Our Iceberg Is Melting by John P. Kotter, John Kotter

Most of the denizens of the Antarctic penguin colony sneer at Fred, the quiet but observant scout who detects worrying signs that their home, an iceberg, is melting. Fred must cleverly convince and enlist key players, such as Louis, the head penguin; Alice, the number two bird; the intractable weather expert, NoNo; and a passel of school-age penguins, if he is to save the colony. Their delightfully told journey illuminates in an unforgettable way how to manage the necessary change that surrounds us all. Simple explanatory material following the fable enhances the lasting value of these lessons. Our Iceberg is Melting is at once charming, accessible and profound-a treat for virtually any listener. Editorial Reviews Amazon com Review About the Author John Kotter has been on the faculty at Harvard Business School since 1972. He is the author of eleven award-winning titles and frequently gives speeches and seminars at Harvard and around the world. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Holger Rathgeber spent his early professional career in Asia. He has worked in industry since the early 1990's and is now with one of the leading medical technology companies, Bectom Dickinson. Raised in Frankfurt, Germany, Rathgeber currently resides in White Plains, New York. Watch a video clip featuring author John Kotter --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From AudioFile In a penguin colony in Antarctica, a curious bird discovers that the iceberg the colony lives on is melting. His task is to convince the other birds and to come up with a plan to save the colony. The story is intended to be a fable for the business world as it faces change. And therein lies the dilemma. The fable is so long that many listeners will wonder what the point is. Finally, the authors list strategies for coping with change. Oliver Wyman reads well, and there is an interview with the authors at the end of the audiobook, which is especially helpful for people who won't be discussing the book in a group. R.C.G. ® AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. Review This is the easiest to read yet most informative book I have ever seen. Setting one of management's biggest challenges, 'what problem, I don't see a problem,' in the context of a melting iceberg and a determined penguin, was a stroke of sheer genius. --Michael Dimelow, Director of Product Marketing, TTP Communications I came across Our Iceberg is Melting in May, ordered and distributed 60 copies in June, evaluated its effect on our change effort, and then ordered 500 more copies in September. This is a gem.-Heidi King, Program Manager, Dept. of Defense --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From the Back Cover I came across Our ICEBERG IS MELTING in May, ordered and dsitributed 60 copies in June, evaluated its effect on our change effort, and then ordered 500 more copies in September. This is a gem. -- Heidi King, Program Manager, Dept. of Defense As a result of the book and my sharing it with a few people in the organization, we have moved quickly on several fronts. We are galvanized to go ahead instead of further studying, more organizing and so on. It is making a difference for us. -- Tom Curley, President and CEO, Associated Press This is the easiest to read yet most informative book I have ever seen. Setting one of management's biggest challenges, 'what problem, I don't see a problem,' in the context of a melting iceberg and a determined penguin, was a stroke of sheer genius.-- Michael Dimelow, Director of Product Marketing, TTP Communications PLC --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From Publishers Weekly Harvard Business School professor Kotter, author of the bestselling Leading Change (1996), teams up with executive Rathgeber to offer his contribution to the business fable genre. Kotter presents his framework for an effective corporate change initiative through the tale of a colony of Antarctic penguins facing danger-inspired, perhaps, by today's real-life global warming crisis (or, perhaps, by March of the Penguins' box office). Under the leadership of one particularly astute bird, a small team of penguins with varied personalities and leadership skills implement a thoughtful plan for coaxing the other birds in their colony through a time of necessary but wrenching change. The logic of Kotter's fictional framework is wobbly at times-his characters live and act very much like real penguins except that one carries a briefcase and another (the Professor) cites articles from scholarly journals-and the whimsical tone will not be to everyone's taste. However, this light, quick read should fulfill its intended purpose: to serve as a springboard for group discussions about corporate culture, group dynamics and the challenges of change. Copyright ® Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. About the Author John Kotter has been on the faculty at Harvard Business School since 1972. He is the author of eleven award-winning titles and frequently gives speeches and seminars at Harvard and around the world. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Holger Rathgeber spent his early professional career in Asia. He has worked in industry since the early 1990s and is now with one of the leading medical technology companies, Bectom Dickinson. Raised in Frankfurt, Germany, Rathgeber currently resides in White Plains, New York. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. Excerpt. ® Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. What People Are Saying Our Iceberg Is Melting is superb. It embodies powerful messages that can help a broad audience. It covers all the steps to success in a changing world, from finding the substantial issues, aligning with a potent champion, charting the course, getting buy-in, dealing with those who want no change, and so on. -CHRIS HAND CITIGROUP GLOBAL ACCOUNT VICE PRESIDENT AVAYA CORPORATION Never have I read a parable in a business book that took a complex issue like change management and distilled it down into a simple story for all to understand. This is the ideal follow-on to Leading Change and The Heart of Change. A must-read for anyone dealing with managing change. -RICHARD J. KOSINSKI CATEGORY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER YAHOO, INC. Our Iceberg Is Melting is fantastic-offbeat, but right on. We should make everyone in Washington, D.C., read it. -JOHN BATTEN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT TWIN DISC, INC. I came across Our Iceberg Is Melting in May, ordered and distributed sixty copies in June, evaluated its effect on our change effort, and then ordered five hundred more copies in September. This is a gem. -HEIDI KING PROGRAM MANAGER DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE This is the easiest-to-read yet most informative book I have ever seen. Setting one of management's biggest challenges-'what problem, I don't see a problem'-in the context of a melting iceberg and a determined penguin was a stroke of sheer genius. -MICHAEL DIMELOW DIRECTOR, PRODUCT MARKETING TTP COMMUNICATIONS PLC I have followed Kotter's work for years, respect it greatly, use it with my clients, and know its unique power to help people and organizations perform better. This latest effort-this little penguin tale-is, in my opinion, the best and most useful book he has ever written. -ALAN FROHMAN PRESIDENT FROHMAN ASSOCIATES As a result of the book and my sharing it with a few people in the organization, we have moved quickly on several fronts. We are galvanized to go ahead instead of further studying, more organizing, and so on. It is making a difference for us. -TOM CURLEY PRESIDENT AND CEO ASSOCIATED PRESS It's a great book. It does an excellent job of communicating in a simple and humorous way the key challenges of leading change. We can easily identify with the characters. It allows a light-hearted discussion of very difficult issues. -DEB KARSTETTER EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT ABD INSURANCE & FINANCIAL SERVICES When I was a child in France, I was first introduced to the French classic The Little Prince. I reread this marvelous book while in college and many times since as an adult. It is a book that keeps me growing and thinking. I can see Our Iceberg Is Melting becoming The Little Prince for the twenty-first century. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.