Get an edge in the business world you won't discover anywhere else. And discover the key to effective management, reenergized morale, and super-heightened performance. Just listen to the animals.

Genres: Business

160 pages, Hardcover

First published February 26, 2004

Reviews

[Amin elahifard · Rating 3 out of 5]

عنوان: مزرعه حیوانات: تمثیلی بر دنیای تجارت در قرن21؛ نویسنده: کنت ای تاکر، وندانا آلمان؛ مترجم: ربابه امیری؛ ناشر: انتشارات سپید؛ در 177 ص؛ موضوع: تجارت
کتابی که شما را بسیار می خنداند و به شما بسیار می آموزد. مزرعه حیوانات تمثیلی از دنیای تجارت در قرن 21 می باشد، دنیایی که در آن فرضیه های بی کاربرد مدیریتی جای عقل سلیم را می گیرند و پیروان این تئوری ها دیگران را مجبور به اطاعت کورکورانه از آنها می کنند، غافل از اینکه افراد در صورتی شادمان و آسوده خاطر به خانه بر می گردند که همان کاری را انجام دهند که برایش سر رشته دارند.

[Renata · Rating 3 out of 5]

“When was the last time you took a course to make yourself more marketable, and found yourself wondering just what in the world you were doing?” Animals, Inc. brings to life major management lessons through a parable. The story begins on a farm, with every animal carrying on their respective duties under the able guidance of Farmer Goode. Goode has gotten old now and plans to sell off the farm, and move into a retirement home. The animals are given a choice – they can either run the farm themselves, or be sold off to pet owners and petting zoos. A unanimous decision is taken to save their home and care for it themselves.

The story is simple but the parable is powerful, as the moral provides vital business lessons. Readers from the corporate world will identify with the scenarios faced by the animals in running their enterprise. For those unfamiliar with the business/management field, many terms are presented and explained through the story. Ultimately it comes down to what works best for us to reach our highest potential, and how can every individual employee contribute to the organization as a whole. The insights are not very deep and the book can be seen as more of a primer into business jargon. It is the way the story is presented which makes 'Animals, Inc.' a delightful read. Readers with an interest in word play, witticisms, paronomasia, will love the copious quibbles that abound the book. The authors are at their hilarious best in crafting an entire book by playing around with the English language.

[Tuhkatriin · Rating 3 out of 5]

See on esimene juhtimisalane raamat, mida ma oma elus lugenud olen ning praegu järgmist veel plaanis pole. Hakkasin seda lugema kui lihtsalt naljaraamatut ning ei pidanud pettuma. Samas oli siia peidetud hulgaliselt juhtimis- ja psühholoogiaalaseid näpunäiteid ja teadmisi. Oma tööelu ja kolleegide-juhtide ning miks mitte ka iseenda käitumise ja mõtlemisviisi osas leidus mitmeid äratundmismomente.
Raamat oli omas žanris väga hästi kirjutatud ja humoorikas, üldse mitte mingi tavaline tuim tähtsust täis õpetlik käsiraamat. Juhtimisalased teooriad on tundunud alati olevat kõrgepalgaliste ülemuste teema, aga vähemalt sellest raamatust oli minulgi üht-teist kõrva taha panna. Õigupoolest me kõik ju juhime iga päev, juhime iseennast ja oma elu, enda teadmata vägagi kaugeleulatuvate tagajärgedega. Peame iga päev langetama mitmeid otsuseid ja pidevalt valima eri strateegiate vahel.
Halba või isegi katastroofilist juhtimist on ilmselt igaüks mõnes töökohas kogenud. Keskmine Eesti tööandja ei tea juhtimisest ööd ega mütsi: tema huviks on, et töötajad töötaksid võimalikult hästi võimalikult väikese palga eest. Jätkusuutlik või mitte, eks see paistab. Väidetavalt saad tagasi täpselt nii palju, kui panustad.

[Jenae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked it, some similarities to animal farm, but a really engaging read.

[Robert Day · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't really want to talk about this book.

The bumpf says that the moral of the tale is something like 'allow your workers to do the things that they are good at'. Oh, but what a long winded and grim method this was of getting that point over.

I can only recommend this tale, of horses trying to type and a scarecrow trying to lay eggs, to Captain Underpants fans.

No, wait, strike that - it's insulting to Captain Underpants fans the world over.

[André Gomes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is not so deep like "The Goal" or "Fish", but I had some good insights.

Big Ideas
- Everyone is happier and much more successful when they are in jobs that make the most of their natural talents.
- Don't belive blindly in hypes and fads.

[Lori · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read this for a work-book club. No where near the depth of other parable-books such as The Goal. Very little meat to it.

[Samuela · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ok book, read it quickly, few interesting concepts but won't keep the book...

[Arie K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still reading it. To many characters, really confusing me and hard to remember.