The first book to teach storytelling as a powerful and formal discipline for organizational change and knowledge management. The book explains how organizations can use certain types of stories ("springboard" stories) to communicate new or envisioned strategies, structures, identities, goals, and values to employees, partners and even customers. Readers will learn techniques by which they can help their organizations become more unified, responsive, and intelligent. Storytelling is a management technique championed by gurus including Peter Senge, Tom Peters and Larry Prusak. Now Stephen Denning, an innovator in the new discipline of organizational storytelling, teaches how to use stories to address challenges fundamental to success in today's information economy.--From publisher description.

Introduction: Storytelling for organizational change -- Practice. Stumbling upon the springboard story -- A story that rings true -- Communicating a vision -- Understanding. Getting inside an idea -- A tale of two stories -- Co-creating the same story -- Another mode of knowing -- Catalysis. Crafting the springboard story -- Performing the springboard story -- Building the springboard story -- Embodying the idea -- The medusa's stare -- Appendix 1: Elements for developing the springboard story -- Appendix 2: Some elements for using visual aids in storytelling -- Appendix 3: Elements for performing the springboard story -- Appendix 4: Building up the springboard story: four different structures -- Appendix 5: Examples of springboard stories -- Appendix 6: Knowledge management chart.