New book examines how values drive business success

Today, values have become the new buzzword in business schools and corporate boardrooms across the nation. In his new book The Soul of an Organization: Understanding the Values That Drive Successful Corporate Cultures, (Dearborn Trade Publishing, November 2002, paperback, $19.95), Gallagher explores the way in which these values not only contribute to but determine business excellence and long-term success, using examples from firms such as Wendy's, Southwest Airlines, Dell Computer and many others.

Chicago - Today, values have become the new buzzword in business schools and corporate boardrooms across the nation. Your values, and not your business practices, are what drive your success," affirms management consultant Richard Gallagher. In a world where 98 percent of organizations are fixated on the mechanics of their business, knowing this secret is perhaps the most strategic competitive factor in todays marketplace," he adds. In his new book The Soul of an Organization: Understanding the Values That Drive Successful Corporate Cultures, (Dearborn Trade Publishing, November 2002, paperback, $19.95), Gallagher explores the way in which these values not only contribute to but determine business excellence and long-term success.

In The Soul of an Organization, Gallagher shares his process for building a business culture that succeeds, no matter what the size of the organization. Beginning with real-life examples that demonstrate the power of cultural values, the book examines:

-How to gauge an organizations cultural strengths and weaknesses using a simple diagnostic test
-Seven core traits that drive modern business culture - and profiles of specific organizations who practice them
-How business cultures typically evolve over time - and why they succeed or fail
-Why cultural values can single-handedly make or break mergers, acquisitions and business expansions
-How existing business cultures can grow and change for the better

According to Gallagher, This book takes a fresh approach to the age-old question of how businesses succeed, by looking at how core values drive the success of nearly 100 leading firms worldwide, including Southwest Airlines, Wendys, Dell Computers, American Express and the U.S. Marines." Now readers can use the same tools and guiding philosophies to increase their organizations productivity, growth, employee satisfaction and profits.

The Soul of an Organization has already drawn rave reviews from business authorities nationwide, including bestselling FISH! co-author Harry Paul, CRM industry publisher Carolyn Healey, hospitality industry author and Cornell professor Florence Berger, and many others.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rich Gallagher is a leading authority on customer service and support operations, and has been called one of the founding fathers of modern customer support" by one of its leading professional societies. He has authored four nationally published business titles, including Smile Training Isnt Enough, a selection of the Executive Program Book Club, and Delivering Legendary Customer Service.

Gallagher has been part of the management team of four companies that grew over 100% in the past 15 years. His lengthy management career includes helping to lead a West Coast software startup to become a major NASDAQ firm as its director of customer services, as well as leading another major software call center to near-perfect customer satisfaction ratings and near-zero turnover. He has developed corporate training materials for Fortune 500 clients, Dale Carnegie, and others, and is a veteran of numerous speaking engagements, media appearances and corporate workshops.

The Soul of an Organization: Understanding the Values That Drive Successful Corporate Cultures ($19.95, 256 pages, 6 x 9, softcover, ISBN: 0-7931-5780-3) is available at neighborhood and online booksellers or by calling 800-242-4941. Dearborn, a Kaplan Professional Company, is the nations premier trainer and information provider for business and financial leaders committed to profiting from breakthrough ideas.

CONTACT:
Courtney Goethals, Publicist
Dearborn Trade Publishing
1-800-621-9621, ext. 4322
goethals@dearborn.com