1. BOOK REVIEW
OF
THE ONE MINUTE MANAGER
SUBMITTED BY: SUBMITTED TO:
KUMAR RITAMBHAR DR.ABHA DIXIT
JL13PGDM144

2. Q.1. Who is the author? (Crucial details about his personal history and intellectual
interests).
Ans. Kenneth Hartley Blanchard (born May 6, 1939) is an American author and management
expert.Blanchard is the Chief Spiritual Officer of The Ken Blanchard Companies,an international
management training and consulting firm that he and his wife, Marjorie Blanchard, cofounded in
1979 in San Diego,California.
Q.2. What is the main theme or argument of the book? How does it compare or contrast
with the world you know?
Ans. The main theme of this book is how people and their behavior can be efficiently managed,
and how people work best with other people, how to produce
valuable results, and feel good about themselves, the organization and the other people with
whom they work. The book suggests one minute management, which is far different than what
we normally see in the corporate world, where emphasis is laid upon making people do things
forcefully and unwillingly rather than helping them excel by making them love their job and
manage themselves to do it as efficiently as possible.
Q.3. What is the subject or topic of the book? Does the author cover the subject of the book
adequately? Does the author cover all aspects of the subject in a balanced fraction? What is
the approach to the subject? (topical, analytical, chronological, descriptive)
Ans. The subject of the book is the revelation of the secrets to become a successful manager
using the techniques of one-minute management, and to implement them in order to ensure better
output from an organization.
Yes, the author successfully covers the subject of the book, as he has clearly elaborated the
secrets behind becoming a one-minute manager, and also its effects on ourselves and other
people working around us, and also removes all doubts from the readers’ minds no sooner than
they occur. The book has no vague or ambiguous expressions or references. It is entirely devoted
to becoming a one-minute manager effectively.
Blanchard has certainly presented all the aspects of the subject in a balanced and uniform
manner. He has devoted equal amount of explanation to all the three secrets, clearing the readers’
doubts alongside. He has projected all the three employees, namely, Mr. Trenell, Mr. Levy and
Ms. Brown, as equally important tellers or information providers. This makes all the aspects of
the subject occupy an equal share in the minds of the readers.
Blanchard’s approach to the subject is descriptive, as he has explained carefully and extensively
the dos and don’ts of the one-minute management technique, and has provided every relevant
detail about it.

3. Q.4. How does the author support the argument? What evidence does he use to prove his
point? Do you find that evidence convincing? Why/why not? Does any of the author’s
information (or conclusion) conflict with the other?
Ans. Blanchard supports his argument by confirmation from the employees, and with the help of
various examples which co relate to the techniques of one-minute management. Firstly, his
employees share their first-hand experiences of the techniques, and the positive effects of those
on their work an output. Then the authors have proved it through the one-minute manager
himself, as he cited relevant and sensible examples to support his views of the one-minute
management technique. The first example that he gave was of the ‘problem employees’ bowling
and jumping and yelling as they knocked down all the pins. He surmised that they are not so
happy and excited at their workplace as they do not know where the ‘pins’ or the goals are. He
meant to say that a person can never be successful until he knows exactly what he has to achieve.
This emphasized on the essence of one minute goal setting.
The second evidence he used was of pigeons. He said that if we put the pigeon in the box and
wait until the pigeon runs over to the upper right-hand corner and pushes the lever with his right
foot, without giving him any food, it will starve to death, trying to figure out what it is supposed
to do. On the contrary, if we make him do the same task step by step, giving him food after the
completion of every step correctly, the pigeon would be motivated to go further and accomplish
the task. This example explained the importance and effect of one minute praising.
The third evidence he used was an explanation to the one minute reprimand rule. He cited the
example used by a clergyman to treat a woman who was addicted to alcohol. The clergyman
asked all her family members to describe specific drinking incidents they had observed, and how
they felt about those incidents. They were angry, frustrated and embarrassed and then they
finally told her how much they love her and how they want her to live and enjoy life once again,
and that was the reason they were angry at her. This makes people realize their mistake, without
any grudges being held back against the person reprimanding them.
The evidences and examples that were used by the one-minute manager were quite credible and
self-explanatory, as they were very close to our day to day life, and can be easily related to one’s
life.
The authors are very clear about their thoughts and messages, and I don’t think any of their
information conflict with each other.

4. Q.5. How does the author structure his argument? What are the parts that make up the
whole? Does the argument make sense? Does it persuade you? Why / Why not?
Ans. The authors structure their arguments by involving various employees of an organization in
the explanation and implementation of the one-minute management technique. Each one of them
presents his or her own part of understanding of the technique, and the authors have tried to
describe the three secrets by three different individuals, to clearly cover all the aspects related to
each secret and its experience, and so that all of them could describe each secret extensively and
well. The quest of the young man in the story as to how to become a successful manager, and his
curiosity to know the three secrets of one minute management and his realization and complete
understanding of those secrets, and he becoming a one-minute manager himself, are the parts that
make up the whole of the story.
Yes, the authors’ argument makes absolute sense. It seemed to be a little vague in the beginning,
but as the story proceeded, things became more vivid, and everything made perfect sense. It does
persuade me, since the authors have given enough food for thought to the readers as to why the
corporate wastes time and money on getting the work done by untrained people rather than
spending a little amount of useful time in training them and staying by their side when they need
assistance or guidance.
Q.6. How has this book helped you understand the subject? Would you recommend this
book to your friends?
Ans. This book has helped me understand the technique and advantages of one-minute
management by teaching me to lead a clutter-free life, without any doubts. It is always better to
be precise and clear about our activities and goals rather than beating about the bush. The one-
minute manager in this book has come across like an idol, a straight forward person, very precise
and brief in his words, yet good at heart, humble and down-to-earth. He is a real boss in all
aspects; he knows how to get a man to work properly, and that with his own will, and make him
feel happy and contented in doing the work. He is one of the most impressive and unique kinds
of managers.
Yes, I would love to recommend this book to my friends, especially the ones aspiring to be
managers in their near future, like I. This would prove to be fruitful in their journey of the
corporate world.