Editorial Review

Disciplines like strategy, leadership development, and innovation are the sexier aspects of being at the helm of a successful business; actually getting things done never seems quite as glamorous. But as Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan demonstrate in Read more

Reviews (184)

Rudimentary
Do not expect much of an wisdom here. The book has enough material for maybe a one page pamphlet. The rest is war stories without beginnings or endings.
The authors didn't execute.
Funny that a book about execution doesn't get it accomplish. The authors have a lot of experience and I am sure are good at leading and executing. However, the book does not get to the point. The authors ramble about their managing experience and almost 300 pages to transmit few ideas.

Corporate burocrasy uncovered
I must say for the fairness of this review that my expetations were founded into practical personal advice on how to execute one you had your objective in mind.
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Subjects:  1. Achievement motivation    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Executive Management    6. Management    7. Management - General    8. Motivation (Psychology)    9. Operations Research    10. Organizational Behavior    11. Performance    12. Business & Economics / Management    13. Business & Management   

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   

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 (4)

Product Marketing Professionals - BUY THIS BOOK!
The PDMA Handbook is one of those rare and valuable books that characterizes a "body of knowledge" for a professional discipline. It was produced by the preeminent industry organization for New Product Development (NPD) professionals, the PDMA .... This text describes current, best practices in NPD and includes contributions from knowledge leaders in academia, consulting, and industry practice. If you are a CEO, COO, CTO, Marketing Manager, Product Manager, Product Planner, Engineering Manager, Project Manager, Program Manager, or any other professional involved in new product development (especially for technically complex products like hardware and software) you really need this book. This book should have been read when it was published!
This book seem to be written by persons who really know what NPD (or NPI) really is. All those described mistakes possible to be done is made by me during last five years...this is a good book. Wonderful!
I purchased the PDMA Handbook on the strength of a review and have been very glad I did so.After quoting a few passage to my staff they began to borrow it, and now the Handbook has made the rounds of the office.It isworn and dog-eared, and quoted from on a daily basis.Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Development - Business Development    5. Engineering - Industrial    6. Handbooks, manuals, etc    7. Management    8. New products    9. Product management    10. Quality Control    11. United States    12. Business & Economics / Development & Growth    13. Research & development management   

Reviews (10)

Good book to understand quantitative finance
Luenberger was a professor of optimization and his books on that subject are also very good. Clear and Precise. But sometimes he is extremely concise, so that you need to work a bit to completely understand a point.
Investment Science must have
Great book, covers lots of material and goes beyond by using the log utility to portfolio growth. Great buy!!!!

One of the few books I have purchased twice.
This is the best book by far on the theory of finance.The book covers all the important fundamental concepts and develops them into practical models without going overboard and introducing every possible variation on the model.the style is both conversational and mathematical.It is replete with discussions about the material, but it doesnt gloss over the math.I took professor Luenbergers course at Stanford, and it piqued my interest in finance enough to pursue it professionally.(At the time, I was a masters student in electrical engineering.)I purchased several other books in finance.I dont even know where they are now, every time I have a question or need to build a new model, I go straight to Luenberger.This book is so good, I bought a second copy just as a backup, in case I lose my copy and the book goes out of print. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Cash flow    5. Economics - General    6. Interest rates    7. Investment Analysis    8. Investments    9. Investments & Securities - General    10. Mathematical models    11. Operations Research    12. Applied mathematics    13. Business & Economics / Operations Research    14. Business | Management | Theory    15. Economic theory & philosophy    16. Investment & securities   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Industrial management    5. Operations Research    6. Reference - General    7. Research    8. Training    9. Business & Economics / Operations Research    10. Operational research   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Compensation management    5. Human Resources & Personnel Management    6. Business & Economics / Human Resources & Personnel Management    7. Management & management techniques    8. Research & development management   

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

Reviews (5)

Excellent!
It seems like this textbook has gotten bad phrase and for no good reason.This book is a college level textbook and is perfect in conjuction with appropriate teaching.A person can not simply book pick up this book, skim through a few chapters and expect to understand the management process without being taught by a professor.My advice, go to college and learn the process properly.

virtually fraud
Be warned. The Office Project program advertised as included is a trial version. The ad does not say this. Now I have to turn around a buy a new program- Amazon customer service says it isn't their fault. I really needed the book and the program for a class due to start in four days. Now I'm really stuck. Amazon is even trying to get me to pay for the return shipping!

A Helpless Book That Needs Revisions
Can't get any new ideas or techniques from this book. Very basicRead more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Project Management    5. Business & Economics / Operations Research   

Reviews (8)

Great reference book!
I've been in the field for a few years now and I finally found a book that explains and summarizes the forecasting theory so good.This is my reference book now.I use it to teach my engineers in the subject and for personal reference as well.It provides new information that wasn't available 10 years ago.The explanaitions are good and the examples clear.

DecisionPro Users must have!
Was referred to this book while evaluating several software packages for forecasting and this really helped us make the right decision.We decided on Vanguard Software DecisionPro as it supports all the methods (many of which I had no idea existed) that are outlines in this book.This book (and the software) are great.This is a great add-on for anyone doing forecasting!

This book has the formulas.
Chapters 3 and 4, and on covered the vital information that is useful for inventory system forecasting at the SKU level, and for measuring the accuracy of the forecasts. This book was extremely helpful in that regard. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Forecasting    4. Business/Economics    5. Economics - Microeconomics    6. Forecasting    7. Management - General    8. Management Science    9. Operations Research    10. Statistical methods    11. Business & Economics / Planning & Forecasting    12. Business & Management    13. Economic forecasting   

Reviews (13)

Theoretical background for Operations Management - setting a new standard
This book provides you with the fundamental insights of manufacturing and assembly. Even though I do not like statistics to much, the book is written in a understandable manner and provides the fundamental knowledge to understand what is going on in manufacturing. Based on this knowledge, the flaw of MRP-systems are even explained as well as the basics of JIT/Lean. The book provides mainly the hardfacts of this science and for practical people, reading first Quick-Response-Manufacturing (from Rajan Suri) might be the easier way for many of us and gives you the motivation to take a deeper look later on - as provided by Factory Physics.
written with the heart of a teacher
Though the two authors are consultants, they are foremost - teachers. What is useful, and kind to a degree, is they put an effort to explain the numbers as pragmatic as possible. That idea made this book very accessible. To the industrial engineers or those who are involved (and passionate) in operations or in understanding systems - next to the Industrial Engineering Handboook, this should be in our library.

Exceptional enlightened and insightful!
I found this book to be very insightful.It helps to explain many of my own observations in my factory.The authors did an excellent job of explaining the key concepts using only average use of mathematics and in simple layman's terms.The readers will only need basic mathematics/beginner calculus, and basic statistics.Reading it was like discovering new ideas to implement in the factory to quickly realize efficiencies and cost savings.It was one of the best books I have laid eyes on in a very long time.
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Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Engineering - Industrial    3. Factory management    4. Industrial Management    5. Management - General    6. Manufacturing    7. Plant Engineering    8. Production Engineering    9. Production management    10. Science/Mathematics    11. Technology    12. Business & Economics / Operations Research    13. Manufacturing industries    14. Production & quality control management   

Reviews (5)

Poorly written problems
Lots of missing information and assumptions plague the problems that are found at the end of the chapters. A very difficult book to understand.

Very Quality and Fast
Product was a decent price and was delievered extremly fast, which was great since I needed it right away.
Operations Management with Student DVD and Power Web
The book has clear objectives and great examples.The DVD is an excellent addition to the book as well. ... Read more

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

Reviews (17)

Has it all
I am writing in from India. I have been interested in Systems thinking/ system dynamics for about a year since I read an interesting consulting engagement in Europe that received an award from Management Consultants International (MCI). It's difficult to find a book that shows you the how and why of systems dynamics and its history and relevancy.
An Eye Opener
This book was an eye opener for applying systems theory outside of the usual electrical/mechanical engineering presentation.Should be required reading for anyone considering business consulting.One of my personal challenges had been how to use the tools from systems theory appropriately in a business framework and this text provides ample guidance.
The Best Book of System Dynamics
Professor Sterman made a complete book of system dynamics method, system thinking to manage complexity if you are interested to create your mental model in a computer-aided model I strongly recommend this comprehensive book on modelling & simulation of complex problems.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Management - General    5. Management Information Systems    6. Management Science    7. Operations Research    8. Strategic Planning    9. Systems And Analysis In Management    10. Business & Economics / General    11. Business mathematics & systems    12. Management & management techniques    13. Business    14. Economics   

Subjects:  1. Management Science    2. Mathematics    3. Operations Research    4. Probability & Statistics - General    5. Research    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Textbooks    8. Algorithms & procedures    9. Mathematics / Statistics   

Reviews (3)

A Great Introductory Research Book
Having previously purchased a required research textbook that was written in a truly "mind-numbing" fashion, I went online to find a supplemental text.I was looking for something to help me develop some background knowledge in order to better understand my assigned readings.I consider myself very lucky for having found "Exploring Research".The writing style is very straightforward.I was easily able to read the textbook within a few days, and this made understanding the assigned readings in my course textbook much easier to do.
The Best!
Regardless of what your research needs are, this books could be called "research for dummies" in its excellent and easy-to-follow explanations. Buy this book, even if your required text is something else - It's filled with examples and can be read like an adventure novel in bed WHILE being truly comprehended! I've taken statistics, research classes, etc. - I wished I had read this book along with my first class! There's nothing dry about this and 1000 words are too few to praise it adequately!

Impressive
One can read the pictures of a book to define the logic or knowledge in it. How? Look at the many different views. What scans through ones mind? The past. It did mine. Fifty dollars is just the beginning of an adventures enterance into the unknown. Have a great day! Norma ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Educational Research    3. Methodology    4. Psychological Research    5. Psychology    6. Research    7. Research & Methodology    8. Philosophy & psychology    9. Psychology & Psychiatry / General    10. Research & development management    11. Social research & statistics   

Reviews (1)

Excellent Seller
I recommend this seller for more items. Seller was reliable and shipped product quickly. I would purchase more items from this seller. Plus, cost was low. :) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Management - General    5. Organizational Behavior    6. Organizational change    7. Organizational effectiveness    8. Rev. ed. of: An experiential a    9. Strategic Planning    10. Business & Economics / Systems & Planning    11. Business strategy    12. Organizational theory & behaviour    13. Research & development management   

Reviews (1)

Not for OM majors
This books does a good job supporting a contemporary approach to Operations management. It does not assume everybody wants to major in Om nor does it assume everybody wants to go into manufacturing. It is very readable and does a good job helping the studetn understand the basic trade-offs of OM. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Entrepreneurship    5. Management - General    6. Operations Management    7. Production & Operations Management    8. Business & Economics / Production & Operations Management    9. Customer services    10. Operational research   

Reviews (2)

Just Ordered Other Books To Replace This Book
Yes, put all the extra features together, namely the student CD and the Visual Statistics together, this seems like a well-put-together solution for a beginner statistics course.Unfortunately, the author(s) left an impression that he/they did not put in as much effort as could have in producing this package.The book is not very well indexed.For example, try to look up "sampling error" in the index.It is not there.Where compared to other text/material, this author's examples and thoughts are less intuitive and more of a watered down theory type of feel.It gives the idea that the author(s) know the materials well but have dumbed it down rather and have not chosen to explain the basics well.Sentence such as "The mean of the sampling distribution of the sample mean is obtained by summing the various sample means and dividing the sum by the number of samples." is well understood by statisticians but probably not by average students of business.I have ordered other books and looked online for help with understanding the text.Look around, maybe your needs are better met with authors who put forth more effort in making statistics more straight foreward and perhaps even fun to learn, as far as it is possible.

introductory stats
The book is essentially a standard introductory probability and statistics course, with an emphasis on the statistics. The business and economics in the title is mostly reflected in the examples given in the text, which have that orientation.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Economics - General    4. Mathematics    5. Probability & Statistics - General    6. Statistics    7. Business & Economics / Statistics    8. Operational research   

Reviews (8)

Recommended for PLM Project team
We got 4 books on PLM for our project. This cost most but was best value. Lots of details about reasons and benefits for PLM, how PLMs evolving, helpful hints about how to run the PLM project, how to make the business case. Good case study examples, a maturity model to help positioning, explanation of difference between PDM and PLM, stuff about how and why people may resist. Lots of good material, lots of details, useful different views of PLM. This book is well structured and is a useful starting point for manufacturing organizations looking to implement PLM. It provided us with good direction and ideas and challenging questions to answer. Recommended reading and source of discussion and decision for a PLM Project team.

Outstanding resource for Product Lifecycle Management
Great source of PLM Knowhow. I like the overarching way PLM is treated with all 5 phases of the product lifecycle included. Product idea, product definition, product realization, product support, and product end-of-life. This is cradle to grave plm, not only product development. The focus on the product is timely as manufacturers rediscover that product is king. The text is crystal clear, concise and complete. It has everything from PLM vision and PLM strategy to nuts and bolts of PLM implementation. Its holistic approach includes processes, applications, information and people. It is the most comprehensive PLM book I have seen. This book is a PLM reference before, while and after PLM is implemented. Great reading for a PLM Director, Director of Product Lifecycle Management, PLM Manager, PLM Project manager, PLM/PDM manager, PDM Manager and anyone else into PLM whether its with Agile Software, MatrixOne Matrix, UGS TeamCenter, SmarTeam, Softech ProductCenter. Useful links to web site www.johnstark.com and 2PLM ezine, a weekly zine about product lifecycle management.

read this for a successfull PLM implementation !!!!
Its about time a book like this came along. Sure it has strengths and weaknesses, like any other book. Read it for its strengths. But beware of its weaknesses. A weakness, it takes over 400 pages to describe all PLM. A strength, its the only book so far that covers 'real PLM' and not just a slice of PLM. Another weakness, its definition of PLM, 'PLM is the activity of managing a company's products all the way across their lifecycles in the most effective way' is more strategic than many others, this isnt weak-kneed departmental PLM for file management. Next strength though, this robust definition holds good over 400 pages and all the product lifecycle. A weakness of the book is it doesn't have the usual diagrams of PLM seen in many glossy marketing brochures. A strength, it has a set of slides you can build on to make your own presentations. A weakness, Stark the author doesn't offer a quick fix or a quick plug-in technology solutuion or a quick read. A strength, Stark's approach to PLM is innovative, far reaching, complete, business-oriented. A strength, Stark shows great understanding of what all manufacturing companies have in common, and uses it wisely.I see two main uses for this book. Long-term, on the PLM managers desk as a PLM reference. Short-term, great introductory reading for all members of a PLM implementation initiative. This will get them tuned up for a strategic PLM project. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Engineering - Industrial    2. Engineering - Mechanical    3. Operations Research    4. Product life cycle    5. Product management    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Technology    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. Collaborative Product Development    10. Computer Aided Design    11. Product Data Management    12. Product Engineering    13. Product Lifecycle Management    14. Product Realisation    15. Production & quality control management    16. Technology / Engineering / Industrial   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Operations Research    5. Probability & Statistics - General    6. Regression Analysis    7. Statistics    8. Business & Economics / Statistics    9. Operational research