April 17, 2008

Book Review - The Definitive Drucker

The Definitive Drucker
Elizabeth Haas Edersheim
HD 31 .E356 2007

This book is both a biography of Peter Drucker, the father of modern management, and a synopsis of his ideas. Edersheim has organized her thoughts thematically. She begins with an overview of Drucker's thoughts on doing business in the modern world. Next, she discusses his ideas about the relationship between businesses and their customers. She discusses important business practices--innovation, collaboration, people, and knowledge--along with Drucker's assessments about how activities in these areas contribute to the success or failure of a business. She provides Drucker's reflections on decision making. Finally, she wraps up these thoughts by characterizing the behaviors and traits held by the 21st century CEO. This book is supported by extensive footnotes and a bibliography of Drucker's writing.