When Goliaths Clash: Book Reviews
When Goliaths Clash: Managing Executive Conflict to Build a More Dynamic Organization
by Howard M. Guttman
AMACOM, 2003
August 11, 2003
Most books on workplace conflict management don't seem to recognize that senior executives often butt heads as well. This one is a well-rounded guide to solving disagreements throughout the organization, but its strength is in confronting top managers' potential to work against each other-hence the "Goliaths" of the title-as company-wide role models for poor behavior. The author, a consultant since 1989, gives advice in Chapter 2 on ending turf wars and setting up rules of engagement. Rules include, for example, "Don't triangulate" (do solve problems yourself; don't look for a rescuer), "Don't personalize issues," and "No second-guessing and no ex post facto finessing" after an agreement has been reached. The ideas throughout are illustrated with real examples from Philip Morris, L'Oréal Consumer Products, Colgate-Palmolive, and other companies.
[ Buy this book ]
HBS Working Knowledge