Timeless Management

Today's managers are bombarded with a constant stream of management fads and fashions, each claiming to be the key to business success. In this new book Alan Coppin and John Barratt draw on their experience of managing change in the Historic Royal Palaces to show that successful management techniques are timeless, simple and based on common sense. Looking back through history at great leaders and organisations they identify concepts, ideas and applications that have proved themselves over time. They then demonstrate how these techniques are currently being applied to run and secure the future of multi-million pound institutions such as the Tower of London, Hampton Court and Kensington Palace. With a compelling mix of historical lesson and modern application this is an essential read for anyone looking for the essence of good management.

'The book is an excellent read and if it only improves the relationship with the people who make you successful (or not) a small amount, then it is time well spent. I spent some time considering how effective the behaviour illustrated in the book would be across the many borders and cultures that today's international and global companies span, and I am certain that it works - and works well.' - Francis Mackay, Chairman, Compass Group Plc and Kingfisher Plc

'Timeless Management is a fresh and distinctive contribution to the literature of management training - a work that is not simply a useful tool for the manager of today, but also a fascinating insight into our historic Royal Palaces and their occupants through the ages.' - Baroness Blackstone, Minister of State for the Arts

'Drawing on the lessons of history, Barratt and Coppin provide a fascinating insight into some of the enduring principles of good management. Rejecting both temporary fashions and fads...they advocate a more thoughtful and people-centred way of understanding and guiding high performing organisations.' - Professor Anthony Hopwood, Peter Moores Dean, Said Business School, Oxford University

'What a great read. This book is a down-to-earth, practical, common sense approach to management that is vastly superior to many other books I have read on the subject. It should be a best seller!' - Oliver Vaughan, Chairman Mountcashel, Chairman, The City Charity

'Given the weight of current management literature, one might be forgiven for thinking there's nothing new to be said. Barratt and Coppin confound this expectation...You'll enjoy reading it in the garden on a Sunday afternoon and benefit from putting it into practice in the office on Monday morning.' - Eddie Oliver, Partner, KPMG

'The principles promoted in this book are, indeed, timeless. The best managers won't learn from them, they will live them. They will also discover that there are few short cuts available to substitute for the experience that managing real situations will bring.' - Sir Neville Simms, Chairman, Carillion Plc; Chairman, International Power Plc; Director of the Bank of England; Governor of Ashridge

'Timeless Management oozes good sense - a valuable book for managers at all levels...It places the emphasis squarely on people and the nature of their interactions - as well as their need to feel comfortable, to belong, to understand and be valued.' - Professor Peter R. Crane FRS, Director, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

'So many of the practices of good management they advocate as appropriate for life in the 21st century are recognisable as aspects of good governance in the actions of others much earlier in history. I was also left wondering how many other businesses in the UK acted so promptly and with such vision to protect their viability and employees as has Historic Royal Palaces under Alan Coppin's leadership.' - Sir Rodney Walker, Chairman, UK Sports Council; English National Stadium Trust; West Yorkshire Broadcasting

'A comprehensive 'primer' for managers and anyone in a leadership position - it is highly readable and accessible, almost a manual; very clearly structured, with clear 'models'; and a remarkable and unusual use of historical figures. Part 3...is a very powerful section, describing how all this doctrine was applied to a real organisation undergoing change, and especially the post September 11th crisis. I lost count of the times I said to myself things like 'yes of course!' and 'I must remember that point' and 'that feels right!' - David Quarmby, Chairman, British Tourist Authority

'I found the work to be a refreshing change from the run of the mill academic and sterile management books...I was particularly taken with the concepts that make for good leadership that run through the book and especially the simple and uncluttered human understanding that can separate ordin

'I thoroughly recommend it to the learning manager, historically conscious individual and inquisitive mind alike.' - Anoop Maini MCMI, Professional Manager

'Timeless Management is an excellent and inspired read, and it is doubtful that anyone in today's changing world would not learn something useful from it.' - Patrick Walsh, Personnel Today

'Essential reading for anyone concerned with the essence of good management.' - Long Range Planning

ALAN COPPIN was formerly Chief Executive Officer of Historic Royal Palaces, Non-Executive Director of the UK's largest provider of education-related services and Honorary Visiting Professor of the Business School of the University of North London. Alan is a companion of the Institute of Management. His main career was in the private sector where he was a member of the Executive Board of a FTSE 100 company, and CEO of Wembley plc. He has over ten years experience as non-executive director of three other plcs, and was also a management consultant with KPMG and Chairman of a Training and Enterprise Council.

JOHN BARRATT is a leading change and renewal management specialist. He runs his own successful consultancy practice, Opsis, specializing in strategic change and renewal, leadership development, high performance, self-managing teams, and personal development. John has worked with Alan at Historic Royal Palaces and before that at Wembley plc. Over the years other clients have included Burger King, Debenhams, GEC Marconi, Glaxo, Hitachi, Levi Strauss, FPD Savills, and Zeneca. John can be contacted at johnb@opsisrenewal.ukf.net