How 900 Million African Consumers Offer More Than You Think
This is probably the most interesting book that I've read through the Amazon Vine Program. It also suffers from being released at an unfortunate time. Written in the optimism of the time before the current economic crisis, I could not help but wonder how Mahajan would change the book if he could write it today. I think that the parts that rely on international investment would certainly be different, and I can't help but think that the overall tone would be more somber.
All the same, I am glad that this book exists. It is clearly intended as both information and inspiration, and I can't help but think that the core of the project is the every important rebranding of the continent and the markets there. There is an important piece of work to be done on the idea that even though the African markets are different than the markets we see in the west (informal, loosely organized, and quite local in nature) they are still of a size and character that should make them attractive to investors. It's a good message, and an essential one.
Like many business books that have an inspiration message, I sometimes had an uneasy feeling that Mahajan was relying on anecdote to support some of his ideas. I could have used a pinch more scholarly research (or maybe just the feeling that it was backing up the key messages).
Still, recommended.
( more )
- Book 33. Africa Rising, Vijay Mahajan
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frumiousb- May 3rd, 11:21
- Book Review-- 94. Leadership and the One Minute Manager, Ken Blanchard, Patricia Zigarmi
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- frumiousb
- September 16th, 2008
( business books )
- Book Review-- 8. Fired Up or Burned Out, Michael Lee Stallard
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- frumiousb
- February 2nd, 2008
( business book )
- Book Review-- 2. The Intelligence Advantage: Organizing For Complexity, Michael D. McMaster
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- frumiousb
- January 26th, 2008
Authentic leadership is present when there is a connection to the whole, coupled with a willingness to be responsible for one's part in it, without sacrificing one's creative expression. Leaders in this type of system are in communication and are willing to be influenced by that communication. They will trust the results of dialogue, encourage dialogue in special ways and practice it regularly. They will tend to mistrust decisions and actions that are not the result of dialogue that includes the expression of others. Their touchstones will be theory, dialogue and feedback from outside the system. The role of the formal leader will be one of providing structures of interpretation, balancing internally and externally generated information and demonstrating the willingness to show by going first. A profound respect for awareness unclouded by personal identity will be one of the qualities of the effective leader. Intergrity of speaking and action will be the basis for the effective relationship of a complex intelligent system to the leaders within it.
pg. 76-77
( some interesting ideas, but I really struggled with the structure )
- Book Reviews-- 151/152-- Two Business Books.
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- frumiousb
- January 6th, 2008
