Reviews (20)

just dont do it
I feel that this book was boring. The book didn't flow as well as i had expected it to. The way Katz wrote the book didn't appeal to me because of the sole fact that it was seemed too glorified. I felt that he had skimmed over the idea of sweatshops without much thought and feelings towards those who actually involved in working for the sweatshops. The essence of the book was really not to my taste, because although it did involve obvious genius in the way Nike commercialized and presented its many products, it glossed over too many of the more important factors of the company. A well written book, yet i feel i need to disagree to many of the aspects that are written.

Captures the Spirit of This Fast Corporation's Climb
After reading this fascinating account, I am somewhat dumbfounded by some reviewers who didn't find any real corporate insights here. There are plenty, especially the spirit of the place, which one quickly realizes is the heart and soul.

Bookcased by Air Jordan's entry and retire, Katz in good prose that flows well style relates how a middle-distance runner and his coach and eventually some Japanese shoes turned into the giant Swoosh Just Do It corporate wonder. For those of us from this time in our history, one distinctly remembers the embodiment of that spirit, Prefontaine.

You see the dominant style of the venture comes from the playing fields, and many customers for it shoes can feel it, and so they buy it. Others are caught up in its powerful draft, not understanding at all the athletic side. Knight does, and he and his company relished it and grew it. Amazing. I remember setting right next to a mother and her teenage son, both of us guys trying on cross-training shoes. Me, non-Nike, and this young kid insisted he would only wear Air Jordan. The salesman said they didn't have any in that style in his small foot size, the smallest size 2-3 sizes too big. The salesman said it would be harmful to his feet to wear them, but the kid was incensed to have them on. And mom gave in. Stunned, I was. Then to hear about what kids would do to have these shoes.

I relate to all of this as one who never really cared personally for those who stood for the Swoosh ala McEnroe, but respected very much their talent and drive. That's my response to their history and this fascinating chronicle of it: I don't really care personally for what they were about, but have great respect for their drive and talent. You have to give it to them.

They ran the great race, up those trudging hills, and through those barriers that all distance runners have to run through. That great cover photo says it well, does it not!

ECONIMICS CLASS
FOUND THIS BOOK TO BE KIND OF BORING, BEFORE READING THIS BOOK I
THOUGHT THAT KATZ WOULD TELL THE READERS MORE OF THE
BEGINNING OF THE NIKE COMPANY. I WOULD OF HAD A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING IF I WOULD OF SEARCH ON THE INTERNET THAN
ACTUALLY READING THE BOOK. IT KEPT ON TELLING HOW MICHAEL
JORDAN-NIKE RELATIONSHIP. BUT IT DID NOT MENTION ANYTHING THAT
GRABBED MY ATTENTION, ONLY WHEN THEY MENTION THE CONDITION
WERE THE WORKERS WORK AT, THE SWEATSHOP!!!!

It's kinda hot
This book was kinda hot. I liked how it stayed on point, unlkike other books. It inticed me to keep on reading. THe book was very inciteful on the corporate world and how Nike is runned. I especially liked how there were a lot of examples and pass references of Michael Jordan and he was "Nike".

JUST DO IT; THE NIKE SPIRIT IN THE CORPORATE WOLRD
DONALD KATZ WROTE A VERY INTERESTING AND COMPELLING BOOK ABOUT THE NIKE WOLRD AND WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A WALKING NIKE ADVERTISMENT A.K.A. "NIKE GUY". THE MOST INTERENSTING PART TO ME WAS WHEN THEY TALKED ABOUT THE SWEATSHOP WORKERS AND HOW MUCH THEY WERE GETTIN PAID TO MAKE THE SOMETIME HUNDRED DOLLAR PRODUCTS. THE BOOK ALSO SHOWED THAT THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL TEAM, IT IS A SHOW COMPANY, AND NIKE WAS AND STILL IS THAT SHOW COMPANY. ... Read more

Book Description

A Double Scotch tells the intertwined success stories of Chivas Regal and The Glenlivet—two Scotch whisky brands recognized the world-over for their unparalleled quality. Founded by Scottish grocers from Aberdeen, Chivas Regal stands as the world’s most popular prestige blended Scotch. First distilled by a pistol-packing Highlander, The Glenlivet is today the top-selling single-malt Scotch in America. F. Paul Pacult explores these two iconic spirits and tells the remarkable story of the two families who endured numerous hardships to build their brands. A business book that goes down easy, A Double Scotch tells the story of the world’s favorite whiskies, and the story of the nation and families that made them so. ... Read more

Book Description

Advertised as "a new standard for living," the Lustron Home was introduced in 1948 in response to the urgent need for housing for veterans returning from World War II and their rapidly growing families. These enameled steel, prefabricated houses became very popular, and were heavily promoted from 1948 to 1950. Approximately 2,500 went up all over the United States and even South America. This work chronicles the history of the Lustron Corporation-how it got started and why it failed. The architectural differences between the six basic models of the Lustron Home, and how they could be built in as little as two days, are fully described. Also included is a listing that documents the location, model, color and various other particulars of the roughly 2,500 houses completed. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Book
This makes a great coffee table book for my Lustron Home.

Informative & Interesting
This is definitely a "niche" book...one would probably either need to have a direct interest in the Lustron home or have an interest in researching American housing types. I fall into the category of one who is interested in the Lustron home. My husband & I are in the process of purchasing a Lustron home...until about a month ago we had never even heard the word "Lustron". This book has proven to be highly enlightening & has allowed us to make an informed purchase.

I found it to be not only informative but also quite interesting reading. Mr. Fetters' extensive research allowed him to include many tidbits of information that made the story of the Lustron Company come to life. It is a somewhat bittersweet story; Mr. Fetters gives just due to a product that was years ahead of its time. ... Read more

Book Description

Little over a decade ago, infrastructure concessions promised to solve Latin America's endemic infrastructure deficit. Awarded in competitive auctions, these concessions were supposed to combine private sector efficiency with rent dissipation brought about by competition. Yet something did not go quite right, as concessions were plagued with opportunistic renegotiations, most of them at the expense of taxpayers.This book is a major contribution toward understanding what went wrong and what should be done differently in the future to reap the potential benefits of infrastructure reform andprivate participation in infrastructure provision. It begins by analyzing a rich data set on more than 1,000 infrastructure concessions, uncovering a series of puzzling stylized facts. It then considers alternative explanations for the patterns it has uncovered, and concludes with a series of insightful policy proposals aimed at avoiding the common mistakes and make concessions to efficiently contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction. ... Read more

Book Description

During the last decade, Latin American countries have reformed infrastructure services through private sector participation to enhance internal efficiency and competition to increase consumer welfare. Competition Policy in Regulated Industries offers conceptual and practical approaches to help such emerging economies identify competition problems in infrastructure sectors and find legal and structural solutions.

Infrastructure services have evolved from being publicly owned monopolies into entities in which private participation prevails, complemented by competition and regulation. However, even though competition is pivotal to public service reform, a high degree of vertical and horizontal concentration still pervades the industrial structure of many Latin American countries. Furthermore, mergers and acquisitions in an increasingly global economy, without appropriate legislation to promote competition and restrain market control, have often led to reduced levels of competition. ... Read more

Book Description

Today, Microsoft commands the high ground of the information superhighway by owning the operating systems and basic applications programs that run on the world's 170 million computers. Beyond the unquestioned genius and vision of Bill Gates, what accounts for Microsofts astounding success?

Drawing on almost two years of on-site observation at Microsoft headquarters, eminent scientists Michael A. Cusumano and Richard W. Selby reveal many of Microsoft's innermost secrets. This inside report, based on forty in-depth interviews by authors who had access to confidential documents and project data, outlines the seven complementary strategies that characterize exactly how Microsoft competes and operates, including the "Brain Trust" of talented employees and exceptional management; "bang for the buck" competitive strategies and clear organizational goals that produce self-critiquing, learning, and improving; a flexible, incremental approach to product development; and a relentless pursuit of future markets.

Cusumano and Selby's masterful analysis successfully uncovers the distinctive way in which Microsoft has combined all of the elements necessary to get to the top of an enormously important industry -- and stay there. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Scholars not exempt from 'looking under the street lamp'....
As the story goes: Leaving his car, a man and his friend walk down a dark lane passing under a street lamp along the way. Upon arriving at their destination, the man discovers he has lost his keys. He and his friend quickly re-trace their steps and the man begins his search under the light of the lamp. His friend asks "why do you choose to search under the lamp, we first walked nearly 200 meters". He answers, "you fool, can't you see we've been provided with light *here* !". Even a scholar or two can be led astray under the influence of purposeful guidance. Another reviewer commented, 'Microsoft is obliged to create its own language'. As an IS professional with a background in business management and 20 years experience dealing with this company, I too have labored with this language - the language of obfuscation. This book covers the obvious strengths of Microsoft in Research and Development. And no one disputes the talent attracted to this company. However, time proves the true direction of travel despite the claimants' insistence of a praisworthy course. The accurate reasons for Microsoft's success lie in ruthless, paranoid management, expert public relations and remarkable skills at marketing, not innovation or the development of superior products. History may well prove Microsoft's legacy as squandering the advantages and qualities alluded to in this book. Perhaps the author's would be well-advised to supplement 'the before' with a reflective 'after' as appropriate in the future.

Lessons from Microsoft
Michael Cusumano's "Microsoft Secrets: How the World's Most Powerful Software Company Creates Technology, Shapes Markets, and Manages People" is truly as in depth as its title suggests. Cusumano has gone to great lengths to give a very detailed picture of how Microsoft goes about its business, both internally and externally.

The purpose of the book is to explain what makes Microsoft tick. It may come as a surprise to most people, but, according to Cusumano, Microsoft is not a dictatorial fiefdom. Perhaps Microsoft's greatest success is in obtaining and retaining the best programmers in the field. Programmers are notoriously independent souls who likely wouldn't stand an overbearing workplace for long.

That's not to say that Microsoft is not a high pressure environment. Programmers are expected to meet deadlines and to be knowledgeable about what they are doing. This may sound axiomatic but the number of companies whose employees are partially (or even completely) in the dark is staggering.

The best part of "Microsoft Secrets" is that most of the lessons to be drawn from it can be applied to any organization, especially the people management techniques. Even some of the more 'software industry specific' techniques can be transferred to other deadline oriented industries (e.g. publishing).

The only real drawback to the study though is its long-windedness. When I say that Cusumano has gone to great lengths to present this picture of Microsoft, I mean he has *GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS*. This only detracts partially though as the book does remain a good read.

The Good But Not The Bad Nor The Ugly
The Good

Where do most of the worst business people come from? M.B.A. schools usually. Students with strong academic skills with the honored M.B.A. can do the accounting, statistical work, and market research analysis. But does that mean they have a "business mind," or good "business sense?" Absolutely not. (That's why a new test is being devised to determine the "common sense" abilities of MBAs). Gates is a perfect example of the many successful business people who didn't spend time in front of Ph.ds in ivory towers regurgitating "business theories and paradigms."

A look into the technological and mainly business side of Microsoft, the author breaks down the organization into the "how's, why's, and what's" of MSFT.

It's common knowledge that Gates is a genius in the technical realm, and MSFT is a behemoth organization that has the majority of market share. But how did Microsoft grow to where it is and thrive in this ever-changing and competitive industry? This book explains the business (more than technical) philosophy, model, and actual examples from products and projects. Interviews with former and current managers and employees are also included.

Again, it's common knowledge that Gates is exceptional at business. Ask their competitors. Note that Steve Jobs had a better product that was on the market earlier but he lacked the business, marketing, and management acumen. Gates not only seeks out brilliant techno minds but considers their business sense equally important, and this is heavily weighed when he decides to hire prospective candidates. Those hired are also individualists who will challenge him and other superiors, and argue and debate with him, in the search for the best idea or model. An employee gets Gate's respect, the author writes, "when his employees yell back." If Bill is converted by their arguments as opposed to his, he likewise changes course, taking the best route.

One of the most dangerous and damaging things to a company, and any organization, are "yes men." A company culture that rewards the "yes man/woman" mentality leads people to misrepresent themselves and their work, and the managers and ownership eventually become "out of the loop." This leads to uninformed decisions, cover-ups, resentment, and alienation that benefit no one.

This is written for the laymen, but can be a bit dry. Things such as shipping strategies, keeping teams small on projects, constant self analysis and critiques, and the reliance on customer feedback, are some of the many interlinking factors of the organization. The company likes people and departments that are interdependent upon one another to be physically close to one another. I.e., in the same building or on the same property, so if there is a problem or a need for clarification, they can see each other face to face to discuss it, instead of swapping emails, voicemails, and engaging in converence calls from across the country. Again, it's common knowledge that a major tenet of MSFT is to find out where the industry is going in the future, become the leader, and provide products with such strong quality that they become the "industry standard." The author even provides some organization charts to pin-up on your wall.

Not The Bad And The Ugly

The point of this book was to focus on the positives. The strategies and models that make the company pre-eminant. What is not in the book is: the common claim that the company is a monopoly, engages in unfair business practices, and limits the choice of consumers by ramming its product down their throats. There have been numerous charges and lawsuits that MSFT treats employees poorly. This company hires a lot of temps, work them overtime, plays with them, and then discards them. For the positives, read this book. For information on the not-so-great things about this organization, there are plenty of other books to read.

Good reading
Written by people who have done it. Easy reading. Good information. I see our executives are set our direction from some of Microsoft's methods.

Well researched, but nothing exciting
The authors definitely did a fine work by doing excellent research about Microsoft's product development and marketing. This book would prove to be very helpful to those who are coming from a non-technical perspective. It occasionally offers some valuable insights into Microsoft's strategies but it is quite dry for the most part even for a person who has plenty experiences in software development. The Microsoft 'secrets' are not exactly impressive. It would be impossible to know the true secret in a book, otherwise every software company would become a Microsoft (then again, not every company wants to). The book is a bit dated, but nevertheless offers the curious reader some insights into the development and marketing of Microsoft's past successful (and unsuccessful) moves. This book made Microsoft seems to be more fallible than its invincible image of every day praise. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

From the Kitchens of Boston to your Left Ventricle
Amateur chefs making an impulse purchase on the basis of the book's title will want to reconsider, as this is NOT a how-to guide to the making of this distinctly American confection. I myself was bitterly disappointed to make this discovery. However since I was trapped in the purgatory of traffic school when I furtively cracked its cover, I decided to forge ahead with this ghost-written autobiography of the founder of Dunkin' Donuts anyway.

I was soon swept up by the exhilarating story of a relentless entrepreneur's rise to the top of the glamorous but cut-throat world of donut manufacture & distribution. I was also smitten with no small amount of civic pride, as Dunkin' Donuts sprang from the loins of my own native Boston. The narrative is interspersed with intriguing facts about the donut industry and its history. For instance, did you know that the modern word "donut" is a simplification of the word "doughnut," which itself evolved from the archaic term "dough knot"? Nor did I, sir.

Your inner Homer will be thrilled with this book and its lessons. And at just over 200 pages, it's the ideal length for a day-long sentence to traffic school at which attention must be periodically feigned. However this will limit your absorption of any important lessons being imparted. I myself learned this the hard way, when I caused a minor accident immediately upon leaving the school's parking lot by failing to signal. The delicious irony of this was not lost on my instructor, who had sullenly resented my divided attention throughout the day.

Great Book
This book was a great read full of insighful information. I highly recommend it.

Some good lessons...but
This is a decent, quick read based on another successful entrepreneur. Rosenberg is a hardworking visionary who was always willing to roll up his sleeves and put in the time. However, at times in the book, he seemed far too full of himself. He pats himself on the back a fair amount and revels in stories where he was proven right. It seems that he was always right in the big moments, when it counted. He also appeared to be at odds with his son and makes little effort to let bygones be bygones. Rosenberg did not agree with a lot of his sons decisions, pointing out a number of failures. Only when Rosenberg himself gets back involved in the business is everything straightened out. His son is now retired after spending decades at the helm and everything turned out well despite his "numerous" mistakes. I find it curious that Rosenberg would even bring up these types of family situations-Yo, Bill-it's over! Move on and focus on the things that really matter.
This is a fairly decent read that could have been better. Another biography where the subject is a white knight that can do little wrong. Another ego bigger than Manhattan. You can learn some things but tread carefully and wear your boots.

Time to read this book!
I was not expecting to find much here and thought this might be a self-serving autobiography but was surprised from the very first few pages. Great insight to a hard-working and innovative individual. Would recommmend this read for those of you that are looking for inspiration whether it's making donuts or starting any type of business imaginable. Bill Rosenberg is quite the character and we need more of his brand in today's bland and sometimes all too political business world. Good read and great source of many interesting tidbits on the food industry and the world of franchising. Enjoy and be sure to have a Dunkin Donut & coffee after you read it. NO! I don't work for the company and actually prefer Krispy Kreme!!

p.s. Bill Rosenberg is very opinionated and some content may offend the p.c. crowd out there.....lol... whatever... good day!

A great business book and much more
Time to Make the Donuts is a wonderful read. I bought it because I've bought at least a million cups of Dunkin' Donuts coffee. What I found was an insightful and entertaining story of a dynamic individual who found time for making far more than donuts. There were lessons, both business and personal, that resonated with me. It is a well-written look into an exceptional life. ... Read more

Book Description

Fifty years ago, in November 1947, Brown & Root helped Kerr-McGee build the first out-of-sight-land offshore platform that produced oil.The date is widely celebrated as the birth of the modern offshore industry.In the years since this historic occasion, Brown & Root has continued to pioneer in the design and construction of offshore pipelines and platforms.Along with the rest of the offshore industry, the company has helped develop technology capable of finding and producing oil in deepwater and in harsh environments around the world.

This history puts a human face on the process of technological change.Using the words of many of those who took part in Brown & Root's offshore activities, this book recounts their efforts to find practical ways to recover offshore oil.Building on lessons learned in the Gulf of Mexico before and after World War II, the company's personnel adapted offshore technologies to conditions encountered in Venezuela, the Middle East, Alaska, and other regions before becoming one of the first engineering and construction companies to confront the challenge of North Sea development in the 1960's.

Through times of boom and bust in the oil industry, the search for effective technology had continued.The process has not always been smooth, but the results have been impressive.As we enter a new and exciting era in offshore technology, the history of the first fifty years of the industry provides a useful context for understanding current and future events. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Decent history of the offshore oil&gas industry's beginnings
For anyone interested in the beginnings of the marine oil and gas industry, Offshore Pioneers provides a good general history. Since this book was commissioned by Brown & Root, you should expect a certain level of bias. Brown & Root's achievements are obviously highlighted while their defeats are understandably downplayed. This history includes the significant roles of other participants, though mainly in relation to Brown & Root, either as competitor, customer or co-venturer. Beginning with the first baby-steps in offshore exploration (long platforms connecting shore to site), this history lesson progresses to the innovation and ingenuity necessary to explore and exploit hydrocarbons from new environments, such as Lake Maracaibo, the Bay of Campeche, California (short lived program though it was) and the North Sea. As an offshore service analyst, I constantly seek out information on the industry, whether current or historical. Brown and Root did play a large role in the development of the offshore oil and gas industry, from constructing the first platforms out into the Gulf of Mexico, engineering massive North Sea structures, laying pipe in several environments, building construction barges and performing project management. My father had worked for the company for 25 years, and I had already developed an appreciation for their can-do attitude and willingness to work in any environment. If you're looking for a history of the industry's humble beginnings, this is a great book to read. However, Brown & Root ceased being a major force in the offshore energy industry during the 1980's, so don't expect to find any recent history in this work.

Giants of Offshore Oil Platforms
This is the history of Brown & Root's Marine Division. Drawing heavily from their knowledge of building warships during World War II, Brown & Root installed the first oil platform out of sight from land off the coast of Louisiana for the Kerr Magee Oil Company in 1947. This was Brown & Root's entry into the offshore construction market. They kept building and installing platforms in increasing depths of the Gulf of Mexico as well as venturing into offshore spots around the world, such as off the coast of Alaska and the most famous offshore location of the North Sea. The book details many of these large well known projects as well as Project Mohole, the cancelled program to drill into the Earth's core from an ocean drill ship. Brown & Root was a participant in this project. An interesting book for anyone who has worked in the offshore oil industry or has an interest in it. ... Read more

Book Description

Nonprofit organizations are changing dramatically in the ways they are financed.They are becoming increasingly commercial, operating more like private firms.Far more is involved than the generation of revenue.As donations decline in importance and user fees and money-raising ancillary activities come to dominate, they bring side-effects on the social missions that justify public support.This book examines these little-recognized relationships for the overall nonprofit charitable sector and then focuses on each of six industries; important differences are found among hospitals, universities, social service providers, zoos, museums, and public broadcasting. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the book that automobile enthusiasts and collectors of gasoline station related items have been waiting for. Dealing almost exclusively with the venerable Texaco Company, it is filled with colorful photographs of their stations, products, giveaways, sales promotional toys, signs, banners, uniforms, and equipment. This comprehensive book also includes many historical black and white photographs of vintage Texaco stations, as well as early airplanes and ships from the extensive Texaco fleet. This book is a treasure trove of information, with concise captions and a helpful price guide. For those who remember the originals, Texaco Collectibles will bring back many fond memories. For all it will provide an interesting view of days long past. ... Read more

Book Description

In the coming decades, East Asian economies must face the challenges of an increasingly globalized marketplace. This book explores the changing parameters of competition in East Asia, and argues that success ultimately will depend on the ability of the regions firms to harness the potential of global production networks and to build their own innovative capability. Presenting the latest findings on global production networks and the evolution of technological capabilities, it provides researchers, students, and policymakers with in-depth information and analysis on key issues related to growth and development in East Asia. ... Read more

Book Description

Water Resource Development in Northern Afghanistan and its Implications for Amu Darya Basin is part of the World Bank Working Paper series. These papers are published to communicate the results of the Bank’s ongoing research and to stimulate public discussion.

This study examines increased water use by Afghanistan and its implications for other water users in the basin, including the Aral Sea, both in the short and long run through an overview of: a) the amount of Amu Darya flows generated in northern Afghanistan; b) the amount of water presently used in northern Afghanistan, prospective use in the near future, and possible impact of the increased use on the riparian states and the Aral Sea; c) existing agreements between Afghanistan and the neighboring Central Asian states regarding the use of waters in the Amu Darya Basin, their relevance and applicability in the present and in the future; and d) future directions for water resources development and improved water management in the basin. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1961, Dick Cabela, with his wife, Mary, and his brother, Jim, turned his kitchen table into the foundation of what would become one of the world's top outfitting companies. The origins of this successful business are traced from Dick's bout with polio to his deep love of fishing and hunting that would inspire him. From one small ad in the back of the Casper Tribune (Wyoming) to an annual mailing of 60 million catalogs, Cabela's has served the needs of two generations of outdoor enthusiasts while remaining, at heart, a family business. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Interesting, but incredibly repetitive
I was looking forward to reading this book since I am a loyal customer of Cabela's. While David Cabela had the best of intentions in documenting the rise of his parents' company, he should have left the writing to the experts. That is not to say this book does not have some useful and interesting content. However, I believe the book could have been cut by 2/3 easily and been more interesting and effective. ... Read more

Book Description

The story of the RCA VideoDisc is a rare inside look at a company and the way it conducts the complex process of science-based innovation.The author examines how RCA shaped a sophisticated consumer electronics technology in a research and development effort that spanned fifteen years. We see how the company's history, its structure, its technical capability, and its competition all influenced the choices that were made in moving VideoDisc from laboratory to development group to market, and ultimately to withdrawal from the marketplace. Published in hardcover as RCA and the VideoDisc. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Historical Reference for the Design Phase of the CED System
The definitive historical reference on the design phase of the CED System. This book was largely researched from 1976 to 1978 as an exercise in applied history. The book deals primarily with this late 70's time frame,although it also contains chapters on early RCA history, VideoDisc on themarket, and lessons to be learned from the CED project. This book alsodiscusses other consumer video formats developed, but never marketed byRCA, which include Discpix, Photopix, Holopix, Holotape, and Magtape.

Historical Reference for the Design Phase of the CED System
The definitive historical reference on the design phase of the CED System. This book was largely researched from 1976 to 1978 as an exercise in applied history. The book deals primarily with this late 70's time frame,although it also contains chapters on early RCA history, VideoDisc on themarket, and lessons to be learned from the CED project. This book alsodiscusses other consumer video formats developed, but never marketed byRCA, which include Discpix, Photopix, Holopix, Holotape, and Magtape. Themore expensive hardcover edition of the book has the title clausesreversed, and also includes a slip cover showing a VideoDisc reflecting arainbow pattern.

The consequences of failure of vision
There is a lot of misinformation spread around about the history of the videodisc. If you are curious about the facts, check out this book. It is recommended for all new media designers. It shows the disastrous consequences of failure of vision. In RCA's case, they correctly judged that there was going to be a huge market in consumer video, but it never occurred to them that time shifting, home recording, and program rental would be the features to drive it. In parallel with the capacitance electronic disc (CED) they developed a MagTape system. If they had gone to market with MagTape, there might still be an RCA today. ... Read more

Book Description

The Story behind the Story of One of America's Most Beloved Brands
Harley-Davidson's Unlikely People-Based Transformation

While the business press was celebrating Harley-Davidson's remarkable financial turnaround in the late 1980s, the company's leader, Rich Teerlink, was deeply concerned. He knew that the storied motorcycle maker-flush from having beaten back an assault by skilled and determined Japanese competitors-now faced a new and even more formidable challenge: maintaining and improving upon its success in the absence of an external crisis. Partnering with longtime organizational consultant Lee Ozley, Teerlink did something extraordinary: he moved beyond the top-down strategies that had just saved the company from extinction and began building a different Harley.The new Harley would be driven not by its top executives, but by its employees at every level. What happened over the next twelve years is the stuff of turnaround legend.

More Than a Motorcycle is the story behind the story of the purposeful transformation of an American icon-as told by the two individuals who were most deeply involved in that process. While marketers and the media alike have long celebrated Harley, this candid inside account goes behind the headlines to reveal the highlights and lowlights, the victories and setbacks, and the breakthroughs and dead ends experienced by Teerlink, Ozley, and others as the company engaged in this transformational change effort.Part corporate biography and part memoir of a rare CEO/consultant partnership, the book chronicles Harley's difficult journey from a traditional "command-and-control" culture to an open, participative organization in which employees no longer went along for the ride, but took new levels of responsibility for charting their course.

Teerlink and Ozley deliver three fundamental messages: that people are a company's only sustainable competitive advantage; that there is no "quick fix" to effect lasting and beneficial organizational change; and that leadership is not a person, but a process, to which every employee must contribute. They advocate for a new concept of leadership, which entails not demanding compliance, but earning commitment.They provide practical, reality-based prescriptions for developing employee alignment and effectiveness; lifelong learning opportunities; structures that support participation; and effective approaches to rewards, recognition, and meaningful communication.The authors also distill lessons from the Harley experience-such as living one's values and cultivating an environment within which all kinds of people can thrive-that may apply broadly to any business.

An inspiring, against-the-odds story of a business road less traveled, More Than a Motorcycle encourages today's organizational leaders to look around the next bend-and to give everyone within the organization a view of the road from the driver's seat. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

If you are a consultant: BUY-BUY-BUY
The story (the ups and downs) behind the decade-long change process to move HD from a command-and-control organization to one where employees not only have their say but also their accountability in the overall success of the company.

If you are a consultant, you might learn a trick or two in what to do and not to do in a large change management engagement.

In addition, Lee's (consultant and co-author) move from consultant to Rich's (CEO and co-author) coach/partner in this journey is particularly interesting. Another interesting topic throughout the book is how to deal with unionized workers.

A GREAT BUY FOR ANY CONSULTANT (strategy, change management, operations, etc.). YOU'LL NEVER LOOK AT A HARLEY THE SAME WAY...

The reviewer, is currently a Senior Director of eBusiness Strategy at Xpedior and has worked at Gemini Consulting, IBM, and General Mills. He earned his MBA from York University and completed the Wharton School Multi-National Marketing and Management Program at the University of Pennsylvania. He also holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering from the University of Toronto.

More than organizational strategy
More than a Motorcycle is more than an organizational memoir. This is a very personal account of two men struggling for over a decade to rebuild an American icon, Harley-Davidson. As crisis after crisis had been met with top-driven management, company leader Rich Teerlink began the process to take the employees out of the sidecar and onto the driver's seat. In a unique relationship with an organizational consultant Lee Ozley who shared Teerlink's vision of cultivating a participative environment, this story leads us through the starts and stops of a long journey whose destination is to put America's hog into American workers' hands and hearts. We are allowed to sit behind them as they straddle the conflicts of keeping the organization financially productive while processing the changes necessary to sustain it.

Innovative thinking
Rich Teerlink, retired CEO of Harley Davidson, and Lee Ozley, organizational consultant, have teamed up and written about Harley Davidson's transformation from a hierarchical command and control organization to what they call a "Circle Organization". The book primarily focuses on Harley's organizational change from 1987 to present. Many aspects of the organization are covered in good to great detail. In order to survive and meet growing demand and increasing global competition, Harley Davidson had to transform itself and undergo a radical process of organizational change. Attributing the traditional command and control structure to the American railroad empires of the nineteenth century, Harley sought to make change and break from this traditional form of an organization. As the authors' state, "This is a book about planting seeds and encouraging other people to nurture the seedlings". This book reads like it was written about a start up company that was an unexpected overnight success. Harley really had to toss out all of their old ideas on organizational operations and start from scratch. What is amazing is how this was done without creating animosity from within the organization.
The authors take you through the proposed and enacted plans that helped transform Harley. The Joint Vision Process was formed so that employees on all levels could share the same goals for where they and Harley wanted to be. Both Rich and Lee believe that the people within an organization have the biggest impact on an organization. They shaped their plans with this as the number one factor and this book gives excellent insight on how they implemented their ideas.

A great how-to book for OD practitioners
I'm not sure most execs would have the patience to stay with this book, but for change agents, team facilitators, and other large-system OD practitioners, this book contains valuable, comprehensive how-to information.

In true STS style, Ozley (the obvious primary author) does a wonderful job integrating Harley's new systems and methods with the real-folks' feelings and reactions as they go through an extensive organisation and culture change.

More Than a Motorcycle could easily be a companion volume to Marvin Weisbord's classic Productive Workplaces, maybe even its sequel.

Great
Great story whether your a turnaround person or motorcyclist ... Read more

Book Description

This one-of-a-kind guide is the only annually updated insider's guide to law firms.Based on surveys of more than 10,000 lawyers, it provides in-depth coverage of prestige, perks, corporate culture, and other legal lifestyle issues at almost 200 top firm. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

This Book is a TTT
Vault is just one of many entities that profits from the insecurities of law and pre-law students.

Some info one might want from a guide to law firms:
1) Average hours worked.
2) Average length of time to partnership, and other related info.
3) How far into the class a firm will recruit at your law school.
4) What makes firm A different from firm B.
5) Et cetera.

None of this info, unfortunately, is contained in this book.Every description is essentially the same, and equally useless: Firm X worked on the following big cases...Associate 1 says the work is great.But, adds associate 2, the hours can sometimes get to you and the partners aren't always friendly.Blah, blah, blah.

Save your money.This book is a waste of paper.

Order it from Vault.com
This is a great book, but if you need it right away and don't want to pay a special handling fee order it directly from Vault.com.The eBook version is also available there as well as the new 2003 edition that is not available yet in bookstores.

a superb book and the only one of its kind
i don't normally write reviews as i'm too busy slaving away as a lawyer...but i must add my $.02this vault guidebook is astonishingly good.my fellow lawyers and i can't get enough of "The Buzz" which tells what lawyers are saying about various firms.this is the ONLY resource that tells it like it is in the arduous, sometimes rewarding, sometimes nauseating world of BIGLAW

The best edition yet!!!
The folks at Vault have really outdone themselves.This new edition ishuge and very much expanded from previous editions.The material inside isall new as well.The have increased the detail and have done an incrediblejob providing the scoop on the top law firms in the country (including manythat didn't make the top 50).They have included information on thequality of life rankings and their methodology.The book is invaluable forany law student as well as any lawyer considering a lateral move.I have acopy on my desk at a prominent law school and find people constantlyborrowing it.Highly recommended.

The best edition yet!!!
The folks at Vault have really outdone themselves.This new edition ishuge and very much expanded from previous editions.The material inside isall new as well.The have increased the detail and have done an incrediblejob providing the scoop on the top law firms in the country (including manythat didn't make the top 50).They have included information on thequality of life rankings and their methodology.The book is invaluable forany law student as well as any lawyer considering a lateral move.I have acopy on my desk at a prominent law school and find people constantlyborrowing it.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

"A clear, convincing, anecdotal, often fascinating portrayal not just of Coca-Cola's corporate brilliance, but of how it inveighed its way into the center of American, and world, consciousness."--The Financial Times ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Find out the real "secrets" of Coca-Cola
I must say, if there is anything that I wanted or needed to know about Coca-Cola, I now know it!

I am studying organization communication and I had to pick an organizational memior in which to do a project on. I chose this book in part because I have always been a Coca-Cola fan, but mainly because my husband now works for the corporate giant and I thought a little personal interest may help to motivate me.

What an in-depth description of the birth and life of our favorite little red & white beverage! From Doc Pemberton and his addictions to the present when millions are now "addicted" to his special creation. This book not only describes how Coke itself was created, but it also goes into great detail about how the image of this soft drink was initiated, molded, and eventually perfected over the years. Frederick takes us through the ups, the downs, and the way downs of the beverage as well as the company. He also gives a clear depiction of what life must have been like in Atlanta in the late 1800's-early 1900's.

My favorite thing about the way that this book is written is the way in which the author tells us a story rather than spitting 500 pages of facts and figures at us. I'm quite sure that I wouldn't have been able to make it through the entire thing had he not grabbed my attention with the fascinating history within the first several chapters. I would most definately reccommend this book to anyone, and not just because I'm partial to the crisp, refreshing, wonderful, exhilerating beverage. :-) Seriously, if you are interested in corporate culture or business of any kind, a history buff, or perhaps you just like Coke, then this is a must read. Just make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to finish(the length is the only reason why it got 4 stars instead of 5 in my book)!

H 2 OH!
Secret Formula is, first and foremost, a beautifully written book. Unlike many business biographies that focus exclusively on the corporate narrative while forsaking literate prose, Allen's writing is taught, clear, and even poetic, a carbonaceous gem. Coca-Cola has a long and enviable corporate history, beginning with humble origins and evolving into the single most recognizable brand on the planet. While no single volume can claim to tell the whole story, this work comes close.

Allen reminds us that Coke's top executives were keenly aware of one devastating realization: what they were selling could evaporate in an instant if the drink wasn't marketed to capture a share of the consumer's mind and heart. Today, when you enter a supermarket, you do not see a stack of tawdry red cans filled with sugared, carbonated, colored tap water. You see, recognize, feel and understand, something altogether more - long before you taste what's in the can. What's in the can is magic. This extraordinary book takes you backstage to witness how the magicians of Coca-Cola made the act work.

Good historical overview of Coca-Cola
Over the course of the past 100+ years, Coca-Cola has become the best known brand in the world. The story of Coke is one of America, as well as one of a great business that was built from the ground up. Secret Formula does an excellent job of taking the reader on a trip through the often-tumultuous history of the Coca-Cola Company.

While not initially apparent, I think the central theme of the story is captured nicely by the following quote from Lao-Tzu:

"To know yet to think that one does not know is best; Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty."

The company lost touch with its customers and developed an arrogance that threatened to change the company forever.

Coke is it, and so is this book
Secret Formula is a book for the business-minded and Coca-Cola-philes alike; the prose may appear a bit dry to the leisure reader (500 pages at semi-miniscule print in softcover), but bear in mind that Secret Formula is pretty heavy reading. However, once you start reading about the first days of Doc Pemberton and his special syrup and soda headache remedy you will be hooked to this fascinating tale of Americana, right through to the late 70s cola wars with Pepsi and the infamous "New Coke" debacle, from which Coca-Cola survived unscathed. Allen details also the benefits reaped by Atlanta thanks to former Coca-Cola president Robert Woodruff's many philanthropic acts, as well as how the popular soda helped blur racial lines in the South while trying to tackle less enthusiastic foreign markets. Anyone with a interest in Southern history or marketing will want to sample this Secret Formula.

I had the pleasure of meeting the author when I lived in Atlanta. He came off as a genuinely nice man.

Phosphoric Acid in a consumable drink?
I know these remarks are late in coming however I have a concern regarding the appearance of Phosphoric Acid in Coca-Cola about 1990-92.

I understand Phosphoric acid is of the inorganic non-digestible variety of acid. I've called to get the nutrituional information on the acid and I'm about to give up the Cola product because of it.

The Phosphoric acid may be the harsh metalic taste I get like biting on a spoon. I'd like to give it equal rating with Pepsi and RC which either have less or none of that particular acid and there is less of that taste or none in the other colas. If you guys can get the cafine out the Phosphoric acid should be a snap.

I'm interested in any information on the issue.

Thanks ... Read more

Book Description

An American icon celebrates 50 years because Colonel Sanders and Pete Harman put people first, implemented an urgency for excellence, and paid attention to every detail of their restaurant business. These business secrets and practices are written in an easy to read story that in engaging and a delite to anyone interested in growing a business. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

KFC in SLC
This book provides great insight into the real story behind KFC. Especially entertaining for those that are familiar with KFC, the organization, the franchises, and the restaurant business. Goes into the philosophies of Pete Harman, the first, biggest and most influencial franchisee. Talks alot about the company, the growth, the growing pains, and what made the company successful. ... Read more