Book Description

D-I-S-C over how to use "Personality Insights" to grow your business ...and help others.

-Learn the secret steps to better understand yourself and others, to have better relationships and build more effective teams.

-Find the keys to developing people skills that will attract quality business associates and build a motivated and dynamic organization for long-term growth and success!

Summary:
Maximize the strengths and minimize the struggles for all the personality styles in your organization! Direct sales and the network marketing business has always been about relationships with people. Sponsor with Style is a book about people. Personality issues affect every area of a business including goal setting, making contacts, product sales, presentations-"showing-the-plan," follow-up, training, and counseling.Sponsor with Style will reveal the keys to developing people skills that will attract quality business associates and build a motivated and dynamic organization for long-term growth and success! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Sponsor With Style
There are a number of books on personalities. I find this one better organized and more practical than others. Dr. Rohm's ability to simplify is most appreciated. His system of organizing the 4 basic personalities and orientations into "outgoing" and "reserved" with "task" and "people" orientation is simple to remember and easy to identify. His summary illustrations are excellent and assist the learning process. Although this book is written with the network marketing business in mind, it is applicable to all people.

As a physician, I have found that most college psychology and medical school psychiatry courses concentrate on the abnormal with little or no emphasis paid to the normal. After such courses we tend to think of the abnormal as nothing more than extreme extentions of the normal. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I recommend this book to all who wish to understand themselves and others better, achieve better relationships,and learn team building. We all have strengths and weaknesses. It is possible to learn to use our strengths in concert with others and turn our out-of-control weaknesses into strengths. ... Read more

Book Description

Insider's guide to law firms in the region, an unbiased, investigative and comprehensive look at the top law firms in the country, based on surveys of hundreds of lawyers. ... Read more

Book Description

With close technical analysis from Bill Gunston and artist Mike Badrocke's meticulous cutaway drawings, presented to the best effect on fold-out pages, this volume tells the full story of the most innovative aircraft company in the world. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A bit disappointed
While the cutaway illustrations are magnificent, and the illustrator did a fantastic job, I find that only 1/2 of the 38 Lockheed aircraft indexed have cutaway illustrations. Perhaps it was too much to expect, but I anticipated similar cutaways of the seminal single-engine Lockheeds of the 1930's: Explorer, Air Express, Vega, Sirius, Altair, Orion. Only the Vega is so immortalized.

Also, the index is flawed by the "search for occurrences of" syndrome, as the Model 9 Orion includes a listing for the P-3 Orion, and the Model 10 Electra includes the L-188 Electra.

These are nits - it's a very good book - just not what I thought it was going to be. If you're looking for something specific, check out a copy in your local bookstore. If it meets your needs, *then* buy it.

Tremendous Illustrative Effort
This book contains BEAUTIFUL line-art illustrations of a host of Lockheed aircraft, past and present. The artwork was done by Mike Badrocke who is a recognized master at this craft. Bill Gunston is also a master aviation writer. Together they've produced a very beautiful book for the aviation enthusiast. You'll see cutaways of the A-12, C-5, F-16, F-117, U-2, and even the F-22. There are civil aircraft cutaways such as the Constellation and L-1011. Helicopters, WW2 aircraft and before are all represented. It's a wonderful book to help you "explore" the inner workings of these aircraft, and nobody does it better than Badrocke. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Zero Space, by Frank Lekanne Deprez and René Tissen, is both a thought-provoking argument for truly open organizations--occupying the ephemeral region of their title--and a practical manual for developing them. Lekanne Deprez and Tissen, Amsterdam-based consultants who have separately and together written five previous books, are certainly not the first to suggest that intangibles like knowledge are far more relevant today than tangibles like machinery in the creation of corporate value. They do, though, give fresh insight into the type of company that successfully incorporates these 21st-century assets, and they propose a feasible framework others can use to tear away from traditional, but counterproductive, thinking and create the "all brain, no body" organization that truly meets ongoing challenges. In part 1, the authors discuss why their defining concept of "zero-mindedness" has become so critical. In part 2, they examine it in contexts that corporations will actually confront, such as time (dealing with sped-up consumer demands and business relationships), technology (making it so ubiquitous it is taken for granted), and alliances (forging the proper ones with customers, suppliers, and even competitors). In the final part, Lekanne Deprez and Tissen leave the theorizing behind to offer concrete suggestions for utilizing their ideas in the real world. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Big difference between an idea that sounds good
and a good "sound" idea.

A book built on platitudes not repeatable results.

Zero space defines a cutting-edge management model...
A very impressive book! Zero Space defines a cutting-edge management model that is relevant to both managers and consultants alike. I see this theory as a natural extension and integration of the research on high-speed management and virtual organizations. John Jones, Ph.D., Author, "The Virtual Entrepreneur"

Zero Space rates "Zero"
I rate the book as "Zero." In "Zero Space" that is the highest rating!

Authors address organizational change in a knowledge-based economy. Their short stories and analogies make the book fun to read. Examples include the comparison of Zero-thinking companies to a maneuverable and highly adaptable "Tugboat" rather than a large ship. They talk of the value of communication and value of sharing information with the concise sentence "Two friends meet for a drink." The knowledge sharing, over a drink, leaves both men richer and no man poorer. This is an excellent story and representative of the superb readability of the book.

Easy and fun to read does not translate into "Easy to understand." This reader needed two passes to begin to appreciate the "Zero Space" concept and. Some of the concepts are abstract and require the reader to think in unconventional terms. Fortunately the authors offer Eight Key Features" associated with the "Zero" thinking. For example, "Zero Learning Lag" talks about training in today's businesses. The chapter is less abstract than others and presents a very good case for integration of learning with job activity in which the two become indistinguishable.

Lastly, the authors quote much of modern business literature thus offering the reader additional ways to explore the "Zero" concepts or merely to link to alternative ideas.

Zero Space Nearly Zero Value
How does one summarize a book that is impossible to understand? Simply stated, this frustrating read crumbles under the weight of its own foolishness. For example:
The reader is is advised not to share knowledge indiscriminately. But to get to "zero space" (whatever that is) one is encouraged to do just that. But, later, we are told it's OK to share all knowledge because competitive advantage is only gained by someone acting on that knowledge. Are they overlooking the fact that in order to act on something, one must first have that knowledge? Whoops.
The authors arrogantly state, "Human resource management is out and people relationship is in." This is cute but not substantiated.
The trend toward operational standardization is well appreciated, but then to leap to the assumption that this means the knowledge worker is a myth is dubious. And, again, unsubstantiated.
The first "concrete" step we are to take on this voyage to zero space is to become zero-minded, to empty our minds of preconceptions, and to allow it to move freely where it may never have gone before. The authors have evidently followed their own advice. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Book Description

In recent years, both managers and management scholars have regarded the networked firm as a promising organizational form. This book analyses when, why, and how firms engage in such forms of inter-organizational networking as strategic alliances, joint ventures, and long-term accords for collaboration among competitors as well as with suppliers and customers. The contributors outline how firm strategies, catalysts, and trust between actors shape the emergence and the types of inter-organizational collaboration. ... Read more

Book Description

Set firmly within the larger context of American business history, Accounting for Success traces the evolution of the century-old, distinguished accounting firm of Price Waterhouse (PW). Allen and McDermott divide Price Waterhouse's history into three distinct periods. The first (1890 to the mid- 1920s) covers the establishment of the American outpost of a British parent and the Americanization of its practice. The second (the next forty years) highlights PW's rise to unrivaled professional leadership and the important role played by the audit. The third (the 1970s on) focuses on PW's response to the challenges brought about by the globalization of the economy, heightened competition among firms, and the growth of nonaudit services. The authors also address six central themes that recur throughout PW's history: the importance of the partner; the significant role played by the law in shaping the accounting profession's rights and responsibilities; the changing nature of accounting services; the continuously evolving and complex business environment; the highly visible role played by PW's leadership; and PW's worldwide approach to its business. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Michael Jordan of American timber a century ago!
Once upon a time a river forked, and one family went West and the other South.The one who stayedin control and healthy prospered; the other just seemed to lose its way, dissipate, and fade away. This is the legacyof Orrin Ingram.For those who enjoy the very early days (1850-1900) ofour historically significant industries, this book establishes the creationof the Empire Lumber Company, which became in time, the base which producedInram Industries and Weyerhaeuser Company. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Admired as a visionary leader and brilliant business mind, fearedas a ruthless and formidable competitor, and loathed as an egomaniac with anexplosive temper, Oracle founder and CEO Larry Ellison has emerged as one of themost controversial figures in a sea of brilliant, eccentric Silicon Valleyluminaries.

But for such a high-profile character, Ellison maintains an enigmatic air, andhis superachieving, multimillion-dollar company remains a rarely studied entity.Now, The Oracle of Oracle goes behind the scenes to uncover thebreakthrough ideas and winning strategies that have propelled Oracle'sphenomenal growth and breathtaking success.

The book walks readers through Oracle's fascinating history since its relationaldatabase hit the market in 1977, identifying and explaining strategies such as:

* Forge ahead and fix weaknesses--lessons from the early 90s when Oraclederailed, but was nursed back to health. * Grow the Oracle way--by making new products, not acquiring newcompanies. * Crush the competition--it's not enough to succeed; all others mustfail.* Sales today make markets tomorrow--tap into the sales force to developproducts, promote a vision, beat competitors.

The Oracle of Oracle is an intriguing, illuminating read forentrepreneurs who wonder what it takes to build a world-class company fromscratch...for managers and executives who want to integrate Oracle'sphilosophies and culture into their own...and for business readers who relish anup-close report from the battle zones of the software industry. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Good Book, But What Does the Future Hold?
I was a big fan of Ellison's swashbuckling style, iconoclasm, functioning as a much needed and cash rich arch enemy to The Borg from the North, long history of success, but things just don't seem to be the same without Ray Lane kind of functioning as Ellison's superego. The Oracle of Oracle had experienced a great run up until Lane's departure, and companies don't flourish on the cult of a personality alone.

I dumped my Oracle stock a while back, but hope Ellison's seeming spiral into ill advised hubris isn't completely intractable. The story of Oracle and Ellison is more than compelling, and only time will tell whether Ellison's risks in Lane's absence will prove fruitful or fatal.

A final note: Mergers and acquisitions are often great for investment bankers and lawyers, but not necessarily great for shareholders and customers. The bigger the merger and/or acquisition, the bigger the potential problems as well. Seems that Oracle is biting off more than it can chew with PeopleSoft.

Unsophisticated and Misguided
This book was a huge disappointment. The author does not appear to have any previous background on this dynamic industry. This book is not even suitable for a primer as much of Ms. Stone's analysis is not accurate. Having worked for the company, I can attest to the fact that its history is not as simple as portrayed in the book. Stone seems bent on proving that Ellison - despite his rock star ego - is the epitome of a true leader.

Insightful!
Despite recent troubles that might cause readers to quibble with Florence M. Stone's description of Oracle as a "phenomenal success," this examination of Larry Ellison and the company that he created is worth your time. Stone sticks to a single theme: How do Ellison's personal beliefs, characteristics and personality affect the way Oracle does business? In answering this question, the book delves into the brutish outlook of company and founder, which Stone summarizes as, "crush the competition." Oddly, Ellison himself is not present. Instead, we glimpse him only through the words of official spokesmen and journalists. Luckily, these accounts were written after the dot-com collapse, providing the book with a balanced, up-to-date perspective. We from getAbstract recommend this book to all readers, whether your interests are in high tech or general business strategy.

Mindless Drivel
At the outset, it should be pointed out that the publisher of this wretched little book is the American Management Association. There are those who consider their publications to represent the height of business sophistication; others should consider spending their time and money elsewhere.

According to biographical information on the flyleaf, Florence Stone is the "editorial director of Web management communications" at the AMA, "and previously served as the organization's group editor of newsletters and journals." In other words, a glorified administrative assistant. No other qualifications for writing this book are stated, and the content does not suggest otherwise.

Ms. Stone lives in a remarkably simple world. Her basic premise is "Larry Ellison is rich; therefore he is a genius." She totally ignores the more interesting question of how someone who thumbs his nose at conventional business wisdom (much of which is merchandised by the AMA) could have achieved Mr. Ellison's level of success. Here is a man who routinely violates the law, intentionally misleads his customers, abuses and ultimately fires his key employees, and knifes his business associates in the back, yet new candidates for abuse keep pounding on the door, seeking the opportunity to feed Larry's insatiable ego. Why?

That is the key question that Ms. Stone's sycophantic little book fails to address.

an excting look into a great management story
This is a superbly written book that is a real page turner. It tells an exciting story that will reward all budding entrepreneurs who would like to create their own brilliant companies that will change the way we view capitalism and the history of free markets. If you want to achieve success, read this book! ... Read more

Book Description

This work documents the rise and fall of Pacific American Fisheries, a salmon packing company based in Bellingham, Washington, which also had a substantial presence in Alaska. It covers the company's history from its beginnings when Roland Onffroy arrived in early 1898 and saw an opportunity to start a business and make a mint using the abundant supply of salmon in nearby Puget Sound, up until its closing in 1966. The company's story is presented chronologically as unfolding local, regional, national, and international events impacted the fortunes of the company, its employees, and the town that housed it. It also takes a close look at the entrepreneurs, developers, businessmen, and Asian labor force that were associated with the company. PAF's history can also be read as the story of how the United States was developed as people moved from the Atlantic to Pacific coasts and how the Pacific coast was targeted for development due to its natural resources that could easily be exploited for profit. ... Read more

Book Description

Whether your organization is currently undergoing significant change, or will be in the future, The Complete Guide to Managing Change and Transition will be of tremendous benefit.This guide is based on the experience of organizations faced with change in an extremely complex enviroment.The key tasks for success in both managing change and managing people through change have been identified and incorporated into this guide.There are over 100 reproducible tools including assessments, activities and worksheets and a Change Management toolkit.This guide is designed so that each section can stand alone: use it from beginning to end or select individual sections. ... Read more

Book Description

Describes the fall of IBMas a leading computer firm ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Lots of excellent industrial history
While the title of the book precludes a history of the Hoover dam. I found it to contain much more. The book does give a very good acounting of the building of the Hoover Dam.It also covers the beginnigs of some of the largest corporations in the world. ... Read more