Enterprise Books

Before sitting down to write this review we realized a snack would be nice, so after a creamy skim yogurt and a cold drink, we were ready to dive in. What has this got to do with Robert McGarvey's book How to Dotcom? Everything-because that skim yogurt was exactly what this book was like.

McGarvey's slightly filling low-calorie read begins, flows and ends logically. He covers all the expected aspects of "dotcomming" with little waylaying, getting right to the fruit on the bottom. It is not unreasonable to expect to get this book, get the point, and get on your way to a website in a matter of hours. But if you are looking for in depth internet discussion and information, it will not be found under the lid of this book, which, quite frankly, was okay with us.

A few points were particularly appreciated. The design was quite excellent, highlighting the important information in sassy side quotes, and the "how to" chapters were broken up with "how we did" chapters, neatly preventing information overload and inspiring action to follow in the profiled entrepreneur's footsteps. If we were to bestow one gripe upon this book it would be some of the Cheap Tricks chapters. A few of the segments included achievements of folks who had certainly not taken the cheap route; in fact, one entrepreneur had used $75,000 to start up his fledging business. Folks who stayed in the range of $500 to $1,000 all-inclusive would have been more like it.

Get this book. Whether your budget is $100 or $100,000 you will not be remiss in helping your bottom line with this tasty and appealing piece of the dotcom pie.

--LiteratePlanet.com

Robert McGarvey's book really "spoke" to me, and at just the right time. I'm interested in a dot.com venture myself but wary and downright confused, thanks to all the conflicting stories in the press of folk making millions overnight while others crash and burn. This book is down-to-earth, realistic and written in a refreshingly blunt and digestible way. It is well-organized, answers many of the questions I had, and has given me a lot of food for thought. This guy knows his stuff.

This book is the answer to my dreams. I looked at many others -- they were too technical, too boring, and they really missed the point of what you need to know to launch an e-business. This book is exactly what the Web doctor would prescribe and, as a bonus, it's fun to read, too!

If Bob McGarvey's name seems familiar to you, it's probably because you've seen his work in one of the many of the top-tier business magazines for which he writes, including SELLING POWER and ENTREPRENEUR. In fact, he's one the savviest, most knowledable writers around on the subjects of sales, marketing, and technology.

There are lots of reasons why "How to Dotcom" belongs on your bookshelf, but let me just touch on the two most important: First, McGarvey knows what he's talking about. He is a meticulous researcher who works a little harder and digs a little deeper than other writers covering similar topics. The second reason you ought to buy this book is that it's well written. Believe me, writing about technology in a way that is engaging and entertaining is no small achievement. And even the best content is of limited value if you can't work you way through the book. McGarvey's writing style hits exactly the right tone...not too breezy but certainly not too ponderous.

Bottom line: If you find the idea of e-business tempting but you're not sure how to get started, you will not go wrong if you begin your research with "How to Dotcom."

Robert McGarvey's How To Dotcom: A Step-By-Step Guide To E-Commerce is a complete instructional course covering ever aspect of doing business on the Internet. Readers will learn money saving website building tools and tricks; advice for obtaining financing; informative interviews with successful Internet entrepreneurs; tips for increasing website traffic with free content; and invaluable e-commerce bookmarks. Hot Dotcom covers everything from shopping bots to registering a domain name to credit cards to email lists, and more. If you are contemplating buying and selling on the Internet, begin with a thoroughly reading of How to Dotcom.

Outstanding resource, becuase of this book I was able to start saving for my children's college. At the current price I am buying 50 copies for my staff at work. I never discuss 529 plans on my show but after reviewing this book I will probably start.For the record I am not related to Mr. Kramer.

I was surprised when thisbook was recommended to me by the an executive at Paine Weberm I would highly recommend that everyone with small children purchase this book, the content is timely and worth every cent.

I just moved into the country from England and my boss suggested this book to help plan for college for 10 year old, Kayla. She wants to go to Yale, the only way this will work is through this 529 plan in which Mr. Kramer does an excellent job explaining how the plan works. Our Personnel Department just bought 100 books for every employee at the firm.

This book is a great reference to the 529 saving plan. It details the how's, what's, and where's to the often confused 401k college savings plan called the 529. I particularly enjoyed the student section, where Scott Krammer councils would-be college students of the benefits of college and also addresses 1st years students on this life changing event.

I am the CEO of Trivirix, Inc and I have handed out about 100 of these books to our employees. The feedback has been great and now are particiupation has gone from 0 % to 89 % in 529 Plans

This book provides the necessary steps for any human being to take control in whatever position of leadership they might find themselves in. In saying this I am not implying that this book is just another "nine steps to become a winner." Dr. Adjibolosoo stresses leadership by example, and as many of us, who are honest with ourselves, know, this is so easy to talk about, but so hard to actually do. Those who read this book will be challenged to take a step back and seriously reevaluate the way they lead others, and ultimately, the way they live their lives.

Dr. Senyo Adjibolosoo pierces the heart of leadership in the human culture with a refreshing truth on the importance of character and moral integrity. This book not only reveals the missing elements that are so often overlooked in the corporate world, but also exposes the essential factors that our world inadvertently lacks. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who desires to be a part of this next generation's leadership.

How are we truly going to change the world, and how are we truly going to be leaders of change unless we do it different than it has been done before?
This is the treasure Dr. Adjibolosoo has unlocked in his book The Human Factor in Leadership Effectiveness.
If you want be a leader that will make a monumental impact on people are around you to make a positive difference in the world, than I dare you to read this book.

I have read this book with great anticipation. The problems of ledership are overwhelming, but Dr. Adjibolosoo has given us hope for the future. This book presents the only solution to the leadership void I have ever seen.

This book is both an excellent and fresh perspective on leadership in this present day and age. Senyo provides us with timeless morals and priceless absolutes to give us a piece on leadership that will prove to enhance our ability to inspire others to action without compromising our intergrity.

McGregor wrote this management classic 25 years ago. It is as relevant today as it was then. This is not to be missed by any generation of manager who truly wants to motivate employees in a manner which recognizes their most human characteristics.

This book is a classic. A "must read" for anybody in management. This wisdom is timeless!

Dr. Michael Beitler
Author of "Strategic Organizational Change"

This book, written in 1960, is one of the true management classics, one of the greatest and most influential management books of the past century. McGregor describes Theory X and Theory Y, two fundamentally different ways managers view their employees. McGregor describes Theory X as the dominant view: people ar seem as lazy, not very capable, unwilling to work (unless you make them work), opportunistic and prepared to deceive (providing they think they won't be caught). Theory Y views people in a much more positive way: they are seen as intrinsically motivated, willing to work and basically honest. Now the essential point: the way you view people determines the way you treat them and the way you interpret their behavior, which determines the way they will respond to you, which in turn will reinforce the way you view(ed) them. In other words: both Theory X and Theory Y are true because they create their own reality! They are self-fulfilling prophecies. If you have a choice, what do you choose? This book, written many years ago, is still an interesting read and I think you can still read it in 2060 and find it relevant and interesting.

If you're journeying through management literature of the present day, you're bound to come across the two theories proposed by Douglas McGregor back in the '50s and early '60's: Theory X and Theory Y. In fact, you'll probably find that some of the more modern theories and human behavior models are based on this work by McGregor.

This is what makes reading this book so valuable. Reading the attributes and studies about Theory X and Theory Y management styles in McGregor's own words, instead of a one or two line sentence concerning his theories in another book, is well worth the price of this book.

The book was compelling because many of the attributes of today's managers, and organizations in general, can STILL be applied to either Theory X or Theory Y management types! In fact, much of the literature today suggests that companies with a Theory Y mindset are surviving better today than Theory X companies. The supporting information McGregor provides to each theory suggests, again even today, that these two themes will be prevalent in society for years to come.

Having this book in your professional library will provide you with some good insight and historical reference to modern day theories. I highly recommend it!

McGregor really elevates management to a higher plane: this book is at least as good and important as James McGregor Burns' "Leadership." The book is a treatise against traditional command and control management: it is an optimistic book, buoyant with ideas on how even non-management is capable of creativity and self-direction (I refer here to the influence of Abraham Maslow's ideas on his work). I couldn't help but be wowed by McGregor's faith in common workers (one of his ideas is that employees should evaluate themselves, for instance, instead of getting evaluated by superiors). In essence the book is summed up in his sentence: "The distintive potential contribution of the human being . . . at every level of the organization, stems from his capacity to think, to plan, to exercise judgement, to be creative, to direct and control his own behavior" (114). Is every worker like this? Probably not, but it was refreshing to read someone who thought so. Those who enjoyed this book would also like John Gardner's "On Leadership."

Integrated Enterprise Excellence Volume III (IEEV3)is one volume of a three volume series - but as a standalone text, it is essentially a highly evolved sequel to the award-winning Implementing Six Sigma (ISS) books which were first published nearly a decade ago, in 1999. Although the second edition of ISS (2003) introduced a substantial amount of new reference material to the original book, it was still largely a handbook for implementation of conventional Lean/Six Sigma systems at the operational level. IEEV3 introduces new topics, new text, and new graphics to provide a significant step beyond both earlier ISS books in scope, structure and content.

Although both earlier books generally address the wise application of improvement systems and analytical tools to resolving business problems, the scope of IEEV3 has been broadened to acknowledge and more clearly define two distinct yet interdependent levels of study and improvement: the operational level and the enterprise level.

IEEV3 takes the position that to focus on specific operational process improvements without consideration of effects throughout the enterprise can result in suboptimization of results if not counterproductive unintended consequences. To be effective, operational level improvement projects must derive from the study of enterprise level "top down" requirements that consider the needs of the entire enterprise.

At the outset, IEEV3 reviews the limitations of traditional improvement systems and methods and describes how, using the principles of IEE, established project improvement tools - like DMAIC and TOC- can be combined with innovative analytical methods for enterprise level goal setting and measurement to avoid problems and enhance performance.

The main body of the book walks the reader through a detailed DMAIC project level execution (P-DMAIC) roadmap using the enhanced measurement and scorecard techniques of IEE. It also includes extensive discussions on essential project management techniques: building team effectiveness, encouraging creativity, and how to document and present resulting improvements.

The Appendix includes additional concepts that are used in the enterprise process or project execution roadmap steps, including drill downs, check sheets, and reference tables.

In summary, Volume III of the new series is an expanded sequel to Forrest's previous award winning book - Implementing Six Sigma . It focuses on meeting the demanding business challenges of the 21st Century and avoiding the unintended consequences of earlier implementations. It provides additional analytical tools and a new, expanded and improved practical roadmap for successful implementation of Lean Six Sigma and the DMAIC process at the operational level, orchestrated to align with business needs and support the attainment of meaningful enterprise level goals.

Integrated Enterprise Excellence Vol. III is one of Forrest's best books that must be read by anyone who is seriously thinking to implement Lean Six Sigma, and it is also an excellent reference book for those who jobs entail the start and sustaining continuous improvement initiatives. This books presents and describes in detail a road map of DMAIC process that, if it is followed and the tools presented used, will lead to success.

Forrest packs a wealth of information into this edition. It can serve as guide to both project selection and execution. It helps you identify and use the tools that are most appropriate for the specific opportunity. Both traditional Lean and Six Sigma tools are covered. This volume is quite strong on DOE's and other advanced tools for analysis. Would highly recommend as a solid reference for anyone leading continuous improvement efforts in their organizations. Would also make a first rate text book!

Integrated Enterprise Excellence Volume III fuses enterprise strategy with operational execution. In the most comprehensive step-by-step Lean Six Sigma manual on the market today, this 1,100+ page guide is the perfect companion aid for any engineer, technology or business student, consultant, project manager or Lean Six Sigma practitioner who is serious about their career advancement and driving enterprise excellence in their company.

From business strategy and balanced scorecards to project management steps and detailed design of experiments, this is one of the most important handbooks on business performance improvement.
- Frank Shines, former IBM Principal and Director of Industriaplex

If anyone wants to understand how process management works on an enterprise level, this is the book to get. If anyone wants to know the future look of Six Sigma, this is the book to get. If anyone want to understand Lean principles and how they should work, this is the book to get. Forrest Breyfogle has been one of the most proflilic writers in the world of Six Sigma and process improvement. Even people who are afraid of math and statistics will understand the value of the tools and techniques that he writes about. His crisp style and many examples help the reader to understand the fundamentals and the outcomes of using these approaches to business excellence.
Every Six Sigma practitioner should have this book.

An excellent resource for the business manager who is interested in touching on the realities of doing business in the global arena. Great for my International Business class. Anecdotally fun as well.

I've been teaching Global Business for almost thirty years and have used a variety of texts. In a crowded field of competitive textbooks, the Cavusgil, Knight, Riesenberger distinguishes itself for a variety of reasons.
First and foremost, the authors are able to present even the most complex of global issues in a very readable, easily comprehensible manner; and they certainly don't sacrifice depth where needed. Importantly theirs is a balanced approach, where theory and practice mesh together almost seamlessly and students will clearly realize the importance and value of the theoretical underpinnings of business practices. The authors seem to have made a very conscious decision to cut out any unnecessary jargon that could obfuscate students' understanding at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

The book captures contemporary trends substantively. For example, it's the first text that I know of, that does not limit the discussion to the challenges and potential of global business for large multinationals. The growing trend is towards more and more small and medium sized enterprises and entrepreneurial "born global" (authors term) firms engaged in international business. These enterprises demand strategic attention that this book beneficially underscores.

Another extremely worthwhile feature are the very practical exercises, including internet exercises and the "management skills builder" activities; most certainly exposure to these pragmatic exercises will help competitively prepare the students to "hit the ground running" for the companies that they work for.

For the instructor, besides good support materials including access to an "educator's forum", there is a very pragmatic benefit. Many schools and instructors have been struggling with how to meet the AACSB accreditation imperative (rightly so) of internationalizing courses and curriculum. This text is again, a pioneer in squarely addressing how various learning components contribute towards building skills such as the communication and analytical skills that AACSB emphasizes.

The authors have to be commended for the obvious hard work, careful thought and dedication that have gone into the preparation of this book.

International Business: Strategy, Management and the New Realities by Cavusgil, Knight and Riesenberger succeeds on a surprising number of levels, reflecting the combined expertise of three talented scholars and business people and their determination to present a truly global view of business.

The text is highly readable by audiences of all ages, especially undergraduates. Chapters are of very reasonable length, and are vividly illustrated by photographs that capture candid moments in a wide variety of market and commercial situations. One wonders how the authors had the presence of mind to capture these candid shots during their travels.

The authors cater fully to a new generation of university students who instinctively turn to their computers for information. Thus the text is fully supported by its own learning portal, the C/K/R Knowledge Portal. For students who like to multi-task or prepare for class "on the go," VangoNotes.com offers almost six hours of narrated text. In addition, end-of-chapter exercises are linked to online resource materials housed at globalEDGE. This is a leading international business website hosted by Michigan State University where the first author is a distinguished faculty member.

A special feature bound to appeal to undergraduate readers is the inclusion of personal interviews with recent graduates. Their personal stories will encourage students to think about how their own careers in international business might develop after graduation. One interview with a young woman broaches the issue of how to balance a career in international business and family life.

From the instructor's point of view, the authors have addressed head-on new pedagogical challenges posed by AACSB (the international business school accrediting body). These challenges call for going beyond communication of business content to development of business skills. End-of-chapter exercises are fully tailored to develop a range of valuable analytical and communication skills, as well as promoting managerial problem-solving.

Instructors in international business will quickly recognize that each author has contributed much of his own individual scholarship, without making the text in any way cumbersome to read. Other contributions to the scholarly literature are also fully exploited in ways that students will find highly readable and memorable. The solid research base provided by the text will prepare readers not only to function as competent managers but may also encourage some to undertake graduate research.

Remarkably the three authors have not shied away from addressing issues of controversy where readers' opinions might divide. They address difficult topics by presenting a balanced analysis and encouraging readers to reach their own conclusions.

Particularly worthy of note is the extensive attention given to emerging markets, such as those in the Middle East and Asia, where growing consumer affluence and increasing investment opportunities demand the attention of global companies. The cosmopolitan tone of each chapter sets a new standard for international business texts. Finally, the extensive integration of online resources and teaching tools must be considered as defining characteristics of this text.

As a former IB executive and current professor of IB, I am very glad to see a text such as Cavusgil, Knight, & Riesenberger that takes such an innovative and refreshing approach to IB instruction while effectively addressing the needs of both students and instructors. The new education system that the authors have developed goes beyond any other text I have used and is well worth the wait.

The text has insightfully portrayed IB in a modern and dynamic light which allows today's students to grasp the importance and complexities of IB. The information is presented in a manner that is interesting to the 21st century college student, using practical and up-to-date examples and cases. This text conveys added value to students via the "Recent Grad in IB," which illustrates modern career paths, and the "Management Skill Builder," which provides added insight into challenges faced my international managers. Plus, "Vango Notes" are a must for any IB student with an MP3 player. Such innovations help the student to apply IB outside of the classroom.

For the educator the text presents a multi-faceted tool that is well-grounded in theory without sacrificing current and practical application for the classroom. In a break from the traditional textbook "extras," CKR provides real added value to instructors and Business Schools through its Educator's Consortium and the direct application of AACSB Learning Standards at the end of every chapter. In short, I'd describe this textbook as "efficient, effective, engaging, and enjoyable."

The International Business text by CKR was written to meet the needs of students studying the globalization process. The textbook illustrates current events that have shaped the international business environment. In each chapter the learning objectives are clearly identified and the opening cases reflect global companies and the challenges faced from a country, economic, cultural, or managerial or market opportunity perspective.The opening cases reflect the content that will follow in the respective chapter by providing a global theme that students can understand prior to reading the chapter learning content.
Closing cases are detailed as are the questions. Instructors adopting the textbook will have ample resource materials to assign the closing case to a team or individually since case questions reguire students to make recommendations using both case information and chapter learing materials. The textbook is coded with AACSB standards in the Comprehension and Apply your understanding questions. As an instructor, the coding facilitates the grading and learning outcomes process.The end of the chapter "Apply your Understanding Qquestions are comphrehensive and encourage students to use their written communication skills by assuming the roles of CEO, Government Intermediary, retailer, and or consultant in responding to the questions. The responses to these questions require more than the typical textbook answer and provide a forum for interactive discussions in the classroom. The Globaledge Internet Exercises introduce students to international business websites that future global leaders must understand in developing market strategies, export business and future trade leads. The book is integrated with current business trends,surveys and includes an Eductor's Knownledge Portal where "best practices" can be shared with the adopters of the textbook. A good choice textbook for students who are being introduced to International Business or for anintermediate courses. The selection of exercises allows flexibilty and tailoring the learning exercises class's skill levels. A. Langlois

Others have already outlined the 7 sections covered in LEADER TO LEADER, so I won't waste time on that other than to say there is something here for everyone. The Drucker Foundation has put together a wealth of information here from some of their collection of past articles written for their magazine publication. With 37 articles in all, the list of contributors reads like a who's who on leadership. There are three different pieces here from Peter Drucker himself, as well as an array of notables such as Herb Kelleher, Stephen Covey, Max De Pree and Warren Bennis.

At first glance, I found certain areas of particular interest, but upon reflection, I know even those articles I found less captivating will be ones I will reference again in the future as I am presented with new circumstances and challenges. I think you will too.

Most of the work here is in true article or essay form, however there are also a few interviews conducted by the editors, Francis Hesselbein and Paul Cohen. Being from a variety of writers, you will find a variety of styles as well. Some are quite cogent and direct in their synopsis, while others may require a piecing together of the information provided to form your own conclusions.

This is a fantastic compilation of articles that I highly recommend. It's been over a decade since this was published. Hopefully the Drucker Foundation will publish Leader to Leader II in the near future.

"People in both in this country and around the world have an enormous hunger for ideas; that's why three years ago the Drucker Foundation launched 'Leader to Leader', a journal of ideas by leaders for leaders."Frances Hesselbein writes, "This hunger among millions of working executives demonstrates their concern for the future and a commitment to make a difference. The incisive thinkers and remarkable leaders who have contributed to the journal and to this book open doors, spark ideas, raise signal flags, and help satisfy that universal hunger."

In this context, I summarized partially only four of the thirty-seven essays written by talented thinkers as follows:

I. Peter F. Drucker writes: "The three people from whom I learned the most in my work were all very different. The first two were exceptionally demanding; the third was exceptionally brillant. All three taught me a lot...Five lessons I learned from those remarkable men still apply today:

1. Treat people differently, based on their strengths.

2. Set high standards, but give people the freedom and responsibility to do their job.

3. Performance review must be honest, exacting, and an integral part of the job.

4. People learn the most when teaching others.

5. Effective leaders earn respect-but they don't need to be liked.

II. Doris Kearns Goodwin lists ten lessons from the stories of Lyndon Johnson, John Kennedy, and Franklin Roosevelt for leaders of today's organizations.

1. Timing is (almost) everything.

2. Anything is possible if you share the glory.

3. Trust, once broken, is seldom restored.

4. Leadership is about building connections.

5. Leaders learn from their mistakes.

6. Confidence-not just in oneself-counts.

7. Effective partnerships reqire devotion to one's partners.

8. Renewal comes from many sources.

9. Leaders must be talent brokers.

10. Language is one's most powerful tool.

III. Warren Bennis argues: "I belive that behind every Great Man is a Great Group, an effective partnership. And making up every Great Group is a unique construct of strong, often eccentric individuals. So the question for organizations is, How do you get talented, self-absorbed, often arrogant, incredibly bright people to work together?" And he suggests ten principles common to all Great Groups:

1. At the heart of every Great Groups is a shared dream.

2. They manage conflict by abandoning individual egos to the pursuit of the dream.

3. They are protected from the "suits".

4. They have a real or invented enemy.

5. They view themselves as winning underdogs.

6. Members pay a personal price.

7. Great Groups make strong leaders.

8. Great Groups are the product of meticulous recruiting.

9. Great Groups are usually young.

10. Real artists ship.

IV. J. Richard Hackman identifies a number of mistakes that managers make in setting up and leading work teams.

1. Use a team for work that is better done by individuals.

2. Call the performing unit a team but really manage members as individuals.

3. Fall off the authority balance team.

4. Dismantle existing organizational structures so that teams will be fully empowered to accomplish the work.

5. Specify challenging team objectives, but skimp on organizational supports.

6. Assume that members already have all the skills they need to work well as a team.

Not only these essays, but all of the book as a whole is strongly recommended.

"People both in this country and around the world also have an enormous hunger for ideas; that's why three years ago the Drucker Foundation launched 'Leader to Leader', a journal of ideas by leaders for leaders."Frances Hesselbein writes, "this hunger among millions of working executives demonstrates their concern for the future and a commitment to make a difference. The incisive thinkers and remarkable leaders who have contributed to the journal and to this book open doors, spark ideas, raise signal flags, and help satisfy that universal hunger."

In this context, I partially summarized only five of the thirty-seven essays written by thirty-seven talented thinkers.

I. Peter F. Drucker writes: "the three people from whom I learned the most in my work were all very different. The first two were exceptionally demanding; the third was exceptionally brillant. All three taught me a lot...Five lessons I learned from those remarkable men still apply today:

1. Treat people differently, based on their strengths.

2. Set high standards, but give people the freedom and responsibility to do their job.

3. Performance review must be honest, exacting, and an integral part of the job.

4. People learn the most when teaching others.

5. Effective leaders earn respect-but they don't need to be liked.

II. Doris Kearns Goodwin lists ten lessons from the stories of Lyndon Johnson, John Kennedy, and Franklin Roosevelt for leaders of today's organizations:

1. Timing is (almost) everything.

2. Anything is possible if you share the glory.

3. Trust, once broken, is seldom restored.

4. Leadership is about building connections.

5. Leaders learn from their mistakes.

6. Confidence-not just in oneself-counts.

7. Effective partnership require devotion to one's partners.

8. Renewal comes from many sources.

9. Leaders must be talent brokers.

10. Language is one's most powerful tool.

III. John P. Kotter argues: "No organization today-large or small, local or global-is immune to change. To cope with new technological, competitive, and demographic forces, leaders in every sector have sought to alter fundamentally the way their organizations do business. These change efforts have paraded under many banners-total quality management, reengineering, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, turnarounds. Yet according to most assessments, few of these efforts accomplish their goals. Fewer than fifteen of the one hundred or more companies I have studied have successfully transformed themselves." Hence, he lists eight critical steps to transform your organization:

1. Establish a sense of urgency.

2. Form a powerful guiding coalition.

3. Create a vision.

4. Communicate the vision.

5. Empower others to act on the vision.

6. Plan for and create short-term wins.

7. Consolidate improvements and produce still more change.

8. Institutionalize new approaches.

IV. Warren Bennis argues: "I believe that behind every Great Man is a Great Group, an effective partnership. And making up every Great Group is a unique construct of strong, often eccentric individuals. So the question for organizations is, How do you get talented, self-absorbed, often arrogant, incredibly bright people to work together?" And he suggests ten principles common to all Great Groups:

1. At the heart of every Great Group is a shared dream.

2. They manage conflict by abandoning individual egos to the pursuit of the dream.

3. They are protected from the "suits".

4. They have a real or invented enemy.

5. They view themselves as winning underdogs.

6. Members pay a personal price.

7. Great Groups make strong leaders.

8. Great Groups are the product of meticulous recruiting.

9. Great Groups are usually young.

10. Real artists ship.

V. J. Richard Hackman identifies a number of mistakes that managers make in setting up and leading work teams.

Mistake 1. Use a team for work that is better done by individuals.

Mistake 2. Call the performing unit a team but really manage members as individuals.

Mistake 3. Fall off the authority balance team.

Mistake 4. Dismantle existing organizational structures so that teams will be fully empowered to accomplish the work.

Mistake 5. Specify challenging team objectives, but skimp on organizational supports.

Mistake 6. Assume that members already have all the skills they need to work well as a team.

I highly recommend this excellent collection as a whole.

The Leader to Leader magazine, from The Drucker Foundation, is consistently one of the best magazines for insightful leadership thinking. Now the 'best of the best' has been gathered for this handbook. Harvard Business School Professor John Kotter's insight into the four most common mistakes that cause change efforts to fail are superb and right on the money -- and his chapter is just one of thirty-seven. I wish this book had been available when I started my leadership journey many years ago! Whether you are just beginning your leadership journey or you are well on your way to becoming a SmartLeader, this book is a resource that you will benefit from today and in the days ahead.

Hesselbein and Cohen have assembled and brilliantly edited "enduring insights on leadership" from the Drucker Foundation's award-winning journal. What a superb selection of essays they offer! The Introduction by Hesselbein (all by itself) is well worth the cost of the book. As for the 37 individual essays, they are organized within seven Parts:

I. On Leaders and Leadership (eg Peter Drucker, Max DePree, and Herb Kelleher)

II. Leading Innovation and Transformation (eg Peter M. Senge, John P. Kotter, and Douglas K. Smith)

III. Leadership in the New Information Economy (eg Esther Dyson, Margaret Wheatley, and Kevin Kelly)

IV. Competitive Strategy in a Global Economy (eg Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Ann Winblad, and Keniche Ohmae)

V. Leading for High Performance (eg Steven R. Covey, Jim Collins, and Noel Tichy)

VI. Building Great Teams (eg Warren Bennis, Jon R. Katzenbach, and J. Richard Hackman)

VII. Leadership Across the Sectors (eg John W. Gardner, Regina Hetzlinger, and James E. Austin)

I know of no other single volume in which so many great business thinkers are represented by so many of their landmark essays. The editors are to be commended for the selections; also for the structure within which those selections are organized. This is "must reading" for leaders and, especially, for whose who aspire to be leaders.

Author: Truskie, Stanley D.
Title: Leadership in high-performance organizational cultures / Stanley D. Truskie.
Publisher: Westport, Conn. : Quorum Books, 1999.
Edition Date: 1999
Language: English
Physical Details: xv, 147 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
Subjects: Leadership.
Corporate culture.

If you are an executive, business owner, or manager, this book will help you. I always believed company culture was important, but I had no idea about how to create the right culture. This book provides an easy model to follow that makes sense, plus it offers leadership guidelines to make it happen. I have already instituted some of the ideas presented in the book and I have seen significant positive performance results already. I would definitely recommend this book to any leader who wants to improve the performance of his company.

"I have really been struggling with how to shape my company's culture to ensure I am building an effective organization until I read Dr. Truskie's book. His culture model is so clear and makes so much sense that its logic jumps out at you once you realize that there is a "right" organizational culture. I have heard so often that there is no right or wrong culture, but this book's compelling argument clearly dispels that notion.

I have read other books on organizational culture, but quite frankly, they created more questions than provided answers. I did not know whether I wanted a strong culture, an open culture, a sales culture, a driving culture, or a friendly culture. Plus I did not know where to start. Dr. Truskie helps you understand that as a leader, you must establish the direction first, then shape the right culture to achieve your strategic goals and objectives .

At least now I have a model that will help guide me in creating an effective culture ( Dr.Truskie calls integrated and balanced) within my organization. He also provides excellent examples of unbalanced cultures and explains how they negatively affect performance. The changes we now have under way within my company have already resulted in positive performance improvement. But as Dr. Truskie points out, this is a journey, and not a destination so we are still working toward building our high-performance culture.

This is definitely not a "quick" read book but one you should read a chapter at time, think about the message, then read on to the next chapter. But I can tell you it is well worth the time...one of the more meaningful books on leadership available in a crowded market."

I teach Organization Theory and Organizational Behavior. Teaching leadership has the challenge of finding a way to put the theories into practice. Dr. Truskie meets this challenge and offers a reasonable solution to this decision maker's need.

At various points throughout the book, Truskie cautions that there is no one "ideal" style, nor an infallible "model", nor any single combination of leadership traits, characteristics and behaviors which are most appropriate to all organizations in all phases of their development. He urges his reader to absorb and digest the contents of Leadership in High-Performance Organizational Cultures with care, of course, but also with some degree of critical detachment. Then, correlate his observations and suggestions with the specific circumstances of the reader's own organization.

Truskie suggests that "there is a direct link between leadership, organizational culture, and performance." According to his research and analysis, the most effective leader has an impact on "forming the culture of an organization, which further can have an enhancing effect of improving the level, ensuring the consistency, and sustaining the organization's continuing performance improvement." Truskie believes that many leaders are preoccupied with identifying and then manifesting an "ideal" style of leadership when, in fact, no such style exists. That is to say, even the most effective leaders have significant human imperfections; however, they are aware of these imperfections and make every effort to ensure that these imperfections do not have a negative impact on their respective organizations.

For this reader, one of the greatest benefits of Leadership in High-Performance Organizational Cultures is Truskie's explanation of the potential, beneficial implications of the L4 Strategy with specific relevance to creating and then sustaining a high-performance organizational culture. Leaders as well as those whom they lead must constantly monitor the balance of four aforementioned cultural patterns. Imbalances are inevitable. Although Truskie does not discuss it, he would probably agree that an early-warning system of some kind is highly desirable. The model he provides suggests all manner of ways by which to recognize and then respond effectively to symptoms of such imbalances. For the foreseeable future, change will be the only constant. Given that reality, Leadership in High-Performance Organizational Cultures can be of even greater value as all organizations (regardless of their size or nature) proceed into an otherwise uncertain future.

I really appreciated this book. I read it in less than 24 hours! I suffered from Postpartum anxiety and depression after the birth of both my girls but much more seriously after my second. It's such an important topic for people to be made aware of. Sue did such a great job of explaining what she went through and what was helpful and clearly what was not helpful. No matter who you are or what phase of life you are in there is a lot of valuable information to be gleaned from this book.

This is the first book about PPD authored by a Christian that I've read. While a few parts were a bit repetitious, overall I found it an enjoyable and informative book. I had a touch of PPD when my first child was born. Nothing as severe as the author experienced, but I sure wish I'd known at the time why I felt so awful. That was 15 years ago.

I loved some of the issues and emotions the author expressed, like how frustrating it is to have someone give you a pat answer when you are in such pain and how you want to self-isolate. She goes through a rendition of friendship types and who to avoid and who to lean on during PPD. She makes many valid points. The author also commented that it is a physical illness and not just a state of mind. Great information, because it's true. She also made a point about how it effects the whole family and how simply hoping it will go away only prolongs the symptoms. Great advice. In conclusion, the author provides a helpful does of Bible verses to encourage any reader in the throes of the illness who may feel trapped and hopeless. The verses address particular issues and are a perfect way to end the book.

I am a firm believer that you can never fully understand something unless you've lived through it. After reading this book, however, I feel like I understand PPD as much as I possibly can - having never suffered through it. I can't imagine anyone being more honest or open about their experience that Sue. My first thought after reading it was: There are so many people who need to read this so they know they're not alone. What amazing courage it takes to write the way she did! Thank you, Sue, for writing a book that could save lives.

The Lifter of My Head is the moving story of one young mother's walk through the murky waters of Post Partum Depression. In her book, Sue offers a candid and invaluable look at an illness many young mothers are ill-equipped to diagnose and handle. Through sharing vital medical information on PPD and her own spiritual journey and healing, the book will be a lifesaver for countless women. I wish I had had this resource years ago when a dear family member struggled with PPD.

A book about this topic has been desperately needed for such a long time, particularly as tragedies stemming from various postpartum mood disorders pervade the media more and more each day. Sue tells the story of her journey through postpartum depression by interweaving it with the voice of wisdom, the voice of knowledge, the voice of encouragement and the voice of God through His Word. That is one of the most inspiring and true aspects of this book. Sue shares so much Scripture that clearly tells us exactly where God is when we hurt - always by our sides and often carrying us.

What I often consider a sign of a great book such as this is the ability to apply the wisdom to any number of life circumstances. For example, reading a book about infertility and loss (Hannah's Hope by Jennifer Saake) after already giving birth to my son taught me so much about the journey I was now on, despite the fact that my infertile days had come to a close. The same can be said of Sue's book. I learned so much that can be so applicable to any dark valley that one may go through. Lean on Scripture and hold on with all your strength, even if by your very fingertips. I also learned much about friendships with Sue, again crying as I recalled how Christ worked through the many types of friends as He carried me through my depression. Sue is also always quick to remind the reader of the resulting growth that comes from walking through a dark valley such as postpartum depression.

I was greatly encouraged by this book and inspired by Sue's story and I highly recommend this book. It is a story of encouragement and most of all, a story of hope. There is always hope.

Great guide on setting up an LLC. It's very thorough, very useful, and I am so thankful that I read through this before diving in. The book addresses a lot of my concerns and also brings up points that I didn't even know I should be thinking about. Great guide - in fact, I find most of the Dummies series to be useful.

This is the best book I've read for LLC start up! It doesnt lead you around, just gets straight to what you need to know. It has helped me tremendously from start to finish and didn't make me feel like a "dummy". In fact, I always refer back to it when I'm unsure. I recommend this book for anyone, if you are planning on starting you're own business or even a student studying business in college. It's a great read and one to keep in your personal library!

This guide is clear, concise and an absolute must-read for those starting an LLC.

Before I picked up this book I was completely in the dark, but for every question I had there was a simple and easy to understand answer.

I've recommended to several friends that are thinking of starting businesses in the New Year.

If your run your own business, even out of the house, you'd be nuts not to do it under an LLC. Without the protections of an LLC, you can get yourself into a world of legal trouble. Add to that, LLC can save you on taxes.

The problem is, putting together an LLC is not easy and using lawyers is expensive. That's what I learned.

Thank God for this book. It's easy to read, covers all the topics, and weighs out the pros and cons of the choice I had to make for my LLC. After a few hours of reading, I knew what I had to do and did it.

Now my business is covered by an LLC and I saved a ton of money. Plus, I don't have to worry about something stupid happening to my business and as a result, my house being taken away.

We are in the process of becoming a LLC and I bought the book hoping for some answers in one syllable or less. This is a must read book for anyone thinking of forming a LLC. It answered all my questions and brought up some questions I need to ask my lawyer. I have had it only a couple of months and have read it twice and will probably refer to it again. It gives the lay person insite into the LLC and helps you answer questions about forming maintaining and ending a LLC.You need to read this before going any further into organizing a LLC. It also gives you alternatives to a LLC too. The version with the CD rom with it provides current forms that need to be filed with each state which is a plus.