The SQUEEZE: In today’s economy, companies are required to become value creators. Companies must generate different forms of value which include emotional, experiential, social, and financial. It is a path that companies must take in order to increase their competitive edge long-term. It is for this reason that Sisodia, Sheth, and Wolfe have proposed methods for companies to help create and drive value. In “Firms of Endearment: How World-Class Companies Profit from Passion and Purpose,” the authors explain how companies can increase their “loyalty” objectives, from marketing to recruitment. The book provides both practical guidance and a blueprint for bringing joy, empathy, soulfulness, and authenticity to the workplace. In an era of “corporate social responsibility,” this book is a must-read for companies desiring to increase their product value as well as employee loyalty.

Notable Endorsement: “Through a series of real-life vignettes from well-known companies, the 11 brief, well-written chapters compellingly argue that many of today's successful businesses foster intrinsic cultures that embrace values for the stakeholders as well as the shareholders; for them, it is more th[a]n just politically correct, it is the only way. This is a book that every undergraduate and every business leader should be required to read.” -- S. R. Kahn, University of Cincinnati

Common Q’s Answered by this Book:

• What is “firm of endearment”? 
• What is “stakeholder relationship management”? 
• What are the five primary stakeholders of a business?
• Who are the defenders of a stock-holder-biased business model?
• What is an example of a valid strategy for building shareholder value?
• What are the ways companies can bring authenticity and joy to the workplace?

About the Author: Rajendra S. Sisodia is the founding director of Bentley College’s Center for Marketing Technology. Sisodia is a marketing professor who has published nearly 100 journal articles in Harvard Business Review, Journal of Marketing, and Journal of Business Research. Sisodia also writes frequently for the Wall Street Journal. Sisodia’s research ranges from strategic marketing, marketing ethics, stakeholder-based marketing, and marketing productivity. He was recently cited as one of “50 Leading Marketing Thinkers” (Chartered Institute of Marketing, 2003). Sisodia holds a doctorate degree in marketing and business policy. Jagdish N. Sheth is a Charles H. Kellstadt Professor of Marketing. Sheth teaches at Emory University’s Goizuet Business School. Sheth is internationally known for his scholarly contributions that include studies of consumer behavior, competitive strategy, and geopolitical analysis. Sheth co-authored a book with Sisodia titled “The Rule of Three” (Free Press, 2002). The book to date has been translated into multiple languages. In 2004, Sheth received the Richard D. Irwin Distinguished Marketing Educator Award and the Charles Coolidge Parlin Award. David B. Wolfe is the author of “Serving the Ageless Market” (McGraw-Hill, 1990) and “Ageless Marketing: Strategies for Connecting with the Hearts and Minds of the New Customer Majority” (Dearborn Publishing, 2003). Wolfe is internationally recognized for his studies on customer behavior, with an emphasis on the middle-age and older markets. Wolfe publishes extensively in both United States and global publications and his client list includes American Express, Coca-Cola, General Motors, and Hartford Insurance. For more information about the authors and the book, visit:

http://www.firmsofendearment.com/index.html

Book Vitals:

Publisher: Pearson Prentice Hall (February 2007)