As we celebrate World Book Day, we are delighted to highlight brand new books from our world-leading academics here at Saïd Business School.
Interested in how business leaders and policy makers can improve our lives and spread happiness across the world? Could you do with a how-to go guide for subverting the norm and achieving huge wins, all with minimal resource? Or would you like to delve deep into your social brain, so you can create dynamic, happy and high performing teams? If you’re interested, then read on …
Wellbeing: Science and Policy, by Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, Professor of Economics and Behavioural Science and Director of the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford.
This is the first field-defining book on the economics of wellbeing and authored alongside Lord Richard Layard (LSE). It is a foundational text on a new science that aims to span the whole of human life.
The book – with illustrations by visual artist David Shrigley – contains a wealth of insights and practical advice for researchers, policymakers and employers alike. It tackles important questions, including defining the term ‘wellbeing’, and explores how academic lessons can be applied by decision-makers in both business and public policy to improve life satisfaction.
Professor De Neve, also a co-founder of the not-for-profit World Wellbeing Movement, said: ‘The question of human happiness is one that has been explored by many, over very many years. Our book aims to serve not only as a cornerstone of this exciting new field of wellbeing – with its significant consequences for economics as we know it – but also as a call to action for more policy makers to sit up and take notice.’
The Four Workarounds, by Paulo Savaget Associate Professor of Engineering (Engineering Entrepreneurship) at Saïd Business School, a joint appointment with the Department of Engineering Science.
Professor Paulo Savaget primary fields of expertise are entrepreneurship, sustainable development, systems change, and innovation management. His new book, The Four Workarounds, draws on examples from social impact organisations who employ four particular workarounds: the piggyback, the loophole, the roundabout, and the next best.
Professor Paulo Savaget said: ‘For ages, global corporations have been lecturing small organizations and non-profits on how to get things done. As it turns out, valuable lessons about problem-solving can be learned from the scrappiest groups that have made an art form out of subverting the status quo and achieving massive wins with minimal resources. The Four Workarounds shows how seemingly intractable problems were addressed using unconventional tactics, and how these tactics can transform the ways we do business and approach the challenges we encounter in our daily lives.’
To find out more about the workarounds, join the Skoll Centre on the 10th March for a seminar with Paulo, Steve Naudé, Head of Wise Platform, and Professor Marya Besharov. Register for the next Insights for Action Seminar.
The Social Brain: the Psychology of Successful Group, by Tracey Camilleri and Samantha Rockey, Associate Fellows at Oxford Said Business School.
Associate Professors Tracey and Samantha wrote their book for those leaders who are curious about how to lead sustainable high performing, innovative and impactful groups of people.
Tracey commented: ‘Our book has come at a very important moment - leaders are required to be courageous in reimagining work for young people joining organisations, for a hybrid context and for an ever-changing and ever-challenging external landscape. We explores the ancient needs, gifts and challenges that underlie teamwork while at the same time provides a practical guide to new approaches to work and leadership that make the best use of our unique human gifts. By understanding the ‘social brain’, leaders will be better equipped to create - and sustain - successful groups.’
The book draws on Professor Robin Dunbar’s world-famous research, conversations with over forty leaders from across sectors and geographies and the practice and experience of working with hundreds of leaders over many years.
