Despite valiant efforts and the advent of techniques such as delegation, career development, performance management, key performance indicators, programme and project management, social network analysis, and employee engagement, most organizations struggle to beat the 70 per cent failure rule for profound, people-disruptive business change. Surveys show that most employees are still disengaged from their work. Innovation is sluggish and agility elusive. Harnessing the hidden potential of your workforce can be a slow, often painful process. Neil Farmer's The Invisible Organization explains how to adapt your organization's design to the informal networks that form most of the basis for communication between managers and employees. The book explores five key themes: c Executive leadership - a little autocracy and a lot of collaboration; how senior managers can enable and facilitate change; c Effective first-line management - in most organizations up to 60 per cent need to be replaced and women need to occupy far more significant roles; c HR Managers - a key role, but most don't make the transition from 'command and control' towards the effective use of key influencers and informal network which allows HR people to contribute to the future of their business: c The value of local influencers and those with extensive personal networks - how to identify them and increase their roles across all forms of business change; c Radical changes to white-collar outsourcing - to an in-house outsourcing service. This is an important, if somewhat painful, call to arms for leaders and HR specialists across all organizations.

About the Author

Neil Farmer started his consultancy career in 1981 when he joined the ground-breaking IT research and consultancy firm Butler Cox. From 1988 to 1996, he founded and headed one of the UK's top change research groups - the Farringdon Forum Club. During this period, he carried out extensive research into business change, becoming increasingly focused on a single profound question - why does so much business change fail? He is author of 'Total Business Design' published by John Wiley & Sons in 1996. Neil is a leading, innovative business change consultant, he is the consultant you rely on when business change becomes challenging. His clients include large Business Process Outsourcing suppliers (Siemens Business Services, BT and Xchanging) as well as household names such as Nationwide Building Society, National Savings, Liverpool City Council, Lloyds of London and Friends Provident. In late 2009 Informal Networks Limited (which Neil co-founded) joined Professor Karen Stephenson www.netform.com to offer a joint service in harnessing the power of informal networks.

Reviews
'If only we had this book when HR set out on our journey to gain professional recognition and make a strategic contribution. It's a little way out, it takes chances, it makes us vulnerable and it finally helps HR stand up and be counted. An exciting and refreshing rethink on HR's contribution to organisational change.' - Graham White, Director of HR, Westminster City Council 'I like this book, it is both appropriately theoretical and easy to understand, offering tangible approaches that can relatively easily be adopted. I have long believed in the power of informal networks. Whilst senior managers are crucial to the success of change programmes, their commitment alone will not secure a desired result...we take action when we see those close to us who are trusted lead the way. In The Invisible Organization Neil Farmer shows deep understanding of how organizations REALLY work.' - Liane Hornsey, European HR Director, Google 'The Invisible Organization...has been on my book shelf for about 12 months, and I've read it three or four times. My heavy pencil annotations in the margins are testament to the usefulness of the book...I would rate this book four stars...' Graham Durant-Law, Knowledge Matters 'Many companies are attempting to change the way they operate; however many initiatives are doomed to fail before the first presentation is given. Grand ideas will remain simply ideas without the mobilisation and activation of the workforce. This book highlights the hidden resources which every company has and how to engage them - but more than that, it draws attention to the real influencers and the role they play.' - Dr Colin Herron, Manager: Manufacturing and Productivity, One NorthEast 'The Invisible Organization is based on the considerable experience, processes and techniques used by Neil and his colleagues in developing successful change in organizations. The content and approach is of interest to consultants, business managers and leaders at all levels an



Book Information
ISBN 9780566088773
Author Neil Farmer
Format Hardback
Page Count 224
Imprint Gower Publishing Ltd
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 453g