Book Description

Mediation is a becoming a popular way to resolve legal disputes -- and the need for qualified mediators is growing by leaps and bounds.

If you're ready to explore a profession in this rapidly expanding field, start with Becoming a Mediator. This book is not only your guide to all the different career paths you can follow -- it helps you evaluate whether a career in mediation is right for you.

Written for both lawyers and laypersons, Becoming a Mediator provides:

*a complete overview of what mediation is
*information on where to get training and certification
*practical advice about finding -- or creating -- work
*examinations of careers in mediation, mediation support and mediation-related fields
*sample rules and standards of conduct

This book also includes state-by-state listings of mediation offices, plus a nationwide listing of mediation organizations and services. ... Read more

Book Description

"[An] intellectually stimulating collection of essays." --Business Today How do organizations learn, change, and adapt? The study of "organizational learning" allows researchers to map an organization's past behavior and gain insight into how stream of experience becomes a basis for action in the present. The chapters in Organizational Learning, all from first-rate researchers, contribute to the development of organizational learning theory in three ways. They delineate its scope, differentiating it from ecology, choice, and individual learning. They demonstrate the explanatory power of a learning perspective, and they illustrate the application of research tools useful for studies of learning. Organizational Learning is an essential resource for scholars and researchers in the field of organization and management studies. ... Read more

Book Description

This book provides a forum for leading scholars in organization theory to engage in meta-theoretical reflection on the historical development, present state and future prospects of organization theory as a scientific discipline. The central question explored is the epistemological status of organization theory as a policy science. This is a meta-theoretical question; the object of analysis and debate in this volume is not a set of organizational phenomena, but organization theory itself. By drawing attention to organization theory as a practical social activity, this book reviews and evaluates important epsitemological developments in the discipline. More specifically, the focus is on issues related to the nature of knowledge claims put forward in organization theory and the controversies surrounding the generation, validation and utilization of such knowledge. ... Read more

Book Description

Emphasizing what women bring to the table (such as listening skills and empathy) and teaching readers how to recognize and control traits that undermine their abilities (such as the tendency toward avoiding conflict or sending internal self-defeating messages), this unique guide instructs and inspires women to negotiate to their best advantage in any bargaining situation. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

You Can Find Better Negotiating Books
Exhibiting all the traits of a "good girl" and fuming from my last job review, I thought this book would be a perfect weekend read. By the end, I was bored and this book has been tossed into my pile of rejected paperbacks.

This book is more successful in listing personality traits of a "good girl" rather than giving effective strategies that are sure to lead to bargain table success. There are some negotiating tactics, but they aren't anything new (listen, know how to say no, get things in writing, shop around, think before you sign, etc). Once I finished the book, I knew what made me a "good girl," I knew there were a lot of women like me, and I knew in what situations "good girls" failed, but I still didn't have an applicable strategy for remedying these issues.

For instance, the authors recommend researching your expected salary before negotiating your next job contract. This isn't new advice, and I still didn't know where to turn for this information -- coworkers, online, library? There are a few cases where the authors give resources -- but they are ones I am already familiar with or are too obscure to be useful (what numbers to call when barganing for a casket, find out what your car is worth with the kelly blue book).

And be forewarned, the entire book consists of hundreds and hundreds of anecdotes. It is the reader's responsibility to figure out how to apply other women's successes and pitfalls to herself. While sometimes entertaining, this approach is not going to transform a "good girl" into a negotiating shark.

There are few good points in this book but most of it is just common good sense.

At Long Last a Useful Business Book!
Kudos and thanks to the talented and tough team of Elizabeth Austin and Leslie Whitaker for writing a superb, well-reported and well-written business book not filled with silly metaphors, juvenile imagery and psychobabble. "The Good Girls' Guide to Negotiating" is well-documented and practical with insight, advice and tips for use in many different arenas and life trials. There are success stories and lessons, all written with candor and aplumb, in a style that is readable and understandable.

Perhaps because both women are trained journalists, this book has substance and solid information for application on a variety of fronts, from home to work, volunteer office and even to the funeral parlor. I recommend this book as a graduation gift to any young woman from high school, college or graduate school. It's also perfect as an engagement gift, birthday, guide to someone newly divorced or someone swtiching careers or life paths. This is advice all women can heed, from how to approach a deal to how to feel confident about fees.

So many business books I have read over the years-- particuarly those aimed at women-- appear to be condescending or just plain foolish. They state the obvious in metaphors that may attempt to be mythical but come off as cartoonish. Not so with this welcome book. It is a proud addition to my bookshelf and I suggest the good old boys get a good look at it too.

Way to go, girls, you did good.

A Gift For All Reasons--And All Your Girlfriends!
I read this book upon the recommendation of a friend. At first, I was skeptical since I prefer fiction to non-fiction or self-help books. Still, I trust my friend and the concept sounded intriguing so I went for it. Boy, I wasn't disappointed. I had no IDEA how poor a negotiator I really was in the long run. Here, I thought as a freelance writer and entrepreneur I had mastered the art. Suffice to say, I couldn't put the book down. It grabbed me from page one, with it's candid prose, terrific humor, and dead-on descriptions of how "good girls" (okay, like me) aren't getting what they really deserve.

I saw myself in every case study and practical example of how other women are doing better than I am in this area. I really connected to their stories. In doing so, I learned a ton about myself--including when and where I can improve my negotiation skills. I am excited about applying this information to my own experiences (in fact, I've already started at both work and in my family relationships).

I highly recommend this book to anybody who thinks they deserve more from their interactions with other people but don't know how to go about getting it. I've already bought 15 copies to give as holiday gifts to my girlfriends. (Yes, I'm a planner!) Thanks and kudos to the authors!

Very Disappointing
The book tells you what women do wrong but it does not really teach you how to do it right. The authors interview a lot of people who may know something about the topic but they do not do so in depth. They then string together a lot of quotes without real analysis and practical how to. I should have known from the introduction that the authors were not experts in this area.

Not just for girls!
I plan to recommend this book to all my clients, especially those who feel trapped in the corporate world. I can see why the authors wanted to use the "good girl" theme as a hook, but both men and women get frustrated by negotiating. They know their stuff, from behind-the-scenes at funeral homes to scholarly research on negotiating.

Their tips are very straightforward and right on. They understand the world of home-buying, car-buying and more. They are absolutely right: don't accept what's offered first.
Get information. Find out what the going rate is and don't pay too much.

This is a good book to keep on the shelf. Besides the general perspective, the authors offer direct guidance for specific situations. You never know which one you'll need next. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Helpful guide on negotiating to win...
The author wastes on time getting to the point in this book. It's a quick and easy read, and even if you skim it, you'll still get the main points. I picked this book up and flipped through it and was hooked after the introduction. I recommend this to anyone who is in the process of any important decision that involves negotiations, especially if you're not a good negotiator to begin with...

Used this book with success!
Whenever I have some negotiation to do, I quickly re-read this book. It is well-written with straightforward explanations of the concepts. I've used this book with success while negotiating my job compensation, my mortgate, my car, and numerous other situations. Highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about negotiation quickly.

Couldn't even use my high-lighter!
I am a regular Joe Schome kind of guy. I have not read other negotiating books, so my opinion lacks comparison. I have read this book over the past two months, and I must say I have rarely come across books written this well.

In my opinion, this book teaches exactly what it's title truly says. I was sceptical at first, so I picked up the book to read an excerpt. Usually I will get bored very quickly, and put the book down, but with this book, I was immediately captured. In fact, when I read the book, I found that I couldn't even use my high-lighter, because every single sentence was packed with such unique and important information!

The information is concise, direct, meaningful, educational, and correct. I would say the tone is casually formal. Mr. Reilly draws on his years of experience as a lawyer, covering everything from tactics to strategy, including buyer's remorse, to team negotiating, to when not to negotiate.

I would even give this book as a gift to my worst enemy, just so he could understand when and when not to deadlock me in a negotiation. I highly recommend the book for absolutely anyone at any age, even teenagers.

Personally, I believe every interaction with another human being can be classified as a negotiation. Therefore, this book teaches us how to properly interact in a world where people are different. In my opinion, that skill is a must for everyone. ... Read more

Book Description

"Listen to these audiobooks and you'll never look at life the same again." - AudioFile.

HERB COHEN LIVE - Answering questions from real people with real concerns.

HERB COHEN LIVE - From NEW MILLENNIUM AUDIO.

"The Master returns.This new book is the bible for those who want to negotiate more effectively at work or play." - Larry King. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent expression of Cohen's philosophy and expertise
This is a 2 hour (approx) recording of a seminar given by Herb Cohen, conducted in a live setting. It repeats quite a bit of the material given in Herb's earlier audio books, some of which are not in print. It also adds some additional information, and presents some of the original information in a different style. For the student of negotiation, this is an excellent resource to help explain how Herb Cohen, who is an adviser to U.S. Presidents and corporate America, manages to keep on top of his game. ... Read more

Book Description

Business organizations rarely become extinct due to labor negotiations, but high-profile labor problems can generate serious temporary harm and enormous, unnecessary, largely self-inflicted distraction.

The critical question to ask everyone constantly -- the CEO to the negotiators -- is, "Does what we are doing, saying, or planning, or what we are planning to do and say, get us quickly, directly, and honorably to a contract?"If the answer is anything other than an unqualified "yes!" -- stop doing, stop talking, stop planning, and get the goal back in focus and the process back on track.In this monograph Jim Lukaszewski offers 10 strategies to help you focus on the goal of getting a contract by using principled, honorable communication.

Successful negotiations boil down to clearly identifying your true goals.Goals that involve punishment, hitting back, and testosterosis are weak, defensive, and costly.Leave these behaviors to the zealots and those who don't have a serious interest in peace or your future. Wage peace and healing from the start. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Mislead by a title
Don't be fooled by the title of this piece. [It is called a book] in actuality it's a 4 1/2-page report on general negotiating strategies any management 101 student would know. I made the mistake of not investigating this piece more thoroughly before I purchased it. Don't fall into the same trap. ... Read more

Book Description

In The Skilled Negotiator Kathleen Reardon engagingly describes how to expand on negotiation strategies and develop language skills to enhance success in negotiation. The book is filled with real-life examples   revealing how to detect subtleties in manner and speech that negotiation novices fail to notice. Youll learn how to identify the “choice points” that occur during negotiations, how to influence and redirect the conversation to address what you need and ultimately get what you want.   The author helps you:

• Identify your negotiation style and its limitations
• Use language strategically whether youre being subtle or direct
• Recognize deception and manage it
• Position and persuade artfully
• Effectively negotiate one-on-one and in teams
• Deal constructively with your own and others heated emotions

... Read more

Book Description

Sports facilities, laundry services, cappuccino bars. A ready-made set of companions. A purpose in life. Sometimes work is such a great place to be, you don't even want to leave--not in the evening, not on weekends, and especially not on vacations!

All of this is fantastic for your company, but seriously bad for you, says organizational expert Dave Arnott. These perks aren't merely altruistic gestures on the part of your company. Instead, they're consciously designed to induce you to devote more and more of your time, talent, and emotional allegiance to the corporation--at the expense of your private life, your family, and your community.

And rest assured, says Arnott, corporate cultism is not an isolated phenomenon or a far-fetched concept. Consider the top three factors that Fortune magazine calls the hallmarks of a great place to work: sense of purpose, inspiring leadership, and knockout facilities. Now read the uncannily similar characteristics that define a cult: devotion, charismatic leadership, and separation from community

Both startling expos and insightful self-help manual, CORPORATE CULTS gives you a clear picture of this deeply rooted, pernicious problem. It exposes the cycle of manipulation and dependency that is making unhealthy, "cultish" behavior a commonplace way of life for millions of people.

* You'll study the symptoms of "encultedness," including crushingly long hours, few (or no) friends outside the workplace, emotional attitudes about a job--and a dangerous blurring of "who I am" with "what I do." * You'll learn about companies like Southwest Airlines, 3M, and Microsoft that forge the narrowly focused traits of their carefully selected employees into fiercely loyal and cultish organizations. * You'll read the real-life stories of people whose jobs have become their lives--such as the USAA Insurance employee so enamored of his "compound's" fine facilities that he wholeheartedly proclaimed: "You become a part of this place, and it becomes everything you're about." * You'll take an eye-opening 20-question corporate cult test that accurately measures your own level of cultedness. * And--best yet--you'll discover practical strategies for escaping the lure of the corporate cult...and restoring a healthier balance to your life. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

"What I can do for you...."
The image of the tattoo on the man's head was a little radical for me, and I have to say that it took a while to even pick this book up. I'm very glad I did, however. I noticed that a previous reviewer (or two) became very defensive in their explanation of what a wonderful situation it is to belong to a corporate cult. Like the frog, enjoying the warm water, but slowly boiled after gradual temperature increase, you poor people never even saw it coming. Of course the company provides everything you could possibly need. Of course they reward you for five, ten and fifteen years perfect attendance. Why ever leave the property, when you have a place to eat, take your children, exercise (and yes, even sleep). The joke on the "team" I worked was that we only went home to change clothes. That could be addressed as well, with lockers in the fitness center. Eventually, your entire life is with the company, and this is the danger. Work needs to stay at work, and home at home. When the lines are blurred, I guarantee your life will fall apart. Depend upon it. You may have met your spouse there, take your kids to daycare there, have breakfast and lunch with all your friends there, but at some point, you will realize the high price you've paid. They are taking care of business, not you. They really do not care about you at all. When you retire after 40 years of service while holding your pencil set engraved with the corporate emblem, the question I want you to ask yourself is this: Were the trinkets and certificates worth it? Are you a better person for sacrificing your whole life to show your loyalty and thankfulness? Did all your bowing and scraping pay off? Have you realized your full potential at the expense of your marriage, your children and your sanity (...Although they did come through on hospitalization costs after your nervous breakdown.)? Did you make the right decision?

jealous wannabe
This is written by someone who has obviously never felt the thrill of being successful and satisfied in a job. Corporations need to provide environments where individuals can be the best they can be, while advancing their own personal as well as the corporation's goals. This guy would have us all working in cubicles with institutional green on the walls, and 10 minute pee breaks at scheduled intervals. Professor of Management? My corporation ain't gonna consult with him.

You say that as if it were a bad thing
The cover of this book doesn't really seem to go with the content. The author obviously wants to worry people, to make them aware that Western culture's idea of you=your job is a bad thing. And I agree. This isn't a fault that corporate America has imposed on the world; this is the market adapting to existing societal conditions. People don't live in the same house or same neighborhood all their lives, so they don't develop relationships with their neighbors. Churches are having trouble finding and keeping members. Society values work over these things, so it isn't too surprising when employers begin to fill the needs that are not being met in the workers' personal lives. I, personally, would love to work for an employer who actually cared about my well-being and valued my hard work enough to supply a gym, child care, visiting massage therapists, etc. The author's cause-and-effect theory on this phenomena seems backwards from the reality of life.

I owe my soul to the company store
What if the organization that you worked for found a way to provide you with all of your human needs, including your meals, social companionship, growth, and even personal meaning? Before you sign up, you might want to heed Dave Arnott's warning that you could be walking into a cult.

I found Arnott's treatment of corporate life to be somewhat biased by his thesis that organizations, particularly those labeled as "great places to work," operate like intentionally manipulative cults. The book takes a number of organizational innovations, such as wellness centers and other on-site conveniences designed to make life easier for employees, and spins them into an evil spider's web designed to trap employees into the organizational version of a cult.

While the book provides a very thorough description of the major elements of a cult and how these elements exist to some degree in a number of organizations, it downplays the need for organizations to offer incentives, such as providing on-site day care, wellness centers and dining facilities, in order to attract and retain highly talented employees.

In the end, however, the book does challenge the reader to question the potential downside of organizations who provide such lavish incentives to keep people on their payrolls. Is there a danger that organizations could go too far in their competition for the best and brightest employees?

In an age where organizations are examining ways to tap into the more emotional and spiritual sides of employees, it is a question worth pondering...

Wow--a much-needed wakeup call to many of us.
Some eye-opening insights into corporate life in the late 20th Century, and fascinating reading whether you're in a corporate cult or not. I loved the Cult Test. Are you sure you're not working for a corporate cult? This test will tell you. ... Read more

Book Description

This popular book has now been fully updated to reflect current geopolitical developments throughout the world. It also includes more country profiles -- over 50 in all -- that will truly be useful to anyone, anywhere. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Extremely Informative
I read this book before traveling abroad and found many handy facts to help me in daily social situations. This book gives information on both business and social settings which I also found extremely helpful. Make sure to have a recent edition as country facts and norms seem to be constantly evolving. Easy read with a great touch of dry humor.

READ THIS BOOK
Can be used for an in depth analysis of cultural norms around the world, or can be extremely handy as a quick reference before an important business trip or meeting. This book will put you one step ahead.

or "How to negotiate outside USA if you are an american"
Why only 3 stars?. Ok. Maybe is 4 and a half if you are an american citizen. The reason is beacause many of the information is recopiled from other sources. You can divide the book in 3 sections. One is like extract of an administrative course, like an MBA or something similar. The other are more a "common sense" recomendations, like "don't argue too much", "do not fight with your partner". Like mom's suggestions. And the last one (more than a half of the book) is like an adaptative version of the CIA factbook (avaible on Internet, and of course, up to date), where the author describes for each country a general overview of it, but never profundize on their culture or what about the relation with other country; only with the americans. Let me show you some examples: With my country (México) he suggest not to talk about or borders or the inmmigrants, but never talks about the religion, the political relation with other countries. There is no need to say that the author never talks about the culture, what kind of thinks hates or loves people form different cultures, how and why they act in some ways; he is like saying that japanese or the turkish are almost the same, only they likes somethings and dislikes other ones. He only talks like saying all the time: "(if you are an american)... do not argue with japanese about the relation with USA in the WWII". Welll.. What if I am not american?

At last, is good "general overview" reference book; but basically most usefull if you are an american citizen (and is not complete).

This book will give you the advantage in any negotiation!
After reading this book, I am better able to discuss meaningful topics with members of other cultures. Now, instead of focusing primarily on American cultural views, I can shift the conversation to include many points of view (most important, the listener's)! I recently used the information I obtained from reading Acuff's book during a conversation with a woman from Nigeria. She was so surprised when I asked her if Americans made the mistake of calling her normal clothing, a costume. I was able to empathize with her and to discuss her frustration regarding that particular issue. We now talk every week! I highly recommend this book for both personal and professional growth. The author is down-to-earth and his real-life accounts are interesting and fun to read! ... Read more

Book Description

There are thousands of mergers every year and some estimates say that two-thirds of them either fail or fall far short of expectations. How can executives keep their merger from becoming a head-on collision? In The Human Side of M&A, Dennis Carey and Dayton Ogden argue that most failed mergers looked good on paper--they made financial and strategic sense--but the highly important human element was neglected or overlooked. In particular, corporate cultures often clash and wreck any chance that the firms will work harmoniously together. The authors, who have worked with many companies in the process of merging, draw on their unique experience to show how to address the human side of a merger, revealing pitfalls to avoid and ways to minimize risk. They describe how to assess the quality of the people to determine who are the best in both firms. They argue that the CEOs need to create a new vision for the combined firm (one that differs from the vision of the original firms). And they stress that it is vitally important to move quickly once the merger is approved so that the firms can hit the ground running on the first official day of operating as a combined company. The book concludes with a rigorous statistical appendix that analyzes some of the most successful mergers of the past ten years, validating the book's underlying theme and conclusions. The numbers of mergers vary from year to year, but the strategy of putting two firms with complementary strategic strengths together will continue into the foreseeable future. This book will help ensure the success of those ventures. ... Read more

Book Description

Complexity and Creativity in Organizations is the most comprehensive and thorough book yet written on how the new science of complexity can be applied to organizations. In it, Ralph Stacey invites you to explore how this new science might provide us with more useful frameworks for making sense of life in organizations than the approaches that currently dominate our thinking. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Highly Recommended!
Organizations are adaptive structures that respond creatively to changing circumstances. This responsive evolution takes place on an official, surface level, and also on a deeper, personal level composed of interactions between people. So says Ralph D. Stacey, who combines insights from psychoanalysis, behavioral research, the new science of complexity and other disciplines to suggest ways for your organization to become better at learning and adapting. While the basic concepts of complexity theory presented in this book are steadily gaining popularity, the actual complexity of the book's content might make it difficult for non-experts to follow. Although the book's tight organization keeps chaos at bay, some of the language might leave you at "the edge of disintegration." Nevertheless, we at [...] strongly recommend this book to executives and managers looking to build a theoretical foundation for their organizational approach, in addition to the many academics who will appreciate its systematic explanation of the organizational consequences of systems thinking.

Great application of chaos theory to organizations
Stacey did a good job applying chaos theory to business in this book. He develops a very convincing and interesting conceptual framework for organizations in the future. Although the book mainly focuses on theory, he does provide some practical guidelines and case studies. He repeats the theories quite often and thus, the book is especially appropriate for students who really want to get the jist of the theory. If you read it for fun, all these repetitions might become tedious. All in all, a great book!

Save your money...
While the content should have some value, the cost to the reader to extract the information is so high that the author should pay the reader to read his book. In the first 25 pages of "At Home in the Universe", Stuart Kauffman sucessfully introduces more than Stacey stumbled over in 282 pages. If it's an organizational perspective you want, buy Margaret Wheatley's stuff.

Disappointing in light of Stacey's other work in this field.
Ralph D. Stacey (strategic management, U. of Hertfordshire, England, and management consultant) has contributed for years to our knowledge related to organizations and management. His previous publications primarily served to illuminate the relevance of applying strategic approaches and complexity theory to organization and management in a rapidly growing environment (see for example, Stacey, 1991, 1992, 1993). His latest installment, Complexity and Creativity in Organizations, represents a significant step forward in his thinking by reviving systems theory and integrating insights from a variety of disciplines to create, he proposes, an original perspective. More precisely, Stacey combines his acquired acumen from the fields of chaos and complexity, organizational behavior, biology, and psychoanalysis to demonstrate how complexity concepts may be used to create a framework for understanding organizational processes and learning. During the course of his presentation, Stacey reviews current knowledge in the nature of human networks and complexity theory. He explores the place of complexity in individuals, groups and organizations. He also discusses the implications of applying the complexity paradigm for management research and practice. Complexity and Creativity in Organizations is aimed at "consultants, and managers, those concerned with life in organizations, to new efforts being undertaken to understand life in nature." It is organized into ten chapters divided into four parts: Part I: The Complex Nature of Human Networks, attempts to demonstrate "that human systems are indeed the kind of system that the science of complexity deals with." Part II: The Science of Complexity, reviews literature on "the dynamics of deterministic feedback networks," and explores how some "scientists have come to understand adaptive feedback networks." Part III: Mapping the Science of Complexity onto Organizations, "seeks to locate the space for novelty in human systems and explore the process of evolution in that space." Part IV: Implications of Complexity Theory for Organizations, attempts to illustrate that by adopting the complexity perspective, our understanding of organizational life is "completely different from today's dominant frame of reference." It includes a brief glossary; some expected references; and an index appropriate to the depth of this work. This book is well intended, but falls short of stated goals and purpose. This reviewer was unable to discover sufficient value in Stacey's recent contribution to merit its recommendation. A genuine disappointment considering his earlier, value-adding writings. Stacey's Complexity and Creativity in Organizations fails in areas ranging from the timeliness of his information--it is out dated; to lack of contribution--it's an unfortunate attempt to repackage existing knowledge; to coverage and depth of his subject; to the tone and presentation of the work. His writing style and tone are that of lecturer dealing with elementary school students as he avidly invokes the royal "we" to connect with his readers. He offers paragraphs of immoderate length, some consisting of one sentence. (This reviewer became discouraged trying to decipher some sentences ranging from seventy to ninety-five words. She had to edit them into four or five sentences so she could follow his points. Points which, when understood, were not worth the editorial effort.) As a combined example of "we"-ness in a two sentence paragraph beginning with a ninety-five word sentence advancing too many concepts at once, "let us" consider the following. We have now mapped the novelty onto organizations, and we have found . . . nonlinear feedback system: . . . phase transition . . . stable and unstable zones . . . control parameters . . . at a critical point . . . the edge of system disintegration in which paradox is sustained . . . archetypical behaviors are actualized . . . creative destruction. This is followed by a 33 word sentence which includes two "we"s and the phrases "peculiarity of human dynamics of anxiety-inspiration," "individuation-conformity," "leadership-followership," and "participation-observation render mapping invalid (page 183)." This reviewer places part of the blame for Stacey's presentation on the publisher who seems to have been remiss in the discharging of editorial responsibilities. Stacey may also confuse some by not offering comparable terms from different fields. Those less inter-disciplinarily trained may not recognize, for example, that the term "Shadow system" (to which he has apparently developed a fondness owing to its usage every few pages), is not discernibly different from the concept of "Informal organization" which he does not mention, but is often speaking about. While his book is presented as inter-disciplinary in nature, me thinks and "feels" that Stacey's study of psychology and psychoanalysis have overly influenced his writing. He frequently discusses "how we feel" or "feelings" in relationship to how consultants might analyze a complex organizational situation. His current writing is rich in banality and incomparable comparisons. My personal favorite is when he compares schools of psychology. In one paragraph, he discusses with equal fervor the work of Berne, Freud and Jung. Specifically, he discusses Transactional Analysis (TA) brought to you by Berne in Games People Play. TA was never much more than a popular 1960s parlor game. And Games People Play primarily served as the textual reference to inform the Friday night pop-psychological critiques bandied about by those who had one too many beers. Stacey then proceeds to Freud as relates to anal retentive, anal explusive and orally fixated scripts; and to Jung as it relates to personal archetypes and personal behaviors activated by specific experiences. There are many other problems with this book which "we" do not have the space to discuss. Those deeply interested in chaos and complexity theories as applied to management and organizations are better served by examining earlier, and in my opinion, more informed writing on these topics. See, for example, works by Gleick, 1988; Waldrop, 1992; and Wheatley, 1992. Moreover, a search on the internet concerning chaos and complexity will yield much information on current states of theories, research and practice, as well as discussion groups and detailed bibliographies. Bottom line, this reviewer gained little from this book, but did have a few chuckles. Read Complexity and Creativity in Organizations at your own risk. REFERENCES: Berne, E. (1964). Games people play. New York: Grove Press. Gleick, J. (1988). Chaos: The making of a new science. London: Heinemann. Stacey, RD. (1991). The chaos frontier: Creative strategic control for business. Oxford, England: Butterworth-Heinemann. Stacey, RD. (1992). Managing the unknowable: Strategic boundaries between order and chaos in organizations. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Stacey, RD. (1993). Strategic management and organizational dynamics. London: Pitman. Waldrop, MM. (1992). Complexity: The emerging science at the edge of chaos. New York: Simon & Schuster. Wheatley, MJ. (1992). Leadership and the New Science: Learning about organization from an orderly universe. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler. [Note: the above was excerpted from review by Susan Phelps that appears in "Personnel Psychology ... Read more

Book Description

If you've ever tried to make a deal, reach an agreement, close a sale, or negotiate in everyday business, Smart Negotiating shows you how to avoid the pitfalls and achieve your goals.

James C. Freund is a skilled, seasoned lawyer who negotiates for a living, and the techniques he presents in Smart Negotiating have been proven effective in real-world bargaining situations.

Freund emphasizes basic negotiating skills -- how to use leverage, how to get the information you need from the other side, how to build your own credibility, and the importance of good judgment. He then shows you how to design a winning game plan: how to develop realistic expectations on key issues, choose the right starting position, plan your concessions in advance, and anticipate the final agreement.

Fresh, clever, practical -- and packed with vivid real-world examples -- Smart Negotiating will help anyone succeed at negotiating a deal. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Concise, intriguing, facilitating, a little bit tedious
Freund was able to conceptualize and partly lift the veil above one of the most vague terms - negotiation. Freund facilitated a better understanding of the what, when and how of negotiation. Structured discussion and a sprinkle of good examples bring a concise, intriguing and inspiring message. Though, a bit toward the end, the book lingers in reaching the climax, leaving the reader somewhat confused.

Useful guidelines for bargaining.
I'm sorry, Harvard: bargaining is a part of the real world! James Freund is an experienced negotiation master. Excelent for everybody.

True to life
Reading negotiation books is a bit of a hobby for me. This book is the best that I've read; an ethical yet strong methodology for getting a deal done. Works strong in practice and very professional. On the required reading list at MBA programs. ... Read more

Book Description

Major changes which have occurred since this book was first published have been included in this edition.In particular, the chapter on Germany has been substantially revised and now includes a separate section on easter Germany.The other five countries covered in the book have also witnessed changes in their business culture and these have been taken into consideration.

This book examines the background to business practice in Europe of six major countries: Germany, France, Italy, the UK, Spain and the Netherlands.Each chapter tracks the commercial development of that country in the late 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, focusing on the business environment, special features affecting business, and the response to the EC's single market.The business culture section in each is divided further into business and government, business and the economy, business and the law, business and finance, business and the labour market, business and trade unions and business training, education and development.The test is organized in such a manner to enable cross-referencing between countries, and maps have been included in the new edition.

A well-written and sharply focused compendium
Includes maps for easy reference
2nd edition includes unification of Germany ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Business Cultures in Europe
The title is something of a misnomer because only six countries are presented (Germany, France, Italy, UK, Spain and The Netherlands. Europe is after all slightly bigger. The section on Germany is split in two, East and West, which is not bad, but the information on the former East Germany is by now pretty much out of date. The book is easily read and contains useful information but a little too much of the old stereotyping. ... Read more

Book Description

Despite questions over whether we are `past postmodernism', much debate continues over the potential of postmodern philosophy for organizational theory. Hitherto, there has been no single source which reviews in a thorough and scholarly fashion the work of the major postmodern theorists and assesses their contribution to transforming organization theory.

This book fills that gap. Each chapter in Organization Theory and Postmodern Thought focuses on a major philosopher who has had, or should have, a major influence on organization theory, with special consideration to their impact on management and organization studies more generally.

This book provides an excellent reference for students and academics alike for understanding the key elements of postmodern thinking with reference to organization studies.

Reviews (1)

...Or, How to REALLY Bring About Organizational Change...
Jeff Goldstein's 1994 book "The Unshackled Organization," is considered one of the "must reads" by complexity folk who are in the organizational development business, and it is easy to see why. Little new has been said about the actual practice of facilitating organizational change and development since Kurt Lewin's work in the 1940's, save for perhaps Chris Argryis' and Peter Senge's works. Goldstein's prescriptions for facilitating change tap into the energy of the organizational system itself, and it's natural transformational qualities, leading to self-organization.

Goldstein is a business professor at Adelphi University, and serves on the editorial boards of Emergence and Nonlinear Dynamics, Psychology, and Life Science. Goldstein has been at the forefront of applications of chaos and complexity in business and management for 15 years. He was one of the founding members of the Chaos Network, the first formal professional society to devote itself to these ends, and was one of first presidents of the academic group Society for Chaos Theory in Psychology and the Life Sciences. Goldstein's current work is focused on the history of the concept of emergence, and its implications.

Goldstein states, "this book presents a practical approach to organizational change derived from state-of-the-art scientific research on how systems change". The book is "practical" in that while it does draw heavily from complexity theory, it does so in a user-friendly yet scientifically valid way. Each chapter introduces the theory behind the concept, and then discusses specific approaches and activities that the leader or facilitator could use to implement the concept; the chapter also has numerous short stories to make application of the concepts clear, and cartoons by Hannah Bonner that ground the concepts in everyday life.

Goldstein's work theoretically draws most heavily from Prigogine's concepts of self-organization, and Maturana and Varela's concept of autopoiesis. He describes the characteristics of self-organization as "radical reorganization of the structure of a system; the spontaneous emergence of novel patterns and configurations; the amplification and incorporation of random events; the discovery of creative alternatives for functioning; and the arising of new coherence and coordination amongst the parts of the system". Self-organization is induced by pushing the system to a state far-from-equilibrium; at such a state, the system can be nudged into a different mode (attractor pattern) of behavior by small, random fluctuations from the environment. The environment does not change the system, and the system does not unilaterally change the environment; rather, the environment triggers internal mechanisms that are the source for transformation.

Goldstein demonstrates how self-fulfilling prophecies are commonplace in today's organizations, and how such expectations act as equilibrium enhancers--barriers to change. Goldstein then makes explicit the different ways in which leaders and facilitators can bring about far-from-equilbrium conditions: work with organizational boundaries, connect systems to their environment, difference questioning, purpose contrasting, breaking self-fulfilling prophecies, challenge assumptions, represent the system nonverbally, take advantage of chance and serendipity, and use absurdity.

Let me momentarily step out of the typical role of a book reviewer to give some further credence to Goldstein's contributions. Having been basically mentored into this subject area by Goldstein, I have had the opportunity to "practice" what is being preached here. I have had dozens of opportunities over the past decade to facilitate organizational change efforts, and the list above has quite literally emerged as my strategic game plan. Every one of my successes in facilitating change can be traced to the application of one of these concepts.

Especially noteworthy is Goldstein's method of "difference questioning", which draws from a tradition in family systems therapy. Difference questioning seeks non-concensus by highlighting where differences exist in group attitude and perception; it seeks to "generate differences that make a difference." Difference questioning, in the hands of a skillful facilitator, can be an enormously effective tool for instigating far-from-equilibrium conditions. As an example, I reflect upon one situation where I was facilitating a quality improvement team and we were in our very first session. I asked the group to verbalize what "project success" meant for them--what were the end conditions that would be achieved if we were to be successful in our efforts. Everyone went around and chimed in what might be considered a "standard" response. I noted however slight discrepencies between two members responses. Intuiting that such a difference might make a real difference, I "exploded" the viewpoints of the two to a point where a heated discussion ensued about why the team was put together in the first place. After a tumultuous two hours, the group was in concensus about their mission and purpose and what it meant to "succeed".

In summary, I can only give this book my highest recommendation, as it has very personally and positively affected the way I practice organizational development. Equally important as a scholar, it has showed me the way in which we can transform the physical science of complexity into social science and practice. ... Read more

Book Description

The 50 Best (and Worst) Business Deals of All Time analyzes how and why these deals became bargains or busts (or both). From the purchase of Manhattan in 1624, to the merger of AOL and Time Warner in 2000, author Michael Craig presents examples illustrating how the outcome of mega-deals can depend on clear thinking and the adherence to simple guidelines.

Here's just a sample of what you'll learn:
- The U.S. government tried to buy the city of New Orleans from France and ended up with the entire 800,000-square-mile Louisiana Territory.
- Ray Kroc entered into a ruinous franchise agreement to give birth to McDonald's and how a brilliant real-estate deal saved the business.
- Warren Buffett bet $1 billion on the strength of Coke's brand name and made $10 billion.
- Michael Robertson paid $1,000 for the Internet domain name MP3.com and turned it into a nine-figure fortune. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Highly Recommended!
Michael Craig, a securities attorney, describes the basis for success or failure in 50 big money business deals. He examines the strategy, risks and personality dynamics involved. Craig highlights 10 rules for success he gleaned by observing patterns in these deals, rules you can apply to your own business transactions. This well-crafted book groups several deals to illustrate each rule, although many of the deals reflect several principles. At the end of each story, the author recaps the lesson at hand and explains what went right or wrong. While executives, company owners, and those who do deals for them will find this book especially valuable, we at getAbstract also recommend it to general readers, who will enjoy reading these inside accounts of well-publicized deals.

Michael Craig at his best
After having read many business and political articles by Michael Craig, I'm glad to see his talent has finally been noticed by publishing houses. This book is not only entertaining but a must read for anyone in business or anyone considering starting a business. Oh, to have this book 100 years ago!!!

Terrific book -- readable, smart, even fun
This is when business is at its most exciting -- when the façade of carefully laid plans and beautifully executed plays fades into a reality of last-minute decisions, Hail Mary passes and ego-driven competitiveness. This book looks at 50 such moments, dividing them into ten categories, such as "Do Your Homework" (The disastrous formation of Cendant from the merger of HFS and CUC Int'l) and "Take Advantage of Your Adversary's Weakness" (John Kluge buys and breaks up Metromedia). From small but critical decisions (Michael Robertson purchases the domain name MP3.com) to gigantic transactions (Quaker Oats acquires Snapple), from those that worked out beautifully (Berkshire Hathaway purchases Coca-Cola stock) to those that failed miserably (Novell acquires WordPerfect), deals are dissected. What emerges is a compelling case that dealmaking, at least as much as running a company or creating products, is what separates good companies from bad.

Mike Craig is one of my very favorite business writers. As he's demonstrated time and again on the website that I edit, he's in possession of one of the rarest traits in business writing: hands-on knowledge of how deals are put together. Having defended, sued, represented and antagonized dozens of public companies over his decade and a half as a corporate attorney, Craig knows how these deals are put together. Better, he knows how to explain them with flair.

This book is at its best when Craig is taking a company to task for a bad decision. Sony's ruinous acquisition of Columbia Pictures is gleefully detailed, from the initial overpayment to the hiring of Peter Guber and Jon Peters at inflated rates to the way Sony laid down when Warner sued them for hiring that duo. You can almost hear Craig giggling as he chronicles the missteps.

One of the best business books you can find
Who would have thought the world of big business deals could be so lively? Sure, there have been a few books focused on particular big deals - like the RJR Nabisco deal - but very little in the way of interesting writing on other business deals. I was sold on the quality of the book from a story in the Introduction, where the author explains how, as a young attorney, he witnessed a hostile takeover - emphasize hostile - settled when the parties were locked in a room with spoiled lunch meats.

I think the book will appeal both to business junkies with a high degree of expertise - maybe they'll find themselves lauded or skewered - and relative newcomers to the genre. Craig seems to be able to take some complex, far-ranging deals and boil them down to the essentials (why the deal was done, who the personalities were, what the terms where, who the winners and losers were, what the great/bad decisions were), while still keeping a "flavor" to the explanation.

Some of the most interesting chapters are about deals you usually do NOT think about as big business deals. He has a chapter on Priscilla Presley and the founding of Graceland. He explains how Microsoft owes virtually all its success to a really slick deal in 1981. He describes the sale of Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1920 as a business deal. Same with the Louisiana Purchase. And he doesn't just describe these deals, he tells you about the people involved, their motivations, and the results.

Because it's got the 50 deals (and another "nifty 50"), it's light reading. It would make a great holiday gift for anyone interested in business.

A.H. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A great value
I took a chance and ordered this book because it was a "Bargin book". That was the best $9.99 that I have spent in a long time. It is a quick read and gets right to the point. I have used some of the techniques recommended and see their positive results. I noticed that my boss has a copy in his office now!

A great value
I took a chance and ordered this book because it was a "Bargin book". That was the best $9.99 that I have spent in a long time. It is a quick read and gets right to the point. I have used some of the techniques recommended and see their positive results. I noticed that my boss has a copy in his office now!

A great value
I took a chance and ordered this book because it was a "Bargin book". That was the best $... that I have spent in a long time. It is a quick read and gets right to the point. I have used some of the techniques recommended and see their positive results. I noticed that my boss has a copy in his office now!

A great value
I took a chance and ordered this book because it was a "Bargin book". That was the best $... that I have spent in a long time. It is a quick read and gets right to the point. I have used some of the techniques recommended and see their positive results. I noticed that my boss has a copy in his office now!

A great value
I took a chance and ordered this book because it was a "Bargin book". That was the best [price]that I have spent in a long time. It is a quick read and gets right to the point. I have used some of the techniques recommended and see their positive results. I noticed that my boss has a copy in his office now! ... Read more

Book Description