Each season, Robert Morris (see bio below), ACCE contributing editor, highlights new books pertaining to chamber professionals. In the Spring of 2003, The Springboard was selected. His review follows: 

Denning’s narrative covers a period of approximately three years during which he used what he calls "springboard" stories to "spark organizational change" at The World Bank. More specifically, to forge a consensus within that organization to support the design and then implementation of effective knowledge management, first for itself and then for its clients worldwide. 

How he accomplished that objective is in and of itself a fascinating "story" but the book’s greater value lies in what he learned in the process, lessons which are directly relevant to virtually all other organizations (regardless of size or nature) which struggle to "do more with less and do it faster" in the so-called Age of Information. Maximizing use of their collective intellectual capital is most often the single most effective way to do that. Denning allows his reader to accompany him during the process by which he eventually overcame rigorous but subtle internal opposition to what was perceived to be a threat to the status quo at The World Bank. 

He shares with his reader the profoundly important realization (well along during the process) that he needed to use a "springboard" story to win over his opposition. That is to say, practice what he had been preaching but without (until then) much success. 

Finally, he provides just about anything his reader needs to know in order to use storytelling to achieve the same objectives within her or his own organization: forge a consensus of support, design and implement an internal information management program, and then extend participation and benefits to all other stakeholders, especially customers or clients as well as strategic partners. 

Although Denning could probably hold his own during a workshop conducted within the highest of ivory towers, I value even more (much more) his immensely practical approach to accommodating all manner of realities such as the opposition to his efforts within The World Bank and the importance of telling the appropriate "springboard" story to an external audience. For example, the same story which was enthusiastically received by his audience in London was met with polite silence soon thereafter by another audience in Bern.

Robert Morris:
Since February of 2001, Robert Morris has been reviewing business books for ACCE, as well as for about 25 other Web sites including Amazon.com and Borders.com (which now rank him #5 among their "Top 100 Reviewers"), HR.com, National Association of Manufacturers, and Business and Professional Women/USA. Based in Dallas, Morris is co-managing partner with Gary Vike of Morris Vike International, a management consulting firm that specializes in accelerated executive development and organizational transformation. They also conduct interviews of best-selling authors for Chamber Executive. You may contact Morris or Vike directly at interllect@mindspring.com.

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