by C Taylor
Random House, 2005
$32.95
Many books have already been written on the importance of culture. Carolyn Taylor’s Walking the Talk: Building a Culture for Success, is probably one of the most comprehensive for HR professionals and other executives in Australia.
Taylor has done her research in Walking the Talk, and takes a realistic but practical approach to cultural change. She begins with an overview of what culture is, how to measure it and how to work out where to go.
She examines some common roadblocks – both at the personal and organisational levels – and presents a number of strategies for overcoming them. Getting the executive to take ownership of cultural change is one of the biggest challenges HR professionals face, and the book details strategies for tackling the issue. Importantly, Taylor dedicates a number of chapters to influencing key stakeholders across an organisation and assisting them in changing their beliefs and values and improving their self-awareness.
Walking the Talk also looks at cultural change in a number of organisational environments, from mergers and acquisitions to managing cultures in small to medium size businesses. She concludes with an in-depth and well-known case study of Lion Nathan – one company that has got it right and the financials to prove it.
Essential reading.