Book Description
Successful managers work like coaches, assessing each person's strengths and weaknesses and developing the best strategy to get the job done. The 4-Dimensional Manager shows how managers can become more effective by using the DiSC system. "DiSC" stands for four communication styles: Dominance (direct and decisive); Influence (optimistic and outgoing); Supportive (sympathetic and cooperative); and Conscientious (concerned and correct). In the book's first part, readers assess their own style, the style of the people they manage, and the style of their organization. The second part shows how to choose the most effective style (or combination of styles) for any situation, focusing on seven key areas: delegating, decision making, problem solving, motivating, complimenting, giving constructive feedback, and developing skills.
Customer Reviews:
DISC Srategies.......2007-01-22
Good book, moves along well, goes over the information that you would like to see. Very insightfull
Who am I?.......2005-10-26
Very impressive! A very helpful tool to use at work or home.
Good Introduction to DISC.......2004-10-31
During my MBA schooling time, i got introduced to MBTI, a personality test, and i am very much interested. But it is not "that easy" to teach and implement, people find it difficult to remember. Than a friend introduces the DISC concept to me. Upon browsing the amazon pages, i finally bought this book (and some others). And i found it pretty useful and serve my purpose as a simple behavior analysis tools for business success.
I have since used DISC approach to train people in Salesmanship and Managerial Leadership program. I found it very acceptable by laymen and they can benefit from the insight.
Popular applicable psychology is gaining more and more momentum and become more widely used in business. The root of this type of analysis started from the Greek 2000+ years ago with Sanguine, Choleric, Phhlegmatic and Melancholic.
The original form of this DISC apporoach comes from William Moulton Marston 1926 book Emotions of Normal People.
There are similar materials come in many form: COLOR CODE (HARTMAN), Personality Plus, and several other books.
This is not to replace all the more-in-depth psychology tools that profesional use, but this is a simple approach to see different type of people and how we can be more effective in fast forwarding ourselves. We can also see others and learn how to make them better in their works.
The book contains a simple test and the description of every type and the combination of types. It is very well written and accurate. Although i feel a bit "dry" on the style of writing, i am totally satisfied and find the book of a very high value.
This is not a dense reading, and you can jump forth and back and see your/other people's type of personality and use it to our advantages.
Anyone interested on how to "see" him/herself and the other and how to make best use of psychological approach toward different type of people will be able to benefit from this book.
Book Description
In this bestselling classic of financial management, G. Bennett Stewart, III, raises and answers these provocative questions:
- Do dividends matter?
- Are earnings per share really accurate measures of corporate performance?
- What is the engine that really drives share prices?
More than that, Stewart lays the foundation for EVA
r, the financial management and incentive system now in place at nearly 300 companies around the world, and which is rapidly becoming the global standard for corporate governance.
Managers, confused about what investors really want, often find it difficult to reach informed decisions regarding business strategy, acquisitions and divestitures, financial structure, dividend policy, and executive compensation. But now an EVA
r -based revolution is providing a practical framework that managers can use to build a premium-valued company. At the forefront of this revolution is the consulting firm of Stern Stewart & Co., of which G. Bennett Stewart, III, author of The Quest for Value, is senior partner and cofounder.
The Quest for Value is written for senior management, key operating people, and planning and financial staff. This bible of financial management will assist managers in goal setting, resource allocation, strategy development, valuation of acquisitions, financial policy setting, incentive compensation planning, and building shareholder value.
The Quest for Value cuts sharply through the myths that to this day misinform corporate strategists in their pursuit of shareholder value. Laying waste to inaccurate yet widely used methods of performance, Stewart demonstrates how the Stern Stewart EVA
r approach not only creates greater shareholder value but also provides a powerful framework for the broadest range of corporate decision making.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Resource on How to Deliver Results for Your Clients.......2007-01-06
When selling, it is easy to fall into the trap of talking price or comparing yourself to your competitors. The Quest for Value illustrates how you can quantify delivering value to your clients. Listen to their needs and use your product or service to deliver a solution for those needs. You can use EVA as a method to define the solution for your customers by quantifying the benefit. You will earn your client's respect without having to lower price or fall into roadblocks set by your competitors.
Relatively little new or noteworthy.......2003-06-26
Many of the concepts in this book have been described and used by successful investors such as Graham in the 30s, Buffett's adaptation of Graham's ideas in the 70s and 80s, and the more recent breed of Intrinsic Value-driven investors who garner wide respect today. New terms are introduced with great fanfare when they often are simple rearrangements of well-known formulas (taking the inverse of a ratio somehow gives you a radically new insight?). It seemed to me that the major contribution of the author is a new set of acronyms.
Claims about how failing companies turned around into successes because they adopted EVA are not sufficiently supported. Those turnarounds could have happened for any of many other reasons. The claims would be believable if they were well supported with facts and deeper analysis. As they are, they detract from the overall quality of the book and raise questions about other claims made in it. At times the author's tone is condescending, as if we can all assume his statements don't need proof!!
The book could function as a fair reference but as most other reviewers have noted, there is no index, and the table of contents is about half a page! This is particularly difficult because the discussions of important concepts are somewhat spread about in the book.
On the positive side, the author's focus on return on capital is good and the reasoning well stated and easy to understand. By the same token, his discussions of what provides true value to the investor (and business manager) is good. But these are not very original. Either the book should have been about one-fourth as long, or the examples the author used to justify EVA should have been much more thoroughly developed.
A Valuable Investment.......2003-02-03
In not possessing a Finance or Accounting background, I have found it extrememly difficult to find a book that can guide me from the very basics of corporate valuation through to the complexities inevitable in any such subject.
However I would urge any potential customer (either financially astute or a beginner like myself) who is genuinely interested in Value, to look no further than "The Quest for Value".
The key resides in the style (fully informative yet at times conversational / humorous), the content (rich in depth and explanation) and finally the extensive case studies and "war stories" that bring Valuation fully to life.
You dont have to be an accountant or corporate finance practioner to understand and apply the fundamental principles of EVA - in fact as the author sometimes alludes to, not possessing this background is perhaps a distinct advantage.
Investing in this Quest with Stern Stewart as my guide has helped me enormously.
A Valuable Investment.......2003-02-03
In not possessing a Finance or Accounting background, I have found it extrememly difficult to find a book that can guide me from the very basics of corporate valuation through to the complexities inevitable in any such subject.
However I would urge any potential customer (either financially astute or a beginner like myself) who is genuinely interested in Value, to look no further than "The Quest for Value".
The key resides in the style (fully informative yet at times conversational / humuorous), the content (rich in depth and explanation) and finally the extensive case studies and "war stories" that bring Valuation fully to life.
You dont have to be an accountant or corporate finance practioner to understand and apply the fundamental principles of EVA - in fact as the author sometimes alludes to, not possessing this background is perhaps a distinct advantage.
Investing in this Quest with Stern Stewart as my guide has helped me enormously.
Maybe it is the key of the ývalueý and ýinvestmentý........2002-01-17
After getting my MBA 1995, I have read so many books discussing about value and investment, I recommend, however, that The Quest For Value is the one you must read. The reasons:
First, few books put the two topics (value, investment) in one theoretical system. Even the books or articles about "value investment" can be separated into two categories: these about "investment art", talking about, or written by investment experts (who's names on the Money Master and New Money Master); the other about the "valuation scientific methods". People talked about value investment ideas by totally separated way, the art, or the science.
Second, too many books discuss value investment by this way: "it is the one... (maybe earning, or cash flow, or working capital,) but..., or, if....,". So the investor become a boxer, who need professional speed and energy to quickly switch his positions and punch among the keep coming "but", "if" from either accounting or reality. Contrary to my boxer's inspiration, my best friend in business school told me: "Warren Buffett must have one secret point he never told anybody". I think the secret he means is what is "one dollar", and what is "forty cents", if buy low sell high is the plan. Haven't our two foolish business school students told you everything about the "modern" market efficiency and inefficiency theories?! I know value investment masters will feel sad for this kind of coming value investment young villagers. Anyway, besides the "professional strong" and the "superstition power" from the point of ours, is there a rational point to support the leverage of investment art.
The third, value investment is always about two aspects: the business and the management. From Fillip Fish's buy and hold sticky strategy to Peter Lnych's traveling and talking around the world, to Warren Buffet's appreciation: "he (the CEO) is this kind of person, you can marry your daughter to him", investment is about to invest, or to marry with, the management team. But, we need the handsome's picture.
The Fourth, what kind of morality standards fits Wall Street's social position. Probably, people don't have time to talk about good or bad, when the regulation of a game is win or loss. However, if you are playing NBA, your morality, personality, even image are kind of money at least, aren't they? Even you just doing exercise in your backyard, at least don't forget another possibility: win-win.
If you have this kind of questions, you must read this book. The author's capital efficiency view and five categories of business accordingly put the "value" and the "investment" two topics into one system to discuss.
And, The Economic Value Added (EVA) investment method is independent from the any accounting system. The accounting system as a standard record of business activities is only an object of study, criticize or judgment for investment decision but not a constriction of decision mine field. Contrary to "but" "if" talking, this book puts everything on this way: it is the one (EVA), so you should....
Additionally, to look for a good management maybe, for investor, can become to create of good management teams. This topic you can read EVA and Value-Based Management by Mr. Young and O'Byrne for further study.
Finally, the meaning of investment probably is not just NBA's win or loss. It is about to add or to damage (or even worse, to steal maybe) the social wealth according to EVA theory.
Interesting? Plus the author's good logic and good case study! The only lack of this book to me is that the Capitan Case only has one. After finishing the Capitan Case at the end of the book, I wish there were other four cases for the other four categories of business accordingly (If you know where I can read that, please let me know...).
There already been so many, so different opinions about this book on this site. While, if investment is art, according to Peter Lynch, or is a project, according to Charles Ellis, then any theory or method is just a kind of tool or weapon. So it will depend on the person, so it will depend on everything. I myself start the second reading after the first. I am going back to Main China pretty soon to do Investment Banking business, probably focus on LBO, and I will keep reading this book, talking about this book, and trying to imply this book. I think that I owe amzon.com a customer's view since I have got so much helps from others' views, so I recommend this book to you: If you have been so patient to read my view to here, you need read that book. Good Luck :)
Book Description
Every company wants to improve the way it does business, to produce goods and services more efficiently, and to increase profits. Nonprofit organizations are also concerned with efficiency, productivity, and with achieving the goals they set for themselves. Every manager understands that achieving these goals is a part of his or her job.
In the wake of the dot-com collapse, managers are trying to figure out how they can take advantage of email, the Internet, and the Web to improve their business process. At the same time, managers are interested in developing business process architectures and measurement systems that align business processes with corporate goals. Managers face many options in approaching these problems.
Business Process Change provides an overview of the options and describes a variety of business process techniques proven by successful companies over the course of a decade.
*Focuses on the process change problems faced by today's managers.
*Summarizes the state of the art of business process analysis & improvement, including the basic vocabulary of modeling.
*Presents a methodology based on the best practices available that can be tailored for specific needs and that maintains a focus on the human aspects of process redesign.
*Offers detailed case studies showing how these methods are implemented.
Customer Reviews:
Good Software Book, Bad Business Process Change Book.......2007-07-15
This book is geared too much towards IT process changes and can never escape its software base of knowledge to address general business process change in a meaningful way. It was required reading for a business process improvement class and I never went beyond the required reading because it just wasn't useful. This might be useful for an IT project lead but anyone else would be better served by any one of the many books on Toyota, Six Sigma, or Lean.
Good seller........2007-04-03
It came in on time and in the condition stated. Would buy from this seller again.
Very good book from Paul Harmon.......2007-03-09
This is a very good book. I am a Data Warehouse / Business Analysis Architect and one of the keys to my profession is maximizing technology in order to solve business problems. Harmon writes about how IT is a key enabler of BPM.
Harmon really does a good job of documenting the importance of BPM and process redesign, rather than wholesale reengineering of processes through the implementation of ERP systems. Harmon writes about how business processes can be considered assets of a corporation. This is important. Another key thread in the book is that all processes in an organization should map back to the value propositions of the company and therefore map directly to strategic goals.
Mapping all processes to the value propositions of the company is important to ensure that nothing the company does is done solely for the sake of the institution, but maps to a business goal.
Business Process Change.......2006-12-29
This book was recommended by several of my lean consulting friends, who specialize in agile project management, as an excellent source for documenting and analyzing process workflows in complex environments. I agree, this book is a must read for people tasked with redesigning informational workflows in service systems. I have read it twice and continue to learn new ways to analyze business processes.
This book needs update.......2006-07-28
When I purchased the book early 2003 I agreed with most of the reviews.
However, having it read again. It really shows that a lot of stuff has been outdated and certainly requires updating.
Especially on the new trends like Six Sigma, compliance and innovative technology solutions.
Book Description
In a world where your intellectual property is your most valuable asset, patents are becoming an essential tool for achieving and maintaining a competitive edge. With billions of dollars at stake, companies are defending their patents vigorously; high-profile cases, such as Microsoft's $900 million patent dispute settlement with Sun Microsystems, and Medtronic's acquisition of a competitor's entire patent portfolio for $1.35 billion, are cases in point. While most companies will not operate at this level, the strategic management of patents, and the costs of enforcing and defending them, are becomining critical business functions. In this accessible and practical guide, Henry Heines shows readers how to apply "due diligence," a common concept in corporate finance and investing, to analyze the costs and benefits of patent management, and to navigate through the legal and technical maze. With dozens of examples from many industries, he walks readers through the various ways in which technological advances can be presented as patentable inventions and in which the patents of competitors can be confronted and evaluated. He also offers guidance in managing a portfolio of patents and inventions, regardless of whether they make it to market as products. A glossary of terms and listing of resources will make this book a handy reference for anyone involved in product development, corporate strategy, or intellectual property.
Amazon.com
Should a company's management be most accountable to employees, customers, or management itself? In Creating Shareholder Value, Alfred Rappaport argues that management's primary responsibility is to company shareholders. First published 12 years ago, the ideas put forth by Rappaport have since become commonplace in companies around the world.
Rappaport eschews the most common measures of a company's performance, such as price-to-earnings ratios ("Cash is a fact, profit is an opinion"), return on investment, and equity measures, instead concentrating on developing a shareholder value approach that measures "value drivers" such as sales-growth rates, operating profit margins, and cost of capital. This revised and updated edition addresses the issues of corporate downsizing and the social responsibilities of business. It also includes new sections on the value of mergers and acquisitions and how to implement a shareholder value system. Both managers and investors alike will find this book useful.
Book Description
The ultimate test of corporate strategy, the only reliable measure, is whether it creates economic value for shareholders. Now, in this substantially revised and updated edition of his 1986 business classic, Creating Shareholder Value, Alfred Rappaport provides managers and investors with the practical tools needed to generate superior returns. After a decade of downsizings frequently blamed on shareholder value decision making, this book presents a new and indepth assessment of the rationale for shareholder value. Further, Rappaport presents provocative new insights on shareholder value applications to: (1) business planning, (2) performance evaluation, (3) executive compensation, (4) mergers and acquisitions, (5) interpreting stock market signals, and (6) organizational implementation. Readers will be particularly interested in Rappaport's answers to three management performance evaluation questions: (1) What is the most appropriate measure of performance? (2) What is the most appropriate target level of performance? and (3) How should rewards be linked to performance? The recent acquisition of Duracell International by Gillette is analyzed in detail, enabling the reader to understand the critical information needed when assessing the risks and rewards of a merger from both sides of the negotiating table.
The shareholder value approach presented here has been widely embraced by publicly traded as well as privately held companies worldwide. Brilliant and incisive, this is the one book that should be required reading for managers and investors who want to stay on the cutting edge of success in a highly competitive global economy.
Download Description
The ultimate test of corporate strategy, the only reliable measure, is whether it creates economic value for shareholders. Now, in this substantially revised and updated edition of his 1986 business classic, "Creating Shareholder Value", Alfred Rappaport provides managers and investors with the practical tools needed to generate superior returns. After a decade of downsizings frequently blamed on shareholder value decision making, this book presents a new and indepth assessment of the rationale for shareholder value. Further, Rappaport presents provocative new insights on shareholder value applications to: (1) business planning, (2) performance evaluation, (3) executive compensation, (4) mergers and acquisitions, (5) interpreting stock market signals, and (6) organizational implementation. Readers will be particularly interested in Rappaport's answers to three management performance evaluation questions: (1) What is the most appropriate measure of performance? (2) What is the most appropriate target level of performance? and (3) How should rewards be linked to performance? The recent acquisition of Duracell International by Gillette is analyzed in detail, enabling the reader to understand the critical information needed when assessing the risks and rewards of a merger from both sides of the negotiating table. The shareholder value approach presented here has been widely embraced by publicly traded as well as privately held companies worldwide. Brilliant and incisive, this is the one book that should be required reading for managers and investors who want to stay on the cutting edge of success in a highly competitive global economy.
Customer Reviews:
Powerful promotion of shareholders' interests .......2007-08-07
For the past 12 years, `The Wall Street Journal' has published Dr. Alfred Rappaport's brainchild, the `Shareholder Scoreboard.' This special section lists 1,000 of the largest U.S. corporations (representing 90% of all listed equity values) and shows statistically how "shareholder-friendly" each one is. This journalistic feature popularizes Rappaport's "Shareholder Value" (SV) theory among institutional and individual investors. Investors use this theory to make equity commitments that reflect the author's economics-based criteria. Frankly, the lay reader who has not majored in economics, or in corporate accounting and finance, will find Rappaport's book abstruse. But it leads the way for the informed, inquisitive investor who seeks "business enlightenment" and Wall Street success. Do not be thrown off by the original 1986 print date. A classic is just that, a book that can be read and wisely used for decades. The small, silent shareholder revolution that Rappaport started is far from over. By now, shareholder analysis has become part of the mainstream for hundreds of big companies (though they accepted it gradually). SV is far from perfect as a corporate strategy indicator. The true worth of this book for CEOs and other executives resides in its lessons for implementing the SV approach throughout a corporation. We recommend it to all three informed constituencies of every public corporation: executives, employees and shareholders.
Higher Understanding.......2007-01-08
A great guide for those wanting to gain a higher level of understanding of corporate decision making. I found it useful within my own business unit and plan to bring back some of the concepts. Read this book if you have a desire to stand out by analyzing decisions like a corporate officer.
Valuation Fundamentals.......2001-09-28
Given that investors value bonds by discounting future cash flows, it stands to reason that they value stocks in the same fashion. Alfred Rappaport is the founder of the shareholder value mindset which gained importance in the '80 and is widely accepted in this new millenium. Rappaport starts the book explaining that objections to using a discounted Cash Flow model do not hold. Strong arguments and empirical evidence is given to explain the market's valuation mechanism. What follows is a basic but thorough explanation of the 3 elements for valuing a company (cash flows , risk and the competitive advantage period). In the second part of the book, it will become clear for the reader DCF is closely linked to strategic analysis and is not in contradiction with stakeholder analysis, customer value analysis, Activity Based costing or any other tool. On the contrary, Rappaport shows DCF is a communication tool that helps investors understand a company's implied performance and how to (re)act. Together with the Valuation book from Copeland, Koller and Murrin this is the book you need.
Good explanation of creating shareholder value, but..........1999-06-09
Professor Rappaport's revised version of his 1986 book on creating shareholder value provides a good description of the value based management concept that he helped create. However, many of the chapters are stand alone sections that do not flow well together. In some chapters he does not provide enough depth on how this book can actually be used by managers. In addition, the chapters on using his concepts to formulate value-maximizing business strategies was somewhat lacking.
Nevertheless, the book was an easy read and many of his points were right on target. I would also highly recommend interested readers to check out "The Value Imperative" by Marakon Associates and "Valuation" by McKinsey & Co for more information on value based management.
MAKE MANAGING SHAREHOLDER VALUE A CORE COMPETENCY.......1999-04-01
This continues to be a good book for raising awareness that shareholder value can and should be managed. It was not that many years ago when a survey of CEOs found that they thought it was immoral and unethical to try to raise share price! I am also pleased to see that Mr. Rapparport discussed appluications to planning, M&A, compensation and organizational development. I belong to an organization (SHARE PRICE GROWTH 100) that develops new tools and processes to improve stock price, and we have found new ways directily link stock price, finance, investor realtions and capital management. We also found that each company has different investor sensitivities, and few stocks move directly with cash flow. The concepts that we use are described in THE 2,000 PERCENT SOLUTION. One of Mr. Rapparport's questions, "what is the most appropriate measure of performance" is a question that was asked of Peter Drucker in the 1970s. Dr. Drucker responded by saying that companies should use as many measures as possible, because we learn something different from each one. That is what really improves business. Confusion sets in, however, because people think that the measures used to improve business performance are also the ones investors focus on. That thinking has misled many to improve performance while watching the stock price and the multiple do nothing. Managing stock price should become a core competancy. With the right infomation, you will find your 2,000 percent solutions.
Book Description
This authoritative overview, written for institutional investors and those with financial oversight responsibilities, reveals strategies, risks, and technical insights into the world of hedge fund investing. Key investment concepts such as evaluation techniques, monitoring tips, and indexation create a solid foundation for making informed investment decisions time after time.
Customer Reviews:
fantastic.......2006-10-18
I am lucky enough to have Mr. Crerend as one of my closest friends both inside and outside of the workplace. His book is a good one, especially for the new investor who is looking for advice and guidance from someone with years of experience in the field. Mr. Crerend has a unique point of view that makes his book a great one, and also made him successful.
Good primer and useful reference.......2003-02-15
Even though this book is 3 years old, it still serves as a very good primer to the hedge fund industry. Anyone wishing to gain a fundamental understanding of how hedge funds work and how they can be used will find the book easy to read. A lot of details are covered; e.g., a discussion about hedge fund indexes. Even for a professional like myself, I find the book to be a good reference every time I forget a concept or two.
Extremely General.......2002-01-01
Little information other than extremely general data on historic returns. One of the few investment books I have ever read that I did not find something useful to remember.
Tevfik Aksoy.......1999-11-22
Not bad for a someone on the street, however, it has very limited use for a professional. Contains a lot of repeats (and I mean a lot of). Would not recommend if a professional insight to hedge funds is being searched for. The book would be useful for those who are completely hedge fund illiterate or just curious what a hedge fund is.
Facts, but somewhat outdated.......1999-07-16
Contains same facts as other hedge fund books, but seems to be outdated. Little info on recent trends in industry.
Book Description
FROM PATENT TO PROFIT
Patents and patent strategies are increasingly pertinent to the success of information age businesses, from affecting valuations to gaining tax advantages to increasing the starting price per share when taking a company public. Patent Strategy illustrates the impact patents can have on technology-driven businesses' tactical and strategic efforts. Here is step-by-step guidance to the patent process, the laws, and basic strategies-from a business-goal perspective-so that middle and upper-level managers can recognize the significance of patents in relation to a particular business and can incorporate proper patent management efforts into their business framework. In addition, this book serves as an invaluable reference for management and executives when making patent-related decisions such as whether a patent infringement study must be performed; whether the budget for patent matters should be increased or decreased; whether attempts should be made to license certain patent technology; and whether the firm should sue for patent infringement.
- Case studies throughout the book give you a specific business context within which to consider the concepts introduced
- Statistics are presented to assist you in assessing various issues, planning patent strategies, and implementing patent management programs
Download Description
FROM PATENT TO PROFIT
Patents and patent strategies are increasingly pertinent to the success of information age businesses, from affecting valuations to gaining tax advantages to increasing the starting price per share when taking a company public. Patent Strategy illustrates the impact patents can have on technology-driven businesses' tactical and strategic efforts. Here is step-by-step guidance to the patent process, the laws, and basic strategies-from a business-goal perspective-so that middle and upper-level managers can recognize the significance of patents in relation to a particular business and can incorporate proper patent management efforts into their business framework. In addition, this book serves as an invaluable reference for management and executives when making patent-related decisions such as whether a patent infringement study must be performed; whether the budget for patent matters should be increased or decreased; whether attempts should be made to license certain patent technology; and whether the firm should sue for patent infringement.
* Case studies throughout the book give you a specific business context within which to consider the concepts introduced
* Statistics are presented to assist you in assessing various issues, planning patent strategies, and implementing patent management programs
Book Description
A New Brand of Expertise uniquely clarifies the dynamics of the red-hot "free agent" workplace and teaches the new skills and employment strategies independent professionals must master to succeed. In today's quick and turbulent markets, companies often need specialized professional talent on an interim basis to solve specific business problems, a major trend creating huge opportunities and an alternative career track for many professionals.
A New Brand of Expertise clarifies for independent professionals why companies need interim talent and how to develop a skill set that matches market needs. Readers will learn effective methods for uniquely marketing and branding themselves in order to develop a sustainable and successful free agent career.
Explains the booming market for "free agent" professional talent
Details effective workplace strategies for both experienced and new independent professionals, such as consultants and laid-off managers
Customer Reviews:
WANTED: RENAISSANCE SOULS!.......2006-03-03
I am so thrilled that someone with Marion McGovern's bird's eye view of both sides of the fence has underscored so positively the free agent's role in the economy of the 21st century. I think she does an excellent job of reminding us that people who move from project to project and company to company can be real assets in today's workplace. This is especially good news for Renaissance Souls: people who prefer variety and combination to concentrating on just one thing. Why? Because, as McGovern shows so well, the life of free agents is very different from that of workers sitting in one cubicle specializing in one thing for most of their working life. Free agents have to know their material, of course, but they also have to enjoy applying what they know to a variety of different situations. In addition, free agents need to be comfortable wearing several different hats. Who is going to spread the word about what they have to offer if they don't? Who is going to be sure that the finances are in order if they don't? Even if they hire accountants and make good use of the virtual free agent supports available on the Internet, they still are the one, and only one, making the final decisions and being sure what needs doing has actually been done. As a coach specializing in life design for people with too many passions to pick just one (read Renaissance Souls,) I have already been recommending Dr. Barbara Reinhold's book, FREE TO SUCCEED: Designing the Life You Want In the New Free Agent Economy and Daniel Pinks FREE AGENT ECONOMY. Now I will add McGovern's new contribution as well.
WANTED: RENAISSANCE SOULS!.......2006-03-03
I am so thrilled that someone with Marion McGovern's bird's eye view of both sides of the fence has underscored so positively the free agent's role in the economy of the 21st century. I think she does an excellent job of reminding us that people who move from project to project and company to company can be real assets in today's workplace. This is especially good news for Renaissance Souls: people who prefer variety and combination to concentrating on just one thing. Why? Because, as McGovern shows so well, the life of free agents is very different from that of workers sitting in one cubicle specializing in one thing for most of their working life. Free agents have to know their material, of course, but they also have to enjoy applying what they know to a variety of different situations. In addition, free agents need to be comfortable wearing several different hats. Who is going to spread the word about what they have to offer if they don't? Who is going to be sure that the finances are in order if they don't? Even if they hire accountants and make good use of the virtual free agent supports available on the Internet, they still are the one, and only one, making the final decisions and being sure what needs doing has actually been done. As a coach specializing in life design for people with too many passions to pick just one (read Renaissance Souls,) I have already been recommending Dr. Barbara Reinhold's book, FREE TO SUCCEED: Designing the Life You Want In the New Free Agent Economy and Daniel Pinks FREE AGENT ECONOMY. Now I will add McGovern's new contribution as well.
Not bad, but there are better books out there.......2001-11-29
While there is good information here I would strongly recommend some other titles. For anyone who is considering a free agent / consulting career, "Free Agent Nation" by Daniel Pink provides a good "big picture" view of what you're in for. And for advice on consulting, books by Alan Weiss are killer stuff. I read "Million Dollar Consulting in the early 90's and thought it was excellent. And I recently purchased "Getting Started in Consulting", which takes the themes from his early books and translates them into a step by step roadmap. Straightforward, succinct, practical insights into how to build a business.
How To, Why To.......2001-05-16
This is a viable resource for networking and marketing oneself as an independent consultant and provides many suggestions as to how to effectively make the transition from full-time employment to independent consulting. Seasoned consultants may benefit as well from the re-affirmation of the non-traditional "career path" independent consulting constitutes.
a "roadmap" for consultants.......2001-04-29
A New Brand of Expertise is definitely an easy read and filled with all sorts of practical tips for both consultants and clients. As a veteran consultant, I found myself in agreement with many of McGovern's comments. When consulting works well, it sures beats "working for a living," as one of the consultants featured in the book mentioned. This book gives the rookie consultant a lot of solid advice on how to get started and be successful. I wish this book existed when I first made the transition to consulting.
Book Description
Translated into 16 languages! The reader-friendly, icon-rich Briefcase Books series is must reading for all managers at every level.
All managers, whether brand new to their positions or well-established in the organizational hierarchy, can use a little "brushing up" now and then. The skills-based Briefcase Books series is filled with ideas and strategies to help managers become more capable, efficient, effective, and valuable to their organizations.
The best strategies--and the most capable managers--are those that effectively match an organization's capabilities with its customers' needs. The Manager's Guide to Strategy shows managers how to analyze a firm's position in the marketplace, formulate and execute a profitable strategy, then evaluate and revise that strategy over time. It details techniques for making employees excited about and committed to a strategy, and explains how to use strategy to take advantage of opportunities as they arise--to the mutual benefit of both a company and its customers.
Customer Reviews:
Roger Formisano.......2007-10-01
I enjoyed reading this book which I found to be fascinating and enlightening. The book describes strategy and its role in ensuring that organisations achieve their mission. It is a comprehensive book on various aspects of strategy including the need to focus on customer needs, environmental analysis, strategy formulation, strategy implementation, corrective adjustments to strategy with time and the process of ensuring that employees and other stakeholders are motivated to ensure the success of the strategy.
The book is well written, well presented and easy to follow and understand. It is very practical and with many good examples. I would strongly recommend managers at all levels to read this interesting, practical and insightful book on strategy. The book is also useful and handy for students doing an MBA or other postgraduate studies in business.
Great introductory book to strategy.......2004-06-30
This book covers the basics in strategy with links back to real life examples. Book uses sports as a backdrop for explaining many of the concepts. I needed to do a book report on a strategy book and found this book to be easy to read and seemed to go step in step with the textbook we used in MBA671 at Ball State University.
The best part of the book was that it seemed to be based in real world situations as opposed to being theory based.
If you are looking for a good book to do a strategy report over, then this a great book to start with.
http://gaskin.dyndns.org
A must read for all levels of managers!.......2003-12-15
The Manager's Guide To Stategy is a must read for all levels of management. Get your staff thinking about core business activities. Examine your business and refocus to meet a customer need and succeed! The author does an excellent job at providing examples throughout the book. Working tools provided can be put to use today. It is a perfect blend of marketing and managemnet. This will be on my list of recommended reading in 2004.
Great find for business strategy.......2003-11-24
This book is a great, quick read for someone looking for a fresh outlook on business strategy. I think this book is good for people on a variety of different levels of management, from salespeople to top executives. The author's use of entertaining analogies helps translate traditional business speak to real life examples of how business works in the real world and adds humor and flavor where it might not be expected. It is great for newly promoted people who are looking for the foundation of how to think ahead and implement a vision through tangible goals and evaluation. Merry Christmas to the seven managers who report to me-- they are getting this!
Average customer rating:
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Rightsizing for Corporate Survival: An Is Manager's Guide
Robert A. Massoudi ,
Astrid Julienne ,
Bob Millradt , and
Reed Hornberger
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Strategy & Competition
| Management & Leadership
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
MIS
| Industries & Professions
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Computer Science
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
| Artificial Intelligence
| Circuitry
| General
| Human-Computer Interaction
| Information Theory
| Modeling & Simulation
| Research
| Software Engineering
| Systems Analysis & Design
Client-Server Systems
| Data in the Enterprise
| Networking
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Networks, Protocols & APIs
| Networking
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
Manager's Guides to Computing
| Business & Culture
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 013123126X |
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