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Leading With Passion: Change Management in the 21st Century Museum Sherena Suchy Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira, 2004 267 pages ISBN 0-7591-0366 £18.95 (US $24.95) paperback £55 (US $72) hardback
Leading With Passion is a "book about change management and leadership for the 21st century using the art museum as a case study organization" (p. 2). It is based on cross-disciplinary doctoral research completed by the author in 1998 in Sydney, Australia, with the aim of creating "a bridge between organizational psychology, management theory, and cultural institutions like museums" (p. xvii). I accept the author's claim that the readership for the book is students in museum studies programs, new and mid-level professionals in museums, seasoned museum professionals, and cultural leaders, trustees and board members. Art museums in Australia, England and North America form the data source for the study, giving the text an international perspective and creating international interest.
In her introduction, Suchy provides a rationale for the book and an outline of each chapter. The seven chapters encompass the notion of "passion" in leading, creating a context for others to do their best, entrepreneurialism, the director-trustee interface, professional leadership development and position, and practice and ideas in action. The first...