Book Description

Get that monkey off your back!

Start with a monkey. It comes from your subordinates shifting their responsibility to you -- until you're working for them! How does the successful manager keep monkeys off his back? In this lively, provocative seminar, two of today's foremost consultants show you:

* How to recognize monkeys before they land on your back
* How to stop your subordinates from imposing unnecessary time demands on you
* Why "an honest day's work for a fair day's pay" does not apply to managers
* The real answer to the Manager's Lament: "where does all the time go?"
* Why you should be on the golf course on Saturday instead of at the office

Be a smarter, tougher and better manager!

Together and separately Kenneth Blanchard and William Oncken have trained and consulted with America's largest corporations. Now they bring their unique style and hard-hitting program to audio -- to help you take charge of your job and your life. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A new way to work less and be more efficient
The one minute manager's symbol, a one-minute readout from the face of a modern digital watch, is intended to remind each of us to take a minute out of our day to look into the faces of the people we manage. The monkey manger's symbol a stressed manager overwhelmed by a desk full of problems, is intended to remind us to constantly discipline ourselves to invest our time on the most vital aspects of management rather than dilute our effectiveness by "doing more efficiently those things that shouldn't be done in the first place." What follows, is a story of a manger who worked long hours and never seemed to get caught up with all the work he had to do. He learned about monkey management and how not to take initiative away from his people so they can care for and feed their own monkeys. In the process, he learned to be more effective in dealing with his own manager and the demands of his organization. The performance of his department drastically improved, as did the prospects for his career. The authors hope is that you will use what you learn in this book to make a difference in your life and the lives of the people you interact with at work and at home.

Just to Sum it up..
The One Minute Manager's symbol- a one-minute readout from the face of a modern digital watch- is intended to remind each of us to take a minute out of our day to look into the faces of the people we manage. And to realize that they are our most important resources. The Monkey Manager's symbol- a harried manager overwhelmed by a deskful of problems- is intended to remind us to constantly discipline ourselves to invest our time on the most vital aspects of management rather than dilute our effectiveness by "doing more efficiently those things that shouldn't be done in the first place." What follows is a story about a harried manager who worked long, hard hours, yet never quite seemed to get caught up with all the work he had to do. He learned about monkey management and how not to take initiative away from his people so they can care for and feed their own "monkeys." In the process, he learned to be more effective in dealing with his own manager and the demands of his organization. The performance of his department drastically improved as did the prospects for his career. The authors hope is that you will use what you learn in this book to make a difference in your life and the lives of the people you interact with at work, and at home.

Great Advise!
Great advise to new managers. I really could relate to the story. Both helpful and validating.

How to make money by stating the bleedin' obvious
Take a "humourous" title, take one sentence (in this case : Don't take too much responsibility for things) and write an entire book about it - don't forget to include quotable phrases that mean nothing. This is the perfect recipe for getting money out of the easiest (and most populous) demographic in America : the incompetent middle manager.

Absolutely Fantastic! Will kickstart your career
Buy the book or better yet listen to the tape then watch the change in your attitude Monday morning.

A good meter for a manager to know if he has too many monkeys is by comparing e-mail inbaskets, since that is where so many of us spend much of our time nowadays. My own is usually over 300 items while my staff's is usually under 20. I thought about each of these as a monkey and then also thought back over all the one-on-one conversations I had had with each of them (7 people). In most cases, it was usually left that I would do something next, and that fits in perfectly with this book. True to the book and the tape, I spend countless hours to catch up, only to fall further behind.

The book is pretty good, but the tape is far superior. There are two tapes; the first one is a speech by Bill Oncken Jr, and he is just a fantastic story-teller. He really brings to life the story of the manager whose staff is all waiting on him, the stress he feels, and the revelation that hits him when he sees them golfing when he goes in on the weekend. Of course this is all written before the days of e-mail, but it still works. You can feel the energy in his voice rising as he turns his life around and puts all the monkeys back where they belong, and the final line where he gets the whole audience to shout "HOW'S IT GOING?!" to the new monkey-owner is a great ending.

The second tape is Ken Blanchard delivering the rest of the material, and while he's entertaining, it's not nearly as good as Oncken's "day-in-the-life" tale. He ties the material back to the One-Minute Manager, and touches on some psychological issues.

They also stress that this isn't just an exercise in delegating and taking work off the manager's hand, it is just as important as a developmental process for the subordinate.

As a side-note, it's interesting that there is no mention anywhere in the book of Spencer Johnson, the co-author of the original book The One Minute Manager, who invented the system. In all the author biographies and Thank-You's, he is never mentioned, I wonder if he and Blanchard had a parting of company. And the book itself makes almost no mention at all about what One-Minute Manager is all about, it seems just a way to put a popular title to a book about monkey management,
although I think this monkey manual is the better book. ... Read more

Book Description

How one tough cop became one tough businessman.

Bo Dietl is a legend in the New York City Police Department. His hardheaded attitude and never-give-up ethic of crime fighting earned him a reputation as a man to be respected-and not to be taken lightly. After retiring from the force in 1985, Dietl went into business for himself as a security consultant and built an international company worth millions. Here, in his own inimitable style, Bo Dietl shows how, through smart networking, anyone can make it just as big as he did.

Using examples from his own vast experience in dealing with business friends and foes in a variety of situations-including his "lunchatation situations," where personal connections and opportunity can come together in any setting-Dietl tells how knowing what to say, how to say it, when to say it, and who to say it to can count more than anything when it comes to success in the winner-take-all arena of big business. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Exceptional Networking Guide
I fashion myself an excellent networker, but I garnered a great deal of new information from Bo Dietl's book.It's easy to read, and hits the main points about how important appearance, loyalty, personal connections, listening ability and accessibility are.Unfortunately, the CD that came with my book did not work, but the stories within the text are terrific.I love Bo's story about a CEO with unshined shoes, and the CEO for whom Bo secured a job, who more or less forgot about Bo once the job was secured.I also enjoyed the 50th Birthday rendition to "My Way."

Dietl Worships Himself
Dietl probably has a nude portrait of himself smoking a cigar above his fireplace. The man is truly enamored with himself. You might find a few kernals of winsdom entreched deeply within the200+ pages of steaming poo, yet not enough to justify blowing twenty bucks on it. The constant self promotion and tales of small-man syndrome conquers evil bad-man will wear you down by the time you find the end of the book. Then you can read a special song written by Paul Anka for him, which takes 25 or 30 pages.

Maybe he'll sell you his nude portrait so you too can worship him.

Bo Dietl is a legend in his own mind
Just finished reading Business Lunchatations, by Bo Dietl and his ghost writer.It wasn't easy to get through this badly written piece of junk. Don't waste your money on this. Bo Dietl can dish out more Bullsh.. than a herd. Stick with How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Yo can learn nothing from Bo Dietl. BTW- since Bo claims to be a master at self promotion, take those five star reviews with a grain of salt.

Bo and Bob are a dynamic duo!
Bo Dietl's combined street smarts and business smarts with Bob Bly's overview of business is a stunning combination that creates a very interesting and valuable book for those who are starting out in business, trying to climb the corporate ladder or if you are on top of one of those corporate ladders. The is a true example of synergy at it's best. If you are interested in business, you MUST read this book!

LOTS OF LISTS, TELLS MUCH IN A FEW WORDS, WITH STYLE!
Dietl, a highly successful, self-made entrepreneur, shares his experiences and insights about achieving success through smart networking, making the most of personal connections, the art of self-promotion (involving the cultivation of a unique personality and style), and doing many other things right. The book is witty, to-the-point, and tells plenty of personal stories, but its prime value lies in such lists as "20 rules for self-promotion," "6 ways to improve your listening skills," "14 networking tips," and many more such in-a-nutshell take-aways. Dietl loves checklists, but advises that "the best" are those "you create yourself" for they are tailored to your problems. The underlying theme appears to be "You can change yourself and your life" and "you can do more than you do now." (p. 31) The CD includes conversations with Jack Welch, Warren Buffett, Bill O'Reilly and others. It's a fast read, that tells much in few words. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Best of Breed
I have read extensively on negotiation, including everything written by folks affiliated with the Harvard Negotiation Project. I think that _Getting Past No_ is the best of all the books.

Its conciseness is deceptive. The concepts expressed are profound. For example, I cannot count the number of clients to whom I have explained the concept of BATNA (best alternative to a negotiated agreement, i.e. what you do if the negotiations fail) before we head into a session of mediation or other negotiation. I have reread this book several times at widely spaced intervals and have found it better than I remembered each time.

I think this particular book is also much more helpful to those who participate in negotiations that are less structured than labor or arms negotiations that are highly choreographed than was _Getting to Yes_, which at times seemed to assume that all players in the negotiation would be using the same text.

Impasse Blockbusting
In his superb book, William Ury builds on the pricipals first put forth in his first book with Roger Fisher, "Getting To Yes." In "Getting Past No" Ury discusses the nuances and niceties of negotiating using a joint problem solving approach which is "interest based" rather than being "rights based" or "power based." Ury explains that the challenge is to convert a confrontational situation to a cooperative creative problem solving process, that integrates the parties in a negotiation into a cooperative mode, that results in the best long term agreements.

The specific wonder of this book, is its focus on what to do, when you don't know how to get past a problem. Ury calls his method the "Breakthrough Strategy" and is virtually totally as applicable for mediators as it is for negotiators. In fact, several times, Ury mentions that a mediator may assist the process.

Simply put, Ury contends that there are basically 5 things that one needs to do to preserve smooth negotiations and to break through an impasse if it occurs. He calls these 'steps' by the following designations: "Go To The Balcony", "Step To Their Side", "Reframe", "Build Them A Golden Bridge" and "Use Power To Educate." These simple concepts are extremely useful tools for negotiators and mediators alike.

There is no disappointment in this book. The approach and the writing style are just superb. Once again, the Harvard Group, especially William Ury, have produced a book that anyone can gain from and is almost a must for those in dispute resolution and negotiation on a day to day basis.

Extremely Helpful
This is probably the most useful book I've ever read. I'm kicking myself for not reading it sooner. 1000 thanks to Dr. Ury. This is one title you will never regret buying.

Worth it's Weight in Gold
This book doesn't claim to be a book on LISTENING, and yet it subtly explains and beautifully uses the key elements of listening.
This book doesn't claim to be a book on DIALOGUE, and yet it subtly explains and beautifully uses the key elements of dialogue.
This book doesn't claim to be a book on APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY, and yet it subtly explains and beautifully uses the key elements of appreciative inquiry.
This book doesn't claim to be a book on ASSERTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, and yet it subtly explains and beautifully uses the key elements of assertive communications.
This book doesn't claim to be a book on SYSTEMS THINKING, and yet it subtly explains and beautifully uses the key elements of systems thinking.
This book doesn't claim to be a book on MENTAL MODELS, and yet it subtly explains and beautifully uses the key elements of mental models.
This book DOES claim to be a book on NEGOTIATION, and is clearly the best of the best. The book beautifully shows how one can effectively use all of the above skills during everyday negotiations
All the examples are crystal clear and convincing. Read it, refer to it often and profit from it.

Easy to read book for beginners
It is the best book for the beginners to learn negotiations by in a day. The book is easy to read and to the point. For advance readers I will recommend "Essentials of negotiation by Lewicki et al" ... Read more

Book Description

Comprehensive Introduction to Manufacturing Management text covering the behavior laws at work in factories. Examines operating policies and strategic objectives. Hopp presents the concepts of manufacturing processes and controls within a "physics" or "laws of nature" analogy--a novel approach.There is enough quantitative material for an engineer's course, as well as narrative that a management major can understand and apply. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Wonderful, in-depth book for Ops Engineers.
This was a required text for my Production and Mgmt course during my undergrad studies as an Industrial and Ops Engineer at the U of Michigan in 2000. Priot to taking the course, I had very little knowledge of how ops research/optiimization tied in with real world settings. Lucky for me, the course was taught by an wonderful, demanding professor who unfortunately had to leave and now is at the U of Cinnatti. Anyway, I was able to gain tremendous understanding of how statistics, queueing theories, game thoeries, and factory mgmt all got tied into one. It was this book that tied all the pieces together and push me forward toward my career path. I continue to use this book as reference and interesting reads in my continued involvement in the Supply Chain areas and optimization areas in the tech industry. This book WILL build a firm foundation for anyone who gives an effort and has an interest in the subject. What you do with the knowledge, is up to you in the future, since many of these concepts take time and experience to apply in the real world.

One of 2 best books for both academia and practitioner
Hopp and Spearman wrote the classic issues, manufacturing system, in elegant format. The fundamental of manufacturing systems is deliberately compiled in a single textbook. If you like Askin and Standridge book (1994), you will love this book as well. One thing that forbids me to put 5 stars is this book doesn't have the "material flow/facilities design" issue, which I believe it is the foundation of manufacturing management too. I thought the facilities planning would be included in 2nd edition- but nope :( May be in 3rd edition... maybe... :(

When science and manufacturing management finally meet !!!
This book is a reference in Manufacturing Management. All the basic and complex tools of manufacturing are explained and the historical context of their creation is introduced. More interesting is the global understanding of manufacturing issues and the explanations to go beyond the principles of "zero defect", "zero inventory", ... I learned a lot.

Great reference book for the manufacturing professional
As a supply chain consultant, oftentimes the quality of my work is directly impacted by the reference aids in my own personal library. "Factory Physics" is such a reference aid that has my work has benefitted from several times.

The book covers all of the traditional manufacturing topics you would expect in sufficient detail: inventory control, JIT, production scheduling, capacity planning, shop floor control, etc. But given that you can buy any number of other suitable, standard P&IC textbooks on these topics, that's not where the value is.

The value in "Factory Physics" lies in the unique content which presents manufacturing management in a "scientific" context. For example, there are chapters on 'Basic Factory Dynamics,' 'Variability Basics,' and 'The Corrupting Influence on Variability.' These chapters demonstrate how manufacturing managers and engineers can move away from the rule-of-thumb, heuristics-based approach to operations planning and control (which is so often is either a guessing game or not based on empirical data) to a more formal, rule- and data-driven approach.

For example, I have been in many factories where management had only a SWAG approach to modeling equipment reliabilities, cycle times and throughput volumes, which drive queues and thus impact shop floor inventory. This book gives you the tools to properly understand these dynamics, if these are important issues to you.

The content in the book on the corrupting influence of variability is a welcome harkening back to the ideas of Edward Deming, who consistently preached about the damage that variation can do when introduced into stable production environments. In my opinion, this is another example of the unique and rare content offered by "Factory Physics."

Other value-adding content includes discussions sprinkled throughout the book on the fallacies and disadvantages of age-old planning and control methodologies, such as MRP or EOQ. In a world where 99% of textbooks believe their only duty to the reader is to simply present laundry lists of all the planning techniques known to humankind, these critical commentaries are a breath of fresh air.

I don't recommend this book lightly, or to individuals who are only loosely associated with operations planning and control positions. Rather, I highly, highly recommend it to serious, mature manufacturing professionals who are not timid of higher level mathematics, statistics and probability theory. If not, the reader would probably not be able to realize the true value of the book and it would go unused.

A former client of mine, who was nice guy but a novice when it came to manufacturing issues, asked me if he should buy "Factory Physics" for his own use. My response to him was this: "If you wanted to learn more about physics you probably wouldn't order reprints of papers by Einstein, Hawking, Bohr, etc. You would go and buy something like 'Physics for Dummies' and start there. I suggest you do the same for manufacturing content."

It depends on what are you expecting to learn
This definetely is a good book, the language and the examples used are very illustrative and the content shows that the authors are very experienced and know what they are talking about. However, I believe that this book should not be used as an introduction to production planning and control, this is more something to read after some introduction to those techniques has been acquired, and you are seeking to sharpen your ability to use them. They offer good buy few, very few examples, and the questions and proposed exercises in the back do not have answers. Not good for an introductory class on the subject, a must for those who have already some knowledge about the subject. ... Read more

Book Description

High reliability organizations (HROs) such as ER units in hospitals or firefighting units are designed to perform efficiently under extreme stress and pressure. Using HROs as the model for the 21st century organization, Karl Weick and Kathleen Sutcliffe show readers how to respond to unexpected challenges with flexibility rather than rigidity and to reduce the disruptive effects of change by using tools such as sensemaking, stress reduction, migrating decisions, and labeling. Introducing the powerful new concept of "mindfulness," the authors outline five qualities of the mindful organization and the organizational skills needed to achieve them. Each concept is clearly expressed in vivid case studies of organizations that demonstrate mindful practices in action.

A Book in the University of Michigan Business School Series

Voted Best HR Book of 2001 by HR.com ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Captivating - A Must Read for Practitioners and Scholars
Weick and Sutcliffe have accomplished the rarest of feats - they have created a book that suggests a viable research agenda for scholars and has tremendous practical relevance for managers. Their approach is also decidedly process-based and suggests different routes to high performance through capabilities for anticipating and detecting the unexpected as well as for resilience and managing the unexpected, which offers a nice contrast to more static and structure-based frameworks. Weick and Sutcliffe breathe life into these processes through rich and varied case examples. Another extremely appealing feature of the book is (Chapter 4 - Assessing Your Capabilities for Assured Performance) its attempt to measure these processes through various "audits." While these measures are only suggestive, they provide academic and practitioner alike with a great reference point for developing their own instruments. Chapter 6 offers a number of sound recommendations delivered with punch for the manager attempting to apply the principles of the book. The book also has significant implications for human resource management practitioners and scholars as it suggests a new way for designing human resource practices (e.g., training) and a new set of mechanisms (i.e., mindfulness) by which these practices may lead to improved performance. All in all, an insightful, provocative, and cogent book.

A Leatherman for the complex organization
I have read and enjoyed several of Weick's books and articles on organizational performance. For the most part, they were difficult, but insightful works on how people in organizations behave. But it was not easy to translate the insights I gleaned from Weick's work into tools and strategies to improve the performance of the organization which employs me (a small hospital).

In Managing the Unexpected, Weick and coauthor Sutcliffe have written a short book that summarizes the insights gained from studying high reliability organizations (HROs) and details "doable" strategies to enable other organizations to improve their own reliability. The book's use of several case studies, detailing of key strategies and techniques, and chapter summaries make it a quick and interesting read. What is most valuable, though, is that a person working in an HRO, or an organization that should aspire to such a status, can immediately take the techniques and strategies detailed in the book and start to use them to improve the organization's performance and reliability.

Despite the fact that this book offers concrete strategies to improve organizational performance, it admits right from the start that successful HROs are extremely complex organizations. The authors allow the reader to appreciate that the success of these organizations in delivering quality products and services under often adverse circumstances is due to cadres of employees with diverse perspectives, skills, and expertise, that respect the complexity of the organization, and are willing to allow important decisions to be made by the individuals with the greatest understanding of the current situation.

Thus, although Managing the Unexpected provides concrete tools and strategies for improving organizational performance, it also emphasizes the importance of mindfulness for employees working in HROs, or organizations endeavoring to such status. Mindfulness includes working constantly to be aware of the complexity of the organization, its environment, and that our expectations and plans for the future may be erroneous. This emphasis on mindfulness and disciplined awareness makes the reader aware that although the tools and strategies presented by the authors may seem simple, to be effective they must be used by individuals who have worked diligently to understand their organization, its employees, and the organization's environment.

Managing the Unexpected is a welcome book for those of us who have always marveled at the success of our organizations in delivering quality goods and services in chaotic environments. It is not a quick fix that will send you to organizational nirvana with mindless platitudes. No, it is more like an organizational Leatherman that you keep on your belt at all times with the understanding that successful complex organizations are always needing to be fine tuned with a wide variety of skills, tools, and awareness. ... Read more

Book Description

Granville N. Toogood is a top executive communications expert, as well as an established speaker, trainer, and writer. Before starting his own company in 1982, Mr. Toogood was a television reporter and network news producer for NBC and ABC. Today he works with a long list of blue-chip clients and has served as a consultant to 38 of the Fortune 50 CEOs, as well as thousands of senior-level executives, elected officials, and diplomats throughout the world. This book is based on his acclaimed corporate workshops in executive communications. Mr. Toogood resides in Darien, Connecticut. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A Great Choice for Help Speaking
Granville Toogood's "The Articulate Executive" is a quite excellent introduction to public speaking in a variety of forms. Toogood is an accomplished communications consultant and has distilled his advice into a very readable book that will help almost anyone improve not just their communication style, but also their impact.

Toogood covers all the bases, from basic public speaking, to presentation, to handling the media. His POWER formula offers a simplified approach to effective speaking that's approachable by all of us. He offers real-world advice - such as time your speeches to be no longer than 18 minutes - that is often missing from other books.

Most importantly, his book is easily readable. It features short chapters with a lot of punch. And although some chapters build on contents of previous ones, it's easy to read the book a chapter at a time, or even find just the chapter the deals with the topic you need. While written for the beginning communicator, most non-professional speakers will find a lot of value in this work. It was an excellent book, and I highly recommend it.

Articulation: A Key to Making Things Happen
The key to success, I believe lies in effective personal communication.

In a world that increasingly relies on technology to respond to other human beings, a personal response results in results - deals are made; red tape is cut; decisions are made. Yet we live in a world where the ability to communicate personally with each other seems to be on the decline.

Granville Toogood has written one of the best books on the subject I have ever read. The Articulate Executive should be required reading for every business student, project manager, teacher and politician. By taking the time to adhere to his simple P. O. W. E. R. formula, leaders would see their effectiveness soar.

P. Power - Start Strong.
O. One Theme.
W. Windows to illustrate your theme.
E. Ear - Your presentation should be conversational.
R. Retention - End your presentation with a call to action.

If you plan to be successful, then public speaking is something you cannot avoid. If you plan to speak, do your audience a favor and spend some time with this book. Your career and your audience will be grateful.

Learning How to Speak in Public
Book Review: Granville N. Toogood's, The Articulate Executive

Jack Llewelyn, who was the CEO of Ocean Spray Cranberries, described Granville N. Toogood's The Articulate Executive (1995), as a "... required reading for every board room, class room, and living room in the country." When reading Toogood's book reviews, I was astonished that a book about public speaking could be so highly touted. Haven taken public speaking courses before, I wondered if The Articulate Executive could possibly "cure" my fear of public speaking. After reading the book's introduction, I realized that I was not the only one who fears a public audience. Not only developing college students, like myself, but also well established CEO's, corporate managers, and important individuals from all walks of life share in the popular fear of speaking in public. "Polls tell us that public speaking for some people can actually be scarier than death" (Toogood, p. 7). Therefore, I wonder, can a book help reduce an individual's fear of public speaking and aid in his or her quest to become a better public speaker? In this book Granville Toogood helps the reader become a more effective communicator and overall the book educates the reader about the steps each individual should take to present a good presentation.
In today's business world, public speaking can be a key to success. The author describes how most people would prefer having a root canal rather than speaking in public. Toogood says, "that people who view public speaking as a bad thing...are amazed to find that public speaking can actually be fun-and well worth the time and effort" (Toogood p. 3). The author describes how public speaking is to be viewed as an opportunity rather than an unpleasant and tedious job that has to be done. Furthermore, Toogood emphases in the first chapter of The Articulate Executive that an advantage in any business relationship will usually go to the "articulate, well-organized, and thoughtful" business player (p. 7). Consequently, "seizing opportunities" is the first concept that Toogood presents as a potential key to business success.
The author also talks about controlling the presentation. Toogood states "The presentation should always be an opportunity rather than an obstacle or chore. When you are in command of your presentation, you come across as a leader" (Toogood, p. 167). The author introduces the reader to the POWER formula. Which is essential to follow; this formula ensures that the speaker has the groundwork of a good presentation. The presenter should also give the speech the way he or she speaks, making the presentation conversational and easy to follow for the audience. The author also introduces us to the "18-minute Wall", i.e., the audience will only be able to pay attention for 18 minutes. It is also important to remember the "18-minute Wall" when organizing the presentation to meet the timing requirements. There is also the "8-second rule", this rule will help the speaker come up with the theme of the presentation. This rule will also help the presenter remove any unnecessary clichés and come across as being straightforward. After the presenter has the making for a great presentation, it is essential to make good use of body language and to dress appropriate for the occasion. Finally, the correct use of visual aids is essential for any presentation, and they should not dominate the presentation. In my opinion, Toogood has given me the correct set of guidelines to follow, and his advice will help his readers to come across as leaders and become better public speakers.

Short but Punchy
IF you need to give a speech next week and find no time to learn all the important presentation techique, do try this books! Short but punchy, it touches on almost eveyr aspect on presentation, from writing to delivering, from fear control to the secret of 8 second drill. Highly recommended

Insightful!
Greenville N. Toogood is a top executive communications expert, an established speaker (who used to be a TV reporter and network news producer), trainer, and writer, so he draws upon a vast amount of useful and successful tips for anyone interested in becoming a top-notch communicator. Although this book is written in a conversational, accessible style, you won't find any fluff and filler, just on-target training. He covers planning your talk, speech, or presentation; your delivery and appearance; and pitfalls to avoid. He tells you how to deal with visual aids, Q&A sessions, and even the media. The author stresses that the book's instructions can make anyone an effective and dazzling conversationalist, not just a great speechmaker, though both are well-rewarded skills. We [...] recommend this book to every professional, on every level, and to those who would like to excel as communicators.
... Read more

Reviews (2)

Just What I was Looking For
Good balance of theory and application.
Uses straight-forward, common sense approach.

Short and Sweet
The book is a great primer for the beginner.
Simple organization and straight to the point. ... Read more

Book Description

Praise for The New CFO Financial Leadership Manual

"Steve Bragg has done it again! This manual shows what a CFO needs to do to truly add value. It should be mandatory reading for all CFOs who want to play a strategic role in their organizations."
–Janice M. Roehl-Anderson, Partner
Deloitte Consulting

"This timely guide will help CFOs master the right thinking and management skills. An effective tool for navigating today’s corporate financial waters."
–Clint Davies, Principal
Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker

"An excellent reference book and good reading besides. This book is a how-to for new and experienced CFOs. It is one place for new CFOs to get information on how to start in their job as well as continuing reference on many issues–such as personnel, accounting and reporting, banking, credit, taxes, and so on."
–Gail W. Sevier, CPA
Member/Manager of Marrs, Sevier & Company LLC ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Everything you need to know in finance - superb!
I found this book very complete and comprehensive as a reference source. It covers the strategic and operational perspectives of the finance function. This is one of the best "CFO" books, together with "CFO Architect" and "CFO Handbook". A little bit overpriced - I would have put it in the US$60 range. Reading this book is like taking an advanced course in preparing yourself for the CFO career. It is very didactic and straightforward. A recommendation for the author: in a future edition, you might consider expanding on the topics of international finance, value based management and corporate restructurings. ... Read more

Book Description

Is it possible for a company to grow its revenues and profits by 10percent ormore for atleast ten consecutive years, not counting acquisitions? That’s an incrediblyhigh bar forgrowth and profitability, one that 99.99 percent of American companies can’tmeet— including the famous ones that routinely land on magazine covers.

Management expert Jason Jennings screened 100,000 companies to identify ninelittle- known firms that have delivered stellar performance for a full decade or more,despite theups and downs of the economy. And, as he reveals in his new book, thesesuperstars havea lot in common despite their wide range of industries, which includes software,foodservices, medical supplies, and sporting goods.

It turns out that the best long-term performers all combine the strengths of abigorganization with the hunger of a start-up. They build excellent relationshipswith theircustomers, suppliers, workers, and shareholders. They groom future leaders atall levels.They balance their short-term goals with their long-term visions. And they teachtheirmanagers to get their hands dirty.

Jennings did extensive interviews at his nine featured companies to find outexactly howthey consistently increase revenue and profits without using manipulation orgimmickry.He reveals their unique approach to leadership and shows how any company, nomatterwhat size or industry, can benefit from following their examples.

Think Big, Act Small may be the most powerful management book sinceGood to Great and Execution. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Business Novel--Read for Pleasure, Read for Profit
Telling the stories of nine companies, in a manner both fascinating and insightful, Jennings's has created a true business novel.You'll want to take this book on vacation for pleasure and then bring it home for profit.

Prudent Business Advice for any Business
I can't remember the last time I've considered a business non-fiction book a "page turner", but Jason Jennings has accomplished what very few writers in this genre do. His wit, combined with articulate facts, make "Think Big, Act Small" a much better read than similar books. However, what really encapsulated me were candid, yet invigorating details about what differentiates so-so businesses from the shockingly sparse few companies who actually maintain steady, consecutive growth along with increased profits year after year. Free from scandal, quiet, humble, down-to-earth CEO leadership appears to be one pervasive factor for a success formula. Incredibly, Jennings and his staff conduct face-to-face interviews with these precious leaders of the featured corporations more as if it were a coffee clutch than a business profile. Casual, laid-back and approachable, the words they speak aren't about themselves at all. Rather, their sage advice regarding the prosperity of their respective companies proves "big" dreams are still attainable while "acting small" as they genuinely focus on what's best for all.
As the owner of a successful computer company, one other surprise were the parallels seen within our own business. Namely, of the successful companies featured in the book, more than half are some of our BEST customers. This may be a perfect fit for any proactive sales organization. You'll be hooked from the start so this is just bonus material well worth the price of admission itself.
This book is a must read for anybody even slightly interested in learning about what makes today's best businesses tick.

Jennings' Most Important Book...Thus Far
Jennings' highly innovative, at times refreshingly unorthodox thinking was evident in his previously published books,It's Not the Big That Eat the Small...It's the Fast That Eat the Slow (co-authored with Laurence Haughton) and then Less Is More: How Great Companies Use Productivity As a Competitive Tool in Business.

As I read this volume, I was reminded of at least some of the material in Sun Tzu's The Art of War and, especially, the strategies recommended in a section called "Estimates" in Samuel B. Griffith's superb translation. For example: "All warfare is based on deception. Therefore, when capable, feign incapacity; when active, inactivity. When near, make it appear that you are far away; when far away, that you are near. Offer the enemy a bait to lure him; feign disorder and strike him. When he concentrates, prepare against him; where he is strong, avoid him. Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance. When he is united, divide him. Attack when he is unprepared; sally out when he does not expect you." You get the idea.

Jennings is a staunch and eloquent advocate of this principle: Do much more and do it much better, faster, and do it with less. OK, but how? The answer to that question was revealed by rigorous and extensive research which he and his two associates (Brian Solon and Greg Powell) conducted. They began with 70,000 companies as candidates for designation as the best performing companies in the U.S. Among all of them, which have increased their revenue and profits by at least 10% for ten years or longer? Only nine qualified: Cabela's, Dot Foods, Koch Industries, Medline Industries, O'Reilly Automotive, PETCO Animal Supplies, SAS Institute, Sonic Drive-in, and Strayer Education.

Back to "How?" Jennings identifies ten "Building Blocks" which, in combination, explain why each of those in an obviously mixed bag of companies has been and continues to be a best performer (i.e. among the top one-hundredth of 1% of all U.S. companies). It would be a disservice to both Jennings and to those who read this brief commentary to list them and then comment on each out of the context within which Jennings so skillfully presents them. Suffice to say that all organizations (regardless of their size or nature) need to have all ten Building Blocks as a core foundation on which to increase their revenue and profits by at least 10% and then continue to do so year after year after year.

How revealing that the CEOs whom Jennings and his research associates interviewed indicate little (if any) interest in any of Sun Tzu's deception strategies...nor in what their competitors are up to, for that matter. They seem wholly preoccupied with sticking to their own "knitting," focusing on what their companies can do best, how to do it even better, and thereby deliver even greater value to their customers. Also, each seems determined to nourish and enhance the quality of life as well as standard of living of everyone involved in the enterprise. This is precisely what Jennings means when referring to building communities, Building Block #9. Employees, customers, and allies should be viewed as "partners" and treated as such.

Ultimately, one of the most formidable challenges for those in any organization is to achieve and then maintain an appropriate balance of "thinking BIG" while "acting small." Hence the importance of Section Three, "The Quad: A Self-Evaluation and Ranking," in which Jennings "breaks down the title of the book into four scenarios, each represented by a quadrant":

TSAS Think Small, Act Small
TSAB Think Small, Act Big
TBAB Think Big, Act Big
TBAS Think Big, Act Small

He applies this template to each of the ten Building Blocks. It remains for each reader to complete the self-evaluation, one which helps to measure her or his own organization's current situation. The details of this exercise are best revealed within the text, pages 189-201.

I highly recommend this book for reasons previously indicated but also because I cannot recall a prior time since the Great Depression when it was more difficult for companies to increase their revenue and profits by at least 10% for ten years or longer. Consider these statistics which Michael Gerber shares in his recently published E-Myth Mastery: "Of the 1 million U.S. small businesses started this year [2005], more than 80% of them will be out of business within 5 years and 96% will have closed their doors before their 10th birthday." Chilling statistics indeed. Here in a single volume is a rigorous analysis of how nine quite different companies have achieved and then sustained their "full economic and human potential."

How important and potentially valuable is this book? Please re-read the statistics provided by Gerber. ... Read more

Book Description

A growing number of next generation Christians are eager to learn, grow, and lead in ministry or in the marketplace. Mentoring young leaders, as they face the unique issues of a changing world, has been pastor and Visioneering author Andy Stanley's passion for more than a decade. Here, he shares material from his leadership training sessions, developed to address essential leadership qualities such as character, clarity, courage, and competency. This is the perfect guide for any new leader -- or for the mentor of a future leader! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Great Book!
I've read a number of these leadership/personal growth books and the first thing I noticed about this books was how slim it was. Other books of similar topic are usually weighty volumes with lots of 50 cent words.

I appreciated the author's down-to-earth style and while some of these concepts are covered in other leadership books, Andy Stanley's approach has a fresh conversational style I immediately enjoyed.

Stanley covers 5 basic principles of leadership (he's the first to tell you there are many more, but these 5 seem to be the most essential). The two I most enjoyed were clarity and character. Clarity doesn't mean we'll have all the answers, but we should always be clear in our purpose. The character portion was well reasoned and made me wonder if corporate leadership in the US wouldn't benefit by reading this?!?

Loved it! Easy to read and reread. I find myself thinking about the principles on a regular basis.

Best book I've ever read on leadership
The Next Generation Leader has broad appeal in a secular environment because of the value these leadership principles offer in a business setting. But keep in mind, that as a minister, Stanley uses numerous references to Biblical stories interspersed throughout the book. So if you are offended by those who speak openly about spiritual applications in their everyday life, whether at work or anywhere else, this book is not for you.

But it has enormous value in a secular environment. In our multi-billion dollar company, we are using it as the basis for a five session discussion series sponsored by one of our executive officers. This book would be an excellent resource for use in formal leadership development programs or informally by mentoring teams. Both mentors and those they coach will get plenty of value from it...guaranteed!

I've shared it with numerous colleagues. If they didn't have time to read the whole book, they got most of the book's meaty content from its five-page introduction and the outstanding one-page summaries at the end of each three-chapter sections. There are five sections in all, each focused on what Stanley describes as a leadership "essential." Following this abbreviated approach to the book can be accomplished in just ten pages--an outstanding summary.

The book is a quick read that you will want to review and RE-READ over and over again. It is more than a primer for aspiring leaders; it's also a blueprint for older leaders to review and refocusing on the fundamental attributes that made them successful.

The greatest disappointment regarding the book is that the publisher shortchanged readers by not providing sufficient space for margin notes. This is a book that will cause you to not only underline passage after passage, but, if you're like me, you'll want to jot observations down and write a personal commentary along beside the text.

One size fits all leadership book - to narrow of a view.
This book was written for and by Andy Stanley, which he readily admits.
I liked most of what I read, but that becuase my style of leading tends to be like Andy Stanley except his narrow view of who is and is not a leader. This book will be most helpful for those who are like Andy Stanley. If you don't lead like him, you will probably feel disconnected from this book.

Although, he shares somes general essentials that are important they are defintely not the 5 most important. He was right on with Character and Competency(strength-based leading) as foundational pieces. However, his other three essentials are good, but he focused these on one style of leadership.

I know that the next generation of leader is more diverse than the Charismatic style leader that is all to often upheld as the example. His language is biased toward men and I never notice that kind of stuff. Read this book with an engaged mind and don't just copy his ideas but translate his principles into what works from your strength-based leadership style.

I recommend Erwin McManus's "Revolution of a Soul" for character work.
I recommend "Connecting" by J. Robert Clinton for a broader understanding of mentorship and coaching. Although I really like Stanley's defintion and ideas about coaching, but that is my type of mentoring.

Increase your leadership potential!
Stanley has written an excellent book on leadership principles which can be immediately applied to your every day pursuit of becoming a leader worth following. He blends a number of personal stories and examples to illustrate core principles. A fast read full of relevant lessons.

A Great And Inpiring Short Read
This is a great little book on Leadership. The section on "Courage" was worth the price of the book. I can almost guarantee that if you read this book you would not at all be disappointed. It is packed with great insight and ideas that are packaged well. I not only learned I was inspired. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Good first book, but not his best
Patrick Lencioni has a talent for cutting through the complexities of leadership and teamwork to highlight core principles then presenting them in easily digestible fictional form. In this book (in the UK going by the title of Five Temptations of a Manager) technology company CEO Andrew O'Brien has a mysterious encounter with an unlikely mentor on a deserted commuter train the night before the annual meeting of the board of directors. He's in trouble but doesn't understand why. The enigmatic Charlie leads him through an exploration of five "temptations" that often trip up ambitious executives: Choosing status over results; choosing popularity over accountability; choosing certainty over clarity; choosing harmony over productive conflict; choosing invulnerability over trust. Easily read in a single sitting, this book conveys the temptations effectively in fable form, followed by a summary and discussion by Lencioni. This may not be a comfortable book for some leaders to read. It doesn't let them off the hook for any of a company's problems. The message is timely as CEOs exit failing companies with massive severance packages. If you read only one of Lencioni's books, you will probably find his style further developed and even more effective in his second book, The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive, or his third, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.

Excellent management book for any type of leader
I was thrilled to pick up this management book that not only had excellent principles, but an intriguing and enthralling storyline that kept me interested all the way to the finish. Five Temptations of a CEO proves an easy read-but certainly not lessons easily tossed aside. These are principles I'll keep with me-regardless of what job or leadership position I may occupy.

The story begins with a struggling CEO, Andrew O'Brien, on the eve of a big, year-end board meeting. Strange occurrences lead Andrew to take the metro system home that evening-and it's on the train where he encounters Charlie, a custodial engineer with a wealth of advice.

Andrew learns from Charlie five temptations that every manager, CEO, teacher, parent or coach might face along their way to success. These are basic temptations that seem very simple-and really are simple. Charlie teaches him that its not in looking for solutions in technology, budget, financials and other usual suspects common to a CEO, but in the common, everyday wisdom that every leader must have.

And for those readers who don't appreciate a good story-or who are just used to the textbook style management books-the five temptations are listed in a summary and self-assessment section in the back. But I won't spoil the ending...

widely applicable
This book was short, sweet, and to the point. Although it is focused on CEO as the prototype, this really points to anyone in a leadership and managrial role. The fable is illustrative, and the flow chart and short didactic at the end spells out the key message. It's worth pulling out and quickly reviewing once or twice a year to check back into your own personal growth and areas that still need improvement

A great little FABLE!
I am amazed at some of the negative reviews about this great little book. I guess these negative people are not familiar with what a FABLE is? I think this book hits all of us executives right in the face with what we all struggle with. I think this is a must read (no, you will not feel like you have just read Atlas Shrugged after you are finished) for all execs, or people who aspire to lead organizations. I am excited to read the rest of the collection

Why can't I give a 0 star ?
This is the crapiest anti-motivational book I ever got to read.
It is a story of Andrew who is a CEO and who meets with an old man one night in the train. The old man is a janitor and his father was a CEO (whatever)so the janitor, CEO's son (Gosh)starts
mentoring Andrew on how he should run his company.
If this janitor was smart enough to motivate a CEO how come he
ended up being a janitor in the first place?!?

I thought, to be a writer you have to be born as a writer but only now I realized that anyone can be a writer and Patrick
Lencioni is the worst one from the ones I've read.

Am I just being paranoid or is the today's literature following
today's music fate ?!? ... Read more

Book Description

Corporate Information Strategy and Management: Text and Cases 6/e by Applegate, Austin and McFarlan is written for students and managers who desire an overview of contemporary information systems technology (IT) management.It explains the relevant issues of effective management of information services activities and highlights the areas of greatest potential application of the technology.No assumptions are made concerning the reader’s experience with IT, but it is assumed that the reader has some course work or work experience in administration or management.This text is comprised of an extensive collection of Harvard Business cases devoted to Information Technology. ... Read more

Book Description

Kreitner relies on his vast 30 years of teaching experience to ensure that students gain a solid understanding of management fundamentals. The Ninth Edition continues to offer a practical, student-oriented approach to four central themes: change, diversity, ethics, and skill development. Focusing on mainstream media coverage of timely and relevant issues such as the dot-com meltdown and crisis management, Kreitner skillfully highlights each theme in context and prepares students for the rigors of contemporary management. In keeping with current AACSB requirements, this edition also addresses the economic, political, legal, and global aspect of business, information management, and individual accountability.

To reinforce the importance of change, Kreitner focuses on cross-cultural skills—rapidly becoming a standard part of any well-rounded and successful career in management. Contemporary managers frequently accept assignments abroad and even those who stay at home may work for foreign-owned companies. A selection of international cases and examples, Global Manager boxes, and early discussion of the global economy help prepare students for the pressures of international business. Similarly, the author includes cases, Managing Diversity boxes, examples, and photos to highlight core diversity issues, such as the demand for multilingual and multicultural managers, managing across cultures, understanding different value systems, and moving from tolerance to appreciation of diversity. In addition, Chapter 5 sets the stage for subsequent discussions with a detailed discussion of management's social and ethical responsibilities. Management Ethics boxes also appear throughout the text and draw sustained attention to ethical decision-making issues.

• New! Topical research covers high-profile issues such as how environmentalism benefits business, first-mover strategies, e-Business strategies, the role of unintended consequences in decision making, corporate boards and groupthink, resistance to change, silence as communication, due diligence as feedforward control, the assimilation of Hispanic workers, and unscheduled absenteeism related to flexible work schedules.
• New! Hands-on exercises appear at the end of each chapter to heighten students self-awareness and build essential managerial skills. These exercises include an entrepreneur's quiz, surveys on cultural-awareness and personal values, tests on creativity and emotional intelligence, an organizational culture assessment, a strategic SWOT analysis, a group discussion of global terrorism, and an assignment focusing on how to write good objectives and business plans.
• New! Over 40% of The Changing Workplace opening cases, closing cases, Management Ethics boxes, and Global Manager boxes, are new. Plus, over 20% of the Managing Diversity boxes are new, highlighting top Black executives, how to accommodate Hispanic patients and hospital employees, interview blind or visually impaired job candidates, and change an organization's culture by becoming a "tempered radical."
• New! Seven new Video Skill Builders emphasize the development of essential management skills, such as managing customer service, becoming an entrepreneur, expanding a business internationally, shaping organizational culture, motivating employees, and maintaining quality control.
• New! Updated Interactive Annotations create a dynamic context for learning that links the textbook with the Internet by asking students to visit the textbook web site at appropriate points for timely facts, provocative ideas, discussion questions, and questions related to the opening case. The instructors' web site also features follow-up answers, comments, and interpretations.
• New! Revised Internet Exercises appear at the end of every chapter, pointing students to relevant web sites for further research. Any changes to these exercises will be posted on the textbook web site to ensure students are not directed to out-of-date links.
• To build students' management skills, the text features academic activities that promote critical thinking, problem solving, decision making, and communication, in addition to personal management exercises that outline basic, how-to management topics and reinforce ongoing self-assessment. Collaborative projects cover group dynamics, organizational cultures, and how to manage conflict.

Reviews (2)

Boring, vague, and unhelpful
I used this book for my Management class and I found that most of the information is redundant, vague, and frankly, boring.The book is terribly overpriced for the information of little value.I don't recommend this book for management courses.

An excellent approach formanagement studies
An excellent approach tomanagement studies, this is a clear guide to manage under uncertainty based on core knowledge of the management history and new issues such as diversity, political issues, globalization and manyothers that will fulfill the basic study ofManagement for a graduatelevel.

I personally like the way the author introduces the reader ontothe field of business and clarifies many of the concepts surrounded themwith the most characteristic ingredient on today's world: "Change".

Thistitle and its content has inspired me to continue with theMBA program Istarted. ... Read more

Book Description

The Secret answers the question, "What do I need to do to be a great leader?" Books on leadership abound, and most of them emphasize one or another of the ideas explored here. But only The Secret pulls all of the five essential concepts together into a coherent plan for achieving leadership success.The core idea, based on the authors' years of experience and drawn from examples of the best leaders, is that leadership comes from service. The five ways in which leaders can succeed through service are seeing and shaping the future; engaging and developing others; reinventing continuously; valuing results and relationships; and embodying the values. Each strategy is explained in detail, with exercises and tips for integrating them into the leadership matrix.The Secret is not dry dogma; the authors show their ideas at work by following the example of a struggling leader who enrolls in a mentoring program at her company. It traces her progress in understanding and applying these concepts, and her subsequent transformation into a respected and effective leader. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A book of uncommon wisdom
I must admit that I don't usually purchase or enjoy very many "leadership" books, but this one is truly different. This book is written in a quick-read style and is very easy to understand. The principles are easy to remember and hard to apply, but have had a transformational impact on my life. I believe readers will find that if they have the guts and discipline to consistently think about ways to apply these principles, they will see a major shift in how people respond to them in their family life, business life, or church life. I have already shared my copy of the book with others, and they have each pointed out specific aspects of the book that they say completely changed their way of looking at the world.

I think this book makes great gifts for people you work with or family members. Don't be surprised if some folks don't "get it"...it's the people that do "get it" that are going to find amazing ways to apply these principles and impact the lives of others!

Leadership
I recommend this book to anyone in a leadership position. I found the book to be an easy read, yet strong in content. I look forward to implementing the "SERVE" model at work and in everyday life. Thank you Mr. Blanchard and Mr. Miller for your insight into leadership.

Leadership Lessons
This is the story of Debbie, a struggling and a failing leader, who learns the lessons of management from her Boss. Miserable with her poor performance, the character of Ken's Book, joins the Mentor Program offered by her company and incidentally, Jeff, the president of the company happens to be the trainer. She thoroughly undergoes the training sessions where she realise her mistakes. She is taught to be a 'Serving Leader' rathar than a 'self-serving Leader'. She learns the secrets of success with the five steps :
* Seeing and shaping the future
* Engaging and developing others
* Continuously Reinvent
* Value results and relationships
* Embody the values
Debbie learns whatever is needed to be a good leader, analyze her progress with examples, excercises and tips. In process with Debbie's example, Ken Blanchard has made successful attempt to teach the Leadership Lessons to all successful as well as troubled and failed Leaders. The Book provides a guide to solve problems that seem complex and make it easier with the concepts clear - A choice to Serve. Not always I guess, because while Serving too without being self-served, the Leader becomes a struggler if the Company policies and the Boss Attitude and vision is not focused. Sometimes wavelengths do not meet. However, based on the author's experience and drawn from examples of best leaders, this book gives an insight to improve upon one's own abilities and in serving others, tackle the situations with ease without struggling lamely. Ken Blanchard's experience speaks in volumes. A good Pick.

You can be a leader
This book really inspired me. I always thought great leaders were born, not made. This book demonstrates that by following five enlightened principles, anyone can become a positive influence in the home, workplace, community or world, and thus become a leader. The Secret has changed the way I interact with others for the better.

Fast, helpful read
I found the book easy to read and adaptable for any leadership situation. The concepts were broad enough to use in any arena, yet specific enough that you know the goals you need to achieve. It was nice not needing a degree in business or management to understand the philosophy behind this book. Kudos to the authors!! ... Read more

Book Description

A quick introduction on how to use Lean Six Sigma to improve your workplace, meet your goals, and better serve your customers.

Lean Six Sigma combines the two most important improvement trends of our time: making work better (using Six Sigma) and making work faster (using Lean principles).In this plain-English guide, you’ll discover how this remarkable quality improvement method can give you the tools to identify and eliminate waste and quality problems in your own work area.

Packed with diagrams, cartoons, and real-life examples, What is Lean Six Sigma? reveals the “four keys” of Lean Six Sigma and how they apply to your own job:

• Delight your customers with speed and quality
• Improve your processes
• Work together for maximum gain
• Base decisions on data and facts

You’ll see the big picture of what your company hopes to gain with Lean Six Sigma, how it may affect your work area, and what it can mean to you personally.

Reviews (1)

A Must Read!
The authors did a great job on the book. I read it on an airplane earlier this week and really enjoyed it. It is very well written - very understandable at a novice level and insightful at the "supposed expert" level. I think it is
a "must read" for everyone in an organization deploying Lean Six Sigma or anybody interested in improving the economic value of their business. ... Read more