Why Women Mean Business - Understanding the Emergence of Our next Economic Revolution

"A timely contribution to the increasingly vocal debate about the economic importance of women. It is refreshing to read the authors' comprehensive analysis of gender as a business issue, not a women's issue... We can't make the future happen unless women help the men adjust."
 
Niall FitzGerald KBE, Chairman, Reuters, in his foreword
 

"This excellent book asks every leader in the public or private sector to act on Gender as a Strategic Business Imperative... The emerging force of women in the 21st century is part of a major social and economic change which has to be acknowledged by any organisation looking for a competitive edge."
 
Larry Hirst, General Manager, IBM UK
 

"An important contribution to a serious business and political issue. It reframes the gender debate, providing pragmatic and realistic tools to harness the potential of women globally."
 
Vivienne Cox, Executive Vice President and CEO of Gas, Power & Renewables and Shipping, BP
 

"Leveraging the power of women, as business executives and as consumers, is one of the greatest challenges and opportunities for companies. This book presents powerful arguments to commit significant resources and management thinking to that cause."
 
Gerald Lema, President, Asia Pacific, Baxter International
 

"Why Women Mean Business is able to push the discussion from 'let's fix the women' to a powerful new source of economic growth. Not only does it give a bright roadmap with 'how to do' tips but more importantly it shows the shift in 'how to think' that is required."
 
Peter Bakker, CEO, TNT

List of contents

Foreword by Niall FitzGerald KBE.
 
Preface by Michael Kimmel.
 
Acknowledgements.
 
CHAPTER ONE: WOMENOMICS.
 
Guarantors of Growth.
 
The Strategic Side of the Gender Divide.
 
Opportunity Cost.
 
Valuing Difference.
 
Becoming "Gender-Bilingual".
 
Declining Demographics is not Destiny.
 
21st Century Forces: Weather, Women, Web.
 
CHAPTER TWO: MOST OF THE TALENT.
 
The "Talent Wars" are Here.
 
Female Brainpower.
 
Under-used Talent.
 
The Role of Business Schools.
 
Tapping into the Pool.
 
Recruiting: Making Women Welcome.
 
Retaining: Structural Repairs Needed.
 
Promoting: Return on Investment.
 
Building Better Boards.
 
Legislating Solutions - the Controversial Quota.
 
CHAPTER THREE: MUCH OF THE MARKET.
 
Purchasing Power - Beyond Parity.
 
Female Finances.
 
Sex and Segmentation.
 
The Many Faces of Marketing to Women.
 
Shut-your Eyes.
 
Marginalise.
 
Specialise.
 
Prioritise.
 
CHAPTER FOUR: BECOMING "BILINGUAL", WHAT COMPANIES CAN DO.
 
A Fresh Look at Traditional Approaches to Gender.
 
Equal and Different.
 
Diversity Dilemmas.
 
Recognise that "Best" is Biased.
 
Surprising Sectors.
 
A New Approach to Gender.
 
Understand the Starting Point.
 
Personalise the Conversation.
 
Manage the Metaphors - The Power of Vocabulary and Vision.
 
The Building Blocks of Bilingualism.
 
1. "Getting it": Top Management Commitment.
 
2. Management Bilingualism: Proactively Managing Difference.
 
3. Empowering Women: The Knowledge and Networks to Succeed.
 
4. Banning Bias: Identifying and Eliminating Systemic Bias from Corporate Systems and Processes.
 
CHAPTER FIVE: SEVEN STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION.
 
Key Success Factors
 
1. Awaken Your Leadership Team.
 
2. Define the Business Case.
 
3. Let People Express Resistance.
 
4. Make it a Business Issue, not a Women's Issue.
 
5. Make Changes Before Making Noise.
 
6. Don't Mix up the Messages.
 
7. Give it a Budget, not just Volunteers.
 
CHAPTER SIX: CULTURE COUNTS, WHAT COUNTRIES CAN DO.
 
Making Bosses and Babies.
 
Best and Worst: Surprising Results.
 
Imperfect Deal in America.
 
Continents of Contrast.
 
Public Policy Pull, Private Sector Push.
 
CHAPTER SEVEN: FIGURING OUT FEMALES.
 
What Companies Need to Know About Women.
 
Discomfort with "Politics".
 
The Conversations that Matter.
 
Careers are not Straight Lines.
 
Phase 1: Ambition.
 
Phase 2: Culture Shock.
 
Phase 3: Self-affirmation.
 
The Lure of Entrepreneurship.
 
Alternative Views of "Power".
 
Sex, Success and the Media.
 
Change Agents on their Own Terms.
 
CHAPTER EIGHT: TOMORROW'S TALENT TRENDS ... TODAY, "WOMEN-FRIENDLY" MEANS "PEOPLE-FRIENDLY".
 
New Models of Work.
 
Fathers Count Too.
 
Technology as Enabler.
 
The Value of "Grey" Brainpower.
 
Making the Most of the "Me" Generation.
 
The Future is Already Here.
 
CHAPTER NINE: CONCLUSION, FROM BETTER BUSINESS TO A BETTER WORLD?
 
New Voices, New Choices.
 
New Measures of Success.
 
A Challenge for Business.
 
Index.

Report

"This powerful new book analyses the opportunities available to companies that really understand what motivates women in the workplace..." (Women-omics.com, October 9th 2008)
 
"Wittenberg-Cox & Maitland have opened new ground (and) added a useful dimension to the debate" Management Today, February 2008)
 
"Offers many fascinating findings on the roles of women today... a highly collaborative book" (People Management, Thursday 7th February 2008)
 
"...a cheering alternative to the traditional whinge about men holding women back in the workplace" (Financial World, February 2008)
 
"step-by-step guide for mangers on how to create growth by valuing the input of both women and men" (theglasshammer.com. Tuesday 5th February 2008)
 
" need Maitland and Wittenberg-Cox to spell out the persistence of "soft" barriers and spur the politicians to demand reforms." (commentisfree.guardian.co.uk)
 
"At least someone is talking sense, and we shouldn't be surprised that it's a woman." (Scotland On Sunday, Monday 11th February 2008)
 
"Why Women Mean Business is an innovative and stimulating book." (Financial Times, Tuesday 26th February 2008)
 
"[The authors] make a convincing case for more women in senior business roles. The case is supported by sound research." (Financial Times, Thursday 28th February 2008)
 
"...offers practical advice, backed up by case studies and statistics." (Director, March 2008)
 
"This powerful new book brings together...the multiplicity of opportunities available to companies that really understand what motivates women..." (The Business Channel Newsletter, March 2008)
 
"...this book lays out the importance of retaining women in senior leadership positions, and the dangers of ignoring half the talent pool." (Harper's Bazaar, April 2008)
 
"The authors have been meticulous in their research, with an impressive collection of up-to-date, relevant case studies and statistics." (Personnel Today, Tuesday 1st April 2008)
 
"Why and how to improve women's place in business leadership". (International Herald Tribune, Friday 4th April 2008)
 
"The book is a comprehensive understanding of the emergence of women as the next economic revolution". (TNT Link newsletter, March 2008)

Product details

• Authors: Alison Maitland, Alison (FT) Maitland, Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, Avivah (DIAFORA) Wittenberg-Cox
• Publisher: Wiley & Sons
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 04.02.2008
• EAN: 9780470725085
• ISBN: 978-0-470-72508-5
• No. of pages: 349
• Dimensions: 140 mm x 221 mm x 26 mm
• Weight: 576 g
• Subject: Social sciences, law, business > Business > Management