Book Description

In Building the Brand-Driven Business, authors Scott M. Davis and Michael Dunn— two of the nation's foremost experts on brands— map out a strategy that can help an entire organization manage and live (not just think about) its brand. They show how to develop brand-building programs that are the most cost efficient, effective, and credible. And just as vital, they reveal how to create a brand-driven culture within an organization so that building the brand becomes everyone's job.

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Reviews (9)

More smoke and mirrors
Oh, the poor trees that suffered at the hands of this book.
What was said in this book could have been said in fewer than three pages. (In fact, it has been said in fewer pages in several Harvard Business School publications.)

This book fails in many ways, not the least of which is the manner in which it fails to give any new, substantive, useful or logical way to operationalize branding. Here is the book's central message: if you buy a "brand strategy" logo, identity, etc. from Branding Agency X get everyone to rally around it; otherwise, Branding Agency X will be held accountable for the brand failure which equals no new business for agency.

Save your money. Just re-read the section on branding in a Kotler text because this book is nothing more than hot air...

What is new here???
What is new here...that's the quesiton I have after reading the book. I prefer his previous book. I found the chapter on connecting business strategy to brand strategy to be particularly useful or helpful and this is the biggest challenge in branding...not designing ..but makeing it real. Quite frnakly I prefer another brand book 60-Minute Brand Strategist by Idris Mootee as it covers a lot more in less than 200 pages....and a lot of less words.

350 Pages of 'Everyone Live the Brand Now'
That's the Cliff Note version for those of you, like me, who have this as required reading before a big 'brand summit'.

Everything else was rehashed, renamed, or retreaded.

Read it on the plane in about 30 minutes, regardless of the heft.

Moves branding to the next level
Before I read this book, I never thought of a retail clerk or a customer service representative as a company's brand ambassador. But what the authors explain is that brand building should be supported by more than just the people in the marketing department. Certainly, brand has become the strategy du jour among marketing people these days, as evidenced by the number of books on the market. However, this book treats brand in a different context, defining it through the concept of "operationalizing" it, bringing it to life through a company's processes, systems and employees. It makes a great deal of sense that a company's senior executives must embrace the brand and its promise by linking it to the company's corporate strategy, so it becomes part of the culture. Several case studies in the book are helpful for understanding why so many well-known brand names have been successful by using similar techniques to bring their brand to life across the organization.

"Operationalizing" aside
Don't let the somewhat intimidating word "operationalize" keep you from investigating the pages of Building The Brand-Driven Business: Operationalize Your Brand to Drive Profitable Growth (Jossey-Bass, 2002). What authors Scott Davis and Michael Dunn show is that brand-building can and should be supported through more than just MarCom initiatives. The retail clerk who actually smiles at and is helpful to customers does far more to support the brand than the priciest ad campaigns - as Wal-Mart has long-since discovered and McDonald's apparently has yet to grasp. The authors posit that building those supporting behaviors and mind-sets (not to mention systems and processes) and then using the brand promise as an integral measure for business decisions is what "operationalizing" is all about. It's interesting positioning that's perhaps ahead of its time - but certainly one that non-marketing, senior decision makers should relate to. There's a lot of confusion among non-marketers as to what "brand" is and isn't. The authors make a case for elevating it to an entirely different level in the organization. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Comprehensive intro to game theory.
In fact, the book may be too concentrated. I may have to re-read it to grasp all the principles therein. This is not to say that the book is hard to read. It is not. There is so much to take in, and unfortunately, they don't dwell on the examples for long. This should be a required text in any MBA program.

Shoot into the Air
Larry, Mo and Curly have undertaken a three-way duel. There will be two rounds. In the first round, each player gets one shot - first Larry, then Mo, then Curly. At the end of the first round, each survivor gets a second shot, in the same order. Larry is a poor shot, with a 30 percent success rate. Mo is better: he hits 50 percent. Curly never misses.

What should Larry do? The answer is that he should shoot into the air. By wasting his shot, he maximizes his chances of survival. Such is the analysis of the authors of this remarkable introduction to game theory.

One virtue of this book is its geniality: For Dixit and Nalebuff, game theory is full of anecdote and surprise, and they give you the sense that they like nothing better than to share their enthusiasm with others. (Geniality footnote: I probbly shouldn't noise this around, but one day I ran into a problem with an equation in a (different) Dixit book. I sent him an email; I got a response in an hour). A tradeoff for geniality is that they pay a price in structure: to get a coherent framework - even for some of their own best stories - you may have to go elsewhere (Professor Rappaport's textbook may be a good second choice). But it is hard to find any book that does better at conveying a sense of the excitement and challenge of game theory as a discipline).

Comparison shopper's note: I've used this in working with law students. Game Theory for Lawyers, by Baird, Gertner and Jackson, might seem closer on point. But it lacks those little four-block boxes that are a staple of game theory instruction, and for a beginner is bound to be pretty impenetrable without them.

A fun read
For anyone who enjoyed the movie A Beautiful Mind with Russel Crowe playing the Nobel prize winning Professor John Nash, this book does a great job explaining the principles behind Game Theory (prisoner's dilemma etc.) without being too mathematical. After reading you will see Strategy everywhere.

How to think differently
Winning takes good strategy. This book will help you to formulate a strategy like one would strategize in a chess game. The book will enable you to think differently about life's challenges and how to overcome them. It is a shame so many good books on strategy and winning are business books because the theories outlined in this book can be used in every aspect of one's life. If you believe logical processes and planning leads to a good winning strategy, then definitely buy this book. It will enable you to reach new heights in formulating a proper winning strategy.

Pop version of game theory
This book is a good read as far as story-telling goes. However, from the perspective of game theory, it leaves much to be desired, as it does not seek to define the major theories and it does not provide a reasonable explanation for the particular tools and their application.

It is clear that the book is written for those not interested in the more technical aspects of game theory, so if that is you, you should consider this book. It seems to me, however, that the organization of this book is missing exactly what the book purports to deliver: strategic thinking. ... Read more

Book Description

This new series of fifteen books - The Food Service Professional Guide TO Series from the editors of the Food Service Professional are the best and most comprehensive books for serious food service operators available today.

These step-by-step guides on a specific management subject range from finding a great site for your new restaurant to how to train your wait staff and literally everything in between. They are easy and fast -to-read, easy to understand and will take the mystery out of the subject. The information is "boiled down" to the essence. They are filled to the brim with up to date and pertinent information.

The books cover all the bases, providing clear explanations and helpful, specific information. All titles in the series include the phone numbers and web sites of all companies discussed. What you won’t find are wordy explanations, tales of how someone did it better, or a scholarly lecture on the "theory". Think of them as "Cliff Notes TM" on the subject matter.

Every paragraph in each of the books are comprehensive, well researched, engrossing, and just plain fun-to-read, yet are packed with interesting ideas. You’ll be using your highlighter a lot! The best part aside from the content is they are very moderately price. You can also purchase the whole 15 book series the isbn number is 0-910627-26-6. You are bound to get a great new idea to try on every page if not out of every paragraph. Do not be put off by the low price, these books really do deliver the critical information and eye opening ideas you need you to succeed without the fluff so commonly found in more expensive books on the subject. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Practical "real world" examples for maximizing profits
One of the newest additions to the Atlantic Publishing Group's outstanding "The Food Service Professional" series, The Food Service Professional Guide To Successful Catering: Managing The Catering Operation For Maximum Profit. Here revealed are 365 "insider secrets" showcasing everything necessary to launch a successful catering business; practical "real world" examples for maximizing profits; and clear, accessible instructions on how to sell, market, and operate a catering operation profitably no matter what part of the country it is located in. If you are considering your own catering company as an entrepreneurial small business, then give a close and careful reading to Sony Bode's The Food Service Professional Guide To Successful Catering: Managing The Catering Operation For Maximum Profit!

Great Book
Great Book! I Found These step-by-step guides easy-to-read, and easy to understand! The books are packed with information. They reminded me of "cliff Notes" from my college days.The information is comprehensive without the fluff you find in so many of the more expensive books out there on the subject. The books are also packed with resources such as phone numbers and the web sites of the companies they are discussing - there is no "theory" just great information. ... Read more

Download Description

"Global capitalism stands at a crossroads¿facing international terrorism, worldwide environmental change, and an accelerating backlash against globalization. Today's global companies are at a crossroads, too: finding new strategies for profitable growth has never been more challenging. Both sets of problems are intimately linked, says Stuart L. Hart¿and so are the solutions.

In Capitalism at the Crossroads, Hart shows companies how to identify sustainable products that can drive new growth as they also help solve today's most crucial social problems. Drawing on his experience consulting with top companies and NGOs worldwide, Hart shows how to integrate new technology to deliver profitable solutions that reduce poverty and protect the environment at the same time. Along the way, you'll learn how to become truly indigenous to all your markets¿and avoid the pitfalls of traditional ""greening"" and ""sustainability"" strategies.

This book transcends yesterday's stale debates about globalization, pointing the way toward a capitalism that's more inclusive, more welcome, and far more successful. But great ideas aren't enough. Hart presents on-the-ground techniques for transforming them into reality, helping leaders re-ignite innovation, growth, and profitability in their own businesses, starting today.

Beyond yesterday's sterile globalization battles

A revolutionary synthesis that makes global capitalism work for everyone

Catalyzing a revolution in sustainable development...and profiting from it

Why business is singularly equipped to lead the movement towards global sustainability

Reigniting corporate growth: A strategic framework for serving four billion new customers

Build your bottom line by helping them build a better life

Not just ""sustainability"": becoming truly indigenous

Overcoming the limits of first-generation sustainability initiatives

Powerful case studies from more than 20 top companies worldwide

Making it work: from DuPont to Unilever, S.C. Johnson to Grameen Telecom" ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great Source of New Paradigms for a Polluted World
This is an important, but flawed, book.

Capitalism at the Crossroads is that rare book that compellingly describes new paradigms with powerful examples . . . but with which almost every reader will find fault in several ways.At the same time, I doubt if many readers will fail to change their viewpoints and actions at least in some ways as a result of reading and thinking about the material in this book.

The book is comprised of three basic lines of inquiry.

First, environmental problems that threaten us all will not be overcome by continuous improvement of reducing pollution of the sort that is being done now.You have to create entirely new business models that are built around the concept of long-term environmental sustainability.

Second, most of the environmental challenges will come in the parts of the world inhabited by the poorest two-thirds of the population.To deal with their economic needs and environmental challenges, you need to solve the problems from their perspective.

Third, new leadership and management paradigms are needed to change the way that organizations operate themselves that allow for the innovative sparks and direction to come from stakeholder interactions in the most difficult environments.

Most authors would feel like they could retire satisfied if they proposed even one of those ideas and explained the idea well.Professor Hart should take great pleasure in having helped give birth to three such important ideas.

Packaging the three ideas into one brief book, however, turns out to be an overwhelming challenge for Professor Hart.He doesn't quite carry it off.That's where the reader disagreements come from.

Let me give you some examples.Professor Hart places the entire burden for solving these problems on business.Now, I agree that business can do a lot . . . and needs to do more . . . but there are other organizations that can play pioneering roles.The U.S. government has played a positive role in encouraging the development of very important technologies in the past (such as the predecessor to the Internet, funding research into making biotechnology feasible, and creating advanced materials).Individual inventors have produced remarkable breakthroughs in the past (such as Jacques Cousteau and the aqua-lung).Charities have funded research to stop dangerous diseases (The March of Dimes and polio vaccine).And so on.

As raw materials and essential resources become scarcer and more expensive, most businesses will be doing a lot of thinking about how to keep operating.In some parts of India today, it's hard to get electricity for about 9 hours a day.Many Chinese plants run on their own generators.Simple initiative will create many of the solutions.This book suggests that only large multinationals can play a big role because they can afford to develop major new technologies.I would argue that large multinationals are not likely to be the largest source of new technologies . . . cash-strapped entrepreneurs will be instead. That's been the history of technology innovation for a long time.

Without taking issue with everything that Professor Hart has to say that I disagree with, I would simply note that this book will have its best and highest use when read and applied by entrepreneurs in emerging market nations who have access to enough skill and resources to address these issues from the perspective of the local culture and economy."Small Is Beautiful" solutions can come best by equipping those who know the problems best with knowledge, education and some experimental resources.The developed world can probably be most effective in ensuring that happens by encouraging the development of small-scale entrepreneurship as the Grameen Bank does in part.

If I had some many problems with Professor Hart's arguments, why, then, did I grade the book as a five-star effort?First, I found his call for business model innovation to include environmental concerns to be compelling . . . and better than any other investigation of this opportunity that I have read.Second, his ideas are useful and should be used . . . if not exactly in the ways that he envisions.You've heard the old joke about pioneers, I'm sure.They are the ones who die with a back filled with injuries from their critics.The courage of such pioneers to take us someplace else should be applauded . . . even when they get part of it wrong.Otherwise, why would anyone read Freud anymore?

How to serve four billion at the base of the pyramid
Nobel prize winning physicist Richard Feynman coined the phrase, "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom." He used it to describe the many possibilities and advantages of making machines nanometers in size. That phrase can also be used to describe the business opportunities put forward in this book. Hart notes that most business strategies are designed to serve only a small percentage of the people on Earth, those with large disposable incomes. The remainder is poor and largely ignored, and he refers to them as the base of the pyramid (BOP).
This means that approximately four billion people are not a significant part of the business plans of most multi-national companies (MNCs). The conventional wisdom is that since their disposable income is so low, the products of the MNCs are beyond their economic capability. However, that is in many ways a false assumption, and the case studies cited in this book prove that conclusively. One simple example concerns poor people making telephone calls. On the surface, the idea that someone would spend several days' wages for a telephone call appears absurd. However, if that person must obtain the information and the only alternative is to spend more by making a trip, then that "expensive" phone call is in fact a bargain. Therefore, providing cell phone service to remote villages has proven to be profitable to the provider and beneficial to the villagers.
Hart also takes the leadership of the MNCs to task for their emphasis on the short term rather than the complete long term. By complete long term, he means that corporate leaders should include social and environmental consequences when making decisions. He is also emphatic in explaining how environmentally friendly "green" technology can be profitable. Since so many aspects of an environmentally friendly policy is the elimination of waste, almost all such policies lead to lower expenses and higher profits. He also derides some of the MNC whining and disingenuousness that has occurred when the MNC was faced with complying with an environmental regulation.
With four billion people in the BOP, if their incomes were to increase by even five dollars a week, the world economy would rise by over a trillion dollars, not including multiplier effects. This is where the real potential for economic growth is and I applaud Hart for writing a book containing such convincing arguments for making the attempt. It is time to end the age of exploitation and begin the time of economic opportunity for all.When poverty and a sense of helplessness make people hate you, killing them will not solve the terrorist problem. It will only create a new group that will hate you more and that has learned not to repeat the mistakes of their predecessors. Therefore, the only effective weapon in the fight against the cycle of terrorism is economic opportunity that is in tune with other societies and not in conflict with them. That is the main point of this book and Hart drives it home with a very large hammer.

Ambitious and thought-provoking
Note: The following review comes from a former business school student of Prof. Stu Hart.

Prof. Hart's perspective is always interesting because he sees strategic opportunities where others see obstacles... and the opportunities he pursues are not incremental.

Similarly, this book is ambitious.In one volume, Prof. Hart ties together most of the "big ideas" of his professional career.The evolution of Prof. Hart's thinking mirrors the evolution of environmentally and socially responsible business thinking... because he often has led the way.Therefore, for anyone with interests at the intersection of business, society, and the environment, this book is highly recommended.

The ambitious scope of this book does have its downside.As Prof. Hart ties together a decade's worth of thinking, the result is not always seamless.In addition, Prof. Hart has so many ideas, so many connections to other key strategy thinkers, that many ideas are mentioned in passing but not fully explored.

I eagerly await his next book.

Some interesting ideas, but strange inconsitencies as well
This book has a couple of really good points, but has more problems.I am not talking about the points where I disagree with the author, but internal weaknesses and inconsistencies.My view is that if the author makes a strong case for his views, whether or not I agree with him or her, I generally value the book for making me think.

This is a book of advocacy for a dream.The author claims it is a book of optimism and yet the only optimism I could fine was a kind of sentiment that at long, long last Malthus could be right.The reasons Malthusian pessimism has always been wrong are well documented.I have a great deal of confidence that they will continue to be wrong, but that is a debate for another day.

Where I think the author is strongest is when he is pointing out that as populations reach certain densities they do indeed have an impact upon where they live.An example I like to use is the way London suffered from cholera epidemics once it reached a certain size.They suffered these because they had always drained raw sewerage into their rivers and streams as a way of getting rid of waste.This worked as long as there weren't many people.However, one the population density reached a certain level they ended up poisoning themselves.So, they finally built sewers and treated the waste.

Improvements continue to be made.Humans are not helpless in the face of problems, but first they have to understand clearly what they are facing and then have the will to fix it.I do like his notion that pollution is the evidence of waste and poor management.He is also correct, I believe, that in the long run it will not be enough to simply make our present ways more "green", but will require a revolution in the way we manufacture, and what we build.However, I am also convinced that the current regime of attacking the economy through lawsuits and regulation will have little impact on global pollution.It will simply hollow out certain economies and push the pollution elsewhere.Rather, it has to be made economically advantageous to pollute less rather than making pollution more costly.Being "sustainable" (whatever that really could mean) has to be a better way of doing business to win, otherwise it won't ever come about.

I think the author is also strong in his view that providing goods and services to the four billion people at the Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) and doing that profitably will have benefits at multiple levels.The poorest of the poor will have improved lives, the physical environment will improve, and the wealthier nations will gain not only profits, but improved methods and technology for their own way of life.

Where I think Prof. Stuart misses the mark is that he relies far too much on arguing from authority rather than hard intellectual demonstration of his ideas.He cites this authority or that NGO or another study to make his points.Yet, if you don't agree with the authorities already, how is that convincing?And if you already agree with his dream, why do we need the book?I am also profoundly tired of business books that cite the beginning of an initiative as proof that an idea works or that early stage results are conclusive.Getting something started or ginning up good results early is proof of nothing.To capture Prof Hart's term, good ideas are proven by being SUSTAINABLE over a long period of time.Early results and startup initiatives are not all that persuasive to anyone with real world experience.

An even more serious problem is internal inconsistency.In most of the book he talks about providing new technologies and methods for improving the life of the poor (while weirdly railing against the "money economy").Then on page 166 he condemns the way the Westernizing of the Ladakhi people has hurt them.He laments that their population had been stable for centuries and now it is increasing too fast and their communal lifestyle has become too urban and impersonal with real poverty.

While I don't like to see anyone suffer either, Prof. Stuart misses a key point about why the population was stable for centuries.The simple fact is people died.If we let more children die, let women die in childbirth, and kill off the men earlier through backbreaking work and disease, well, all populations will be stable at a lower level.The fact is the technologies he is praising will inevitably increase the population.People want to have posterity.So, whose children are going to die?Who is willing to die early?Yours?Professor Hart's?I didn't think so.

His title is also very misleading.Prof. Hart does not like capitalism at all.He likes a kind of socialized corporation that is somehow guided by all kinds of stakeholders.If you want economic failure and poverty, this is a sure path, in my view.

Still, it is interesting to read these ideas.I just wish they were explained with a more rigorous intellectuality rather than trying to make fantasies real through a powerful enthusiasm.

A Milestone in Sustainable Strategy Development
This is an especially thought-provoking book which have evolved from the seminal article that Professor Hart published in the Harvard Business Review: "Beyond Greening: Strategies for a Sustainable World," which won the McKinsey Award for Best Article and helped launch the movement for corporate sustainability.

Professor Hart of the Cornell University offers business leaders a blueprint for creating sustainable strategies in the market place. He based this book on extensive research that offers essential and brand new insights into corporate strategy that challenges the widely accepted strategy frameworks.

Capitalism at the Crossroads has to be the most important business read of 2005. ... Read more

Book Description

M->CREATED

Reviews (1)

Knowledgable
Nice book and I HAVE to read it. No choice! Is in my school text!It really isnt as boring as the other text books generally. Interesting actually! ... Read more

Book Description

The world--famous former con artist and bestselling author of Catch Me if You Can now reveals the mind--boggling tricks of the scam trade--with advice that has made him one of America's most sought--after fraud--prevention experts.

"I had as much knowledge as any man alive concerning the mechanics of forgery, check swindling, counterfeiting, and other similar crimes. Ever since I'd been released from prison, I'd often felt that if I directed this knowledge into the right channels, I could help people a great deal. Every time I went to the store and wrote a check, I would see two or three mistakes made on the part of the clerk or cashier, mistakes that a flimflam artist would take advantage of. . . . In a certain sense, I'm still a con artist. I'm just putting down a positive con these days, as opposed to the negative con I used in the past. I've merely redirected the talents I've always possessed. I've applied the same relentless attention to working on stopping fraud that I once applied to perpetuating fraud."

In Catch Me if You Can, Frank W. Abagnale recounted his youthful career as a master imposter and forger. In The Art of the Steal, Abagnale tells the remarkable story of how he parlayed his knowledge of cons and scams into a successful career as a consultant on preventing financial foul play--while showing you how to identify and outsmart perpetrators of fraud.

Technology may have made it easier to track down criminals, but cyberspace has spawned a skyrocketing number of ways to commit crime--much of it untraceable. Businesses are estimated to lose an unprecedented $400 billion a year from fraud of one sort or another. If we were able to do away with fraud for just two years, we'd erase the national debt and pay Social Security for the next one hundred years. However, Abagnale has discovered that punishment for committing fraud, much less recovery of stolen funds, seldom happens: Once you're a victim, you won't get your money back. Prevention is the best form of protection.

Drawn from his twenty-five years of experience as an ingenious con artist (whose check scams alone mounted to more than $2 million in stolen funds), Abagnale's The Art of the Steal provides eye-opening stories of true scams, with tips on how they can be prevented. Abagnale takes you deep inside the world and mind of the con artist, showing you just how he pulled off his scams and what you can do to avoid becoming the next victim. You'll hear the stories of notorious swindles, like the mustard squirter trick and the "rock in the box" ploy, and meet the criminals like the famous Vickers Gang who perpetrated them.You'll find out why crooks wash checks and iron credit cards and why a thief brings glue with him to the ATM. And finally, you'll learn how to recognize a bogus check or a counterfeit bill, and why you shouldn't write your grocery list on a deposit slip.
A revealing look inside the predatory criminal mind from a former master of the con, The Art of the Steal is the ultimate defense against even the craftiest crook.
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Reviews (19)

Informative follow-up to "Catch Me If You Can"
"Art of the Steal" is an informative book from master confidence man Frank Abagnale. It begins as a sequel to Abagnale's "Catch Me If You Can" (filling in the years between the end of the first book and Abagnale's reinvention as a fraud-prevention guru), and quickly becomes a sort of reference book and strategy guide, enumerating numerous prevalent financial scams, and describing sensible techniques for preventing fraud. Abagnale speaks at length about check, credit-card and ATM fraud, counterfeit designer apparel and consumer goods, Internet-based fraud, and security features of modern U.S. currency. The book is well-organized, with plenty of anecdotes throughout (the most entertaining is a phone scam in which somebody uses a 1-900 area code to achieve dubious results). Overall, "Art of the Steal" is not quite as much fun as "Catch Me If You Can", but it's an admirable effort nonetheless. This is a more business-minded book, where you'll find lots of good information, if it's the sort of information you're looking for.

A must-read for everyone, including digital security pros
I typically read and review books on digital security. I bought "The Art of the Steal" (TAOTS) after being captivated by "Catch Me If You Can." TAOTS is an incredible book, but not because it is a masterpiece of English literature. Rather, TAOTS is an amazing and personalized tour of a seedy underworld where ingenuity serves evil purposes. In this dark economy, criminals prey on the ignorance, greed, or benevolence of their victims. It's worth taking the time to read TAOTS, because it can help prevent you becoming a victim.

I simply couldn't imagine some of the scams Abagnale explains. The audacity of the criminal mind cannot be underestimated. The author's discussions of check fraud, embezzlement, and creative ways to cheat retailers astounded me. His explanation of counterfeiting currency was especially prescient, as this week the US Treasury announced multicolor $20 bills. I wonder if Abagnale was consulted?

Although I really enjoyed the book, I gave it four stars. Abagnale should have included citations for his fraud stories. Otherwise, how can one be sure the tales are fact and not fiction? I would have also like a "lessons learned" or "best practices" summary at the end of each chapter. Nevertheless, I echo Tom Hank's recommend that everyone who has money should read TAOTS.

The beginner's guide to understanding fraud.
This is the beginner's guide to understanding the sinister world of fraud in the United States and throughout the world. Mr. Abagnale describes some of the techniques confidence men use to further their malicious aims -- and what we can do to stop it. Perhaps one of the most interesting chapters is the one on counterfeiting. Here, we tend to think of those crazy characters who think they can create a $20 bill from their laser printer. Instead, all sorts of things are counterfeited, unfortunately. Those who counterfeit very detailed, expensive, and highly technical products, such as airline parts, are malicious individuals who have absolutely no regard for the welfare of those who they are subjecting to this abuse.

Thankfully, as Mr. Abagnale points out, many of us are capable of preventing ourselves from being victims. We do not have to be victims. If we heed the advice of Mr. Abagnale--formerly a confidence man himself--perhaps we can prevent further abuses. We'll never stop fraud, he tells us. Of course. But if we read his and other books on stopping it, at least we won't be the victims.

comprehensive and pretty up-to-date
This is a very easy-to-read and useful compendium of information about common forms of fraud
and how to protect yourself from them. I've read numerous books of this type, and this is
the one I would recommend most highly today for being up-to-date and comprehensive. Abagnale
often gives unsourced anecdotes, but there are several that I recognize from newspaper or
other accounts I've read. My only real complaints with the book were that Abagnale says he uses
his children's birthdays for his PIN numbers (p. 149) which is bad advice given the ease
of obtaining birth certificates, his account of being the victim of credit card theft
over the Internet (pp. 151-153) doesn't seem entirely accurate unless he really did submit
his credit card number, and his statement about viruses arising from mere copying of legitimate
software (p. 176) is incorrect. He also missed an opportunity to warn about fake escrow
sites (p. 162). Apart from this, however, I think the book contains very valuable warnings
and advice.

This book changed my view on the world
I picked a book - "Catch me if you can" on the counter at the grocery store. It's been two-three month since I see the movie. So I decide to check how book would be different from the motion picture. Needless to say I was eating this book by the hour, by the end of the second day I was over and I were still hungry. I went to the store and bought "The Art of Steal". I probably will never forget this book experience. It changed my view on the world, it changed me. I would joins Tom Hanks and everybody else who would advice this book as something everybody should read.

I gave this book 4 start just because I think that Frank Abagnail has not picture the world of Internet fraud quite correctly. As IT specialist I felt that Frank sometimes oversimplifies or making the problems bigger then they really are. The book is not a story like and it's contains a lot tips, facts, etc., which might get tiresome to read, so I had sometimes to force myself through chapters. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A NO FRILLS STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP-MANAGEMENT PRIMER
"Strategic Management: A Cross-Functional Approach" (SM) is one of those much needed, yet, rare finds that treats the organization for what it actually is/ought to be - a cooperative arrangement of functional departments/divisions of knowledge workers aimed at carrying out the firm's mission and vision.

SM, in some respects, acts as a bridge to facilitate contemporizing leadership-management with, what appears to be, a faint Systems and Quality Management ideology background, for the non Systems and QM-minded strategist.

Having reviewed a number of the more "popular" books before getting acquainted with SM, its content was "meticulously" examined and found to be an extremely well thought-out book. It is a contemporary, no frills, yet comprehensive treatment of the subject that takes into account some of the "best" of what has been written about leadership and management. Its ten chapters are succinct and to the point. Its diagrams are clear and concise. Its tables are practical and user friendly. A wealth of information packed in 266 pages.

SM encourages to analytically and critically examine different strategic management perspectives; integrate these perspectives with the individual knowledge centers of the firm; and, ultimately formulate unique company-oriented strategic models.

Unlike other business books that focus narrowly on a given functional area of business (accounting, human resources, information systems, logistics, marketing, operations and production, and research and development), SM is about looking at the enterprise from the big-picture perspective and connecting the dots. Its center of attention is the total organization, its industry, the competitive environment in which it operates, its long-term goals, its direction and strategy, its resources and competitive capabilities, and its opportunities for success.

SM is not about solving single problems or issues, confining one's analysis to a narrow functional area, or coming up with only one right answer. Instead, SM encourages to think and carry on strategically. That is, to think and act from a futuristic, and holistic organizational perspective, asking not "What is?," but "What is your destination?," "What future do you seek?," and more specifically, "Who are we?," "What we want to achieve?," and "How will we achieve our mission and objectives?" It also addresses, "What are we going to sell to?" "Who are our target customers?," and "How can we outdo or bypass the competition?" ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent Guide
The concepts are well illustrated with tables and charts. Though I find the case studies a bit outdated, the strategies discussed along with it provides a clear picture on how the industry is structured and different management style. The reading is excellent and not fill with nonsense like other textbooks.

Note to review below
Please note that the review discussed below assumes that you are focussed on the "Positioning school of thought" as propogated by Harvard.

Awesome book
Excellent book. Highly recommended. This book is probably the best introduction and overview about strategic management. It will _quickly_ bring you upto speed about the latest thinking in this area and take you further. It talks about core concepts that do not die with time. References are provided so as to let you delve into details if need be.

If you are just getting into this area or have been working in this area for a while, no matter where you come from, this will be awesome reading. Excellent cases are provided, so you can really apply what you learnt to the cases and do the analysis.

What I really liked about the book was that I could read the book and apply what I've read to my company's strategic management process.

Buy it now!

Brilliant Structural Analysis
"Strategy and the Business Landscape" is a superb guide to the current field of strategic management, illustrated by recent and well-researched case studies.

The brilliant structure and convincing presentation of state of the art literature is to the point and remains, to my mind, unmatched. Ghemawat's work has helped me tremendously to develop a more complete picture of the ever-evolving field of strategic management.

At the same time, deficits are revealed and many original thoughts are introduced. This is what gives this textbook an inspiring and very valuable quality.

This is a great textbook
We used this textbook in my strategy class. It is a good read, I loved the case studies. ... Read more

Book Description

The Supply Chain Council (SCC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing best practices in supply chain management. But until now, there have been no books available based on these preferred techniques. Supply Chain Excellence gives professionals implementing new supply chain projects a clear, step-by-step guide to adopting the accepted and proven methodologies developed by the SCC. This book uses the council's Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) Model, showing readers how they can:

* align strategy, material, workflow and information* conduct the proper competitive analysis to define business opportunity * establish the metrics that will determine the project's level of success * gain internal support by educating employees and executives

Using a unique SCOR Project Roadmap, Supply Chain Excellence is an instruction manual for achieving supply chain success. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A real HOW-TO guide
Supply Chain Excellence provides the reader the optimal path for improving their Supply Chain and reveals the easy-to-understand methods/considerations for creating dramatic improvement - and not in theory but in practice! Great for a practitioner, a consultant, and a student...Using the SCOR model as the core common language eases the pain of change as it illuminates how and where the improvements will occur. Highly Recommend this book!

One of the best working guidelines available anywhere
This book is an excellent guide, tutorial and provides detailed instructions on optimizing the use of the SCOR Model within any company. It provides not only a step-by-step process for completing a successfull project, it has a built-in timeline to assist you in accurately projecting when a project will begin to reap the benefits of reshaping your supply chain(s). Utilizing the process steps as outlined will result in a project portfolio of recommended improvements which will be easy to prioritize based on the rating system included in the process. This book is a must-have for those attempting to improve supply chain performance and capitalize on your ROI. It works regardless if your company sells products OR services. It is written in easy-to-understand language and will reduce your trial and error attempts at improving your company's bottom line. Peter Bolstorff is internationally recognized for his knowledge in supply chain analysis and improvements, and his book only exemplifies that his reputation is well-founded and, is one of the best ways to improve supply chain performance. If you're looking to improve your supply chain performance, DON'T PASS IT UP!

A consultants view
This author gives a fine view of supply chain from the consultants point of view. ... Read more

Book Description

Robbins and Coulter's best-selling book applies management concepts to the real world, and introduces managers from a variety of fields to its readers—successfully integrating the various functions of management. Chapter topics cover cutting edge topics such as customer service management, innovative cultures, ethical leadership, social impact management, strategic “rule of three,”managing Internet gripe sites, online leadership, communities of practice, and moral leadership. For individuals preparing for a management career in a number of diverse fields. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

introduction to management
It very details and have many examples but if the summary could included more key element, it would be better. ... Read more

Book Description

Business people around the world raved about The Disney Way and Fortune proclaimed it, "so useful you may whistle while you work." Now, authors Bill Capodagli and Lynn Jackson are back to deliver a comprehensive, step-by-step implementation plan based on Walt Disney's principles outlined in the best-selling The Disney Way.

The Disney Way Fieldbook provides action plans for instilling Disney's vision into any company, complete with diagnostic exercises, practice sessions, proven advice, and insightful questionnaires. Packed with universally applicable tools and techniques, the book also features inspiring quotes from Walt Disney himself and little known facts about his extraordinary empire.

Reviews (3)

Practical magic
This engaging and enlightening book is as much fun to read as it is profitable to use. Structured like a theater script and written with a dramatic verve, it casts teamwork as human drama, and taps and energizes team members' innate will to succeed not just as individuals but as members of a group. This book, and its companion volume "The Disney Way," really stand out from the business book pack in their passion, good humor, and advice on creating the practical magic that makes a team even greater than the sum of its parts. Authors Capodagli and Jackson are really onto something with their "Dream, Believe, Dare, Do" guiding principles, and their business-wise and human-wise insights make their work essential reading for leaders of all types.

Finally a book that's specific!
As a consultant myself that works with cross-functional teams, it is great to finally come across a book with proven activities that really work! This is a great tool to add to your repertoire. Individual activities are spelled out in terms of the benefits they provide, the materials required and specific guidelines on how to conduct them. This is a great contrast to the plethora of books on the market that promise great activities but provide nothing of value.

Extremely useful
An extremely useful collection of tools. I'll use this book in my teaching and training and recommend it to others. ... Read more

Book Description

You and Your Organization Are at Risk

Were the earth-shattering events of September 11, 2001, predictable, or were they a surprise? What about the collapse of Enron in bankruptcy and scandal? Max H. Bazerman and Michael D. Watkins argue that they were actually "predictable surprises"-disastrous examples of the failure to recognize potential tragedies and actively work to prevent them. Disturbingly, this dangerous phenomenon has its roots in universal human and organizational tendencies that leave no individual or company immune.

In this riveting book, Bazerman and Watkins, leading experts in managerial decision making, show that many disasters are preceded by clear warning signals that leaders either miss-or purposely ignore. They explain the cognitive, organizational, and political biases that make predictable surprises so common in business and society, and outline six danger signals that suggest a predictable surprise may be imminent. They also provide a systematic framework that leaders can use to recognize and prioritize brewing disasters and mobilize their organizations to prevent them.

Filled with vivid accounts of predictable surprises in business and society across public and private sectors, this book highlights a phenomenon that holds grave consequences-and challenges leaders to find the courage to act before it's too late.

A Leadership for the Common Good book

Published in partnership with the Center for Public Leadership

... Read more

Book Description

How to stay on course and achieve extraordinary performance in a sea of change

In today's change-or-die business environment, companies that achieve the highest levels of performance are "robust organizations"--those that adapt quickly and without losing their strategic direction. Distilling decades of research conducted by Rand, one of the nation's most respected business think tanks, The Four Pillars of High Performance explores the strategies to truly manage change. Using examples, author Paul C. Light extracts powerful lessons for managers and executives, and he provides readers with:

• Never-before-published research by Rand on the shared traits of the highest-performing companies
• Cutting-edge techniques for improving performance across an organization
• Valuable insights into the five major attributes of agility, alignment, metrics, incentives, and impact
• Case studies and vignettes drawn from the experiences of industry leaders in every sector

Book Description

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

Reviews (1)

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

Book Description

Based on groundbreaking research at MIT, Clockspeed introduces a revolutionary approach to business strategy, applying the principles of genetics to show how choices in supply-chain design can drive company and industry evolution.

"Faster is not necessarily smarter. In this world of constant acceleration, while most firms become increasingly reactive, the race will go to the few who can think more deeply rather than react more quickly. Charlie Fine's is likely to be one of the voices they are listening to."-Peter Senge, founding Director of the MIT Organizational Learning Center and author of The Fifth Discipline

Drawing from a decade of research at MIT, and using examples from the fastest-changing industries, Fine introduces a whole new vocabulary for analyzing and implementing business strategy, turning managers into "corporate geneticists" who do not react to the forces of change but master them to engineer their company's destiny. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Supply Chain: design should come first
Fine's book creates clear connection among Supply Chain, Product Development and Manufacturing activities. MIT's Professor Fine establishes an operational and strategic link among those company's environment. The book put in a plain text how to analyze you supply chain and how to design it accordly a strategy view. Finally, Supply Chain Design is proclaimed as being essential to assure competitive advantage and to sustain the company's progress. If you want to really understand supply chain, it is a book that you must read!

Read every page
This book has some really interesting threads around supply chain design competency, clockspeed, and learning from industry fruit flies, but the real value of the book is in between all of that. For years, there have been wonderful insights into technology strategy, product architecture, manufacturing strategy, etc. etc. roaming around the halls of MIT and throughout journal articles. The only way to really tap this depth of knowledge is by being there. Charlie has woven these thoughts, ideas, and concepts throughout the book rather seemlessly. If you read the book carefully, and think very hard about some of the nuggets throughout the book, I'm sure it will be worth your time.

Seminal Work in Supply Chain Design
Professor Fine makes a tremendously strong and lucid case for utilizing supply chain design as a functional catalyst in optimizing business strategy and evolution.

In a world of chronic oversupply and fear, Professor Fine sheds light on how managers and corporations can take control of their destiny instead of destiny and fate taking control of the managers and corporations.

Crucial for anyone in supply chain field
It would be a mistake to be employed in some supply chain capacity and *not* read this book. I believe that it offers an intriguing set of solid examples of how incorporating supply chain management into strategy discussions has helped some companies profit at the expense of others.

Some commenters have noted that examples seem anecdotal. I tend to think that Fine's approach here, in going into depth with just a few examples, is a richer basis upon which to draw conclusions. You don't necessarily need a statistically significant sample set in order to gain insights into how to conduct strategy.

I would also take issue with one reviewer's note that it is overly geared towards manufacturing, rather than services. Managing supply chains and conducting make-buy decisions are clearly the province of operations. But shouldn't consulting services develop precisely those areas of expertise in order to assist their biggest clients?

A note of disclosure: I took Fine's course on this subject while at MIT. While I wouldn't trade having been in that graduate seminar for 100 books, if you can't take the course, at least read the book! Doing so brought back the pleasure for me of being in his class.

Block That Metaphor
Which of the following is the most important competence of an organization?

A. Leadership

B. Customer service

C. Market dominance

D. Innovation

E. Supply chain design

If you chose E, then you and Charles Fine would get along famously. Fine believes that everything can be explained and even controlled by optimizing the supply chain. Industry evolution, competitive advantage, vertical integration, you name it: all are grist to the mill of supply chain dynamics. And as you trek through increasingly dense thickets of his book, studying such exotic flora as design structure matrices and 3-D concurrent engineering, Fine accompanies you in the role of pith-helmeted guide, discoursing upon the ineluctable primacy of his favorite subject.

You don't have to be a convert to the cult of the supply chain to see value in this book. But you do have to love metaphors. Fearing lest the reader find the subject a trifle dry, the author has chosen to frame his arguments in terms of genetics. In industries with faster clockspeeds - the rapid supply chain evolutions experienced by makers of personal computers, semiconductors, and even running shoes - companies are fruit flies, whose evolution we can observe from egg to carcass. Only the fittest and most adaptable survive, largely by applying the power of the double helix of business. The DNA can be mapped, the molecules engineered, the genes enriched and cloned, and so on.

Illustration by analogy has its place, but over the long haul it palls and wearies. What should have been a straightforward book on supply chains ends up distracting with a glib vocabulary. Can a Mobius-strip cycle between the integrated and the modular be termed a "double helix" if it doesn't establish a genetic code or look like a corkscrew ladder? Should we learn from fruit fly companies because their clockspeed is conveniently short, or because every company's clockspeed is accelerating? If real-life fruit flies are studied because their genetic structure resembles that of humans, are we wise to assume that Intel has the same genetic structure as Boeing? What is a corporate genetic structure, anyway?

Clockspeed would tick along more convincingly if it lost the first sixty-eight pages. There'd still be plenty of arguments - whether Fine's observations apply to non-manufacturing organizations, whether the laws of the supply chain are truly predictive - but they would at least be the right arguments, the sort of thoughts a stimulating work provokes. Unfortunately, the siren call of metaphor has lured an otherwise seaworthy vessel onto rocky shores. By the time the ship is put to sea again, you may have lost your taste for the voyage. ... Read more

Book Description

Reach strategic goals with state-of-the-art project management.Expert David I. Cleland, a world leader in project management theory and practice, introduces the latest in state-of-the-art team design and project life-cycle evaluation in this edition of his best-selling Project Management: Strategic Design and Implementation. A standard among project management guides, this highly respected book is the only source of guidance on strategic management in both large and small industrial organizations. Dr. Cleland's focus on the use of flexible teams to implement organizational strategies-particularly changes in products, services, and processes--places this book at the forefront of project management design. The Fourth Edition gives you leading-edge information and practices in the latest techniques in self-managing teams, innovative organizational structuring, team composition, and alternative teams. Enhanced throughout with new diagrams, tables, checklists, and case studies, this book provides the knowledge that industry leaders need to be competitive in the twenty-first century. ... Read more

Book Description

"Nobody can ignore the future. This book is a must-read for any manager aspiring to put scenarios into practice." Arie De Geus, Former Director of Shell International Petroleum and author of The Living Company "Never since the great geographical expansions of the eighteenth century has so much latent potential been met with tools so ill-fitted to harness it. Information technology will change how, where, when we work. Scenario Planning offers us a mechanism by which to bring structure to this and other forms of complexity; offering us the vital ability to understand the dynamics of change." Oliver Sparrow, Chatham House Forum Business today operates in a world of major change. Economies, commerce and lifestyles are constantly shifting but it is the information revolution which will prove the most radical since its agricultural and industrial counterparts. It cannot be constrained by borders but is simultaneously reaching across the world. In this environment, the techniques for planning business over the past decades are no longer sufficient. Forecasts based on current trends, or estimates of growth based on history are in danger of becoming obsolete all too quickly. The idea in the early days of mainframe computers that ‘every major country will need one demonstrates how uncertain the future can really be. The scenario planning techniques described in this book will enable anyone to think about uncertainty in a structured way. Key features are:

• detailed ‘how to look for early indicators of directions, and identify possible courses of action for those new to scenarios.
• extensive case studies, including ICL, British Airways and United Distillers.
• includes ‘do as well as ‘do not examples to aid practitioners; tells you what works when and why.
• takes a conceptual, rather than a mathematical approach.

Reviews (4)

Insightful!
Sure, you worry about what changes the future will bring for your business. But do you have a sensible and logical way to respond to the uncertainties that keep you up at night? If not, this intriguing book will set you on the right path. British corporate strategist Gill Ringland offers persuasive evidence that scenario planning is a worthwhile pursuit, and she recounts in useful detail her own experiences and those of large corporations looking for an edge up on the future. The book is organized in four sections: the links between scenarios and strategic planning, a rundown on different theoretical approaches (French School, Futures Group, CSM, Copenhagen Institute, and more), a set of eight case histories and several examples of actual, step-by-step scenarios. While Ringland's writing is inconsistent and can be dense and jargony, she nevertheless offers plenty of useful information that serves as a path for anyone embarking on scenario planning. We suggest this book to managers and corporate strategists seeking ways to deal with the uncertain future.

NOT Recommended
I bought this and the Van Der Heijden book together and found this book very frustrating to read. There is some good practical writing in the first section of the book, which describes the basics of scenario planning and how scenario planning and strategic planning work together. If this is where the book stopped, it would have rated much higher. The rest of the book is almost a total write-off though.

The examples and case studies read like a patched-together compilation of other people's writings. There are huge differences in style, voice, and detail which make the examples difficult to compare and contrast. Actually, it makes them difficult to read. The balance of the book would really have benefitted from a re-write and some further research into the examples and case studies.

If you are interested in developing and using scenarios check out the Van Der Heijden book - "Scenarios - the Art of Strategic Conversation." Also, "the Art of the Long View" by Peter Scwartz is a great introduction to developing and using scenarios.

Almost everything you need to know about scenario planning
Most books on scenario planning either entertain us with their stories of possible futures or delve into intensely dull details of scenario construction. Ringland's book has the virtue of avoiding these two extremes. This wide-ranging book will suit both newcomers and veterans of scenario planning. Each kind of reader can pick out what they need from the four sections. Part I introduces scenario planning from the point of view of strategic planning at ICL in the UK. Ringland shows how scenarios can be linked to strategic planning and how they can be used for learning or to influence public opinion. Part II take a more theoretical approach, outlining eleven different methods, including those used by the European Commission, Global Business Network, and SRI, as well as computer-driven simulations. Part III presents eight case studies, allowing the reader to see the process as it was applied to British Airways, Cable and Wireless, the UK's National Health Service, and Shell. Finally, Part IV shows examples of scenarios including those developed by the author's company ICL, and MIT's scenarios for 21st Century organizations.

Hardly anyone these days has the time to read a 400-page book. Fortunately, Ringland has structured Scenario Planning to make it easy to pick out just what the reader needs. The variety of approaches explained and the range of case studies and examples is like a large menu from which the reader can choose just the tidbits desired. A well-balanced reading of selected chapters will provide all the essential elements needed to understand scenario planning. On the other hand, the book's main shortcoming arises from its breadth. No one approach is explained in sufficient detail to create a systematic and thorough understanding of any particular method. Such detail can make for tedious reading and may be unnecessary. But if you want to drill down to minute details, skimming Ringland's book will be a great warm-up before tackling Van der Heijen's book.

Great Scenario Working Book
Aimed at business strategists or consultants, this book provides many deep, usable tools, examples, and approaches assisting the development of more robust projects and organizations across a range of futures.

The attractively illustrated, deep resources span:

++ Part 1 (a standalone "book")- history and background of scenario planning (SP); current state of the art; ICL use of SP in projects; examples of SP (including 2 day works