Crossing the Divide

Crossing the Divide

How to get groups of people with different identities to come together and cooperate?

Author(s): sous la direction de Todd L. Pittinsky

Publisher: Harvard Business Press

Date of publication: 2009

Manageris opinion

This collective book is devoted to the challenge of getting groups of people with different identities to come together and cooperate. The scope is vast, spanning cooperation within the company, but also the inclusion of minorities, reconciliation between political parties, religious groups or conflicting populations, etc. The first chapter—relatively dry, but also highly enlightening—focuses on theoretical fundamentals. It is followed by five chapters suggesting potential courses of action, which are in turn followed by seven more chapters, each devoted to a case study. Each chapter was penned by a different author, and the result is addressed primarily to specialists; but managers seeking some perspective on the topic will find rich food for thought. Concerning the subject of cooperation within the company, we particularly enjoyed chapters 1 and 4, which provide useful theoretical foundations, as well as chapters 7 and 9, which provide helpful key action items.