Experiment at Work: Explosions and Experiences at the Most Frightening Company on Earth (Paperback)

Although its certainly true that many of the ideas in this book would only work in a creative or knowledge-based industry rather than, say, manufacturing widgets, the book did force me to question some very basic ideas: why actually have a strategy? what do people actually want from work? what accepted limitations need to be destroyed to create the organisation your staff want? The key definitly lies in St Lukes choice of organisational form (a type of partnership) and a very careful business plan.

It made me realise that management is difficult but requires significant bravery too- to deliver on your own ethics and principles, your own values, first to deliver corporate value. Everyone should get something from this, and with some imagination everyone should be able to apply some of the ideas to their own company.

After an MBA and too many years working through the same old rules and processes, this book was refreshing, honest and energizing. So different from the dry academe of Porter or the shallow manifestos of almost every other business guru. Whatever your industry (even widget manufacture), if you think you need to innovate, you must read this.

However, it's not the ideas that grow wearying in the book, it's when it descends into some dream-like, mythical restaurant, with Anita Roddick and Maria Montessori discussing new age ideals. Bono's there too and Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox, Sting, Paul Allen and Harrison Ford are along for the ride. So far it's not too bad, but when Uri Geller starts bending spoons I'm afraid I'm out of here.

What occurred to me, unfortunately, was that this might very well work for the creative industries but it's totally unworkable anywhere else. It did however prompt me to visit the web site of St Luke's and the first thing I found was that Andy Law, the author of this book and founder of St Luke's, had just resigned, with immediate effect, citing irreconcileable differences with the existing joint MDs. Hardly a new age way to resolve conflicts and problems.

It's a shame really because some of the ideas in this lightweight tome are truly inspiring, but for me it just served to sharpen the divide between the creative industries and real businesses. Just another false prophet I'm afraid - never mind the search for a workable solution goes on.

Look at the organizational chart for almost every company, and you will see a replica of what you've seen everywhere else. And when companies "re-organize", few can see the difference afterwards. Maybe because few "re-organizations" are the product of anything else than someone making a drawing on a piece of paper. Seldom is there any trials, any real exploration of what might be new, interesting alternatives.

That's why this book is such a must read for anyone that is interesting in breaking the mold. Because paralell to the same-old world of most corporations, everybody in the business world from Peter Drucker to your local McKinsey "guru" are shouting "innovate or die". But how will there be any innovation if everybody just keep on in the same steps?

Andy Law, founder for the creative runaway consultancy know as St Luke's, gives a telling account of what can be done, and how to do it. And, not surprisingly, it's not that difficult.

If your just bying one business book this year, make it this one.