Book Description

Earnings management is one of the most significant areas of accounting given today's scandal-plagued business environment. This focused treatment describes the current environment and provides the details on specific earnings management potential. It demonstrates how aggressive earnings management can be detected using publicly available information. ... Read more

Book Description

Praise For Corporate Fraud Handbook

"Well organized and illustrated by easy-to-follow examples. It is the ‘bible’ of the anti-fraud professional."
–Dr. Haluk F. Gursel
President, Switzerland Chapter, ACFE

"The Corporate Fraud Handbook depicts what’s really happening with white-collar crime. It perfectly matches my forty years’ experience as an embezzlement investigator in federal and state government."
–Joseph R. Dervaes
Audit Manager for Special Investigations, Washington State Auditor’s Office

"This book harmonizes the study of actual fraud cases and related theories. A must-read for anyone interested in the global fight against fraud."
–Pedro A. Fabiano
Fraud Investigator, Buenos Aires, Argentina

"This book should be the cornerstone of any good fraud investigator’s library."
–Isabel Mercedes Cumming
Assistant State’s Attorney, Baltimore City, Maryland

"Mr. Wells is a brilliant author.His writing is clear, to the point, and entertaining. I find the Corporate Fraud Handbook indispensable."
–Corey Bloom
Senior Manager, BDO Dunwoody LLP, Montreal, Canada

"A wonderful read! A systematic approach with many examples from real life."
–Dr. Dimiter Dinev
Associate Professor at the University of National and International Economy
Sofia, Bulgaria

"I have been an admirer of Mr. Wells’s work for more than twenty years. He’s a world leader in the prevention and detection of fraud.I highly recommend this book to anyone concerned with compliance, controls, and keeping their organizations immune from the ever-growing risks of fraud."
–Mike Comer
Corporate Fraud Investigator, London, England

"The Corporate Fraud Handbook provides unparalleled insights on the scams used by employees to perpetrate fraud."
–Robert DiPasquale
Partner, J. H. Cohn, LLP ... Read more

Book Description

A one-stop resource on every dimension of international exporting

"Frank Reynolds gives the reader a tour de force of international trade issues–a treatise presented in a lucid yet highly analytical manner that both the novice and experienced business person will find informative and useful in their daily operations.Mr. Reynolds is more than a highly respected author.He is an international trader with over thirty years of experience and success."
– Michael E. Miller, Director
U.S. Export Assistance Center Network, Cleveland, Ohio
U.S. Department of Commerce

"In typical Frank Reynolds style, this book has practical how-to instructions for anyone involved in international trade.The information is timeless and easy to read and understand."
– Roy Becker
Author, A Banker’s Insights on International Trade

"As a licensed customs broker and an experienced international exporter, Frank Reynolds brings much more to the table than international trade theory.His vast knowledge and understanding of international trade issues make him an invaluable resource.How fortunate for the international trade community that Frank Reynolds has shared his in-depth comprehension of international trade matters!"
– Margaret Gatti, Esq.
Principal, Gatti and Associates

Exporters face a daily agenda of international regulations and cultural differences that hinder the flow of international trade. Managing Exports: Navigating the Complex Rules, Controls, Barriers, and Laws provides export managers with an accessible, authoritative resource for conducting efficient and profitable trading relationships.

Frank Reynolds shows exporters how to expand international sales, automate export operations, reduce costs, streamline operations, and manage an export department.Chapters include:

• Export Marketing
• Documentation
• Terms of Sale
• Workable Sales Contracts
• Insurance
• Keeping Current

By relying upon Managing Exports for a variety of best practices, export managers can not only avoid government fines for violation of regulations, but also reduce risk exposure and ensure their business’s sustained profitability. ... Read more

Book Description

The official IOMA source for tips, techniques, strategies, and best practices in corporate cost-cutting

This book is an authoritative and comprehensive collection of the best strategies and techniques being used to control costs across virtually every business function. Each chapter focuses on a different department or function and is built around original research, the latest strategies currently being used, and dozens of practical tips and tactics from managers around the country. Case studies and real examples illustrate this expert guide from the only truly definitive source–the Institute of Management and Administration.

The book offers specific techniques and proven best practices on cutting costs in the following areas:

• Human resources
• Benefits
• Compensation
• 401(k) plans
• HRIS
• Training and development
• Accounting
• Accounts payable
• Credit and collections
• Accounting systems
• Logistics
• Purchasing
• Inventory
• Mail center
• Export

Ideal for managers facing a crunch, financial officers trimming budgets, and small business owners who need fresh ideas for cutting costs, Cost Reduction and Control Best Practices is the ultimate resource for controlling costs simply and effectively. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Manager
I found this book innovative and helpful. It provides informative examples best practices, case studies and the latest strategies & techniques that companies can use to control costs and maximize profitability. In a tough fiscal year, I will be reading this book over and over again to find more new ways to save money. ... Read more

Book Description

Now translated into 11 languages! This reader-friendly, icon-rich series is must reading for all managers at every level

All managers, whether brand new to their positions or well established in the corporate heirarchy, can use a little "brushing up" now and then. The skills-based Briefcase Books series is filled with ideas and strategies to help managers become more capable, efficient, effective, and valuable to their corporations.

Managers in all types of organizations and environments must be able to prepare, or at least understand, a realistic and results-oriented budget. Budgeting for Managers­­rich in practical techniques and examples­­walks the reader through the entire budgeting process, from basic financial concepts and their use in creating a budget to methods for tracking actual spending.

Book Description

Accounting for Decision Making and Control by Jerry Zimmerman continues to grow in popularity with instructors due to its emphasis on teaching students to critically evaluate and solve actual business problems. Zimmerman is able to achieve this through: 1) Strong conceptual framework; 2) Business orientation focusing on how organizations work; 3) Balance between concepts & practice; 4) Strongest problem material available. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great book!
The great take away from this book is that executives try hard to achieve the optimal solutions for management problems, but that they seldomly succeed. The reason: they underestimate the creativity of their sub-ordinates (and their superiors).
For ages students and lecturers thought management accounting was dull. Zimmerman shows how fascinating this subject can be. The decision making parts show how to calculate optimal solutions for management accounting problems, the control parts make your realize how difficult it is to make the optimal solutions come true. The implication: the amount of consulting work to be done is infinite.

Think Management Accounting Rather Than Cost Accounting
Too often management accounting is completely subsumed in cost accounting. Yes, they are part of the same topic, but they have somewhat different emphases. This book covers costs, but it is really more focused on how you allocated decision rights, set measurement criteria, and how you reward people to get the behavior you want. It is also very helpful in clarifying thinking about what could be going wrong if you aren't getting the behavior you wanted out of a given system of measurement and reward.

The writing is very good and the organization of the book is sound and helpful. While there are charts and graphs it is not a book full of color and pictures. It is a book with words and ideas that are helpfully supplemented as needed. But the self-study problems and cases are set off from the main text by being on different color pages. This helps in locating what you are after.

There is a wealth of thought provoking problems and short cases to help promote discussion and provoke your thinking on the topics discussed in each chapter.

Another aspect of the book I really like are the concept questions in each chapter that help you gauge your understanding of what you have just read. The solutions for these are provided in the back of the book so you can know if you are "getting it" or not.

This is a fine and very useful text.

Using cost allocation for behavioral control
Zimmerman does a good job laying out many different cost allocation schemes. He gives an unbiased review of the strengths and weaknesses of each system. The angle Zimmerman takes is to point out the differences between using cost information for decision making,and for decision (behavioral) control. There is a good deal of organizational theory involved. I took a course in cost accounting at the University of Chicago GSB with a colleague of Zimmerman's. They taught together at U of Rochester. The professor did a better job of getting the point across. Zimmerman tries not to put much opinion into the text, and as such, comes up short on making his point in most cases. If your looking for a simple layout of various costing systems, this might be the book for you. If you like a little more persuasion in your academic reading, skip this one.

Additionally, the examples used are often too long and drawn out. I dont think he gives the reader enough credit.

a good book
This book is very similar to Managerial Accounting by Morse and Zimmerman. It's a great book. The lay-out is attractive. It's easy to trace something and the examples are really clear. It provides a good framework for evaluating accounting systems and a basis for analysing proposed changes to these systems. ... Read more

Book Description

A one-stop resource for setting up or improving an existing payroll system

The most comprehensive resource available on the subject, Accounting for Payroll: A Comprehensive Guide provides up-to-date information to enable users to handle payroll accounting in the most cost-effective manner.

From creating a system from scratch to setting up a payroll department to record-keeping and journal entries, Accounting for Payroll provides the most authoritative information on the entire payroll process. Ideal for anyone new to the payroll system or as a skill-honing tool for those already immersed in the field, this hands-on reference provides step-by-step instructions for setting up a well-organized payroll system or improving an existing one.

Featuring checklists, a dictionary of payroll terms, information on Internet payroll sources, and much more, Accounting for Payroll shows CFOs, controllers, accounting managers, and systems analysts how to:

• Create a payroll department from scratch
• Increase the efficiency of the payroll function through best practices
• Reduce payroll data entry time and transactional errors
• Evaluate the services of a payroll outsourcing provider
• Set up and maintain an outsourcing relationship
• Set up an efficient payroll system

Reviews (1)

A must read for CPAs
This book provides valuable foreshadowing and insight into the changing landscape of the world of public accounting. A must read! ... Read more

Book Description

Dramatically improve inventory accuracy with bestselling author Steven Bragg's step-by-step guidelines

Inventory Accounting is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to setting up an inventory accounting system and keeping it running at maximum efficiency. This hands-on book provides accounting professionals with essential information on how to:
* Set up an accounting system that efficiently handles accumulating inventory costs, summarizing accounts, and standard journal entries used to record transactions
* Use best practices to increase the efficiency of inventory-tracking and costing functions
* Install unique controls to combat inventory fraud
* Implement a step-by-step checklist of activities for inventory counting procedures
* Save hours of valuable time researching various GAAP reference manuals
* Adapt inventory tracking and costing systems to accommodate a variety of manufacturing systems

Spanning the entire spectrum of inventory accounting, Inventory Accounting deftly explores every facet of the field to help professionals eliminate inaccuracies from their inventory accounting systems. ... Read more

Book Description

A practical guide to the ABCs of ABB

This unique resource takes an in-depth look at creating value through activity-based budgeting (ABB). As most organizations are dissatisfied with some aspects of their performance, ABB has become an increasingly popular process for which many companies are abandoning traditional methods that no longer meet their demands. Emphasizing the importance of budgeting by activities and features rather than by cost elements, Driving Value Using Activity-Based Budgeting offers a complete overview of feature costing, a technique used in conjunction with ABB, as well as the underlying principles of ABB, including linking strategy to activities, forecasting revenue, capacity management, and gap analysis. With numerous examples and case studies, it shows how to use state-of-the-art tools for achieving strategic goals, such as customer survey, core competency analysis, benchmarking, house of activities, reverse engineering to cascade strategy so everyone can act to create value for the organization.

In today's highly pressurized business environment, creating value is the number one priority for organizations. The key to achieving this is having a budget and accounting system that supports long-term goals. More and more organizations are now turning to activity-based budgeting (ABB), an innovative approach that can help organizations become more competitive by linking the budgeting process to organization strategy. Explaining the importance of budgeting by activities rather than by cost elements, this groundbreaking resource—the first book of its kind—is a practical how-to that covers the essentials of Driving Value Using Activity-Based Budgeting.

Beginning with an overview of the fundamentals behind driving value, James Brimson and John Antos examine what exactly value is, how it is created, and why traditional planning and budgeting often lead to the destruction of value. Following a clear outline of the problems posed by the traditional budgeting process, the authors go on to explain that many companies have contemplated abandoning it altogether. In doing so, however, they must set performance targets and identify actions to achieve the targets: "Once those actions are implemented, there is a need to monitor the execution. Therefore, to drive value creation, organizations are implementing activity-based budgeting (ABB)." This comprehensive guide offers in-depth coverage of ABB and feature costing, a technique used in conjunction with ABB. ABB creates value by translating the business strategy into the activities necessary to implement that strategy. Feature costing creates value by understanding sources of product and customer variation and relating this variation to expected workload. Along with the benefits of using ABB and feature costing, Driving Value Using Activity-Based Budgeting addresses such essential topics as:

• Translating strategy into a process and activity framework—performing activities and cross-functional processes that support strategy and assessing current performance against strategic goals
• Forecasting revenue, volume, and workload—customer demographics and needs, the competition exploding a bill of activities, determining workload for special projects
• Capacity management—capacity defined, managing capacity, capacity management methodology, handling excess capacity
• Getting started—creating a business process budget, budget review panels, rank and select activities, cost budgeted activities

Filled with numerous examples and case studies, a complete glossary, and an appendix of target-setting techniques, this is must reading for everyone in your organization since all participants must continually ask themselves how they create value. ... Read more

Book Description

A PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

Practical, creative strategies and solutions for cutting costs­­without cutting people

In an age of cutting costs­­no matter the cost­­the unspoken contract between employer and employee has never been more tenuous. But while trimming payroll may be the easiest answer, it is often far from the best. A Manager's Guide to Creative Cost Cutting presents specific ways that companies can reduce costs without reducing staff, along with implementation plans and real-world case studies and examples. Concise and compelling, it shows today's leaders how to better leverage resources to control spiraling costs while creating a sounder, more stable work environment.

Featuring 101 techniques for executives to reduce expenses and expand profits, without disrupting workers' lives and deep-sixing morale, this unique and easy-to-read guidebook:

• Shows how to uncover hidden costs and then reduce or eliminate them
• Helps readers overcome 21 common cost-reduction prohibitors
• Highlights real-world examples, from Intel's unpaid leave to Goodyear's debt negotiation

Reviews (3)

This is going mean not lean...
Unfortunately not what I was expecting from the book - These are acceptable ideas, not really new, just packaged all together - You won't get on a lean journey and revamp your business with this book...probably good for a smaller enterprise...Still, since the price is low, it doesn't hurt flipping the pages and give a 3 stars...

YGBK Defined
Young obviously was teasing us with the YGBK acronym -- daring us to read on and figure it out. Later in the book, in one of his YGBK descriptions, he ends it with the statement "you gotta be kidding."

YGBK... What is that?
The book is eduactional in the sense that the ideas mentioned are all valid points and easily comprehensible. The one fault this book has starts in the first chapter when it states "Make sure you avoid these YGBK's". My question to you is what is that. I have thoroughly looked for the meaning of this acronym and have come up empty. If anyone could provide some light please do. ... Read more

Book Description

"Edison in the Boardroom offers the reader something that is hard to find-a clear perspective and roadmap that shows how patent assets fit on the corporate landscape. The authors develop a unique five-level hierarchy of asset management and take us on a seamless trip from start to finish. Along the way, there are candid revelations of viewpoints and techniques, punctuated by anecdotes, practical examples and testimonials gathered from knowledgeable professionals in industry. Here is a resource that business executives can consult time and again to navigate in the world of patents."--Stephen P. Fox, Associate General Counsel and Director, Intellectual Property, Hewlett-Packard Company

"Davis and Harrison masterfully synthesize first-hand accounts into practical advice for the intellectual asset manager. In an informative and easy style, they bridge the gap between best practices in an emerging field and the needs of managers for real-world solutions. Their solid advice has the capacity to change profoundly the way companies manage their intangibles for increased shareholder value. It's a must-read for everyone interested in increasing returns from intellectual assets." --Jim O'Shaughnessy, VP & Chief Intellectual Property Counsel, Rockwell

"Edison in the Boardroom reveals the winning strategies employed by some of today's biggest companies in maximizing the value of their intellectual property. Well written and extremely readable." --Jerry Rosenthal, Vice President, Intellectual Property & Licensing, IBM

"Edison in the Boardroom is an excellent source book for the beginner in extracting value from intellectual property. Additionally, it is a valuable resource for those who consider themselves as experienced in the field. I know that I learned several new best practices that I plan to apply to my business." --Henry Fradkin, Director, Technology Commercialization, Ford Global Technologies, Inc.

"The Value Hierarchy is clearly articulated in Edison and this provides a relevant guide for corporations to create value from their unique intangibles." --Sharon Oriel, Director, Global Intellectual Asset & Capital Tech Center, The Dow Chemical Company

"Lots of books spout theory and the philosophy of Intellectual Asset Management. What Davis and Harrison provide in Edison in the Boardroom is frankly much more valuable--a practical and 'real world vetted' guide to getting started and building a viable value extraction business!"--Jeff Weedman, Vice President of External Business Development and Corporate Licensing, Procter & Gamble ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Convincing the skeptics
Professor Thomas G. Field, Jr., Franklin Pierce Law Center

Few variables are more likely to dictate short- and long-term commercial success than a firm's ability to convert intellectual assets into intellectual property (IP). The smaller the firm, the bigger the need, and the need only grows.
Most companies are careful to avoid IP infringement and are eager to sue direct competitors who do not. Many firms also educate key employees on their roles in perfecting and protecting intangible assets. Fewer give full attention to IP and antecedents that might nevertheless be regarded as assets. For example, those who would not hesitate to monitor and sue infringing competitors may not monitor non-competitors as potential licensees.
To extract the most from intellectual assets, many factors, e.g., legal, technical marketing and sales, must be weighed. Edison in the Boardroom offers important advice to help firms take steps to meet that need. Despite its reference to "assets" in the subtitle, however, most of this book focuses more narrowly - on IP, and on patents specifically.
Davis and Harrison, said to bring "a quarter century of IP consulting accomplishments between them," document that some companies have long engaged in trying to optimize the value of their intellectual assets. The authors also assign companies to a five-level hierarchy based on a range of IP-management strategies. A goldmining metaphor is usefully advanced at one point to describe those levels as: defensive (staking claims), panning (cost control), mining (deeper profit seeking), processing (integration), and sculpting. The heart of the book consists of five chapters that discuss these levels seriatim and offers a host of useful ideas and anecdotes.
The book is generally well-structured. For example, early in each of the five core chapters is a description of what "companies are trying to accomplish" at the corresponding level of IP-management sophistication. At the defensive level, of course, companies have processes for seeking, maintaining and enforcing IP. Yet, in the discussion of second-level companies, said to seek to reduce costs by exercising judgment about what is brought into and kept in their patent portfolios, it becomes clear how much various levels overlap. The first two topics may usefully be segregated for purposes of discussion, but it is hard to imagine any company that can afford, literally, to pursue protection without attempting to balance portfolio goals against concomitant costs. Indeed, one thesis of the second chapter is that no firm can seek the strongest protection for everything of potential patentability, much less seek it in every possible country.
The third chapter diverges considerably. Companies featured there are said to seek, e.g., to extract portfolio value as quickly and cheaply as possible. Several have gone well beyond suing competitors or easily discovered, non-competing infringers. The most aggressive of such firms regard IP departments as profit centers and actively solicit licensees. Their success is sometimes remarkable. As the authors point out, "Worldwide revenues from patent licensing have grown from $15 billion in 1990 to over $100 billion in 2000." Echoing the central theme of another recent book, Davis and Harrison also point out that, "Some experts estimate that companies are sitting on $1 trillion per year in unexploited licensing fees."
Fourth- and fifth-level firms are difficult to distinguish from ones discussed earlier - or from each other. For example, level-four companies are said to seek to integrate "IP awareness and operations throughout all functions of the company." That seems necessary, too, for allegedly less capable compatriots. Further, when level-five firms are described as embedding intellectual assets and their management into the company culture, it is difficult to find divergence.
The last are said to have as additional objectives: (1) staking a claim on the future and (2) encouraging "disruptive technologies." Still, these could easily been collapsed into "Get a Crystal Ball!" Heuristics for meeting them non-serendipitiously are weak.
Consider, for example, the mouse and graphic interface as commercialized on Macintosh computers. Steve Jobs is said to have derived both from the Alto computer developed by Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center. While Jobs became a billionaire, "Xerox completely failed to get into the personal computer business, missing one of the biggest business opportunities in history." To avoid repeating such mistakes, Davis and Harrison suggest that companies should "identify ways the corporation can benefit from [ideas outside their business capacity] before moving on." They, not surprisingly, can offer little guidance.
One IP attorney recently stressed the need for his colleagues better to understand the identification, protection and use of intellectual capital "effectively to address strategic corporate objectives." Those for whom this is novel terrrain will find Edison in the Boardroom helpful.
Also, senior IP counsel better acquainted with the topic may find the book useful. Some will face difficulty in convincing those at the same level or higher in the corporate hierarchy of its importance. To the extent that their advocacy of the critical role to be played by IP counsel is perceived as serving selfish aims, the book should help allay suspicions.
For these and other attorneys, the value of Edison in the Boardroom could easily, and vastly, exceed its modest price.

Very Good
The authors provide an excellent framework for companies to manage their intellectual property - without using too much consultant speak.

They quote examples at different levels of their framework and look at companies who are suceeding at managing and valuing their IP effectively. This is a skill which can only be more and more wanted in the future.

The most interesting takeaway is that most companies are very bad in this field, and there are very few success stories.

Comprehensive
Julie Davis and Suzanne Harrison's book, Edison in the Boardroom, takes readers deep enough into the field of intellectual property management for them to incorporate presented theories into their respective professional disciplines - researcher, attorney, licensing exec, etc. - without the book becoming unwieldy. Excellent balance. This book can become a cornerstone text for any professional involved with intellectual property to direct his or her focus for additional study and to ensure his or her working knowledge of the challenges confronting professionals in other disciplines that together form a corporate intellectual property management program.

Visionary and Innovative Pragmatism
The basic concept of this book is very intriguing: Briefly examine the life and career of Thomas Edison and then suggest direct correlations between his achievements with real-world situations in which various companies are now deriving substantial value from their intellectual capital. The authors also make skillful use of Edison's own recorded thoughts and feelings. Of special interest to me was what he had to say about the creative process. For example, "Men are just beginning to propose questions and find answers, and we may be sure that no matter what question we ask, so long as it is not against the laws of nature, a solution can be found." This what the author refer to as "The Edison Mindset." Edison apparently had almost no concern about a given experiment's "failure" which he continued to view, rather, as non-success to that stage. Too often, senior-level executives become preoccupied with results and neglect the process by which they can be achieved. Among Edison's greatest (and perhaps least appreciated) achievements was the establishment of the first research laboratory in which he and his associates would collaborate on various projects. Edison was a pioneer in recognizing the importance of assembling the best available talent and providing them with sufficient resources as well as a culture wherein those talents could be fully utilized. Davis and Harrison obviously have this point in mind when observing that "benchmarking best practices without any regard for the underlying culture of the firm can be problematic."

NOTE: For those interested in this subject, I highly recommend Organizing Genius in which Bennis and Biederman examine the collaborative efforts of those involved at the Disney studios which produced so many animation classics; at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) which developed the first personal computer; at Apple Computer which then took it to market; at the so-called "War Room" which helped to elect Bill Clinton President in 1992; those active in the so-called "Skunk Works" where so many of Lockheed's greatest designs were formulated; at Black Mountain College which "wasn't simply a place where creative collaboration took place. It was about creative collaboration"; and at Los Alamos (NM) and the University of Chicago where the Manhattan Project eventually produced a new weapon called "the Gadget."

This is an extremely well-organized and well-written book in which Davis and Harrison use the life and career of Edison for guidance to understanding subjects of major importance today such as breakthrough innovation, collaborative effort, the development and management of intellectual property, and effective organizational transformation. They suggest that companies (indeed all organizations) function in one or more of five levels which comprise "the hierarchy of value" for intellectual property, a model created at Andersen's Intellectual Property Management Practice and then at ICMG:

1. Defensive: "If a corporation owns an intellectual asset (such as a great business concept), it can prevent competitors from using the asset."

2. Cost Control: "Companies focus on how to reduce the costs of filing and maintaining their IP portfolios."

3. Profit Center: "Having learned how to control many of their patent-related costs, companies at this level turn their attention to more proactive strategies that can generate millions of dollars of additional revenues while further continuing to trim costs.'

4. Integrated Level: In this level the IP function ceases to focus on self-centered activities and reaches outwardly beyond its own department to serve a greater purpose within the organization as a whole."

5. Visionary Level: "Few companies have reached this level of looking outside the company and into the future. In this level, the IP function, having already become deeply ingrained in the company, takes on the challenge of identifying future trends in the industry and consumer preferences."

After an excellent Introduction, the authors devote a separate chapter to each of the five Levels and then provide a case study of the Dow Chemical Company, followed by three appendices: Mining a Portfolio for Value, Competitive Assessment, and Integrated Performance Reporting. They suggest all manner of similarities and differences between and among these five Levels, in process suggesting also a wealth of strategies and tactics to consider when attempting to achieve the desired results at any of these Levels.

To a greater extent now than at any prior time in human history, with all due respect to major developments such as the light bulb, telephone, automobile, and personal computer, corporations (indeed entire societies) seek "exciting, new, novel, and discontinuous innovations....For centuries, companies have linked ideas and money by embedding their new ideas (legally protected or not) into products to be sold or bartered. Today, however, an exciting new concept is revolutionizing the way companies extract value from their ideas: an idea no longer needs to be embedded into a product or service to create value. Today ideas are licensed, sold, or bartered in their raw state for great value." And they are getting that value through intellectual property management (IPM). Hence the importance of encouraging and supporting "The Edison Mindset."

Here in a single volume, the authors provide a comprehensive, cohesive, and cost-effective program. It remains for decision-makers in any organization now considering or at work on the design of an IPM to select whatever material in the book is most appropriate to their organization's specific needs. One value-added benefit of this book is that Davis and Harrison can assist with that selection process. A point made earlier, however, deserves repeating: "benchmarking best practices without any regard for the underlying culture of the firm can be problematic."

THE IP Value Extraction Methods Book of the New millenium
I throughly enjoyed the book, I read it in just a few hours. It is an informative text on how to make the most of your IP, especially for those companies that either have a great start by already having IP (patents) or those that want to get started developing it. This would have particular interest for those who want to start their journey in developing IP processes in their company. I have worked in this field for years and have read many books involving IP, but never has their been such a informative book. The nice thing is it is 100% up to date on what is going on and who is doing it. For instance, learn how Dow, probably the leader in the field of IP Practices, does what they do.

Davis and Harrison have taken their vast experiences and knowledge that they have obtained over the years of work with their clients and codified these experiences in a "best practices book", particularly focused on how to manage the IP you already have.

If you don't read this and you have an interest in this field, you will be missing what is likely to be the cornerstone text of the field.

John Cronin, CEO of ipCapitalGroup, Inc an IP Professional Services Company. ... Read more

Book Description

Praise for The Manager’s Guide to Financial Statement Analysis

"The Manager’s Guide to Financial Statement Analysis opens the door for both financial and nonfinancial managers to develop a framework for understanding a company’s true financial performance. The Manager’s Guide goes the extra step by providing the reader with the skills necessary to communicate the impact of a firm’s financial measures in a nontraditional, easy-to-understand manner. It is this combination of understanding and effective communication that allows the manager to then improve a firm through the use of financial information."–Christopher D. Flick, Investment Manager, The Vanguard Group

"The Manager’s Guide to Financial Statement Analysis has helped me in both my personal (investing) and professional (management) lives. The authors unravel the complexities of financial statements so that the information they contain can be easily digested and exploited. There is no more hiding a company’s strategy behind a set of financial statements. I keep this book close at hand!"–Steven I. Glusman, Chief Engineer, Comanche Helicopter Program, Boeing Rotorcraft Program Management Center

"A valuable framework for communicating firm results and aligning managers around common goals. The methodology links the information contained in a company’s financial statements with its external market performance in a format that is easily understandable by the different functional managers of any company."–Scott Teeter, The LTC Group ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A real mixed bag
By "manager," the authors appear to mean "someone who is not financially literate." Although this book does a good job of explaining how to analyze financial statements, I was disappointed that it didn't really contain a practical manager's perspective. Instead, this book is just like many others -- it does a credible job from an academic perspective of explaining financial statements and their use. Don't expect to learn much about applying this to your job as a manager or as a small business professional.

Chart your way to positively impact your company's value.
This is an ingenious guide to understanding not only the key concepts of financial statement analyis, but also the levers at the disposal of managers which they can and should employ to proactively improve shareholder value in their firm. The charting methodology the authors have designed is not difficult, but it is nonetheless quite illustrative and well structured. I am using the book to teach a class of forty MBA students from many different countries, and I have found that each chapter fits into a one and a half hour lecture and discussion session very comfortably. From the students' feedback as well as my own background as a former Chief Financial Officer, I am certain that this book will be a valuable tool in any reader's management career.

Helped develop an excellent financial foundation for non-fin
"The Manager's Guide to Financial Statement Analysis" helped develop an excellent financial foundation for me, as a non-financial professional. Reading it wasn't about getting the math correct, it was about telling the story of a company through careful analysis of a company's financial statements. Where once I glided over dollar amounts and percentages, I now read and understand where they come from and what they represent. Since most professionals are responsible for budgets and are likely to be stakeholders in some business or another, it is imperative to have a broad based understanding of financial statement analysis, this is where The Manager's Guide fits in.

A worthy effort, but ultimately too basic to be very useful.
This is a basic text for those who have a limited understanding of financial statements and don't intend to learn a whole lot more. The authors provide a user-friendly visual method to relate to abstract figures. Unfortunately, the reader isn't assumed to have acquired additional command of the subject as he reads through the book. This causes the later chapters to drag since the pace hasn't picked up much from the introduction.

The book is marred by some poor technical proofreading (charts with missing data, erroneous dates, etc), but that was a minor annoyance. I was discouraged, though, by the lack of practical applicability -- don't expect to learn much about how to diagnose company problems or strengths at manager level. This book best serves as a primer for those who want to read more about how to perform useful analysis of a company. ... Read more

Book Description

ESSENTIALS OF PAYROLL

Full of valuable tips, techniques, illustrative real-world examples, exhibits, and best practices, this handy and concise paperback will help you stay up to date on the newest thinking, strategies, developments, and technologies in payroll.

"Steven has done it again. Payroll seems and is complicated to the average executive who is the decision-maker. In the past, there has not been a source for understanding the technical and practical applications of payroll. Essentials of Payroll covers each area of payroll from the initial forms in the employee file to details about payment options, deposits, and problems such as termination, manual checks, and integration with general ledger. I think this should be required reading for those executives who supervise personnel and payroll functions."
–Gail W. Sevier, CPA
Marrs, Sevier & Company LLC

"Creating effective procedures, maintaining policies, and streamlining operations are more important now than ever before. This is an excellent reference and useful guide for professionals who manage payroll, compensation, and related benefit issues."
–Clint Davies, Partner (Principal)
Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Valuable Payroll Resource
I think this is a good beginner-to-intermediate level book about payroll. While I doubt this book can serve as your only source to setting up a payroll system (a claim never made by the author), it can serve as a valuable guide to implementing or reviewing your current payroll internal controls, best practices and payroll policy manual. It may also help you analyze whether you are paying too much money or spending too much time on your job costing system. If you like examples, the author uses many short case studies to clarify his main points.

He keeps the book up-to-date by discussing topics such as payroll information technology, current payment alternatives and Internet references. He discusses other issues in detail, such as fringe benefits, vacation pay, minimum wage laws, payroll calculations, retirement plans, and stock option plans.

Given the popularity of outsourcing the payroll function, I think the book could have went into more detail about how to select the right payroll outsource vendor and how to ensure that the outsource vendor maintains proper internal controls (e.g. obtaining an annual SAS 70 Type II). Also, I felt I could have skipped the payroll tax portion and read IRS publication 15, 15a and 15b and my state's corresponding payroll tax publication. Finally, to help improve the books longevity, the author could have either left out the current year tax rates and limitations altogether or listed Internet references where the current and future rates and limitations could be referenced.

Nevertheless, overall I think this is a good book that I will use from time to time to brush up on my payroll process knowledge. Therefore, I think the book is worth buying, reading and referencing. ... Read more

Book Description

Finally, a book on accounting that focuses on street-smart financial management rather than accounting mechanics

Most accounting books are either too basic or too boring. This one carves a niche all its own. Instead of trying to morph you into instant CPAs, it provides practical advice through real-life examples, making it the first accounting "page-turner."

Author Robert J. Low even draws on notorious financial scandals for illuminating lessons to small and medium-size businesses. He minimizes technical information and offers straight talk on the art of controllership--a key to ensuring company profits. Accounting and Finance for Small Business Made Easy includes:

• An accounting primer that demystifies terms and practices for the non-accountant

• Invaluable perspective on the critical areas for managing assets: inventory control and increasing cash flow

• A 10-step plan to help you start instantly to implement effective financial management

Book Description

One of Wall Street's brightest new stars discusses how to navigate today's markets, for both the short and long term

Investors today are looking for a solid, trusted voice to help them make sense of turbulent markets. Jason Trennert has become that voice. Trennert is a regular guest on prominent investment programs like CNBC's "Squawk Box," and his boutique research firm is popular among investment professionals and high-profile Wall Street firms.

In New Markets, New Strategies, Trennert outlines an insightful, practical, and forward-thinking approach to investing. Providing investors with techniques based more on long-term performance than short-term hysteria, he explores topics including:

• Major themes that will move markets in the coming decade
• The hidden but all-too-real dangers of passive management and index funds
• Where and how to find stocks and bonds with the best risk/reward tradeoff

Book Description

Dimitris N. Chorafas defines both auditing and internal control, and explains the value of internal control, why it must be audited, and how it can be most effectively achieved. He addresses top management's accountability for internal control and uses case studies to demonstrate the application of such systems, as well as the importance of sound analysis of the information gathered. Based on an extensive research project in the UK, US, and continental Europe, this book is an invaluable source of practical advice for implementing internal control systems and making existing systems more efficient. ... Read more

Book Description

This highly illustrated, full color book tells you all you need to know to get up and running quickly using Adobe Premiere Pro to achieve professional results. It covers the essentials, so you can apply the knowledge to your project immediately.

All the important areas are covered: set up, the interface, editing, effects, integration with other Adobe products, and finishing.

An invaluable first read for users of all levels who want to achieve professional results.

* Companion web site with information on Premiere Pro 1.5
* Get up and running with Premiere Pro quickly
* Clear and concise coverage in full color ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Get working quickly with this book
A great find! This little book helped me get up to speed with Premiere Pro quickly. It is not a watered down "for dummies" book, but is not an 800-page bible either (which I don't need!!). Instead it gets right down to business and shows you how to get through your first couple projects with ease. The full color, price and ease of use make this a great package.

Quick read, great info. Can't beat the price.
This book is certainly a great way to get your chops, being taught by someone who uses the application for real world work - on a daily basis.

I've followed Tim around the web for years, on different forums and as a respected expert editor and Adobe guru. You can find him online and pick from his reviews, articles and posts that all clearly demonstrate his qualifications and insights before you buy the book... But no need, it's cheap! Very easy to get way more than 15.00 of value from this book. You really can't go wrong.

It's far better than trudging through a boring black and white book (typical software manual) that covers everything but what you really want to know! The book is laid out very well, lots of color. It offers a very visual method of learning the app and why the different parts of the app are there..what they do.

I've used Premiere for 4 or 5 years now. Premiere Pro is quite different. This book is a great primer and companion for learning the ins and outs of this newly revamped Non-Linear Editor. ... Read more

Book Description

This Windows-based practice set is designed to take you through the accounting process from journalizing to statement preparation and analysis. Each month introduces new concepts and procedures and integrates them with the concepts and procedures presented in previous months-leading to a better understanding of the accounting process. ... Read more

Book Description

Praise for the CFO Survival Guide

"The CFO Survival Guide is a bold, insightful account of the subtle yet powerful interdependencies connecting human values, beliefs, and behaviors to the work performed by people and the wealth this work creates. The Guide’s Declaration of Interdependence will challenge aspiring CFOs and corporate leaders to reexamine their understanding of how wealth is created, sustained, and managed in the twenty-first century, and what effect their roles have on wealth-creation and the evolution of the living organizations they lead."
–Charles S. Royer
SAS Institute, Public Sector—Federal Government Strategic Solutions
Major, U.S. Marine Corps (1990—2003)

"Stenzel and Stenzel shatter the myth that financial leadership is about money and numbers. They prove that to create wealth, a great CFO must be quantitatively savvy, emotionally intelligent, and inspirational."
–Richard E. Boyatzis
Professor of Organizational Behavior at Case Western Reserve University
Coauthor with Daniel Goleman and Annie McKee of the international bestseller Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence

"More important to creating a robust bottom line is to build and nurture relationships with employees, customers, suppliers, community, and nature. Catherine and Joe Stenzel give CFOs a much-needed wake-up call."
–H. Thomas Johnson
2001 Shingo Laureate
Professor of Business Administration, Portland State University

"Not your usual CFO portrayal. The Stenzels create a compelling argument for why and how putting CFOs in touch with people is central to organizational success."
–Paul Sharman
President, Focused Management, Inc. ... Read more