January 3, 2008

Book Review - Peak

Peak: How Great Companies Get their Mojo from Maslow
Chip Conley
HF 5548.8 .C5955 2007

In a memoir about his own experience as a CEO, Conley combines business strategy with psychology. He asserts that particularly in times of crisis, effective businesses apply the idea behind Maslow's hierarchy of needs to their relationships with stakeholders. In the first part of his book, Conley explains the psychological theories developed by Maslow and shows how they relate to business situations. In the next three parts, he addresses interpretations of this theory as it relates to emploees, customers, and investors respectively. Finally, he summarizes his thoughts into actionable items and advocates that businesses search for success and through satisfaction and happiness of the individuals involved.