The Challenge Culture: Why the Most Successful Organizations Run on Pushback

Travis, chairman and CEO of Dunkin’ Brands, shares his management philosophy in this entertaining and informative business manual. In the course of discussing how to foster a healthy corporate culture, he relates both personal successes and failures from his career at Dunkin’ and other companies. In the latter category, the book covers his earlier experiences heading Blockbuster, when the video rental giant struggled but ultimately failed to respond effectively to such competitors as Netflix and Redbox. The key to Dunkin’ Donuts’ recent success, Travis states, has been its ability to respond to competitor challenges by becoming more flexible and willing to embrace challenges rather than avoid them. To do that, business leaders must cultivate a “challenge culture” that allows employees to question long-held assumptions and normal operating procedures without fear of punishment. Something as simple as an informal coffee chat, Travis avers, can provide workers with a forum in which to be heard. Smart and insightful, this work offers an insider’s account of the leadership approach behind a successful global brand that executives in any industry can emulate. (Sept.)