Sunday 21 March 2010

Drive - Dan Pink

The best business book I have read so far in 2010. Well written and researched - it has a clear message that runs through it from start to finish. Anyone who works and lives in the corporate world will find this book a compelling read.

The basic premise of the book is based on scientific research that is currently poorly understood by the business community. Much of this research flies in the face of current business practices and highlights that the traditional carrot and stick mentality to management, not only does not work, but is likely to damage the very behaviour that we are trying to encourage.

The book highlights the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and that the new world of work is based on intrinsic motivation – a motivation based on personal drive to master new skills and knowledge rather than an extrinsic motivation that essentially boils down to money.

This book brings a new level of understanding to the modern corporate world that we live in and provides a useful and new perspective. Having worked for Microsoft for a period of time, one of the questions that often went through my mind was why would people take a drop in salary to work for the company and why were we all so dedicated? To my mind, this book answers these questions and many others. Highly recommended.

Sunday 7 March 2010

Using the body as an input device

Came across this and it looks really interesting.  It is a way of using the body as a input surface.  More information here.