Two hits in a row (see also previous post).
I admit that I am a bit of a politics nerd, but "The Powers Behind the Prime Minister" has a huge amount to offer for anyone interested in organisational dynamics.
The author describes in detail the inner workings of Number 10, the departments, their relative power and, most interestingly, the effect that the individual at the top has on the organisation.
Of course, the heart of government is a particularly intense organisation and the megalomania necessary to seek such an office, mean that career politicians are bound to be, well.. political, but there were loads of interesting lessons in the book from each government since the Second World War; from the support organisation that Churchill put in place when he returned to government in the fifties, through Heath's disciplined professional setup (proving that focusing on process alone without output is not enough) to the modern day (much expanded) office run for Mr Blair.
Another element of the book, that I had never really considered much, was the power of architecture and space in shaping the organisation within it - Number 10 has been confined by the building itself and has adapted accordingly. Compare it with The White House, the Kanzleramt or the Kremlin and it feels parochial.
As a study of power politics and the relationship between leaders and organisational culture, this book is simply outstanding!
