Books and blogs about innovation and leadership success The Social Organization How to Use Social Media to Tap the Collective Genius of Your Customers and EmployeesBy Anthony J. Bradley and Mark P. McDonald Book Social media, with all its popularity, is still trying to find a solid place in the enterprise. The main obstacle is finding a way to measure results and ensure productivity. This book cites over 400 organizations that have seen results from using social media and provides a step-by-step strategy that can be applied to companies of all types. Harvard Business Review Press, $35 America the Vulnerable Inside the New Threat Matrix of Digital Espionage, Crime and Warfare By Joel Brenner Book Author Joel Brenner, who worked for several years with the federal cybersecurity program, gives us an inside look at how the government is dealing with the threat of cyberattack. He reveals risks Americans may not think about, such as emerging spy groups that are using sophisticated tactics. Brenner confidently states that the U.S. government doesn’t have the power to stop cyberattacks such as putting counterfeit computer chips on planes or using flash drives to download battle plans from Iraq. Penguin Press, $27.95 The Anywhere LeaderHow to Lead and Succeed in Any Business Environment By Mike Thompson Book The economic crisis and its far-reaching side effects have put business leaders to the test. Author Mike Thompson, CEO of organizational development company SVI, says anyone in business should be able to rise above uncertainty and disruption. Thompson delves into a number of case studies, including Toms shoes and Johnson aanndd Johnson, that demonstrate qualities that “anywhere” leaders possess—qualities such as uniting employees using enlightening initiatives and culture. Wiley, $24.95 The Guild CIOBy Stephen Gillett Blog The CIO of Starbucks shares his personal experiences as a World of Warcraft gamer and relates professional tales from his job. In a recent post, he wrote an ode to Steve Jobs, reflecting on his lifelong love of Apple products, and musing that as a CIO, he’s now one of those that Jobs “called an ‘orifice’ to the end users of an organization.” He goes on, “I was not offended; I know we can be a hard lot to work with as we have to care about things that are not as cool as the consumer elements of great technology.” theguildcio.blogspot.com Best Practices Are Stupid40 Ways to Out-Innovate the Competition By Stephen M. Shapiro Book This unconventional guide provides strategies for fostering innovation. Shapiro, formerly of Accenture, says most leaders inadvertently suffocate creativity by following tired formulas. His suggestions? Hiring people you don’t like, not asking for ideas, and going above and beyond thinking outside the box. Doing the unexpected is the key to bright ideas, he says. Each chapter concludes with statements like, “When the pace of change outside your organization is greater than the pace of change within, you will be eaten.” Portfolio Penguin, $22.95 Follow Editorial Assistant Lauren Brousell on Twitter: @lbrousell. Related content feature 6 generative AI hazards IT leaders should avoid The opportunities to use generative AI will greatly vary for each organization, but the ways it can go wrong are turning out to be fairly universal. By Mary Branscombe Dec 06, 2023 11 mins CIO Application Performance Management Generative AI interview Delivering value through IT at Village Roadshow During a recent CIO Leadership Live session, Michael Fagan, chief transformation officer of Australian cinema and theme park company Village Roadshow, spoke with CIO’s editor in chief for APAC Cathy O'Sullivan about delivering value, colla By CIO staff Dec 06, 2023 8 mins CIO CIO Leadership Live Change Management feature DS Smith sets a single-cloud agenda for sustainability The British packaging manufacturer has launched an AWS-centric digital transformation aimed at better leveraging data for more productive business outcomes — including reduced impact on the environment. By Paula Rooney Dec 06, 2023 7 mins Amazon Web Services Amazon Web Services Amazon Web Services news UAE businesses have AI regulation as a top priority By Andrea Benito Dec 06, 2023 3 mins Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe