Business & Economics & Management

The One Minute Manager Anniversary Ed - The World-s Most Popular Management Method

5 stars (Got a minute?) - A simple, straightforward story that provides handy advice for anyone who has to manage people. To boot, most should be able to finish it in a few hours time. Truly a classic, I give it 5 stars easy. Other self-help books I liked include "The No-Beach, No-Zone, No-Nonsense Weight Loss Plan, A Pocket Guide To What Works. Happy reading! 5 stars (Must read for anyone) - This book is a must read for everyone whether they are a boss, parent or just someone who is interested in becoming more effective in their life. This book as well as the others by these authors ("The Present" and "Who Moved my Cheese") contain powerful messages with an economy of words, they are all around 100 pages each. I have read everything I can find by them and have shared them with family and friends. 5 stars (simple and direct) - This smart little book is easy to read and goes straight to the point. As its title suggests, it can be read quickly and you'll be able to benefit from its teaching right away, which makes it a good example in itself for a book on time management and productivity. There's no groundbreaking concepts or magical tricks here, but it will remind you of a few essentials that can make all the difference... ...
William Morrow :: Management & management techniques :: Business & Economics & Management :: Motivational :: Management - General :: Management :: Entrepreneurship :: Business&Econ :: The One Minute Manager Anniversary Ed - The World-s Most Popular Management Method

How Full Is Your Bucket- Positive Strategies for Work and Life

1 stars (Great idea - Simplistic and extremely short book) - The entire contents of this book could fit in one chapter of most other books. About a third of the book is just pictures of a bucket with text written in it (which was already written on the previous page) and the pages with text have very large printing. I read it in just under 20 minutes and I read at about an average speed. People say that if you take away one good idea from a book, it is worth it. This book has just one basic idea. Although that idea is valuable, it can be found in many, many other books - try Seven Habits of Effective People. If you must read this book, just read it at your local book store because it is a very fast read, and that way you do not have to buy it. I don't mean to empty any buckets here (referring to the authors concepts) but your money will be better spent on many other books with much more significant content. Hope that this helps! 2 stars (Mostly fluff) - The concept is good but I got the point after two pages and the rest was fluff or pictures to take up space. 4 stars (Good but Expensive) - My problem with this book is that it is rather expensive. I will also agree if someone tells me that similar ideas have already been published before. However, I do find "Your Bucket" inspiring. If it wasn't that expensive I would suggest buying it. I think however that there are in fact better books available at Amazon. The best one (and much, much cheeper - especially considering the number of pages) is "Can We Live 150 Year?" although the author of that book does not re-invent the wheel, either. I know many of the simple ideas presented by the author, but I always get new motivation to improve my health and general well-being whenever I reach again for Can We live 150 Year... ...
Gallup Press :: Workplace Culture :: Management :: Business & Economics & Management :: Sociology - General :: Sociology :: Social Science :: Social Interaction :: Psychology :: Pers :: How Full Is Your Bucket- Positive Strategies for Work and Life

The Dance of Change- The Challenges to Sustaining Momentum in Learning Organizations

4 stars (Ponderous) - While I enjoyed this work and read it from cover to cover, it did begin to seem like too much of good thing. Some of the organization information seemed dated and some of the people who are offering advice are probably no longer held with such high regard in their former organizations. In any case, I would recommed it to anyone who is doing graduate or post-graduate work in organization and management or just wants some insight into how organizations really work. 5 stars (Great book to look at change from different lenses) - This book is touted as a "resource" to the Fifth Discipline, but my view is that it could itself stand on its own steam as a handbook for change management. With articles contributed by a variety of authors, the book looks at the challenges of triggering, initiating, aligning and sustaining change and the various diverse ways to confront and solve those challenges. The challenges that the book identifies are the challenges of: Orientation, Generating Profound Change, Not Enough Time, No Help, Not Relevant, Walking the Talk, Fear & Anxiety, Assessment & Measurement, True Believers and Non-believers, Governance, Diffusion, Strategy & Purpose. The book is choc-a-block with tools, explanation of jargon and references to other resources. An orientation to Systems Thinking and looking at organizations as complex systems would help in clarifying the book more. Hence it is desirable to read "the fifth discipline" before you read it. However, the delightful nature of this book ensures that you can flip open any page, read a little bit and keep it back, and feel refreshed and not thirst for more. For people who look at organizations as communities, as networks and as human systems in addition to just being an economic entity this book will delight and scare. For others, this book will act as a provoking way to look at change and organizations in search of equilibrium. 3 stars (Retread) - Senge et al have done some wonderful work...
Currency :: Business & Economics & Management :: Structural Adjustment :: Organizational learning :: Organizational change :: Management - General :: Entrepreneurship :: Busi :: The Dance of Change- The Challenges to Sustaining Momentum in Learning Organizations

Management

5 stars (THIS IS A TERRIFIC TEXT!) - An excellent introduction to management theory and practices. Major subjects are economic and social environment, planning, organizing, leading, and controlling, each containing key topics such as motivation and teamwork. Each chapter offers examples (provided as embedded boxes), begins with study questions to provide learning objectives and an opening headline, and concludes with an excellent summarization of key points, a self-test that is in depth and challenging, and a listing of key terms. Do's and don'ts of managerial behavior are highlighted. Photos and diagrams add color and clarity. There are also career development tools, cases and exercises, research projects, and management skills assessments linked to each chapter and available online and in interactive format at a website. A website has been developed in support of this text. Includes CD-ROM and a good glossary. THIS IS A TERRIFIC TEXT! Reviewed by Yvette Borcia, co-founder, Stern & Associates, co-author of Stern's Sourcefinder: The Master Directory to HR and Business Management Information & Resources, Stern's CyberSpace SourceFinder, and Stern's Compensation and Benefits SourceFinder. ...
Wiley :: Management & management techniques :: Business & Economics & Management :: Management - General :: Management :: Entrepreneurship :: Business&Economics :: Busines :: Management

The Distance Manager- A Hands On Guide to Managing Off-Site Employees and Virtual Teams

5 stars (Highly Recommended!) - Kimball Fisher and Mareen Duncan Fisher document the special skills needed for the new but increasingly common task of managing far-flung work groups. The approaches that they examine are becoming increasingly essential for all managers. Although they explore relevant technologies carefully, their human relations advice is probably more important. The Fishers emphasize the interpersonal and leadership skills that a manager needs to head a virtual team. If you read this book cover to cover, it can seem repetitive, since many of the rules and tips offered in one area overlap with those in other areas. However, the book is designed to allow you to review specific management challenges and technologies, and to ignore areas that are irrelevant to your situation. We [...] recommend this clear, practical work to anyone who leads virtual teams and to the telecommuters and freelance workers who report to them. 4 stars (Ideas on Distance Management) - This book presents a new approach to managing people from distance. It also gives clear examples and cases. This book is a must for managers who control their team from distance, either nationwide or global-wide. ...
McGraw-Hill :: Business & Economics & Management :: Telecommuting :: Teams in the workplace :: Management - General :: Management :: Internet - General :: Human Resources & Pers :: The Distance Manager- A Hands On Guide to Managing Off-Site Employees and Virtual Teams

Now- Discover Your Strengths

4 stars (Don't buy this book used!!!!!!!) - The book requires the user to take an on-line preference test to determine your "strengths". The publisher controls the process by printing a code on the inside of the jacket cover. Once the code is used, it cannot be reused. Thus, anyone who buys the book from someone who has already used the code to take the test will be unable to take the test. The book is almost worthless without the ability to take the online test. 5 stars (Useful business tool) - We purchased this great book and another must read book, Optimal Thinking--How To Be Your Best Self, for our customer service teams. This book gave us tremendous insight into individual and team talents and strengths. We then used Optimal Thinking to make the most of the identified strengths and to protect worst event scenarios when weaknesses could have severe consequences (example: Katrina). I think that the days of ignoring such weaknesses with "just be positive, it will all work out fine" are over for most of us. 5 stars (Play To Your Strengths) - The follow up to "First, Break All The Rules" (another excellent book), "Now" focuses on discovering and unlocking your strengths so that ulitmate you are playing with your best foot forward. Included when you buy this book, is a password that allows you to go on-line and take a test compossed by the same people who wrote the book, that will allow you to see what your top strenghts are. Great for any business professional or anyone looking to see what career path they might want to take. ...
Free Press :: Business & Economics & Management :: Motivational :: Motivation (Psychology) :: Management :: Employee motivation :: Careers - General :: Career Planning (General :: Now- Discover Your Strengths

Perfect Phrases for Performance Reviews - Hundreds of Ready-to-Use Phrases That Describe Your Employ

3 stars (Perfect Phrases for Performance Reviews .... Not!) - The background to giving appraisals is very good, as is the advice on how to conduct an interview. For this alone the book is worth purchasing. Included within this book are many pages of "perfect phrases". To state they are perfect is, I feel, a little misleading. Although I must mention that at the start of the book it is stated that these sentences should be altered to suit the individual. My gripe is that the sentences have not been rated very well. For example, on page 41 under Accuracy, Outstanding options provides you with "Mistakes don't slip through" as one of the choices. Should that not read, "Exceptionally accurate at all times". Many of the sentences are very weak and fail to use any "power words" to strengthen an employee's qualities. My feelings are that the book has been thrown together from previous appraisals with little though to the content of the phrases. The "sentences" require regrading and stronger words added to give them more bite. Also other attributes need to be added to give the book a wider audience such as: Loyalty, Sense of Duty, Competence, Confidence but to name a few. 5 stars (Phrases and a lot more) - Doing performance reviews--preparing for them, filling out the form, and understanding how to make them effectively improve an employee's performance--can be a challenging task. How do you make it a positive experience, for yourself and for the employee? It's not easy. How do you let the person know he or she is not living up to the organization's expectations? Again, not easy. This book can help in doing these things. The majority of book is given over to phrases you can use in over 70 different categories of performance. Each category has five levels of phrases, from outstanding to unacceptable. Even if some phrases don't fit exactly what you're looking for, you have a place to start and you can easily modify them to fit your purposes. I also like the first part of the b...
McGraw-Hill :: Business & Economics & Management :: Terminology :: Rating of :: Management - General :: Human Resources & Personnel Management :: Entrepreneurship :: Employees :: :: Perfect Phrases for Performance Reviews - Hundreds of Ready-to-Use Phrases That Describe Your Employ

The Lean Six Sigma Pocket Toolbook- A Quick Reference Guide to 70 Tools for Improving Quality and Sp

5 stars (Lean Six Sigma Pocket Toolbook) - This is a really good consolidation of the various methods available for approaching six sigma projects. It is an interesting book to browse and very useful if one is unsure about exactly which methodology or statistical test should be used in a given situation. Six sigma is mostly about applying a scientific methodology to improving processes and this book "cuts to the chase". 5 stars (Outstanding Quick Reference Guide) - This pocket toolbook hits the "sweet spot" as a quick reference guide for lean six sigma practitioners. Don't expect this to be an in-depth treatment of the 70+ tools covered in this book. If you're new to the lean/six sigma disciplines, you need to start someplace else. However, if you are currently working in these disciplines and you need a reference with enough meat to remind you of how/why/when a particular tool should be used and also a little of the statistical foundations supporting the tool, then you will find this to be a very valuable book to own. I own just about all of the "pocket guides" and I often find them to be a little too cryptic and abbreviated to meet my needs. This book is a very nice middle ground between the often complex and verbose "learning textbooks" and the often times overly brief pocket guides. As with any first edition, there are some errors that slipped through the editing process, but I can still highly recommend this book as one to keep handy when your out there fighting those "quality and productivity" battles. ...
McGraw-Hill :: Business & Economics & Management :: Total Quality Management :: Quality (Management) :: Management - General :: Entrepreneurship :: Business&Economics :: Busines :: The Lean Six Sigma Pocket Toolbook- A Quick Reference Guide to 70 Tools for Improving Quality and Sp

Raving Fans - A Revolutionary Approach To Customer Service

5 stars (Great Book!) - This is a great book for anyone seeking to become better at customer service or for anyone seeking to lead a great customer service team. 1 stars (Raving Fans: A revolutionary approach to customer service) - The author could have put his main focus on a 3x5 card, but instead wasted paper, ink and my money on a stupid story involving imaginary people. I expected more from a business oriented book. 5 stars (Wonderful resource) - A very easy to read book with a powerful message. Follow the concept and you will turn your business into a powerhouse. ...
William Morrow :: Management & management techniques :: Business & Economics & Management :: Management - General :: Finance :: Entrepreneurship :: Customer services :: Customer Se :: Raving Fans - A Revolutionary Approach To Customer Service

The Baptist Health Care Journey to Excellence - Creating a Culture that WOWs-

5 stars (Inspiring, Instructive, Energizing. Must Read.) - When Gordon Bethune, then President and CEO of Continental Airlines, wrote "From Worst to First" in 1999, executives in all fields were fascinated by his tale of how he turned around a company that many had given up for dead. He told the story and unquestionably his leadership was paramount in Continental's incredible success. Of course, as you might expect from a true leader, he shared the achievement with everyone in the organization. The tale of the turnaround, the awards, and the ongoing success helped thousands of executives and managers improve their operations. Now Al Stubblefield steps forward in his role as President and CEO of Baptist Health Care in Pensacola, Florida. When he assumed this leadership position in 1999, he faced major challenges...but he and his team were already on the journey to excellence. The picture was bleak when the transformation began in 1995: patient satisfaction was at an all-time low, morale was dangerously low. The 5,500 employees of this largest healthcare organization in northwest Florida worked together to become recognized by FORTUNE magazine as one of the 100 Best Places to Work, was recognized as an Employer of Choice?# , and received the Malcolm Baldrige Award in 2004. The story of how this was accomplished rivals the saga of Continental Airlines. The Baptist Health Care achievement ranks as one of the most valuable case studies you'll read. Stubblefield takes you on their journey, explaining what was done and how it was done. Examples and illustrations illuminate the text, making the path even easier to follow. Applying what you'll learn in these pages will empower you to move your organization, regardless of your field of endeavor, to substantially higher levels of performance. Read this book now...before your competitors do! ...
John Wiley - Sons :: Production & quality control management :: Business & Economics & Management :: United States :: Religious aspects :: Religion And Medicine :: Medical care :: Med :: The Baptist Health Care Journey to Excellence - Creating a Culture that WOWs-

Discussion Guide- Execution -- The Discipline Of Getting Things Done

1 stars (What a rip-off ! Utter Waste of Time.) - Utterly worthless time waster, completely without merit. I read the book and expected more than a small handfull of quotes with page numbers. Nothing more than an infantile cut and past that is at best incomplete ... I'm dead serious when I say my middle school daughter would have done a better job. If you read the table of contents of Execution, you will have more information than this leaflet provides. The leaflet asks such provocative questions as 'explain examples given in the book.' There is nothing new I can use here. I hate time wasters, and I hope that by adding my review I can save you some of your valuable time. 1 stars (Misleading waste) - The above item was ordered and upon review it is clearly worthless and without merit. I have read the book and expected more than a cut and past of content that in many cases does not reflect the authors' most salient's concepts. I recommend, based on other comments found on your website regarding other ebooks of this nature, that you seriously consider not offering material of this nature. It is only hurting your reputation. 5 stars (Time saved--much more than the cost of this e-doc) - I've suggested this article to a number of friends who needed to do something in a hurry on leadership. You can use it to personalize a discussion you have to conduct--and with it, do it in a very short time. An hour of my time saved is worth a lot more to me than the cost of this doc. It's what I love about e-docs, given how little time I have for anything. And now to sign off--writing this is time consuming, but looking ahead, worth it because I want to keep these e-docs coming. ...
BrownHerron :: Skills :: Management - General :: Business & Economics & Management :: Business & Economics :: Editors of BrownHerron :: :: Discussion Guide- Execution -- The Discipline Of Getting Things Done