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Publications
Books by Lawrence M. Miller
Competing in the New Capitalism: How Individuals, Teams and Companies Are Creating the New Currency of Wealth
This book is about the self-initiated, free enterprise transformation of capitalism into something better.
Today, every organization is struggling to create the new currency of competition. In the early days of capitalism, money mattered most. We have entered a new phase of capitalism and the rules have changed. To be a player in the tomorrow’s business, you will have to master the creation of five forms of wealth: social capital, human capital, spiritual capital, financial and process or technology capital. These are the keys to competition. However, most organizations have not yet learned to manage these new forms of capital. This book is about creating the currency of competition in the new capitalism.
This new capital resides at three levels: the organization, team, and individual. This book defines the most important disciplines that unify energy and effort toward common business strategy. These are the currencies, which build the bank account of each of the five forms of capital. The pursuit of all five forms of capital will define not only your organization’s success, but also that of your team, and your personal net worth.
Mr. Miller has brought unity to the concept of wealth. He has provided a roadmap for creating both personal wealth, effective teams, and an organization that creates not only economic value, but ennobles the human spirit.
Barbarians to Bureaucrats: Corporate Life Cycle Strategies
There is no one right leadership style. The longer one spends studying successful organizations and their leaders, the more one is struck by the diversity of leadership style. There is a common thread among successful leaders. Style matches strategy. The style of the leader is linked to the behavior required of employees and the strategic response to the environment.
Many books have been written on the situational nature of leadership. One, which I wrote a few years ago, is Barbarians to Bureaucrats: Corporate Life Cycle Strategies. The book defines different leadership styles and their relationship to stages of an organization's life cycle. Largely based on Arnold Toynbee’s epic study of the rise and fall of 23 civilizations, the rise and fall of cultures, I have over-laid that pattern over the rise and fall of corporations and found the parallels in leadership styles, behavior and culture.
Reviews
"Excellent provocative thoughts about leadership, which prod the reader to think for oneself rather than accept a simplistic, Atilla-the-Hun -- like answer." Dallas Times Herald
"Thought-provoking . . . . Anyone in a position to influence the direction of their company should make this book a No. 1 priority on his or her reading list." Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"One day your sluggish company will taken to the sound of a beating drum and the sight of a competitor approaching at ramming speed. On deck will be a jut-jawed Barbarian....He will hardly blink as his target is ripped asunder, sending Aristocrats, Bureaucrats and their unfortunate shipmates to their corporate death....So goes Mr. Miller's tale, from which we can all profit." The Wall Street Journal
American Spirit: Visions of A New Corporate Culture
Written at the time of the greatest fascination with Japanese management, this is a look into the culture and soul of this country and a search for the key principles that led to a vibrant economy. I suggest that a return to these core principles is still a basis for sound management and leadership. American Spirit was used by Honda of America for many years as a definition of the Honda Way and the principles in the book were used to evaluate their management practices.
Team Management
This manual, co-authored with Jennifer Howard, is still available, was the core training material for the Miller Howard Consulting Group, my former company. This manual was revised many times in a collaborative effort by all the consultants who were on-the-spot implementing Team Management. It covers the basic skills and concepts of implementing teams and the core management strategy in the organization.
Change Management: Creating the Dynamic Organization through Whole System Architecture
This manual is a step-by-step guide to re-engineering and re-designing the “whole-system” of an organization. It is a practical guidebook to the process of managing change in the organization.
From Management To Leadership
This little book was published by Executive Excellence publications and a brief distillation of some of the key concepts of team management and whole-systems thinking.