Amazon.com

Disciplines like strategy, leadership development, and innovation are the sexier aspects of being at the helm of a successful business; actually getting things done never seems quite as glamorous. But as Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan demonstrate in Execution, the ultimate difference between a company and its competitor is, in fact, the ability to execute.

Execution is "the missing link between aspirations and results," and as such, making it happen is the business leader's most important job. While failure in today's business environment is often attributed to other causes, Bossidy and Charan argue that the biggest obstacle to success is the absence of execution. They point out that without execution, breakthrough thinking on managing change breaks down, and they emphasize the fact that execution is a discipline to learn, not merely the tactical side of business. Supporting this with stories of the "execution difference" being won (EDS) and lost (Xerox and Lucent), the authors describe the building blocks--leaders with the right behaviors, a culture that rewards execution, and a reliable system for having the right people in the right jobs--that need to be in place to manage the three core business processes of people, strategy, and operations. Both Bossidy, CEO of Honeywell International, Inc., and Charan, advisor to corporate executives and author of such books as What the CEO Wants You to Know and Boards That Work, present experience-tested insight into how the smooth linking of these three processes can differentiate one company from the rest. Developing the discipline of execution isn't made out to be simple, nor is this book a quick, easy read. Bossidy and Charan do, however, offer good advice on a neglected topic, making Execution a smart business leader's guide to enacting success rather than permitting demise. --S. Ketchum ... Read more

Reviews (126)

Execute optimally!
This book describe a necessary leadership behavior in the Execution paradigm -- Insist on realism. As thinking is the basis of action, this concept requires more exploration and explanation. Prior to the introduction of Optimal Thinking into the corporate world, the pervasive motto was Think Positive. Optimism promotes persistence, but it is a poor strategy when the cost of failure or probability of failure are high. With the current integration of Optimal Thinking into leading corporations, the transformation from AnyCorp (consisting of any thinkers) to Opticorp (consisting of Optimal Thinkers) empowers the corporate culture to practice optimal realism. Optimal Thinkers accept what is out of their control, and optimize what is within their control. Using Optimal Thinking to ask questions like, What is within my/our control here? What are my/our options here? What is the worst event scenario? What is our optimal contingency plan? What is in our best interest? What is our highest priority? What are the best actions we can take to achieve it? What is the best thing you/we can do under the circumstances? empowers us to set clear priorities, and take the most constructive actions to follow through -- essential for optimal leadership and optimized execution. Execution-driven leaders who thrive on accountability and reward performance, must select the right people for the right jobs. This is achieved with Optimal Thinking. Read these two books, get your key people to read them too, and you will OPTIMIZE productivity.

Leadership for the real world
Reading "Execution" and pondering its theses is a lot like listening to your mother telling you to eat your broccoli: There are other things you'd rather have, but in your heart you know it's the right thing. Much of "Execution" is plain old common sense; to move a business forward, everyone from the CEO downward needs to work to make things happen.

A refreshing departure from the fuzzy style of most leadership books, "Execution" is invaluable for up-and-coming business leaders of all stripes, though its focus is primarily senior management in very large organizations. Some readers will find that Bossidy and Charan spend a lot of time re-stating the obvious. For every "ah-ha!" moment this book presents, there are at least two "well, duh!" moments. But in light of many of the problems facing businesses today, the obvious bears repeating.

Others will find that "Execution" barely scratces the surface of a highly complex series of topics, and will want a greater diversity of business cases. Much time is spent fawning over Jack Welch at the expense of other, equally deserving business leaders. To that end, a sequel or a companion workbook would be helpful. But for getting managers thinking about their jobs in a new and beneficial light, "Execution" accomplishies its goal admirably. Much like broccoli!

The book that Jack should have written.
This is perhaps one of the best business books I have ever read. Unlike many books which use extensive academia and complex formulas which rarely see the light of day or work well outside of a controlled environment, this book is simple. That said this simplicity can be a bit deceiving. When I worked for GE, as did Bossidy and Jack Welch, the concepts which turned that business into a global leader in industry were remarkably simple. It wasn't the simplicity of the ideas, but rather the ability to get a hundred thousand people executing flawlessly on them that makes the difference.

In the book Bossidy describes how he personally would ensure execution occurs within his businesses. Start with the right people. Too many times we assume people are merely interchangeable cogs, but great business leaders who get results know differently. Chapter 5 discusses the responsibility and focus required to ensure the right people are in the right jobs. Even as a CEO he spent up to 40% of his time on developing and hiring the right people.

Another interesting aspect is the ability to speak directly and level set expectations and have a firm grasp on reality, regardless of how painful that reality may be at the time. Throughout the book is example after example that illustrates the value of direct conversation and clear feedback and communication. As you read the book, look for not only the content of what is discussed, but how it is discussed. Nearly always the method is to truly listen and engage people in a dialog which will set expectations, and ensure misunderstandings or mixed messages are limited. This allows people to focus on what needs to be done instead of being distracted with politics and other non value added issues.

While some may see the content as too simplistic, those same people are usually unable to deliver results in the same manner as Bossidy did at GE, or Honeywell. The value of this book is both in content and style.

The book itself is never dry, is easy to read, flows smoothly in conversational format, and is highly engaging. Highly recommended to anyone in a business situation who wants to improve execution and results.

Standard business consulting verbiage
I was hoping that this was a down-to-earth book with interesting and useful ideas like Built to Last or No Excuses Management. Alas, it's just a standard, boring, fluffy business book filled with many more words that are called for. It might be worth reading if you're stuck on an airplane with it.

A must for serious business officers
The principles of the book helped us move our stock from $1 to $6 in 2 years. I not only like the book, I now use it as a tool for my consulting business. It helps focusing on the essential and provides a template for structuring a business for success. I believe that it can be adapted to any venture.

I recommend it because of its simplicity and connection to reality. If you have managed operations, you will appreciate this down-to-earth layout of how to steadily drive your business or evaluate another business. Use that approach and you are above 99% of the business crowd out there. I am grateful. ... Read more

Amazon.com

IDEO, the world's leading design firm, is the brain trust that's behindsome of the more brilliant innovations of the past 20 years--from the Applemouse, the Polaroid i-Zone instant camera, and the Palm V to the "fat" toothbrushfor kids and a self-sealing water bottle for dirt bikers. Not surprisingly,companies all over the world have long wondered what they could learn from IDEO,to come up with better ideas for their own products, services, and operations.In this terrific book from IDEO general manager Tom Kelley (brother of founderDavid Kelley), IDEO finally delivers--but thankfully not in the step-by-step,flow-chart-filled "process speak" of most how-you-can-do-what-we-do businessbooks. Sure, there are some good bulleted lists to be found here--such as thesecrets of successful brainstorming, the qualities of "hot teams," and, towardthe end, 10 key ingredients for "How to Create Great Products and Services,"including "One Click Is Better Than Two" (the simpler, the better) and "GoofProof" (no bugs).

But The Art of Innovation really teaches indirectly (not to mentionenlightens and entertains) by telling great stories--mainly, of how the bestideas for creating or improving products or processes come not from laboriouslyorganized focus groups, but from keen observations of how regular people workand play on a daily basis. On nearly every page, we learn the backstories ofsome now-well-established consumer goods, from recent inventions like the PalmPilot and the in-car beverage holder to things we nearly take for granted--likeIvory soap (created when a P&G worker went to lunch without turning off hissoap mixer, and returned to discover his batch overwhipped into 99.44 percentbuoyancy) and Kleenex, which transcended its original purpose as a cosmeticsremover when people started using the soft paper to wipe and blow their noses.Best of all, Kelley opens wide the doors to IDEO's vibrant, sometimes wackyoffice environment, and takes us on a vivid tour of how staffers tackle a designchallenge: they start not with their ideas of what a new product should offer,but with the existing gaps of need, convenience, and pleasure with which peoplelive on a daily basis, and that IDEO should fill. (Hence, a one-piece children'sfishing rod that spares fathers the embarrassment of not knowing how to teachtheir kids to fish, or Crest toothpaste tubes that don't "gunk up" at themouth.)

Granted, some of their ideas--like the crucial process of "prototyping," orincorporating dummy drafts of the actual product into the planning, to work outbugs as you go--lend themselves more easily to the making of actual things thanto the more common organizational challenge of streamlining services oroperations. But, if this big book of bright ideas doesn't get you thinking ofhow to build a better mousetrap for everything from your whole business processto your personal filing system, you probably deserve to be stuck with themousetrap you already have. --Timothy Murphy ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Less than expected
The Art of Innovation is the story of the famous Palo Alto based design firm, IDEO. The book is easy to read and moves quickly. The author, Tom Kelley, is the brother of founder David Kelley. Tom is the General Manager and is an ex-management consultant. This is important because the book really devolves into a light treatise on business management practices. This makes sense since given Tom Kelley's responsibilities at IDEO and his background. It also explains the Tom Peter's Foreword. If you like Tom Peter's books, you will enjoy this book.

If you are looking for real insights into the IDEO design process you will be disappointed. Most of the insights are of a personnel management nature, and even those are at a relatively high level. Mr. Kelley pokes more than a few veiled barbs at the slow industrial giants who simply cannot compete with the brain power and management prowess at IDEO. That may sound sarcastic, but Mr. Kelley's pride in his company often crosses that fine line into arrogance.

There are a few actual projects described to point out how valuable a certain IDEO practice is. There are repeated references to IDEO's contribution to the invention of the Apple mouse and follow-up work on the Microsoft Mouse. Also, a great deal of time is spent talking about the redesign of the common shopping cart that was done in one week for a segment on Nightline. I know that IDEO has had many important clients and recent important projects. Perhaps they can't talk about them because of non-disclosure agreements. There are color pictures of some products at the beginning of each of 15 chapters but often there is no mention of those products in the text. Some black & white photographs of products and the IDEO workspaces also accompany the text. There are no diagrams or illustrations.

A great deal of the book outlines the emphasis that IDEO puts on the treatment of their employees and their penchant for quick and frequent prototyping as a key to success. All projects start by assigning a "hot" team and letting them brainstorm and prototype their way into some great ideas. No details are given on how the teams are formed or managed.

This book is for you if you are looking for a light management practices book and just a little insight into a premier design firm. You will probably be disappointed if you want to find out how products are designed or what specific processes are used to manage the design process. You also will not get a great deal of competitive information about IDEO. The book assumes that you have at least a general idea of what Industrial Design is about.

Tom Kelley admits that workshops about the "IDEO way" have been turned into a profit center. They give seminars on how to organize product development at client companies. I could see IDEO including this book with their seminar, or perhaps they could give it to a prospective client to whet their appetite. It definitely leaves you wanting more information. I am left wondering, "How much is that seminar, and will they let me in?"

Innovation for Fun as Well as Profit
There are dozens of excellent books which discuss innovation. This is one of the best but don't be misled by the title, "Lessons in creativity from IDEO, America's leading design firm." Unlike almost all other authors of worthy books on the same subject, Kelley does NOT organize his material in terms of a sequence of specific "lessons"...nor does he inundate his reader with checklists, "executive summaries", bullet points, do's and don'ts, "key points", etc. Rather, he shares what I guess you could characterize as "stories" based on real-world situations in which he and his IDEO associates solved various problems when completing industrial design assignments for their clients. "We've linked those organizational achievements to specific methodologies and tools you can use to build innovation into your own organization...[However, IDEO's] 'secret formula' is actually not very formulaic. It's a blend of of methodologies, work practices, culture, and infrastructure. Methodology alone is not enough." One of the greatest benefits of the book is derived from direct access to that "blend" when activated.

It is extremely difficult to overcome what James O'Toole characterizes, in Leading Change, as "the ideology of comfort and the tyranny of custom." He and Kelley seem to be kindred spirits: Both fully understand how and why truly innovative thinking encounters so much resistance within organizations. Whereas O'Toole suggests all manner of strategies to overcome that resistance, Kelley concentrates on the combination ("blend") of ingredients which, when integrated and then applied with both rigor and passion, may (just may) produce what Jobs once referred to as "insanely great." What both O'Toole and Kelley have in mind is creating and sustaining an innovative culture, one from within which "insanely great" ideas can result in breakthrough products and (yes) services.

"Loosely described", Kelley shares IDEO's five-step methodology: Understand the market, the client, the technology, and the perceived constraints on the given problem; observe real people in real-life situations; literally visualize new-to-the-world concepts AND the customers who will use them; evaluate and refine the prototypes in a series of quick iterations; and finally, implement the new concept for commercialization. With regard to the last "step", as Bennis explains in Organizing Genius, Apple executives immediately recognized the commercial opportunities for PARC's technology. Larry Tesler (who later left PARC for Apple) noted that Jobs and companions "wanted to get it out to the world." But first, obviously, create that "it."

Kelley and his associates at IDEO have won numerous awards for designing all manner of innovative products such as the Apple mouse, the Palm Pilot, a one-piece fishing mechanism for children, the in-vehicle beverage holder, toothpaste tubes that don't "gunk up" in the cap area, "mud-free" water bottles for mountain bikers, a small digital camera for the handspring Visor, and the Sun Tracker Beach Chair.

With all due respect to products such as these, what interested me most was the material in the book which focuses on (a) the physical environment in which those at IDEO interact and (b) the nature and extent of that interaction, principally the brainstorm sessions. In the Foreword, Tom Peters has this in mind when explaining why Kelley's is a marvelous book: "It carefully walks us through each stage of the IDEO innovation process -- from creating hot teams (IDEO is perpetually on 'boil') to learning to see through the customer's eyes (forget focus groups!) and brainstorming (trust me, nobody but nobody does it better) to rapid prototyping (and nobody, but nobody does it better...)." Whatever your current situation, whatever the size and nature of your organization, surely you and it need to avoid or escape from "the ideology of comfort and the tyranny of custom." Granted, you may never be involved in the creation of an "insanely great" product but Kelley can at least help you to gain "the true spirit of innovation" in your life. I join him in wishing you "some serious fun."

This is the way I would run my company
This should be the first book you read when you get out of college. Much of what Tom Kelley says would probably make your boss turn away, going against many theorems taught in management classes.

But just maybe he is re-defining the perfect environments for the the ideas that change the way we interface.

a handbook of innovation
It is a handbook for innovation, the book share the experience of IDEO, the methods and the work practice to generate new ideas and the process of turning ideas to product. The first one is observation, people many ignore this point or pay little attention on that point. Tom mentioned a point that, we should user-oriented. Observed people how actually use a product instead of only interview them. Because some of customers are lacking product knowledge they cannot express the difficulty of using the product, even they do not fully utilize the product, so you may only get limited insight from interviewing them only.
I know that many people know the term of Brainstorming, which is a method of ideas generation. However, how to have a good brainstorming is a difficult task.

The third process is making prototype. It helps to solve the problem in 3-D, and let you know the problem or mistake in early stage of the process.

The last insight is about the quality of the team members. They should broad in their skills and interests, deep in their knowledge and experience in one or more disciplines. All these could enhance the cross-pollination. All they should accept the divest within the team.

Waste of time.
Reading this book is a waste of time. I know, It is tough to explain how someone can do innovating thinking etc. But this book does not help any. Read books on mindmapping instead. ... Read more

Book Description

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

Reviews (13)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brain Bending!
5 stars is not enough!

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

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

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

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

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

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

A tour de force!

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

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

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

Book Description

Can You Predict the Future by Looking at the Past? Since accurate forecasting requires more than just inserting historical data into a model, Forecasting: Methods and Applications, 3/e, adopts a managerial, business orientation. Integrated throughout this text is the innovative idea that explaining the past is not adequate for predicting the future. Inside, you will find the latest techniques used by managers in business today, discover the importance of forecasting and learn how it's accomplished. And you'll develop the necessary skills to meet the increased demand for thoughtful and realistic forecasts. New features in the third edition include:
* An emphasis placed on the practical uses of forecasting.
* All data sets used in this book are available on the Internet.
* Comprehensive coverage provided on both quantitative and qualitative forecasting techniques.
* Includes many new developments in forecasting methodology and practice. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

This book has the formulas.
Chapters 3 and 4, and on covered the vital information that is useful for inventory system forecasting at the SKU level, and for measuring the accuracy of the forecasts. This book was extremely helpful in that regard. Highly recommended.

Down to earth, practical guide on forecasting.
The book provides coverage of three important areas:

- Basic forecasting tools and methods - summarizing data, statistical tools, regression, as well as some material on more advanced forecasting methods
- Data preparation - time series decomposition, smoothing methods
- A discussion of the issues involved in forecasting - long term versus short term forecasting, accuracy of forecasts, the importance and limitations of judgmental forecasts and combining these with statistical forecasts

I was fortunate enough to stumble across this book in a colleagues office and believe this book should belong in every market research professional's shelf.

More of a reference text
I used this text for an undergraduate course in Industrial Forecasting. Unfortunately, the text is not very good if you actually want to learn new material from it. It is better suited as a reference text for you to look up equations and concepts after you have already learned them.

Excellent Examples and Practical Approach
This book was not only recommended, but given to me as a MUST READ at work. Excellent practical approach to the theory with a minimum of formulation. Good practical examples and demos. I recommend it as a training manual for new analysts on the job.

forecasting
forecasting, economics, business cycles, economic activity, business environment ... Read more

Book Description

It is now a third of a century since the 1967 publication of the first edition of the pathbreaking Introduction to Operations Research, when the field was still relatively new. A great deal has changed since then in regard to both developments in the field and evolving pedagogical demands of students. The seventh edition, in both regards, brings the book fully into the twenty-first century.

This new package contains version 2.0 of the CD-ROM, in which all of the software has been updated. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A General Book on OR
The above book is among the best ones in the field of OR. Readers having a poor background in Math will not appreciate it whatsoever. I firstly used this book nearly 20 years ago and I dare say it has become a classical book in its field. It is therefore a must for everyone into the OR area.

A bright "Star" in the OR SKY!!!
Very good book! Can be used as a reference for practising engineers or as a Text-book in a class room at the Senior under-graduate class or in a Masters program. I used this book 25 years ago and now the 2001 edition is very well written and organized, addressing the 21st Century problems in OR. For Personal PC applications the CD is of great help for any one who want to succeed in Operations Research!

introduction to operation research
i wanted more info about this book.please send.

A decent math book.
First off the fact that the book isn't crammed full of proofs makes it easier to follow and understand, some of the examples are made overly complex, but the software that comes along with it are excellent. The Interactive Routine software is outstanding, the big M method was never clear to me until I worked though the routines. The problems are somewhat relavant, but I would have liked to have had more answers in the back of the book.

Ignore bad reviews of this book
I've been doing operations research for a number of years now, and I still use this book. I find it really incredible, in that it is the best-written book I have ever seen in this highly mathematical area, with no second! It introduces topics so well that I can skip right to the chapter covering the topic in which I am interested and catch the maximum continuous learning gradient from the global minimum to the global maximum, complete with a survey of and references to the latest research in the field. It's very up to date. The courseware makes it so that even an idiot could understand what is going on. If you can't learn operations research from this, you can't learn operations research. And if you want a quick refresher, an update, or a survey of field X, it accomplishes these equally well. ... Read more

Book Description

Operations Management, 7/e surveys the field of operations in both the services and manufacturing sectors.Provides enhanced coverage from the strategies of designing a product or service, through the processes and systems of making and delivering the product, and controlling the operations.All the standard topics are covered with concepts and supporting examples, problems, cases, and appropriate current news clips and readings.Stevenson highlights the very important role Operations plays in today’s business world with concise coverage of concepts such as JIT, TQM, supply chain management with more thorough integration of services and increased use of real world examples.All basic quantitative techniques are presented, many in supplements that can be highlighted or bypassed depending on the course structure, and all are supported with step-by-step examples and solved problems, many including example solutions built into Excel spreadsheets.The text is the most widely adopted of any for the introductory course mainly due to the balanced coverage and clearly explained concepts. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Interesting Read
This book is an easy read, lots of pictures, examples w/ solutions and definitions give clear understanding with a follow-up example. If you're into operations, get this book!

authors think we have no brains
the book is written with a lot of unnecessary details that are just common sense. The exersises are ok but too much stuff that was not important

Easy text to follow
Used in MSCI classes. Easy text to follow with alot of examples, no case studies though. The most valuable item though is the student cd-rom. It's a great tool, especially the excel worksheets-which are easy to use. Explore the cd-rom and you'll know what I mean. ... Read more

Book Description

A Hands-on manager's guide to making the most of today's product development breakthroughs

A quarter century after MRP first transformed the global manufacturing arena, Next Generation Product Development stands poised to similarly impact new product development. This movement-defining book gives R&D professionals an in-depth explanation of the ways in which companies are able to achieve substantially higher levels of development productivity, while better aligning product development with strategy through new practices and systems.

Processes explored in Next Generation Product Development, and enabled by cutting-edge new-enterprise software, promise to explode the possibilities of what product development professionals can accomplish. This hands-on practitioner's guidebook will:

• Establish a common set of frameworks and concepts
• Introduce new project portfolio and product strategy management practices
• Help R&D professionals increase productivity by 30 to 50 percent

Reviews (2)

Buy the book and begin...
Review of:
"Next Generation Product Development" by Michael E. McGrath

The last paragraph of Michael E. McGrath's newest book "Next Generation Product Development" boldly states that "product development has never been for the faint of heart." And I suspect that most everyone who has ever been involved in such activities will quickly shake their head "yes" to this "truth" statement, and quietly wish there was a better way. Fortunately in his new book McGrath guides us to this better way--a way that offers "more opportunity and promise for getting better new products to market faster, WHILE DOING MORE WITH LESS." The claim is nothing short of a renaissance of product development capability.

I like this book a lot. I like the multi-faceted emphasis on integration. I like the productivity theme and the need for new management processes. And I like the idea that we are only beginning the renaissance of product development capability, especially given the growth of collaborative development.

I confess that I do not like the continued use of the DCM abbreviation (it stands for "development chain management.)" But I suppose I can learn to live with another "alphabet name" because it does get to the heart of the matter--how to manage a lot of INTERDEPENDENT projects, all of which are going on at the same time. Of particular importance are McGrath's thoughts involving a "networked team," new concepts which I think will be fundamental to tomorrow's successful product development.

To join this renaissance, exactly where does one begin? McGrath offers three entry points: changes in resource management, changes in project management, or changes in strategy management. I suppose someone will try all three at once, but frankly just one is probably a lot for an organization to swallow. For different entry points McGrath offers us guidance, with levels of maturity assessments and/or stages of implementation. But even still, there is a lot of material to assimilate and multiple readings of many book sections will be needed to fully comprehend his recommendations.

However I suggest that you don't spend an excessive amount of time studying. Organizations mainly learn by doing, and this book lays out the "learn by doing" path toward success. Past generations of development have emphasized invention, project management, or time-to-market. This next generation is a path toward productivity within the entire development enterprise. It is a path toward "better decision making, better investment in R&D, better return on that investment, more collaboration with external partners, and true empowerment of development activity."

I suggest that you buy the book and begin.

Nils L. Dailey
N.L. Dailey Associates

A Clear and Compelling View of the Next Generation in PD
Michael McGrath has done it again. He has articulated a clear and compelling description of the next major generation in product development - the R&D Productivity Generation. The new generation builds on the major accomplishments of the last generation, which McGrath calls the Time-to-Market Generation. Whereas the TTM Generation primarily focused on getting individual products to market as quickly as possible, the R&D Productivity Generation will focus on the most effective and productive use of a company's total R&D capability (both internal and extended enterprise) to drive overall corporate revenue, profit and market share.

During the TTM Generation from 1992 to 2000, benchmarking studies determined that the R&D Effectiveness Index (the ratio of new product profit to R&D investment needed to create new products) doubled from 0.5 to about 1.0 across all industries. Over the next ten years, McGrath forecasts that the R&D EI will double again to 2.0 driven by the processes and systems of the R&D Productivity Generation. The message is clear. Companies that lead the way in implementing the R&D Productivity Generation will gain significant competitive advantage in the market place.

Through out the book, McGrath illustrates the new processes and systems using an example company, Commercial Robotics, Inc. CRI is a hypothetical company, but represents the kind of advances that are now being made at many different corporations. The example gives compelling evidence for the benefits that accrue to a company that systematically implements the new R&D Productivity Generation.

For all committed to product development excellence, from senior management to individual contributors, the Next Generation Product Development is a clear view into the future and what it will take to be world class in the decade ahead. ... Read more

Book Description

The market-leading textbook for the course, Winston's OPERATIONS RESEARCH owes much of its success to its practical orientation and consistent emphasis on model formulation and model building. It moves beyond a mere study of algorithms without sacrificing the rigor that faculty desire. As in every edition, Winston reinforces the book's successful features and coverage with the most recent developments in the field. The Student Suite CD-ROM, which now accompanies every new copy of the text, contains the latest versions of commercial software for optimization, simulation, and decision analysis. ... Read more

Book Description

This text provides a survey of the most innovative techniques and methods for managing operations in services and manufacturing. It presents all concepts with a real-world perspective based on the extensive global consulting work of the lead author, Dick Schonberger. Thistext is unique due to its customer-focused approach.Using the authors 15 principles as a framework for organizing the textThis text stresses teamwork, quality, and customer service in both manufacturing and services, as well as traditional topics such as product and service design, purchasing, inventory, location and layout, and scheduling are also included. Quantitative coverage is de-emphasized. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Mixed - good survey and quan, weaker on soft subjects
Fairly good survey book. Having an undergrad operations background, I found this book mirrored the strengths and weaknesses of a more detailed operations curriculum. Book is best in framework and quantitative model overviews, weaker on softer subjects like staffing, project management, & holistic quality.

Highly over-rated . Full of fluff
If your MBA professor offers Schonberger as the answer to 21st Century Operations Management, seek a transfer quick. Obsessed with a touchy-feeling "quality paradigm", there is not enough meat here to frighten off the most zealous vegetarian. The chapters on "managing projects" and "facilities management" are especially shallow. ... Read more

Book Description

In his best-selling book Japanese Manufacturing Techniques, Richard J. Schonberger revolutionized American manufacturing theory and, more important, practice. In that breakthrough book, he revealed that Japanese manufacturing excellence was not culturally bound. Offering the first demystified explanation of the simple techniques that fueled Japan's industrial success, he demonstrated how the same methods could be put to work as effectively in U.S. plants.

Now, in World Class Manufacturing, Schonberger returns to tell the success stories of nearly 100 American corporations -- including Hewlett-Packard, Harley-Davidson, General Motors, Honeywell, and Uniroyal -- that have adopted the famed just-in-time production and "total quality control" strategies. Based on his firsthand experience as a major consultant to American industry, he examines how they did it -- and illustrates how the same concrete, specific steps used by these top companies can be implemented in any factory today. What's more, Schonberger shows that his bold concepts and reforms apply equally to all industries, whether the product is computers, pasta, or trucks, and to all divisions -- from manufacturing and engineering to accounting and marketing.

According to Schonberger, world-class manufacturing depends on blended management -- rather than domination by a separate group of managers -- which marshalls resources for continual rapid improvement. To achieve world-class status, companies must change procedures and concepts, which in turn leads to recasting relations among suppliers, purchasers, producers, and customers. Acknowledging the difficulty inherent in such changes, Schonberger stresses that employee involvement and interaction, both on the shop floor and in the decision-making/problem-solving process, is key. Wary of those who view improvement in terms of modernizing equipment, he points out that making maximum use of people and current machinery is a company's first priority; automation, if necessary, should come much later.

World Class Manufacturing also includes Schonberger's 17-point action agenda to guide innovators toward manufacturing excellence, from getting to know the customer to cutting the number of suppliers, reducing error in production, and deciding when and how to automate.

Indispensable for all manufacturing innovators who aim to keep ahead of the competition, this inspiring, groundbreaking volume does much more than just recommend or theorize about the new manufacturing approach. Plainly, realistically, and logically, it explains how it's done. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Best Book of Its Kind
I bought this book almost exactly 10 years ago at the MIT book store in Cambridge, Mass. Frankly and without exaggeration it changed my life (I run a manufacturing operation). Since then I have bought copies for friends.

There are some just dramatic examples in the book of how one can streamline a manufacturing operation to improve output and increase quality. To get your attention the author compares plants that are run by Japanese with old eqipment but using the systems outlined in the book for quality and productivity with American plants and there is a shocking tenfold difference in favour of Japan. Not ten percent but 1000 percent difference in output.

Obviously if you have an interest buy and read this book. It is excellent.

Jack in Toronto

Highly Recommended!
Richard J. Schonberger, author of the critically acclaimed book, Japanese Manufacturing Techniques, which revolutionized American manufacturing theory and practices, now examines how world-class manufacturing techniques can be implemented by American corporations. This 1986 classic remains valuable, since manufacturing changes do not happen overnight, and plenty of companies are far from world-class in their approach to efficiency and productivity. Schonberger writes clearly, authoritatively and often amusingly, covering every element of world-class manufacturing in detail. We at getAbstract recommend this book for everyone involved in the manufacturing process, not just mangers and executives, but all employees who seek a context and a future for their work.

If you want to manufacture better-- here you go.
I must say that I first read this because I had to, but onceI did it (really, now) changed my outlook on production. The author details not only the whys of good manufacturing practice, but also the hows and then goes into many case studies to demonstrate that he's not just blowing smoke from his ivory tower. Even better, the stuff works! One division of my company got hooked on the "World Class" bandwagon before it came into vogue. I went to tour their facility and I swore I had walked into Schonberger's book. Anyway, applied correctly, this book can turn your systems upside down and make you more profitable than you can almost imagine (inventory turns over 100? Believe it!). The best thing is that all this happens by developing employees and truly giving the line responsibility for production to the individual line workers. Tough stuff for most companies to even consider, and perhaps my only criticism of the book is that the author doesn't give an accurate picture of how long a transition from "traditional" management to World Class Mfg can require. Our facility worked for six years to get it right, which is actually very good for this transition (he says allow for a 10 year plan in his 1996 sequel, also excellent). Anyway, I'm putting theory into practice in my own mfg line, and thankfully I have this book to guide me. I'm buying copies for everyone in my production team and we'll "go back to school," so to speak. Wish me luck. ... Read more

Book Description

Move step-by-step through proven solutions guaranteed to keep all your projects on track. The Project ManagerÆs Desk Reference, Second Edition, by James P. Lewis, gives you a template for managing projects of any size from start to finish, a 16-step process for planning, monitoring, and controlling any project. As you explore specific situations taken from today's fast-moving business environment, the author's easy-to-understand approach shows you how to confidently put together a project plan using Work Breakdown Structures, PERT, CPM, and Gantt schedules. You learn how to conduct risk analysis, and assemble and manage a problem-solving team to eliminate potential stumbling blocks and complete the project on time and within budget. In the second edition of this hands-on toolbox, you get updated examples, illustrations and figures, checklists for every stage, plus lists of associations and powerful websites. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Ideal for those that want to be introduced to Project Manag.
Project Manager's Desk Reference is a complete, well-written guide about Project Management intended to college students and to any person not familiar with this subject.

The topics covered by this book include Project Planning, Scheduling (PERT), Controlling (Earned Value Analysis), Reporting/Evaluating and Risk Analysis. The book also discusses other subjects that certainly will be faced by the Project Manager, like how to Improve the Communication Skills, how to Solve Problems and Making Decisions.

This book is not intended to experienced managers that need more tools to conduct their projects. These people should look for specific books about the aspect of Project Management that they need to deep into, like Risk Management.

Solid
This is direct and to the point. Lewis' writing style is solid and very readable. He does not have a pretentious know it all attitude like so many authors have today. Not only is this an excellent desk reference, but it also can guide you through the essential concepts needed for effective PM duties.

Clearly Written and Easy to Understand
This book was a Required Book for a Project Management college course that I took. The book gives a good overview of the basic Project Management techniques that everyone uses, however, it does not get into real detail about some topics. It is good for the beginning Project Manager, or a student, but I wouldn't recommend it for someone studying for their PMP exam. The PMI PMBOK is a better reference for studying for the exam in my opinion.

The best book in project management
As the name states, this is really the desk reference for any one want to understand all the different aspects of project management with reasonable depth. It covers all the different project management parts without being neither too broad nor too specialized with referral to other text books in case the reader wants to read more about a specific topic. I do recommend for three types of readers, a. New project managers or anyone who wants to be a project manager, b. A project manager by experience and s/he needs to learn the rules for project management and how to be do things professionally, c. Any project managers even the highly experienced ones as you really won’t stop checking it from time to time as a reference book. The author has a perfect talent of holding all the lines togather and goes through the book in steady steps.

Still the old standby
For a project manager with little or no experience, this remains the book to keep on the shelf for times of trouble. It's a good introduction for students and has one or two moves that some of us might not have thought of. That said, it doesn't go into as much depth as it could, and is rather selective about which techniques it's going to detail. ... Read more

Book Description

Chris Albright and Wayne Winston have brought their hallmark teach-by-example approach to the undergraduate spreadsheet modeling course. Renowned for their other successful texts in operations research/management science, Winston and Albright successfully show how spreadsheets are used in real life to model and analyze real business problems. By modeling problems using spreadsheets from the outset, SPREADSHEET MODELING AND APPLICATIONS prepares future managers for the types of problems they will encounter on the job. Real cases throughout the text further cement this book's status as the most relevant of its kind on the market. This text is also accompanied by Palisade Corporation's professional spreadsheet add-ins, DecisionTools® Suite. ... Read more

Book Description

Flowcharts teaches how to create and compare different flowcharts that outline the sequence of steps in a process.The information is presented in a straightforward, easy-to-understand manner through a series of exercises and case studies.Users of Plain & Simple Series learn how to select the right tool for the task at hand, collect the right data, interpret the data, and take appropriate action based on their findings. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Simple yet very useful
There's almost no reference on the market today about flowcharting basics and their usage for different purposes. Since the basic information is vital for whom plan to begin process mapping, this book is a very good beginning to understand and teach the team the flowcharting basics and different types of flowcharts which can be selected according to your needs. Examples and hints are also very useful. ... Read more

Book Description

Supply Chain Logistics Management is exciting and promises to bolster traditional logistics courses and invigorate supply chain management courses, by examining traditional logistics issues within the context of the supply chain.Most textbooks approach this subject from a limited perspective, studying only internal functions of an organization to the exclusion of issues that relate to the entire supply chain.Supply Chain Logistics Management, provides a solid foundation that clearly describes the role of logistics within the supply chain, portraying a complete view of the subject and going farther to show how all the pieces fit together. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

an extremely good teacher on supply chain management
The authors of the book are quite well-known as professors in Michigan Uni.It is one of the best book for a new-comer or student to supply chain field.It owns a lot of industrial insights as supporting cases and also, quite a few other useful data and tables.The theoretic structure of the book is quite fruitful and helpful, especially to whom wanna have a clear and complete picture of the supply chain management.It not only discuss the issues of logistics and supply chain management, but also, which I think is much more constructive, provide the reader a whole new view of the business operation and management.It raises the question how to run a successful and competitive firm and offers some useful ideas to help the reader to reach the conclusion by himself.It is quite a good book for students to use at class and read off class as well.Of course,managers who interested in supply chain and logistics should appreciate it very much! ... Read more

Book Description

This useful guidebook is the only intercultural text that explains the differentorganizational behaviors between Germany and the United States. The comparative method is usedso that the reader is able to immediately grasp where the differences are and become conscious ofhis or her own national uniqueness an ideal tool for overcoming interculturalmisunderstandings.Whether German or American, this book will stimulate your understanding ofboth sides to an increasingly important partnership-equation. Examples are drawn from both the United States and Germany. Interactive case studies andchecklists confirm the main points. A reading list guides you to further learning. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

One of the best books about the topic !
I'm German, but I have lived for some years in Maryland.

While I don't agree with every detail, I think most of the stated analyisis is true.

After reading plenty of books about German and American culture, I recommend this book as one (perhaps the) best about this issue in the market.

Even the book provided evidence about in the book mentioned cultural differences because it is much more sophicated and detailed than American books usually are.

Great primer for newcomers, helpful to practitioners
The book is a great resource for any newcomer to the subject(s) at hand. For those of us with actual hands-on experience in dealing with both, German and U.S. culture, the book is very helpful as it solidifies and/or corrects one's own perceptions and impressions.

Uncovering semi-conscious attitudes
An edifying and amusing examination of the different business methods and attitudes to personal relations in the two countries. An eye-opener to the inbuilt assumptions which cause so many misunderstandings in professional and social life. A "must" for businesspeople who want to be global players.

Very funny stereotypical stuff
I had to laugh when the author told us that one of the worse insults an American can give is someone is 'a total bore'. Otherwise, this book points out some interesting comparisons and contrasts between German and American cultures.

An unbelievable insight into American-German relations
Engaging into American-German business ventures without first reading this book is like trying to pass a math exam without knowing the difference between subtraction and addition! All joking aside, reading this book is far more entertaining and rewarding than a typical mathematical treatise. If you don't succeed working with Germans or Americans after reading this book, then I suggest you stay within your national borders! ... Read more

Book Description

This highly respected book presents strategic and managerial issues in order to emphasize that the decisions made by operations managers should be consistent with a corporate strategy shared by managers in all functional areas. It presents the operations tools and techniques for solving problems in the context of achieving a firm's overall goals and strategies, and provides a balanced treatment of manufacturing and services throughout.The book blends the latest in strategic issues with proven analytic techniques, and offers a wealth of interesting examples to engage readers and bring Operations Management to life. This sixth addition adds an increased emphasis on processes, to provide linkage between operational issues, as well as new problem-solving software and a website with innovative Internet resources. Other coverage includes operations as a competitive weapon, operations strategy, managing technology, total quality management, statistical process control, capacity, location, layout, supply-chain management, forecasting, inventory management, aggregate planning, resource planning, lean systems, and scheduling.For operations managers in a variety of fields. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

mental tools to help tame complexity
I used this book during my MBA studies. It was okay, but I found it got a little detailed and too wordy at times. A more succinct writing style may have helped. Otherwise, the coverage was top-notch, since I really liked the material. The various inventory, forecasting and queuing models were nicely presented, as was linear programming. This book makes you appreciate how complex things are in the real world. Further, it offers you some mental tools to help tame that complexity, like SPC, six-sigma indices, and decision tree analysis.

The companion disk had some very useful things on it: MS Project, a simulation program, and a process-mapping program. I did not use the author's Excel program, though, as we were forced to develop our own during the class.

6th Edition Lacking
We used this book for an MBA course and found it to have numerous errors throughout. Additionally, many of the sections are written to an audience of imbeciles, as the concepts of "repeatability" and "globalization" are explained in extreme detail. The text needs to be updated, especially the section on ERP (no longer in infancy stage). Nothing against Coach K, but the editors for this book have dropped the ball.

Superior text on Operations Management
I used this book in my MBA studies and found it to be one of the best texts in any subject. As the subtitle suggests, it covers both strategic and analytical (or tactical) aspects of ops mgmt.
The book is a well rounded presentation of of the subject using text, graphics, equations, examples, and cases.

The most striking part of the book is in Aggregate Planning. For anyone who has worked in industry, we all know about strategic plans. How often though are other working plans created that are well linked to a strategy? Chapter 14 is the first time I have encountered a treatise on how to approach this. In addressing the types of plans, levels of plans, and their inter- relationships, the student is given the tools needed to actually implement a grand strategy, linked to workable sets of more detailed plans for each function.

Outstanding.

a great book!
found the book quite educative. I think it covers the main topics of operations management very well and in depth.

A very good book to students and professionals
I used this book at FEI , where I studied Industrial Engineering , and it was a very rewarding experience. The book is very well written and easy to understand, combining strategic and operational issues in a excellent way. The charts, graphics and pictures are also very helpfull to visualize the problems and makes the book neat to read. My only complains goes to the little chapter on operations research and also the MRP chapter should be more extensive. ... Read more

Book Description

As a consultant, Kiyoshi Suzaki has helped scores of Fortune 500 clients improve manufacturing operations and get the job done faster, cheaper, better, and safer. Now, in this detailed "operating manual" -- full of more step-by-step applications than any other book available -- Suzaki spells out new options in production and employee resources that can help American industry regain the cutting edge in price, quality, and delivery of products.

A well-known expert in the field, Suzaki begins with the premise that "if it doesn't add value, it's waste" -- a concept devised by Henry Ford and later used by Toyota. He recaps what Toyota identifies as the seven most prominent forms of waste in factories. Most importantly, he meticulously details steps individuals can take to "simplify, combine, and eliminate operations" -- thereby reducing waste, improving quality, and saving money.

Describing in detail the basic techniques culled from Japanese industrial philosophy and procedure, Suzaki shows how small, family-run businesses and billion-dollar American corporations from a wide range of industries -- automotive, electronics, cosmetics, and even defense contractors -- are meeting the manufacturing challenge today -- demolishing the widely held belief that most American manufacturers have become distribution organizations for products manufactured overseas. In addition, he links his methodology with several successful production systems, from Just-In-Time Production, Total Quality Control, Total Productive Maintenance to Computer Integrated Manufacturing. Throughout this practical handbook, he places emphasis squarely on the shop floor and grounds his approach in easy, yet powerful techniques everybody can understand and implement today.

Illustrated with numerous charts and exhibits, The New Manufacturing Challenge shows how to integrate people and techniques to improve the workplace and, thus, strengthen any company's competitiveness in the global marketplace. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The Classic that transcended the time
I still go back to this now a classic to get the sense out of it. There are many techniques, ideas, but more importantly, it points the appreciation of people engaged in the process of continuous improvement as a core to drive us to move forward. Whatever way people may call this stuff, the person who discovered the principle of improvement cannot but to move on in his life for the betterment.

By the way, there is a 3.5hour video correponding to this book still available at SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers). Read the book, share the examples, confirm the principle, practice the heartbeat of improvement, and keep on moving forward.

Good luck!

Continuous Improvement Principles
This is an easy read book with some excellent ideas. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to improve something. The ideas can be used also in service and general life -- although primarily aimed at manufacturing.

And still we have more Japanese authors leaching on to varia
This book could have been written by taking exerps from other books on TPS and rearranging the pages. Same old, same old more same old.
We need an American's view on the practicle application of TPS not advice from some guy from Japan who doesn't have the faintest idea of American culture or people. So there!

5 stars plus
This is THE book for hands-on actual implementation of lean production techniques. This book answers the difficult problems accompaning implementation of the Toyota Production System. It is written in an easily understood straight-forward style. In my opinion this is the best book on boosting shopfloor efficiency. It does not shy away from discussing the problem areas. The author proves he has "been there and done it". An example is the Kanban system usually described in most books as a sytem where cards control the shop floor work flow. This book describes in detail various Kanban systems to