Reviews (1)

Textbook, but easy to follow
We used this textbook for several courses in my Organizational Behavior program. Of all the texts we've used, this one has been the most valuable. The text is easy to read and is interesting, and the book offers a great deal of case studies to really emphasize the points. Overall, I think this is a great textbook and it is very versatile in business courses. ... Read more

Book Description

A "textbook with passion", Hardwiring Excellence offers a road map and practical how-to guide for creating and sustaining a culture of service and operational excellence.In this book, author Quint Studer, CEO of Studer Group, draws on his personal experience as a former hospital executive who led two organizations to the top 1% in patient satisfaction and his experience coaching hundreds of healthcare organizations since.

Studer, a nationally acclaimed educator, coach, and thought leader in healthcare today, is a master storyteller, mixing "chicken soup style" stories with personal insight, simple tools, and in-depth recommendations on how good organizations can become great ones.

Based on Studer Group’s Nine Principles SM, Quint Studer shows how to retain more employees; ensure better customer service; build strong leadership, align organizational values, goals, and results; increase communication; reward and recognize individual success while also requiring accountability; and move operational performance for better financials, market share, and growth.

At the core of the journey, he says, is a sense of purpose, worthwhile work and making a difference.When organizations learn how to harness this passion in their employees, they create a success spiral with ever increasing momentum.

In fact, Richard L. Clarke, FHFMA, President and CEO of Healthcare Financial Management Association says, "Quint Studer’s Nine Principles of service and operational excellence provide the missing link between people power and strong financials.It’s about courageous leadership." ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Turning Passion into Performance
This book has something for everyone - those just starting to create their culture of excellence AND those who are already quite good and looking for the "tweaks" to be even better. Personal stories make it easy-to-read and show how hardwiring a few specific actions can turn passion into performance.

The definitive textbook on excellence
Quint Studer has been making a difference in healthcare for years. His nine principles have been proven successful many times over in organizations large and small throughout the nation. Hardwiring Excellence is a primer of how the nine principles can help an organization achieve excellence. It is a step by step guide that provides an entertaining combination of wonderful stories and practical information that works. You will read and re-read this book many times over, and it will take you on a journey to achieve excellence that you never thought possible.

A "How-To" for Excellence
Quint has an amazing way of always connecting, always reducing the complexity and showing the way to simplicity in the pursuit of excellence.
His advice and coaching tips are real-world and real-time and shouldn't be thought of as exclusive to healthcare. It would be difficult to make it to the end without identifying one or two leadership-enhancing behaviors....ready to be put to use tomorrow.
Having attended his speaking engagements, I can share that "Hardwiring Excellence" is like an extended conversation with Quint.

Life Changing! If you are a burned out healthcare leader...
You simply must read this book. This clearly demonstrates how to take complex situations and make them easy to understand by connecting to purpose, worthwhile work and making a difference. I now remember why I got into healthcare in the FIRST place. I am a better leader because of these Principles.

Changing Healthcare
While applicable to most environments, Hardwiring Excellence gives specific tips for healthcare providers on creating a culture of operational excellence. If each reader implements three recommendations from the book, they will improve their chances of retaining their excellent employees. ... Read more

Book Description

The tenth edition of Strategic Management is a current, well-written strategic management book with the most up-to-date compilation of cases available. Designed in functional four-color, it offers a popular practitioner-oriented perspective, focuses on skill-building in all major areas of strategy formation, implementation, and evaluation, and weaves three very contemporary themes throughout each chapter—globalization, the natural environment, and e-commerce. 46 Experiential Exercises, and 43 cases are included. The author provides and overview of strategic management, as well as strategy formulation and implementation, strategy evaluation, strategic management case analysis, 46 Experiential Exercises and 43 cases including service company cases and manufacturing company cases. For management professionals, small business owners and others involved in business.

Reviews (5)

A good book, but not spectacular
This is a good, step-by-step book for strategic management.

It lays out the steps very well, but it could use a bit more information.

The financial ratios section could use more information, and the case studies are often unequal in the types of information that they carry. This makes it difficult to do competitor comparisons.

How do you rank a company's workers policy when only one case has information on it and the other does not? You cannot simply discount such information when it could be an important competitve factor.

Essentially, this is a good book for teaching you a process, but it could use some work on giving you more details.

A Wealth of Information
This book provides you with numerous analytical tools that can be used to quantify the strategic decision making process. Not a real page turner but the models are useful and the case analysis provides real world examples of companies entering strategic crossroads. Overall I think it provides the reader with a pragmatic way of managing the abundance of information involved in the strategic decision making process.

Strategic Management: Concepts & Cases
It is a helpfull book, especially for anyone who deal with the strategy formulation. This book provide some valuable tools for analyzing the organization's environment, both external and internal, which is something special with this book that make it different with the other.

An up-to-date book on strategic management
This book was the text for my strategic management class, and it was one of my favorite textbooks. The authors of this book tried to explain the concepts of strategic management. The case studies were very interesting, and the book gave insight into successes and failures of some companies. It may be wordy, but it's packed with useful information and analysis.

Need a College textbook
Great introduction into strategic management.A lot of topics about global strategic management. ... Read more

Book Description

This comprehensive book offers an engaging look into new and traditional strategic management topics. Its thorough coverage helps readers develop an understanding of the wide range of theories and research available in this field—from competitive strategy and industry analysis to environmental trends and ethics. Integration of international issues throughout provides an essential understanding of global economics and its impact on business activities in any location. KEY TOPICS 43 timely and well-researched corporate cases examine real companies at all stages of development.For directors of strategic planning, competitive intelligence analysts, and strategic planners. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Common sense for those that know business concepts well...
Although one may learn new terms, most of the concepts laid out in this book are fairly common sense, if you've had any type of job in your life where you had to do payroll, forcast sales, or any other "strategic" processes of doing business. This is not to talk down at the book....it is an excellent book that covers the topic(s) that it set out to quite well. In the real business world, you would always try to figure out the most cost effective way to increase profits, decrease costs, and simultaneously maintain workplace efficiency. I didn't really need a textbook to tell me that.

I originally bought this book on the advice of bain4weeks.com which recommended this as the text of choice to successfully test out of the Excelsior College Exam ECE Business Policy and Strategy. 120collegecredits.com did not have a study guide for this test at the time . While I merely scanned through a few of the pages, I ended up getting a "B" on what was supposed to the the "capstone" business degree class. The test was all essay response, which made it sound hard, but to be honest, it was probably one of the easiest tests I've taken. It took all 3 hours, but it was kind of hard to fail that exam. AS LONG AS you put something down for an answer, and it made sense to the senario. It was very open-response and more or less asked for your opinion on the best way to solve the particular case study.

I strongly recommend anyone wishing to get 3 required upper level semester credits in Business Policy/Strategy to register NOW for that ECE exam; it will be discontinued in Sept 2004. Grab the Strategic Management book if you feel you'll need a good review of what would be unfamiliar business concepts for you. TECEP does have a version of the Business Policy test as well . But I'd try to take the Excelsior version while I can. outlines the whole credit-by-examination process and how to finish your degree a lot faster.

See your business as an integrated whole
I originally used an older version of this book in 1991 when I took Wheelen's class "Strategic Management and Business Policy". The value of this book is Wheelen's methods of taking all the parts of a business and integrating them into a workable whole--the physical tool to enable such a transformation is the strategic business plan. I was only 20 when I read this book, and I was awestruck.

This was the most valuable book I read in college. ... Read more

Book Description

Brings together the disciplines of economics, political science, law, and ethics to address a class ofmanagement issues of growing importance to the performance of companies.Provides conceptual frameworks for understanding issues in the environment of business and their development; strategy formulation; analysis of the news media; political analysis; the economics and politics of government intervention in markets (regulation, antitrust, and torts); the economics and politics of international trade; the political economy of countries; and ethical analysis and decision-making.For all business professionals, including managers looking to enhance their knowledge of an ever-changing, increasingly global field. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The book for dilettante readers
The author provided some good examples to demonstrate some business's environments. The book is very readable. You will get bored if you have exposed to industrial organization or some applications of game theory.

Pretty Easy Reading
I've read a good chunk of this book during a B-school elective on non-market strategies, and found it imparted some valuable information. It's not very prescriptive if that's what you're looking for. But it made me feel like I got something out of the class despite an unstellar professor. ... Read more

Book Description

This streamlined volume covers the principle concepts of management to provide readers with a solid foundation for understanding key issues. Organized around the four traditional functions of management—planning, organizing, leading, and controlling, it reflects current trends in management and organizations, and presents the latest research studies in the field.The authors address managing in today's world, foundations of planning and decision making, basic organization designs, staffing and human resource management, foundations of individual and group behavior, leadership and trust and foundations of control and value chain management.For managers of all kinds. ... Read more

Reviews (54)

I recomend this book to any potential business students.
I feel that the textbook, Fundamentals of Management by Stephen P. Robbins, is a good tool for the beginning management student. Throughout the course, I learned many different approaches to becoming a successful manager. The book made use of illustrating it's points by using graphs, charts, and tables. This is important for the students who are having a hard time understanding what the author is trying to say. The author made it very easy to understand his teachings. However, I believe that there are two sides to management. These are the "good" and "bad" or "ethical" and "unethical" sides. The book touches briefly on the unethical side and the side is just as important. It's hard for someone to succeed at something if they do not understand the different aspects. This is my only complaint. In conclusion, I would recommend this book to anyone who is planning to chase a career in business. I know I plan on keeping this book for future reference.

Learning Tool
Fundamentals of Management 2nd ed. by Robbins and De Cenzo was the text use for my Management course at Hannibal-LaGrange College. While using this book, I noticed that it had many definitions in the side margins. They were helpful to me to better understand and comprehend the material I was reading. The many exhibits through out the book made the material applicable to the business world. The exhibits helped me to learn visually. To test my comprehension, the text had helpful "Testing Your Comprehension" Quizzes at the end of each chapter. I found these helpful after taking in a lot of material, I was able to sort everything out and refresh the newly learned material. Though this book's good out weigh the bad, I would like to have seen the text and the corresponding exhibit on the same page, so that page flipping would not take place. Page flipping can cause the reader to lose interest and even concentration. My only other complaint was that it is in serious need of a face-lift, something that would attract the eye. The books overall appearance has the ability to make the reader want to read it more. Some suggestions would be to put a photograph on the front, use computer graphics in the book, and hardback to be more durable and more presentable. When writing this book, I believe that the authors did a wonderful job of making the difficult to understand material, easy for people to read and learn from it. Many different majors were in the class that I took and I do believe that each took with a better understanding of Management and how Managers function in the business world. In comparison to other books that I have used in other courses, I think that the material inside was excellent, but as I mentioned before, I think that it could use a face-lift. After studying the material that was inside the book, I believe that I will keep this book. The reason being, is that I think that once I get out into the work place, I will need to know how to work with others and how others work best together. This book has encouraged me to keep pursuing my career as an accountant. In my future profession, I assume that I will placed in a management position. I will be a "boss"/manager and have to know how to motivate my employees, make sure that the task is completed in an effective and efficient way and all the while encourage my employees to be innovative in the work place.

Review of Fundamentals of Management
I used this text book in an Introduction to Management course in College. I felt that the text did a great job explaining the different concepts and functions of management. The examples made it easy to understand. I also felt that the exhibits were very helpful and easy to understand. The tables and diagrams were all easy to interrupt. I also found the end of the chapter summaries very useful. I would reccomend this book to anyone who has an interest in understanding the basic fundamentals of management.

Book Review
I found this book to be very informative and helpful as an introductory management text. The order of the book was clear and precise with smooth transistions between concepts. I appreciated the use of relevent stories to follow the concepts and also the Ethical Dilemmas in Management. They forced me to apply the concepts being introduced so that I would really learn them. This is an excellent book to use and follow and will help any student who is taking an introductory management course to successfully learn the material.

Fundmntls of Management: Essential Concepts and Applications
I used this book in my Fundamentals of Management course at Harlaxton College. Of the two textbooks used for this class, I thought this one was much more useful. My favorite aspects were the definitions in the margins, the quizzes at the end of each chapter and the various exhibits throughout the chapters. I felt these learning tools made taking notes easier, let me see what exactly I did and did not know about the material and helped me better understand some of the more difficult concepts being taught. I also enjoyed the short "real world" managerial examples at the beginning of each chapter. I felt these stories helped me ease into the material I was about to read and give it a little more meaning in an outside the classroom situation. Overall, I found this textbook as helpful and informative. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

decent book
This book is an ok book. The cases are very interesting and they were the best part of the book. The readings in the first half of the book were random at times and generally not that good. Mintzberg has a great grasp of the concepts, but the book does not do well at conveying them.

Excellent business book
This is the kind of book that everyone who wants to be a business administrator should read. It is a compilation of diferents articles most of them from HBR and each unit has some real cases which explain the theme better.

Very good book.
I managed to read it throughly and study most of the cases presented on this book. This book is a very actual source of information to learn and expand existing knowledge. I give 5-stars due to the fact that it is rich in its contents. ... Read more

Book Description

This masterfully crafted introduction provides balanced coverage of all the key elements comprising the discipline of OB, in a style that readers will find both informative and interesting.This includes not only traditional topics such as personality, motivation, and leadership; but also cutting-edge issues such as emotions, trust, work-life balance, workplace spirituality, and knowledge management.People participating in any group or organizational activity. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Well written and solid intro to the field of Org Behavior
"Essentials in Organizational Behavior" is a solid text for a course surveying the field of Organizational Behavior. Its sixteen chapters are grouped into four parts. Part I introduces the field of organizational behavior, its goals and functions within an organization along with some challenges and opportunities.

Part II contains chapters two through six and focuses on how individuals function within an organization and the considerations managers need to have with values, personality, motivation, emotions, and how individuals make decisions.

Part III contains chapters seven through twelve and discusses groups in the organization. It begins discussion foundations of group behavior, some basics on work teams, communication, leadership & creating trust, power & politics, conflict & negotiation.

Part IV discusses the Organization System in chapters thirteen through sixteen. It begins with the foundations of organizational structure, culture, and then gets into the role of human resource policies and practices. The book concludes with Organizational Change and Development.

There is an epilogue to wrap things up, endnotes, and index and a glossary.

The book is clearly written. I like the way the author presents a variety of views and theories and never becomes dogmatic about a certain approach. Because it is concise it actually has a chance of being read (the usual 750 page textbook is largely left unread in most courses). However, to really become proficient in any of the many topics presented here the student will have to do much more study and practical work. I am confident that any teacher adopting the text for coursework would make the necessity for further study clear to the student. The endnotes do provide many fine sources for such study, but I would like to have seen some sources organized into a list of readings for study organized by topic. It would have added a few pages, but would not have overburdened this text.

In any case, this is a good introductory read for anyone who wants to a quick tour of the universe of Organizational Behavior.

Great broad overview of concepts and research
If you're interested in organizational behavior either professionally or as a student, this is a great book to pick up. It gives a great, concise survey of the topic as it relates to each of the major components of individual, team, and organizational factors. Not laden with research details and theoretical jargon, this book is a must read for managers and students alike because of its fast pace and great coverage.

One of the best intro to OB
I find Robbins's OB one of the best introductionary books for OB. Though it does not contain lots of case studies, to get started with concepts, the easy to read layout and the interesting activities that he presents makes it a very good book to get started. I personally started my OB with a much more detailed book, but after I found this one, I used this as the starting point, to get the ideas, and then used more high level books to explore further.
Why not 5 stars, well, coz as I said, I did need to look at other books to explore in detail!

For the budding manager
This is a great book to understand the fundamentals of organizational behaviour. It is simple to understand, and the excellent layout and graphics make it enjoyable and ignite your curiosity. I read it from cover to cover in a matter of days. However, I do agree that more relevant case studies and applications should have been included.

Decent overall review of OB theories.
Robbins discusses current OB theory in a brief, concise manner. He does not provide many examples of real-teime applications, however. This is a hinderance to the book's usefulness as it is sometimes difficult to conceptualize how many of the theories might be practically implemented. Overall, a decent reference book. ... Read more

Book Description

This book provides a clear, concise, current, and comprehensive approach to the basic skills of business management. It presents traditional concepts, important contemporary issues, and timeless insights into applying management know-how—all toward the goal of achieving organizational success.Management: Adding Digital Focus. Managing: History and Current Thinking. Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Ethics. Management and Diversity. Meeting the Global Challenge. Principles of Planning. Making Decisions. Strategic Planning. Plans and Planning Tools. Fundamentals of Organizing. Responsibility, Authority, and Delegation. Managing Human Resources. Organizational Change and Stress. Fundamentals of Influencing and Communication. Leadership. Motivation. Groups, Teams, and Corporate Culture. Understanding People: Attitudes, Perception, and Learning. Principles of Controlling. Production Management and Control. Information and the Internet. Competitiveness: Quality and Innovation Management's Digital Dimension. For managers at all levels. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The "Foundation" of Knowledge For Successful Management
This book is one of the best foundation establishers I've read. I am the Chief of Strategy for a major headquarters and currently teach for three universities in such subjects as Strategic Management, Business Policy and Strategy, Business Communications, Supply Chain Management, and Production Operations Management. The point of that statement is that this book that I use on the job, as well as, to some degree in each course I teach. It is well written, organized, and provides outstanding tables and figures to clearly articulate the concepts. This is a desk-reference that will get lot's of handling. A must read!

good starter book for new mangers and students in business
author has good grasp of management in 21 century. What tools and skills will be needed

Great book for any human resources program.
I learned a lot from each chapter.

Great summaries about corporations in the public eye.

Good case history and citing of heuristics

for running any good learning organization.

You learn the basics for Management 2000.

My professor, Jack Trabin used this book

for the University of Phoenix.

I really enjoyed learning about the various theories and paradigms for Modern Managers.

Being a Manager of a Real Estate Company myself,

I found the case histories useful for analysis

and my papers. Being a human resource Trainer,

this book will teach students the basics.

A book for the future CIO's, CEO's and HR Directors within us all. ... Read more

Book Description

This book provides the most current, thorough, and contemporary account of the factors affecting the organizational design process, making important organization theories accessible and interesting. It addresses the many issues and problems that are involved in managing the process of organizational change and transformation, providing direct and clear managerial implications.Topics covered in this comprehensive book are the organization and its environment; organizational design; organizational change; and finally, interesting case studies that illustrate the concepts presented.A useful book that is appropriate for managers in any organization. ... Read more

Book Description

This book provides readers with basic information about human beings and their behavior within the context of a business environment. It includes such issues as how to motivate people, how to give them feedback on their performance, how to influence them, and how to help them cope with stress. By examining the factors that contribute to an ever-changing business world, it will teach readers to develop, train, and motivate high-performance employees in a world of constant change.The Field of Organizational Behavior. Perception and Learning. Individual Work Differences. Motivation in Organizations. Managing Your Own Behavior. Group Dynamics and Teamwork. Decision Making in Organizations. Social and Deviant Behaviors in Organizations. Leading and Coaching Others. Culture, Creativity, and Innovation. Organizational Structure and Design. Technology in Organizations.For managers, or anyone else, who are interested in organizational behavior. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Alright
I used this book at Cornell's school of Industrial and Labor Relations in an OB course. It was ok, but I have seen better. The examples are mostly revelant, but sometimes it strays from the covered material. A good book to use to review for the final exam, but if your teacher draws tests from their own lectures, make sure you utilize the index in the back!

Poor theory, good applications
This text was used at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for an honors OB course. It served the class well by providing relevant and often humorous applications of theory. However, the descriptions of the actual theories themselves were weak and vague often referring to other concepts not yet learned. ... Read more

Book Description

The Fifth Edition of Managerial Economics heralds a new era for this classic text. Carrying on the tradition established by Edwin Mansfield in the book's earlier editions, Bruce Allen, Neil Doherty, and Keith Weigelt—all of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School—have prepared an exciting revision that capitalizes on proven strengths while embracing new developments in the field. Retaining a hallmark of Managerial Economics, the authors include a wealth of cases and applications that consistently anchor the exposition in the real world of business decision making. New to the Fifth Edition is a greater focus on applied microeconomics, with two new chapters, one on auctions and another on the principal-agent problems of firms. These new chapters, numerous new cases and applications throughout the book, and an exciting new package of electronic ancillaries promise to make the Fifth Edition of Managerial Economics the best yet. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Too little game theory and too expensive
I had heard good things about this book but was left frustrated. Given the march of game theory over the past 15 years or so, I would have expected this to underpin the book's very word - but not a bit of it! Despite a nice section on auctions, the author tries to emulate existing texts (including previous editions of his own book) and does not take into account current developments in microeconomic theory. My other gripe is the price of the book. I am still hunting for a suitable text.

Managerial Economics
This book has undergone a major revision since the 4th edition. The authors have done a good job of explaining basic economic principles and then applying them to the business world. New chapters on auctions and incentive schemes are both informative and timely. This is a must reading for those who think economic principles are just for the classroom. Not only do the authors show how the principles are applied (through examples from the business press), they also concisely explain them.

A valuable book for both practitioners and students.

Communication??
This book is not easy reading. Do economists live in another world? I read a paragraph to my wife, an English school teacher, and she said that it was very poor English. The author and the school were he teaches, is very prestigious. ... Read more

Book Description

This unique, re-engineered book defines and describes the new "paradigm" brought on by recent dramatic changes in the field of management. Managing Today! redefines the traditional"functional" approach employed by previous management books to more accurately reflect recent, fundamental changes in the economy and workplace—changes that have significantly reshaped today's managers' jobs.Robbins' balanced approach presents an effective integration of theory and application displayed within a clear, visual design specifically tailored for today's readers. Coverage includes changing issues in today's workplace (risk, privatization, multiple skills, and continual retraining); culture shock; time-management skills; cycle-time reduction and technology transfer; virtual teams; human behavior; leadership; trust building; change management; and more.For human resources professionals, business managers/team leaders, and anyone interested in Organizational Behavior and Business Management. ... Read more

Book Description

The leading authority on system dynamics explains this approach to organizational problem solving, emphasizing simulation models to understand issues such as fluctuating sales, market growth and stagnation, the reliabilityof forecasts and the rationality of business decision-making. The CD includes modeling software from Vensim, ithink, and PowerSim. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

The very best SD book on my book-shelf!
This book is the ultimate resource for any serious learner of System Dynamics. Sterman covers all aspects of SD modeling in a witty and easy-to-understand- manner. He deals extensively with the foundations of SD modeling, treats extensively causal loop diagramming, the logic of stocks and flows, gives numerous examples of practical SD projects, makes an in-depth investigation into all kind of building blocks of SD models etc. All the models of the book are avaliable on the added CD in the Vensim, Stella and Powersim data formats. Although published just in spring 2000, it is IMHO already a classic. A last word: Business Dynamics is not cheap, but it is worth every cent or penny you spend for it. There may be other good or even excellent SD-textbooks, but "Business Dynamics" is simply outstanding and a category in its own.

Good book, but could be better ...........
This book is a must for anyone with interest in business modeling and simulation. It is the culmination of Forrester's seminal book on System Dynamics + the 40 odd years maturation that has occured in this discipline since 1961.

Though this book with 900 odd pages is large, it could have been useful if it had at least one serious case study which flowed through all the chapters and linked all the concepts. This would have helped potential practioners. In its current form the book contains many examples to explain the concepts, but none detailed enough. Many a times the author mentions that the actual models were complex, and a simplified version is being shown in the book. This however does not help the reader to understand and appreciate the complexities involved. It is probably because the concerned organizations were not willing to reveal "too much" lest they loose their IP.

Essential if you lead strategy formation exercises
John Sterman has written a superb book that masks the underlying calculus and reveals the capability of causal loop based situation analysis. The examples in the book are absolutely mind-boggling in scale and brilliance with which they are written. The wide applicability of system dynamics is revealed though the large problem spectrum covered in all the chapters of the book.

Without needing to run through the software enclosed in the book, one can easily perceive the dependant causation of a specific problem by following the simple rules expained early on in the book for drawing reinforcing and balancing conditions that drive the causes leading to a specific problem being addressed.

By focusing on the software (which is enclosed on the CD ROM) to develop a problem solving approach, one has to work hard to create a balanced problem and this is not easily done by merely reading the book. I am considering further training in this aspect to master the topic by taking some more ExecEd courses that John Sterman teaches at MIT Sloan along with Jay Forrester and Peter Senge or even taking the eight week remote learning course offered toward credit at the System Dynamics program at Sloan.

I deal with complex IT architectures in my work on a daily basis involving financial, technical and business driven dependencies for Fortune 1000 firms. I use causal looping as taught by John and others at MIT Sloan to understand the path to cut through the complexity and reach an action plan that I can recommend to my clients.

The book has helped me tremendously in my work in the last few months that I have been reading it on airplane trips between my office and customer offices. For a busy consultant, this is a tremendously useful way to spend flight time.

I would give it 5 stars for the content except that the book is not available in e-Book format, forcing me to carry it with me in my laptop bag on flights(its a heavy tome at 900 + pages) and the software on the CD-ROM is not updated to the most current version one can download from the Vensim website nor can it be used for commercial purposes.

Brain Bending!
5 stars is not enough!

I read an awful lot and most of the books I come across have about 20% of pages that are useful or informative to me if that. The rest tend to be filler. Not this one!! On virtually every page and paragraph in this book I found a gem!

This is one of those rare books that causes your brain to contort itself into shapes and positions that you were not previously aware of. It is also the kind of book that I can see refering to and re-reading many many times.

Sterman takes what can be quite a complex subject and evolves a storyline which is incredibly instructive but at the same time flows quite naturally and easily.

Having said that, while overall this is a very good read, some parts can be mind-numbing and mentally exhausting. I found myself on some occasions needing to rest and reflect after reading just a few pages. It has taken me months to get through this book with appropriate periods of rest and reflection between readings to let the ideas sink in. (That is in great contrast to most text books which I am usually able to get through in a weekend or 2 without great strain.)

While parts of this book have been hard work to get through (due to mental overload at times, not due to poor wriiting), it has been incredibly worthwhile and instructive.

This book has given me some invaluable insights and tools which I have applied professionally to great advantage; not the least of which is competitive advantage.

A tour de force!

Is Good, but not Very Good
The book if fine for novice and medium users in simulation. Very pages with same example or topic, expensed, really few contents.

There are not numerical methods, integration with event models or process models, cibernetic vision, complex problems, visual simulations, business data minning, control theory, business theory, etc.

Therefore, if you need to know simply small business systems simulations with only equations differential modeling, this is the book for to begin. ... Read more

Book Description

Currently one of the best-selling strategy texts for advanced undergraduates and MBA students, Contemporary Strategy Analysis has gained widespread recognition for its rigorous approach to business strategy analysis. Contemporary Strategy Analysis introduces students to the fundamental concepts and principles of strategy. The text reflects current academic thinking and management practice, and gives students the tools they need to formulate and implement strategies in order to enhance the performance of the organizations that they join. Now in its fourth edition, this exciting text has been thoroughly revised and updated.

Special features of the fourth edition include: increased coverage of value creation in electronic commerce and the strategy implications of information technologya new section on the "New Economy" and what it means for competition and profitthe incorporation of recent contributions to strategy theory and strategy practice including: - the creation and development of organizational capability

- winner-takes-all markets

- network externalities and competition for standards

- complexity and self-organization

- strategic innovationthe relating of analytical frameworks to their real-world business applicationsrevised figures and applications, making the book even more user-friendly for both instructors and students. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Real World Reference
Although reviewed most often here as a course text, I have purchased and used this book as a reference source for real world e-business strategy consulting. Having one source detail multiple approaches and the strengths and weaknesses of each is a tremendous benefit when trying to determine a point of view and presentation style for a client. I definitely wouldn't want to read the book cover to cover, nor would I allow a client to see me with it, but it more than serves its purpose as a reference.

Exceptional balance of concepts, techniques & applications
Grant's book provides an exceptional balance of concepts, techniques & applications about business strategy. The most unique & impressive feature of the book is its fair analysis of various schools/approach of strategy. The content flows fluidly chapter after chapter, it's an enjoyable read. The treatment of each topic is concise with great case studies and references. The goal of business strategy - maximizing & sustaining shareholder value - has been emphasised throughout the book, which makes the book highly practical in the 'real world'.

Great Business Tool
I got this book as part of my MBA studies in the UK. The whole course on Strategy leverages this book as a reader throughout and it is truly a wonderful collection tools, techniques and models for the student and business manager alike.

A must have for people involved in defining and setting strategy

too much focus on old cases and manufacturing.
Book can do better and be more relevant if it uses more recent examples of companies that have succeeded especially in the IT world.

good read !

Economists approach but Porter is better
I bought this book because I was hoping it would provide me with good guidance in terms of how to use analysis techniques that would support my strategy consulting work. It has a heavy economists' leaning. This is both good and bad. It is good in that it gives some tried and true ways of understanding contemporary strategy. It is bad in that it misses out on the many ways and means by which non-economists understand contemporary strategy and is very thick in terms of its descriptions. It is not a "how to" book, that is for sure. Since competition today often seems to defy economic logic, this economic approach can only go so far. And there is still no better economist's approach than Professor Michael Porter's materials and this book certainly adds little to that great body of work. ... Read more

Book Description

Introduction to Management Science, 2e offers a unique case study approach and integrates the use of Excel. Each chapter includes a case study that is meant to show the students a real and interesting application of the topics addressed in that chapter.This most recent revision has been thoroughly updated to be more “user-friendly” and more technologically advanced.These changes include, a completely new chapter on the art of modeling with spreadsheets.This unique chapter goes far beyond anything found in other textbooks and are based on the award winning methodologies used by Mark Hillier in his own course.The technology package has also been greatly enhanced to include, Crystal Ball 2000 (Professional Edition) a Management Science Online Learning Center, and an Excel add-in called Alver Table for performing sensitivity analysis.Crystal Ball is the most popular Excel add-in for computer simulation and includes OptQuest (an optimizer with simulation) as well as a forecasting module. The Management Science Online Learning Center (website) includes several modules that enable students to interactively explore certain management science techniques in depth. Solver Table is an Excel add-in developed by the author to help perform sensitivity analysis systematically, as well as substantially expanded coverage of computer simulation, including Crystal Ball.We now have two chapters on computer simulation instead of one, where the second chapter features the use of Crystal Ball.all. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Non-user friendiness
Factors that contributed to a low rating for this book include, a lack of user-friendliness and lengthy case studies. The blue colored wordings (black would be better) can be quite glaring under the lights making it not smoothing to the eyes.

Furthermore, it uses long case studies which could have been shortened by cutting down on the introductions to the companies it made reference to. More focus should be given to concepts at the earlier stage of every section, instead of making the reader running through a lengthy introduction before focusing on the concepts.

Important concepts could also have been left out. One example would be the omission of 'Reduced Cost' under the chapters of Linear Programming and Integer Programming.

However, this book is certainly catered to users of MS Excel. It has in-depth discussions of Excel in areas of Management Science ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Interesting Model
The model presented is an interesting and for the most part effective one. For an alternative model see O'Reilly, Chatman and Caldwell's OCP Method and in particular the commercially available web tools from ThinkShed (www.thinkshed.com) that leverage the method.

Whichever method you use, culture change is ultimately about the application of a consistent approach...my personal preference is the OCP because of the availability of robust web based tools that enable one to penetrate the organization to a much deeper level than is otherwise possible with a paper based model or an interview based model. This can be important if you are wanting to get at deeply rooted and/or problematic sub-cultures.

Smith

Great book, plus...
This is a great book. In addition, I recommend "Strategic Organizational Change" by Michael Beitler.

The most helpful book...
This is the most helpful book available on organizational culture. Their OCAI instrument (for diagnosing organizational culture) alone is worth more than the price of the book. I use Cameron & Quinn's material with every one of my clients.

Dr. Michael Beitler
Author of "Strategic Organizational Change"

A remarkable tool
The authors provide a great model for understanding and diagnosing organizations. Their cultural quandrant methodology also provides a common language for people within an organization to talk about what they have and what they want. I recommend this for everyone who wants to understand their own organization. Their instrument (OCAI) is both easy to understand and easy to use.

A very useful framework and tool for changing org culture
I took Prof. Cameron's course on "Navigating Change" at the U of M Business School and this book was used as ONE of the tools that could be used in understanding and managing change in an organization's culture. There are many ways to look at organizational culture. This one gives you a means to measure various aspects and get a view of where you are and where you think you need to be. It can elicit helpful discussion and real insights into your organization.

The book gives helpful background and context for the model (what each quadrant means and doesn't mean), the instrument itself, instructions for administering it, and instructions on how to interpret it. It also provides a condensed formula for organizational change and helpful hints on how to begin change in each of the quadrants.

As we used it in class and our term project it helped us understand the organization our team studied and why it was different than its competitors. I think Competing Values Framework is a powerful model that is backed by up with a lot of research and can be very useful when used seriously. This is a very helpful book. ... Read more

Book Description

Robbins and Coulter's best-selling text demonstrates the real-world applications of management concepts and makes management come alive by bringing real managers and readers together. As it successfully integrates the various functions of management, the book establishes a dialogue with managers from a variety of fields.The authors examine managerial issues concerning defining the manager's terrain, planning, organizing, leading and controlling.For managers of all kinds. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

introduction to management
It very details and have many examples but if the summary could included more key element, it would be better. ... Read more