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Bookshelf While the Internet has already had a pro- found influence on education, enter- tainment, communication, and com- merce, authors Don Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams predict even more massive changes ahead. In Wikinomics, they describe a Web- based community where mass col- laboration is possible between far- flung individuals who create, edit, and influence everything from the human genome project to the inter- national media. Some of the names associated with these collaborative endeavors are familiar, such as eBay, Google, and Wikipedia. But the authors also investigate how tradi- tional hierarchical firms—drug man- ufacturers and gold mining compa- nies among them—are sharing intellectual property as a way harness the knowledge of consumers and interested experts who just don't happen to be on the payroll. "To ensure they remain at the forefront of their industries, companies must increasingly open their doors to the global talent pool that thrives outside their walls," they write. Like any eco- nomic revolution, they warn, the changeover could cause some com- panies and some industries real pain; but they don't think anything can stop it. (Portfolio, $25.95) "One of the dumbest things companies do is try to make their 'human resources' more productive while fighting what makes them human," say Rodd Wagner and James K. Harter in 12: The Elements of Great Managing. Drawing on millions of employee interviews conducted by the Gallup 64 BizEd MARCH/APRIL 2007 Organization, and comparing them to hard research data, they show that engaged, satisfied employees have a measurable impact on com- pany profitability. But that makes the book sound lifeless and dry; in fact, it is full of lively anecdotes about inspired managers, committed teams of workers, and the amazing feats they were able to pull off in the workplace. Wagner and Harter use those stories to illustrate the 12 elements of managing—such as let- ting employees understand what's expected of them, providing them with the proper tools, and playing to their strengths—identified by Gallup a decade or so ago in First, Break All the Rules. This new book focuses tightly on the manager's role in coaxing the best effort from employees, which leads to the best results for businesses. (Gallup Press, $25.95) products as chocolate bars and goes into much more depth as he picks apart the beer industry. While at times it's a little overwhelming to consider the sheer scope of the pos- sibilities of change, Gardner helps readers narrow their focus—and accept the necessity for thinking broadly. "To practice thinking like a futurist, first get rid of the notion that some things don't change," he advises bluntly. "If change can hap- pen to chocolate, it can happen to you." (AMACOM, $24.95) Many new Ph.D.s take jobs as professors without ever getting any real train- ing in what it means to be a teacher. Their first few years in front of the classroom can be uncomfortable for them and frustrating for students. James G.S. Clawson and Mark E. Haskins aim to rectify both situa- tions with their massive, in-depth volume on Teaching Man- agement. The authors, both professors at the University of Virgin- ia's Darden School, painstakingly walk the reader through the intricacies of run- ning a class. It's hard to imagine that they've Although it's impossible to predict the future, Eric Garland provides a pretty good system for helping business owners figure out what might come next. In Future Inc., he explains how futurists deconstruct trends and economic variables to isolate factors that could have a pro- found impact on business. Specifi- cally, he looks at the STEEP factors, or trends in society, technology, economics, ecology, and politics. Garland briefly applies the STEEP analysis to such seemingly mundane overlooked a single detail, from the various types of adult learning to the environmental impact of a room that's too cold. They offer sample syllabi, explain how to break down modules within a course, and debate the advantages and drawbacks of teaching via lecture, case study, and action learning. It's a rich and helpful guide for the new teacher looking for guidance or the veteran professor looking for new ideas. (Cambridge University Press, $90 hardback, $39.99 paperback)