The New Machiavelli: The Art of Politics in Business

ISBN-13: 9780471350958 / Angielski / Miękka / 1999 / 224 str.

Alistair McAlpine

Opis

Machiavelli's The Prince described a code of conduct for political leaders. In this book McAlpine explores the relationship between the modern business leader and his, or her, employees and shareholders. The chapters elucidate the unchanging, key aspects of politics and business, from flattery and loyalty, craftiness and control, starting a business, and creating the company image. The result is a guide to the nature of politics and power in a world of suspicion and envy, strategic alliances, and ruthless misinformation.

Spis treści

Dedication: To His Magnificence Lorenzo de′ Medici: Of Patrons and Protégés.

Concerning New Principalities Acquired by One′s Own Forces and Personal Ability: Starting a Business.

Why the Kingdom of Darius, Conquered by Alexander, Did Not Rebel Against His Successors After Alexander′s Death: Business and Government.

On New Principalities Acquired with the Forces and Fortune of Others: Inherited Business.

On Hereditary Principalities: Family Business.

The Classification of Principalities and How They Are Acquired: Capturing a Company.

On Mixed Principalities: Controlling a Captured Company.

How Cities and Principalities, which Prior to Occupation were Accustomed to Living under their Own Laws, Should be Administered: The Running of Recently Acquired Business.

On Those who Acquire Principalities through Wicked Deeds: Stealing a Business.

On Civil Principalities: Rising to Power.

On the Different Types of Army and the Question of Mercenary Troops: The Use of Consultants.

On Auxiliary Troops, Your Own Troops, and a Mixture of the Two: The Need for Loyalty.

On Cruelty and Mercy, and Whether It is Better to be Loved than Feared, or the Reverse: Managing People.

On the Secretaries Who Accompany the Prince: The Power and the Employee.

On Ecclesiastical Principalities: Dealing with the Establishment.

How a Prince Should Act Concerning Military Affairs: The Need for Total Dedication.

Whether Princes Should Keep Their Word: The Use of Craftiness.

How the Strength of Every Principality Should be Measured: Finance and the Understanding of Money.

On Generosity and Meanness: Controlling Expenditure.

How Flatterers are Avoided: Flattery and False Profits.

Whether Fortresses and Many Other: Things Commonly Used by Princes are Useful or Useless: Structuring the Business.

On the Things for Which Men, and Especially Princes, are Praised or Blamed: The Company Image.

On the Avoidance of Contempt and Hatred: Public Relations.

How a Prince Should Act in Order to Gain Reputation: The Advantages and Dangers of Fame.

Why the Princes of Italy Have Lost their States: Why Businesses Fail.

How Much Fortune can Influence Human Affairs, and How She Should be Resisted: Creating One′s Own Luck.

O autorze

ALISTAIR MCALPINE has witnessed power politics firsthand at the side of Margaret Thatcher, serving as the Treasurer and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party as well as a close advisor to Thatcher during her election campaigns. Today he directs his family construction firm, Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons, Ltd, and resides in London and Venice.

Blurb

Ignore the latest buzz about the kinder, gentler world of new age, team–based management. It′s dog–eat–dog out there, and the sooner you realize it, the better. The New Machiavelli mines Machiavelli′s The Prince for the timeless rules and stratagems that can help today′s business rulers survive and prosper in the jungle of greed and treachery that is commerce. Alistair McAlpine enriches Machiavelli′s text with scenarios from modern business, offering keen new insight into what motivates people. You′ll learn the reasons why:
∗ Loyalty is not a reliable factor in the workplace
∗ Great power is held by the "little people" in a business
∗ It is better to spread power than to centralize it
∗ You should never believe your own publicity

Fail to read it at your peril.

"For most of my lifetime politicians have been trying to tell businessmen how to go about their tasks ... Both groups, however, will enjoy this shrewd commentary on Machiavelli′s timeless principles of skullduggery."–Margaret Thatcher

"Anyone working in corporate America who doesn′t find, read, and master Alistair McAlpine′s amazing new guidebook to the art of politics in business may soon find themselves self–employed." –Charles Saatchi, Partner, M&C Saatchi

"Written in a style, like Machiavelli′s own, at once didactic and charming... A work which is a standing satirical reproof to the various management manuals which promise corporate success."–Times Literary Supplement