Reviews (1)

It got the job done
I thought this book sufficed, but wasn't fabulous. I strongly preferred Moore and McCabe's "Introduction to the Practice of Statistics" better than this book, although it didn't have a business slant to it. Moore and McCabe are certainly the way to go, though, for stats, if you have a choice at all. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is concerned with statistical methods for the analysis of data collected from a survey. A survey could consist of data collected from a questionnaire or from measurements, such as those taken as part of a quality control process. Concerned with the statistical methods for the analysis of sample survey data, this book will update and extend the successful book edited by Skinner, Holt and Smith on 'Analysis of Complex Surveys'. The focus will be on methodological issues, which arise when applying statistical methods to sample survey data and will discuss in detail the impact of complex sampling schemes. Further issues, such as how to deal with missing data and measurement of error will also be critically discussed. There have significant improvements in statistical software which implement complex sampling schemes (eg SUDAAN, STATA, WESVAR, PC CARP ) in the last decade and there is greater need for practical advice for those analysing survey data. To ensure a broad audience, the statistical theory will be made accessible through the use of practical examples. This book will be accessible to a broad audience of statisticians but will primarily be of interest to practitioners analysing survey data. Increased awareness by social scientists of the variety of powerful statistical methods will make this book a useful reference. ... Read more

Book Description

How does evaluative inquiry contribute to your organizational learning? How do you practice evaluative inquiry to maximize individual and team learning? Offering you a way of thinking about and conducting evaluative inquiry in every kind of organization, Evaluative Inquiry for Learning in Organizations provides a data-based approach to organizational learning and change. By focusing on the use of evaluative inquiry processes within organizations rather than across large-scale, multisite programs, authors Hallie Preskill and Rosalie T. Torres are able to bridge the gap between what research "says" about individual, team, and organizational learning and what it "says" about evaluation. The authors lay the foundation and context for evaluative inquiry by including:

- How organizations are changing.

- What it means to learn at the individual, team, and organizational levels.

- The four learning processes that facilitate evaluative inquiry.

Through the use of an illustrative case, the authors guide you through the three phases of evaluative inquiry - from focusing the inquiry to developing action plans. Also included are interviews from four different organizations: Land O’Lakes, Colorado Department of Education, Ford Motor Company, and Presbyterian Hospital and Healthcare Services. These interviews allow you to "hear" how participants perceived and experienced these procedures. This exciting volume concludes with additional considerations when practicing evaluative inquiry, including an exploration of the evaluator’s role and challenges to implementing evaluative inquiry in today’s organizations.

Written for evaluators, managers, consultants, and trainers, Evaluative Inquiry for Learning in Organizations shows you how to integrate evaluative inquiry into your organization’s work processes so that its members are better able to make their organizations successful.

 

Reviews (2)

Evaluation from a new, more powerful perspective!
This book presents a convincing case for changing the purpose and methodology of organizational evaluation. The old 4-stage Kirkpatrick model may have been fine for the industrial age, but in the era of knowledge, globalization and learning organizations, it is no longer valid or valuable. Evaluative inquiry is the road to the 21st century.

Outstanding! The place to start in creating a learning org.
The first book to link evaluation practice with the notion of organizational learning. This book provides both a theoretical and practical approach to addressing compelling evaluation issues. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This book is headed in the right direction...
This is the second least complicated book I have ever read on DOE. Thanks Larry for writing the book! I wish that it had MANY more examples showing each DOE type he covers...Also, there is a need to FURTHER elaborate in simpler terms all of the concepts. I am still not understanding why a DOE book can't come out that isn't easy to read! ... Read more

Amazon.com

China has the world's most rapidly changing large economy, and according to Ted Fishman, it is forcing the world to change along with it. "No country has ever before made a better run at climbing every step of economic development all at once," he writes, in China, Inc.: How the Rise of the Next Superpower Challenges America and the World. China is currently the largest maker of toys, clothing, and consumer electronics, and is swiftly moving up the ladder in car production, computer manufacturing, biotechnology, aerospace, telecommunications, and other sectors thanks to low-cost, high-tech factories. China is also where the world is investing. In 2004, for instance, the city of Shanghai alone attracted over $12 billion in direct foreign investment, roughly the same amount as all of Indonesia and Mexico received. In tracing China's ascendancy over the past 30 years (with annual growth of an astonishing 9.5 percent), Fishman presents a flood of facts, figures, forecasts, and anecdotes and examines the implications of this unprecedented growth for China, the U.S., and the rest of the world.

Calling China's huge population "arguably the greatest natural resource on the planet," Fishman details how hundreds of millions of peasants have migrated from rural to urban areas to find manufacturing jobs, providing an unlimited, low-wage workforce to power China's economy. In the process, this shift has changed both Chinese culture and the global business climate in significant ways. Simply put, American companies can't compete with wages as low as 25 cents an hour and lack of regulation and oversight, so are forced to move their operations to China or completely change the focus of their business. And it's not just a problem for the U.S.--even Mexico is outsourcing to China. Though it remains to be seen whether this will truly be the "Chinese Century" as Fishman asserts, China, Inc. is a brisk and informative look at why so many American corporations, and American jobs, are heading to China. --Shawn Carkonen ... Read more

Reviews (22)

is he on the China Inc pay roll?
Most disappointing read I've experienced in a long time.Fishman's viewpoint speaks to some kind of Chinese Confucian exceptionalism that the Chinese themselves cherish--but it doesn't wash.Rather than look at the flip side of each of the economic advances, Fishman doggedly marches us thru anecdote after anecdote about China's inexorable rise to the top.His viewpoint is Clintonesque pragmatism that is more in love with a Euro social democratism than American entrepeneurialism.His dismissal of Taiwan as a "psuedo nation" is especially damning.Tianamen is the white elephant in the book-- he hardly ever comes near it.His tacit approval of China's intellectual piracy is disturbing.All in all, his take seems to be that the big super power threat in question is that the Chicoms are treating their slaves better these days and eeking out more from their pathetically cheap manual labour.

If anything, I was less impressed with what China has supposedly achieved after reading China Inc than I had been previously.

If Fishman is on the payrool, he has done his employer no favours with this bit of see-thru propaganda...

China's Economic Viability Is All in Its Numbers
China's impending takeover of the global economy is not news, but author Ted C. Fishman lends a welcome and provocative perspective to this inevitable development. He informs us that in 1949, the Chinese Communists broke centuries of feudalism to mold the country's now 1.5 billion inhabitants into a disciplined workforce. Thirty years later, the economic reforms set in motion by Deng Xiaoping subsequently unleashed the pent-up entrepreneurial spirit of the Chinese people, producing workers that have become irresistible to the world's manufacturers. Concurrently, on the political front, the Communists who run China have actually reversed the social dynamic set forth by Karl Marx, who said that capitalism is the final stage of human development before communism. In China, communism has instead become the final stage before the full fruition of capitalism.

Fishman contends that China is well poised for success by wielding a competitive advantage Japan, the last global entrant, could never provide, an endless and cheap supply of workers. Lots of statistics fortify the strength in China's numbers - there are more workers there than people in this country, there are more Chinese who have studied English there than people who speak English here, and the state owns all the factories and machinery over there versus the capital that has to be invested privately here. Couple this data with an authoritarian government that can manage industrial policy without the distractions of public opinion or politicians running for re-election, and one can see China's preferred position pretty clearly from Fishman's perspective. However, the author is almost too preoccupied with the data and not enough on the culture itself. Unlike Japan, China is a country divided into haves and have-nots ruled by a heartless regime that crushes all dissidents. While millions in the cities are benefiting from economic development, hundreds of millions more are missing out on the boom because they remain trapped in the countryside or have lost their jobs in obsolete factories leftover from the Cultural Revolution. The other side of an authoritarian government, which Fishman only gives passing mention, is that the one-party rule runs deep in China. The absence of free elections and a free press creates an environment where the truth becomes arbitrary, and obviously that would make any potential investment decision that much riskier.

What Fishman does argue convincingly though is that the developed world has to take some accountability for China's outsized economic growth. U.S. investment in China has reached passed $700 billion, a figure that highlights the startling co-dependency between China and the U.S. The Yuan is tied to the dollar, and if China were to use its leverage and dump the dollar entirely (a feasible option in our terror-stricken world), markets would crash and threaten global economic stability. And one can argue, as Fishman does, that China has taken a less myopic view of its economic survival than its western counterparts, as we continue to focus on short-term gains to alleviate our own downturn. It is this very leverage that has broken apart the heretofore tripartite world between the U.S., Europe and Japan (which is in potential danger of making a slow fade from this trio). This book could have provided more value if he could have delved deeper into how the Chinese entrepreneurial spirit and continuing economic reforms have been shaped by its existing culture and what impact the economic growth may have on their culture going forward, in particular, China's continuing violation of human rights. But what Fishman does offer is a valuable wake-up call to recognize the impact of China's burgeoning economy now.

Misleading
So far, one of the most disapointing book I've ever read about China. Check also the review from Mr Chiang.

The book is essentially about how Chinese are killing our jobs, lowering prices, how they are going to dominate the world, etc. What about the 16 millions manufacturing jobs lost in China between 1995 and 2002 ? They were inefficient. So were the american jobs.

Authors also underlines that China relies on the biggest foreign direct investment (FDI) in the world ? Sure, so they take all our money and knowledge. Or may be they take money from Hong Kong and Taiwan, which represents 40% of China's FDI or from the Virgin Islands (10% of FDI), or may be this money is Chinese after all(through "round tripping").

China bought 7% of the world's oil, scary, huh ? What is more scary to me is that 5% of the population consumed 22% of the world's oil, if we include Europe, 12.5% of the world's population consumed 41%. It seems also that Gubei is a city in the city ? I live 10 minutes form Gubei, never noticed...

China needs a low yuan, otherwise they would lose their cost advantage ? Even if the yuan goes up 25%, what would it change, really ? India's labor force is already a lot cheaper than China. China is not only cheap labor, not anymore.

In this book, all facts are true but they are presented just to prove one thing : China is going to rule the world thanks to its manufacturing power. Really ?

They may be will, but certainly not because of their cheap labor cost, but mainly because China will be driven by its domestic market, one of the fastest growing in the world. So the question is : Is China really a big threat (as mentioned in this book) or is it one of the biggest opportunity for western companies ?

Good book from a Chinese student point
The author of this book had a very good observation and reasonable argument. Actually, I believe that is the strength of America. Information flows so fast and I can get this book from library for free. After solving the basic problem of living, China has to go the America way to stimulate creativity and gracious.

A Superpower Cannot Be Afraid Of Its People's Creativity
This book is disappointing. No world power - let alone a superpower - has risen simply from the largesse of rich countries' exporting surplus capital and using low-wages to drive profits back home.
If Mexico had a billion people, need anyone have gone to China ? More than Japan Inc., China is basically a very large version of the 1990s "miracles" in southeast Asia, while China Inc. may just turn out to be an Enron.
China's greatest weakness is the sheer hollowness of its insides. There is no free press to provide early warnings or correctives to the country's wild transformation.
China is still officially Communist - whatever that means. But there are ticking time bombs in the form of the 3Ts - Tibet, Taiwan and the legacy of Tienanmen.
As in Tienanmen (which was the first round), democracy will stir up people, as they become richer and more aware, in spite of continued censorship of even the Internet. Visitors to the Potemkin cities on the south rarely bother to understand what is going on in China's teeming countrysides.
I think that if there is a potential superpower, it lies just south of China. India has moved slower, but is beginning to close the gap steadily, and do this without the quick fix of foreign investment. Whether in the highest ends of technology, or fashion, cinema, the media and music, the difference between India and China is simple: democratic India is harnessing the creativity of Indians. China's system cannot permit this, or it will implode.
For the sake of balance, I recommend readers to also consider another book 'Rising Elephant' - from which I have drawn my arguments. This is a far more profound analysis with a similar subtitle to China, Inc. - about India's challenge to "America and the World."



... Read more

Book Description

This book covers mathematics of finance, linear algebra, linear programming, probability, and descriptive statistics, with an emphasis on cross-discipline principles and practices. Designed to be reader-friendly and accessible, it develops a thorough, functional understanding of mathematical concepts in preparation for their application in other areas. Each chapter concentrates on developing concepts and ideas followed immediately by developing computational skills and problem solving. Three-part coverage presents a library of elementary functions, finite mathematics, and calculus.For individuals trying to obtain the essential mathematical tools they need to effectively pursue courses of study in business and economics, life sciences, or social sciences. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Poorly Written Piece
It's simply a bad math text. I hope the authors get cancer.

Do you like the Matrix??
Did you like The Matrix? If you did you will love this book, it is filled with Matricies (the plural version of matrix). So buying this book is like having all three of the Matrix movies at once. All the excitement and all of knowledge, with this book you are "The One" and will never have to wonder what the Matrix is again. If you don't like the Matrix maybe you have wondered what the answer to f(x,y)= 4x + 5y - 6 is. Well I'm not going to ruin the ending of the book for you but the answer can be found in the back of this book(pg. A-90). Oh the suspense!!! Either way this book is a great read and if you are taking the class related to this book, you will never pass without it.
~Tyrell ... Read more

Book Description

A thorough review of the most current regression methods in time series analysis
Regression methods have been an integral part of time series analysis for over a century. Recently, new developments have made major strides in such areas as non-continuous data where a linear model is not appropriate. This book introduces the reader to newer developments and more diverse regression models and methods for time series analysis.
Accessible to anyone who is familiar with the basic modern concepts of statistical inference, Regression Models for Time Series Analysis provides a much-needed examination of recent statistical developments. Primary among them is the important class of models known as generalized linear models (GLM) which provides, under some conditions, a unified regression theory suitable for continuous, categorical, and count data.
The authors extend GLM methodology systematically to time series where the primary and covariate data are both random and stochastically dependent. They introduce readers to various regression models developed during the last thirty years or so and summarize classical and more recent results concerning state space models. To conclude, they present a Bayesian approach to prediction and interpolation in spatial data adapted to time series that may be short and/or observed irregularly. Real data applications and further results are presented throughout by means of chapter problems and complements.
Notably, the book covers:
* Important recent developments in Kalman filtering, dynamic GLMs, and state-space modeling
* Associated computational issues such as Markov chain, Monte Carlo, and the EM-algorithm
* Prediction and interpolation
* Stationary processes ... Read more

Book Description

Numbers, ratios, and formulas are the lifeblood of the financial markets. Mathematics of the Securities Industry uses straightforward math and examples to explain every key number used on Wall Street, from the calculation of each number to why it is important and how best to use it. Completely up-to-date to include three-day settlement, decimalization, new tax laws, and more, it is today's easiest-to-use reference for measuring investment potential and accurately monitoring stock and bond performance.

Book Description

Devoted to the problem of fitting parametric probability distributions to data, this treatment uniquely unifies loss modeling in one book. Data sets used are related to the insurance industry, but can be applied to other distributions. Emphasis is on the distribution of single losses related to claims made against various types of insurance policies. Includes five sets of insurance data as examples. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Loss Distributions
This book, part of the Wiley Series in Probability and Mathematical Statistics is writen for the fitting of probability distribution models to data relating to losses in the insurance industry. A necessary prerequisite for the understanding of this book is a university course in mathematical statistics. This is an advanced book utilizing higher mathematical formulas and functions. It covers models for random variables, statistical inference, loss distributions, and applications. It is a very useful book for those interested in theory and who are competent in advanced functions. ... Read more

Book Description

APPLIED SIMULATION MODELING provides the student with both a conceptual introduction to the concepts of simulation modeling and practical experience with real examples using popular commercial simulation packages ARENA and @Risk. The coverage includes Risk Simulation, Dynamic Systems, and Discrete Event Simulation models. Throughout the text, the authors show readers how they can use simulation in the context of decision making. Practical examples from Operations Management, Manufacturing, Health Care, and Finance are included throughout to give students an appreciation for the wide scope of application and the robust nature of simulation modeling. Special student editions of ARENA and @Risk are packaged with the text. ... Read more

Book Description

From the Foreword . . .

"I have seen many Six Sigma approaches, but Breyfogle's Implementing Six Sigma is the most comprehensive of them all."--Frank Shines, Principal, IBM Global Services, Measurement Methods Consulting.

"The key to business success is doing the right thing faster and better and more efficiently than your competition. The Six Sigma approach aims at achieving this and Forrest Breyfogle has written the most systematic and comprehensive manual available on the subject."--Paul Tobias, Manager, Statistical Methods Group, SEMATECH

"[This book] illustrates how most organizations can become more competitive, reduce defect levels, and improve cycle times. It consolidates not only the traditional Six Sigma process measurements and improvement tools, but also many other useful methodologies into one easy-to-understand text."--Bill Wiggenhorn, Senior Vice President of Motorola Training and Education; President, Motorola University.

Implementing Six Sigma demystifies Six Sigma methods for today's users and offers invaluable guidance on how to choose and use Six Sigma tools effectively. The Six Sigma implementation road map the book describes integrates basic methods such as FMEA, QFD, process flowcharting, and continuous improvement tools (e.g., Pareto chart and cause-and-effect diagram) with a full range of powerful statistical techniques and concepts--crucial practical know-how for implementation practitioners and managers. ... Read more

Reviews (45)

A clear roadmap to successful Six Sigma implementation
Forrest Breyfogle's new text, "Implementing Six Sigma", provides clear and well-defined examples, case studies and guidelines for the justification, design and "smarter" implementation of Six Sigma methodologies in any organization. The practical examples of "Smarter Solutions Using Statistical Methods" show how organizations can enhance the bottom-line benefits of Six Sigma implementation through the innovative application of proven concepts. Breyfogle's real world experience in assisting clients like IBM, Motorola and Dell is evident on every page.

The unique value of the book is in it's multi-tiered approach to each of these issues. Concepts are introduced, discussed and documented in several levels of detail, each suitable to a different reader, from the non-technical senior executive, through the implementing functional manager, to the working quality engineer.

An excellent glossary and extensive reference tables make this book a valuable addition to any professional reference library. Pragmatic "how to" guidelines make it an easy to follow roadmap for successful Six Sigma implementation.

A "Must Have" for Six Sigma and QE Practitioners
The first edition of Implementing Six Sigma was the best book available for Six Sigma practitioners and quality engineers. The second edition increases the lead over other contenders.

First of all, Six Sigma is defined as a system that improves business performance through cost reduction and revenue growth by improving all business processes and increasing customer satisfaction. It is not just a quality improvement system.

Second, all of the statistical tools are described, explained and illustrated with real world examples. And in addition:
• The Seven Management Tools to analyze "idea data"
• Lean tools to reduce waste as defined by Taichi Ohno
• Theory of Constraints to identify and break bottlenecks
• Project Management and Change Management
• Team effectiveness
• Creativity
are all integrated into "Smarter Six Sigma Solutions" to provide a holistic approach to business improvement.

In other words, if you want to make real improvements in real life business situations, this is the book to show you how to do it. Also, if you want to pass the ASQ Six Sigma Black Belt certification exam, there is no better text.

A Very Comprehensive Source
I bought this book directly from the author out of the trunk of his car, so I can tell you that you definitely get a better price from amazon.com. Anyway, this is without a doubt, the most comprehensive book on the subject. Breyfogle has gone to a lot of trouble to make sure that he has covered all aspects of Six Sigma in sufficient detail that the reader will be able to apply these methodologies successfully from the start. One of the key ingredients he spends a lot of time on is the idea of focusing and aligning efforts with corporate or organizational goals and metrics. These he refers to as the "satellite level"*. There are lower operational levels (30,000 foot and below) that need to be aligned with the satellite level in order that six sigma projects are driven for most effectiveness to the organization.

Forrest Breyfogle has been a quality leader in our community (Austin, Texas) for a number of years. I knew him since his days at IBM in the early '90s. That doesn't mean that I can't give an unbiased view of this book, however. Note I'm not giving it 5 stars as some have done. I am trying to give it a fair assessment, however. I've seen many technical books of this nature written in a more conversational way that are a little easier to read with better vocabulary, grammar, and organization. But if you want a book that covers it all, there is nothing out there I know of that can beat this one.

This book claims to focus on both product and service quality. However, as with many books that claim to cover the service sector, it is a little weak in that area. There are some books that cover services better than this one, I think, and so if that is your specialty, you may want to use one of those books to supplement the treatment of six sigma in this book. I like "Ultimate Six Sigma" by Keki Bhote. That book uses the concept of NOAC (Next Operation As Customer) to drive interdepartmental process improvement. Bhote is a big fan of Dorian Shainin, the consummate engineer of quality tools, and he is now arrogantly calling some of the Shainin tools "Shainin/Bhote" tools. But I've seen a lot of books that look like advertising brochures for consultants. His and Breyfogle's book both have that fault. But I have to like them simply because they are comprehensive, authoritative, and useful. I think the advertising brochure syndrome is really the fault of publishers that let authors get away with it. I would think a respected technical publisher like Wiley would not accept that kind of tone in any of its books. But like "Coke C2" and low carb bread, we are swamped with advertising from every direction and it only gets worse.

Another good book you might want to consider is "Lean Six Sigma for Service" by Michael L. George. This book specializes in only the service sector and is therefore, a very good book for that kind of work with some excellent case studies.

*Service Mark of Smarter Solutions

Hastily Assembled and Poorly Organized
When my wife brought this home from her Six Sigma Green Belt training, I eagerly opened it and spent a couple hours reviewing it's "treasures". I was disappointed.

As a provider of Six Sigma Training and a certifed Black Belt myself, I had expected better from one of the most recognized names in the field. Breyfogle and his team have assembled several meaningful aspects of the Six Sigma art. However, any sense of flow or logical progression were interrupted by commercials for his company's "unique" approach. His team's frequent use of poorly defined vocabulary added to the confusion. Most disturbing, however, was the characterization of the value of the "wisdom of the organization", which could mislead potential implementers of the method to minimize the critical need for empirical data collection and analysis. They seem to promote the the more typical, "Ask Larry, he knows".

Typos, confusing sentence structure, and poor publishing practices lead me to wonder if Dr. B reads his own defect reduction philosophies. The Voice of the Customer in this instance says: el Stinko.

If you buy this book, you will find use in it. It's a good collection of techniques and ideas, and many of the examples are helpful. However, I would suggest looking for something cheaper and more professionally executed. The price may lead you to believe that this is the consumate work of the field. If it is, I guess that's good news for you and me. Without much effort, we could write and publish a better Six Sigma book than this shallow collection of Clip Art, rambling prose, and poorly referenced diagrams.

Better than Ever
The second edition of Implementing Six Sigma, by Forrest Breyfogle, substantially updates and enriches the original work. In it's current form it may very well be the most comprehensive source of information about the practical application of statistical techniques in Six Sigma work.

Like the previous edition, it is a highly informative book that illustrates how to tightly integrate balanced scorecard metrics with improvement techniques, to include Lean, Six Sigma, and theory of constraints (TOC) tools. Breyfogle's expanded step-by-step project execution roadmap illustrates when Lean/Six Sigma tools can be used to significant effect throughout the define-measure-analyze-improve-control (DMAIC) improvement cycle in a variety of settings.

Other reviewers in the field have found the new book to be of significant value as well.
Writing in the February 2004 ASQ "Six Sigma Forum Magazine", Roger Hoerl, Manager of the Applied Statistics Laboratory at GE's Global Research Center categorized the work as "an excellent text for a technically oriented course for Black Belts or Master Black Belts...the most complete compilation of Six Sigma tools on the market."

In the same publication, William Parr, Department of Statistics at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, stated "This is the best overall reference, providing encyclopedic coverage of statistical and statistically related topics that are of use in Six Sigma work.

With this well-deserved professional recognition, Breyfogle firmly positions himself as a world-class authority in the application of successful techniques to the implementation of Six Sigma - and his latest work as the "how to" guide to success. ... Read more

Book Description

The best thing you can do for your business is to be ready for anything
When Disaster Strikes offers business leaders the peace of mind of knowing that their business is ready for any contingency, no matter how extreme. This guide is designed to be used as both a preparatory resource for when times are good, and an emergency reference when times are bad. This book gets managers up-to-speed on what they should be prepared to deal with and offers real solutions for putting those business continuity plans in place. From natural and man-made disasters to catastrophic computer hack attacks, When Disaster Strikes is the ultimate weapon for any manager determined to help the business survive no matter what. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Complete and Factual
As an instructor in the emergency management field, I found this book to be concise and on-target with respect to preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters...both public and private.Mr. Laye's ability to convey the reason and methods of preparedness and response is apparently based on experience and in-depth research.Well outlined and a must for any manager concerned with business survival following virtually any disaster.

Practical Advice
This book providespractical advice fordeveloping a business continuity plan in a very readable form. The use of case studies and planning scenarios is particularly helpful in applying the concepts to real life situations.

The "Must Have" Book on Business Continuity
As a business continuity consultant and leader of business continuity seminars, I'm always asked to recommend books that would be helpful in the development and implementation of a disaster recovery/business continuity program. John Laye's "Avoiding Disaster" is one I will heartily recommend - whether the reader is new to this arena or a seasoned professional.

Written from a no-nonsense, real-world perspective, this is a book that everyone involved in business continuity should have readily available to use and to pass along to others in their organizations who need to truly understand what business continuity is all about. ... Read more

Book Description

Designed for courses in Probability and Statistics and/or Random Processes,this book integrates a modern approach to statistical methods, computertechnology, and recent pedagogical trends into an introductory curriculum forengineers and scientists.It reflects the most currenttopics and data available, including computer techniques, inference throughbootstrapping, and process stability. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Don't waste money
Terribly organized, poorly explained.
Don't waste money.

Straightforward approach
I attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute for both my undergraduate and graduate degrees in statistics, so I have been taught by each of the 3 authors of this textbook. While I have not seen the final version of this text, I know the authors' approach to be very applied and straightforward, and definitely worthwhile.

It is a very readable book.
Compared to other books on statistics, I find this book very easy to understand. The concepts are clearly and concisely explained without the long and tedious mathematical manipulations. The approach is applications-and-technology oriented. I would recommend this book to students who like to put statistics to immediate use.

Awful
This is the most horrible college textbook i've ever had in my undergraduate classes. It is very unclear and unorganized. The problem sets are very poor tests of understanding of material. This text is absolute garbage. I've read better cereal boxes. ... Read more

Book Description

Revised, updated, and even more useful to students, teachers, and practicing professionals
The First Edition of Loss Models was deemed "worthy of classical status" by the Journal of the International Statistical Institute. While retaining its predecessor's thorough treatment of the concepts and methods of analyzing contingent events, this powerful Second Edition is updated and expanded to offer even more complete and flexible coverage of risk theory, loss distributions, and survival models.
Beginning with a framework for model building and a description of frequency and severity loss data typically available, it shows readers how to combine frequency, severity, and loss models to build aggregate loss models and credibility-based pricing models, and how to analyze loss over multiple time periods. Important features of this new edition include:
* Thorough preparation for relevant parts of preliminary examinations of the Society of Actuaries (SOA) and Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS)
* Exercises based on past SOA and CAS exams
* Examples using actual insurance data
* Practical treatment of modern credibility theory
* Data files and more from an ftp site
Loss Models, Second Edition is an important resource, providing a comprehensive, practically motivated toolkit and an excellent reference, for actuaries preparing for SOA and CAS preliminary examinations, students in actuarial science who need to understand loss and risk models, and practicing professionals involved in loss modeling. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

great introduction to models needed in insurance
When I took a job to model prediction of loss reserves for workers compensation insurance, I began to realize that the traditional statistical methods that I generally relied n would not help me (without modification). The required modification would be either to transform variables or to model long-tailed probability distributions. This is because in the insurance business you have to reserve for those big catastrophies. The cost data for workers compensation data generally show a high frequency of low to moderate costs... . However occasionally there are a few cases of sever injury causing permanent disability which could run over 1 million dollars. Even though the probability of occurrence is small the cost is so high that it cannot be ignored. Such claims will surely be found when large insurance company cover millions of employees over many years.

The problem occurs when insuring for floods, earthquakes, fires and other disasters. Stuart Klugman and Bob Hogg in 1984 wrote the first introductory text to acquaint statisticians with such probability models that are important in the insurance business. Other books covering the subject were covered in books on risk theory designed for actuaries. This book covers all the topics and assumes mathematical and staistical knowledge at the level of the book by Hogg and Craig (so some calculus is required). ... Read more

Book Description

Master Math: Calculus takes off right where the best-selling Master Math series left off, and provides everyone, even those who fear balancing their checkbooks, with new hope and answers to these and many other calculus questions. In a simple, straightforward, step-by-step approach, Master Math: Calculus clearly explains the basic concepts of calculus, then delves deeper into advanced topics. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Master Math: Calculus Table of Contents
Master Math: Calculus Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1. Functions

1.1. Functions: types, properties and definitions 1.2. Exponents and logarithms 1.3. Trigonometric functions 1.4. Circular motion 1.5. Relationship between trigonometric and exponential functions 1.6. Hyperbolic functions 1.7. Polynomial functions 1.8. Functions of more than one variable and contour diagrams 1.9. Coordinate systems 1.10. Complex numbers 1.11. Parabolas, circles, ellipses and hyperbolas

Chapter 2. The Derivative

2.1. The limit 2.2. Continuity 2.3. Differentiability 2.4. The definition of the derivative and rate of change 2.5. D (delta) notation and the definition of the derivative 2.6. Slope of a tangent line and the definition of the derivative 2.7. Velocity, distance, slope, area and the definition of the derivative 2.8. Evaluating derivatives of constants and linear functions 2.9. Evaluating derivatives using the derivative formula 2.10. The derivatives of a variable, a constant with a variable, a constant with a function and a variable raised to a power 2.11. Examples of differentiating using the derivative formula 2.12. Derivatives of powers of functions 2.13. Derivatives of ax, ex and ln x 2.14. Applications of exponential equation 2.15. Differentiating sums, differences and polynomials 2.16. Taking second derivatives 2.17. Derivatives of products: the product rule 2.18. Derivatives of quotients: the quotient rule 2.19. The chain rule for differentiating complicated functions9 2.20. Rate problem examples 2.21. Differentiating trigonometric functions 2.22. Inverse functions and inverse trigonometric functions and their derivatives8 2.23. Differentiating hyperbolic functions 2.24. Differentiating multivariable functions 2.25. Differentiation of implicit vs. explicit functions 2.26. Selected rules of differentiation 2.27. Minimum, maximum and the first and second derivatives 2.28. Notes on local linearity, approximating slope of curve and numerical methods

Chapter 3. The Integral

3.1. Introduction 3.2. Sums and sigma notation 3.3. The antiderivative or indefinite integral and the integral formula 3.4. The definite integral and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus 3.5. Improper integrals 3.6. The integral and the area under a curve 3.7. Estimating integrals using sums and associated error 3.8. The integral and the average value 3.9. Area below the X-axis, even and odd functions and their integrals 3.10. Integrating a function and a constant, the sum of functions, a polynomial, and properties of integrals 3.11. Multiple integrals 3.12. Examples of common integrals 3.13. Integrals describing length 3.14. Integrals describing area 3.15. Integrals describing volume 3.16. Changing coordinates and variables 3.17. Applications of the integral 3.18. Evaluating integrals using integration by parts 3.19. Evaluating integrals using substitution 3.20. Evaluating integrals using partial fractions 3.21. Evaluating integrals using tables

Chapter 4. Series and Approximations

4.1. Sequences, progressions and series 4.2. Infinite series and tests for convergence 4.3. Expanding functions into series, the power series, Taylor series, Maclaurin series, and the binomial expansion

Chapter 5. Vectors, Matrices, Curves, Surfaces and Motion

5.1. Introduction to vectors 5.2. Introduction to matrices 5.3. Multiplication of vectors and matrices 5.4. Dot or scalar products 5.5. Vector or cross product 5.6. Summary of determinants 5.7. Matrices and linear algebra 5.8. The position vector, parametric equations, curves and surfaces 5.9. Motion, velocity and acceleration

Chapter 6. Partial Derivatives

6.1. Partial derivatives: representation and evaluation 6.2. The chain rule 6.3. Representation on a graph 6.4. Local linearity, linear approximations, quadratic approximations and differentials 6.5. Directional derivative and gradient 6.6. Minima, maxima and optimization

Chapter 7. Vector Calculus

7.1. Summary of scalars, vectors, the directional derivative and the gradient 7.2. Vector fields and field lines 7.3. Line integrals and conservative vector fields 7.4. Green's Theorem: tangent and normal (flux) forms 7.5. Surface integrals and flux 7.6. Divergence 7.7. Curl 7.8. Stokes' Theorem

Chapter 8. Introduction to Differential Equations

8.1. First-order differential equations 8.2. Second-order linear differential equations 8.3. Higher-order linear differential equations 8.4. Series solutions to differential equations 8.5. Systems of differential equations 8.6. Laplace transform method 8.7. Numerical methods for solving differential equations 8.8. Partial differential equations

Index

Talk the talk
This is a good book for calculus refrence, but not for explanations. If you already know calculus, this is a good book to use to brush up with. Just don't expect to use this book to understand calc. ... Read more

Book Description

This is a hands-on introduction to modeling a wide variety of applications in Microsoft Excel. It features numerous tutorials and applications to illustrate how to model and solve problems in Excel. It can be used by itself or as a supplement to a text in Mathematical Modeling or Liberal Arts Mathematics. Neuwirth and Arganbright offer a more accessible and hands-on alternative than do other modeling texts. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An ideal text for those modeling with Excell
This text is a softcover, even though at this time Amazon still lists it as a thin hardcover.It is written on the same level as Giordano, Wier and Fox's Mathematical Modelling, but focuses directly on the use of Microsoft's Excell.I am one of the many annoyed with Microsoft, but since Excell is ubiquitious, it makes a reasonable choice for a course.The book is very visual showing, for example, how to use Excell to draw Feigenbaum diagrams to illustrate chaos, how to illustrating Newton's method (drawing the tangent lines...), drawing Bezier curves for smoothing...It points out many of Excell's useful features (some have found just learning how to add scrollbars useful). ... Read more

Book Description

When it comes to sustained success, vision matters more than strategy. Scores of studies have proven this statement, and millions of business leaders believe it. Yet few executives understand what vision is. They embrace the idea, but ignore the implementation - a disconnect that threatens companies striving for growth in a volatile marketplace.

Organizational expert Mark Lipton argues that this "believing-doing" gap exists because today's fast-paced world demands short-term fixes-pressuring executives to make tactical decisions that ultimately create larger strategic problems down the road. But Lipton shows that vision has more substance than leaders think-and that it is an essential factor in building scalable organizations that last for the long haul.

Based on extensive research and real-world consulting work with executives implementing the scaling process, Guiding Growth provides fresh examples of established and new firms that have developed powerful growth visions. Moving beyond token "mission statements," Lipton outlines a step-by-step process for establishing an actionable vision, presenting it to the company, and embedding it into the organizational fabric.

Illustrating how visions become guiding forces for day-to-day behavior and overall company direction, Guiding Growth reveals how companies can stay their course, even as they grow. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

I'm a Convert!
Ah, corporate vision statements. Before reading Guiding Growth I did not put great faith in them. I, as the author, Mark Lipton, was not convinced of the power of corporate visions at the beginning of his research. Visioning to some extent has been a management fad that has come and gone. However Lipton's research finds that for companies who truly have a vision that helps their companies stretch and grow, and is deeply embedded in their organizations; the market returns are demonstrably better.

Vision, in Lipton's model is composed of three elements: raison d'être, strategy and values. In Guiding Growth Whole Foods Market is quoted as saying 'our vision statement reflects the hope and intentions of many people. We do not believe it always accurately portrays the way things currently are at Whole Foods market so much as the way would like things to be. It is our dissatisfaction with the current reality, when compared with what is possible, that spurs us toward excellence and toward creating a better, company and world.' Strong stuff indeed. And in ManyWorlds' experience, for many companies the articulation of a vision is often based on their heritage, not to where they want to grow, and not what differentiates them.

Lipton also examines the role of executive groups (not teams) and the alignment of people processes with vision, to bring the vision alive, real and accountable. The book is as much about leadership and organizational culture as it is about growth and vision, which are of course the fruits and seeds of each other, within the organizational greenhouse. He writes, 'Organizations rocketing through extended periods of growth. To succeed, they need a combination of all the right ingredients and they must be in near-perfect alignment. If one element is missing, or out of alignment, then the potential for failure rockets as well...all organization share the same need to have the right ingredients in place and to ensure they are aligned and that is what the executive group accomplishes through the vision framework.'

Peppered with examples from a range of companies and with deeper analysis of high-growth organizations such as Oakley, Lipton has done an excellent job of presenting both a visioning framework and insights into culture and leadership into a practical and usable work. Helpful lists of questions, checklists and exercises bring this already enthusiastic text to a more approachable and actionable level. Highly recommended for executives and managers from a variety of functional areas including business unit heads and 'service lines' such as HR.

Vision - beyond the hype
Reading "Guiding Growth" has been a joy - finally a practical book about vision. Like Lipton, I was suspicious about the whole vision industry, but his book has helped to look at the concept in a different light.
The distinction between the 3 principles - raison d'etre, strategy and values is most insightful (especially since raison d'etre and strategy are often mixed up).
Despite all good intentions, the reality is that the vision process often ends with the communication of a vision statement. Lipton shows how the real impact can go far beyond just an energising event: it is pivotal in guiding and sustaining growth.

In my own experience vision is often treated with more suspicion in Europe than in the US. Lipton's book, however, is as valuable for those who are in charge of building or changing an organisation in the US as in Europe (or any other part of the world) - Guiding Growth goes beyond the hype. It asks some tough questions and invites you to think about how you can unlock the wholehearted commitment of your workforce by providing meaning to the existence of the organization. A must.

Read this book -- then give it to all your direct-reports
Yippee! No academic psycho-babble, overly complex diagrams, or overly simplistic management fables in this one. "Guiding Growth" is smart, witty, and engaging - a must-read for business leaders concerned about sustainable competitive advantage.

Lipton begins by admitting something few other professor/consultant/authors would ever dare: he was wrong. Convinced that the link between vision and growth was over-rated, that vision statements were just a passing fad, Lipton was surprised when his research proved exactly the opposite. Now, readers can reap the benefits of Lipton's change of heart. In "Guiding Growth," he leads us through the journey of understanding how valuable a clear vision can be when articulated and acted upon in a powerful way.

Mark Lipton's writing voice is passionate and profoundly personal. While this book is well-grounded in research and experience, it is Lipton's use of stories and metaphors that will have a long-lasting effect on you. Yes, he makes you think; more important, he makes you feel something in your heart and in your gut. It is this quality that sets this book apart from other business books.

Be forewarned: the feelings "Guiding Growth" provokes can be very uncomfortable at times. Throughout the early chapters, I stopped often to think and jot down notes about my own vision, my own raison d'etre, as Lipton raised "Why?" questions over and over again. By the end of Chapter 4, I was saying "Yes! Yes! Yes!" as the vision for my work became clearer. Reading Chapter 5 brought tears to my eyes as he described the strong connection between vision and deeply held values based on life experiences.

The second half of the book holds valuable advice for all business leaders: how to put that vision into action, overcome obstacles, and avoid pitfalls. Lipton's Vision Framework has been tried and tested - he proves his points with examples drawn from well-known companies.

Kudos to Mark Lipton for having the guts to publicly concede that he was wrong and for taking the time to share his lessons learned with us in this book. -- Cynthia C. Froggatt, author of "Work Naked: Eight Essential Principles for Peak Performance in the Virtual Workplace" (Jossey-Bass/Wiley, 2001), ...

From the Perspective of an Entrepreneur
I was the founder and CEO of a small software company ..., and was approached by a much larger technology company ... . After making an acquisition offer I could not refuse, I sold my business to them and agreed to run it for four years.

If only we had read this book about using vision to guide growth during our transition. Ultimately, the acquisition failed within two years for the buyer. This book offers three components of a well-developed organizational vision: raison d'etre, strategy and values. The buying company never took the time to go beyond a "bumper sticker" for a vision statement. Although it did seem on track with my company's reason for being, there was never an agreement on the strategy. The tension and disagreement (not to mention the time taken) related to these differences effectively crippled my previously highly motivated and productive staff. The key values of the two companies could not have been more different. The centerpiece of our values before acquisition involved doing whatever it took to make our customers happy-most of which had on-going consulting contracts with us. The executive from the buying company literally told my staff that this philosophy was both unnecessary and an expensive luxury.

This book struck a real chord with me because it made it so clear where the gaps were. It obviously would have taken more than a book to convince the buying company to think more carefully through their plan, but having it all documented could've made the upcoming potholes in the road more obvious. And if we had actually implemented an agreed vision, I am sure the business could have continued on its previous success.

The first half of the book lays out how vision is important and why it is not just another buzzword, but how it is a crucial element to grow a company. The second half gives more guidelines on the details of implementation. It took some patience to pull all the ideas together in Part I-it is much more conceptual than Part II-- but stick with it-its worth it. The anecdotes are great and the corresponding checklists and appendices give it a lot of substance. The second half is an easier read and filled with practical management advice-some related directly to vision and some just good solid management practice guidelines.

As a seller of my business, I was very successful. I would have preferred to make the buyer even more successful and watch my company flourish with their greater resources. This book came four years too late for me. I will certainly recommend it to current clients in my consulting practice and keep it handy for my next venture. ... Read more