Tom Peter's Book Review-Thriving Chaos

“Thriving On Chaos”

by Tom Peters

In the Handbook For A Management Revolution “Thriving On Chaos”, author Tom Peters explains forty-five different, yet specific ‘suggestions’ or ‘prescriptions’ he proposes that companies should use in competitive situations. Also, in regard to each prescription, he has provided some relevant data, inclusive of case examples, summaries of other’s research, etc. The prescriptions have been categorized and concentrated into five essential strategic sections of management – Customer Responsiveness, Fast-Paced Innovation, Empowering People, Leadership and Building Systems.

According to Tom Peters, for business people having trouble with management, this book provides them with a challenge to bring about a ‘necessary revolution’ in the competitive, hence ‘chaotic’ world of business. Also, in order for this revolution to be accomplished, Peter’s handbook portrays his ideas as actions that managers at every level must employ with immediate effectiveness.

Peter initiates by discussing the accelerating decline in the American market as well as services, and their desperate need to change in the five different scenarios, as mentioned above. He uses an example of 3M to represent the growth of well-established companies, whereas he portrays the downside of companies like General Motors which lack the ability to cope with their competitors. However, Peter believes that there are no excellent companies.

Peter claims the unrevolutionized market to be ‘A World Turned Upside Down’. However, with the help of a simple table figure, he explains how the different aspects of management were or are, and offers prescriptions to each aspect of how they must become now. There are ten different facets of management to which he has provided prescriptions for - Marketing, International, Manufacturing, Sales and Service, Innovation, People, Structure, Leadership, Management Information Systems, Financial Management and Control....