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Plain Talk

Lessons from a Business Maverick
4.35 goodreads logo

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( 276 ratings, 34 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Plain Talk by Ken Iverson delves into the innovative management practices at Nucor Corporation, a leading steel producer. The book explores how the company’s unique culture, which emphasizes simplicity, decentralization, and employee empowerment, has driven its success. It provides insights into effective leadership and organisation strategies in the context of business and entrepreneurship.
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Format: Hardback
$7399
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you're intrigued by business transformation and effective management strategies, this inspirational work offers unique insights into leadership and innovation. Its focus on transparent communication and practical decision-making can be especially appealing to those interested in how straightforward approaches can lead to extraordinary results in business.

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A visionary, maverick, and genuine American business hero, Ken Iverson is one of the most closely-watched business leaders in the world.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A visionary, maverick, and genuine American business hero, Ken Iverson is one of the most closely-watched business leaders in the world. Credited with single-handedly rejuvenating the rapidly declining American steel industry to the status of a world-class producer, Iverson is one of the most successful and, as he likes to point out, one of the lowest-paid CEOs in the U.S.

In his long-awaited book, Plain Talk, Ken Iverson shares his ideas, observations, and the lessons he's learned about what it takes to grow a super-competitive, world-class organisation.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Plain Talk by Ken Iverson is praised for its insightful examination of leadership and business innovation. Reviewers commend Iverson's ability to demonstrate how to succeed in a competitive global economy through practical ideas proven in Nucor's success story. The book is seen as a valuable resource for executives, offering clear analysis and motivation techniques that have contributed to Nucor's exceptional performance.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780471155140

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 04 November 1997

Country: United States

Imprint: John Wiley & Sons Inc

Contributors:

  • Foreword by Warren Bennis
  • With Tom Varian
  • Foreword by Warren Bennis

Audience: General / adult, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 213.0mm

Weight: 318g

Pages: 208

About the Author

F. KENNETH IVERSON was raised in Downers Grove, Illinois. After earning a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from Cornell and a master's degree in mechanical engineering at Purdue, Iverson started his career as a research physicist and held several technical and management positions in the metals industry.
He joined Nuclear Corporation of America as a vice president in 1962. When Nuclear Corporation faced bankruptcy in 1965, the board elevated Iverson, then thirty-nine years old, to President and placed the company’s future in his hands. He focused the failing company on two businessesβ€”fabricating joists from steel (to be used in nonresidential construction) and making steel itself from recycled metal scrap. In 1972, Nuclear Corporation changed its name to Nucor Corporation. Today, Nucor is America’s third-largest steel maker.
Iverson has served on the boards of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Wachovia Corporation. President Bush awarded him the National Medal of Technology, America’s highest award for technological achievement.

TOM VARIAN is a principal of Strategic Communications Services in Mooresville, North Carolina. His clients include Johnson & Johnson, 3M, and the Special Projects Group at FORTUNE magazine.

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