Book Description

As we approach the end of the twentieth century, the ways in which knowledge--scientific, social, and cultural--is produced are undergoing fundamental changes. In The New Production of Knowledge, a distinguished group of authors analyze these changes as marking the transition from established institutions, disciplines, practices, and policies to a new mode of knowledge production. Identifying such elements as reflexivity, transdisciplinarity, and heterogeneity within this new mode, the authors consider their impact and interplay with the role of knowledge in social relations. While the knowledge produced by research and development in science and technology is accorded central focus, the authors also outline the changing dimensions of social scientific and humanities knowledge and the relations between the production of knowledge and its dissemination through education. Placing science policy and scientific knowledge within the broader context of contemporary society, this book will be essential reading for all those concerned with the changing nature of knowledge, with the social study of science, with educational systems, and with the correlation between research and development and social, economic, and technological development. "Thought-provoking in its identification of issues that are global in scope; for policy makers in higher education, government, or the commercial sector." --Choice "By their insightful identification of the recent social transformation of knowledge production, the authors have been able to assert new imperatives for policy institutions. The lessons of the book are deep." --Alexis Jacquemin, Universite Catholique de Louvain and Advisor, Foreign Studies Unit, European Commission "Should we celebrate the emergence of a 'post-academic' mode of postmodern knowledge production of the post-industrial society of the 21st Century? Or should we turn away from it with increasing fear and loathing as we also uncover its contradictions. A generation of enthusiasts and/or critics will be indebted to the team of authors for exposing so forcefully the intimate connections between all the cognitive, educational, organizational, and commercial changes that are together revolutionizing the sciences, the technologies, and the humanities. This book will surely spark off a vigorous and fruitful debate about the meaning and purpose of knowledge in our culture." --Professor John Ziman, (Wendy, Janey at Ltd. is going to provide affiliation. Contact if you don't hear from her.) "Jointly authored by a team of distinguished scholars spanning a number of disciplines, The New Production of Knowledge maps the changes in the mode of knowledge production and the global impact of such transformations. . . . The authors succeed . . . at sketching out, in very large strokes, the emerging trends in knowledge production and their implications for future society. The macro focus of the book is a welcome change from the micro obsession of most sociologists of science, who have pretty much deconstructed institutions and even scientific knowledge out of existence." --Contemporary Sociology "This book is a timely contribution to current discussion on the breakdown of and need to renegotiate the social contract between science and society that Vannevar Bush and likeminded architects of science policy constructed immediately after World War II. It goes far beyond the usual scattering of fragmentary insights into changing institutional landscapes, cognitive structures, or quality control mechanisms of present day science, and their linkages with society at large. Tapping a wide variety of sources, the authors provide a coherent picture of important new characteristics that, taken altogether, fundamentally challenge our traditional notions of what academic research is all about. This well-founded analysis of the social redistribution of knowledge and its associated power patterns helps articulate what otherwise tends to remain an--albeit widespread--intuition. Unless they adapt to the new situation, universities in the future will find the centers of gravity of knowledge production moving even further beyond their ken. Knowledge of the social and cognitive dynamics of science in research is much needed as a basis of science and technology policymaking. The New Production of Knowledge does a lot to fill this gap. Another unique feature is its discussion of the humanities, which are usually left out in works coming out of the social studies of science." --Aant Elzinga, University od Goteborg ... Read more

Book Description

Over the past fifteen years, the role of nonprofits in developing housing for those with low and moderate incomes has changed dramatically. Once supporting players, community development corporations, tenant associations, and other nonprofit organizations have now assumed the lead, filling the gap left by shrinking government commitment to become the nation's primary producers of affordable rental and home ownership opportunities. With the growing involvement of these various groups comes a new set of issues and concerns for them to handle, all of which are addressed in this revised and expanded edition of Developing Affordable Housing.

Written by Bennett L. Hecht, a professional with extensive experience in nonprofit real estate development, this comprehensive resource provides cutting-edge tools and strategies for creating long-term stability, meeting community housing needs, and taking advantage of economic opportunities. Demystifying affordable housing development for those considering it for the first time, as well as for those seeking to expand into different types of housing production, it offers invaluable insights into possible financing sources and long-term management strategies that will make planned affordable housing developments effective and successful.

Taking you step-by-step through the entire development process, Developing Affordable Housing, Second Edition covers all the bases, from putting together the development team to determining project feasibility to obtaining site control. Along with details on using Hope 6 funds for neighborhood revitalization programs, it contains a new chapter on joint ventures that includes specifics on limited liability corporations (LLCs). Packed with numerous checklists, step-by-step procedures, sample contracts, and model documents designed to help save time, effort, and expense, Developing Affordable Housing has all the information on:

• Raising capital—loans, grants, equity, public housing funds
• Property development—deposit and escrow, closing and recording costs, settlements, tenancies, risk of loss, purchaser inspection
• Prepurchase considerations—applying for financing and operating subsidies, determining ownership entity, interviewing management companies, developing plans for renting or selling units
• Settling on acquisition—title insurance, the settlement agent, property location survey, governmental regulations, building permits
• Financing and taxation—Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Tax-Exempt Bonds

A practical resource that features straightforward guidelines, sound advice, and up-to-date information, this is essential reading for any nonprofit looking to sponsor, own, or manage affordable housing projects.

This comprehensive guide, now revised and expanded, covers the fundamentals of nonprofit real estate development, from financing and purchase contracts to site control and ownership entity. Packed with numerous checklists, sample contracts, and model documents, the Second Edition addresses such essential topics as:

• Assembling the development team
• Projecting costs, income, and expenses
• Raising capital
• Establishing partnerships and joint ventures
• Purchasing, constructing, and rehabilitating property
• Maintaining an ownership or rental community

"Developing Affordable Housing does what no other book I know has done—lays out in a practical, complete way all the steps nonprofits need to successfully develop affordable housing ... It should become required reading for anyone attempting their first or their fortieth housing project." —F. Barton Harvey III, Chairman of the Board and CEO, The Enterprise Foundation

"Many of today's most creative solutions to local affordable housing challenges arise from the innovative collaborations nonprofit organizations form with local government, the private sector, and philanthropic institutions. Mr. Hecht's thorough and insightful work serves as a nonprofit road map to develop more cutting-edge housing opportunities." —Ann Marie Wheelock, President and CEO, Fannie Mae Foundation

"The development of affordable housing is as much a journey as a destination. Ben Hecht's book provides maps and bridges while not losing sight of the challenging but elusive goal of providing decent, safe, and affordable housing." —Nicolas P. Retsinas, Director, Joint Center on Housing Studies, Harvard University

"Developing Affordable Housing is both a reference book and a comprehensive guide that every organization considering development of affordable housing should read first—a unique combination of the context and specifics that describes the complexities and pitfalls of affordable housing development along with how to do it and when and where to get help." —Cushing N. Dolbeare, Housing Policy Consultant and founder, National Low Income Housing Coalition ... Read more

Reviews (1)

It's a great book, very informative
This book is wonderful! It is very informative and interesting. Buy it! In bulk! Certainly worth my reading time. ... Read more

Book Description

Over the past twenty years, the study of industrial organization--the analysis of imperfectly competitive markets--has grown from a niche area of microeconomics to a key component of economics and of related disciplines such as finance, strategy, and marketing. This book provides an issue-driven introduction to industrial organization. It includes a vast array of examples, from both within and outside the United States. While formal in its approach, the book is written in a way that requires only basic mathematical training. Supplemental materials posted on the Web make more extensive use of algebra and calculus. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Outstanding.
The layout and content of this book is truly outstanding. Cabral's lucid explanations and balance of theory and examples, make this book a pleasure to read. The text also provides a much needed framework for thinking about the ambiguous term, "strategy." Several of the author's reviewers comment that this text is destined to become the definitive introductory text on the industrial organization and I support that view.

A clearly superior text
Just when you thought there was no need for another Industrial Organization textbook, L. Cabral has written a book so breathtaking lucid that it may stand as the definitive introductory textbook for a generation. The author adeptly combines classic industrial organization theory with the latest advances in research and modern examples. The result is at once current and timeless, and will surely engage the beginning student more than any book currently on the market, or any book likely to be written. A must have for any introductory industrial organization class. ... Read more

Book Description

A perennial bestseller, this definitive guide to all legal, economic, and financial aspects of the music business better than ever in its revised, thoroughly updated new edition. This edition addresses the implications of MP3, the Copyright Term Extension Act, union treatment of digital music, and more.

As this "bible of the music business" moves into its 40th year, the book's expanded scope addresses challenges and opportunities of a new century, including:

MP3 record duplication, Internet sales, and cybercasting
Digital record performance rights for artists and record companies
New markets emerging from WIPO and GATT treaty enforcement of copyright protection against counterfeiters and bootleggers
Greater reliance on major labels, further merging of powerful companies, and reduced record distribution by independents
Revised markets opened by the European Economic Union and other consolidations
The impact, both positive and negative, of growing motion picture and theater investments in the music business ... Read more

Reviews (17)

another boring music business book - it's good though!!
ZZZZZZZZzzzzzz... This book is like "This Business of Music." It's full fo great info, but it's really, really, really boring. This is something you'd read in a college classroom. I think most musicians would be better off getting some of the newer music business books that are out now which concentrate more on getting out there, making a name for yourself, and making money. Get a few bucks together and go buy the Indie Bible by David Wimble to get some contacts going, get How I Make $100,000 in Music by David Hooper to show you how business people think and how to increase your income playing music, and get Buzz Your MP3 to help get your online promotion together. These are all quick reads with really good info and no filler. Once you have read them, come back for this one. You'll understand it a lot better.

College Text Quality
Very informative, reads like a college textbook. This book could be used to teach courses. Well worth the money, and will keep you reading for awhile. If you have interest as to how everything works in the business aspects of the music business, this book is for you. I've interned at a few music companies, and this book teaches you everything that I've learned in 2 years all in one book. Again, you won't be disappointed.

REQUIRED READING FOR ANYONE IN THE BUSINESS
This is a fantastic book which covers all the essential ground in the music business. The authors have clearly laid out the isues and forces that are shaping the industry, as well as the nitty gritty details about doing business in the music world. This book is helpful to anyone who is an artist themselves, or works with artists as a manager, record exec, or publisher. Run out and get this book now!

Sure, it's comprehensive... but it's not accessible.
If you are a scholar or pundit, this is the bible. BUT IF YOU PLAY IN A BAND AND WANT TO FIGURE OUT YOUR NEXT MOVE -- LOOK ELSEWHERE. Try Rich Stim's "Music Law - How to Run Your Band's Business" instead.

Excellent Book.....A must have!
This book is the book of all books. If you want to better understand the business of music buy this book!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Michael J. Wolf says that all businesses--even banks and supermarkets--will increasingly need to be entertaining to thrive. In The Entertainment Economy, Wolf, one of the media industry's top strategists, demonstrates how business is becoming synonymous with entertainment--a trend that is exploding because of the Internet. Although no substitute for quality, a company's "E-Factor" is critical in establishing brand and attracting fickle consumers, he writes. "We have come to expect that we will be entertained all the time," Wolf says. "Products and brands that deliver on this expectation are succeeding. Products that do not will disappear." Entertainment is becoming a big part of some industries you might not think of in this regard. For example, CNBC, a business-news cable station, is a hit because it treats the stock market like entertainment, Wolf writes. Tommy Hilfiger, a clothing retailer, became a "cool brand" by promoting rock stars and other celebrities. No merchant can escape the impact of entertainment--especially on the Internet. An online business must grab people or it will perish. When businesses stake out a position on the Web, they can't just provide online ordering. They must also feature compelling "entertainment content" to win customers. The author, a consultant for Viacom, Newscorp, and other media giants, sprinkles his book with inside stories about Ted Turner, Barry Diller, and Steven Spielberg. This book is for business owners, advertising pros, and people interested in a different take on what's driving the economy. --Dan Ring ... Read more

Reviews (34)

The Ego Has Landed
This book would have made a great magazine article.

Unfortunately, Wolf quickly establishes his premise (that entertainment is becoming an increasingly important force in all aspects of the global economy), and beats it bloody by about page 90. Thereafter, the book degenerates into a discussion of (a) how great his clients and potential clients are (Bob Pittman and Judy McGrath return the favor, by providing the blurbs shown on the cover of the book), and (b) how brilliant his analysis has been, from the time he was in college until today, cannily guiding media moguls down the correct and enlightened path.

This book, in short, continues the trend started by "In Search of Excellence" and "Reengineering the Corporation": Books by consultants who have somehow gotten us to shell out $20-25 for a hardcover version of their consulting firm's promotional brochure.

Coming for your Young
This book is curious. The author has some true insight into the media industry, showing how pervasive and invasive it has become, yet unaware of anything disturbing in these trends. If you're an executive looking to stay a drone and turn your own children into entertainment slaves, dive right in. Your Nike commercials can only get better. ... look at this book and wonder why these things are happening, and what you can do to make it better. But don't forget it is happening, and these things can't be magically whisked away by living in the forest. For it will come for you eventually. Use this book to steer it in a kinder direction.

...

Unique and Compelling Perspectives
According to Michael J. Wolf, "Locally, globally, internationally, we are living in an entertainment economy." In fact, that is the title of his new book which consists of ten chapters which proceed from an introduction to the "entertainment zone" to a "view from tomorrow." In between, Wolf carefully examines a full-range of business situations in which entertainment plays an increasingly more important role. For example, he focuses on the fun-focused customer, the e-factor ("there's no business without show business"), the battle for attention, the struggle for world domination, the genesis of a phenomenon (ie whatever redefines "success"), what he calls "enteractivity", brand empires, and the role of sponsors.

Wolf observes that "Within its home turf....entertainment is in many parts of the world the fastest-growing sector of the economy. This is as true of developing countries as it is of mature ones. But of even wider impact is the way entertainment content has become a key differentiator in virtually every aspect of the broader consumer economy." Moreover, "...where America's entertainment economy goes, the rest of the world is not far behind." Although he does not state it explicitly, Wolf views "entertainment" from two quite separate perspectives: entertainment as a commodity (films, videos, radio and television, concerts, athletic events, etc.) and entertainment as a strategy (eg to create a sense of being "entertained"). As Wolf explains, not all commodities are inherently entertaining but it is possible to nourish the appeal of virtually all commodities by use of appropriate entertainment principles.

In this respect, Wolf seems to agree with Schmitt & Simonson, co-authors of Marketing Aesthetics. Consider Williams-Sonoma which attracts customers to its upscale stores with the aromas of fresh-baked bread and fresh-brewed coffee, produced on-site by appliances it sells. Schmitt & Simonson assert that marketing is most effective when it appeals to most (if not all) of the five senses. Wolf would no doubt confirm that the nature and extent of that appeal will usually determine the nature and extent of a consumer's sense of being "entertained."

Every retail merchandiser should ask, "Who buys what we sell? Which images will be most appealing? Window displays, posters, counter-top promotions? Which aromas will be most appealing? Gourmet coffee, popcorn, chestnuts roasting on an open fire? Which sounds will be most appealing? Bach, Hole, Dwight Yoakam, Celine Dion?"

Wolf characterizes Ted Turner, Michael Eisner, Sumner Redstone, and Rupert Murdoch as "the conquistadors of modern business." Why? Because they and their associates understand so well that entertainment (both as a commodity and as an influence) has an almost unlimited global audience. To Wolf's credit, everything he says is directly relevant to almost any organization, regardless of size of nature. If an organization does not understand The Entertainment Economy, it probably doesn't have much of a chance of survival. Those interested in this book are urged to consider, also, The Experience Economy and Experiential Marketing.

Highly Recommended!
Media and entertainment consultant Michael J. Wolf presents a pop-sociology look at how the entertainment industry is becoming a driving force in everyday life, from the news to consumer products and financial industries. He describes mega-deals that have created integrated entertainment giants spread through multiple media platforms. His book illustrates the newly competitive nature of entertainment as consumers find more choices than ever. He combines a summary of trends with many examples illustrating his major points. We at getAbstract recommend this thoughtful analysis, which is written in a lively style to have broad appeal not only to executives and managers, but also to the general public and to academics studying popular culture. And if you want to know why there are klieg lights at the supermarket and clowns in the department store, here's your answer.

I'll have to read it again, and again, and again
No wonder the author adores Orson Wells' Master CK. That is a movie that every time I see it, something new comes out of it. You will have the same impression with this book. Ease to read. Great companion. It explains how corporations have to get a E-strategy in order to win and at the end it gives a lecture that should be read by all Moguls in the industry (including Jack, Murdoch, Gates, etc) and MBA students. Long life for the entertainment consultants! They are not in business to innovate and create. They are here to tell the Top Decision Makers what other Top Decision Makers have done to survive and succeed. ... Read more

Book Description

The services industries—which include jobs ranging from flipping hamburgers to providing investment advice—can no longer be characterized, as they have in the past, as a stagnant sector marked by low productivity growth.They have emerged as one of the most dynamic and innovative segments of the U.S. economy, now accounting for more than three-quarters of gross domestic product.During the 1990s, 19 million additional jobs were created in this sector, while growth was stagnant in the goods-producing sector.

Here, Jack Triplett and Barry Bosworth analyze services sector productivity, demonstrating that fundamental changes have taken place in this sector of the U.S. economy.They show that growth in the services industries fueled the post-1995 expansion in the U.S. productivity and assess the role of information technology in transforming and accelerating services productivity.In addition to their findings for the services sector as a whole, they include separate chapters for a diverse range of industries within the sector, including transportation and communications, wholesale and retail trade, and finance and insurance.

The authors also examine productivity measurement issues, chiefly statistical methods for measuring services industry output.They highlight the importance of making improvements within the U.S. statistical system to provide the more accurate and relevant measures essential for analyzing productivity and economic growth. ... Read more

Book Description

Contractors need more than trade skills to be successful — they also need business acumen and managerial skills. The Builder’s Guide to Running a Successful Construction Company is a comprehensive, detailed guide for building a thriving business in any economic climate. It covers all the basics including bids, schedules, contracts, finance, safety, and insurance, and features charts, sample forms, and a list of resources. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Advice from the Author
I do like this book, but I am prejudice. I wrote it. I want you to know that it is out of date. It was written roughly twelve years ago when, among other things, computers were hardly in use in construction company offices. If you are seeking a book to help you organize your own company, I strongly urge you to buy the updated version of my book -- titled Running a Successful Construction Company as opposed to The Builder's Guide to Running a Successful Construction Company, the title of the old version. You will find the new version much more useful. Good luck!

Wish I had had it sooner
I found this book in the course of starting up a small landscaping business, after I had the client from hell. If I had read Gerstel's passages on qualifying projects and clients, I would have saved myself from six months of trauma and near-bankruptcy.

I have benefitted greatly from Gerstel's step-by-step, commonsense advice. My little business is now profitable and pleasurable.

Builder's Guide to Running a Successful Construction Company
Very helpful and good book, for any small building contractor. I am building contractor my self for 8 years now and I found that info in this book is still very helpful and absolutely necessary for anybody who wishes to start his or her own construction company. I will definitely recommend it to anyone. Down to earth and very useful. Thank you David.

Outstanding
Gerstel's book is full of insightful information that an up-and-coming contractor can use. His candid reveiw of his own pitfalls and successes along with pointers on how to avoid common headaches prooved a valuable tool for our company. We have grown to over a million dollars in volume a year and are still growing strong. We continue to adapt using many of Gerstel's suggestions. Definitely a good source of information for any new contractor.

Useful, but limited in scope
The information presented here is very useful IF you want to run a *small* construction company, specializing in single-family remodeling projects, just as the author has done.

Unfortunately, that wasn't what I was looking for. If you need information on how to branch out into other types of projects -- commercial or industrial -- or how to expand your business, you'd better get a different book. If you want to keep your company small and focused, however, this book would be a good place to start. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (6)

Still highly relevant.
This book, written in the 1960's, couldn't be more relevant today, in our age of outsourcing and loss of jobs. In Jacob's thesis, cities must constantly evolve, developing new products, or they will stagnate and decline, as their old exports wither. She makes a good case that efficiency, as reflected in the large scale, focused enterprise, can often be the enemy of innovation. This kind of logic has been incorporated into mainstream thought, in that many large corporations try to foster growth by establishing small entrepreneurial units. Jacobs provides a historical basis for this paradigm, as well as the detailed economics which shows it is not simply a matter of encouraging people to be entrepreneurial. Even more interesting to me, was Jacob's well supported argument that the earliest cities preceded and fostered the development of agriculture, not the other way around. I have read Robin Wright's Non-zero, The Logic of Human Destiny and Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs and Steel, both great books, yet Jacob's thesis was still new to me. The Economy of Cities has a certain amount of unnecessary repetition, but not as much as Jacob's The Death and Life of Great American Cities, which I would also highly recommend despite that problem. Also, and this is not a major point, Jacobs recognizes that exports may contain inputs which have to be imported, but does not seem to see that import substitution may also rely on increasing the import of certain inputs - thereby overemphasizing the importance of import substitution relative to development of new exports (although if we could find a substitute for oil......). Despite having a mathematics and economics background, I did not find Jacob's D,N,A equation particularly enlightening, and advise the reader not to get hung up on it. Jacob's use of history as a series of case studies, and her ability to extract the proper lessons even when they defy conventional thinking, is far more important than any mathematical tools.

inspiring fresh inquiry into "development" processes
Economic theory has never been so engaging, so grounded, or so directly oriented towards social systems dynamics rather than broad extrapolations from decontextualized production and pricing statistics. Jane Jacobs develops a common sensical systemic description of the economic development cycles of urban communities, drawing on illustrative examples from the prehistoric to the contemporary to expose the dynamics of innovation and trade through colorful, down-to-earth stories. Her abstract models of import-substitution and invention dynamics emerge organically from the histories she analyses to explain the social processes of technological transformation.

She makes especially compelling points in her analyses of the different trajectories followed by neighboring Manchester and Birmingham during the industrial revolution. Manchester, quick to maximize the industrial efficiency afforded by large-scale production specialization, outpaced Birmingham in the short-term growth of its exports, but fell into economic stagnation the instant its sole production process was rendered obsolete by competitors abroad. Birmingham maintained low-level but longer-lasting economic growth by remaining inefficient as a local economic community, fostering diverse small-scale business ventures. Each of these small businesses had poorer prospects itself, and the net productivity of the city never approached Manchester's climax production level. But Birmingham's rag-tag assemblage of both diverse and in many cases redundant micro-industries proved far more resilient altogether as a hub of economic activity, allowing continued growth long after Manchester had decayed into poverty. The lesson Jacobs highlights with this tale of two cities is akin to modern environmentalists' rationale for treasuring biodiversity: a more varied and complex system of interdependent organisms or economic actors is less likely to be devastated by a change in conditions (such as the introduction of a new import which renders some major local industry uncompetetive).

Relevant for complexity science and software development
As one who has a newfound interest for complexity science, I felt that this book gave me the keys to observing cities as examples of complex systems. I don't know whether Stockholm qualifies as a "great city" (concering its size), but I think what she writes applies well to what I have observed here. Being able to apply what Jacobs writes about to what I see every day has reinforced my understanding of complexity science.

I also read the book with the hope to find out whether urban planning could serve as an analogy for software development. I think that it can, but I haven't thought about this enough to express the ways in which it's relevant. Jacobs writes that neighborhoods which have particular properties (short blocks, diversity of primary uses, etc.) will "work" -- that there are properties which, when present, almost guarantee that neighborhoods will thrive. I have a feeling that such properties exist for software development teams and the systems they develop; the question is what they are.

This book is one of those that stay with you, and influence your thinking in other areas.

Brilliance in dark corners
City Planning, a dismal field dominated by craven kleptocrats, shifty real estate developers, sleazy lawyers and lazy desk jokey bureaucrats, gets a much needed upgrade here.

From the outset, Jane Jacobs makes it clear that this is an attack on City Planning as it's done by most city governments. It's almost Jeffersonian in its recommednations: teh cities that are the most livable are those which are the least planned by top-heavy, over-manageed bureaucracies.

Like all whose insigts are brilliant, Jacobs' observations and recommendations are deliberately distorted or totally ignored by those who are actively involved in "city planning" in nearly every American City.

THE ECONOMY OF CITIES and Jane Jacobs' writings generally, serve to illustrate the major problems for those with brilliant insights, sagacious advice, and great wisdom: the people who should be the prime audience are not interested.

Best book on Economic Development ever written
The title of this book is slightly misleading, because the thesis of the book is that cities play an essential role in the process of economic development. Although its anecdotal style gives this book a disarmingly unsystematic appearance, this is a profound book. It is easily one of the most important books written during the 20th century. Economic development is something about which conventional marginal utility economics has very little to say. The Economy of Cities, therefore, fills a kind of void. It stands to conventional economics in much the same position as quantum physics stands to classical physics.

A simply wonderful book.

Lancelot Fletcher lrf@aya.yale.edu ... Read more

Book Description

"Gandossy and Sonnenfeld have assembled a thoughtful framework for rebuilding trust in business. It is important that business leaders of the future are comfortable around this subject. Reading this book is a start."
–Jeffrey Immelt, CEO, General Electric

"The subject of corporate governance is daunting, covering a sometimes bewildering array of complex legal, ethical, and financial issues. Gandossy and Sonnenfeld deserve immense credit for bringing together distinguished contributors from the worlds of academia and business to address these critical subjects in a single comprehensive volume."
–Henry M. Paulson, Jr., Chairman and CEO, Goldman, Sachs & Co.

"Gandossy and Sonnenfeld offer us many viewpoints on corporate governance and shed new light on the dysfunctions of seemingly functional organizations. I don’t agree with all the remedies, but I clearly understand the anger of the betrayed employee and investor. Corporate crooks should face swift justice. Everyone else should read this book."
–Hank McKinnell, Chairman and CEO, Pfizer Inc.

"A superbly crafted, thought-provoking, and compelling contribution to the dialogue of the day on corporate leadership and governance."
–Doug Conant, President and CEO, Campbell Soup

"I have dreaded most ‘required readings’ since college. Then along comes this fantastic book filled with great essays about what the somewhat ethereal notion of good corporate governance means, not in the abstract but in practice. I didn’t think that any one text could assemble so many heavyweights on the issue. That’s why this required reading breaks the mold on a topic that most of us wish we didn’t have to focus on but we must because the consequences of ignorance are decidedly non-blissful."
–James Cramer, founder of The Street.com and co-host, CNBC’s Kudlow & Cramer ... Read more

Book Description

The Monopoly game, Trivial Pursuit, Clue, Boggle, and Risk are more than games-they're part of Americana. All of these games were published by one company, Parker Brothers, which began as a dream inside the mind of a sixteen-year-old boy, over one hundred years ago.

In The Game Makers, industry expert Phil Orbanes reveals how, by adhering to the principles of its founder, Parker Brothers rose to prominence, overcame obstacles, and forged lasting success. Orbanes, a game historian and former executive at Parker Brothers, draws from company archives, interviews with surviving family members, and the newly discovered records of founder George Parker to tell a story rich in examples of business acumen that spans world wars, family tragedy, the Great Depression, and global competition. Pairing Parker's enduring business lessons with little-known historical anecdotes, Orbanes reveals the often whimsical origin of classic games-Tiddledy Winks, Monopoly, Nerf, Sorry!, the modern jigsaw puzzle, and more-and how Parker Brothers turned them into cultural icons.

Engaging and insightful, The Game Makers explains the rules that popularized the games we play and reveals the people who built an American business empire.

"From one who loves games:The Game Makers is a real page-turner. Nobody knows the subject matter better than Phil Orbanes, and it shows. A most compelling read."

-Wink Martindale, host, Music of Your Life, and veteran host for award-winning game shows such as Can You Top This , Tic-Tac-Dough, and Trivial Pursuit.

"Phil Orbanes is a gifted chronicler. He serves up a tantalizing tale of fast-paced competition, drama, risk, eccentric personalities, and strategy, in one of the world's most competitive industries. The reader wins!"

-Richard C. Levy, Author, The Toy and Game Inventor's Handbook

"In this deeply researched look at the evolution of business practices within the world of 'game makers,' Phil Orbanes takes readers on a journey in which they will happily recall the joyful hours spent playing the games that rolled off the presses at Parker Brothers."

-John J. Fox, Professor Emeritus, Department of History, Salem State College

"A classic tale of American entrepreneurship, The Game Makers is a detailed study of successful business expansion and an insider's view of the cultural conflict between a corporate parent and its prize acquisition. This history of Parker Brothers offers something of interest to any serious student of American business practices."

-Linda M. Lemiesz, Ph.D., Dean of Students, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Arts

"I thoroughly enjoyed Phil Orbanes's journey through the history of Parker Brothers. Enjoyable and informative, The Game Makers is a fascinating account of how one individual's strength of character-or weakness-exerted a significant influence over a company's fortunes."

-Ralph H. Baer, Toy and Game Inventor, and Father of Video Games

... Read more

Reviews (4)

Sanguine but credible history
The author is a former employee and diehard fan of Parker Brothers which makes his viewpoint a double edged sword. On the one hand, his account is complimentary although never gushing. He does not shy away from relating some of the nasty corporate politics especially those during the company's recent years during which he worked for them. Some of the early history though, seems a bit too rosy especially when you consider US labor conditions in the early 20th century.
On the much brighter side, Orbanes' passion and connections to the company have afforded him dilligence and sources no other author could have attained. The book is well documented with accounts from George Parker's own private papers as well as interviews with lifelong employees from the upper and lower reaches of the organization.
Being a game fan, I can't be completely objective about the historical quality of the book. Orbanes injects as much historical context as he can and documents these references as well. Personally, I couldn't put the book down and found every chapter fascinating.

Makes you want to invent games yourself
Philip Orbanes tells a sympathetic and interesting tale of Parker Brothers' long rise to fame and fortune between 1883 and the beginning of the 1980s, as well how General Mill's video-game-stoked greed and lack of prudence brought on the decline of the once so respected game maker. This is the point where the authors tone as well as coverage of the history of the firm change dramatically, becoming somewhat more emotional, although not less enthusiastic.

One thing that "bothers" me about Orbanes' book is that the author is not always as elaborate as he could be. For example, he could have been more explicit on how Parker's Banking game was actually played, rather than just a basic outline of the game. Or the history of the Mah-Jongg game could have been more detailed. Also, an early example of the clear and concise wording of game rules that George Parker was famous for would have been interesting. None of these shortcomings seriously compromise the quality of the book, but it left me somewhat hungry for more material.

Much to my amusement, from the moment I passed the first few pages of Philip Orbanes' Parker story I have been housing the notion of making games myself. I can only imagine the satisfaction of creating intelligent and fun games. I find the concept of take a set of concise, simple rules and turning them into challenging and lasting game quite intriguing. Parker certainly mastered this principle in the past with games such as Risk or Monopoly, to name two of the most prominent.

One of my best reads in years...
I first noticed this book in a review in The Economist. The review was favorable, and I make video games for a living, so I decided to purchase and see what making games was like in ye olden days. What a delight! I read the entire book in one sitting, staying up late into the night.

Written by an executive from Parker Brothers' last independent days, the prose is clean and crisp, and the storytelling moves the events along at a good clip. The book details the rise of Parker Brothers, from George Parker selling his first home-made game through the eventual sale to General Mills late in the 20th century. There were many rises and falls along the way, and the stories about Monopoly (which the company initially refused to purchase) and the frequent successes from imported games such as Ping-Pong, were especially good.

I'd recommend for just about anyone, games fan or no.

A fascinating family and all the games we grew up with
I finished reading the Game Makers at 2:00 a.m. Usually I am sleeping long beforehand, but I found it just fascinating to learn about this amazing family and their great company-- especially because of the the way the story is told. It is filled with real drama and surprise. It made it difficult to stop reading before the last page. I learned a lot about making games as well. I also understand much better now the relations between the principles of successful business and the rules of games. The incredible changes in the last 25 years were of great interest for me. The amount of details presented is astonishing and the way they are presented makes it a pleasure to read.I applaud this highly original and interesting book. ... Read more

Book Description

The dean of business historians continues his masterful chronicle of the transforming revolutions of the twentieth century begun in Inventing the Electronic Century.

Alfred Chandler argues that only with consistent attention to research and development and an emphasis on long-term corporate strategies could firms remain successful over time. He details these processes for nearly every major chemical and pharmaceutical firm, demonstrating why some companies forged ahead while others failed.

By the end of World War II, the chemical and pharmaceutical industries were transformed by the commercializing of new learning, the petrochemical and the antibiotic revolutions. But by the 1970s, chemical science was no longer providing the new learning necessary to commercialize more products, although new directions flourished in the pharmaceutical industries. In the 1980s, major drug companies, including Eli Lilly, Merck, and Schering Plough, commercialized the first biotechnology products, and as the twenty-first century began, the infrastructure of this biotechnology revolution was comparable to that of the second industrial revolution just before World War I and the information revolution of the 1960s. Shaping the Industrial Century is a major contribution to our understanding of the most dynamic industries of the modern era.

Book Description

Starting a new job search?
Looking to increase your status and/or your salary at your current job?
Got an important presentation coming up?

Does your appearance increase your prospects . . . or will it destroy them before you even start to talk?

It doesn't matter how smart, hardworking, or dedicated you are-if you don't look the part, you're simply not going to succeed in today's business world. Every look you put together is more than a collection of clothes, accessories, and good grooming-it is truly your personal logo. In The New Professional Image, 2nd Edition, image consultant Susan Bixler, whose advice has been featured in Time, The Wall Street Journal, and Vogue, is your indispensable guide to creating your wardrobe and tailoring your appearance for every day and every challenging business situation.

The New Professional Image, 2nd Edition answers all of your most pressing concerns, such as:

Reviews (1)

Harvard MBA reviews his Professor's Works
This is an excellent collection of articles describing people, firms, and nations that succeeded in modern capitlism. Looking a the four most successful economies of the past two centuries: England, US, Germany, and Japan- Prof. McCraw's expertly edited and coherent collection of articles gives the reader a flavor of what made for great success in the capitalist economy. Each country has three articles: a firm, an entrepenure, and the country itself for a total of 12 articles each written by true experts. McCraw's understanding of capitlism is somewhat skewed toward the modern, however on the whole the book is extremely balanced. Of partiuclar note, is Prof. David Moss's article on the Deutch Bank which dicusses the succcess, failures, rewards, and dark side of capitalism. ... Read more

Book Description

Written for directors of open-end investment companies (typically referred to as mutual funds) and closed-end funds, this new edition offers suggestions to assist directors in their roles and obligations. ... Read more

Book Description

A road map to building successful partnerships between companies of all sizes

In Navigating the Partnership Maze, Sarah Gerdes explains AllianceMapping and shows how firms of any size can use it to research, plan, and build strong, mutually beneficial partnerships in half the time and at a fraction of the cost of traditional approaches. Written for the executive, entrepreneur, or small business owner on the move, this guide walks readers through each step of the AllianceMapping process in a series of quicktake chapters, complete with bullet points, checklists, eye-opening graphics, and ready-to-use templates. From obtaining a distribution agreement with HBO to forging a joint venture with Intel, Gerdes outlines the precise path for achieving each kind of deal, driving home her points with fascinating case studies supplied by senior staff members at Microsoft, KPMG, American Express, Chevron Ventures, Fortune magazine, eWeek magazine, and other prestigious companies.

Reviews (30)

"Get results. Time or money"
A "How-to" book, written in order, with liberal does of history thrown it. What a treasure!
As a "honcho" (in my own mind) I enjoyed measuring the author's premises against my own real world experiences. I wish I'd read Sarah's book first.
This book was written to help its readers get results, which for many of us means money and or time. If this approach doesn't work for you, then even the consolation prize is a good deal, i.e., minimal wasted time and money.
It is not a quick read. You have to slow down and study. Enjoy.

This is a good book!
This book is an invaluable resource for people, like me, that want to drive companies towards new successes and markets, it provides an enormous number of useful suggestions, methods and real cases. These are always very pertinent, well presented and precise. Please, read this book before writing those preconceived and biased reviews. By the way, in case you didn't know, I am a total idiot.

[Deceit]
This book is very poor. This is a fact. But what is obscene is the [deceit] that the author with his friends are perpetuating with these "reviews".
One of them even wrote that he made mandatory the reading of this book in his company! Well, that could be a new method to get rid of employees at no cost. Finally, yes this board should prevent these [false] reviews but the main point is that such a poor book shouldn't even be published.

Useless
Useless - this was just a long commercial for the author's services. Worse yet, I paid for it. Very little concrete information. Very disapp

History....
Mark Cronus Says:
"Specific references to reviled figures such as Franco, who 'wore the same clothes as his partners wore' during meetings, are used to convey simple principles such as matching tones with your prospective partners. Or in other words, don't wear a black suit when your prospective partner is wearing jeans"

So anyone that should meet with you or your friend Sarah Gerdes should dress like a clown? ... Read more

Amazon.com

As important as it is depressing, Hard Ball takes a serious look at how professional sports in America has fans and communities in a vise grip. Salaries are out of control. Labor disputes and contract renegotiations are reported next to the standings. Corporate boxes and sponsorships determine the fate of stadiums. Owners hold cities hostage. In an arena in which teams are obsessed with profits over championships, bottom lines over win-loss records, and market bases over fan loyalties, the games themselves are really secondary, at best.

A pair of economists, Quirk and Fort explore the ways the major sports--baseball, football, basketball, and hockey--have changed the way they do business in the last half of the 20th century as the balance of financial power has shifted overwhelmingly to the individual league monopolies: "... the market power of leagues enables them to capture the great bulk of the monopoly profits ... from gate receipts, media income, sweetheart stadium deals and rental arrangements, and other sources. These monopoly profits in turn become the prize package over which owners and players, who are backed by their player unions, fight." In any other industry, the authors contend, these monopolies would have long ago been banged around by Congress, and, indeed, they argue quite forcefully for their breakups. Neither their diagnosis of disease nor their prescription for cure are new. Still, what makes Hard Ball sadly necessary is how clearly and completely Quirk and Fort make their case that, for the good of sports, something's gotta give. --Jeff Silverman ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Hardball, the abuse of Power in Pro Team Sports
Hardball is the most enlightening sports book I have read in a long time.Die-hard team-sports fans are traditionally opinionated, knowledgeable, and frustrated that "it ain't what it used to be".Quirk and Forth, botheconomists, re-describe the world of pro sports in a manner that can affecteven the most opinionated.Their rhetoric and logic are compelling andappealing.They even have a solution to bring a Why-didn't-Ithink-of-that? smile to your face.And, if you care, the book is packedwith statistics.

The market is an alternative solution to problems in sports
In HARD BALL, economists James Quirk and Rodney Fort document and persuasively blame the monopoly power and authoritarianism of professional sports leagues for exorbitant ticket prices, high and escalating playersalaries, growing revenue disparities between small- and large-marketteams, and the leverage owners use to blackmail cities to finance newfacilities with taxpayer subsidies. To eliminate these problems, Quirk andFort advise that "the Justice Department should file suit and break upthe existing monopoly leagues into several independent leagues with theantitrust laws applied to the industry created" (see page 177). To besure, their proposed solution to dismantle leagues will stimulatediscussion and research to improve the economic conduct and socialperformance of the industry. But in RELOCATING TEAMS AND EXPANDING LEAGUESIN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS: HOW THE MAJOR LEAGUES RESPOND TO MARKET CONDITIONS(Quorum Books, 1999), John Guthrie and I argue that between 1950 and 1995leagues and franchise owners made rational decisions to approve teammovements and expand league membership. We concluded that marketparticipants-owners, players, sports fans, and communities-together arebest equipped to determine the growth and development of professionalsports in America. An alternative proposal to mainstream economists, weoppose any bureaucratic role for government in allocating the number andlocation of teams in professional sports. In our view, innovation andreform of the sports industry should be initiated and implemented by themarket and not by regulation.

Excellent discussion of the monopoly power in pro sports
Finally!I've been waiting for an entire book devoted to the monopoly power in pro sports ever since reading Stephen Ross's chapter in "The Business of Professional Sports" advocating the breakup of thesemonopolies. Quirk and Fort's Hard Ball fits the bill nicely and advancesmany of the same views as Ross, namely that multiple, competitive leagueswould result in lower ticket prices, fewer public subsidies for stadiums,and the penetration of professional sports into all markets that demand andcan sustain it.

The authors of Hard Ball are certainly well-qualified todiscuss this subject, having earlier published Pay Dirt, the so-calledbible of sports economics.Hard Ball is much easier to read than Pay Dirtand seems to be aimed more at the non-academically-inclined sports fan,being much lighter on economic theory and a little more narrowly focused. Although Hard Ball doesn't have the detailed historical discussion that PayDirt has, it still gives a good overview of the problems caused by themonopolies and how they came to be.It discusses in detail how the owners,players, leagues, TV networks, and politicians are affected by the monopolypower and why these groups have little, if any, financial motivation tofight it.

Perhaps Hard Ball has a couple of minor shortcomings.First,there is very little discussion of whether pro sports leagues are a"natural" monopoly, a view that is held by experts who oppose theposition advanced by Hard Ball.The second is that, while the authorsdemonstrate clearly and throughout the book the potential economic benefitsof their theory as public policy, their final chapter offers a ratherfeeble attempt at persuading the reader of the benefits to the sports fanin the form of increased competition and availability of big-time prosports.But overall, Quirk and Fort embark on a very interesting andconvincing discussion of the topic.

Continuing their trend from Pay Dirt,the data tables at end of Hard Ball serve as a comprehensive and invaluablereference.The Hard Ball data concentrates on financial numbers during the1990s in all four major pro sports leagues.While some of the data ispretty basic stuff (media income, salary averages, etc.) other charts arequite amazing (for example, one showing that the correlation in the 1990sbetween payroll and winning percentage in MLB is so small that it isstatistically insignificant). As with Pay Dirt, even if the text doesn'tinspire you, the data supplement alone is worth the purchase price of thebook. ... Read more

Book Description

Whether working on a virtual team that spans the globe or in a multicultural workplace in your own community, this field guide to global citizenship details what it takes to add value to the business of global enterprise. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Packed with Knowledge!
This basic, solid book on global business takes nothing for granted. Author Ernest Gundling teaches by example and illustration, and has something approaching a horror of direct statement. At the end of each chapter, where a bolder writer might insert points to remember, he provides, instead, lists of questions to consider. This book will tell you the skills you need and will make you very aware of your deficits, but it will not tell you precisely how to develop those skills. Gundling does provide a wealth of little, fictitious anecdotes about people who have done the right or wrong thing in global business. In a refreshingly humble approach, he sometimes uses his own blunders as examples of what not to do. We recommend his book, which brings to mind that Socrates was judged the wisest of men because he knew he knew nothing. Readers will come a few steps closer to such Socratic enlightenment. What you may not know about conducting yourself in international business would fill a book - this one.

STERN'S MANAGEMENT REVIEW FINDS THIS BOOK TOP-NOTCH!
This book clarifies common pitfalls in interacting with foreign counterparts and offers solutions structured around twelve people skills: establishing credibility; giving and receiving feedback; obtaining information; evaluating people; building global teamwork; training and development; selling; negotiating; strategic planning; transferring knowledge; innovating; and managing change. The book is based on inputs from experienced country and regional experts. It includes numerous examples, charts, tables and appendixes, as well as chapter summaries and review questions. A top-notch book, bountiful in substance, it will help you build bridges over cultural divides.

Take Notice: Global organizational development practitioners
Working Globe Smart is the first book I have read where cross cultural principles are pragmatically integrated into organizational and leadership development frameworks. The context is accessible, well organized and engaging. I highly recommend this book to the global OD practitioner. ... Read more