REVIEWS

 “You can feel the pain in James Rieley's words when he describes what's wrong with many businesses.  I think that he feels the pain because he sees the problems more clearly than most observers of the business world and also because he knows how to fix them.  If you work for, or consult to, a dysfunctional company, you'll feel it too.  But all is not lost; Plain Talk About Business Performance gives the reader a practical path from mediocrity to good management.  The techniques he describes might seem simple and basic when viewed one at a time but they add up to a powerful program of action.  Take hope.  It hurts now but Dr. Rieley can make it all feel better.”   

Dwight Gertz, author of the best-selling Grow to Be Great: Breaking the Downsizing Cycle

" I have found the reading a well-articulated (from theory to practice) and powerful journey through the art of developing real leadership behaviour throughout organisations. It captures the essence of people by reinforcing the concept of sustained change being the result of a whole company effort and not limited to some individuals. A straight forward cure to the "procrastination syndrome " of non-value activities " 

Daniele Ferrarri, President, Huntsman Surface Sciences, Italy.

“I am only half way through, and it is excellent!”

Gunnar Vikstrom, Executive Vice President,  Lignotech/Boregaard, Sweden

“This book is more than "plain talk." It is clear, hard-hitting advice for business.  The timing couldn't be better: so many businesses are in dire need of extraordinary advice to get them on track. A very refreshing read to solve very critical problems.” 

Jaye Muller, co-founder, j2 Global Communications

“In Gaming the System, James Rieley artfully minimises the divide between business skills and common sense management practices. He shows depth and a belief in people and their needs in today's business arena that will strike a chord in every organisational development leader's heart.  Gaming the System should help readers to take greater responsibility for growing organisational effectiveness through communication, a focus on core capabilities, and shared vision." 

Marcia Bradley, Chief People Officer, Ericsson Wireless Communications, San Diego

"James Rieley has used a set of stories to illustrate very effectively the mistakes companies make in trying to make and enable change, and improve their results.  Rieley's examples are real, feel real, and therefore, demonstrate how employees react and what senior executives need to do differently in specific problem situations.  His summary, with a focus on using vision, understanding, and thinking systemically, is 'spot on' in suggesting solutions for dealing with the issues raised in the book.  We used these concepts very successfully in the transformation efforts at the Royal Dutch Shell group of companies." 

Mac McDonald, Director, Leadership and Performance Operations (LEAP) Shell (retired).

"This should be required reading for every CEO...or newly minted MBA.  The mechanistic things discussed at most Board meetings and taught in B-schools never get to the realities James B. Rieley describes."  

Michael Eisenbud, VP of Human Resources at Alstom.