Reviews

The Open Organization: Igniting Passion and Performance by Jim Whitehurst, Gary Hamel

jurgenappelo's review against another edition

4.0

Inspiring, but not very concrete

wesleymiles's review against another edition

1.5

Overall, this book helped me understand Red Hat and its history. As an employee, I was happy to see familiar names mentioned. However, currently the company feels MUCH less differentiated among other tech giants as the author suggests.

mykolas_p's review against another edition

4.0

An easy to read book that introduces open-source inspired organisational model and managerial mindset. A writer, CEO of Red Hat, explains how to build participative organisation - loosely coupled network of empowered 'associates' with a very candid communication.
Open organization is based on two main principles: 1) empower everyone in the organisation to make decisions, 2) build a culture based on merit rather than corporate ladder. The author gives some nice examples of how to build, strengthen, and harvest such culture.
A recommended book to read for those dissatisfied with traditional 'govern and control' enterprise structures.
Also, read Creativity, Inc (by Pixar's CEO Ed Catmull) that goes more into cultural elements (e.g cantor in the organisation).

florina's review against another edition

5.0

I’ve joined Red Hat last year but only got the chance to read the book of our CEO now.
Happy to see what lays behind the amazing culture that makes me love my job.

edsantiago's review

4.0

Full disclosure: I work at Red Hat so I'm likely to be biased. But yeah, this is it. This is how it ought to be and so seldom is.