Our Iceberg Is Melting

Our Iceberg Is Melting

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. “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 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. "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 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 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 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.” —C HRIS H AND C ITIGROUP G LOBAL A CCOUNT V ICE P RESIDENT A VAYA C ORPORATION “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.” —R ICHARD J. K OSINSKI C ATEGORY D EVELOPMENT O FFICER Y AHOO , I NC . “Our Iceberg Is Melting is fantastic—offbeat, but right on. We should make everyone in Washington, D.C., read it.” —J OHN B ATTEN E XECUTIVE V ICE P RESIDENT T WIN D ISC , I NC . “I came across Our Iceberg Is Melting in May, ordered and distributed si