Description
Book SynopsisIn business, as in other aspects of life, we learn and grow from the examples set by others. Imitation can lead to innovation. But in order to grow innovatively, how do businesses decide what firms to imitate? And how do they choose what practices to follow? This title takes a look at the benchmarking initiative of a major financial institution.
Trade Review"Learning by Example is a thoughtful contribution that will enrich the dialogue among sociologists and organization theorists and point to new research questions."--Rosabeth Moss Kanter, American Journal of Sociology
Table of ContentsPreface ix Introduction 1 Section One: Setting the Scene: Benchmarking and a Bank 25 Chapter 1: Benchmarking as a Management Technique 27 Chapter 2: Global Financial and Team Challenge 55 Section Two: The Process of Benchmarking: How and Who? 79 Chapter 3: Practical Reasoning and the Case for Change 81 Chapter 4: The Construction of a Reference Group 109 Chapter 5: Interorganizational Influence 142 Section Three: The Results of Benchmarking: Proposals and Programs 171 Chapter 6: Common Moves in Organizational Reform 173 Chapter 7: Personal and Programmatic Impact 194 Chapter 8: Global Financial's Corporate Quality Initiative 215 Chapter 9: Some Lessons from the Search for Best Practice 247 Bibliography 265 Index 281
