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JulyAugust2013

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cultural norms, notes Brandeis University's Molinsky. Transplanted professionals face three key challenges: adapting while still behaving authentically, developing true competence, and overcoming resentment that they have to adapt in the first place. To develop "global dexterity," says Molinsky, professionals in new environments must determine how the people around them view behavior across six dimensions: directness, enthusiasm, formality, assertiveness, self-promotion, and personal disclosure. He also thinks international managers can make small but meaningful changes that don't compromise their own beliefs but help them fit in more seamlessly. For instance, a Russian l woman uncomfortable with selfpromotion wasn't able to brag about how well she would fit on a new Don't Miss "OUR SOCIETY has re-oriented itself to the present moment. Everything is live, real-time, and always-on," writes media theorist Douglas Rushkoff in Present Shock. This relentless focus on the now means that everyone, from a college student to the head of the Federal Reserve, discounts the future and ignores accruing debts. Rushkoff decries the collapse of narrative, as we can't keep our attention on the long storylines essential to pop culture and politics; he worries about "digiphrenia," or the way we use technology to be two places at once, at least virtually. "Press pause," he urges. "We have time for this." (Current, US$26.95) DECISION MAKERS who want to understand how to utilize Big Data have a useful primer in Keeping Up with the Quants. Business professors Thomas Davenport of Babson and Jinho Kim of the Korea National Defense University explain how to use analytics to frame questions, solve problems, and present results in a compelling fashion. It's clear they believe passionately in the power of data; they write, "In almost every walk of life, there is evidence that analytical decision making is more accurate and precise and produces better decision outcomes." (Harvard Business Review Press, US$27) THE FABLE How Stella Saved the Farm is the newest offering from Dartmouth's Vijay Govindarajan and innovation expert Chris Trimble. The story centers around a small animal-owned farm and the challenges faced by top management—sheep and horses—as they add a line of luxury wool products to rescue the farm's failing fortunes. With each setback, the team learns another key lesson, such as "In any great innovation story, the idea is only the beginning" and "Build the dedicated team as though you are building a new and different company from the ground up." Hard lessons, easy reading. (St. Martin's Press, US$19.99) team, but she learned to ask, "How could I be helpful on this project?" She stretched her "personal comfort zone" and cracked the cultural code. CR EATI NG GOOD WOR K AUTHOR: Ron Schultz PUBLISHER: Palgrave Macmillan, US$35 Advocates of social entrepreneurship share a desire to change or at least improve the world, but as the field grows broader and more complex, would-be practitioners sometimes find themselves bewildered. To create a useful book for this group, microfinance director Schultz has collected essays from a wide swath of academics, entrepreneurs, and specialists who offer insights into the theory, application, and practice of social entrepreneurship. In his contribution, Craig Dunn of Western Washington University defines social entrepreneurship as a "deliberate disruptive design" that sets out to create radical change in the service of social justice. Georgetown University's Alan Andreasen describes how classic marketing tactics can be used in social marketing, where the goal is not to influence a consumer to buy but to motivate a population group to change behavior. Other authors discuss topics ranging from legal issues to microfinance initiatives. As Schultz says in his introduction, social entrepreneurship "is our recognition that we are all in this together." BizEd July/August 2013 61

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