Book Description

This strategic HR text is organized into two sections.The first section, Chapters 1-7, examines the context of strategic HR and develops a framework and conceptual model for the practice of strategic HR.The second section, Chapters 8-14, examines the actual practice and implementation of strategic HR through a discussion of strategic issues that need to be addressed while developing specific programs and policies related to the traditional functional areas of HR (staffing, training, performance management, etc.). The integrative framework that requires linkage between, consistency among these functional HR activities, and the approach toward writing about these traditional functional areas from a strategic perspective distinguish the text from what is currently on the market. ... Read more

Book Description

Good job performance begins with defining the job properly. Whenemployees don't fully understand their responsibilities and the resultsthey are meant to achieve, the outcome is negative productivity.

More Results-Oriented Job Descriptions is the ultimate resource forthe company wanting to create state-of-the- art job descriptions. Itpresents 226 model descriptions covering a wide range of jobcategories. Readers can use or adapt the models, or learn to make theirown. And all the descriptions are included on a free, easy-to-usecomputer disk. This book helps any company:

**prepare job descriptions tied to business goals
** communicate expectations clearly
**improve employee jobperformance
**save time and money
... Read more

Reviews (2)

Practical, helpful guide to writing job descriptions
If you need to write job descriptions, this book is an excellent resource.The results-oriented writing style is an excellent model for creating an operations manual that gives employees a real understanding of the purpose of their work and how it fits into the big picture of the organization.

More Results-Oriented Job Descriptions
I can use or adapt the models, or learn to make their own. And all the descriptions are included on a free, easy-to-use computer disk. This book helps my company:

** prepare job descriptions tied to business goals ** communicate expectations clearly ** improve employee job performance ** save time and money ... Read more

Book Description

Good technical people are the foundation on which successful high technology organizations are built.Establishing a good process for hiring such workers is essential.Unfortunately, the generic methods so often used for hiring skill-based staff, who can apply standardized methods to almost any situation, are of little use to those charged with the task of hiring technical people.

Unlike skill-based workers, technical people typically do not have access to cookie-cutter solutions to their problems.They need to adapt to any situation that arises, using their knowledge in new and creative ways to solve the problem at hand.As a result, one developer, tester, or technical manager is not interchangeable with another.This makes hiring technical people one of the most critical and difficult processes a technical manager can undertake.

Hiring the Best Knowledge Workers, Techies & Nerds: The Secrets & Science of Hiring Technical People takes the guesswork out of hiring and diminishes the risk of costly hiring mistakes.With the aid of step-by-step descriptions and detailed examples, you’ll learn how to

* write a concise, targeted job description
* source candidates
* develop ads for mixed media
* review résumés quickly to determine Yes, No, or Maybe candidates
* develop intelligent, nondiscriminatory, interview techniques
* create fool-proof phone-screens
* check references with a view to reading between the lines
* extend an offer that will attract a win-win acceptance or tender a gentle-but-decisive rejection
* and more

You, your team, and your organization will live with the long-term consequences of your hiring decision.Investing time in developing a hiring strategy will shorten your decision time and the ramp-up time needed for each new hire. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Comprehensive, timely manual for technology sector
In this comprehensive, detailed handbook, Rothman recognizes what employers have to do to be able to attract the best technical workers. It's not enough simply to advertise for job openings, but the technical work has to be properly described to attract the right kind of prospective employees. Otherwise, the hiring process will be inefficient, murky, and errant. Reviewing resumes, screening potential candidates for interviews and preparing for these, and conducting an interview are other topics. A consultant to technical firms, Rothman also goes into a personal touch with individuals looking for employment which gives them a favorable impression of the company. This is desirable because a company might want to hire an applicant at a future time; and it creates a favorable image of the company among technical workers. This specialized hiring manual is timely considering the present pick-up in activity in the technology sector of the economy. Many technology companies have to start now preparing to hire new technical workers to be able to capitalize on the opportunities shaping up.

Hiring techies?Your competition is reading this book ...
If you are involved in any way with hiring techies, youneed this book -- not just as a one-time read, but as one you will refer to repeatedly.

(If you're a techie looking to get hired, it has considerable value, as well.)

Some other recent books, such as How Would You Move Mt. Fuji? deal with the *entire* hiring process only lightly, if at all.This book covers everything, from coming up with the critical/optional requirements of the position (an especially favorite section), through finding and sourcing candidates, résumé review (é is alt-0233 on the numeric keypad, BTW), phone-screen techniques, and truly useful interviewing guidance (another outstanding section).It also covers the crucial decision-making process, reference checking, and making the job offer.It discerns the differences between hiring contributors and managers quite well indeed.

Those of us who have lived painfully through a bad hiring decision know the tremendous cost in money, disruption, and angst.Risk is inherent in every hiring situation, but reading and applying this book will help you go a *long* way toward mitigating that risk.

I bought this book for myself.I'll be buying it for my peer managers, my directors, and my team.It's *good*, and it's *useful*. ... Read more

Book Description

Written from a "what human resources can do for you" perspective, this text demonstrates how human resources fit into the organizational big picture. Many cross-functional topics are integrated throughout the text including, marketing, finance, operations, and accounting. Updated cases include material that reinforces the key concepts presented in the chapters and provide additional practical perspectives to problems faced by human resource managers. ... Read more

Book Description

Seize the opportunity and watch the money roll in

Don’t be paralyzed by fear of making mistakes and losing money. Buying a rental house should be one of the safest investments you make, and you already have the skills you need to succeed. You just need to learn how to use them.

In How to Succeed and Make Money with Your First Rental House, Douglas Keipper tells the true story of how he overcame his fear of real estate investing and made money on his first rental house. Keipper uses his experience as an example as he walks you step by step through the entire process of buying, renovating, renting, and managing a rental house. And you’ll learn from his mistakes, not your own! Find out how easy it is to supplement your income with the most popular investment vehicle in the country. Let Keipper show you how to:

• Prequalify for low-cost loans
• Connect with the right loan broker, realtor, and subcontractors
• Find the right house at the right price and make a great deal
• Save money on renovations that produce higher rents
• Find and qualify top-quality tenants
• Protect your investment with the right lease and always get paid on time

Reviews (1)

This one will get you off the sideline and into the game
I can't count the books I bought and did not finish reading. I just finished this one. Doug is a common guy, just like most of the rest of us. He quit studying and got in the game, and he "hit a stand-up-double" on his first at bat! No home runs, No strike outs, No sugar coating, No tales of how he made millions in real estate, or learned how, but did not do it after CPA school. Doug tells the things he did right that you may want to copy. He tells the mistakes he made and how you can avoid them. Doug writes from a perspective that the guy with 10 rental houses already forgot. If you don't have a rental house yet, but you want one, there is no better place to start. If you already have five rental houses and want fifteen, buy a different book. This author gives practical advice and writes in a manner anybody can understand. Sideline critics are a dime a dozen - and they will scare you into staying on the sideline with them. Buy Dougs book and get in the game. ... Read more

Book Description

If you've been looking for sound direction on how to coach top executives, here it is. In Executive Coaching with Backbone and Heart, Mary Beth O'Neill outlines the dynamic approach to coaching leaders that she's developed over the course of a twenty-year career. Her unique perspective and sage advice, backed by a specific four-phase methodology, gives you the means to successfully manage the coach-client relationship and effect dramatic changes that ensure the business outcomes leaders' want. It's a one-of-a-kind guide for executive coaches--both aspiring and established--that fills a long-standing gap in coaching literature.

To read the preface from this book, click here. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

An Outstanding Book for New & Experienced Coaches!
I predict that "Executive Coaching With Backbone and Heart" will become a classic text book within the field of organizational development. As a new coach, I found Mary Beth O'Neill's writing to be clear, informative, honest and thought provoking. She balances theory with practical examples to illustrate her points with a summary of the highlights at the end of each chapter for easy review and reference. I also appreciated her willingness to share her own mistakes and how she's learned from them. I found her honesty refreshing and it added to the credibility of her book. Her writing models her own integration of backbone with heart.

Best Resource on Coaching I Have Seen
Mary Beth O'niell writes with great clarity and her book is very engaging--almost like watching her in action. O'Neill's four-phased, systems-based methology provides a structure for coaching that encourages individuality. In fact, O'Neill stresses the importance of a coach's self-awareness and developemnt of ones signature presence. She uses many relevant examples to illustrate her approach. I especially value suggestions made throughout the book for how to effectively engage clients. O'Neill has the ability to explain complex sustems theory and interpersonal dynamics in a way that aides understanding. In a recent conversation with a potential coaching client I found myself using, in the moment, the useful information O'Neill offers. If you coach executives, or leaders at any level in organizations, this is a must resource.

Useful Guide with a Few Key Elements Missing
Mary Beth O'Neill is an experienced executive coach who provides a useful perspective and helpful guidelines and examples of what coaches can do to help executives. Her systems perspective and four-step approach is helpful with case examples and additional insights into how leaders can be coached to coach and how coaching can be combined with consulting to have a greater impact on the organization. There are several key elements of professional coaching that are missing in the book: First- The four-step approach does not include a thorough assessment of the executive and his/her organization using reliable historical, normative, and 360-degree data. Instead, the major focus is on asking the executive what they think they need or want to work on. Second- There is a lack of focus on involving and partnering with the executive's boss, board, key constituents, HR professionals and others to truly understand the executive and the organization from multiple perspectives and to have the potential impact on the whole system. And third- there could be greater emphasis on what happens after the coaching is completed; how to transition for continued learning, application, and improvement.
For more information about the principles and practice of executive coaching that incorporates Ms. O'Neill's useful approaches along with the additional components described above, you may want to go to the following website for the free Handbook of Executive Coaching along with other free information and tools for executives, coaches, and HR professionals: www.executivecoachingforum.com

"Real World" Coaching
Excellent resource for experienced coaches looking for insight to take their practice to a higher level. This book is also useful for those considering coaching or consulting as a permanent profession. O'Neill provides many honest examples of the inner thoughts of coaches during sessions and tools to help maintain effectiveness and composure with tough clients.

Her humble writing style fosters the belief that "I could do this!" even though the concepts are highly advanced. I found myself going back over pages and concepts as I realized I had been in similar situations before. The case studies are exciting and easy to absorb but read this book slowly to embrace the richer complexities.

Executive coaching with clarity and practicality
A very readable book that helped me do better executive coaching right away. ... Read more

Book Description

A Treasure of Performance-Boosting Tricks for Trainers! The best training and development handbook ever published just got bigger and better! The ASTD Training and Development Handbook, Fourth Edition, by Robert L. Craig, is bursting with great new training ideas that'll help you work your magic in your organization. Top industry leaders give 100s of practice-proven techniques you can use right now to: Develop effective leadership skills; Exploit self-directed learning to meet empowerment, continuous improvement and other quality goals; Maximize an increasingly diverse workforce; Select and develop professional training staff; Design customized instructional systems; Build employee participant and involvement; Promote computer literacy in your workplace; Prepare for organizational development and change; Sell management on the importance your HR programs; Measure and evaluate training results; Much more! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Classic reference for Training & Development Professionals
The Handbook is brilliantly arranged to cover almost all aspects of Training & Development. The topics have been carefully selected and their authors picked from among the top names in their respective fields. No practitioner should go without this book whether as a reference and a quick source of information when memory will just not oblige or an informative and learning resource.

The Book is generally divided into 5 Sections:
1) The Training & development Function
2) Program Design & Development.
3) Media & methods.
4) Training Applications - This is a brilliant discussion of almost all training topics that you will ever do in your career.
5) Resources.

Check the table of Contents and some of the samples in the pages so obligingly provided by Amazon.com and don't be deterred by the length or the price of the book. This book is worth every cent and will last you long after you have forgotten the cost.

A must for every educators reference library.
The ASTD Training and Development Handbook, Fourth Edition, by Robert L. Craig, is an essential reference book for faculty, teachers, educators, and learning system administartors at all levels including University, Corporate, K-12, and Community Colleges. It is easy to use, very comprehensive, and has great quick summaries. With the fusion of the teaching, training, and tutoring into a learner centered model this book is more useful than ever. A MUST BUY. The price is worth every penny.

Excellent reference source for HRD professionals
This is a great resource for HR professionals from tiny to mega corporations. Contributing authors are the most respected experts in their fields. Primary focus is on training and development: accountability, justifying programs, format, leadership, pros, cons, pitfalls, challenges . . . all aspects are covered.

As I research and write my Adult Education thesis, this book is the most useful tool I've found. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Responding to the familiar observation that what you don't know can and will hurt you, American Productivity and Quality Center leaders Carla O'Dell and C. Jackson Grayson Jr. have countered with a contention that the "hidden reservoirs of intelligence that exist in almost every organization" can, with work, be efficiently tapped "to create customer value, operational excellence, and product innovation--all the while increasing profits and effectiveness." If Only We Knew What We Know is their detailed examination of the resultant groundbreaking but common-sense methodology they have dubbed "knowledge management," along with their analysis of several companies such as Amoco, Arthur Andersen, Buckman Laboratories, and Xerox that are successfully employing it today. By studying the execution and evolution of this practice in over 70 companies involved with their non-profit management organization, the two have observed how top practitioners are turning internal information that's already selectively available into dynamic improvements that are apparent throughout the companies. They describe how to implement knowledge management in your own firm and describe the "enabling context" (including infrastructure, culture, technology, and measurement) that help or hinder the process. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (13)

One of the best knowledge management book I've ever read
The authors of this book will not try to seduce you with another 'management recipe' or fad. Knowledge will ultimately become the only sustainable advantage for companies of the future. Unfortunately, most companies do not realize that they internally possess unexplored knowledge on their own human, customers, and structural capital. This book will clearly demonstrate on how to extract out and share our internal knowledge and best practice, so we can use them to create our value propositions. In addition to rich case analyses and stories, this book will also guide you to start your own knowledge program. Read this book and put it into action. Also recommended: The Knowledge-Creating Company by Nonaka and Takeuchi.

Very Relevant and Excellent Read
This book provides a terrific introduction to knowledge management and so much more. The authors have gone well beyond the theoretical treatment that most have provided on the subject and provide real world examples and processes for implementing knowledge management in your own company. The authors did not spend much time talking about applications that support KM, since the market is still growing, instead they touch upon the concepts that the software applications address. Although it was written in late 1998, the information presented is very timely and still accurate.

-- Highlights --
The first section of the book (3 chapters, 30 pages or so) get you up to speed on what knowledge management is and is not. It also addresses some barriers and benefits of KM.

The second section of the book makes you think about the reasoning behind a KM initiative. This should be standard management-type thinking, but I've found it to be often overlooked in today's IT environment. Why are we doing this? The authors give you three reasons (customer intimacy, time-to-market, and operational excellence) and tell you the type of data to focus on for each of the three reasons.

The third section talks about enabling the enterprise to effectively use a KM system. The authors note that it is vital for the processes to be aligned witht he strategy of the company and the job tasks people currently undertake. To that end, they look at the cultural, technological, infrastructure, and measurement requirements of the KM initiative.

The fourth section gives some case studies of Texas Instruments, Buckman Laboratories, and Sequent. The text refers to these case studies throughout the earlier chapters of the book and now gives them each a chapter to overview how they went about building a successful knowledge sharing infrastructure.

The fifth and final section of the book gives a framework for pursuing the sharing of knowledge and best practices. This is the "What do I do on Monday?" section, according to the authors. It gives a 40 page prescription for the planning, designing, implementing, and scaling phases of a knowledge management program.

The next several years will be very interesting in the I.T. arena. These authors were somewhat ahead of their time in writing this book. Companies across the globe have been storing knowledge in their silos for the past decade as they have taken products to market, built disconnected customer information systems, and as employees have given feedback on internal business processes. The coming business intelligence revolution will seek to organize that information and put it in the hands of people who can create value and grow the business based on the intrinsic knowledge it contains. This book provides a great framework for those who have to conceptualize, design, and build information systems to meet those needs.

Solid Theory, But More Execution Tasks Needed
This book focuses on making the case for a knowledge management system. If you're already convinced and need specific, measurable steps, try a different book.

Good and to the point
This book is the best for understanding and applying KM in a company environment. It defines what you need and does not make you waste time with elaborated theories that are not useful.

An effective approach for consultants
I think the best recommendation I can give for this book is to show how it has helped me. As a consultant one of my biggest struggles is efficiently extracting information from clients. Although this book is about finding, aggregating and disseminating internal knowledge, the approach has proven invaluable to finding where my clients' pools of knowledge are and using this to efficiently craft solutions that are based on best practices that have been developed by my clients. I have too often dscovered that my clients have best practices and other knowledge artifacts that are not known throughout their organization.

An example of how difficult organizational knowledge is to ferret out is shown by one consulting engagement where the client needed problem management processes. All of the "identified" stakeholders and points of contact claimed that there were no written definitions of severity levels, which are an important part of the process. After developing a complete set of definitions and circulating them for stakeholder review out of the blue an unidentified stakeholder emerged and produced a set of definitions that was written years before. Had I read this book before this particular engagement I would have approached it differently and would have identified the *real* stakeholders and pools of knowledge using the cultural enabler of knowledge transfer described in chapter 9. I would have also saved a significant amount of billable hours to the client in the process because what they already had (but just didn't know they had) met their exact requirements.

I gained a whole new perspective on analysis from this book. I now approach this task by identifying (or eliciting) value propositions from clients, and employing to the extent allowed by each consulting engagement the four enablers of knowledge transfer.

This book woke me up to some refined techniques and has influenced my thinking and approach on a number of levels. While it provides organizations with a valuable tool set with which to find and collect the valuable knowledge within, it is also a valuable tool for consultants who are always under pressure to gather data and information from clients as a prelude to findings and recommendations. I cannot emphasize strongly enough its value to both audiences. ... Read more

Book Description

A contemporary survival guide for future managers, this #1 “how-to” book on supervision explores the basic principles of management—planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling people and operations—with a strong emphasis on their application to real on-the-job situations.Avoiding confusing jargon, it talks to learners one supervisor to another—discussing the specific tools of supervision in detail (explaining which tool is right for each task), and focusing on the development of strong interpersonal skills and on supervising a diverse workforce and teams. It comes completely updated with new examples and fresh insight into a variety of dynamic issues affecting management today. Examples are taken from well-known U.S. and international companies such as General Electric, Honda America, Harley-Davidson, Motorola, GM, Bell South, and Merrill Lynch.For anyone contemplating a career in management. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This authors clinical experstise is unrivaled.
As a front line supervisor with twenty years experiance under my belt I am very impressed with the authors ability to teach several new and effective people skills in every chapter. I have enjoyed several management texts in the past dozen years and found valuable tools in each and everyone. Whether it was "Reinventing the Warehouse" or "The Goal" these large scope versions of the self help books of the seventies all seem to fall victim to the same flaw as thier predacessors. While technically adept, they all start with the assumption the clay of human flesh with has no self determination. No sense of "Natural Law" that is searching for expression in a positive direction. When one of these very talented authors reaches outside of thier technical area and embraces a more holistic approach they will strike gold. Maybe Plunkett is just the guy to do it. in any case it was a superb effort, for what it was. ... Read more

Book Description

STRATEGIC OUTSOURCING Risk Management, Methods and Benefits Organizations are turning to external suppliers for everything from payroll processing to facilities management. The goal is better quality at lower costs, but too often the results are disappointing-to-dismal -- simply because many buyers lack a clear outsourcing methodology. Using the concepts in this book, managers responsible for outsourcing will learn to avoid typical pitfalls and ensure success. Readers learn how to:**determine core competencies that should be kept in-house rather than outsourced **align outsourcing with overall corporate strategy **use outsourcing to support transformation strategies such as restructuring and TQM **evaluate, compare, and select vendors **develop targeted RFPs (requests for proposals), negotiate win-win contracts, monitor how vendors perform, and evaluate financial savings **handle "recompetition" as contracts end. an especially hot topicMAURICE GREAVER (Washington, DC) is a former corporate CFO and CPA at Haskins & Sells. He now heads his own financial and management consulting firm and teaches the American Management Association's course on Strategic Outsourcing. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Strategic Outsourcing
To Mr. Greaver: First at all my congratulations for your excellent book, Strategic Outsourcing,A Structured Approach to Outsourcing Decisions and Initiatives, which one has been recomended to my students of my course, Outsourcing in Finance, into the MBA program at IESA (Instituto de Estudios Superiores en Administración), the best institution to learn management in Venezuela, and specialist in fourth level education. Following your book, I have developed a summary that contains the essentials of the matter. As part of the course we have visited different firms that offer the outsourcing, and the students have verified that your methodolgy is an invaluable tool to learn and understand the outsourcing process. Thank you for your contribution and my best wishes for the next editorial ventures.

I strongly recomended this book.

The best book I have read on outsourcing...
Maurice Greaver has written a comprehensive and practical guide for any senior executive considering or currently undertaking an outsourcing initiative within their organization. The book clearly outlines and defines the issues to be considered when making outsourcing decisions along with the pitfalls to be avoided. Maurice Greaver has done this by developing a well defined process along with case studies, examples, and graphics to illustrate his process. These also make the book far more interesting to read than most other outsourcing books on the market. This book is a must read for every organization's senior management team or for anyone interested in contemporary business issues and solutions.

Outsourcing In My Case Was A Business Error
I work in an outsourced accounting department. I learned today that my company is giving kickbacks to various client individuals, in order to glean higher ratings from those individuals -- such that the client company will pay us more this year. However, the client company always finds a reason NOT to pay that extra amount, they always come up with some deficiency in our performance to avoid paying us more money. It's unsavory and dishonorable, and those of us who do all the real work pretty much just get defecated upon. Outsourcing is, in a word, bad -- and all honest, productive people should do their best to avoid any connection therewith.

For the Student and the Old Pro
I approached this book with some skepticism.
From experience I have seen too many CPA and consultant
types write books purely for the benefit of their career
and pocketbook. These books have often been academic or superficial. This book is full of what, after many years
and many deals, I know to be sound thinking. The book is
also quite thorough. It is not a quick read. It is easy
enough to read but there is a great deal of information contained. For the busy executive it should be acquired
for reference as you need it. Although you should try
to read all of Part One if you can. The beginner or the
student should read often and take notes.

One previous reviewer noted that the book provides
little guidance regarding employee reactions. This
is true. You will need another book in that area.
But what is here is very good.

Mr Greaver has done the business community a genuine service.

Strategic Outsourcing
I found the book to be well-written and easy to follow. The references are well-documented. Outsourcing is going to be a strategic weapon for the balance of this decade and into the next. This book delivers on the practical aspects to make such a transition successful. I would recommend this for both parties as a means of preparation.

Outsourcing is only a scary concept when you aren't prepared for it. This book helps everyone to know about the events and sequences which will take place.

Strategic Outsourcing should be mandatory reading for every manager. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent training resource
I do a lot of human resources training in my work, and have recommended this book to numerous organizations. It is well written, and makes its points clearly and without unnecessary theorizing. I also have never before seen customer service presented from the perspective that the server isn't doing it for the customer or the company, but for their own sense of excellence and satisfaction.

Insightful!
Val and Jeff Gee bring their extensive experience in employee training to a simple, yet effective book version of the training sessions they designed for top corporations. They offer seven critical ideas - keys - to providing outstanding customer service. Each one builds upon the premise and actions of the previous one, making these lessons sensible, precise, and natural to put into practice. The book illustrates each key with anecdotes, case histories, boxed lists, cartoons, and exercises. This creates an interactive learning experience. Nicely written in an upbeat, conversational style, it does not talk down to the reader or take the tone of a cold, authoritarian "employee manual." Neither is it condescending by being overly simplified in thought or tone. We [...] recommend this book to anyone whose position involves serving customers, or supervising those who do.

Gem of a book
Super Service is one of the rare books on this subject that delivers what it promises. Val Gee and Jeff Gee know their stuff and communicate it with real style and enthusiasm. Moreover the tips are practical easy to implement and inspirational.

Inspirational
I'm an independent consultant who was in a group who heard you talk about Super Service. I was sitting there listening and thinking,YES!!! this is how I am. YES!!! this is what I believe. YES!!! this is how I treat my customers. YES!!! they must be very happy with me. BUUUTTT...you got me thinking that I better find out if that's really the case--so as I was sitting there I decided to create a client survey. Thanks for the inspiration. I bought your book, and it is fabulous.

Great motivational book with lots of action steps
I work as a manager and after reading this book I have a new outlook on how to motivate me and my team. This book gives hands-on advice that I can put to use not only at work but in my personal life too. I never realized that everyone who is not me is my customer! This book is for everyone who wants to improve their business and personal life. ... Read more

Book Description

Millions of Americans have to train others as part of their jobs. Whether you’re an employee training your co-workers on a new process or skill, a volunteer asked to train new volunteers, a chef training your staff, or a paramedic giving CPR training, it’s just as important to know how to teach others as it is to know what you’re talking about. It doesn’t matter how much you know about your subject if you can’t share it with others.

Fortunately, Training For Dummies offers all the nuts and bolts of training for anyone who has to educate others on any subject and in any field. It covers all the modern, interactive instructional methods and dynamic training approaches available and helps you get trainees inspired, involved, and enthused. Training For Dummies will help you:

• Keep it interesting so trainees learn more eagerly
• Master the jargon of training
• Use audio and visual aids effectively
• Prepare for the training certification process
• Evaluate your results and improve your tactics

Elaine Biech, President and Managing Principal of Ebb Associates, Inc., and known as “the trainer’s trainer” shows you all the tips and tricks of the trade. Based on her long experience as a trainer and her work for clients such as the IRS and many Fortune 500 companies, Biech helps you discover:

• Tips, techniques, and tidbits for enhancing your training sessions
• Methods that improve trainee participation
• Alternatives to the traditional lecture method
• Tactics for gauging and managing group dynamics
• Strategies for addressing problems in the classroom
• Hints for understanding and adapting to different learning styles
• Helpful resources and other extra material you can put to immediate use

No matter what you do for a living, there will probably come a time when you have to teach others what you know. Training For Dummies cuts through the complicated jargon to present the basics of teaching and learning in straightforward, plain English so you can share your specialized knowledge with those who need it. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

You don't have to be a "dummy" to use this book!
Training for Dummies should really be titled "Handbook for Training that AnyOne can Understand."Everything you need to know about training is written clearly and succinctly.With over a dozen years training people to facilitate high performance teams, I found Elaine's book to be a great resource.The content, logic and the flow of the book is perfect for the novice as well as the seasoned professional.

No more excuses
With Elaine's clear guidelines, there are no more excuses for bad trainers and bad training designs.The use of this comprehensive resource should raise the quality bar for trainers and make participants much happier!

Here is a Clear, Practical, Inspiring Resource for Trainers
Not only does Elaine "nail" the essence of being a trainer, she inspires you be the best trainer you can be with her tips.As an experienced trainer, reading this book has added more tools to my toolbag and renewed my enthusiasm to be a GREAT trainer.An easy and fun read.Thank you Elaine for a terrific resource.

For Both Novices & Profesionals
Finally -- a book on training that covers the waterfront of the field and both novices and professionals can learn from.I gained new information and ideas on icebreakers, taking a COOL approach, evaluation and creating visuals.Thanks, Elaine, for writing this -- it's a great contribution to the field.

Julie O'Mara
1983 National ASTD president

Excellent source for training information!
This book is an invaluable resource for experienced trainers, new trainers, and anyone considering becoming a trainer. It is clear, comprehensive and chock full of good information. I would recommend this book to anyone as the first stop for all the nuts and bolts information on training. Excellent, just excellent. ... Read more

Book Description

101 SAMPLE WRITE-UPS FOR DOCUMENTING EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE PROBLEMSA Guide to Progressive Discipline & TerminationThere's no escaping problem employees. But with 101 pre- written disciplinary write-ups at a manager's fingertips, there is a way to escape the headaches, anxiety, and potential legal trouble of performance review or counseling sessions. These ready-to-go documents eliminate the fretful second-guessing about what to do and how to say it. Expertly written, they cover every kind of problem -- substandard work quality, absenteeism, insubordination, sexual harassment, e-mail misuse, and more. In addition, readers will find a complete explanation of the entire disciplinary process and (as a last resort) 18 sample termination letters.The disciplinary process outlined here is not about punishing employees into submission. Rather, it focuses on easing tension, opening up bilateral communications, and providing helpful direction on turning problem performance into positive output. It's a complete toolkit for handling disciplinary problems in a fair, responsible, and legally defensible way.PAUL FALCONE (Valencia, CA) is director of employee relations and labor relations for City of Hope National Medical Center. He is the author of The Complete Job-Finding Guide for Secretaries and Administrative Support Staff (Amacom) and 96 Great Interview Questions to Ask Before You Hire (Amacom). ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Easy to use for templates and ideas
I know Paul Falcone personally. I have talked with him in the past at a career workshop and afterwards. He is a consumate Human Resources executive who understands the issues regarding the documentation of employee problems and assisting employees and managers to work better together.

If an HR or line Manager needs to document an employee problem, this book assists the practioner for samples and ideas of how to write up a report for the file, letters for the employee, etc. This can also be used as a guide for managers who need to document the actions of direct reports. As an HR practioner, I recommend you consult your HR department along with using this as a tool.

This book saved my sanity
A long-term problem employee was transferred to my department. I'd seen other two other supervisors repeatedly get intimidated by her, and the HR dept. ignore the entire situation. A friend recommended this book to me, and WOW what a help! The author gave me verbiage for the disciplinary conversations I had to have with my employee, showed me how to document her poor performance, and the attorney who eventually reviewed the file at HR's request gave me an "A". The new HR person who took over right as the employee was resigning (on the verge of being terminated), said the written warnings were the best she had ever seen. Disciplining this employee was a very difficult, emotional process, but I felt confident that I was doing the right thing for my company, and legally was protected because this book took me step by step through it all.

Emphasis on deterrence and progressive discipline
I liked Paul Falcone's emphasis on the objective of a disciplinary system, i.e. "to create and maintain a productive and responsive workforce..." I wish I'd read this book before one of my employees brought a gun to work...and almost didn't get fired because I had not documented his previous acts of intimidation. Falcone urges us (and explicitly tells us how to) write up work place problems in such a fashion that adequately documents subpar performance, and encourages the employee to rehabilitate himself or herself.

NOTE: I see that other reviewers emphasized the sample letters and diskette, so I'd just like to add that Falcone's introductory chapters are also very informative and lucidly written. He tells you why and how you can treat a subpar employee fairly and thus keep your corporation from having to hire back the employees that you eventually had to fire.

Great for supervisors who want excellent documentation
This book is a lifesaver, especially since all the write ups are on diskette. It really gives a detailed outline of how someone is to be disciplined. From the outlines in the book it gives detailed step by step instructions on how to document employee performance issues. I'm glad I bought the book.

Every manager should have a copy!!!
This book will answer all your questions when documenting performance issues. There is a sample for every situation. If you're a manager, you'd be a fool not to own this book! ... Read more

Book Description

The Handbook of Coaching is the first resource to offer a compendium of basic information about the burgeoning field of adult coaching--the art of guiding individuals and organizations to function at their most effective and creative levels. Written for experienced and aspiring coaches, as well as for executives and human resource professionals interested in this rapidly growing profession, the Handbook describes the essential underpinnings of successful coaching and includes a comprehensive, annotated list of books, articles, and other resources. The Handbook of Coaching is sure to become a classic in the field.

"A coach needs to be able to touch people with new possibilities and bring wisdom, compassion, and humor to the issues and problems they face. The Handbook of Coaching provides a treasure trove of learning resources that you will be able to practically and immediately apply to a wide variety of personal and professional situations."
--Robert Hargrove, author of Masterful Coaching and founder of R. Hargrove Consulting ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Hudson is the real deal.
The author has been working with adult developement and coaching since earning his PhD in the 60's. Hudson shows us how the field of coaching relies on the work from a variety of disciplines. He provides many sources from these disciplines to help aid coaches when working with specific groups or specific problems. For anyone building a strong foundation in coaching, this is a great reference book to have handy on your shelf. It's especially useful for newly-trained coaches who might need a deeper understanding of their profession or a good way to avoid reinventing the wheel.

A Handbook and Silent Coaching Partner
As a Life Skills Coach, based in Melbourne Australia, I am always on the search for coaching texts that will enhance my professional skills and coaching knowledge. 'The Handbook of Coaching' is with out a doubt I believe one of the most valuable coaching resource materials I have discovered. Hudson has covered a great deal of material, yet the insights into the various areas of coaching, methodologies and foundations of coaching, are supported by an excellent bibliography section, relevant to the end of each chapter.

The author's writing style is clear and only uses jargon relative to the context, ensuring a novice to the coaching practice feels immediately able to grasp key concepts. This is the value that managers, HR personnel and coaches alike will gain from the book...ease of understanding and practical.

It is a how to book and refernce guide that sets out to (and I daresay achieves)to establish a relationship with its reader; as a handbook of this nature should.

The life transition model that Hudson introduces, acknowledges the validity of adult hood problems, as being more than mere extensions of our child hood challenges. It acknowledges also the process of transition versus the static nature of a changing event.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

A total disappointment
I have read several books about coaching and generally enjoy them alot. This book however was a big disappointment. Really it only contains list after list of suggested reading. That is all it is. I would really estimate that no less than 75% of the book is made up of "Basic library suggestions". Terrible.

Masterpiece for the Coaching Professional
Dr. Hudson, like a master surgeon, cuts into the complex art of professional coaching with the effect of making each critical step more meaningful and understandable.

Detailed introductions into the vast domain of related disciplines are complemented with extensive topical bibliographies. Where no sinlge volume could cover the entire breadth of professional coaching, Dr. Hudson provides a jump start for your arduous learning journey.

Coaching, as an emerging helping profession, needs structure and discipline. Dr. Hudson is well on his way to helping define such structure and discipline.

A prudent read for every genuinely aspiring coach. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

e-book beware
I ordered this book with the Adobe Digital Download. After running the install file 3 times, it still wouldn't work. It kept saying "None of the requested vouchers could be obtained."

I called Adobe twice and they said they don't support the e-Book reader! I checked their user forums at (...)and there are three other people with the same problem. I can't believe Amazon(.com) and Adobe sell a product neither one supports!

How to get up and running when training assessment is wanted
Jack J. Phillips' has been writing several books on assessing the impact of training and his latest book, co-authored with Ron D. Stone, is among the best ones, it is indeed a very good introductory book on evaluating training.
The more experienced training practitioner, who may have been using Kirkpatricks 4 levels, will also get a lot out of the book. It adds tools to Kirkpatricks levels but it also completes the Kirkpatrick model by adding a fifth lev, a ROI analysis. However, not everything may be measured in $ so the authors also include some ideas on how to present intangible assets in the reports.

A lot of the concepts have been presented in previous books, but here they are taken a step further when the authors give examples from their long experience within the field. Downloadable forms, worksheets, and checklists (at the publishers website!!), that may be adapted to various needs is a definite valuable add-on for practitioners who do not have an urge "to do it all on their own".

The book starts off with taking a look at the need for measurement and evaluation and presents the ROI-process as a framework for 6 types of measures, (Kirkspatricks' 4, the ROI and intangible assets). Then all levels, possible measurements etc are presented throughout the book, finishing off with key implementation steps. It is all wrapped in the ROI-process, a step-by-step "receipe" for planning, building and implementing the evaluation process.

So when the top management want to know if a training program is worth the money . . .
Reading the book may get you on the track. It may help you talk the language of Money a way that senior management understands.
This is in addition to building better programs.

And it sure was practical with a digital version on my laptop, that way I bing it with me whereever I go; really conveniant when being a consultant - -

Money Talks . . .
Jack J. Phillips' has been writing several books on assessing the impact of training and his latest book, co-authored with Ron D. Stone, is among the best ones, it is indeed a very good introductory book on evaluating training.
The more experienced training practitioner, who may have been using Kirkpatricks 4 levels, will also get a lot out of the book. It adds tools to Kirkpatricks levels but it also completes the Kirkpatrick model by adding a fifth lev, a ROI analysis. However, not everything may be measured in $ so the authors also include some ideas on how to present intangible assets in the reports.

A lot of the concepts have been presented in previous books, but here they are taken a step further when the authors give examples from their long experience within the field. Downloadable forms, worksheets, and checklists (at the publishers website!!), that may be adapted to various needs is a definite valuable add-on for practitioners who do not have an urge "to do it all on their own".

The book starts off with taking a look at the need for measurement and evaluation and presents the ROI-process as a framework for 6 types of measures, (Kirkspatricks' 4, the ROI and intangible assets). Then all levels, possible measurements etc are presented throughout the book, finishing off with key implementation steps. It is all wrapped in the ROI-process, a step-by-step "receipe" for planning, building and implementing the evaluation process.

So when the top management want to know if a training program is worth the money . . .
Reading the book may get you on the track. It may help you talk the language of Money a way that senior management understands.
This is in addition to building better programs. ... Read more

Book Description

The HR Answer Book addresses 200 questions that every employer needs to deal with, from recruiting and hiring to discipline and termination, compensation and benefits to training and employee relations. Accessible and concise, this on-the-job companion offers expert guidance on all types of "people" issues, enabling managers and human resources professionals to:

* Save time, money, and trouble * Increase employee productivity, satisfaction, and retention * Attract and hire the best candidates while avoiding the inferior ones* * Handle tough issues like sexual harassment, Internet and e-mail usage, performance problems, and more -- fairly, sensitively, and legally.

The HR Answer Book is an easy-to-use problem solver that can be read cover-to-cover or as a quick reference in specific situations. An appendix of tools, templates, and lists of additional resources completes this excellent and valuable guide. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Fantastic Real World Reference Book
This book is a terrific guide through pretty much every HR issue you will come across. The writing is straightforward, it's well organized, and it explains complicated subjects in a way everyone can understand. Most importantly, it gives useful, practical tips and suggestions. It's a must-read for entry-level HR professionals and anyone who manages employees, and it's also a great reference for more experienced HR professionals. It will be especially useful to those in small companies who don't always have immediate access to subject matter experts in every area of HR. I strongly recommend it.

Finally, a good HR resource
What a great tool for a small business person to use in regard to day-to-day HR issues. I've found it to be practical and real-world without all the legal jargon. We're using it as a reference book for our supervisory training class. Lots of insight for the HR generalist as well.

Great book
Great, professionally-written book. It's easy to read cover-to-cover , and just as easy to pick up as a reference when I have a specific issue. This has been an invaluable tool and I recommend it to anyone who is running a small business, moving into HR, or finds themselves dealing with staff-related issues. It's a 'must-have' for all managers. ... Read more

Book Description

"At last!A textbook on organizational behavior written for students of public administration and nonprofit management.The authors provide a comprehensive presentation of the major topics in organizational behavior from the perspective of life in public organizations.It is filled with useful learning instruments, exercises, cases, and realistic public sector examples that will provide students with a profound understanding of their own behavior and the behavior of others.This will surely enhance their careers in the public service."

—Dr. Jay D. White, University of Nebraska at Omaha

"This book is a valuable addition to the literature on public administration and management. It will serve as an excellent text for both current and aspiring public servants. It provides a creative interweaving of the theoretical and practical dimensions of public sector organizational behaviour.Especially notable is the combination of succinct summaries of theoretical material with cases, simulations and other techniques that will make organizational behaviour come alive in the classroom."

"This is the organization behavior textbook that public sector employers wish we would use in our MPA classes!  Focusing on getting students to reflect on their current skill levels, it helps them build competency by combining a splendidly clear presentation of the best contemporary theory with a variety of engaging self-tests and activities.  Students will enjoy this text because every chapter helps them build skills they can use right away.  Professors will value it because they'll never again be asked, ‘What's the point of reading this?’"

-Linda deLeon, University of Colorado at Denver

 

"Managing Human Behavior in Public and Nonprofit Organizations is an intellectually superior and illuminating contribution to current literature on effective public management.Students, middle managers, and chief executive officers will all find its accumulated knowledge and practical suggestions both stimulating and beneficial."

Managing Human Behavior in Public and Nonprofit Organizationsis the first core textbook specifically written for the management and organizational behavior course taught in undergraduate and graduate programs in public administration, particularly in Masters in Public Administration (MPA) programs. Designed to help students develop the skills and understanding they need in order to become effective and responsible public managers, the book covers all of the essential topics in management and organizational behavior from the perspective of public and non-profit management. It focuses on the importance of understanding the behavior, motivations, and actions of individuals in the public service and the distinctiveness of management and leadership in public organizations. Action-oriented, the book is filled with cases, self-assessment exercises, simulations, and evaluative instruments.

Book Description

New laws affect every aspect of being an employer--from interviewing and hiring, to handling employee benefits to firing.

The most complete guide to your legal rights and responsibilities, The Employer's Legal Handbook shows you how to comply with the most recent workplace laws and regulations, run a safe and fair workplace and avoid lawsuits. Learn everything you need to know about:

*Hiring: Understand the legal guidelines for hiring employees, writing job descriptions, conducting interviews and investigating applicants.
*Smart personnel practices: What to include in employee personnel files, employee handbooks, performance reviews and references for former employees.
*Employee benefits: Learn the ins and outs of wage and hour laws, retirement plans and health insurance.
*Workplace health and safety: Comply with OSHA requirements, and implement policies on smoking, drugs and alcohol abuse.
*Discrimination: Prevent sexual harassment and discrimination based on age, race, pregnancy, sexual orientation and national origin.
*Termination: Avoid wrongful termination cases, conduct a final meeting and protect your business information when employees leave.
*Laws affecting small business practices: Everything you need to know about the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, health and safety issues, employee testing and more.

The 6th edition updates the book's easy-to-use legal charts to provide the latest employment laws for every state.

Whether you hire one employee or one hundred, The Employer's Legal Handbook gives you the practical and legal guidance you need to run a fair and productive workplace, and stay out of legal trouble. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Worth its weight in gold!!!
This book should be on every employer's bookshelf! I am so impressed by how comprehensive, well organized, and easy to use it is. Steingold really knows what he's talking about, he explains all of the complex laws and regulations that trip up unprepared employers and result in expensive lawsuits. Thanks to this book I learned the best ways to comply with OSHA, wage-and-hour laws, sexual harassment and discrimination laws, the Americans with Disabilities Act and many many more. You owe it to yourself to know your rights and responsibilities as an employer and to protect your company from needless litigation.

A mile wide and several feet deep
An excelent, readable, survey of the law on this topic. The greatest strengths of the book are two-fold. First, it is written in easy to follow, plain english. Second, it is amazingly comprehensive. I have been practicing employment law in two millenia, and this is the book that I use (after reviewing dozens) to teach non-lawyer classes on the topic. As with any survey book, it doesn't cover the details of the many topics it touches. You don't want to use this book to deal with comprehensive planning or an employment law dispute. But if you read this book you'll understand much of the language and many of the concerns of the experienced human resources professional or lawyer that you need.

Protect your business from employee and government law suits
Here is the book that will teach you what you need to know to keep compliance with the law and protect your business. Easy to read and comprehend, this book will help you promote fair business practices and avoid lawsuits. Folks, there are many laws most business people don't know about. This book will bring you up to speed. It's a necessity for the small and large business alike.

employers legal hand book
rules and regulations of firing hiring,etc.from a jo ... Read more