Anyone who still mistakenly believes that business journalism is boring should read Judi Bevan's The Rise & Fall of Marks&Spencer...And How It Rose Again.
It's an exciting read, free of unexplained jargon or dull passages.
Bevan focuses on the various personalities of Marks& Spencer management and the effect their orders have on the workforce and the profits, from the scary Simon Marks (M&S chairman 1916-64) to current chief executive Sir Stuart Rose.
She also makes clear how important M&S is to the Establishment and the middle class, and shows how important a good corporate culture is for a business.
M&S prospered when the company was unique and staff felt they were valued, falling into decline under Sir Richard Greenbury, with wonderful tales of boardroom show-downs.
The recovery under Luc Vandevelde reveals a variety of shrewed business moves and company restructuring.
The Rise & Fall of Marks& Spencer...And How It Rose Again is £9 from Profile Books, and I highly recommend a read. It's an excellent tale of how management can make or break a business.
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