Book Description

With every employee who walks out the door costing up to 200 percent of their annual salary to replace, retention is one of the most important issues facing business today. This bestseller gives everyone from CEO to front-line supervisor solutions for keeping the employees they simply can’t afford to lose. The authors show that what employees really want, even more than bigger salaries, are meaningful work, opportunities for growth, excellent bosses, and a sense of connection to the company. This thoroughly updated and revised edition includes a new manager’s troubleshooting guide with 26 strategies that can be used at every level and a chapter on saying thank-you in the workplace. ... Read more

Reviews (37)

The Best Book to help retain the employees you love!
Love 'Em or Lose 'Em is one of those books you want to give to every manager, supervisor, executive who has ever let a talented employee walk out the door, in turn causing them thousands of dollars to replace. Dr. Beverly Kaye and Sharon Jordan-Evans have made this book full of easy to use activities and useful To-do lists that are critical tools for ANYONE who has employees that they would hate to lose. I found the book extremely easy to read, and the 26 chapters fun to go through. The book is designed so that you can take and apply one chapter (or retention strategy) at a time, instead of being overwhelmed by trying to apply them all at once. A lot of the strategies in the book are common sense, but I know that managers still don't apply them when an employee is about to walk out the door. I would hope that ALL managers, supervisors, executives, etc. would apply just ONE strategy. I think they would be amazed and surprised at the effectiveness this one attempt would have on changing the employee's mind to stay. I highly recommend this book for all organizations, and for all levels within the organization. It truly is the best book I have read on retention strategies, and the authors make the book so applicable to the challenges faced in today's tight labor market!

A Practical Guide for Managers Committed to Retention
Love 'Em or Lose 'Em is a wonderful resource for any manager looking to retain valuable talent. Because the book is organized into topic areas that span an array of pertinent retention issues, one can easily jump around to those topics that are most relevant to them. Each chapter contains constructive and concrete suggestions, along with insightful quotes from employees who have dealt with decisions to stay or leave an organization. Also, the many opportunities for self-assessment are extremely helpful. It would be impossible to walk away from this book without any new ideas for retaining employees that are vital to your organization. The authors have successfully translated a compendium of research into practical, how-to explanations of what motivates people to stay in a job and what managers can do to influence this outcome. This combination of knowledge and advice create an experience of worthwhile reading and exploration.

A Message You Can Bank On
Beverly Kaye and Sharon Jordan-Evans' message is reinforced by the voices of those who are able to translate the investment in human capital to the bottom line. This is a book with sound principles and concepts -- one well worth taking to heart. Mr. and Ms. CEO, when properly implemented, these are concepts whose payoffs you can bank on!

Engage, Motivate, Retain
In working with literally thousands of managers a year, I find very few complaining about employee turn-over. Or its more positively stated corollary, retention of great people.

That doesn't mean that attrition of great associates isn't a problem---just one that most managers overlook or choose to ignore for its embarrassing implications.

What most managers do complain about (ad nauseum) can be summed up in two words: employee motivation. Which, of course, has everything to do with causing the very costly problem of human leakage from the company payroll (as well as most of the frustrations that deny managers restful nights and peaceful days).

And so, it is such a shame that the title of this superbly helpful guide is misleading. Or at least inadequate. Instead of "Love 'Em or Lose 'Em," it should declare, more appropriately: "Keep 'Em: Engaged, Motivated to Produce, and on YOUR Payroll!" Clunkier for sure. But much more accurate. If not compelling.

This book by veteran consultants Beverly Kaye and Sharon Jordan-Evans is a handy advisor for pressured, task-based (and, yes, even gruff) managers who are too consumed to always remember---but who know down deep---that people, the engaged and motivated variety, really do make the difference in producing great results.

POINTS OF DISTINCTION
Unlike so many other collections of myriad motivational techniques, this book is:

• Grounded in research (current and original by the authors, as well as contemporary and classic studies by others)

• Flush with very real world examples---many of them likely will seem hauntingly familiar and hit frighteningly close to home (perhaps striking dead-on in your very own solar plexus)

• Aimed squarely at managers who ordinarily reject, refute, and yeah-but all the trite touchy-feely, overly saccharine, and unrealistically techniquey advice about motivating people. (You know, the kind spewed by the legions of naive-to-clueless consultants who manage nothing more than to pen ridiculously over-idealized management books.)

• Packed with rich, diverse, immediately actionable tactics that are practical, low-or-no-cost, and doable. No matter how uninvolved or inept your own boss or HR department, you'll find lots and lots of choices and material from which even the most casual, or cynical, skimming reader can easily draw. (As the authors note in their Preface: "'Love 'Em or Lose 'Em' does not offer a single technique or a large, complex program for keeping good people. Instead, it provides 26 strategies, each of which includes dozens of small, easy-to-implement ideas." True enough.)

Unlike far too many "management cookbooks" (some unreasonably popular), this work distinguishes itself by helping a manager to:
• Assess his or her own management style---not against the standard of an imaginary "perfect leader" but rather in specific dimensions that truly affect employee performance; and
• Accept responsibility for affecting employees' engagement, productivity, and retention. (As the Gallup Organization and others have been harping on lately, it's the individual manager, not the CEO or mythical corporate culture, who really affects the day-to-day work of individual employees.)

This book by Kaye and Jordan-Evans encourages its readers to ask themselves important questions about their OWN needs and assumptions (critical to understanding why one does what one does). And it provides a remarkable treasure trove of questions that a manager can ask employees, in comfortable conversations, to gently unveil their personal interests, wants, and needs impacting their on-the-job motivation and performance. Moreover, it provides plenty of options for managers to deploy tactics that leverage those vital insights into productivity-changing actions.

PICKING NITS
A hidden gem in the book is its Quick-Start Guide. It provides a valuable overview of the book, and is itself full of practical tactics. But it is unnecessarily and inexplicably inconspicuous. Hidden really. Buried between the last chapter and the Notes and other end matter.

Likewise, a useful self-assessment that guides the reader to the themes most helpful to a specific reader resides in the LAST chapter.

Despite these curious editorial decisions, my advice is to buy two copies of this book. One for you and one for the least people-oriented boss you know. Then, read the book. Backwards and selectively. Begin with the Quick-Start Guide on page 243, and then take the "Retention Probability Index" assessment on pages 237 & 238.

Oh, be sure to take (with a deep breath and earnest commitment to brutal honesty) the Jerk Boss self-assessment on pages 91-93. To get full value from this uniquely helpful book, it's good to know what you're really up against.

-- Don Blohowiak, Lead Well Institute, [website]

Not just for managers
LOVE 'EM or LOSE 'EM contains 26 steps for improving employee retention organized in an A-Z fashion. Although written during the recent boom times when retention was a challenge, information presented is quite valuable now for managers who wish to stay employed. The suggestions will promote a happier and more productive workforce. Many of the concepts can be applied to all interpersonal relationships - between co-workers, family and friends.

The book's presentation is visually appealing - section headings and key passages are in a complimentary blue font. There are various other eye-catching features that make the book interesting and exciting. Each chapter starts with a short statement from a fictitious employee referred to as A.J some key excerpts follow

Introduction:
I quit.
I'm giving you my notice.
I found another opportunity.
I've accepted another offer.
Can we talk?

Chapter 1 Ask - What Keeps You
They never asked.

Chapter 2 Buck - It Stops Here
I think my manager actually could have kept me. But I don't think he ever saw it as his job.

Chapter 5 Enrich - Energize the Job
The job just became ho-hum. I mean, I was good at it, my customers were pleased, but I was just plain bored.

Chapter 13 Mentor - Be One
I wish I'd had someone to warn me about some of the political ins and outs that were never written in any policy manual.

Chapter 18 Reward - Provide Recognition
It wasn't about the money, really. Oh, sure, a bonus would have been nice when I brought that new client in or when I finished those specs ahead of schedule. But a "thank you-I noticed" would really have been appreciated.

Generously distributed throughout are "Alas" sections - short, as the authors state, "the-fish-that-got-away" stories that actually happened. There are numerous "Business Examples" - things that really worked in large and small organizations. As references to other parts of the book there are "Go To" Icons to augment the information being presented.

If you're wondering how effective your management skills are in retaining employees, go to Chapter 26 - Zenith and take the assessment of your "Retention Probability Index".

At the end of the book is a Quick Start Guide - you might want to go there first and get an overview of the entire book.

Employee retention as well as productivity is not just about the money and the other "hygiene" factors (work space, hours, etc.), it's about listening to and respecting others. In these difficult times, it's more important than ever.

This book is clearly for everyone. ... Read more

Book Description

This best-selling book provides readers with a comprehensive overview of every aspect of business and the environment in which business prospers. Business, Sixth Edition, has captured the flavor and excitement of the new economy in all of its rapidly evolving practices. The new edition continues the book's user-friendly tradition and its commitment to relevant material and hands-on learning. It also focuses on people in business and the decisions they make on a daily basis. The authors have taken this commitment to new levels in an effort to provide more personal—and, at the same time, more practical—access to people who do business by letting readers ask them questions about cutting-edge business issues and practices.Chapter topics include understanding the U.S. business system, understanding the global context of business, conducting business ethically and responsibly, managing and organizing the business enterprise, understanding entrepreneurship and small business, managing human resources, understanding labor & management relations, understanding principles of marketing, managing operations and information, and understanding financial issues.For anyone who wants to better understand the business environment and the people who populate it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In the 1980s and again in the '90s, James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner published The Leadership Challenge to address issues they uncovered in research on ordinary people achieving "individual leadership standards of excellence." The keys they identified--model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act, encourage the heart--have now been reexamined in the context of the post-millennium world and updated in a third edition. "What we have discovered, and rediscovered, is that leadership is not the private reserve of a few charismatic men and women," write Kouzes, chairman emeritus of the Tom Peters Company, and Posner, dean of the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University. "People make extraordinary things happen by liberating the leader within everyone." After explaining their concept and methodology, the authors detail the five essentials noted above in a pair of chapters apiece that bring clarity to their theories with case studies and recommended actions. The specificity of each (motivating through "the meaningfulness of the challenge, not the material rewards of success," for example, and being able to "accept the mistakes that result from experimentation") is enhanced by advice on sustaining the commitment and making leadership skills accessible to all. The results remain as relevant as when they were first published. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Guidelines and Parameters for the Perilous Journey Within
I recently re-read this brilliant book before proceeding to Kouzes and Posner's more recently published Encouraging the Heart. I highly recommend both and suggest that they be read in the order in which they were written. Those of us who presume to review books such as this one can merely indicate their breadth and depth of substance as well as their stimulation of thought about the material presented. For example, Kouzes and Posner identify what they call "five leadership practices common to successful leaders" and then suggest ten "behavioral commitments" among those leaders studied. Here they are:

Practice: Challenge the process
Commitments: (1) Search for opportunities and (2) Experiment and take risks

Practice: Inspire a shared vision
Commitments: (3) Envision the future and (4) Enlist others

Practice: Enable others to act
Commitments: (5) Foster collaboration and (6) Strengthen others

Practice: Model the way to the desired objectives
Commitments: (7) Set the example and (8) Plan small wins

Practice: Encourage the heart of everyone involved
Commitments: (9) Recognize individual contribution and (10) Celebrate accomplishments

Those who conduct "360 Feedback" programs could do much worse than to base evaluations on criteria suggested by these practices and commitments. They provide the thematic infrastructure of the material which Kouzes and Posner present within seven Parts. The first introduces key concepts and terms: "Knowing What Leadership Is Really All About." Each of Parts Two-Six is devoted to one of the five Practices. Kouzes and Posner conclude with Part Seven, "The Beginning of Leadership', followed by two appendices which enable the reader to complete "The Personal Best Questionnaire" before reviewing "The Leadership Practices Inventory."

There are dozens of outstanding books on leadership and this is one of the best. I am especially impressed by the balance Kouzes and Posner maintain throughout between theory and practice. More specifically, they introduce and explain various core concepts and then draw upon real-world situations to illustrate those concepts. Obviously, "Encouraging the Heart" (Part Six) introduces ideas which Pouzes and Posner develop in much greater depth in a sequel volume which bears the same name. They conclude this book as follows: "We have said that leaders take us to places we have never been before. But there are no freeways to the future, no paved highways to unknown, unexplored destinations. There is only wilderness. If you are to step into the unknown, the place to begin is with the exploration of the inner territory." Those who agree (as do I) with these final remarks are urged to check out David Maister's Practice What You Preach, Tim Sanders' Love Is the Killer App, David Whyte's The Heart Aroused, and Larry Davis' Pioneering Organizations.

Had to read this one again
I read the original book a few years ago and found the information very inspirational. I was happy to see the updated printing has chapters on corporate downsizing and covered the loss of jobs due to increased technology in the workplace. Now more than ever companies have to work smarter with fewer employees and this book has the insight on getting that job done. I also recommend reading Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life by JoAnna Carey a great week-by-week guide to motivating employees.

A wonderful thesis on the leadership practices
This is a book about bringing out the best in oneself and in the other people. A must read for anyone trying to achieve self-fulfillment and improve their impact on the world.

Most other books on this topic talk about well-known personalities, but this one focuses on the underlying leadership practices using examples of ordinary people as the leaders, in turn emphasizing that each one of us can choose to become a leader. Some books are for a sail-through reading while others are for digesting. "The Leadership Challenge" requires slow chewing and a deliberate assimilation of the teachings and research presented, for the new learnings to become an acquired habit or a second nature. My top-most learning is that leadership is not a place or a peak to be conquered, but rather a skill with which the journey through one's life can become far more fulfilling. The Leadership practices as presented are independent of one's position in an organization, and can be exercised at all levels.

It is about interactions, relationships and what one does to inspire others for uplifting their performance and efficiency. Similarly, it talks about practicing leadership skills in one's own personal life by credible communications, setting standards and expectations, and following fair means to achieve these. Leadership is indeed everyone's business, to seek continuous improvements and not become stagnant in one's life.

"The Leadership Challenge" book stands apart from others by giving examples of ordinary people who overcame their own adverse circumstances to make a differences to others around them. If everyone learns and practices the art of Leadership as presented, it will provide an inner fulfillment by realizing one's own full potential while improving the overall state of affairs in the world.

"Unequivocally superior book on leadership"
As other reviewers have commented; there is a ton of information in this book. I will add; tons of fantastic information! This is a book I have been reading sporadically for the past nine months. Why have I taken so long to read it? I will read it for a while, put it aside, read another book, then return to this one. It is profound. The only book on leadership better than this (maybe): Principle Centered Leadership.

The copy I read was the first edition. I've skimmed through this edition and found that the authors have added websites and other informative stuff to keep it up to date.

Each time I've returned to this book I wonder: why did I ever put it down? If you are a manager or an aspiring leader, like me...Read this one. You'll be glad you did. I know for a fact, this book is required reading for certain business majors.

The foundation for all the others
I know that it's a cliche to call anything other than the Bible, a "Bible," but this is The Leadership Bible, nonetheless. If this is not in your library and a large part of your leadership journey, you are way way way behind the curve. Kouzes and Posner have been conducting some of the most significant leadership reasearch on the planet for over 20 years--and you'll find all that accumulated wisdom in this book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Combining perspectives of "a doer and a teacher" with experiences of two dozen professional service firms representing the ups and downs of the Old and New economies, Aligning the Stars offers detailed analysis of such firms today--and specific suggestions for their future success. Jay W. Lorsch, professor of human relations at Harvard Business School, and Thomas J. Tierney, former chief executive of Bain & Company (and now chairman of its nonprofit affiliate), interviewed principals at successful and struggling law firms, ad agencies, investment banks, and similar institutions to determine the practices that have helped the best thrive. Their conclusion: "Outstanding firms are consistently able to identify, attract, and retain star performers; to get stars committed to their firm's strategy; to manage stars across geographic distance, business lines, and generations; to govern and lead so that both the organization and its stars prosper and feel rewarded." Their book subsequently provides specific ways these "stars" (key performances critical to organizational success) can be "aligned" (via practices and structures that match their needs with those of the business). Lorsch and Tierney progress logically through client-centered strategies, development- and motivation-oriented people systems, corporate structure and governance, organizational culture, and leadership. A final section aims to help readers succeed in these newly shaped environments. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Solid Strategic Foundations for a PSF
Anyone interested in understanding what really drives succcesful PSF (Professional Service Firms) should read this book. This is the first book published by a group of professors at Harvard University that have been studying PSF for the past 10 years.

Not for serious consultants
I've spent over 10 years with Big 5 consulting firms and read this book with a great degree of enthusiasm, given the background of the authors. But I was very disappointed! The book is laced with "feel good" examples about what other firms are doing in running their practices without actually formulating any definitive conclusions or suggestions (as one would find in David Maister's work). It appears more like the authors talking about their experiences/adventures with no particular audience in mind. So if you want to read this book, do not expect any serious advice coming out of it.

Hope this is helpful ... Read more

Book Description

A market leader, this book has detailed but flexible coverage of options, futures, forwards, swaps, and risk managementas well as a solid introduction to pricing, trading, and strategy allowing readers to gain valuable information on a wide range of topics and apply to situations they may face. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Must Have
If you are a student just taken up a course in derivatives or risk management you should have this book. if you find john hull more technical, you have Don Chance who covers options and other derivatives in a greater detail and in more words. everything you want to know about how banks etc have risk mangaement systems in place and market risk instruments is here.

in case you want a greater coverage of options and pricing options, you should definatly take a look at Black Scholes and Beyond by Neil Chriss, a work of art.

Excellent book for concepts
This is an excellent book for non finance majors who would like to grasp the physical concepts behind different derivatives products traded in the OTC markets. The book is ideal for a preperation read for all aspiring to take Financial Engineering / Derivatives as majors in graduate programs.

An excellent books for Derivatives concepts.
If you are interested in the basic concepts governing derivatives without getting into the mathematics of it then this is the ideal book. I recommend this book for any one who is contemplating taking Derivatives as an advanced level course. The book would give a solid foundation to the concepts of risk management.

Understanding Option Theories
This is a wonderful book to have on your shelf for any finance major looking for an understanding of options, futures, and other types of contracts sold in the OTC and exchange markets. The text is fairly easy to follow and provides good examples to help students understand the theories behind option and future markets.

However, I do not feel that this book is for just anyone. Without some financial background I think that this book can be difficult to follow. It is hard to understand the mathmatics behind the theories presented in the text. The diskette is also somewhat disappointing as an aid for understanding the material. The disk only gives Excel generated financial models that you find in the book such as the Black-Shcoles pricing model.

With a good professor, this is a wonderful aid in constructing a foundation for option investing and pricing. And even giving some of its downfalls I would still recommend buying this book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Spawned by a 10-year study of 2,000 firms conducted at Bain & Company, a global consultancy specializing in business strategy, Profit from the Core is based on the fundamental but oft-ignored maxim that prolonged corporate growth is most profitably achieved by concentrating on a single core business. To help companies identify this true essence, narrow their focus accordingly, and move forward in a manner that builds upon existing structure, Bain director Chris Zook and former Bain director James Allen present "a set of practical and proven principles, diagnostic tests, and questions for management teams to use as tools for reexamining or revising their strategies in search of the next wave of profitable growth." Bolstering their argument with real-world examples--including companies such as Disney, which succeeded by taking this approach, and Bausch & Lomb, which faltered by eschewing it--the authors show how to effectively uncover true corporate strengths, elevate them to realize their potential, identify related new businesses that could be successfully added, and even completely redefine a core when confronted with factors forcing such action. (For example: they offer a step-by-step method for mapping "adjacent opportunities" that may prove complementary, ranking them according to potential, and developing strategies to further evaluate and ultimately implement them.) The result is recommended for anyone tired of the management theory du jour who seeks a proven way to propel their company into the future. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Facts and common sense
It is such a pleasure to read a business book free of the gibberish catch-phrases and stilted prose that characterize so many in this saturated segment. Zook's expositions on how companies grow and create value are not driven from guesswork or force-fitting examples into a pre-conceived frame. He started with data and draws the unavoidable conclusions from the data elegantly and simply. Relative market share in a well-defined industry is shown time and again to be a sure way to sustainable growth. Running a business is 95% operations, 5% strategy, but the 95% is useless if the 5% is wrong. This book deals comprehensively with the 5%. Practitioners shouldn't need much else to guide their most important decisions.

Without a Core, Chaos
After a two-year study of the key strategic decisions that most often determine growth or stagnation in business, Zook (with Allen) realized that clients of Bain & Company were eager to share the results of that study. Only later did he decide to write this book, one in which he presents and then develops "a useful framework for understanding and addressing the key decision points encountered in growing a business." He concluded that this framework is practical and could be applied (with appropriate modification) within almost any organization. In the Preface, Zook acknowledges that he was surprised by some of the findings which he briefly identifies. He then observes: "Central to our findings are three ideas: the concept of the core business and its boundaries; the idea that every business has a level of full-potential performance that usually exceeds what the company imagines; and the idea that performance-yield loss occurs at many levels, from strategy to leadership to organizational capabilities to execution." In the five chapters which follow, Zook (with Allen) examines "the types of strategic business decisions that most often seem to tilt the odds of future success or failure." Zook correctly suggests in this book that many organizations cannot resist the appeal ("the siren's song") of "miracle cures" of their problems. Zook focuses entirely on what has been verified in real-world experience, on what is practical, and on what will reliably achieve the desired results of sound strategic decisions.

He and his associates learned a great deal from the study, confiding that "some of the results were quite counterintuitive to us." Several of the findings caught my eye and caused me to challenge a few of my own cherished assumptions. For example, that "the choice of the next hot industry was much less important in driving growth and profitability over the long term than were strategy, competitive position, reinvesting rates, and execution." They also learned that many of the most successful sustained growth companies are actually in lower growth businesses (e.g. Enron in energy, ServiceMaster in basic services, and Bechtel in engineering). Why? Zook suggests that "it might be precisely the difficulty of of these market environments that elicits superior business creativity in the search for new growth out of their core businesses." In other words, these companies ignored "the siren's song" and stuck to the aforementioned "basics": strategy, competitive position, reinvesting rates, and execution. In the last chapter, Zook quotes Sun Tzu: "The more opportunities that I seize, the more opportunities that multiply before me." He then asserts that this phenomenon "is at the heart of growth strategy and embodies the fundamental tension between protecting the core [i.e. 'the basics'] and driving into more and better adjacencies, propelled by greater and greater success."

The various mini-case studies provided are very informative. I also appreciative the dozens of check lists (e.g. "Ten Key Questions for Management"), charts (e.g. 3-1 "Adjacencies Radiate from the Core"), and chapter "Conclusion" sections, all of which serve two important functions: they distill key ideas, and, they can serve as helpful reminders when reviewed later. Obviously, the "goal posts" in today's business world approach and then withdraw, widen and then narrow, with sometimes maddening unpredictability. Wait until they are closer for an easier kick or kick now ("carpe diem") before they begin to back up? Wait until they are wider? What if they become narrower? This metaphorical situation is complicated by the fact that opponents are trying to block the kick in what may well be inclement weather or at least against the wind. Kick now or wait?

One of the most interesting concepts shared in this book is what Zook refers to as "The Alexander Problem." Briefly, Alexander the Great and his armies eventually conquered an area stretching from Mount Olympus to Mount Everest. That was accomplished in less than four years. His resources became overextended. "His sticking point -- the failure to anchor in the core business (in his case, governance) and consolidate a rapid expansion --exemplifies the most common problem across all growth strategy": pursuing the wrong adjacency opportunities. With Alexander's premature death, his empire died with him. He was its core. The same is true of countless companies which expand into related segments which do not utilize, much less reinforce, the strength of their profitable core. "Business adjacencies are growth opportunities that follow a company to extend the boundaries of its core business. What distinguishes an adjacency from another growth opportunity is the extent to which it draws on the customer relationships, technologies, or skills in the core business to build competitive advantage in a new, adjacent, competitive area." Have you ever wondered why at least 70% of all mergers and acquisitions either fail or perform well below expectations? The board members and senior-level executives of those organizations obviously had not read Zook's analysis of "The Alexander Problem" in Chapter 3.

Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out Crawford and Matthews' The Myth of Excellence, Fitz-enz's The E-Aligned Enterprise as well as The ROI of Human Capital, and Collins & Porras' Built to Last.

Very Realistic and very useful
This book is very good, it explains very clearly the different growth concepts with clear definitions, and a very interesting growth matrix. in addition, unlike other books, this book uses a lot of real world examples to illustarte the different concepts and growth startegies. It explains how companies, that succeded, evolved from their core business and developed new products without getting lost in the process. Also, explains why and how some companies failed. The book is realistic, and gives you some tools and matrix that you can apply when analyzing and developing a growth strategy. You should also check out the web site, it has some examples of how to apply the gowth matrix.

Dell has applied this book idea very well
This is a very good book for anyone interest in business strategy. Especially reading it with Creative Destruction. One company which has applied this strategy very well is Dell. Its strategy to stay at the core in PC while adjaceny expansion into Printer, PDA ... etc. It stated in Businessweek that it is entering into the low-end (maybe ignorant by market leader) market for market share first. It is similar to a point mentioned in the book. I guess it has a lot to do with Rollin (one of the head of Dell)

These guys really messed up
This book is clearly overrated -- very simplistic and nothing more than a marketing tool for would-be customers. The book's fatal flaw is probably its praise of Enron and its ability to grow from its "core" ... Read more

Amazon.com

Start with No, by negotiation coach Jim Camp, is a tenaciously contrarian guide to the art and science of give-and-take that proposes a viable alternative for today's prevailing "win-win" approach. Beginning with an inverse premise--that having the right to say "no" and veto any agreement is actually the key to favorably concluding the various deals and transactions we face every day--Camp's procedure counters the common emotion-based urge to compromise ("a defeatist mind-set from the first handshake") with a series of less intuitive decision-oriented actions. "My system teaches you how to control what you can control in a negotiation," Camp writes. "When you do so, you can and will succeed (understanding that success sometimes means walking away with a polite good-bye)." Emphasizing the importance of this underlying attitude, his method combines related steps like defining a mission, understanding the adversary, assessing fiscal and emotional investments, preparing an agenda, and tracking behavior. Each is fully explained, as are associated skills such as how to structure a question to elicit a truly helpful response (e.g., "What else do you need?" vs. "Is there anything else you need?"). Despite its unorthodox manner, if diligently applied, the route that Camp details here may indeed produce winning results. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (22)

doormats, sensitive people...we need this
finally, a book that tells you how to not get the short end of the stick. there is no hype in this book. this book is an instruction manual describing, in very clear detail, how to be in control of any negotiation. that means, anything from negotiating with a difficult teenager to brokering a million dollar deal.

this info really opened my eyes; I'm not a complete pushover, but I'm not some pit bull. i've always shyed away from sales and negotiation because i felt my empathy for others was a weakness. WRONG! this book isn't about being an a-hole, being rude, or being fake. it's about taking your empathy as a strength, of being clever in an elegant way. there are such detailed instructions and examples, i can't see why you can't lift these examples and use them in your life. in fact, right after reading this book, i started using some of the example phrases, and found them very empowering.

finally...the nice people can win and still remain the good guys.

No Is NOT A Four Letter Word!
I couldn't believe my eyes-- someone wrote a whole book about the word NO!

I found this gem by Jim Camp as I was developing a suggested reading list for my own book titled, Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life where chapter six is titled, "Learn to say no -- put YOU first sometimes." I could not find a more thorough negotiating guide than Start With NO. I encourage readers to embrace the strength of this two letter word and Jim Camp agrees that NO is a powerful message!

Don't waste another day, buy Start With No by Jim Camp and Rat Race Relaxer by JoAnna Carey and you will find a new world of possibility.

397 degrees away from convention
well, it isn't that win-win is bad (after all, one enters into agreements which deliver perceived advantages)... the situation is that few think about how to interact for the purpose of most favorable result and nearly everyone is pathologically afraid of getting to a no. camp has it generally correct -- in respect of experienced vs inexperienced negotiators and the meaning of words in context -- and writes well. all in all a good read.

Close More Sales
Using Jim Camps's negotiating tips will definately help me in my sales career. Learning to say "No" is a lot harder than it sounds, but you will be a lot more effective if you can. I found out about this book in the suggested reading list of another effective business motivation book called Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life by JoAnna Carey.

Boring
Half of this book is spent on decrying the "Win-win" philosophy of negotiation. The author flatout says those who search for Win-Win situation are amateur negotiators who need his help. Then he writes about how we all can be a negotiation shark like him and negotiate everyone's shirt off their backs. By this time, he totally lost my interest. I must say, I didn't finish this book. In fact, I regret I read 70% of it. There ARE situations when hardball negotiation tactics are suitable. But to use it all the time without ever coming to a Win-Win conclusion may spell long term disaster. ... 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

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

Reviews (8)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews (2)

Good collection of concepts
This book has a very good collection of most of the concepts related to RFID and is very useful especially for beginners in RFID. I gave only 4 stars as I was dissappointed not to see any examples for any or almost all the concepts explained. For what it costs, I think it makes sense to add some examples liked to some important concepts.

Great book for understanding the concepts and applications
If you are an Engineer looking to understand the history, technical aspects, implementation, standards and details of RFID systems, this book provides an excellent introduction for you.

The chapters are well laid out and paced. The author explains the most common devices and systems available in the market, their technology and concepts quite well. Most of the RFID related standards have been covered along with relevant examples. The author covers such things as the hardware design specifications for devices, software requirements, and some basic RF concepts that are required to understand Transponder and Receiver designs.

If you need specifics about recent products however, you might want to research for other sources of information because this book does not cover vendors and products in detail. For readers without technical background, the book introduces the concepts well; but some content might not be relevant because of the [technical] nature. ... Read more

Book Description

B> Appropriate for courses inOrganization Development, this new edition explores the improvement oforganizations through planned, systematic, long-range efforts focused on theorganization's culture and its human and social processes. The authors presenta concise and comprehensive exposition of the theory, practice, and researchrelated to organization development. The Sixth Edition reflects the most recentdevelopments, advances and expansions, and research in the area of OD. KEYTOPICS: Adds and updates new material to provide the most currentinformation available. Strengthens coverage by adding new interventions and newmaterial. Offers a more lively tone and writing style. Emphasizes theeverchanging paradigms in OD theory and describes several new and importantinterventions in considerable detail. Sets discussions in the rapidly-evolvingcontexts of globalization, intensified competition and collaboration, TotalQuality Management (TQM) and large-scale organizational change.Provides excellent coverage of the organization and its dynamicsfor managers and professionals. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

how about some double loop learning ?
This is a flawed edition of a classic book.
Yes, it is historical in its overview. Yes it is dense with ideas and concepts. It makes readers think that OD/change management is hard work. But this is a good thing. Change aint easy, and intervening in people's working lives is serious business. Lets learn from the past. It also has lots of case explanations, and it does explain the theory clearly. I wouldn't let anyone who couldn't understand it near my consultancy work.

The criticism that it is dated is a bit more on the mark; not because the more recent stuff on change isn't there, it is, but it is tacked on to the material from earlier editions with no thought to the coherence of the book's structure. A shame; it needs a good, new third author who loves the original text to bring it up to date.

Despite the flaws, I give it 5 stars to bring the average up. Those who award it only one star do it an injustice. And, a lesson for the would be change agent, things in life, whether books or bits of our client organization are rarely wholly good or wholly bad..... (ok,ok).

Another good thing, compared to its competitors its small !

Out of date. Great during the seventies!
This book is long out of date. Read either Kotter, Beitler, or Schein.

This book is out of date!
This book was written in the seventies! It shows. I recommend reading something current; such as Cummings & Worley, or Beitler, or Kotter.

Great Resource!
I really didn't care for this book at first, but had to purchase it for a class. As I read the book, it began to grow on me and I found it to be a great resource book, one that you may want to keep in your personal library for future questions about organizational development. This book gives great options on how to get people to work together, how to endure the resistance of people during change, as well as how to make the most of the a sucessful organizational change. I wish I had this book when I was president of my organization and had trouble getting larger groups of people, all with various strong opinions, to work together. This book gives it to you straight, a definite source of relief when dealing with or preparing for chaos in an organization!

This book "fills in the blanks" of OD
The book provides an introduction to the discipline, describing the historical foundations as well as specific applications in both for-profit and non-profit settings. The definition provided is deceptively simple; it is brief, yet completely encompasses the critical elements of OD efforts. What brings me back to it as a text again and again, however, is it's comprehensive list and descriptions of OD techniques. I have yet to find another book that so simply lays out the fundamentals of activities for interpersonal, team, inter-team, and large-scale organizational change. The final chapters deal with issues of consulting and the future of OD.
Because it ranges from a large-scale conceptual overview down to the nitty-gritty specifics of OD activites, it serves as an ideal framework to springboard to other books and readings.

Only caveat: The writing style is not commensurate with the excellence of the content. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Have Your Instructor Standing By
This is a great book if your just getting into business, however if you already know the basics you may want to try something a little deeper. There are quite a few questions this book just won't answer so make sure you go to class. As a supplement to in class lectures and hands on study you will be able to gain alot from reading this text. It offers alot of valuable information in an easy to understand format. I hope you like reading though because it tends to get a little dry.

... Read more

Book Description

This comprehensive and authoritative market leader blends theory, concepts, and applications. Behavioral science knowledge is applied to the development of organizational strategies, structures, and processes. New and expanded material on downsizing, re-engineering, and organizational learning has been added to this edition. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

I agree
I agree with some of the other reviewers who recommended "real world" books by Beitler, Schein, Kotter, and other authors. Cummings and Worley's work is only helpful if you are an academic trying to understand the real world.

The Worst Book on OD
I am an enthuastic OD practitioner who loves the field of OD. I am amazed at how two academics could present OD as boring and lifeless.

Excellent textbook for Organization Change and Dev't Class
As an OD practitioner and faculty who teaches Org Change, I find Cummings and Worley's book superb. The case studies are short enough to use in class. Students find the writing style clear and understandable. And the book grounds its practical advice in theories and models that students can use for years after completing the class. The instructor's guide provides excellent insights into cases, but gives poorly written assessment items for use on tests. All textbooks have tradeoffs. On the academic side, this book lacks references to empirical research that students could follow up on. On the practical side, it lacks comparisons between interventions that practitioners choose from. It doesn't provide a personal wisdom that some readers would want. But it does provide engaging content that's clear enough for students recently out of college and deep enough for mid-career professionals who are reading the book for a class.

Academic Nonsense!
This book is 700 pages of academic nonsense. If you are a practitioner, buy "Strategic Organizational Change" by Beitler.

Too Academic!
This book is too academic. Managers and consultants should purchase Beitler's "Strategic Organizational Change" for real-world advice. ... Read more

Book Description

This well-written, comprehensive book strikes the perfect balance between both the managerial issues and quantitative techniques of operations. A major thrust of the revision includes increased emphasis on information technology and the effect of the Internet and e-business on operations management.A four-part organization covers the strategic importance of operations, designing the operating system, managing the supply chain, and ensuring quality.For project managers and other business personnel who need to manage and improve processes. ... Read more

Book Description

The best business managers and leaders often have an adversarial relationship with each other, yet they have one thing in common: the search for that elusive advantage that will propel them and their organizations to greater success. It explores the practical aspects of the schism between managers and leaders, suggesting ways to exploit this natural tension to gain positive results. Offering a wealth of insights drawn from over 15 years as a top management consultant, Craig Hickman shows the ways in which the strengths of these two distinct personality types complement each other. From the strategic analyzer and the strategy planner to the concrete thinker and the visionary to the nit-picker and the risk-taker--he shows how each individual perspective contributes to overall success. While specific chapters are grouped around five major organizational success factors, it is designed for rapid, random access depending on the reader's interests. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Gets to the heart of most internal corporate conflicts
Hickman's "Mind of A Manager, Soul of A Leader" is 281 pages of lucidly written management insight that goes well beyond the typical dry, anecdotal discourse of the genre. The co-author of "Creating Excellence", Hickman dissects the psychological core of the conflict between the "manager" and "leader" personality types; a conflict he ably shows can be productive if understood and harnessed.

Numerous business scenarios and reality-based interactions are viewed through the perspective of each personality.

One such evaluation is "Conserving Plus Risking" whereby the "manager" conserves assets while the "leader" risks them. The "Plus" refers to the author's ongoing assertion that both can be had by the organization if astute enough to recognize the potential of each. If not, the organization will likely be dominated by one mind-set or the other, losing the value of the missing perspective and valuable resource.

Hickman does well in presenting a balanced view of both perspectives without condescension to either. The value of both to the organization is enhanced by the combination of the two.

The book can be of great benefit to both corporate and entreprenuerial businesses and individuals. The value of the human capital of all businesses is fully realized when the potential of both mentalities is used in concert to accomplish a balanced perspective. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In this third installment in the popular Fish! series, the authors examine change as a necessary, ongoing process that should never stop--at least not if one wants to keep the workplace vital and fully alive. Using a fictitious sushi restaurant as an example, this fable examines the three principles that Lundin, Christensen, and Paul believe are necessary for continuing success: Find It ("it" being each employee's personal vision of the business), Live It, and Coach It. Readers of the authors' previous books--Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results and Fish! Tales--should find its familiarity comforting. For those new to the series, this standalone volume is easy to read and highly valuable. --David Bombeck ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A Good Read!
You're back in the fishing boat with the crew that brought you the successful Fish! and Fish! Tales. Offering another finny fable, Stephen C. Lundin, John Christensen and Harry Paul present a business parable based on creating and sustaining successful change. The book uses the same fictitious approach as the other two Fish!ing trips, but this time the story is set at a hospital's nursing station. The agent-of-change head nurse has departed and the new head nurse feels that the group is losing its vision. Then, she discovers that a local sushi restaurant is a model of excellence, and all goes swimmingly after that. Although the advice offered isn't particularly unique, some may find a certain charm in the story. Given that this is round three, the format may seem a little repetitive to those who have already Fish!ed. If you want to catch the core of the message on your first cast, look for the highlights on the occasional pages in whale-size type. We recommend the basic common sense of these messages, even if the storytelling is a little fishy.

A Good Read!
You're back in the fishing boat with the crew that brought you the successful Fish! and Fish! Tales. Offering another finny fable, Stephen C. Lundin, John Christensen and Harry Paul present a business parable based on creating and sustaining successful change. The book uses the same fictitious approach as the other two Fish!ing trips, but this time the story is set at a hospital's nursing station. The agent-of-change head nurse has departed and the new head nurse feels that the group is losing its vision. Then, she discovers that a local sushi restaurant is a model of excellence, and all goes swimmingly after that. Although the advice offered isn't particularly unique, some may find a certain charm in the story. Given that this is round three, the format may seem a little repetitive to those who have already Fish!ed. If you want to catch the core of the message on your first cast, look for the highlights on the occasional pages in whale-size type. We recommend the basic common sense of these messages, even if the storytelling is a little fishy.

Make your changes stick
I liked this book because it took the parable book concept to a more productive level by teaching readers how to make changes and ideas stick after the story ends. Fish Sticks is like a motivational speaker who gives you solid, practical tips that you remember even after the conference. Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life by JoAnna Carey is another great book for companies to share with employees because it offers entertaining stories and goal oriented advice about improving your workplace and your life.

Don't Starve, Learn To Fish!
An excellent book for our changing work enviroment. Let's face it, the workplace isn't the same as it use to be. you better get on board or be left behind. This book will show you how.

Making change stick
How do you get a group of people to adopt new strategies of coping with change? This story provides food for thought. I recommend you read it along with Optimal Thinking: How to Be Your Best Self. When we use Optimal Thinking, we take the most constructive actions and achieve what is supremely important. ... Read more

Book Description

PRAISE FOR It's Not Where You Start, It's Where You Finish!

"Along her journey, [Hennessy-Ortega] has inspired, motivated, and encouraged thousands of women to believe they too can turn their dreams and goals into realities. You will love this book; it will produce incredible results in your life."
—Rena Tarbet, Independent Senior National Sales Director Mary Kay Inc.

"With a refreshing style all her own, Gillian Hennessy-Ortega uses her down-to-earth wit and wisdom to ignite your belief in what's possible, raise your level of expectation for your future, recognize your potential, and empower you to take a step ahead of t