Book Description

Learn More. Study Less.

The 4th Edition of the PMP Exam Prep is a Course in a Book and is used in 43 countries to help project managers pass PMI's PMP Exam. It contains not only sample exams but detailed review materials, games and exercises based on accelerated learning theory and insider tips. PMP Exam Prep was developed to help you learn more and study less - up to 70% less than using conventional study guides. It contains information about core concepts of project management, information on the PMP exam that is not in the PMBOK and helps you understand how the PMP exam is constructed.

The 4th edition has over 100 pages more than the 3rd edition, 300 changes and much more information about the new area of professional responsibility. It focuses on the areas of the PMP exam where students score the lowest and contains tips about how to study and what to study. ... Read more

Reviews (78)

PMP Exam Prep
I used this book along with the PMBOK as my primary study references. I found the following to be true concerning this text:

1) Great Layout: Each section is layed out according to the PMBOK's organization. This greatly assists the reader when referring from area to area.

2) Solid Information: Rita provides information you need to know to be a solid Project Manager. In addition, she provides enough information to the level of granularity needed to pass the test. A key diagram I felt very helpful is her overview of the steps (in order) needed to go through the Project Lifecycle from Initiating to Closing. And at times, she lets you smile as you read :-).

3) Practice Tests: I concur with a previous reader. The questions are more difficult in Rita's books than they are on the actual test. However, Rita's questions make you think through the process and promote a deeper level of understanding that is needed to answer the "simpler" questions on the PMP test.

The only drawback of Rita's books are the lack of additional questions. A CD is provided that is sold seperately (Fast Track). I would have preferred a few more questions that the 24 demo questions for the price of the book.

The bottom line--I passed the test. My recommendation. Read the PMBOK and understand inputs, tools, outputs, and flow. Buy Rita's book to greatly enhance understanding. Then buy another book with additional practice questions as well.

Surprisingly effective!
First things first, I passed the PMP certification exam! I did not take any classes or workshops, I relied exclusively on the PMBOK, the 'PMP Exam Prep' by Rita Mulcahy, her practice CD, and the thick and not-so-effective 'Project management - a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling' by Harold Kernzer. I have to admit that when I first received the pricey 'Exam Prep' I was disappointed by its format (amateurish) and what seems to be, at the time, shallow content. I also felt that the sample questions were scarce and essentially designed to lure you into buying the practice CD. However as I started to study for the PMP exam I felt that the book was very effective and a much needed complement to the PMBOK. It went straight to the point, told you what was important to memorize and what was not, and gave you tricks. It rapidly became my 'cliff notes' for the PMBOK and was instrumental in helping me pass the exam. Bottom line it found that the book was surprisingly effective and despite its high price tag, it ended up being worth every penny. I would stronly recommend it to anyone who is preparing for the PMP exam.

Good book but not complete!
A good project manager will take a balanced view of IT, learn the business and gain mastery of software development disciplines. Would recommend that project managers also consider reading books on enterprise architecture.

Highly overrated
This book does present some material well. But it is more of an advertising teaser so you'll buy the whole kaboodle paying several hundred dollars. Or worse you'll be motivated to take her course paying thousands of dollars.
PMP exam prep has definitely been a growing industry. The certification is by itself overly hyped up. Sometimes it all seems like a scam. One can pass PMP by just reading a bunch of prep books. Just because someone is a PMP doesn't mean a squat.

overhyped
This is a good list but far overpriced considering the alternatives. Try Phillips! ... Read more

Book Description

ASW's Introduction to Management Science: A Quantitative Approach to Decision Making provides thorough, application-oriented coverage in a very readable writing style. This is the leading text on the market. Simply put, it's a classic!The problem-scenario approach introduces quantitative procedures through situations that include both problem formulation and technique application.The extensive linear programming coverage includes problem formulation, computer solution, and practical application. The text covers transportation, assignment, and the integer programming extension of linear programming, as well as advanced topics like waiting line models, simulation, and decision analysis. A large selection of problems includes self-test problems with complete solutions and case problems.Excel spreadsheet appendices are included as well. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

katz
Trust Me. This is the only book that you'll need to get started started in this area. The authors have done an excellent job in producing such a work, that takes care to explain all the details of management science.

I used this text for my professional exams (CIMA) and the it was great. All the chapters in this book are cleanly written to take that I doesn't leave anything unexplained. However, the following chapters are the ones that I like the most in this book:

1. Introduction to LP
2. LP: Sensitivity Analysis: Amazing work here.
3. LP Applications: formulation of problems in this chapter may be bit difficult at first, but keep reading and you'll learn and appreciate the work that the authors have put in.
4. LP - Simplex Method: My favorite chapter. Is highly readable. This one chapter alone is worth the book.
5. LP - Simplex Sensitivity.
6. Integer LP
7. Project Scheduling - Great, well written chapter, another favorite of mine.
8. Decision Analysis - Good but the problems are repetative.
9. Markov Process - An introduction only, but the application of markov process to accounts receivable anlaysis is very useful for anyone wondering about the applications of markov processes.

Overall a great book that is worth its price. ... Read more

Book Description

Over two million copies in print of the classicpersonal wealth parable

Millions have been helped by the famous "Babylonian parables," hailed as the greatest of all inspirational works on thrift,financial planning, and personal wealth. In language as simple as the Bible's, this modern classic shows the way to the road to riches. ... Read more

Reviews (227)

An Old Book with a Fair Amount of Wisdom
I often give this book out as a gift whenever a person younger than me asks for my advice on money. I always present this book to them saying "if you read it and do as it says, it will work magic." It really contains excellent, time tested advice, and would make a good gift for someone in their early 20s who is on their own for the first time, and struggling.

The book is a series of parables about money written in the 1920s by George Clason. They were written as individual essays of a few thousand words, but the theme throughout them is consistent -- save 10% of your money, give 10% away, use 10% to reduce your debt load, and live on the remaining 70%.

The stories in the book are entertaining; they are reminiscent of some of the parables in the Bible, such as the Prodigal Son or the story of the Workers in the Vineyard. I think this is intentional on the part of the author; certainly readers in the 1920s had an appreciation for "old fashioned stories with a moral" that people today seem to have lost. I enjoy the book greatly, though, and any thoughtful person who reads the book should find it interesting, especially if they are trying to get their finances in order.

This knowledge is Golden and Timeless
This book is so beautiful in its simplicity. It provides the quintessential, capitalistic concept that the majority seem to miss- on saving and investing. This book is not the in-depth 21st century read about investing wisely in today's markets, rather it is the all time read to acquiring and investing your wealth. It shows how everyone, even a lowly trashman can one day retire comfortably as long as he learns the "ways of money". It provides the basic concepts and you apply your current scenarios. Every time, without fail, you will come up with one thing: how to build your wealth. This is the TRIED AND TRUE method to increasing your worth. This IS NOT the get rich quick book you might be expecting. This book teaches you how to save, make your money work for you and in general how to be a lord of your wealth (or wise in the ways of money), as opposed to your money ruling you. Timeless and priceless knowledge that every single person not living under totalitarian or communistic rule should know so that they can seek their own financial freedom.

Timeless, simple truths...
This incredible little book was recommended to me for many years because of the texts inspirational qualities, in terms of offering timeless simple truths concerning thrift, financial planning and the value of a good work ethic. The formula offered for financial independence is highly practical and workable. Promoted as success secrets of the ancients, the text is written in parable form, similar to the bible, which gives the entire work a credible quality. I know from personal experience, that with persisitence, a good work ethic and a strong will to succeed; one can achieve a modicum of financial prosperity. Which, by the way, includes enjoying the fruits of one's labours. "Enjoy life while you are here. Do not overstrain or try to save too much...live otherwise according to your income and let not yourself get niggardly and afraid to spend. Life is good and life is rich with things worthwhile and things to enjoy." (20) In other terms, the lesson offered is a practice in moderation, not letting one's behavioural pendulum swing too far either way, but earning well and living well in the mean is a key to achieving a happy life. If you read any 'financial success' book this year, let it be this one.

Simple wisdom but SO powerful
First published in 1927 this is a parable, a story set in ancient Babylon, focusing on the simple ways to set yourself up for financial success. Excellent book.
Lori
www.communecate.biz

A book worth reading over and over
I think that some people underestimate this book due to it's small size. This is NOT a book that you will want to read only once and put away, you will NEED to read this over and over untill the ideas saturate both your conscious and subscious minds and untill the ideas become habits. Then you will achieve some real results. ... Read more

Book Description

This text is used at more colleges and universities than any other business law text. With the perfect balance of tradition and innovation, this benchmark text brings to life the functions and inner-workings of business law in the real world. Rich with classic and modern cases, West's Business Law is the ideal text for students entering virtually any field of business. By combining this market leading text with a complete supplements and technology package, this is the one clear choice in business law courses. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Wonderful text that is very readible
Some texts can be so completely dry, and this one has the potential to be so. Yet this book reads easily, and is kind enough to emphasize much of the text with highlights, boldings, and other wonderful devices to help draw your attention to important details. This book also has a fantastic variety of cases to point out certain aspects of the law. I would definately recommend this one if you are studing the law!

Fine textbook and great home reference
This book is even better than the excellent business law textbook I used (but no longer have) in college in the late 1960's. It has all the utilitarian features necessary for a textbook but likewise has enough depth and user-friendliness for a home reference tome.

The only significant criticism I can offer is that, for a book in this very high price range, it should have a more durable binding. It does have full cloth-covered hardback covers *but* the page section is only "perfect-bound" (i.e., pages held together merely with glue) rather than having a sewn binding. It seems to me that a ... book should have a sewn binding! I've noticed how most books classified as "textbooks" have such very high prices yet have rather cheap bindings. It's no wonder a college education costs a small fortune these days--- the textbook price alone is enough to drive one into penury, and even then the book(s) will eventually fall apart under very heavy use.

Anyhow, this book is wonderfully useful in its content and for that reason I recommend it highly.

It's difficult for self-studying person
I am using several business law textbooks for my self-study.Comparing to others,this book is difficult to understand.The selection of the Cases differs from others which makes me confused.Structure of the content differs too.It's a complicated book to understand for a self-studying person.

Adequate for the undergraduate college student
After 21 years of teaching, both in private college and law school, and as a 23-year legal practitioner, licensed in Hawaii and New York, I perhaps have too much technical knowledge of the law to pass judgment on a text meant clearly to cover, in an almost glib and obsessively-current fashion, virtually the entire spectrum of the law.

That being said, the text is useful in plowing through the sometimes grandiloquent excesses of law terms and concepts in mostly plain English. Its major flaw is trying to accomplish too much with too little. The multitudinous case decisions are often so short as to reveal little of the policy reasoning behind the law, certainly a key to a would-be manager or businessman. Concepts, when explained, are often truncated, leaving students somewhat bewildered. Coverage of products liability is a case in point -- the question constantly arises: why hold a manufacturer liable without fault? There are correct answers given, to be sure, but they are not fully explained and college students often tend to look at fault rather than economic analysis when a product injures a consumer; the economic concept of strict products liability is hardly an intuitive one, but it is crucial to those students who enter into products manufacture and distribution.

One also wonders why the constitution, criminal law, torts, and such are placed in a business law text. They have minimal relation to the real-world of business and there is just too much information already, even for 2 terms, to cover adequately. I would exclude or minimize these kinds of topics.

Properly the authors have cut back on certain areas which in prior editions constititued perhaps 5+ chapters each. But this is the flip side of the coin. The book is at once too much and too little. At least in our college, this text is used for a course in business law for managers. I'm afraid it is not quite that. Managers need to know what to do when a legal problem, from sexual harassment allegations to a regulatory complaint, comes before them. There is precious little "how" to the practical question of "what do I do now?". In fact, there should be answers to that practical question in every chapter.

There are far too many federal trial court opinions which, frankly, are so new and of so little legal weight (binding only in the particular district), that I wonder why they are included at all in text form, when they can be footnoted, if cited at all. Internet law and "cyberlaw" are cases in point. I realize this is an emerging area in the law, but precisely for that reason, these cases largely have no business being placed in text form until appellate courts have given us broader guidance.

Perhaps I have been too harsh on the text. It is well-written, understandable, generally clear to the college student, and may well be the best general text for undergraduates. But I would like to see much more progress made in the areas I have discussed.

Awesome Law Textbook - Very Useful Out of School as Well
West's Business Law is amazing for the student of business law. It presents complicated subject matter in a way that can be understood. After reading it, I felt "everyone should read this book," because it applies to so many situations we could face in everyday life. It provides a more in-depth and overall law presentation than most college text books. If you hunger for knowledge of the law (whether you want to be a lawyer or not), you will be filled by the material in West's Business Law. My husband has a business law class right now which uses another textbook and there is no comparison. I only regret that I lost my West's Business Law when I was moving, because it is one textbook I had wanted to keep forever. ... Read more

Book Description

Business Law Today, Standard Edition is an accessible law text with high interest and exceptional visual appeal. This is a book that professors like, while students appreciate its thorough, dynamic coverage of traditional business law topics and summarized cases. This text meets the AACSB curriculum requirements. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not Only For Students
I am using this textbook in several of my classes, and let me just say- it has everything I could have hoped for. The chapters are laid out well, many cases are cited, and the student is given actual cases to figure out, with the citations given at the end so he can find the actual outcome. I've found this to be among the best textbooks. It is so good, in fact that I've reccomended it to several of my friends who are going into business for themselves. This covers nearly everything they'll need to know regarding contracts, secured transactions, warranties, etc.
Love the law!

Business Law Today by Jentz et al.
This is an excellent text. It incorporates the law, as well as
legal research methodologies. For instance, a standard chapter
contains an outline, common law sources,constitutional,
statutory and administrative laws/rule-making. The work cites
computerized legal research in WESTLAW and LEXIS. Relevant
international legal citations are listed. The applicable
United States Code is cited by Title and specific paragraph.
In some cases, individual state legal codes are cited. There
are exhaustic sets of historical and statutory notes, cross
references and federal practice notes. Each chapter has a
comprehensive case study with a brief synopsis, cited case
and final disposition. There are teaching suggestions at the
end of the instructor's manual together with discussion
questions, research assignments and an explanation of footnotes.
In addition, there is an exhaustive section on essay question
answers.

Here is a model answer:
Stare decisis is a doctrine that prescribes following earlier
judicial decisions in deciding a current case if the facts and
questions are similar. Courts attempt to be consistent with their
own prior decisions and with the decisions of courts superior
to them. Stare decisis is important because part of the function
of law is to maintain stability. If the application of the law
was unpredictable, there would be no consistent rules to follow
and no stability.

The volume has detailed coverage of the following areas:
o Business Ethics o Int'l Business Law
o Employee Rights o Employment law
o Occupational safety o Accounting and the law
o Securities o Mergers and acquisitions
o Insurance o Real Estate
o Financial institutions o Unfair competition
o Advertising o Environmental law
o Health Care o Sports and entertainment
o Hospitality management o Communications
o Government contracts o Legal representation of business

There are significant software support systems; namely,
o Legal Clerk Research Software System
o Computerized Instructor's Manual
o Computerized Questions/Answers
o Case problems on diskette
o CD
o Lecture Builder Software
o Westest
o A Classroom Management System
o WESTrain
o Transparency Masters
o Sample Moot Court and much much more

This text is an excellent purchase for collegiate law students. ... Read more

Book Description

Writing for the web.Web word wizardry.Web writing that works.What does that mean?Your online copy must persuade - it’s integral to getting your visitors or readers to register, subscribe, qualify as leads, and yes, even buy from you.It’s writing that must earn its keep.And to effectively manage the quality of your online writing, you need to understand what works, why it works and how to make it work better for you. Whether you are the marketer responsible for the bottom line or the writer creating the copy,Persuasive Online Copywriting provides the tools you need to get results. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Draw in your customers
Are you like me in buying every self-help or non-fiction book to bring in more business? One problem. When do we have the time to read them? This book simply won't let that happen with its short chapters, personable style, and valuable information on how to keep visitors clicking until they make the buy.

This book is the how. How to take all the theories and whys discussed by other authors and make it happen. I have trouble with theories because they don't help me visualize the application of such theories. This book stays away from whys and shows you how.

When I started reading the book, several big projects got thrown my way leading to late night reading being replaced by late night working. Every now and then, I took a break and breezed through this book reading many pages in a brief time while gaining new knowledge and a refresher in creative writing as it applies to online copy.

Non-fiction is my thing when it comes to writing. Over time, I have forgotten creative techniques for adding spice to copy. The authors jolted memories of high school English classes where we learned about the different poetic styles (iambic pentameter, alliteration, meter, etc) and to avoid using passive verbs. Not only that, but also they cover how to write for different personalities.

Already getting high traffic to your site? That means you know how to draw attention and interest. But, how are you doing in building desire so that they take action? Hmm... could that be the challenge? The authors drive toward long-term results by engaging your visitors and leading the way for them to get what they need and be satisfied with it.

I'm familiar with a few techniques discussed in the book, but many may not be. It depends on what you do with regard to the Web site. I understand making a Web site usable and getting visitors to the site. My Web site's weakness is converting visitors into customers. Marketing pros may succeed with creating a desire, but have trouble with visitors taking action. The authors cover all the areas needed to persuade via the Internet from "notice me!" to "be happy with me!"

Are you thinking, "More technology! We need more technology to make this work?" We've taken technology for granted, but all it can do is what human programmers program it to do. Technology doesn't know human nature. It doesn't know how to feel or need something. People do and can convey what they know with words. Words make the sale. Technology ensures the words get their say (by quickly loading the Web page and functioning the way it should) and to push the sale through the back-end process (taking the order, managing inventory, etc.). This is where conversion principles apply. The authors share simple processes for improving conversion rates.

A splash page is the "introduction" page to a Web site. It's flashy, colorful, and cool. But it's a waste of time. It gets in the way of the core material. Customers don't care how good your designers are, they care about what you can give them and that comes through words and good online copy. It's time for the online world to get what print mastered many years ago. The authors' witty writing style makes the book enjoyable to read without sacrificing wisdom. They practice what they preach and it's no wonder that GrokDotCom.com, the site behind Future Now, Inc. is a success.

Time has come to let go of what's in it for the company and think of what's in it for the customer. In time, you shall reap the rewards at the bank.

If You Read only one book on the Internet, make it this one.
Internet Marketing is here to stay and it's getting better every day. And the authors of this book are a big part of the reason why.

1998-2000: Money fell like rain from heaven and the streets were flooded with stories of teenage millionaires. These halcyon days were fueled by a mentality that "if you build it, they will come." Investors drunkenly bought into the Internet's promise of a "new economy" and billions of dollars were pumped into spec-tech and dotcoms, never to be seen again. But when the investors saw that the 'net's realities didn't quite match up to the glowing promises, investment capital dried up faster than alcohol on a summer sidewalk.

There were fundamental problems with Internet marketing that could not be overcome with mere advances in technology. What Internet marketing needed was someone who truly understood the fundamentals of human persuasion and could apply them to the Internet."

Today it is my extraordinary pleasure to announce that those people have been found.

Jeff and Bryan Eisenberg were talking 'conversion' back when 'eyeballs' were the thing and conversion wasn't even in the lexicon. Their work was greatly accelerated when they added Lisa Davis to the team.

Bryan, Jeffrey and Lisa graduated with honors from Wizard Academy and have since gone on to accomplish a number of internet marketing miracles. Consequently, they were chosen to become adjunct faculty at Wizard Academy, where they now teach a curriculum that has punched Internet ROI through the ceiling for every company that has sent a delegate. This book, for a [low price], contains an extremely important portion of what they teach.

Prepare to be amazed.

Roy H. Williams
NY Times bestselling author of
Secret Formulas of The Wizard of Ads

No Background In Copywriting? Find Another Book.
I bought this book to try and gain more of an understanding on copywriting for the net. My honest opinion is that unless you have a background in professional writing or copywriting, this book won't be much of a help. The book makes references to things like Fraking, Poetic Meter, etc and then gives you a very short paragraph description on what they mean that doesn't give you an understanding of the term, but rather a definition. I was for lack of a better term, lost by the time I was 60 pages in.

Maybe if you do have a background in copywriting, this book will be quite useful in helping you understand how to adapt regular copywriting to the web. But, if not, you won't get much of an "education" but rather a "how to adapt" approach that isn't very useful to someone who hasn't had a some form of formal education on the topic. I did give this book two stars because there was a "nugget" here or there that anyone could have gleaned, but overall I was disappointed by the book.

The GROK knows all
This was my third of three copywriting books I read. While actually being the smallest, this book probably had the most content. The beautiful thing is that each topic is in its own small 2-3 page chapter which is very convincing, logical, and easily accesable for further usage.

One of the better internet books on the market.

Will Open (and Blow) Your Mind - A Must Read
This gem of a book offers the most comprehensive (and immediately useable) information on "how to make your website profitable" in the fewest amount of pages that I have yet seen.

As a bonus, it is priced a fraction of most of the available information on this subject. I've paid hundreds of dollars for information that was not nearly as useable as this. (OK I admit I'm a marketing information junkie)

I have purchased dozens of products (printed and ebooks) within the last year alone on this subject. Most of the others talk about search engine tricks, pop-ups, hard sell copy, and basically manipulating your site visitor into doing what you want.

Manipulation may work a little in the short run, but is self defeating in the long run.

This book is much smarter than that. It is in a whole different league.

This book teaches what is really important to long term profits. That is, engaging your visitors and making sure your site is offering them exactly what THEY want.

It shows you how to write extremely effective copy. It also tells you how to discover exactly what your customers are asking you to provide them by watching your stats and web logs.

The basic premise of this book is that without a high conversion ratio, there is no point in buying more traffic. It is much more cost effective to use the techniques contained in this book to increase your conversions than to chase traffic. That comes later. They make a valid point that most folks are doing this backwards.

This book is about way more than just copywriting, by the way. It does an excellent job of enlightening you to many useability factors that may be hurting your sales.

I can't imagine anyone who manages a website and uses even a small percentage of the wisdom contained within not getting a hundred times their investment back.

In conclusion, just buy it and read it. You can not go wrong with this book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman expose the fallacies of standard management thinking in First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently. In seven chapters, the two consultants for the Gallup Organization debunk some dearly held notions about management, such as "treat people as you like to be treated"; "people are capable of almost anything"; and "a manager's role is diminishing in today's economy." "Great managers are revolutionaries," the authors write. "This book will take you inside the minds of these managers to explain why they have toppled conventional wisdom and reveal the new truths they have forged in its place."

The authors have culled their observations from more than 80,000 interviews conducted by Gallup during the past 25 years. Quoting leaders such as basketball coach Phil Jackson, Buckingham and Coffman outline "four keys" to becoming an excellent manager: Finding the right fit for employees, focusing on strengths of employees, defining the right results, and selecting staff for talent--not just knowledge and skills. First, Break All the Rules offers specific techniques for helping people perform better on the job. For instance, the authors show ways to structure a trial period for a new worker and how to create a pay plan that rewards people for their expertise instead of how fast they climb the company ladder. "The point is to focus people toward performance," they write. "The manager is, and should be, totally responsible for this." Written in plain English and well organized, this book tells you exactly how to improve as a supervisor. --Dan Ring ... Read more

Reviews (172)

Common sense leadership
First Break all the rules addresses leadership from a common sense perspective. The twelve questions that reflect on your ability to effect productivity at the most intimate level of any process (the individual team member), are the common thread for discussion throughout this book.

With level of productivity as the measuring stick, leaders are encouraged to ask themselves if among other things, they provide direction, praise, materials, support, guidance, and opportunity for growth.

Buckningham and Coffman assert that good leaders don't try to make a silk purse from a sows ear. They suggest that you hire a sows ear where you need one and find silk to make the purse that you need. They contend that you can't change human nature, so why try. Trying to fill a deficit is more work than working with the positive aspects of your organization.

The authors also assert that good managers focus outwardly for change, and ask "why not." They focus on the strengths and manage around weaknesses. Good leaders know what types of talents that are needed at various levels of an organization; recruit to fill these positions, and develop those that you recruit.

The most useful part of this book is based on the lessons that mom taught you. Be nice. Treat people as individuals. Be flexible. Assert authority when necessary but more often than not, take a personal interest in those who are in control of how well your organization will measure up.

Must read for managers of all levels
If you think you can change people, think again. If you think one of a manager's job is to help people improve upon their weaknesses, think again. If you think climbing the corporate ladder is the best way to improve one's position in the corporate world, well, you got it, think again.

This book, written by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman, and based on 25 years of research by the Gallup Organization, on over 1 million respondents, has debunked a number of management "myths". I put myths in inverted commas simply because they were "truths" -- until First, Break All The Rules (published by Simon & Schuster, London, New York, 1999, ISBN 0-68486138-0) came along.

The Gallup Organization discovered, after asking one million people hundreds of different questions on the subject of managing others, that people excel only when their talents are put to use. Talents are the recurring patterns of thought and behavior that can't be turned on and off at will. They can't be created or altered. According to the authors, people don't change much. Managers should not waste time changing their subordinates, or making them into what they are not. You cannot give new talent to a person.

The books suggests that every human being has talent, and all roles/functions/jobs in a company require talent. You cannot train or develop talent, but you can train, develop and enhance skills and proficiencies. Talent leads to interest; interest leads to motivation; motivation leads to a desire to learn; a desire to learn leads to skills and proficiencies

As for the corporate ladder, the authors suggest that you should throw it away. For example, good sales person might not perform well if she is promoted to sales manager position. She might not have the talent to manage others. Instead, let her continue in the sales position, but improve upon the salary and benefits.

Finding the right fit
This book has become priceless to my business. I highly recommend it to any manager who is having trouble motivating and keeping key employees in today's business environment. Happy employees are productive employees and this book gave me ideas that I had never considered when it came down to placing and hiring the right employees . I also recommend Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life by JoAnna Carey as a corporate gift to keep employees motivated throughout the year.

Great Managers help make great employees great
This is by far one of the best management books that I have ever read. The Gallup Organization puts a whole new spin on what makes a great manager great - helping their employees to succeed as well as finding the right "fit" for their talents. This books put a strong emphasis on the different between skills and knowledge, which can be trained and learned, and talents, which cannot. Talents are unique to every individual and will drive all of us to be better at different things. It is the managers job to help us identify and build on these things.
Buckingham and Coffman do a fantastic job at incorporating wisdom and advice from the 80,000 managers that they interviewed which makes this book much easier to relate to. Whether a manager who is looking to enhance their management style, or an employee who is looking for ways to improve themselves and their organization, this is tremendous and very quick read.

A Great book on Common Sense Management
When did we lose our common sense? In college? Whenever this happened (and whatever the cause), this book helps to reclaim our common sense when applied to the world of managing employees of small, medium, and large-based companies.

This book is essential reading for economics majors, MBA students, and those working in management. It cuts through the jargon and helps people realize that management requires an understanding of human nature. It returns us to psychology. After all, the business world is bound by the rules of psychology. Violate the rules and you may harm your business.

The book delivers harsh facts. Not all employees are going to do well at every task. Managers: stop thinking that everyone can do anything. They can't. It's unreasonable to believe it. It's better to create incentives -- both monetary and prestigue -- on the idea that someone may want to continue working in a similar capacity. The book cites attorneys who start out at a law firm at junior associate, associate, senior associate, and then work on to junior partner, partner, and senior partner. Throughout the process, the attorney does not radically change what he or she is doing. Instead, their work merely becomes more interesting and their pay (and equity in the firm) rises over time. That is, rather than promote someone to a position that is radically different from what they are doing, offer perks and monetary advantages as time goes on to your employees.

The book says to promote strengths rather than overcome employee weaknesses. Some people are just never going to be able to do well at certain tasks. The book's realistic edge says we ought to understand this and move on. We can't strive for perfectin in every avenue. Make sure that your employees are doing what they do best at. Therefore, the goals of the firm -- and the employees' morale, will coincide, allowing harmony to exist in the firm. This book has many golden nuggets of wisdom, and it definitely is a keeper.

Michael ... Read more

Book Description

Bennett-Alexander and Hartman's, Employment Law for Business, 4/e, addresses law and employment decisions from a managerial perspective. It is intended to instruct students on how to manage effectively and efficiently with full comprehension of the legal ramifications of their decisions.Students are shown how to think and analyze employment law facts using concrete examples of management-related legal dilemmas without clear-cut solutions. The methods of arriving at resolutions are emphasized, so that when the facts of the workplace problem are not quite the same, the student can still reach a good decision based on the legal considerations required by law, which remain relevant. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Employment Law for business
As an attorney, manager, and teacher of human resources professionals, I recommend this book. I found that thie information was thoroughly researched. I also appreciated that the legal information was presented in a business context so that managers who are not lawyers could understand the information and readily appy it to real life workplace problems.

Useful Book.
This is an interesting,informative and useful book. I used it for school and it will be one book that I keep. Great case studies.

Employment Law
I think the book is so liberal and it advocate large government. Freedom is not through following the forced laws like affirmative action, ADA, etc. but having a choice especially in employment. Employer should have the say on what they want and who they want to work and not work. The book pretty much tells you that this is the law and its good for you ,so follow or else.
That is socialistic.
We are giving more power to the government to tie us down with more laws and regulation. Their responsibility is to protect the citizens and not to do business. That's for the private sector.

Good book for in the class and in the office
This book gives a good comprehensive look at the mountain of law and regulations encountering employees in both the public and private sector. The examples in the beginning of each chapter are very useful as well as the actual cases used to exemplify how the law has been applied to real-world situations.

So much for objectional literature
The author of this book had a clear agenda, and made it very clear what her opinions were. I for one am tired of having liberal agenda's crammed down our throats no matter what school I attend. As for the material in the book, well she did a good job if putting every case in the world into one book, but there was no substance in between, just opinion, which I for one do not care for, expecially this politically correct one. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

"Every once in a while ONE book defines a category."
—Jack Covert, 800-CEO-READ

One of "The Ten Books Every Sales Person Should Own and Read"
–The Dale Carnegie Sales Advantage Program–

Jeffrey Gitomer’s bestselling guide to the art of the sale has helped hundreds of thousands of people get ahead in the sales game. The Sales Bible offers the proven methods and techniques that lead to bigger sales and more loyal customers. Full of practical, hands-on information, it offers everything salespeople need to know to improve their results immediately.

What do REAL salespeople think about The Sales Bible?

"The Sales Bible has directed my sales successes from Sales Manager, to Sales Director, to Area Sales Director, to my current position of Vice President of Sales. Thank you, Jeffrey, for leading me up ‘ the corporate ladder.’ "
–Bryan D. Moore, vp of Sales & Marketing, Targeted Golf Solutions

"I have read many different books about selling, but Jeffrey’s book is the only one I keep on my night stand. I can look at it every night–reading only a few sentences as a refresher or whole chapters to enhance my skills."
–James A. Wilton, Account Manager, AETEA Information Technology

"I’d be a better Catholic if only the Holy Bible was this easy of a read."
–Lance Cassidy, Sales Director, MAMSI Health Plans

"The Sales Bible is a book of truth within the sales world. I only hope my competitors don’t see the light."
–Jeff Williams, Vice President of Sales, Unishippers Cincinnati/Dayton

"Wait! The material in this book is only priceless if you choose to apply it. Don’t even think of opening this book . . . until you’re ready to become a success."
–Mike Tischer, New Business Development, Tailored Solutions, Inc.

"This book should be shaped like a key. After reading it I unlocked my toughest market."
–Joseph Andrade, Personal Financial Analyst, Primerica Financial Services ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Packed with tips, in a quite unorganized fashion
Being in search of basic sales knowledge, I figured the Sales Bible would do the trick.
This book IS packed with lots of techniques, "standard" lines and useful tricks. But the delivery is quite confusing. This book has little to no structure (completely lacks a sales process for example). Some tips are repeated from one chapter to another. It feels like an aggregate of unrelated publications. The style is enjoyable to really funny, when it is not for the abusive usage of bold, italic and oversized fonts which only add to the confusion.
However, it still deserves 3 stars for being a good reference on specific stages in the sale process. Gitomer knows his stuff and it does show in the content. You might want to check the Accidental Sales Person for a more structured approach.

This book is the ultimate sales training boot camp in print.
I've read them all. And as a sales trainer and speaker myself, I can say that this is the ultimate book for sales people in any industry no matter what skill level you are currently at. Plus it is very easy to read and understand. If all salespeople were to read this book, there would be no reason for sales trainers like me. If you want to do yourself and your career a huge favor, buy this book and read it. Then use the information in it to soar. I recommend it to the people I've had the opportunity to train.

Good stuff
as a memory development trainer and speaker myself, I can say that this is very good book for people interested in selling their knowledge. The most important is - that this book is easy to read and follow...
If you dream about success- this is book for you. Just follow all instructions.
Author knows what he is talking about.
Also I would suggest to look for some Robert B. Cialdini books to read them at the same time.
This is book for people who are seriously thinking about their career in selling. This is not important what you sell. If you know 'how to sell' you can sell everything!

This book sucks "DON'T BUY IT"
This book sucks. I have not read many books on sales but I still say this book sucks. I can write this 300 page of crap in this review.
Step one make a to do list
Step two do what is on the to do list
Three be honest
Four be persistent
I would like to know who gave this piece a good review. I wasted $12 bucks on it. Buy a different book this one is worthless.
And another question; who would publish such a big pile of crap?

Want it sooner that later? Read the Book!!!
I got this book on my Birthday and I have to say happy birthday to me. This is the definitive sales text. Others might have their favorite books about different genres of selling but when its time to put a text book on the desk of a new class of salesman, this better be the book! It will shorten the learning curve and soften the hard road and focus you on the criteria and techniques, used by Mr. Gitomer, to become one of the best there is and to help you elevate your game. It's a must read for anyone who sells and wants success! God Bless you all! ... Read more

Book Description

The most comprehensive survey of major theories and research on leadership and managerial effectiveness in organizations with practical suggestions for improving skills.Balancing theory and research with applications, the book addresses controversies and differing viewpoints about leadership effectiveness with a focus on the question of what makes a person an effective leader. Covering charismatic and transformational leadership as well as influence processes, it asks readers to identify effective and ineffective behavior by managers and to suggest ways to handle the situation. The fourth edition of Leadership in Organizations has been revised to reflect the progress that has been made in understanding leadership since the first edition. It provides more guidelines and recommendations for improving effectiveness without prescribing how a manager must behave. And, it covers "hot" topics, such as charismatic and transformational leadership, influence processes, leading teams, and leading change.An essential reference on management and leadership for every professional manager. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Good Amazoner!
Didn't respond to email but did send the book and I'm very happy with the book! I would definitely recommend! Thank you!

weLEAD Book Review ...
Yukl uses his expertise and credibility to write an outstanding book focusing on managerial leadership rather than social or parliamentary leadership. He attempts to include information on both the theory and practice of leadership in modern organizations. This valuable text also includes many recommendations and guidelines for improving the effectiveness of managers and leaders. The book includes a number of cases in an attempt to help the reader understand real world organizational problems and applications. This is a book that is primarily written and mostly reads like a college text book and is indeed used by a number of universities in their managerial or leadership programs. However, it is easy to read and does an excellent job of including the most informative and relative literature, studies and theories available today. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the study of organizational leadership, leading teams, leading change or studying follower-based approaches toward leadership.

Marc! Au Contrare!
Not worth curling up to a fire with? ...

For me, after a year or more I still read some portion or another of this book nearly every week for the rich survey of ideas and theories it provides, often finding something that fits what I'm concerned about, and then springboarding into buying another book or digging out original research articles and papers to dig deeper.

If you want to be widely informed about the full continuum of theory and research in leadership and organizations, this book will become a familiar resource, and a top choice for curling up to a fire one evening when alone and just paging through and finding something new or old you just have to read and think about some more.

Okay, perhaps Marc is more of a fun guy than me, but everything about leadership, and this book is full and pressed down overflowing with the material, interests me deeply.

The text book behind the popular works!
Yukl's text on leadership brings together the vast amount of research that's been done on the subject. His volume is and readable--although not the type of book you'd want to curl up by the fire with.

I really appreciate that Yukl always finds something good about to say about any theory he's critiquing!

Leadership Defined
Gary Yukl hits dead center of the leadership target. His work begins with the issue of defining leadership and tackling the difference between management and leadership. Laced throughout with extensive reference and research material the book clearly moves from definition of leadership through different levels of leadership to top strategic leadership practices. His lessons and practices are both valuable and usable.

Readers will be treated to detailed, relevant discussions of the each leadership issue discussed within the book. Within each issue, Mr. Yukl, glides through the basis of the theories and then details realities of how to achieve the results suggested by those theories. Within several topics, he provides cases studies and questions about those case studies for the reader's consideration. The result is a practical, working manual about leadership.

Between the discussions of the leadership issues and the practices there is something here for all readers. More importantly, there is plenty or information within the covers of this book that truly matters. Anyone with a leadership role of any type should read this book. ... Read more

Download Description

"Enthusiastic employees outproduce and outperform. They step up to do the impossible. They rally each other in tough times. Most people are enthusiastic when they're hired: hopeful, ready to work hard, eager to contribute. What happens to dampen their enthusiasm? Management, that's what.

The Enthusiastic Employee draws on 30 years of research and experience to show you exactly what managers do wrong¿and what they should do instead.

Drawing on detailed case studies and employee attitude surveys in hundreds of companies, the authors offer research-proven solutions¿not fads, nostrums, or phony shortcuts. Along the way, you'll identify the dollars-and-cents business case for high employee morale, learn exactly what employee morale means, and discover the specific management practices that offer the greatest positive performance impact.

The definitive guide to encouraging, sustaining, and profiting from employee enthusiasm!

• Techniques shown to increase employee performance 30-40%¿and increase stock performance, too!
• Proven solutions, real data, not fads! Based on research with 2,500,000+ employees in 237 companies
• Fairness, achievement, camaraderie: delivering the three core elements of a healthy workplace
• Stop your organization's managers from demotivating your employees
• Build a real partnership culture for the long term

Reviews (14)

Important read for management...
I think that many businesses and bosses could be so much further ahead if they read The Enthusiastic Employee by David Sirota, Louis A. Mischkind, and Michael Irwin Meltzer (Wharton School Publishing).

Chapter List:
Part 1 - Worker Motivation, Morale, and Performance: What Workers Want - The Big Picture; Employee Enthusiasm and Business Success
Part 2 - Enthusiastic Workforces, Motivated by Fair Treatment: Job Security; Compensation; Respect
Part 3 - Enthusiastic Workforces, Motivated by Achievement: Organization Purpose and Principles; Job Enablement; Job Challenge; Feedback, Recognition, and Reward
Part 4 - Enthusiastic Workforces, Motivated by Camaraderie: Teamwork
Part 5 - Bringing It All Together: The Total Organization Culture - and How to Change It: The Partnership Organization; Translating Partnership Theory into Partnership Practice
Part 6 - Appendices: Survey Administration and Population Composition; Reliability and Validity of the Data; Job Satisfaction: Demographic, Occupational, and Regional Breaks; Comparisons with Other Norms; The Readiness Questionnaire; Endnotes; Index

The authors have done a number of surveys of employees to get a idea of how 1) employees feel about their current jobs, and 2) what they'd like to see from their companies and management.These findings are presented to the reader (which *should* be in management) to help them understand how their staff really thinks and works.The conclusion is that companies can profit handsomely by understanding what their employees want and making sure they get it.And it's not always just money.It can be a sense of teamwork, a vested interest in making sure the company is successful, or even just the challenge of being given a difficult job along with the authority to do what's necessary to pull it off.While not every employee is the same or is motivated by the same ideals or benefits, a company that follows the findings in this book and implement changes will find turnover plunging and job satisfaction going up to unknown levels.

Definitely worth reading if you run a company or have staff that report to you...

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS ON MANAGING PEOPLE!
Based on 30 years of research, the authors demonstrate a clear relationship between financial performance and employee morale. Data reveals threedimensions of morale, each having subfactors: 1) equity (job security, compensation, respect), 2) achievement (organization purpose and principles, job enablement, job challenge, and feedback, recognition and reward, and 3) camaraderie (teamwork). Chapters are devoted to each of these subjects and provide illustrative examples. Furthermore, the authors have developed a People Performance Model consisting of: leadership; management practices; employee morale; individual performance, customer satisfaction; customer behavior; and business performance; the model provides an excellent framework for gaining insight into crucial connections. Appendices include a self-assement questionnaire for managers and key statistical findings. Speaking not only as a reviewer, but a management consultant (HRconsultant.com), this book is a gem. It is exceptionally informative and insightful; one of the best books on the subject of successfully managing people.

This one shouldn't be missed
From time to time, as a book reviewer, I come across a book that could easily slide under the radar-but should not. This is one of those books.

The book's subtitle is "How Companies Profit by Giving Workers What They Want." For savvy leaders, this is a no-brainer. However, as a Certified Management Consultant with 25 years of practice under my belt, I can tell you that an uncomfortably large proportion of managers don't get it. And those who may suspect that they can do more to build their productive relationships with employees often question whether these ideas are just a lot of fluff and woo-woo.

This book presents 30 years of research with the results of surveys given to over 4 million employees. This is a huge contribution to the field, particularly when the book contains a significant amount of material in the appendix about research methodology.

The real meat of the book will be found in the sections on how enthusiastic workers are motivated by fair treatment (job security, compensation, respect), achievement (purpose and principles, job enablement, job challenge, feedback/recognition/reward), and camaraderie (teamwork). Even as you cruise through the table of contents, your mind will shout "duh!" But as you read the pages, you'll find a meld of academia and real-world that presents a serious handbook into how to gain greater commitment and results. This is a deep business book, not conversational light reading.

The final section of the text explores organizational culture and what the authors-consultants and professors-call the partnership organization. Naturally, consultants-internal and external-will gain quite a bit from this book. Corporate leaders-and particularly those charged with organizational change and positive cultural reinforcement-will find the book a treasure. Even a relatively quick read (a scanning for insights and ideas) will stimulate thinking for busy executives.

This is a book that will be scanned, re-read, and referenced by people dedicated to taking our workplaces back to the foundations that made them strong in days past...when people really cared about their jobs-when they were genuinely enthusiastic employees.

Roadmap for Success
The Enthusiastic Employee... holds a compelling message: listen to your employees. When they tell organizations what they want, they are providing a roadmap for success. The discussions on equity, achievement and camaraderie make too much sense to be ignored. This book is difficult to put down.Rather than a dry business tome that puts one to sleep, it wakes you up and forces you to examine your own behavior as well as the behavior of the organization's leadership.We are presented with an approach to building a "partnership culture" that has universal application.

Enthusiastic Performance and Production
If you are in management or HR or have employees of any sort, including by independent contract, get this book and follow its advice. It is worth its weight in gold, but fortunately you don't have to pay that much for it.

This is the bible of common sense management of human motivation and performance. It is also the bible of scientific study of common sense management of human motivation and performance. It contains the relevant results of 30 years worth of meticulously researched materials produced by members of Sirota Consulting where the authors are senior staff. (David Sirota is the founder.)

The book contains very little that anyone familiar with the literature in the field will find new. In fact, most reputable management consultants have told their clients most of the same things for many, many years: (1) Ask your employees what the want. They will tell you the truth and it will be reasonable. (2) Employees want to be treated fairly, including in compensation -- and fair means fair, not extrordinary. (3) Employees want the opportunity to perform well and achieve something meaningful (really!) (4) Employees want to work with others who share their basic values and with whom they can comfortably interact and cooperate -- there is an important social element in the workplace.

Sirota and his co-authors build on those basic concepts. They tell you about those concepts in full, rich detail. You will understand that what they are saying is valid and why it is valid. They tell you the specific practical applications of the information and insights they give you. You know exactly what to do in your job to put their information to work. They show you how applying their methods motivates, improves performance, makes management easier, even fun and makes your company more profitable.

They show you how to make your employees raving fans of your company. ... Read more

Book Description

Using metrics and making the business case for HR is no longer an option; it's becoming an absolute requirement for creating and maintaining a competitive advantage. Use HR Metrics to save your budget, and maybe your own career as you identify opportunities by measuring the success of your HR processes.

HR Metrics brings today’s HR executive quickly up to speed on the "New HR" - more measurable, more strategic, and more responsive than ever before to corporate profitability. Dr. Sullivan provides step-by-step guidance on how to establish credibility, forecast business needs, improve your organization’s competitiveness, and more!

You’ll learn to:

Identify the resources that can be shifted toward a business opportunity
Allocate resources into areas of high opportunity and away from low-return areas
Remove barriers to rapid movement of resources
Identify the changes the market may require
Recruit management support – and more!
Included is a 75 minute CD recording of HR Metrics Audio Conference, Level I. ... Read more

Book Description

Imagine everything you'd ever need to start up and run your own small business packed into one convenient, easy-to-read book. Throw in a CD-ROM with more than 250 documents and forms, along with trial versions of great small business software programs, and you've got the new Small Business Kit For Dummies, your perfect resource for the daunting process of starting a small business venture.

Small Business Kit For Dummies is chock-full of information, resources, and helpful hints on making the transition from a great idea to a great business. This book has plenty of straightforward advice on things that an MBA degree won't get you, from the basics of mastering legal, financial, employment, and management hurdles to advanced topics on business plans and strategies, accounting, contracts, taxes, attracting investors, and putting your business onto the Web. Whether you expect your business to become the next Microsoft or you've set your sights on a more modest goal, you'll find comprehensive and authoritative counsel -- without all the confusing jargon and legalese -- in this fun and friendly guide to the world of small business success. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Good, but slowly being replaced by online resources
This a good book, don't get me wrong. However, having been edited back in 1998, and being -as it is- largely focused on the documents that you, as a Small Business Owner, are likely to be in need of, it now seems a bit outdated and old-fashioned when you compare if with the ease with which you can get (for free) similar formats (business plans, marketing plans, invoices, etc.) online (in office.microsoft.com > Templates, for instance). It is a good reference of what to look for, though, which is why I give it 4 stars.

Great for those starting their business
It's great to see a book written by an attorney who also understands business.

Too many other books out there are written by amateur business people who's real business is in promoting and selling lousy books.

The CD-Rom will save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars and time.

Also recommend "The Small Business Kit" and "How to Incorporate in any State" by J.W. Dicks, another attorney and businessman with real world knowledge.

Good luck with your business!

SmallBizBargains.com gives it a thumbs up!
A few of the staff at [online business] have used this book to help the start previous businesses. We feature it on our site because we have found it so helpful. It is both simple and comprehensive - a great book for those starting or running a business.

The basics of business
This book is helpful for those wishing to start their own business but are unsure where to start. The concise writing answers most of the questions one can think of. This book, along with Guerilla PR Wired by Michael Levine, should be all that a young entrepeneur needs.

The business basics, but it takes more to succeed.
The forms and basics are essential for getting your small business off to the right start. But entrepreneurs must also be aware that even the best business plan will not be effective unless it also includes a carefully crafted marketing plan that includes publicity. There are wonderful, easy-to-do and inexpensive ways for small business owners to promote their services and to distinguish themselves from the competition. This book and a solid publicity plan are a great way to start ! ... Read more

Book Description

This is the most modern business law and legal environment book available. Contemporary Business and E-Commerce Law, 4/e provides readers with the most extensive and cutting edge coverage of the emerging area of information technology and e-commerce law.The book showcases over 40 new U.S. Supreme Court Cases that have been decided during the past three years, plus over 120 traditional cases. An eight-part presentation covers the legal, e-commerce, and global environmen