Authors: Chris Brady and David Bolchover
Price: £14.99
Publisher: Prentice Hall
Pages: 320
ISBN: 0273708308
When I first saw the title of this book, I must confess I confused it with the best-selling One Minute Manager by Blanchard and Johnson. I was soon feeling disappointed as I read through the pages, as The 90-Minute Manager was not of the same calibre.
The book refers to football and argues that football is a model of real business management that can provide useful insights, and is not simply an extended metaphor. The authors suggest business is now making the journey football did many years ago – the journey towards the ultimate realisation of the importance of the manager.
The authors’ argument that the issues that confront modern organisations are the same that football teams face is not convincing. There are undoubtedly some issues from football that are relevant to business management, and Bolchover and Brady regularly make this connection.
However, where these links are brought in, the authors explore them only briefly and rather superficially.
It is clear that the authors have a large amount of knowledge about football managers and a love for the game, and this is conveyed in an easy-to-read, enjoyable way.
The book may be useful for the development of football managers and may assist followers of football to engage with some of the concepts of business management at a basic level.
I found it provided me with a few insights into business management, but by the endI was still left feeling rather disappointed.
Useful? One out of five stars
Well-written? Three out of five stars
Practical? Two out of five stars
Inspirational? Two out of five stars
Value for money? One out of five stars
Overall? Two out of five stars
Reviewed by Dr Jonathan Smith, senior lecturer, Ashcroft International Business School, Anglia Ruskin University
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