ANIL KAPUR
Former Private Sector Specialist
The World Bank, Washington D.C.
“I thoroughly enjoyed reading Contagious Success as it provided a unique and different perspective on the evolving role of global knowledge workers. The author, Susan Lucia Annunzio, Chairman and CEO of the Hudson Highland Center for High Performance, has through her global in-depth research and analysis provided a useful managerial roadmap of how knowledge workers around the world contribute to accelerating high performance for their corporations. It is a must read for senior managers working in the international arena who want another important perspective into understanding global competitiveness and multinational mergers and acquisitions. Traditionally, multinational corporations and international development agencies have paid little focus on the importance of valuing people.
Annunzio has skillfully demonstrated the key factors of success: (i) valuing people, (ii) optimizing critical thinking, and (iii) seizing opportunities. Annunzio’s comprehensive analysis has provided for the necessary analytical underpinnings to the conventional skeptics and soothsayers. What was most telling of her analysis is that only 10 percent of the global knowledge workers could provide evidence that their working group was profitable and was adding value to the corporation as a whole. A shocking disconnect for a segment of the workforce that are generally the highest paid and best educated workers in the world.
It would be very interesting to see Annunzio and her team continue to expand and refine the scope of their research in this field to include: (i) the work force that are not necessarily knowledge workers, (ii) the differences in behavior of the knowledge workers between public and privately owned companies; and (iii) the differences in behavior among knowledge workers based on the nationality and cultural leadership of the senior management.”
NEIL NOVICH
Chairman and Chief Executive
Ryerson Tull
“A practical, prescriptive guide … based on a large-scale, quantitative study of workgroups around the world that reveals the specific steps any executive can take to create a dramatic improvement in results.”
DAVID E. I. PYOTT
Chairman of the Board, President, and
Chief Executive Officer, Allergan, Inc.
“Susan Lucia Annunzio offers important counsel on leading a high-performance business environment.”
GERRY STERN
Stern’s Management Review Online
Culver City, California
“Based on a study of 3,104 knowledge workers in the U.S. and 9 other countries, the author has identified the qualities of high-performing groups, i.e., those that get financial results, through being the best in developing and introducing new products, services and markets. The overall conclusion is that knowledge workers who work in environments in which 1) they are valued, 2) can do their best thinking, and 3) have the freedom to seize opportunities, constitute high-performing work groups. Such groups are adaptable, knowledgeable, and resourceful. The book goes into many factors that explain the success of these groups, offering many case examples drawn from the extensive research. The insights of this book are readily accessible. The book is written in a to-the-point, very readable style. But most importantly, it offers some mind-broadening findings that, for some, may appear to be a challenge to conventional thinking. Speaking as an organizational consultant (www.futureorganization.com), as well as a reviewer, this book shines forth as offering some solid, although not altogether surprising, conclusions. Bottom line: highly recommended-well worth the reading.”
SHEILA PENROSE
Corporate Director; former President
Northern Trust Corporate Bank
“… points a direction that offers proven results and specific action steps that actually work.”
BRIAN CARTY
President
Hill Holiday New York
“… a completely fresh take on how to change any organization for the better … data-based action steps that can be implemented immediately.”