Managing the Future

There are dozens of books on this subject, several of which I consider superior to this one (eg Drucker's Managing Change and O'Toole's Leading Change); however, Tucker has made an important contribution by suggesting and then discussing "10 Driving Forces of Change for the Next Century." They are:* Real-Time Responsiveness* No-Hassle Convenience* Aging Boomers/Rising Xers* Mass Customized Choice* Lifestyle [Changes]* Discounting* Value Differentiation* Ultra Service* Techno-Edge* World-Class Quality Tucker offers thoughtful discussions of these "Driving Forces" (devoting a separate chapter to each), including also a series of mini-case studies based on companies such as Williams-Sonoma, Dell Computer, Southwest Airlines, and Charles Schwab. Please keep in mind that Tucker wrote this book almost ten years ago. So much has happened since, especially because of the Web and globalization initiatives made possible by it. After a decade, Managing the Future remains a thoughtful, well-written book of special value to less-experienced executives. For those on higher levels of management, it may not offer much that they do not already know but it will certainly help them to clarify their thinking as they proceed into an uncertain future.