Book Description

The law affects just about every aspect of work, from hiring to firing to retiring. Now, as they've done with wills and estates, home ownership, family law, and consumer law, the American Bar Association has written this clear and compact guide to all the law that one needs to know, whether employee or employer. As in all ABA books, the advice is dependable and in plain English--not "legalese." Online promo. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

An excellent reference for federal employment laws.
This is an excellent book for general knowledge of the laws which apply to both the employer and the employee. It is well written, reads very easily and would be my choice as a general reference book concerning employment laws. It defines all relavent law terms and, most importantly, provides a guide or reference for additional information about each of the laws governing employment. It should be noted that the book covers federal Laws and not state laws.

An excellent overview of major areas of Employment Law
I found this book extremely helpful. As an executive recruiter (headhunter) it is essential that I have complete knowledge of many areas of employment law, particularly those that deal with hiring and firing. The law can be very complex, and this book explains the most important points relating to employment in a very clear, readable way. I refer to this guide almost daily as a handy reference, and recommend it to any private sector employer or employee.

Law of employment
If someone is fired, what's the rate government paid for hi ... Read more

Book Description

The indispensable resource for health professionals on potentially unsafe chemicals--now fully updated
Proctor and Hughes' Chemical Hazards of the Workplace, Fifth Edition provides a comprehensive reference text for health professionals who need toxicology data on chemicals that may be encountered in various work settings. Building on the success of the Fourth Edition-already a standard text-this new edition updates and revises the more than 600 entries of that text, and also adds monographs on new compounds.
Introductory chapters cover toxicological concepts, clinical manifestations of exposure, the diagnosis of occupational disease, and industrial hygiene aspects of chemical exposures. The rest of the text consists of more than 625 alphabetically arranged entries on individual compounds, each of which includes:
* Chemical formula
* CAS number
* 2003 ACGIH (American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists) threshold limit value
* Synonyms
* Physical properties
* Sources of exposure
* Routes of exposure
* Toxicological data
The toxicological data includes both acute and chronic effects, especially as related to any known exposure levels. The data emphasizes human studies and cases over animal data whenever sufficient information is available, and addresses any known carcinogenic, mutagenic, fetotoxic, or other reproductive effects. Clinical information is presented in a succinct narrative form to aid in understanding.
Easy to use, in-depth, and comprehensive, Proctor and Hughes' Chemical Hazards of the Workplace, Fifth Edition offers occupational health physicians, nurses, industrial hygienists, and other safety professionals an invaluable and up-to-date resource. ... Read more

Book Description

A one-stop, on-the-job resource for modern office space planning and design. Considers optimal use of space; employee and task space needs; enclosed versus open-plan offices; furniture, fixtures, and lighting; climate and comfort; and much more. Includes case studies from major international companies. Covers topical issues such as design for productivity and technology, on-site parking, daycare, and gym facilities. ... Read more

Book Description

This empowering study on human diversity helps readers develop the ability to understand, respect, and value diversity—i.e., raise their “diversity consciousness”—and demonstrates how opening one's mind to the views of other peoples and cultures is central for a quality education and successful career. Personalizing the learning experience by weaving a wide variety of real-life student experiences and perspectives throughout the book, it discusses topics in a style that promotes self-reflection and dialogue, and uses an approach to diversity that is balanced, comprehensive, well-integrated, and relevant to achieving one's life goals. KEY TOPICS Complete with self-reflective journal questions and interactive exercises, it offers thorough and current discussions on diversity and workplace issues—what they are, their significance, and their relevance to the reader; discusses concepts such as teamwork, conflict management, leadership, racism, prejudice, and communication in a clear and concise fashion; and zeroes in on the relationship between an employee's success in the workplace and his/her ability to develop flexibility in their thinking so that he/she can positively and effectively deal with a variety of diversity issues.A useful guide to raising diversity consciousness. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A concise and challenging exploration of diversity
For several years I have been looking for a simple text to use with students to examine issues of diversity. This is it! Bucher presents in 7 short chapters an overview that includes a broad range of issues, balanced theory with practical application, useful and challenging activities. I plan to use this not only with my sociology students but also with human resource personnel who are trying to be more effective managers of diversity. Good work! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

Comprehensive, Practical
Teams are everywhere-in all kinds of organizations. Some work beautifully to produce wonderful successes; others are miserable failures. Why? The authors conducted research with over 6,000 team members and discovered five factors that determine a team's success: collaboration, relationships, group processes, leadership, and the organizational environment. This book is a report of what they learned, loaded with plenty of advice for increasing team effectiveness.

After an introductory prologue, the book delivers five well-organized chapters that correspond to the factors of success. The first chapter explores what makes a good team member--abilities and behaviors that matter. What determines how collaborative someone will be in a team setting? The second chapter examines relationships among members of teams: what's most important, where are the greatest challenges, and how can you make it all work?

In the third chapter, the authors look into team problem solving. Included are the distinguishing factors of good problem-solving teams, dynamics and processes of solving problems and making decisions, and building systems that support results. Chapter four really digs into the team leader, reviewing six key dimensions of the role. This chapter alone is worth buying this book. Following the research-based model, the last chapter zeros in on the organizational environment. The authors evaluate management practices, structure and processes, and systems in an insightful look at how the environment affects team performance.

Each chapter is preceded by a one-page Snapshot that offers a valuable overview of the chapter. Two indexes and a half-dozen pages of notes add more value to this volume. Good flow, readable, and useful. Recommended as a good tool for team leaders, members, and encouragers in any organization.

A guide to the harnessing the power of cooperation
When Teams Work Best: 6,000 Team Members And Leaders Tell What It Takes To Succeed by Frank LaFasto (Senior Vice President of Organization Effectiveness for Cardinal health, Inc.) and Carl Larson (Professor of Human Communication, University of Denver) is a practical, "user friendly" guide to the harnessing the power of cooperation and teamwork for increased productivity and effectiveness. Individual chapters address what makes a good team member, what makes a good leader, problem solving methodologies, and how to best promote confidence and trust. When Teams Work Best is very highly recommended for anyone charged with the corporate responsibility for cultivating business group work skills!

WHEN TEAMS WORK BEST
LaFasto and Larson have composed a MUST READ guide for maximizing team effectiveness. Rich in content and advice, will give readers and indepth perspective on how to unleash the power of Teams.

When Teams Work Best
One of the most useful books on managing teams that I've read. It combines clearly articulated concepts with practical guidelines fo promoting more productive behaviors within my department and cross-functionally. The checklists, in particular, make this book a hands-on guide that I will pick up to use again and again.

Head of Marketing-Europe, Middle East (Financial Services Sector) ... Read more

Book Description

The Harvard Business Review Paperback Series is designed to bring today's managers and professionals the fundamental information they need to stay competitive in a fast-moving world. From the preeminent thinkers whose work has defined an entire field to the rising stars who will redefine the way we think about business, here are the leading minds and landmark ideas that have established the Harvard Business Review as required reading for ambitious businesspeople in organizations around the globe.

This collection of classic and cutting-edge articles, and case studies provides a broad range of perspectives on affirmative action, career development for minorities and women, and other HR-related policies. ... Read more

Book Description

Do you think it's possible to truly enjoy your job? No matter what it is or where you are? Timothy Gallwey does, and in this groundbreaking book he tells you how to overcome the inner obstacles that sabotage your efforts to be your best on the job.

Timothy Gallwey burst upon the scene twenty years ago with his revolutionary approach to excellence in sports. His bestselling books The Inner Game of Tennis and The Inner Game of Golf, with over one million copies in print, changed the way we think about learning and coaching. But the Inner Game that Gallwey discovered on the tennis court is about more than learning a better backhand; it is about learning how to learn, a critical skill that, in this case, separates the productive, satisfied employee from the rest of the pack. For the past twenty years Gallwey has taken his Inner Game expertise to many of America's top companies, including AT&T, Coca-Cola, Apple, and IBM, to teach their managers and employees how to gain better access to their own internal resources.

What inner obstacles is Gallwey talking about? Fear of failure, resistance to change, procrastination, stagnation, doubt, and boredom, to name a few. Gallwey shows you how to tap into your natural potential for learning, performance, and enjoyment so that any job, no matter how long you've been doing it or how little you think there is to learn about it, can become an opportunity to sharpen skills, increase pleasure, and heighten awareness. And if your work environment has been turned on its ear by Internet technology, reorganization, and rapidly accelerating change, this book offers a way to steer a confident course while navigating your way toward personal and professional goals.

The Inner Game of Work teaches you the difference between a rote performance and a rewarding one. It teaches you how to stop working in the conformity mode and start working in the mobility mode. It shows how having a great coach can make as much difference in the boardroom as on the basketball court-- and Gallwey teaches you how to find that coach and, equally important, how to become one. The Inner Game of Work challenges you to reexamine your fundamental motivations for going to work in the morning and your definitions of work once you're there. It will ask you to reassess the way you make changes and teach you to look at work in a radically new way.

"Ever since The Inner Game of Tennis, I've been fascinated and have personally benefitted by the incredibly empowering insights flowing out of Gallwey's self-oneself-two analysis. This latest book applies this liberating analogy to work inspiring all of us to relax and trust our true self."
--Stephen R. Covey, author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
... Read more

Reviews (3)

The "Inner Game" applied to the workplace
This is a descent book including a lot of good advice on how to improve your performance and success within a business and corporate environment. The advice flows naturally from the author's foundation established with his first book 'The Inner Game of Tennis.' However, the themes and methods are not too repetitive. The book reads very well and easily.

Observe your job and you will benefit!
Is your job boring or stressful? The author shows you how to overcome the obstacles and make it challenging and managable. By making your job into a game, you can let yourself enjoy your job more. Does that sound refreshing or what?

If you have had a bad manager... or if you want to be a good one... this book will encouage you toward motivating yourself and others in a way that will actually work.

The book's genius is in its observation about human beings, their work, and their motivational patterns. Through paying closer attention to the internal state of the worker and to the details of the job, the author brings the work into sharper focus. He advocates that workers also choose to notice details about their jobs; in this greater level of awareness, they can make better choices about the work... and can get past layers of defensiveness or fear in order to do better (more enjoyable!) work.

Not every chapter will speak to you, and not every concept will be just what you need. But I would bet money that somewhere in this book you will find a gem of insight into yourself or others you work with... and if you follow that insight, it will be worth the price of the book.

This book helped me sort out the logic behind my "good days" and "bad days" so I could make more of my days good. I sometimes struggle with being content with my job, and this book is giving me tools to use to enjoy my job more!

PS - I'm not the only one who thought this book was worthwhile. Go to the other edition of the book for more reviews.

Feet of Clay
Top tennis coach turns his attention to the world of business. Big mistake.
Even if life were one big playing field this book still wouldn't be worth the cover price. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Why do so many seemingly successful professionals hit the wall in middle age, and decide to either radically scale back their careers or set off in an entirely new direction? Clinical psychologist Steven Berglas, a specialist in success-induced burnout, believes it stems from the "self-handicapping behavior" that baby boomers are exhibiting in record numbers as they climb the corporate ladder and find they aren't happy with what results. Terming the phenomena Supernova Burnout, Berglas defines this workplace ennui as "the constrictive effects of being branded a 'success'" and offers some advice for the psychological distress that is an increasing consequence. In Reclaiming the Fire, he advances his arguments in a serious but accessible manner with references to cultural touch points like Mark Monsky's Looking Out for #1 and help from philosophers such as Friedrich Nietzsche. He analyzes "performance-inhibiting" behaviors ranging from substance abuse to abrupt career changes that he says developed from societal attitudes of the last half century, and suggests a few individual and organizational responses (including his 60 Minutes cure, which relies upon passion and intrinsic motivation to battle career malaise). While not everyone will agree with his assessments and prescribed cures, businesspeople who fit Berglas's description--and human resource managers who deal them--will likely find the material intriguing and potentially helpful. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (9)

An exceptional read - insightful, clear, and well-written
Dr. Berglas has written an exceptional book that I would recommend to those who are facing workplace issues such as burnout and "Isn't there more than this?" questioning. While I believe his research is relevant for all audiences - I would highly recommend it for people in large corporate settings - as well as those in supervisory roles. Personally, I picked up the book hoping to find some answers regarding the "dead ends" and the boredom I was starting to feel at my corporate job - and I found Dr. Berglas' book to be insightful and solutions-oriented for people like me... While the book is well-researched and deals with complex issues, it is clear and concise and should be easily understandable for all audiences to grasp... If this book is calling out to you for some reason, I highly recommend you read it.

Excellent contents - Not easy to apply
This book deals with the phenomenon of people who have or have had extraordinary succesful careers and nevertheless found themselves to be extremely unhappy - partially up to the point of self-destruction. This also defines the audience for this book: the people described above or those who take a keen interest in such people.

The book has been written by an adjunct faculty member at Harvard Medical school. The academic level is - as far as I can judge - impeccable. The author quotes on many occasions from actual patient-cases which are common enough that many a reader will recognize some of his or her own headaches. One notices that an effort has been made to write a book that is accessible to the general public. However, the book does maintain a certain academic tone that will be off-putting to some people. There are no exercises, questionaires, or the like that would involve the reader a bit more with the subject matter.

Whoever thinks that reading this book and applying a few quick-fix exercises here and mental readjustments there is going to enable them to continue like before, just happier, is extremely mistaken. Dr. Berglas points out that a lot of the misery discussed is a direct result of some deeply engrained characteristics of our culture. For most people, following up on Dr. Berglas' suggestions will imply a drastic (but doable) change in lifestyle.

Being somewhat of an academic myself with a keen interest in psychological issues, I found the book extremely valuable. The value to you depends on how you personally feel about the above. However, my advice: if in doubt, buy it!

The Revenge of Generation X
Dr. Berglas expertly chronicles the psychological dilemmas affecting many hard-driving, successful Baby Boomers who come to the realization: "Is that all there is?" Generation Xers must be laughing to see the Baby Boomers crash so hard.

The book is an easy read and offers good advice for those who still have the psyche to listen and act. But the disturbing point is that many of the example patients discussed in the book are unable to pull out of their funk. Will this psychological malaise become an epidemic among boomers?

The book is definitely worth reading. "Self-handicapping" and "overextension" are significant concepts developed by the author. The book would be better with fewer cute terms such as "Supernova Burnout" "Goldilocks dilemma" and "sundae fallacy."

A remarkable book...
"Reclaiming the Fire is a remarkable book. Few people are as gifted as Steve Berglas at getting into the psyche of businesspeople and unveiling it layer by layer so that the rest of us can begin to comprehend how they think and act."
-Jeffrey L. Seglin, author of The Good, the Bad, and Your Business: Choosing Right When Ethical Dilemmas Pull You Apart (Wiley)

Comfortable, Erudite, but a little short on solutions
Berglas is good. His topic hits right at the center of what I'm experiencing. I kept saying "Boy, that's me!" as I read. His case study stories are engaging and pertinent. Once in a while I had to slow wa-a-a-ay down to digest all the psychological principles he drifts into, but patience pays, because those principles, too, are pertinent. I felt that the last chapter of the book ended up being a receptacle for everything else he hadn't mentioned yet, and I had to read the last two chapters twice to see exactly what his proposed solutions were for what he terms "Supernova Burnout". The only reason I didn't give this book a "5" is that while he develops the syndrome's charactersitics very well, and shores up his analysis with sound psychological principle, his proposals for dealing with it, and turning it around, lacked clear direction. I would've liked to have seen more. ... Read more

Book Description

With all the razzle-dazzle technology around, there’s still no more lively, informative, and audience-friendly way to make an impact than with flip charts.But using flip charts well is a skill. Here’s a book that provides you with the proven techniques that will make you shine. You’ll learn the basic design principles and artistic "tricks of the trade" that give a flip chart a professional look: Selecting and arranging lettering that makes an impact all the way to the back of the room … Transporting and setting up flip charts … Arranging the presentation room … Finding the best, most dependable equipment--including easels, paper, masking tape, and markers … Jazzing up your flip chart with "ready-to-copy" graphics … Devising flip chart activities that lead to brainstorming and team problem-solving. Soon, even the least artistic presenter will know how to develop pro-level flip charts that can make every presentation come alive. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Best one there is
Don't even consider any other flip chart book, they don't come close. This one has it all.. designing flip charts, arranging them, writing them, making them visually interesting. Tons of useful and helpful information.

This book, together with Picture's Worth 1,000 Words: A Workbook for Visual Communications by Jean Westcott and Jennifer Hammond Landau are all you need to become an effective visual communicator, even if you can't draw anything! If you think you're just not good with flip charts, buy these two and prepare to amaze yourself with the transformation!

Easy to read and comprehensive
I bought this book expecting to get a couple new ideas...boy was I surp rised. I got dozens of new tips that I'd never seen anywhere else. This guy knows his stuff related to flip charts!I'd highly recommend it to new and seasoned trainers and presenters.

The Big Book of Flip Charts: A Comprehensive Guide
The graphics and content are easy to follow, well organized, and practical.

A Great Resource for Dynamic Flip Charts!
'The Big Book of Flip Charts' is absolutely a great resource for preparing interest catching, energizing flip charts. I have been a trainer for 10 years and I can't wait to try some of the ideas. I especially like the information on group facilitation which will enhance the following modules we are delivering: Supervisory Skills, Teambuilding, Participative Decision Making, and Visioning. ... Read more

Book Description

The remarkable story of the Pike Place Fish Market -- told by the owner, who transformed the small company into the world famous business depicted in the bestselling parable FISH!

In this revealing business advice book, the magic of the World Famous Pike Place Fish Market proves a dynamic example of what a group of people can create when they are aligned and living a powerful vision. Here for the first time, owner John Yokoyama explains in his own words just how he transformed his business into a workplace that is renowned worldwide.

When Fish Fly offers Yokoyama's cohesive strategy for achieving world famous results for owners, managers, and front-line workers alike. Once you understand the generative principles behind the World Famous Pike Place Fish Market you, too, can develop a culture that leads to excellent employee morale and legendary customer service. ... Read more

Book Description

Laurie Beth Jones, management expert and business consultant extraordinaire, noticed that none of the personality/temperament profiles in the market today, none of them provided a tool that was simple, visual, intuitive, and powerful enough to create a shift in thinking as well as relating. So she developed The Path Elements Profile (PEP), which can be used in recruitment, placement, retention, team building, and customer relations as businesses transform many individuals into a harmonizing, humming force for good. Within the framework of the book will be scriptural examples as well as modern day business stories.

Based upon the elements of Earth, Water, Wind and Fire, the Path Elements Profile helps determine both individual and team behavioral tendencies that affect everything from career choice to daily "to do" lists. We choose to act on what we value, and each element type values very different things:

• Fire personality types love and thrive on challenge
• Water personality types thrive on harmony and calm
• Wind personality types love chaos and change
• Earth personality types love order and structure

PART I of this book provides an overview of the elements themselves as individual personality types. Jones will explain each element's strengths and challenges and will have the readers identify their own as well as those of their team members.

Then inPART II, readers will assess their teams. There are 28 one-day principles, that, if followed will take readers on a simple yet radical journey to a transformed workplace.

INCLUDES an Assessment Test for Your Team's Elemental Strengths and Weaknesses

Book Description

Working well with others, as important as it may be for efficiency and productivity, is rarely as easy as it sounds.Sometimes we need a little more motivation to understand why the effort is worth it, and this collection of wisdom about working in groups does just that ... Read more

Book Description

Communication within many organizations has been reduced to email, electronic file transfer, and hasty sound bytes at hurried meetings. More and more, people appear to have forgotten the value of wisdom gained by ordinary conversations.

But, at different times in history, conversation has been regarded as an art form - a crucial component of human relations. Conversation has the power to solve a problem, heal a wound, generate commitment, bond a team, generate new options, or build a vision. Conversations can shift working patterns, build friendships, create focus and energy, cement resolve.

The Art of Focused Conversation convincingly restores this most human of attributes to prime place within businesses and organizations, and demonstrates what can be accomplished through the medium of focused conversation. The first Part describes the theory and background of the conversation method, which has been effectively used for group consensus making in: 1) problem solving; 2) troubleshooting; 3) coaching; 4) research and 5) interpretation of data. It also discusses how to prepare a conversation, how to lead a conversation, and what the common mistakes are. Part two then provides 100 sample conversations designed for use in many different situations, including:
1) reviewing and evaluating;
2) preparation and planning;
3) coaching, and mentoring;
4) data and media interpretation;
5) decision making;
6) managing and supervising; and
7) personal reflection and group celebrations.

Developed, tested, and extensively used by professionals in the field of organizational development, The Art of Focused Conversation is an invaluable resource for all those working to improve communications in firms and organizations. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good Solid Model
Ultimately conversations are the working process of most leadership. This book expands upon the conversation techniques presented in "Winning Through Participation". The model is simple and useful. When distilled down, a focused conversation proceeds through four stages:
- objective / data
- reactional / feeling
- interpretive / meaning and
- decisional / action.

The model takes about 50 pages to explain and is followed by about 150 pages of examples of its application. Many will find that the 10 pages in "Winning Through Participation" had enough information to get going.

Simple and Powerful Concept
Brian Stanfield and colleagues have written a meaningful book that provides a profound, yet simple method to help groups effectively grapple and address any kind of issue.

In the book, they say, "For whole systems to operate effectively, information must flow in every direction, up, down, sideways, and diagonally." They go on to describe leaders as askers of questions and state that "the participatory principle requires the art of asking questions."

Canada's Institute of Cultural Affairs developed the focused conversation method as part of its Technology of Participation, which leads people through certain phases of reflection, enabling them to process their experiences as a group. A leader/facilitator asks a series of questions to elicit responses that take a group from the "surface of a topic to a topic to its depth implications for their life and work."

The focused conversation uses questions at four levels:

1. The Objective Level- questions about facts and external reality. 2. The Reflective Level - questions to call forth immediate personal reaction to the data, an internal response, sometimes emotions or feelings, hidden images and associations with the facts, when we encounter an external reality (data/objective) we experience an internal response. 3. The Interpretive Level - questions to draw out meaning, values, significance, and implications. 4. The Decisional Level - questions to elicit resolution, bring the conversation to close, and enable the group to resolve about the future.

The first third portion of the book provides an understanding of the concept of focused conversation and is followed by 100 meeting topics with specific examples of questions at the four levels that would be appropriate.

The book has helped me to re-think the types and the order of questions that I address to a group. ... Read more

Book Description

While women have made progress toward equality in the workplace, gender issues continue to surface in today’s work environment. How are these issues best confronted? This brief collection of cases is designed to help students and employees gain a hands-on understanding of gender issues in the workplace and to provide the necessary tools to handle those issues. Based on actual legal cases, nationally reported incidents, and personal interviews, the case studies in Gender in the Workplace address the range and types of gender issues in the workplace including:

- Gender stereotypes about work

- Gender discrimination in the workplace

- Balancing work and family responsibilities

- Sexual harassment issues

The case studies place the reader directly "in the action," by requiring the reader to conduct an analysis of real situation (appropriate supporting material, data, and discussion topics are provided) and to make decisions based on that analysis. Through completion of all five cases, the interaction of various gender issues, and the variations of issues in different organizational cultures and work settings are demonstrated. The concluding chapter is devoted to an examination of the connections between the five categories of gender issues explored in cases. An Instructor’s Manual provides additional resources and information that will assist in the discussion of case issues. Epilogues to each case pursued, and what occurred as a result.

This text is intended as a supplement for courses in Management, Human Resources, Public Administration, Gender Studies, Industrial Psychology, Social Psychology, and Sociology of Work. It will also be useful in consulting and training environments.

Amazon.com

The Horizontal Organization, by institutional-change specialist Frank Ostroff, is a blueprint for the future development of public and private infrastructures that have outgrown the vertical, or "top-down," hierarchy that has been standard in the business community since the onset of the Industrial Revolution. "It is increasingly apparent that the long-favored vertical model is, by itself, no longer capable of meeting all the different needs of business," Ostroff writes. "It has been rendered inadequate for today's demanding competitive, technological, and workforce environments by its inherent shortcomings." The time is therefore right, he continues, completely to overhaul this outdated corporate structure and prepare for the next 50 years as some major establishments--such as Ford Motor Company's Customer Service Division, Xerox, and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)--already have done.Through well-reasoned arguments and the help of these and other real-world examples, Ostroff convincingly shows how his concepts might be employed to eliminate bureaucracy, improve productivity, and solve common long-term organizational problems. And by presenting the entire picture where only small pieces have previously been revealed, he makes a compelling case for radical change in the corporate world as well as in the public sector and non-profit universe. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A Solid Effort!
The horizontal organization is a more appropriate model for the knowledge age, according to author Frank Ostroff, who says companies increasingly find this structure more effective. He emphasizes the need to start with an understanding of your organization's core competencies and to develop a horizontal structure from there. Ostroff claims this is the first model of this approach, but it is not. In fact, his fairly academic book advances a trend that is already well documented. Horizontal organizations have been covered in numerous other books, which, like this one, promote more decentralized, downsized, team-oriented organizations with empowered workers. Despite a leaden, pedantic writing style, Ostroff distinguishes his theoretical discussion with several detailed examples of how the horizontal organization works and how you can apply it to your company. We ... recommend this book primarily to academics, who may enjoy its theoretical nature.

Enlightened Speculation
The subtitle promises that Ostroff will explain "what the organization of the future actually looks like and how it delivers value to customers." It is more accurate to say that Ostroff suggests what that organization will probably look like...and how it will probably deliver value to customers. Specifically, what he calls the Horizontal Organization "organizes around core process groups. All the people who work on a core process are brought together into a group that can easily coordinate its efforts and maximize the value of of what it delivers to customers." It differs from other models in that it is more comprehensive by incorporating "elements of some of the existing concepts, such as process reengineering, individual empowerment, and teams. But it goes beyond them by providing an overall framework for the organization that integrates and makes use of the best of these ideas in a new structure that has been proved in practice." So, Ostroff's intention is to help his reader understand what the Horizontal Organization is, how it works, how it can be developed, and how to decide where it can be effectively employed in any organization.

I rate this book so highly, not because it provides THE answers but because Ostroff asks what I consider to be the important questions as all of us proceed into an uncertain future. There are so many paradigm shifts occurring simultaneously. Words such as "organization" and "customer" seem to be redefined constantly, as are the concepts of "leader" and "manager" as well as "core business" and "competitive marketplace." Of course, despite what his book's subtitle suggests, Ostroff is well aware of all this. He thinks clearly, writes well, and in his concluding remarks indicates a proper respect for "buy in" throughout any organization., asserting that "the change effort itself and the new organization born from the old must have full top-down, bottom-up, cross-functional commitment. If done right, the integration of the fundamental principles of the horizontal organization will inspire the people in your organization, supercharge their performance, and create a winning value proposition that lifts your organization far above the competition."

Nothing New Here
The Horizontal Organization by Frank Ostroff is well written and an easy read. Its main draw back is that the author is claims that he is presenting something new when in fact it is not. The concept outlined in his book and the design principles for the horizontal organization are nothing but a "dumbed" down version of basic industrial engineering principles that has been espoused for years. The concept of organizing around business processes and with cross-functional teams has been discribed in various books by industrial engineers for years, espesially in the area of socio-technical systems design theory. The book is good in that it gives managers, with business major degrees, a good introduction to a sound organizational design theory. Any manager with an industrial or systems engineering degree will already be aware of these principles for organizational design to a far greater extent than the author.

Very helpful perspective
This is an excellent book with a forward-looking perspective. I found it useful to read RESPONSIBLE MANAGERS GET RESULTS, by Faust, el al, at the same time. The responsibility piece is important to the kind of horizontal organization Orstroff depicts in this book.

One of the business bestsellers of the next millennium!!!
As Tom Brown (the editor of Management General-www.mgeneral.com) rightly writes "a lot of us still think it's normal: whoever has the highest rank in the company, division, department--whatever--calls the shots. Whoever's in command makes the decisions, tells everyone what to do, barks out their assigned tasks in fragmented, functional departments. Frank Ostroff was one of the first people to see that, in the long-term, such a tops-down, command-and-control, function-driven structure was ultimately doomed. So, he (Ostroff) developed The Horizontal Organization about the decade ago. Now, he says, the wold is definitely moving his way."

This exceptional study starts with a vital question: "what will the organization of the future look like?" Naturally, Ostroff's answer is "the Horizontal Organization".

With some real life examples of various types of horizontal organizations like: Ford Motor Company's Customer Service Division, the Xerox Corporation, the General Electric plant in Salisbury, North Carolina, the Supply Management Organization of Motorola's Space and System Technology Group, the Home Finance Division of Barclays Bank, and the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration, Ostroff says "my intention in this book is to help readers understand what the Horizontal Organization is, how it works, how it can be developed, and how to decide where it can be effectively employed in any organization."

This exceptional study is must reading for every business leader to understand the next millennium's organizational structure. ... Read more

Book Description

"Do you know what it takes to be a star at work?Robert Kelley has the answer." --Fast Company

• Find out what separates stars from average performers

• Learn how to be the top pick for the choice jobs

• Use nine star-performer strategies to become a member of the select "ten-for-one" club, with ten times the productivity of the average worker

• Find out how using the nine strategies enables you to out-perform people with supposedly better credentials

• New in this edition:special insights for women and members of minority groups
  

Reviews (50)

Mentoring for Those Without Effective Mentors
How to Be a Star at Work is excellent for attacking misconceptions that retard almost all careers. Everyone I know who had a fast rising career used the principles in this book: But they usually had to figure out some of the principles for themselves.

As a young person, many lack the experience and judgment to derive these principles. For example, many will see conforming to the views of co-workers (many of whose careers are going nowhere) as the way to get ahead. Not true!

As your first step toward becoming a star at work, read this book and apply its principles. If you want to go further and be a Superstar at work, read on for more instructions you will need.

Careers are also plagued by other flawed thinking habits not explored in this book including poor communications (assuming the message is received and understood without checking), disbelief in promising new ideas and technologies (check these new perspectives out carefully before you dismiss them), tradition (habits that have outlived their usefulness), bureaucracy (having people involved unnecessarily), harmful procrastination (delaying when the situation is deteriorating), and avoiding ugliness (everyone else avoids it also, so the best opportunities are often in the most unattractive aspects of your operations).

To be most successful, you need to be able to create better solutions.

The way to do this is to (1) learn the value of measurements (nothing improves that is not measured) (2) measure everything you can about important processes in your key activities (each measurement will teach you something you need to know) (3) identify the best practices anyone has ever done in these areas (especially by looking outside your industry), and anticipate where these best practices will be in 5 years (4) assemble best practices together in new ways that no one has ever done before to exceed the future best practice (5) identify the ideal best practice (the best people will ever be able to do -- for communications this will be having everyone get the message in one second, like shouting "fire" in a crowded theater where smoke and flames are evident) (6) find ways to approach the ideal best practice by applying the analogy of where humans do it almost perfectly now to your situation (7) assemble the right people, resources and incentives to get the job done and (8) repeat the process (you will get better at it and find better ideas, each you time you do this again).

Further, a lot of people are oblivious to the powerful trends around them. The most effective people will find ways to turn these trends to their advantage, regardless of how the trend shifts.

If you teach someone else these ideas, you will learn them even better, and proven yourself as a leader.

Now you have everything you need to be a superstar at work, except for the proper goals. Write them down! Review them frequently! You will outperform 97 percent of everyone else with just this focus . . . before you apply this book.

Don't forget to be a superstar in your personal life, where it's tougher . . . but more meaningful . . . to do!

A Role Model for Those Without Role Models
This book is excellent for attacking misconception stalls (bad thinking habits based on a misunderstanding of the circumstances) that retard almost all careers. Everyone I know who had a fast rising career used the principles in this book: But they had to figure out some of the principles for themselves.

As a young person, many lack the experience and judgment to derive these principles. For example, many will see conforming to the views of co-workers (many of whose careers are going nowhere) as the way to get ahead. Not!

As your first step toward becoming a star at work, read this book and apply its principles. If you want to go further and be a Superstar at work, read on for more instructions you will need.

Careers are also plagued by other flawed thinking habits not explored in this book including poor communications (assuming the message is received and understood without checking), disbelief in promising new ideas and technologies (check these new perspectives out carefully before you dismiss them), tradition (habits that have outlived their usefulness), bureaucracy (having people involved unnecessarily), harmful procrastination (delaying when the situation is deteriorating), and avoiding ugliness (everyone else avoids it also, so the best opportunities are often in the most unattractive aspects of your operations).

To be most successful, you need to be able to create better solutions.

The way to do this is to (1) learn the value of measurements (nothing improves that is not measured) (2) measure everything you can about important processes in your key activities (each measurement will teach you something you need to know) (3) identify the best practices anyone has ever done in these areas (especially by looking outside your industry), and anticipate where these best practices will be in 5 years (4) assemble best practices together in new ways that no one has ever done before to exceed the future best practice (5) identify the ideal best practice (the best people will ever be able to do -- for communications this will be having everyone get the message in one second, like shouting "fire" in a crowded theater where smoke and flames are evident) (6) find ways to approach the ideal best practice by applying the analogy of where humans do it almost perfectly now to your situation (7) assemble the right people, resources and incentives to get the job done and (8) repeat the process (you will get better at it and find better ideas, each you time you do this again).

Further, a lot of people are oblivious to the powerful trends around them. The most effective people will find ways to turn these trends to their advantage, regardless of how the trend shifts.

If you teach someone else these ideas, you will learn them even better, and proven yourself as a leader.

NOW YOU CAN REALLY BE A SUPERSTAR AT WORK! Good luck!

Don't forget to be a superstar in your personal life, as well.

Good Reference for 'Brainpowered' Workers
This is a good guide to success in the workplace for engineers and other 'brainpowered' workers. Dr. Kelly, professor at Carnegie-Mellon's business school, writes of nine 'breakthrough' strategies to move ahead of the pack, into the 'A player' ranks. While the somewhat cheesy title implies that this is a guide for lazy people (the 'C players') to sneak their way up the ladder, this is in reality a well-written and well-researched book that is strictly for highly-motivated workers that just need a little added 'edge'.

The tips Dr. Kelly provide seem to be common sense, but we all see hard-working 'B players' every day that neglect these at their own peril. (If it were as easy to spot one's own faults as it is to spot faults in others, this book wouldn't be necessary.)

It doesn't cover everything, of course, and the strategies aren't necessarily easy to implement, but it's a good starting point for someone truly motivated to improve their promotability. To that end, I'd personally recommend reading Stephen Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People", and this book.

Emotional intelligence in the work place.
This is an excellent book. The nine strategies make perfect sense. They are innovative, and will work for you. This is how to apply all your intelligences within the workplace and not just your IQ. You will recognize the ones who apply these strategies. They are the ones who may not have MBAs from Harvard, but yet are well liked and respected and go up the corporate ladder seemingly effortlessly.

The author strategies are also quite original. He stresses how strong "followership" is just as important if not more as "leadership." This is a really important point that is rarely mentioned in management seminars.

If you are a Harvard MBA, good for you. Nevertheless, this book will be invaluable to your success as it will give you the strategies and people skills you may need to truly leverage the superior business education you got.

Disappointed
I have just finished this book and found it to be very boring and lengthy. I agree with the other reviewer, only three pages worth reading.
No idea how anyone that has read this book would give it five stars, if not friends of the author. ... Read more

Book Description

Indoor/Outdoor Team Building Games for Trainers is a collection of 62 fun, physical acitivities from the world of adventure-based team building--now made simple for the average classroom trainer. Each activity (requiring only simple props such as rubber balls, blindfolds, and rope) comes complete with learning objectives, equipment needs, time goals, directions, and debriefing guidelines. Perfect for fields, parking lots, and even indoor classrooms.ativity ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Is this book really worth its pricey tag?
After being greatly impressed by the size of the box that this work arrived in I was a little disappointed by the rather cheap looking folder that was contained within. Indoor/Outdoor Team building games for trainers by Harrison Snow is presented in a large triple ring folder that at first glance looks like a standard undergraduate dissertation. However the way the work is presented and the price tag are both justified in the copyright blurb on the very first page.
Indoor/Outdoor is a not just a reference book but a step by step course for those who want to instruct their own team building sessions. As a result the price tag (which is $$more than I am normally comfortable paying for a book) not only buys you the folder but also the right to make photocopies of relevant pages to distribute to those who attend your workshop, and what a workshop it'll be!
Having spent the summer working as an outdoor pursuits instructor I was glad to see many of the best warm ups and ice breakers that I had already learnt succinctly described in a manner that transfers the necessary fun within which all team-building sessions should be framed. There's enough problem solving exercises to keep even the most competent team busy for a least three days and each description is followed by a few generally excellent paragraphs on how to debrief after the exercise. Very few of the exercises need much preparation or investment in equipment and can be attempted by any able bodied person regardless of fitness.
Along with the individual tasks Snow has included a very readable section introducing a few management theories, the need for strong teams and the whole framework of trust, safety and fun within which good workshops must run. He concludes with some exercises that provide a review of the workshop and a few more management theories that are again very well presented.
Like most work on this subject Indoor/Outdoor can occasionally be a little "touchy feely" but never to a nauseating extent. Snow also occasionally makes the assumption that his audience is entirely from the US but although slightly annoying this in no way detracts from the overall excellent quality of his work. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in running their own sessions but also recommend that you either practice on your friends or shadow an experienced leader before instructing paying customers.

Poor Value
A tremendous disappointment. One of the more expensive Team Building resource publications available and it does not deliver. In many respects, Mr. Snow has authored a well organized, adequately written resource BINDER. A three ring binder and 241 (mostly single sided) pages of information. Sadly, the liabilities completely outweigh the assets of this selection.

Almost every activity may be found in other, significantly less expensive books. Very few activities feature illustrations or diagrams. Even when included, the pictures may not be worth a thousand words. Those unfamiliar with an activity may have difficulty vizualizing some instructions. Which begs the question if you ARE familiar with the activities, why purchase the book?

The only justification I found for the seemingly disproportionate price was the permission granted by the publisher to photocopy the pages of the publication "for use by participants attending a training workshop conducted by the original purchaser." This might be a terrific value for those who provide training of trainer workshops or who have a large staff to train. If you primarily will be solo or co-facilitating team building sequences with various groups this may be of dubious benefit to you.

Bottom line: If Mr. Snow and/or McGraw-Hill republished the binder as a book (at a fraction of the cost), added more visual-aids and you were looking for a solid resource book, it might be a useful resource. In it's present form I'd recommend you keep searching. Karl Rohnke and several others have authored resource books that will provide you with much, much more for much, much less.

Keep searching. . .

Great Hands on edition
This book is a wonderful collection of activities that will build and challenge your team. The books is spiral bound so it allows you to "take it with you" and use it wherever your team is. The activites are not just the typical version, they are challenging, exciting, and when used can help you establish a solid foundation. The book is easy to follow and does include some diverse games and activities. No two are alike. ... Read more

Book Description

Morale is down--spirits are low--the workload is mounting. Today's hard-working employees need a break! And nothing feels better than Care Packages for the Workplace from internationally known, lift-your-spirits author Barbara Glanz. This timely gift-book format provides the hard at work with dozens of simple ``brighten-your-day'' ideas such as: beautifying the work space in order to do what Tom Peters recommends--``Fight Bland Dullness!''; putting a personal signature on all work; sharing a joke-a-day, one month at a time; holding grapevine meetings where rumors are openly discussed; partaking in good news hours where positive news is shared; creating special awards for a job well done; scheduling lunches with management. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Great IDEAS
This book provided a great deal of information and ideas to draw from. I enjoyed that I could read it quickly. I was able to apply some of the ideas or variations of them at work !

Changing the way you look at work
Barbara Glantz has written a life altering book--at least a life at the workplace altering book. It is easy to read and filled with hundreds of big and little things that can change the way you spend 40 hours a week. Very positive, super ideas.

There are better books on the topic...
This book is just okay. There are a lot of examples of how to improve morale at work, but the writing isn't that great, and the book isn't very well organized. There are much better books on the topic...try Managing to Have Fun by Matt Weinstein or 1001 Ways to Energize Employees by Bob Nelson.

"Care Packages" changed the way I work
"Care Packages for the Workplace" is a fun, easy read that will change your attitude toward work and life. I can't recommend this book enough. It is filled with ways to make the workplace more humane on every level. Read it today...you'll go to work tomorrow a different person.

Very disappointing
This book was not at all what I expected. As a member of middle management I was looking for suggestions on motivating employees on more of an individual basis. Most of the ideas in this book I felt need to be implemented by upper management throughout the entire organization. As supervisor of a small department, I do not have the resources or authority to implement these types of changes. Also, most of the ideas would only work in businesses with high customer contact. For those of us that work only within the organization, most of these ideas are not applicable. ... Read more

Book Description

Work is an important part of living, whether you wait on customers, build a business or cook for your family. As such, we all have important stories to tell about our work. From this rich treasure chest of experiences, Canfield, Hansen and company have gathered a special collection of inspiring tales that share the daily courage, compassion and creativity that take place in workplaces everywhere.

Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work will nourish your spirit with stories of courageous leaders and will foster your creativity with examples of inspiring breakthroughs. It will also teach you how to enrich yourself and your coworkers through heartfelt acknowledgment.

This powerful book gives you new options, new ways to succeed and, above all, a new love and appreciation for yourself, your job and those around you. Share it with your mentor, coworkers or staff, and enjoy renewed joy and pleasure in your chosen vocation.

Special stories by Dilbert's Scott Adams, Beverly Sills, Dave Thomas and many more make this collection complete. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A moving and uplifting book that gets you hooked!
This is an excellent book for the workplace. It is nice and refreshing to read if you are feeling down about work. I've begun to retell the stories at my workplace and everyone loves the stories. This is great reading for a coffee break.

First few tastes are delicious. Any more and it gets bland.
The Chicken Soup series is always a pleaser, but seriously, I've gotten so many of them as gifts etc. Do I really need to read 303 wonderful stories? I'm almost getting numb to them. One book is plenty. Every one seems to offer quality soups and plenty of recognizable people to add credit to the story. I recommend any of the books, but don't recommend going crazy and buying anymore than one or two. The material/message just gets a little repetitive after a while.

Very sentimental but still worthwhile
This tape was my first experience of the Chicken Soup series. I had heard of Mark Victor Hansen from the One Minute Millionaire book.
The first thing that struck me was how awfully - there's only one way to put this - American the tape is. Beneath the slightly patronising (perhaps only to non-American ears) delivery the stories are indeed worthwhile even though some suffer from being over-sentimental.
Recommended.

Nice, Inspiring little book
Nice, inspiring little book. I work for an elected official who is a tyrant. I wish I'd seen this book 3 yrs ago! But, fortunately, it's cheered me up enough to get through the next 2 months as he was just defeated in his bid for re-election. (Yippeee!)

Couldn't put this book down
I noticed this book at the airport bookstore and picked it up. I couldn't put the book down as I read one touching story after the other. It's a great colletion of stories to inspir