Reviews (3)

Operations Mangement for Competitive Advantage
Great textbook for OM class.It has DVD and other supplemental applications that is helpful for learning more.I use this book for an online class and reading the materials are easy to understand.The authors are very knowledgeable and their examples are good.I especially like the videos on the DVD.

Cumbersome Reading
I went thru this book as part of my MBA program. This book covers a lot of ground in operations management area, but is cumbersome to read. In many cases, the material doesn't flow very well, and is difficult to understand as often the authors have missed key assumptions and background information that is key to understand the concept being presented. Also the book has way too many chapters. Some of the chapters are just too generic and don't have much meaningful and useful information. The case studies are good and very helpful in understanding the underlying concepts.

Good but not great
I ordered this book from Amazon,com because even after shipping and handling costs I saved a few bucks compared to what I would have paid at my University's book store. It took a while for the book to arrive and when it did it had a huge crease/bend on the front cover, as I needed the book I didn't complain but after all, I only saved a few Dollars, it took quite a while for the book to arrive and then it was so poorly packed (just had a thin plastic wrap around it) that it did not look as good as you'd expect a new book for over $120 to look. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Operations Research    5. Production & Operations Management    6. Business & Economics / Operations Research    7. Production & quality control management   

Reviews (37)

An excellent tool for leveling up the people who work for you
Zapp! is a book that my company uses in the management training seminars we give to employees who are taking on management responsibilities for the first time.Lessons on empowerment are told through a fictional (even science fictional) story of managers at a large company coming to understand why their organization is so disfunctional.The story, although initially pretty hokey, serves nicely as a landscape upon which to illustrate extremes of highly successful and highly unsuccessful management techniques.The people on my team who have read it have learned quite a lot and are applying the learnings regularly.It is not at all uncomon for one of them to raise a concern over some a counter-productive management incident by describing the "Sapp!" that occured.And it is rewarding to hear one of them respond to a positive and empowering interaction by smiling and simply saying "Zapp!"
Delightful, Practical, Helpful and FUN!
This short book is really one of the best I've found for winding a manager through the dynamics that can disrupt a team.I went through an 18 month management training course and still come back to this book more often.Managers can inspire their teams or deflate their will to keep giving their best.This book uses a fictional world to illustrate how to do that.

Don't waste your time
Don't waste your time.Another simplistic story book written in the same childish way as "The Goal".If you like fairytales about dragons and putting out fires then this is a good book.If you want to read about TQM (Six Sigma) or employee empowerment read an intelligent discussion about the pros and cons, but not this silly rag.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Communication in management    5. Employee empowerment    6. Human Resources & Personnel Management    7. Human relations    8. Interpersonal relations    9. Leadership    10. Management    11. Management - General    12. Motivational    13. Business & Economics / Leadership    14. Management & management techniques   

Reviews (16)

A great book to learn MS Project 2003 AND scheduling techniques
I purchased this book as part of the "Microsoft Office Project 2003 Orange Belt Self Study Package" from IIL (Institute for International Learning). For those who understand the basic concepts of project management, the book is extremely educational as it will teach you the basics of MS Project, as well as various project scheduling techniques that you may not have been aware of.
Reveals Many MSP Issues-but Not for Beginners
This book will not teach you how to perform 'work planning' (or scheduling) and it will not teach you the basics of how to use MS Project.I have at least 5 thick books that do that, and I consider most of them useless.I have been managing IT projects since the 1980s, and have used MS Project (MSP) since the early 1990s. I have spent many late hours struggling with its confusing and misleading and Poorly documented) functions that do not always do what you expect (or the help/manual says)it will do.I particulary dislike it's seemingly random choice to recalc a critical path, and changes dates and durations based only on resources.In June, my team (an experienced set of IT project managers)took advanced MS Project training from the "International Institute for Learning". All 15 people who attended the training said it was the best MS project training they had ever had!
Solid book
I bought this book off to help me with scheduling.I found it to be both comprehensive and fun; Using examples at the end of each chapter to reinforce the learning.I tend to refer back to it whenever I'm planning a new project.This book was well worth my time and energy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Business Software - General    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computer programs    5. Computers    6. Microsoft Project    7. Project Management    8. Business strategy    9. Project management software   

Reviews (2)

Why Re-Invent the Wheel When You Don't Have To?
The most successful companies learn more and more from the best practices of other successful companies. John Baldoni has selected some of the most persuasive people from the twentieth century and has analyzed and revealed their secrets so that you or I or anyone can improve our communication.It saves precious time to learn from others.Don't waste precious time by learning to communicate better by trial and error.Buy this book and learn from some of the best communicators of the twentieth century how they did and do it, so you can do the same.

AN INTRIGUING "HOW-TO" OF LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATIONS
Baldoni's "Great Communication Secrets Of Great Leaders" is a well-researched and highly readable "how-to" of leadership communications.This author knows his material, and presents it through the interesting device of linking principles to some of the world's leading communicators. It was refreshing to read a business-centered book that focus specifically on the communication aspects of leadership, which Baldoni obviously understands quite well. As a former professional actor, I also enjoyed how the author links dynamic presentations to effective performance.This book is well worth the modest cover price.A definite "buy!" ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Communication - General    4. Business/Economics    5. Communication In Business    6. Communication in management    7. Corporate & Business History - Strategies    8. Leadership    9. Leadership In Business    10. Business & Economics / Business Communication    11. Business communication & presentation    12. Management & management techniques   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Corporate Finance    5. Finance    6. Management - General    7. Business & Economics / Corporate Finance    8. Business & Management    9. Economics, Finance, Business and Industry   

Reviews (12)

Guide, menu, toolbook, cookbook, non Toyota case studies...whatever you name it. It helps!
For those who had been deeply impressed by "The Toyota Way" and want to implement it to your business, this book is an excellent pracctical guide. There are plenty of charts, flow diagrams, tables, checklists, non Toyota examples, action plans, report forms etc etc which I find very helpful. I particularly like the "Reflect and Learn from the Process" Section (summary/key points/action items) in the end of each chapter. A book well worths its price! Highly recommended! However, please read "The Toyota Way" before this.
So you think your company is lean? Think again......
...read this book and I will guarantee you will look at your
Review
Absolutely an excellent book that takes the "theory" of Lean, and converts it to reality in a very clear, understandable manner. If you are going to implement Lean...read this book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Automobile Industries (Economic Aspects)    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Corporate & Business History - General    6. General    7. History Of Specific Companies    8. Industries - General    9. Management - General    10. Business & Economics / General    11. Management & management techniques    12. Industrial Management    13. Manufacturing processes   

Reviews (1)

How Do I Write a Review about an Insurance Book?
Well, I guess I can try to review this book from the only perspective I read it from: that of a student.I had to read it for my CFP class on Insurance, and, as an introduction to most forms of insurance, it explains the forms in a very methodical and systematic way; it was very easy to follow and tough to get completely lost.Read more

Subjects:  1. Accounting - General    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Economics - General    6. Insurance    7. Insurance - Risk Assessment & Management    8. Risk (Insurance)    9. Risk And Insurance Administration    10. Business & Economics / Insurance / Risk Management    11. Risk assessment & analysis for business   

Reviews (8)

Very confused, unnecessarily complicated, and above all - dull.
If you're made to buy this book you have every right to hate the professor that makes you do so. This book is a punishment! Not only is it very expensive, but it also offers information that it is not relevant to the real world at all.
horrible service
i never even got this book because apparently its not a book yet amazons web site said it was. it took me 4 phone calls with 4 different customer service reps for some one to figure that out. all they gave me for the inconvenance was a 15 dollar amazon gift card which i tryed to use and doesn't work. i still don't have the book i needed and it is 4 weeks into the semester. i have baought other things from amazon and gotten them but this expeirance makes me never want to use amazon again. i would like to give you a review of the actual book but i never recieved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Extraordinarily boring and difficult to read
This is required text for a graduate course I am taking, and I want to pull my hair out while being forced to read it. The political correctness in this book is overdone. One serious problem I had with this textbook was the way in which it seemed to start off on page 100 instead of page 1, because there is no introduction to Organizational Behavior. I don't know what to make of chapter 1...an HR manager's guide to political correctness on the job? The need to promote for diversity rather than for work performance? That is certainly what I got out of it. (Down with all white male CEOs!). It certainly doesn't introduce the diligent student to this subject. Sentences are long, drawn out, wordy. Concept paragraphs take a long time to come to the point.I find myself daydreaming by the time I've read half a page and have to start over, and part of this problem is that every page includes at least one sidebar. On page 40 of this text, the author talks about Feng Shui and it's three C's of design: clean, clear, and comfort, followed by this question: "What about the chi in your work and personal spaces--are you taking best advantage of "good" chi?" I do not recommend this book either for personal growth or for use as a textbook. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Management    5. Organizational Behavior    6. Business & Economics / Organizational Behavior    7. Organizational theory & behaviour   

Reviews (2)

The best managerial economics book
Professor Baye's new edition is also one of the best economics book.This book can satisfy not only entry level reader but also more academic reader.

Managerial Economics & Business Strategy + Data Disk
I have not yet recieved this book.It has been over 3 weeks. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Economics - General    5. Strategic Planning    6. Business & Economics / Economics / General    7. Microeconomics   

Reviews (2)

Excellent book
This is a short and concise book . I used it in one of my graduate courses, and found it very helpful.

Essential Reading
I used a previous edition of Ms. Munter's book as a text in a graduate course in management communications. The latest edition adds some new subjects and is still one of the best books on the subject. If you could only have one book on this subject this would be a good choice. Even though this book covers a broad base of communication skills (strategy, written, verbal and non-verbal, typography, graphical and prepresentation skills), each subject is covered in considerable depth. This book should be on the office shelf of every manager who needs to communicate effectively.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Communication - General    4. Business communication    5. Business/Economics    6. Communication in management    7. Management - General    8. Business & Economics / Business Communication    9. Business communication & presentation   

Reviews (17)

First we start with a mistake...
Having observed the healthcare industry for the last couple of decades, I would like to point out a flaw in the author's recommendations:
the next 20 years, explained
Michael Porter, of value chain and competitive advantage fame, has taken on the US health care system.Your reviewer, who is speaking from inside the system, can guarantee that both his diagnosis and his proposed fix are bang on. In short, you bring the US healthcare system in line with other industries by making information about the outcomes of healthcare available to consumers, then letting them choose. How to get there from here takes up most of the book, and it is as brilliant and thoughtful as Porter fans have come to expect. Read this one.

A sentinel work on healthcare reform
Michael Porter and Elizabeth Teisberg have presented a sentinel work in the field of healthcare management.American healthcare is capable of providing the very best skill, professional expertise, and technology the world has ever seen. What is failing in our healthcare system is the management and business organization required deliver value to the recipients of this expertise-- patients.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Cost control    5. Cost effectiveness    6. Economic Conditions    7. Evaluation Of Health Services    8. Health Care Issues    9. Health Policy    10. Industries - General    11. Management - General    12. Medical Economics    13. Medical care    14. Public Policy - Economic Policy    15. Quality control    16. Business strategy   

Reviews (258)

12k a year to 450k a year in 1yr!
Awaken the Giant is an amazing book and a great first step. Read it and then take the next step and go to Unleash the Power within Seminar. If it wasnt for Tony's Books and Audio program, I would have either been in jail or be dead! I went from not caring about anyone but me, to wanting to serve everyone and having a beautiful family with 2 little angels. I went from making 1-2k a month to 100k in my first year and then 450k the next 10 months. Read this book, then when you are ready, either but the get the edge cd's or go to his UPW seminar. It will change your life forever!

Chapters 8, 9 and 10 are worth the book
Communicating convincingly and with passion.
What Is Your Intention?
I really enjoy the people who like to dismiss certain others who have made a life helping other people. It's easy to sit on the sidelines and say, "Oh, yeah, that guy, that guy just wants to make money..." Of course, the guy wants to make money, but I also believe that you can make moneyand do what is yours to do; if that is giving seminars, and making infomercials, or writing books, then so be it!
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Subjects:  1. Entrepreneurship    2. General    3. Motivational    4. Psychological aspects    5. Psychology    6. Self-Help    7. Success    8. Management & management techniques    9. Popular psychology    10. Self-Help / General   

Reviews (13)

Sure it's good, and a good price by the pund too!
A pretty good overview and a lot of in-depth material on Multivariate data analysis.Not quite a bed time read though.
Good for a second stats course & reference
We used this book for our Stats 2 course in grad school, and although our professor was good enough to eclipse Hair, et al. (he had written his own Stats text), I am most pleased at how much mileage I have drawn from Hair, et al. in the years since I took the course.In my subsequent career, reviewers have often sent me back to Hair, et al. when they have questions about something I'm doing with a data analysis, so it has become an invaluable reference for that reason alone.
simple but great!!
I used this book as a reference on the topics while I was working on a research project at the university. Because the book does not use complex mathematics to explain the multivariate statistics, it is easy for social sciences students to understand. Each chapter starts with an overview, step-by step procedures and ends with an example from the data set that is used throughout the book.
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Subjects:  1. Mathematics    2. Multivariate Analysis    3. Probability & Statistics - General    4. Probability & Statistics - Multivariate Analysis    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Business & Economics / Statistics    7. Business mathematics    8. Market research    9. Probability & statistics   

Reviews (24)

Silos Politics & Turf Wars
This book was well-written and lays out the problem very clearly. For those interested in finding a solution to the age-old problem of conflicts of interest caused by function-based departments, you may want to check out a book called "Pyramids are Tombs" that details how to design a professional service company to eliminate conflicts of interest and align people towards a common cause.

Huge disappointment and overly simplistic
I was really looking forward to this book as a fan of some of his earlier books, especially five dysfunctions of a team, which is one of the most elegant frameworks i've seen on team dynamics.
Disappointment
I am not sure why the author thought he had something to offer on this subject.There was no original thought or useful lessons on the topic that was promised by the title.I read this book because it was the subject of an on-line book club for public health leaders but will be much more discriminating in the future regarding the purchase of books that are recommended by this group. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Leadership    5. Leadership In Business    6. Management - General    7. Organizational Behavior    8. Business & Economics / Management    9. Business & Management   

Reviews (24)

Book and tape combo
I listened to the tape and used the book as documentation of the most important parts.It worked really well as a study method.

Leading by Example Using The Oz Principle
What I found most telling about this book was the "Top 10 most threatening unresolved organizational issues."
The OZ Principle
Realistic material. Good examples.I plan to use the information with many of my clients. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Executive Management    5. Leadership    6. Management    7. Management - General    8. Responsibility    9. Success in business    10. United States    11. Business & Economics / Management    12. Management & management techniques   

Reviews (4)

great tool for team and conference
I thought this book was extremely helpful with ideas on how to improve service and thereby improve business
The Fred Factor
We purchased "The Fred Factor" to use as part of an all day retreat in our department.During the earlier part of the day, we discussed the previous fiscal year results, our plans for the current year and then used questions on the book for discussion of what it would be like to be a "Fred" and work and live with people like him.All were requested to read the book before the day, and so it proved a helpful backdrop to the focus of our day.Our groups had some interesting perspectives...great tool for team building!

Nice review of the value of going the extra mail

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Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Business Life - Inspirational    3. Christianity    4. Christianity - Christian Life - Business    5. Inspirational - General    6. Motivational    7. Religion    8. Religious aspects    9. Success    10. Religion / Inspirational   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (25)

Because you only get to go around once.
Although this book is listed as a Business Motivation book, it's really more than that. It's a book that is based on interviews with a couple of hundred business leaders. But some of these businesses are very small, a shelter for dope addicts for instance.
Why it's so hard to do what matters
Somewhere in the first quarter of "Built to Last" is a telling section on why it's so hard to do what really matters. Essentially, the lesson is that doing what's expected, what's convention, what goes with what you know already how to do, with what you don't love and with what brings only "bright shiny objects" won't get you to do what you love. People who do what they love and what they are committed to deeply, do great things. The same is true for companies.
Warmed over soup...
Little new here and feels too light and fluffy.Was disappointed after the pre-release hype.Suggest you save your money and read book review by Kerry Hannon in USA Today posted 9/18/06: "For most, success that's built to last starts with a portfolio of passions" ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Life - Inspirational    4. Business/Economics    5. Leadership    6. Motivational    7. Personal Growth - Success    8. Success in business    9. Successful people    10. Advice on careers & achieving success    11. Business & Economics / Leadership   

Editorial Review

IDEO, the world's leading design firm, is the brain trust that's behindsome of the more brilliant innovations of the past 20 years--from the Applemouse, the Polaroid i-Zone instant camera, and the Palm V to the "fat" toothbrushfor kids and a self-sealing water bottle for dirt bikers. Not surprisingly,companies all over the world have long wondered what they could learn from IDEO,to come up with better ideas for their own products, services, and operations.In this terrific book from IDEO general manager Tom Kelley (brother of founderDavid Kelley), IDEO finally delivers--but thankfully not in the step-by-step,flow-chart-filled "process speak" of most how-you-can-do-what-we-do businessbooks. Sure, there are some good bulleted lists to be found here--such as thesecrets of successful brainstorming, the qualities of "hot teams," and, towardthe end, 10 key ingredients for "How to Create Great Products and Services,"including "One Click Is Better Than Two" (the simpler, the better) and "GoofProof" (no bugs).Read more

Reviews (61)

Absolutely interesting and motivating!
Tom Kelly presents us with a rare book that protrays interesting insights into how one can be innovative. He gives us hope that you need not be incredibly smart or technological enabled to be among the elite innovators.
Must have
Not every designer but also every innovative business-man should read this book. I've read many design-management books and applied many technics to improve innovation, but only this book tells you what is wrong and what is right with the best big test area in the world, IDEO.

Innovating the process of Innovation
Full of information about the development of innovative products and services ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Case studies    5. Corporate & Business History - Strategies    6. Creative ability    7. Creative ability in business    8. Economics - General    9. New Product Development    10. Operations Research    11. Structural Adjustment    12. Technological innovations    13. Technology    14. Business & Economics / General   

Reviews (15)

Charan does it again: ten ways to make more money
This excellent, short work is a classic in its genre. Author Ram Charan outlines in no-nonsense, albeit sometimes prolix, style the essentials that all managers need to know to make their businesses and their revenues grow. Charan offers 10 basic principles, explains each one clearly, and provides anecdotal examples. The author readily admits that the principles are mostly common sense, and even perhaps widely understood (in part, from his other popular works). However, he says that the problem for most businesses is not having the right ideas, but rather turning the ideas into action. We recommend this mainstay for any business manager's bookshelf. It will help you face the challenge of growth.

"Excellence" Redux
Well, not exactly.The ideas first brought forward 23 years ago in Tom Peter's and Bob Waterman's "In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America's Best-Run Companies" and reiterated in this book have never really gone away.They did get pushed aside somewhat in the bubble years, but leaders of those companies mentioned in Ram Charan's book that understood and applied the concepts made it through the ensuing bust probably better than anyone else.
A real disappointment based on his past successes
I have really enjoyed Ram Charan's writing in the past.I have really enjoyed Ram Charan's writing in the past.He is generally simple, clear, but most important actionable.This book, however, was a real disappointment to me as it fails to deliver on it's promise:10 tools to use on Monday morning.I guess Ram got stuck on simple and clear but the sad fact is that profitable growth is neither and this is where actionable is left in the cold.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Executive Management    5. General    6. Industrial management    7. Leadership    8. Management    9. Organizational effectiveness    10. Strategic planning    11. Success in business    12. Business & Economics / General   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business ethics    4. Business/Economics    5. Human Resources & Personnel Management    6. Management - General    7. Marketing - Multilevel    8. Social responsibility of busin    9. Social responsibility of business    10. United States    11. Business & Economics / Human Resources & Personnel Management    12. Economics, Finance, Business and Industry    13. Personnel & human resources management