Reviews (20)

A Helpful Guide and Reference
Lean Six Sigma: Combining Six Sigma with Lean Speed
By Michael George

This latest book by Michael George has been an extremely helpful guide and reference for our implementation team members and myself. For seven years we have been in the most critical part of our journey toward a Lean Enterprise. An enterprise where the management system includes the principles of total quality, variation management, value creation, and just-in-time production. I have been recommending Michael George's book to freshman implementers and company executives to help them deal with the perceived dilemma many are experiencing. Do they pursue 'Lean' or do they pursue 'Six Sigma Quality'? And of course the answer is 'yes'. The rush to operational productivity in the last decade has distilled many of the key components and techniques of a 'Lean Enterprise' and marketed them as a complete 'Lean Manufacturing' recipe. Unfortunately this selective design has resulted in diluted capabilities and mediocre results for most. The same is true for those who solely depend on managing by constraints or reducing variation incrementally as their core activity. What Michael George offers in his book is a straightforward and field-tested approach for bringing the critical pieces of the 'Lean/JIT' business model, metrics, and leadership behaviors back into perspective. A perspective that helps either the new implementer or the experienced implementer clear up this perceived dilemma. Michael George says the purpose of the book is to show that the combination of Lean and Six Sigma - when focused on the highest-value projects... can produce remarkable results... This is his simple straightforward message that no one else recently has bothered to tackle.

Don A. Blake, Director
Boeing Production System Implementation
Quality & Process Improvement Dept.
Boeing Wichita Division

Packed with Knowledge!
Six Sigma devotees may dispute the need to add anything to Six Sigma, but a shot of lean thinking provides a production boost. Author Michael L. George contends that Six Sigma reduces product quality variation but does nothing to improve delivery time. That may not be strictly true, and certainly is not beyond cavil. Nonetheless, the author's analysis and presentation of the Lean Six Sigma approach is lucid and straightforward. He explains Six Sigma itself much more clearly than some other writers on the subject. Even Six Sigma devotees will find nothing to object to in his treatment, and he provides some compelling examples of the success of the Lean Six Sigma approach. We recommend this book primarily to leaders and managers of firms that rely on factories and other production units. However, the author supplies practical information that may also be relevant to service providers and to every company that cares about customer service, efficient production and the bottom line.

Lean Six Sigma or a selling technique
Well I can say the book is ok. However, I do feel like this book is more about them trying to sell their services to me than to teach or explain Lean Six Sigma... If I wanted to buy consulting or training services I would rather not have it shoved down my throat in a book. .

Dissatisfied
If you are seeking substance and wish to learn, there are other products that better serve that purpose.
If you are interested in improving operations through Lean/6 sigma and have little or no concept of what is involved, this book may provide an adequate overview. In my opinion, however, the overview would be more effective if the book didn't try to keep putting it's foot in the door

An Excellent Book
I truly enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Lean or Six Sigma. Well worth the money!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

What are the most important things in your life? Do they get as much care, emphasis, and time as you'd like to give them? Far from the traditional "be-more-efficient" time-management book with shortcut techniques, First Things First shows you how to look at your use of time totally differently.Using this book will help you create balance between your personal and professional responsibilities by putting first things first and acting on them. Covey teaches an organizing process that helps you categorize tasks so you focus on what is important, not merely what is urgent. First you divide tasks into these quadrants:

1. Important and Urgent (crises, deadline-driven projects)
2. Important, Not Urgent (preparation, prevention, planning, relationships)
3. Urgent, Not Important (interruptions, many pressing matters)
4. Not Urgent, Not Important (trivia, time wasters)

Most people spend most of their time in quadrants 1 and 3, while quadrant 2 is where quality happens. "Doing more things faster is no substitute for doing the right things," says Covey. He points you toward the real human needs--"to live, to love, to learn, to leave a legacy"--and how to balance your time to achieve a meaningful life, not just get things done. --Joan Price ... Read more

Reviews (51)

An unexpected life-changer
I have to get a couple of things out of the way right now to make you understand why this book has been so important to me (and could be to you as well). First, I am definitely someone who shuns most self-help tomes--I think most of them are crutches for weak people too lazy to get their acts together or too clueless to embrace a little common sense. Second, my prior experiences with the Covey cult were less than satisfying, as I had a boss (now departed) who talked the Covey talk but did not (I now see) truly walk the walk. This book differs from the _7 Habits_ texts in that it really deals with taking the general Covey concepts ("principle-centered living") and giving them a practical sheen--in this case by applying them to time management. Learning to divide my activities between "urgent" and "important," planning my life around certain "roles" that I have to fill, and composing a "mission statement" (a much more realistic and helpful version of year 2000 New Year's resolutions for me)--these were the concepts that have really helped me organize my life as efficiently as possible (and I was already pretty organized). I highly recommend buying the book and then following up by getting a Franklin Covey planner, where you can take the lessons from the book and start building your time and life around them. I have loaned the book to several friends and students (I teach high school) and all of them have benefitted from it in some way or another. Buying _First Things First_ will be one of the best things you can do for yourself.

And I can't believe I just wrote a positive review of a self-help book. Trust me on how helpful this book can be.

I JUST CAN SAY "WHAT A BOOK"
First, let me say that i'm a mexican citizen so please do not be so hard about my english, any way i'll try to do my best. i like to be an honest human being, so about "FIRST THINGS FIRST" it was a gift i got from a friend in San Antonio tx., and even knowing that i have not ended the book yet because my job, in the first chapters i had readed i have found many ideas to increase my succes as well as my productivity in the office, but the most important thing i have found is the real meaning of the word "share" and this is because i'm starting to learn that i do have to have time for my family as well as for my profession i do not know whats going to happen when i finish of read this "CLEVER WAY TO SHARE THE MEANING OF LIFE" but i'm sure that at the end there is only going to be one word to "STEPHEN R. COVEY"............THANKS A LOT ARTURO ARMENTA V.

If you've read '7 Habits' you don't need to read this
While the information in this book is still relevant and helpful, it's basically a rehash of much of the information covered in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Some of the ideas about mission statements and priorites are discussed more thoroughly and there is more specific information on time management like handling the "big rocks" in your week, but overall it seemed like a review. If you haven't read '7 Habits,' then it's a very useful approach to time management and setting the priorities in you life.

Another great book by Dr. Covey
This book makes a great addition to The 7 Habits. First Things First is as the title indicates a book about time management. But more than that, about people management. It's about social skills and so much more.

Whether you like Covey or not, this book will impact your life. A highly recommended book to succeed in the new millenium.

Inspiritional and practical
USA Today said that Stephen Covey is the hottest self-improvement consultant to hit U.S. business since Dale Carnegie and I agree. Covey is the best.

In First Things First, Covey discloses powerful time management techniques. What makes this book different from typical time management books and programs is that Covey shows you how to see the whole picture rather than tiny fragments of our lives.

Before reading and applying the techniques in First Things First, I would always lament

"I have too much to do---and not enough time to do it."
"I can't balance my personal life with my business life."
"There is too little of me and too much to do."
"I don't feel in controlof my life."
"Why do I feel so empty all the time."

What you won't find in this book is another daytimer program or another clock. Covey explains why it is more important to know where you are heading instead of how fast you are going. You won't find the old theory of working harder, faster, smarter and more, more, more. It's about effectiveness, not efficiency. And most importantly, it really works.

Thank you Dr. Covey! ... Read more

Book Description

This leading book in international marketing features comprehensive cases that cover consumer, industrial, low tech and high tech, product and services marketing.Specific chapter topics examine the global economic environment; the social and cultural environment; the political, legal, and regulatory environments; global customers; global marketing information systems and research; global targeting, segmenting and positioning; entry and expansion strategies: marketing and sourcing; cooperation and global strategic partnerships; competitive analysis and strategy; product decisions; pricing decisions; channels and physical distribution; global advertising; promotion: personal selling, public relations, sales promotion, direct marketing, trade shows, sponsorship; global e-marketing; planning, leading, organizing, and monitoring the global marketing effort; and the future of global marketing.For individuals interested in a career in marketing. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The up to date Case
This book has easy to understand & have up to date case. The Harley Davidson case is one of the cases that showing us how's struggling US to face Japanese company offensive. This is the good case to picturing the dawn to earth marketing strategy compare to arrogant & not efficient strategy willing by US Company.

good service
the service is very good and efficient

clear, understandable jargon
Marketing concepts are explained within global marketing frame in an understandable manner using the jargon everybody can understand. The principles that each company must take into account both at home and abroad are revealed. Especially, I liked "18 Guiding Principles of the Marketing Company". Articles from the scholars at prestigious business schools are related to global marketing concepts in most understandable way. This makes the book richer. Another thing making the book richer is Global Income and Population estimates, that is both put inside the text and at the end of the book as appendix. These estimates give clear grasp to the reader about world demographics and economic structure, and helps reader understand the subject at hand and, in general, world dynamics better. Interesting and information & expertise-loaded cases differentiates the book from other boring textbooks. The future of global marketing section of the book gives the reader an invaluable horizon. I suggest that you read it carefully, you will get too many things from it.

Students found this to be informative but not presented well
Valuable, current information presented in a rather dull, uninteresting format according to MBA students. Very comprehensive. ... Read more

Book Description

The classic motivational parable (over 500,000 copies sold worldwide) that shows you how to make your own opportunities in life, updated for the modern reader by bestselling business author Alan Axelrod

Ever since its first printing by William Randolph Hearst in 1921, The Go-Getter has inspired employees and entrepreneurs to take initiative, increase their productivity, and excel against the odds. Now, more than half a million copies later, Alan Axelrod, bestselling author of Patton on Leadership and Elizabeth I, CEO, updates the tale to address today's most pressing work issues.

In The Go-Getter, Bill Peck, a war veteran, persuades Cappy Ricks, the influential founder of the Rick's Logging & Lumbering Company, to let him prove himself by selling skunk wood in odd lengths-a job that everyone knows can only lead to failure. When Peck goes on to beat his quota, Rick hands Peck the ultimate opportunity and the ultimate test: the quest for an elusive blue vase. Drawing on such classic values as honesty, determination, passion, and responsibility, Peck overcomes nearly insurmountable obstacles to find the vase and launch hia career as a successful manager.

In a time when jobs are tight and managers are too busy for mentoring, how can you maintain positive energy, take control of your career, and prepare yourself to ace the tests that come your way? By applying the timeless lessons in this compulsively readable parable, employees at all levels can learn to rekindle the go-getter in themselves.
... Read more

Reviews (16)

Great selection for anyone who needs a "jump start" in life.
I give this book a '10' because it is short, in a story format, and has surpassed the test of time. Many "motivational" books are long; too long for someone who is busy and needs information to the point. I read this book in an hour and really felt like I was involved with the main character.

It Shall Be Done
This book is a must read for businessmen, educators, coaches, and anyone who feels like they are in need of a lift! The parable in this book is a great motivator. In today's world where most everyone is trying to find the easy way out and pass the buck, this book teaches you to be on the lookout for what may seem like a dubious task, but in actuality is a "blue vase" test! I read this book in about two hours, easy reading! Should be required in all schools.

Be a Go Getter at all costs?
The one good thing I learned from this book is that to be successful you have to live with the motto "it shall be done".

While the author thinks this is a great motto to live by, I question if this is really a good motto for someone to live by.

For example if you want to make 10 sales each day, and you work 14 hours a day to make it happen every day for years on end - thereby forgetting about your family and relationships, you may have attained wealth, but you will not have a balanced life.

Ok. You get my point. It's good to be a go-getter, but you need a balance too.

I highly recommend you read Cheryl Richardson's book, Take Time For Your Life, together with this one.

Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works: How to Get Motivated and Stay Motivated

Great Motivational Audio Book
A great little book that is a sort of "pick me up." I borrowed the book from the library on audio CD. It is a short little book, so even an unabridged audio was not very long. The Go Getter is a fanciful parable about the payoff of being a hard worker and being determined to get things done. The story is simple, direct, and motivational. It raises the listener's spirits without preaching. It was great fun and appropriate for any audience. The reader spoke clearly and with a feeling appropriate to the material. It was very comfortable listening.

a must for every personal library
ever failed to complete a task or project? did you have a good excuse? i am sure that you did... first, for yourself. then for others. when you are ready to stop making excuses and start achieving results, buy this book. if i could only have ten books on my bookcase, this would be one of them! ... Read more

Book Description

The Complete Guide to Performance Appraisal supplies you with the quickest, surest, and most up-to-date methods available for making your appraisal system outstanding. Whether you want to get the maximum impact from your existing system, or you want to create and implement an ideal system from scratch, The Complete Guide to Performance Appraisal is your one-stop, how-to-do-it resource. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Recommended for researchers, students
This book is the heavyweight of books on performance appraisal, in terms of size, price and detail. As such it's an excellent reference book for researchers, hr professionals, students and academics if their interest is the "traditional" way of doing appraisals.

On the other hand, it is not as practical for managers, due to its size and price. Or rather there are better choices. One other significant disadvantage of this book is that it is traditional, and lacks new ideas or approaches such as put forth by Deming, Scholtes and Coens.

Of course the manager who likes to read on these topics will also gain. It's just that these days it's hard to get anybody to read anything related to work that is this size. ... Read more

Book Description

Take the guesswork out of the most important decision you make! Interviewing and Selecting High Performers Every Manager’s Guide to Effective Interviewing Techniques Current studies show that high-quality workers outproduce poor ones by 25% to 50%. Moreover, these findings reveal the alarmingly high direct and indirect costs companies pay when they hire the wrong people. So why, asks Richard Beatty, would you want to rely on "hit-and-miss" approaches to selecting new employees? In his latest practical, career-oriented guide, Beatty says you no longer have to. Instead, this renowned consultant and author shows how you can consistently choose high-quality performers who fit both your company’s immediate needs and long-term strategic goals. Interviewing and Selecting High Performers provides you with an integrated, airtight, step-by-step selection process. Using a high-performance predictive model, this system clarifies the key qualifications needed by candidates for high performance of specific jobs and provides a rigorous interview design approach that enables you to objectively measure whether a particular candidate meets that criteria. With the help of reproducible evaluation forms, you’re able to accurately weigh the strengths and weaknesses of various prospects and account for the inevitable tradeoffs involved in the selection process, so that you minimize the risks inherent in the employment decision. In addition, Interviewing and Selecting High Performers offers you unmatched support, including:

• Sound, field-tested interviewing techniques
• Step-by-step instructions for designing effective interviews
• Guidance on opening, conducting, and closing the interview, so that you get the information you need while putting your company in the best light
• More than 500 behaviorally-based questions covering 32 topic areas that help you determine a prospect’s overall job fitness

Reviews (2)

Learn a Quantitative Method to Interviewing
In my experience as a professional recruiter over 22 years, I have worked with over 2000 managers. Most managers have never been taught how to interview effectively.

Where do managers usually come from? Promotions. Usually, what is one of their first tasks? Fill the position they just vacated. Where in this process were they taught how to interview? They then ask themselves "What questions did they ask me?"

Generally, the Human Resource Department will give them written guidelines about the personal questions that may not be asked, but do not teach them how to conduct effective interviews. Why not? In smaller companies, the Human Resource Manager themselves may not conduct effective interviews because their previous position did not require that training, and they are "too busy" in their current position to be trained.

This leaves it up to you, the hiring manager. "Interviewing and Selecting High Performers" by Richard Beatty provides you with an excellent foundation to prepare for an interview. He demonstrates why people are an organization's most important resource (People control all of the resources). He provides you with an exercise to demonstrate the cost of a poor hire - should scare you into becoming a manager who selects high performers.

Mr. Beatty walks you through structuring the interview, provides you with 500 or so behaviorally based questions (However, I would shy away from the personal questions), and suggests a structured interview. His structured interview requires a lot of work. However, at the end, you and your interviewing team will be able to give each candidate a numerical grade. The managers that I have taught to use this system swear by it. Personally, I guarantee that if you ever hire someone who received a "34" on their interview because "my gut told me this is a good person", after being disappointed with their performance, you will never do it again.

I would suggest that you also read "Topgrading" by Bradford Smart and then blend the two processes together. Selecting high performers is one of a manager's most important jobs. Congratulations on searching to find a way to be more effective. www.recruiterguy.com

A great book to prepare yourself for interviewing
I found this book to have excellent material in interview preparation and selecting good employees. I can recommend this book.

Wayne D. Ford, Ph.D., author of "How to Spot a Liar in a Job Interview" and "How to Spot a Phony Resume" docwifford@msn.com ... Read more

Book Description

Information Technology and Management, Second Edition by Thompson and Cats-Baril is not just an introduction to information technology; rather, it is an introduction to business processes and the information systems that can make these processes more effective. The book covers the traditional topics of information technology, information system components, and information system development.But it goes beyond this traditional coverage, showing how businesses function and how information systems enable businesses to function more effectively.The theme of IT and organizational responsiveness has been retained, but now centers on the context of how an information system can impact the competitiveness of an organization. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Book
I thought this book did an excellent job of describing the aspects of Information Technology.It was clearly written and easy to read.I also thought the CD did a great job also, though it was a little tricky to navigate around, at first.My only regret is I cannot get my boss to read it.He's a Technophobe. ... Read more

Book Description

Using a three-pronged approach of concepts, applications, and skill development, this text provides students with a solid foundation of management concepts and real skills they can use in the workplace.Through a variety of thought-provoking applications, Lussier challenges students to think critically and apply concepts to their own experiences.Proven skill-building exercises, behavioral models, self-assessments, and group exercises throughout the text help students realize their own managerial potential.The 15-chapter format is comprehensive enough for the one term course, but is also flexible enough to allow for additional readings, activities, or discussions. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Self-surveys for determining your motivation style.
Would you like to determine your own motivation / leadership style? Are you task-oriented or people-oriented? Although I have not used the entire book, Chapter 12 of this book presents several self-assessment surveys based on McGregor's Theory-X / Theory-Y, McClelland's Achievement-Power-Affiliation, and Herzberg's Motivators-Hygienics models. Chapter 10 has a self-assessment survey based on Likert's System (Authoritarian-Benevolent Authoritarian-Consultative-Participative). Very useful. ... Read more

Book Description

Science tells us that energy travels where it is easiest to go, and business consultant Robert Fritz borrows from this concept to provide a concrete methodology that managers can put to use immediately to develop their own paths of least resistance toward success. Fritz incorporates four crucial activities -- new methods are studied, spread, and adopted; being smart is rewarded; cooperation rather than competition is practiced; and fairness is the standard operating principle -- into a comprehensive guide to the structural laws that govern all organizations. He prescribes a direct approach to redesigning an organization's structure to allow positive practices to follow the paths of least resistance. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

A Good Read!
Robert Fritz takes a novel approach to corporate organizational theory by framing his book around the laws of nature. Fritz is especially attached to the law that states that energy follows the path of least resistance, and in this book, he urges managers to utilize this principle in reshaping their organizations. Once you get past this conceptual foundation, however, the advice that's offered here will sound pretty familiar to anyone acquainted with the basics of strategic planning. Form a central vision, create attainable goals, break goals down into smaller steps, assess your results, adjust your strategies; these techniques are all mentioned. But Fritz's adoption of scientific and engineering principles for management purposes, combined with the accompanying charts and examples, make the book an engaging read, despite the less-than-original conclusions. We [...] recommend this book to executives, managers and individuals who are looking for a new, if slightly theoretical, view of how to organize their companies or their lives.

Brilliant Simplicity
Being simple and being simplistic are often not the same. It is shocking that humans condescend to complexity when "simple brilliance" will do. I believe Robert Fritz has done for business what Einstein did for physics. Some reviewers want more theories and more data, when a genuine and workable insight could change everything for their organizations or their lives. E=mc2 is simple, but it is by no means simplistic. For the manager or leader who wants to make sense of his or her organization's struggles, The Path of Least Resistance for Managers is just the ticket. Our own company, TrimTab Solutions specializes in bringing clarity and focus to organizations in transition or crisis. The insights of Robert Fritz are the cornerstone for what we have found to be the most profound and insightful approach to organizational transformation and sanity; it is simple, but not simplistic. The insights in this book, if applied, are destined to influence your organization because they follow the basics of a structure's influence on behavior. Change the structure and the organization will change...Change it intelligently and the organization will advance. Buy the book and step to the forefront of organizational leadership...but be forewarned: Bring a teachable spirit. Be willing to unlearn a few assumptions to make room for Fritz's simple and strategic insights. I wouldn't begin to think about change in an organization without answering the 11 Questions first (they're in the book). Finally, and for Pete's Sake, Peter Senge wrote the forward for his "friend and mentor" Robert Fritz. What further reason do you need?

This book will make a major impact in your organization.
I have spent 25 years growing a family business, read many volumes on leadership and management, completed an Executive MBA, and taken post masters work in leadership and organization development. This book provided me deep insight that I had not found in any of my studies. The understanding of structure I found in the Path for Managers gave me a new clarity of what it takes to design an organization to accomplish its most important goals. The insights are very practical in their application. I have begun to apply these principles, and the results have been profound. Organizations with structural conflict will never achieve the intended results, and when structural tension is created, the results build upon themselves. I give this book my highest recommendation. It will give you tools to align your organization with a vision, and to insure that the vision becomes a reality.

Senge's "The Fifth Discipline" Towers Over This Book
After reading this book, I found the positive tone of most of the reviews here unbelievable. I did not feel that the book was "tremendously useful," "profound and practical," "a brilliant job," "thought-provoking," "absolutely breakthrough," etc. Inspired by the 2 June 2001 and 9 May 2000 reviews here, I compared the book side-by-side with "The Fifth Discipline" ("TFD") by Peter M. Senge. TFD outshines "The Path of Least Resistance for Managers" in the following ways: (1) "Path" presents basically a single idea about "oscillations" repeatedly; TFD contains numerous great ideas. (2) TFD gives examples of companies that did (e.g., Royal Dutch/Shell) and did not (e.g., People Express) follow TFD's advice; it is not proven that the ideas in "Path" will actually improve a company. (3) "Path" oversimplifies the complexities of companies, while TFD analyzes these complexities and suggests management techniques that address them. In summary, don't waste your time and money on this two-star book, buy TFD instead.

A Pragmatic, No-Nonsense Book
This is the best book I've ever read on business strategy and organizational design. If you've ever wondered why some organizations take three steps forward and one step backward while others constantly progress step after step after step, this is the book for you. It's clear and concise with powerful ideas and practical techniques.

Unlike most business books these days, this book is refreshingly fad-free, formula-free, and philosophy-free. Fritz writes in a straight forward, no nonsense manner. He doesn't seem to be "selling" anything, other than a very pragmatic approach to business design and planning.

As a management consultant, I find Fritz's structural approach tremendously useful with clients. In addition to being accurate and results-oriented, it's much faster than other approaches I've used. Why waste your time or the clients' time? ... Read more

Book Description

This book is a brief, 2-color, paperback version of Dessler's Management: Leading People and Organizations in the 21st Century 2/e. It covers all key topics in management, in a traditional Planning, Organizing, Leading, and Controlling framework.Chapter topics include managing in the 21st century, managing in a global environment, making decisions, planning and setting objectives, strategic management, the fundamentals of organizing, designing organizations to manage change, staffing the organization, being a leader, motivating employees today, communicating in today's organizations, managing groups and teams, managing organizational and cultural change, and controlling and building commitment.For all levels of managers in a variety of fields and industries. ... Read more

Book Description

The world's leading expert on the global software industry and coauthor of the bestseller Microsoft Secrets reveals the inner workings of software giants like IBM, Microsoft, and Netscape and shows what it takes to create, develop, and manage a successful company -- in good times and bad -- in the most fiercely competitive business in the world.

In the $600 billion software industry it is the business, not the technology, that determines success or failure. This fact -- one that thousands of once glamorous start-ups have unhappily discovered for themselves -- is the well-documented conclusion of this enormously readable and revealing new book by Michael Cusumano, based on nearly twenty years of research and consulting with software producers around the world.

Cusumano builds on dozens of personal experiences and case studies to show how issues of strategy and organization are irrevocably linked with those of managing the technology and demonstrates that a thorough understanding of these issues is vital to success. At the heart of the book Cusumano poses seven questions that underpin a three-pronged management framework. He argues that companies must adopt one of three basic business models: become a products company at one end of the strategic spectrum, a services company at the other end, or a hybrid solutions company in between. The author describes the characteristics of the different models, evaluates their strengths and weaknesses, and shows how each is more or less appropriate for different stages in the evolution of a business as well as in good versus bad economic times. Readers will also find invaluable Cusumano's treatment of software development issues ranging from architecture and teams to project management and testing, as well as two chapters devoted to what it takes to create a successful software start-up. Highlights include eight fundamental guidelines for evaluating potential software winners and Cusumano's probing analysis, based on firsthand knowledge, of ten start-ups that have met with varying degrees of success.

The Business of Software is timely essential reading for managers, programmers, entrepreneurs, and others who follow the global software industry. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Solid Overview of the Software business
Cusumano presents a solid overview of selected topics relevant to the software business. He focuses on the following topics: strategy for software companies, best practices in software development, and software entrepreneurship. He makes use of case studies and provides insight on the inner workings of Microsoft, IBM, Netscape, Business Objects, and i2. In the chapters discussing strategy, he analyzes product versus service focused organizations. He also discusses market segmentation and whole product solutions as described in Geoffrey Moore's "Crossing the Chasm." With regards to best practices in software development, much of the material is from "Microsoft's Secrets." Cusumano describes the pitfalls of waterfall development and describes the key concepts of Microsoft's synch and stabilize technique. A few pages are devoted to outsourcing and specifically the rise of the Indian software business. I would have expected more analysis on some of the newer agile development methods -- such as XP. Lastly , Cusumano covers software entrepreneurship. He provides an eight point framework to evaluate a software start up. Does it have the following characterisitcs ?
1. Strong management team
2. Compelling new product, service, or hybrid solution.
3. Strong evidence of customer interest
4. An attractive market
5. A plan to overcome the credibility gap.
6. Business model showing early growth and profit potential
7. Flexibility in strategy and product offerings
8. Potential for large payoff to investors.
The text also has a useful appendix with income statement analysis of Business Objects and i2 , and growth comparisons between various organizations. There is nothing in the text I would consider groundbreaking, but it is a solid overview of the software business appropriate for software managers and entrepreneurs.

Very good content ... but not printable
I've been reading the digital version of this book. I consider the content good, but the fact of havig to read it on my pc, because isn't printable, is a real Pain.. why not? I bought it anyway !! Think in your foreseas readers for God's sake!!

Good info - did this guy have an editor
Lots of great information - presentation is a little rough - this reads like a great 1st or 2nd draft - I still recommend.

Good strategy book about software business
This is the best book so far I have read about software business and strategy. The author answers many questions on my mind about the software business strategy and development, for example, the healthy balance of a software company¡¦s revenue between products and services. I also found this book is very practical. Highly recommend this book.

An essential contribution by a leading expert
Michael Cusumano's work has always been original and provoking. This new book provides a comprehensive and stimulating vision of the software business. Michael is one of the few persons who has really and personally studied software companies and market dynamics. His contribution is extremely important for software engineers and software managers who want to understand the critical challenges of "doing software".

I plan to adopt it as a textbook for the graduate course on software engineering economics I teach at Politecnico di Milano (Italy). ... Read more

Book Description

All day, every day, we negotiate: with our friends, spouses, children, boss, customers, and co-workers. A Woman’s Guide to Successful Negotiating builds on women’s innate skills in professional and personal situations. Drawing upon their considerable experience, as a top corporate negotiator and as an investment banker, Lee and Jessica Miller have developed proven strategies, tactics, and techniques that tap into women's abilities to convince, collaborate and create. The authors feature innovative strategies for negotiating with aggressive men and competitive women. The authors also explore the ten common mistakes women make during negotiations and how to avoid making them. In addition, the book will teach you 3 keys to successful negotiating. Whether negotiating for a raise or where to go to dinner with your boyfriend, this book shows you how to get what you want.

What others are saying about A Woman's Guide to Successful Negotiating:

"Breakthrough perspective. Every woman can benefit from this indispensable guide to getting what you want."--Cathleen Black, President, Hearst Magazines

"No matter what the situation, this book provides you with the negotiating techniques and the overall confidence to deal with the issue."--Rose Marie Bravo, Chief Executive Officer, Burberry Ltd.

"Whether you are in the boardroom or at home with your kids, this book shows you how to get what you want and do it with style."--Lisa Hall, Chief Operating Officer, Oxygen Media

"Lots of practical advice on how to win with a woman's touch."--Jan Hopkins, Anchor, CNN Street Sweep

"A useful book for women on the art of negotiating . . . in business, in personal relationships, in every area of life."--Donna Lagani, Publishing Director, Cosmopolitan Group, publisher of Cosmoplitan magazine and CosmoGirl

"An invaluable source of wisdom for woman,young and old, who want to take their place in the world."--Christine Baranski, Emmy and Tony Award Winning Actress

Reviews (4)

Saw This On Good Morning America
Then I picked it up and read it. An amazing book. I was able to use the advise immediately and found that it helped me get what I want at work and at home with my husband and children. I don't expect to need the chapters on cars, houses or divorces but the other chapters are directly applicable to things I have to deal with every day.

Taught me how to negotiate in all aspects of your life
After reading this book, I learned that everything really is negotiable, all you have to do is ask. It taught me how to approach negotiating in my daily life. Now, I can get what I want and it is fun! I didn't realize how often I was negotiating, but now I can control the deals I make. It is easy to read and very empowering. I highly recommend reading it.

A great read for anyone looking to improve their negotiating
The book is a great read for any woman and can be especially helpful for those just starting out in today's business world. With a straight to point the narrative and candid anecdotes and interviews, the book offers a fresh perspective to negotiation for a woman's point of view. A great read for anyone who is trying to improve their negotiating techniques!

Every Woman Really Can Benefit From This Book.
I never thought I could negotiate but after reading this book I find that I am able to get what I want, not only at work but from from my husband and from my friends as well. The techniques described in the book even work with my children. I expected to find advice about negotiating at work but I was surprised to learn how the same techniques work at home as well. Learning to negotiate truly is empowering. ... Read more

Book Description

Projects have been around since ancient times. Noah built the ark, Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa, Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine – all projects. Why then, is the topic of project management suddenly of such great interest today? The answer is simple. The audience has changed and the stakes are higher.

Successful businesses and organizations create projects that produce desired results in established timeframes with assigned resources. As a result, businesses are increasingly driven to find individuals who can excel in this project-oriented environment. And that's where this guide comes into play.

Reading Project Management For Dummies could help a diverse group of people, some of which include the following:

• Senior managers and junior assistants (the senior managers of tomorrow)
• Experienced project managers and people who've never been on a project team
• People who've had significant project management training and people who've had none
• People who've had years of real-world business and government experience and people who've just entered the workforce

By reading this guide, you'll gain insight into beginning a project, supporting it throughout its life, and bringing it to a successful closure. You'll discover how to manage the uncertainties surrounding a project, and uncover the definitions to the most common project management terms. And you'll figure out how to handle some of the more common project management situations you'll encounter, from dealing with the people involved to organizing the mountains of paperwork.

While most businesses are looking for ways to get a better handle on their projects, what no one is saying is that the majority of people who become project managers aren't doing so by choice. Instead, project management is often an unexpected but required progression in their chosen career paths. Think of this guide as a friend or comfortable resource that has more to share each time you crack it open as you experience new situations in which you can apply the knowledge. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Covers the basics
This book covers the basics of project management but does not include the "how to" tools to be "the reference guide" for project managers. Perhaps to be a project manager you can't be a dummy.

Great introduction to project management
A solid book that introduces many tools and techniques central to project management. If you have to manage projects in addition to doing your "real work" this book is for you. If you're a project manager by profession, you should be past this book by now.

Too Basic
Individuals with any experience in running a project, whether it is a small focused job or a large-scale product development effort, will find subject treatises too fundamental. The chapters lack the in-depth coverage and focus as the apparent goal is to present a broad-based overview of basic concepts in the field of project management.

Here is a guideline to use in deciding whether or not to purchase this book:
How comfortable are you with using the Microsoft Project software?
If you are very comfortable with MS Project, I recommend that you try "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge" instead.
If you have never used MS Project and/or have no idea what it does, then you should probably buy this book.

Manage your projects wisely
The author details all of the processes, reporting requirements, and pitfalls that go into managing projects intelligently. A great primer on the subject.

Useful and Enjoyable
Stan is an excellent trainer (I have attended 2 of his courses), and it turns out he is a good writer, too! He presents PM concepts and tools in an easy-to-understand way with great real-life examples. As a new PM, I have found this book to be a great reference as well as good "flip-through" reading. ... Read more

Book Description

Do you need some performance magic NOW?

You see the performance and productivity expectations. Now you need a little magic to make them happen. The magic is here! With this book as your guide, you'll pinpoint the goal, you'll find the gap between that goal and where you are now, and then you'll close the gap. Simple, quick, inexpensive, and effective--that's what Performance-Based Instruction is about! using these brilliant designs, you will clarify job expectations and foster pride and confidence in employees' work performance.

When performance improvement is vitally needed?the concerned practitioner would do well to heed Smalley and Brethower's thoughtful advice.
--Robert O. Brinkerhoff, professor of educational leadership, Western Michigan University

This book gives you the tools you need to:

• Conduct on-the-job training
• Establish team training
• Design job aids
• Perform needs assessments
• Evaluate training...and more!

The User's Manual appAndix gives you specific pointers on using this book as a guide in an HRD department, as a text in an academic setting, or as a professional development tool for solo practitioners. The enclosed Microsoft Word® diskette gives you an electronic, customizable source of quick-implementation job aids. It's all here. Grab this book of spells, add a dash of attentive work, and create some performance magic today!

... Read more

Reviews (1)

More than just another training book
I found "Performance-Based Instruction: Linking Training to Business Results" to be an excellent manual and reference. It provides processes and tools for improving employee performance in a way that connects training to the company's short- and long-term goals. This impact orientation is increasingly important as many organizations realize that training is a substantial capital investment of not only instructors and materials but also of trainee's salary and lost opportunity cost. As a consequence, training and development professionals who can demonstrate how their work contributes to overall organizational performance will have the edge in today's highly competitive and crowded training and development sector.

Performance-based instruction (or PBI for short) enables trainers to provide effective and efficient training that is linked to the learners' real job. Instead of working on generic exercises, trainees create tools and job aids that they can immediately use on their job. Instructional designers, trainers, and human performance consultants can apply PBI to on-the-job training, teamwork, feedback, job aids, personal development plans, and any other instructional context, including the conversion of traditional training to performance-based instruction. Evaluation is built into the design, it does not happen as an afterthought. This is important because continuous evaluation is needed for training professionals to stay on track throughout the design and implementation of complex or large training projects.

Performance-based instruction typically occurs in short sessions over a period of time so that trainees can practice the new material on their job. When distributed practice is not possible, PBI principles help to develop short training sessions that connect the training event to on-the-job performance in meaningful and immediately applicable ways.

This book contains exercises that help novices and experienced trainers to apply performance-based instruction from the get-go. A diskette with files of the highly useful tables and checklists allows readers to get a quick start. Overall, the book is an important resource for those performance professionals who want to improve performance where it really matters-on the job and not just the classroom. (For a detailed review see "Performance Improvement," 1999, Vol. 38 No. 9, pages 42-46.) ... Read more

Amazon.com

To listen to its proponents, network (or multilevel) marketing is the greatest thing since sliced bread: top performers earn $1 million a month, reside in alluring places like Aspen and Kauai, and still find quality time to happily raise children and lovingly cement spousal relationships. Contending that those who fail to make it that far are ill prepared for the initial challenges they face, Mark Yarnell and Rene Reid Yarnell--married network marketers who are among the industry's leaders, as well as members of a University of Illinois faculty that teaches the only college-certified course on the subject in the U.S.--have written Your First Year in Network Marketing: Overcome Your Fears, Experience Success, and Achieve Your Dreams! to convey both advice and inspiration to newcomers. Peppered with personal anecdotes that bring their recommendations to life, the two offer logical strategies for overcoming rookie obstacles and kick starting a career. Individual chapters explore issues such as battling rejection, avoiding depression, handling prospects, supervising recruits, and managing time. Each concludes with a comprehensive summary, but save it for later reference and don't skip the preceding narrative, or you risk missing the book's considerable motivational component. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (48)

If you like this book, you'll love Rene's newest release
Doug Weed was right - this is the bible of network marketing for new networkers. It has really been a helpful support to me and so many others I know. I have read and reread it several times and feel it essential for first year networkers.

But if you like this book, you'll love Rene's newest book for your prospects. It is called The New Entrepreneurs: Making a Living - Making a Life in Network Marketing. It does all the work for you to help anyone looking at network marketing overcome their resistance and seriously consider the industry without prejudice. Check it out. It's a book you'll find hard not to read in one sitting. And, although it is a business book, the stories are from the heart. I highly recommend The New Entrepreneurs as a means of building your network marketing business and Your First Year in Network Marketing once you've joined as a training tool. This will spare you the grief by teaching you what to do and, as important, what not to do.

Good, but a bit too generic
I hate to be the only person to NOT give this book 5 stars, but I don't think it deserves it.
The Yarnell's (now divorced) are probably the most successful spousal team in network marketing, and reading their lessons is important to each of us. Some of the gems in the book revolve around the distributor, as they become more successful, to remember that network marketing is a *simple* business, and should be presented *simply* less you alienate your prospects who would think - "I can't do that."
And the sections on the pitfalls and negatives that come your way your first year are great reminders of what you went through, or what to expect.

My problem is that the book, to appeal to as wide an audience as possible, is far too generic. They recommend against hotel meeting room presentations; well, my company isn't set up for this. They recommend against the uplines doing the work for their frontlines. Great advice we all need to heed, but my business is run almost 100% over the internet, that's just not applicable.

A good, good book I wish I'd read 13 years ago (it wasn't out then, of course), but which I feel is too vanilla. Regardless, I still recommend it to my downline when they join.

Network Marketing is the wave of the future
There is no doubt that home based businesses are exploding and network marketing is right at the top of that explosion. Network Marketing has gained acceptance and respectablity. It is the best low risk, low cost high return business available today.

Mark Yarnell shows how to earn a high income in this business. My only complaint is the title, it is not just for newbies or your first year. As a veteran in this industry, I found some things I never knew before and was reminded of some things I forgot.

Great book by Mr. Yarnell.

MLM Works!
This book is Excellent. The people that don't believe that Network Marketing will work have set in their mind "limiting beliefs", like the (Wayne) gentleman who gave this book 1 star. Most likely he didn't read the book.

Think and Grow Rich: "You become what you think about," Remember it!

People all over the world have made Network Marketing their "home". It's the best way to earn a living, while giving you the most freedom. This book is a great source of information and it will help any beginner to succeed. There is of course work involved, but join a company that has a great up-line, working w/ the best and getting the best training and support and you will achieve extra-ordinary results.

The reason why most people fail in MLM companies is because of the lack of training. If you got a J.O.B and the boss said; "Okay there is your desk, get to work" and provided no training, how long would you stay there?

I would recommend working for a nutrition company. Why? For three reasons: 1) because you will earn a great amount of money. 2) You will improve your health and 3) you will help others improve their lives. Some of my customers would say, "Those are expensive vitamins" and I would say, compared to what? Heart disease, Strokes, Cancer, or Diabetes? I would say you are getting a bargain.

All vitamins are not created equal. If you trust the regular store to your nutritional needs. I would consider going to the Veterinarian for your health care.

Information fro the informed
Excellent book for the new network marketer, Yarnell speaks from experience. Pay special attention to the detailed steps the authors recommend to avoid the pitfalls encountered in your first year, especially chapters on rejection and depression.
I could'nt imagine going through my first year without this book as a guide, EXCELLENT! ... Read more

Book Description

Bring the miracle of Lean Six Sigma improvement out of manufacturing and into services

Much of the U.S. economy is now based on services rather than manufacturing. Yet the majority of books on Six Sigma and Lean--today's major quality improvement initiatives--explain only how to implement these techniques in a manufacturing environment.

Lean Six Sigma for Services fills the need for a service-based approach, explaining how companies of all types can cost-effectively translate manufacturing-oriented Lean Six Sigma tools into the service delivery process.

Filled with case studies detailing dramatic service improvements in organizations from Lockheed Martin to Stanford University Hospital, this bottom-line book provides executives and managers with the knowledge they need to:

• Reduce service costs by 30 to 60 percent
• Improve service delivery time by 50 percent
• Expand capacity by 20 percent without adding staff

Reviews (3)

Initiatives for Quality Improvement
A customer is the King ! If there is Quality product, the customer satisfaction ratio level rises up. Customer chooses its high-end needs and service follows. This is the point when this Book comes in too informative to fill in service based approach. With the case studies, the book provides the Executives to go for a solution to satisfy a customer not only with quality but with the service to boost up the sales thereby with cost cutting factors and provide transactions quick and easier with added services and yet not adding the staff. The delivery process can be made much effective with the cost cuts with the clear examples and like other Six Sigma in Business, this one is sure pick for all Manufacturing unit Executives who also believe in Quality Service. Good Read.

Innovative Approach to Lean Six Sigma in Service
I admire Michael George for coming up with another innovative solution by applying the Lean Six Sigma approach to Service Industry. As Lean Six Sigma has helped companies in the manufacturing industry, this book will help the Service industry.

Praveen Gupta
Author of Six Sigma Business Scorecard

Lean Six Sigma for Service
"Lockheed Martin is driving operating excellence in all work that we do. We recognized that our business support processes have as much opportunity for improvement as our design and build areas. By applying Lean process speed and Six Sigma quality tools to all elements of work, such as marketing, legal, contract administration, procurement, etc., we can drive competitive advantage. The lessons learned and practical case studies contained in Lean Six Sigma for Service provide a template which can create great value for customers, employees and shareholders."

---Mike Joyce, Vice President, LM 21
Lockheed-Martin ... Read more

Book Description

Praise for Energy and Power Risk Management

"Energy and Power Risk Management identifies and addresses the key issues in the development of the turbulent energy industry and the challenges it poses to market players. An insightful and far-reaching book written by two renowned professionals."
–Helyette Géman, Professor of Finance
University Paris Dauphine and ESSEC

"The most up-to-date and comprehensive book on managing energy price risk in the natural gas and power markets. An absolute imperative for energy traders and energy risk management professionals."
–Vincent Kaminski, Managing Director
Citadel Investment Group LLC

"Eydeland and Wolyniec’s work does an excellent job of outlining the methods needed to measure and manage risk in the volatile energy market."
–Gerald G. Fleming, Vice President, Head of East Power Trading, TXU Energy Trading

"This book combines academic rigor with real-world practicality. It is a must-read for anyone in energy risk management or asset valuation."
–Ron Erd, Senior Vice President
American Electric Power ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good overview
The management of risk in the context of energy or weather is quite different than in other contexts, due to the peculiarities of the data that occurs in energy prices. The high volatility of energy prices can range, as the authors of this book point out, between 50-100% for gas, to 100-500% for electricity. No doubt this kind of volatility, and other properties such as correlations and mean reversion, entails that some different mathematical strategies for modeling energy derivatives be devised. The authors give a good tour of some of these strategies, and anyone interested in energy derivatives will gain a lot of insight into their modeling when reading this book. Due to space constraints, only chapters 5 and 7, which this reviewer considered the most important of the book, will be reviewed here.

In chapter 5 the author presents techniques for energy modeling that go beyond the used of the convenience yield by using forward pricing techniques. The goal is to describe the dynamics of future contract prices that takes into account the correlations with other futures, and not on the price evolution of a single contract. Thus it is the 'forward curve' that is relevant for obtaining a useable model for derivative cash flow. The HJM model is presented as one of these, with changes in the forward curve over a particular time interval represented as a linear combination of random perturbations. For energy markets, each perturbation is specified by a deterministic shape function multiplied by a Gaussian factor. The unobservability of the factors determining the forward curve evolution makes the use of historical data mandatory if the parameters are to be estimated. But lack of sufficient historical data and its nonstationarity complicate this estimation. The authors discuss the Schwartz-Smith multi-factor model as an example of a forward curve dynamics model and give some solutions. They then move on to a model that specifies the dynamics for only the contracts that are actually traded, which in the literature are called 'market models.' The model they actually discuss is a multivariate geometric Brownian motion representation of the forward curve dynamics, where the volatility and drift functions are linear functions of the forward prices. The authors then derive the 'discrete string models', where it is assumed that the number of factors is equal to the number of contracts, and the random factors are governed by ordinary Brownian motion. String models are represented as having the advantage of being able to directly observe the factors in the historical data. The authors apply string models to multi-commodity cases, and discuss an example for monthly forward prices. They show how to match the current forward curve, the option prices, and the correlation structure for this model.

The discussion in chapter 7 revolves around finding better models for the dynamics of power prices that capture the special properties of energy prices, such as mean reversion and seasonality, and the need for stable models. They therefore introduce 'hybrid models', which they claim give a more natural representation of the dynamics of power prices, make use of nonprice forward-looking information, and can take the historical data on power prices and then extend it to information on fuel prices, outages, etc. The construction of these models is based on the use of nonlinear transformations on a collection of random variables. The random variables are essentially the system demand, natural gas and oil price, outages, emission prices, and weather at a particular time. The power price then can be written as a function of the dynamics of these factors, the latter written by the authors in terms of the corresponding tradables. Recognizing that hedging cannot be done on some of these factors, they adjust the power price formula so that the power tradables, i.e. the forwards and option prices, are exactly matched. This matching transformation is chosen so that if the forward contracts and options are priced using the adjusted formula, one recovers the exact current prices. The model, as the authors summarize it, is an attempt to explain the behavior of the tradables in terms of the evolution of the underlying factors and static adjustments to the terminal probability distribution. Historical information on the tradables and spot products is not used to calibrate the model, but it is used to validate the model. The authors distinguish between 'reduced-form' hybrid models, where the transformation is calibrated from the historical prices, and 'fundamental' hybrid models, where the transformation is calibrated from the market structure and is only tested on the historical prices. The authors discuss an example of a reduced-form hybrid model that is heavily parametrized, but has the advantage of using price data more efficiently. The rest of the chapter concentrates on fundamental hybrid models, with the author first discussing how power prices are formed in competitive markets. They consider a typical pool market, with the price determined via auction mechanisms. The authors then try to identify and characterize the underlying random variables that actually affect power prices. The time series for the price of power is written in terms of the demand using a 'bid stack' function. The bid stack function is approximated by a 'generation stack' that is found for a given time by sorting generation units by their generation costs. T