cover image If It Ain't Broke-- Break It!: And Other Unconventional Wisdom for a Changing Business World

If It Ain't Broke-- Break It!: And Other Unconventional Wisdom for a Changing Business World

Robert J. Kriegel. Warner Books, $21.45 (284pp) ISBN 978-0-446-51539-9

``Rapid, unpredictable, never-shattering'' changes will mark the 1990s in the view of Kriegel (coauthor of Inner Skiing ) and Patler ( An American Ensemble ). With ``fire in the heart,'' vision and purpose, rather than pre-ordained goals, they declare, we must anticipate changes by discarding the beliefs and practices of conventional wisdom in favor of new ways of thinking. They buttress their advice with countless quotes, colorful analogies and examples-- many of these drawn from sports. Among their unorthodox recommendations, the authors warn equally against complacency and panic- or stress-induced speed, and they advocate decisions based on instinct vs. consensus, eschewing competition in favor of innovation. Despite the good sense of some of their assertions, orthodox thinkers may well object to their call for ``change for change's sake'' and ``throwing out the baby with the bath water.'' Author tour. (Apr.)