Working with Values in Organizations - by Humphrey Bourne (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Many contemporary organizations claim to be "values-led". But what is the role of these values, where do they come from and how they are enacted in practice?

Humphrey Bourne helps leaders and managers navigate values from inception to incorporation. Exploring the tensions between the values championed by organisations versus what they actually practice, the book uses real-life stories and examples to illustrate the ways in which values do or don't work in context.

Grounded in up-to-date research, the book will help both those researching values and practitioners work with values that fit the needs of their organization.

Review Quotes

'An incisive account of the shift towards values work, providing a compelling and forward-looking agenda for understanding values in organizations in the age of AI.' Joel Gehman, George Washington University

'It really is a powerful idea that intentional Values Work, explored here through Bourne's evidence-based insights and practical tools, can get everybody on the same page about what actually matters.' Kate Dawson, Healthy Settings

'Values ought to anchor us; helping us to avoid the flotsam and jetsam of organisational life. Yet, they are slippery - easy to say and difficult to practise. This book not only acknowledges this ambivalence, but positively embraces the contested terrain by offering multiple routes to practise and embody the values we cherish.'

Caroline Clarke, The Open University

'I wish this book had been available from the start of my work with values and later when I had more experience. It would have saved me a lot of time and heartache!' Angela Hayday, Former Associate Director of Organisational & People Development, NHS

'There is no longer an excuse for leaders to approach values in organisations superficially. Based in decades of research and practical application, this book provides a comprehensive guide to the subtleties of working with values in practice, making this an essential handbook for leaders and professionals.' Graham Abbey, Farleigh Performance

About the Author

Humphrey Bourne is Honorary Associate Professor in the University of Bristol, where he previously lectured in strategic management. His research interests focus on values and he has helped a number of organizations tailor values to suit their situation.

Prior to an academic career, he worked in sales management and as a management training consultant. His career changed following an MBA, which drew him into higher education, and a PhD which initiated his interest in values research.