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Library | Item Barcode | Call Number | Material Type | Item Category 1 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Searching... | 30000010290614 | QH457 S53 2010 | Open Access Book | Book | Searching... |
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Summary
Summary
Are you a born entrepreneur or a born leader, possessing innate characteristics that somehow you better than others at these important business activities? Although most observers give little attention to how genetics affects your behavior in the work world, your DNA accounts for over one third of the difference between you and your co-workers on many dimensions of your work life, from how satisfied you are at work to how you make decisions to how much money you make.Because genes matter, understanding how they affect your behavior is important. That's where this book comes in. It discusses how your genes influence your work interests, work values, decision making, risk taking, management style, leadership style, creativity, entrepreneurship, and work performance, among other aspects of your work life. This book will help you understand why you do what you do, and help you to make the most of what "you've got" - your skills, your personality, your attitude, and so on. It will help you to find the right job fit for your innate preferences. Moreover, by providing you with an understanding of how genetics influences your behavior, the book will help you to act in ways contrary to your "nature." Finally, the book will help you to figure out how to best influence the behavior of your employees and coworkers, by designing incentives and changes to the work place that fit people's genetic predisposition.
Author Notes
Scott Shane is the A. Malachi Mixon III Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies at Case Western Reserve University. A world renowned expert in management and entrepreneurship, Dr. Shane has conducted extensive research on numerous aspects of business, including the effect of genetics on entrepreneurial behavior. He is the author or editor of fourteen books, including the widely acclaimed Illusions of Entrepreneurship, which was ranked by Amazon.com's editors as one of the top ten business and finance books of 2008. He previously served on the faculties of University of Maryland, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Georgia Institute of Technology, and as a visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine in London and National University of Singapore. Shane was the 2009 winner of the Global Award for Entrepreneurship Research Award, the most prestigious award for scholarship in the entrepreneurship field.
Reviews 2
Publisher's Weekly Review
Bored at work? Prone to taking dangerous risks on the job? A control freak? Your genes may be to blame, argues economics professor Shane in this analysis of how our professional destinies are influenced by our genetic and hormonal makeup. Particularly intriguing are his discussions of how individuals might be variously hardwired to be altruistic, to job-hop, desire high-powered careers, take risks, and manage in highly idiosyncratic styles. Shane's findings may have a practical component, as a wider understanding of genetics may require companies to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions used to enhance employee performance, such as incentive plans and training. Buttressed by fascinating research and reasonable interpretations, the book reveals how and why some of us seem to be "born" leaders, creative types, communicators, or entrepreneurs. If the book has a failing, it's accessibility: though the author makes a laudable attempt to reach a broad audience, some scientific discussions might prove too esoteric. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Choice Review
Shane (Case Western Reserve Univ.; The Illusions of Entrepreneurship, CH, Dec'08, 46-2184) provides a remarkably balanced, well-reasoned, and evidence-supported argument and explanation for what potentially affects up to one-third of the differences among employees, namely, genetic factors. He writes carefully to explain that genetic factors do not determine work-related behaviors but rather influence the tendency to behave in particular ways. Shane acknowledges the important and significant role of nongenetic factors in influencing work behaviors. He relies on published research yet writes in a clear, lively, accessible manner. Shane effectively advocates for the value, or importance, of considering how genetic factors influence the odds that any particular person will take on entrepreneurial pursuits, exhibit leadership, show creativity and innovation, and exhibit effective job performance. People who strongly believe in the ability of people to greatly change, learn, improve, and influence their life should find this book helpful and encouraging--and find it not contrary to their view. Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers, upper-division and graduate students, faculty, researchers, and practitioners. J. J. Bailey University of Idaho
Table of Contents
| Acknowledgments | p. ix |
| 1 Introduction | p. 1 |
| 2 DNA at Work: Your Genes and Organizational Behavior | p. 16 |
| 3 Why That Job? The Genetic Foundations of Your Work Interests | p. 42 |
| 4 Happy at Work? How Your Genes Affect Your Job Satisfaction | p. 68 |
| 5 Instinctive Choices: Genetic Influences on Decision Making | p. 81 |
| 6 DNA at the Office: How Your Genes Affect Your Management Style | p. 100 |
| 7 Born Leaders? How Your Genes Influence Your Approach to Leadership | p. 121 |
| 8 Creative Genius? Your Genetic Predisposition for Creativity and Innovation | p. 137 |
| 9 Born Entrepreneurs? How Your Genes Affect Your Tendency to Start Companies | p. 148 |
| 10 Good Workers, Bad Workers: How Your Genes Influence Your Job Performance and Your Income | p. 166 |
| 11 Your Genes Matter! So what? | p. 182 |
| Notes | p. 203 |
| Index | p. 255 |
