Enterprise Books

This is one of the excellent books on designing on-demand ecoystem.

This book is a MUST HAVE for every manager or student who still believes that much has to be known about what is coming to us in the XXI Century. Anyone who has heard or met Dick Nolan, a Professor at the HBS, is very aware of his down to earth, creative, and witty mind. He will be part of Management History and this is not an understatement since, in my view, he already is. He brought, in 1974, IT to the minds of the Directors at Boradrooms by his "Stage by Stage Theory," nowadays commonly accepted by everyone. He foresaw the need for Strategy to meet IT and the Humanities. His previous 1996 book "Creative Destruction" led the way for others to recently follow the field, ideas, and even the book title. He went on to build Nolan Norton & Co., a Management Consulting Firm that everyone has been trying to copy without success. In this new book, once again, Dick et. al. compiled the best thoughts he alreday had before "the internet bubble." He waited to get this book published because he dosen't like to be seen as a forecaster. However, whatever he says, will be done in the future by every sustainable business. His thoughts and wisdom have created a school of thought from which even the Balanced Scorecard came to be a reality in 1988!

As a Kellogg MBA student, this text was suggested reading for an IT Strategy course. My understanding of IT for strategic advantage was greatly enhanced through the readings in this book. I believe it is a must read for anybody who wants to know what some of the World's most successful companies are doing to enhance their current product with technologies currently available to everyone.

While attending Delivering Information Services at The Harvard Business School, and during the Session on "Case: Barnes & Noble vs. Amazon.com," I discovered this book. The book is now used in the course "Competing in The Information Age." This course is geared toward MBA students who want to work in the Technology industry.

What attracted my immediate attention was the course description which said that "class participation accounts for 50 percent of your grade." This book embodies The Harvard Business School "Case Method" which encourages interaction among the class participants. This is the context from which my reading interest expanded.

The content of the book is organized around "the big picture" and does not get bogged down into minutia. The content grows from other books by the editors: Globalization, Technology and Competition; Future Competition in Telecommunications; Reengineering the Organization: Transforming to Compete in the Information Economy; and Creative Destruction: A Six-Stage Process for Transforming the Organization.

The underlying theme of this book is the internet and how it is changing business.

This book has been an incubator for other books coming into the market with a similar title. For example, Scott McNealy, Chairman of Sun Microsystems, has co-authored "The Power of Now: How Winning Companies Sense and Respond to Change Using Real-Time Technology."

Another spawned title is "Adaptive Enterprise: Creating and Leading Sense-And-Respond Organizations", by Haeckel and Slywotzky.

The authors are able to influence discussion significantly on an on-going basis. Professor Bradley is Chairman of the Executive Program in Competition and Strategy Area at Harvard. This area includes high powered thinkers and lever-pullers, such Professor David Yoffie who is on The Board of Directors of Intel Corporation and whose case studies have sold over one million copies. Professor Noland is the current Faculty Chairman of Delivering Information Services which has been a big success story for decades.

Because the editors are so influencially "wired into" many large corporations and academic communities, I think this book will continue to show continuing influence, as evidenced by boopks spawned from the subject and title.

Anyone will interest in internet technology should enjoy this book as I did.

7 Steps is the atlas of editorial consulting, flowing with feeling, logic, and clarity. Through experience, the author brings knowledge and understanding of the editorial consulting business to the reader. In addition, the resources inside are abundant and useful.

A compact abundance of candid, practical information and advice. Best of all: encouraging!

Seven Steps... is a must for anyone setting up a freelance business in copyediting, proofreading, or any other publishing-related field. Ms. Frutchey breaks down the elements of freelancing into easy-to-read chapters covering such areas as organizing your home office, setting your fees, marketing your services, finding and retaining clients, and handling your finances. This handy little book is a quick read, yet it offers a solid starting point for launching your business. Once you have read Seven Steps..., you will feel better prepared for the road ahead.

Ms. Frutchey's book is an absolute must for anyone planning on starting (or perhaps just thinking about starting)their own editorial consulting business. She's been through it all before, and is passing along the good, the bad, and the potentially ugly of everything involved. Her book can help anyone navigate more easily through everything from setting up an office to negotiating fees and getting insight on just exactly what the client wants you to do. She has provided an essential timesaver by reporting truthfully on what she's been through, and what you can expect. This book also contains many helpful references and websites for more information, help, and job leads. She's done her homework, and it shows.

Browsing a western history display in a local book store, I ran across "Sister." What an awesome book. A well written and heartfelt story of pioneer life and how common folks faced with uncommon ordeals bonded together. The writer and editors did a great job including pictures and historical research that brings the book to life. Something you should have on your coffee table or share with your grandchildren as a gift.

After a young lady was devastatedly handed her younger siblings when a tragic fire took her parents and a sister, she heroically took her fathers orders and lovingly raised an educated, hard working family. Lovable story.

A wonderful true story about a young woman who overnight became the mother of her young brothers and sisters after their parents were killed in a fire. Her father had the insight to see that she had an education and she taught her siblings as well as other homestead children in several one room school houses with sometimes only a horse for transportation. It is a heartfelt story of how the homestead women survived and raised families while their men and America were at war. The book gives an accurate history of Lusk, Wyoming during the 1930's. The author and Ms. Linford should be commended!

This story was one of the most touching, heartwarming stories of courage I have ever read. Mildred Crofutt Bryant sacrificed much to honor her dying father's trust in her. In reading the story I was struck by the obvious love and respect the children felt for their parents and each other. During an era when folks had barely enough for themselves and their own families, the neighbors reached out to this orphaned family of children in order for them to survive as well as stay together on the family homestead. Lots of photographs along with newspaper accounts and family letters. Wonderful book!

Strategic and Tactical Marketing specialists alike concentrate on myriad issues affecting business success, but tend to assume facilities management is not an issue. This book clearly shows just how important the bathroom can be to the overall marketing picture. If your local retailer or restaurant neglects this simple issue, imaging how their customers might view expectations in the greater value proposition.
Skip to the Loo brings to light a serious issue that too many business owners neglect or ignore completely. This should be required reading for any small business that is looking for ways to differentiate themselves. This is an easy read, thorough, and a great resource for "how to do it right".

Linda Wright has delved into a subject that most business owners are aware of but never take the time to do something about. Bathrooms make an impression on our customers and the extra effort in providing an appealing room DOES make a difference. Linda goes the extra mile with details that make a statement for the business. Thank you for an easy approach to a great marketing tool!

I really never thought about how stores, resturants and supermarket bathrooms made me feel about their product line or business, until I read this book. Linda Wright has hit the nail on the head. If businesses want to improve customer relations they need to read this book. some small changes can make a lasting impressions on customers. I certainly seek out the places that have friendly bathrooms and do my business there, no pun intended!

Like Linda Wright, I'm a photo industry retailer. And I've always felt a little guilty when one of my customers wanted to use the bathroom. Like it wasn't exactly up to par.

Unlike me, Linda DID something about it. In "Skip to the Loo" she shows exactly why the right bathroom makeover is a much better form of marketing than many of the advertising media we keep throwing money at.

The right facilities - coupled with the right policies - may not have customers beating a path to your door. But one woman tells another, and she tells 2 others. We'd call it "viral marketing" but probably shouldn't talk about viruses and bathrooms in the same sentence...

My initial reaction was that Linda had taken a topic deserving of a paragraph and turned it into a book. Then I read the whole thing and realized it's all good.

From little things like choosing which way the TP should come off the roll (yes, there really is a correct choice) to the layout of fixtures, "Skip to the Loo" covers EVERYTHING.

Spurred on by the comments of industry pundits, I had upgraded my own store's loo several months ago. Now I'm going to go back and do the rest of the job.

This book is to service level management consultants and prospective buyers of SLM solutions what Hoover's handbooks are to business intelligence - a complete and comprehensive survey of SLM solutions from major and minor vendors.

The information in this book is divided between timeless reference material and time-sensitive information. The reference material is comprised of a thorough discussion of what service level management is, what is required to implement it, and the value and ROI that you should expect from both the processes and the tools. The reference part of the book also extends to how to effectively manage the selection and procurement process of a solution. This material is on the mark, is consistent with best practices in service level management, and is clearly written. In fact, after reading the author's earlier book, "Foundations of Service Level Management" (ISBN 0672317435) I expected the depth and detail in which the reference part of this book delved.

Time-sensitive material that comprises the second part of the book consists of a collection of vendor brief that are arranged alphabetically from Aligent Technologies to WiredMinds, Inc. Each brief is similar in format to Hoover's handbooks in that you are shown an 'At a Glance' view of the vendor (product/service offering, SLM solution, date founded, number of employees, target customer and operating requirements for the solution). This is followed for each vendor by a more detailed view that covers product details (functionality, distinguishing features, support and pricing). One nice touch here is that each product is also depicted in an architecture diagram. Each vendor brief concludes with a summary, strengths and limitations from Enterprise Management Associates' (the book's authors) viewpoint.

In addition to the material in the book the publisher's website contains a wealth of additional material, which augments this book and adds considerable value to it.

If I could change one thing about the book it would be the title, which should be renamed to "SLM Solutions: a buyer's guide - 2002 Edition", which subsequent editions appearing twice a year. Yes, the reference material is likely to remain the same, but the vendor information is in a constant state of flux and will render this excellent resource obsolete unless it's updated at least every six months.

Overall, this is an impressive compendium of information that reflects deep and exhaustive research and the authors' extensive knowledge of the subject.

It's interesting how networks, computer systems, and software applications have evolved towards the notion of information services. The industry is looking at information technology in terms of services provided for business operations, and that has caused interest in buying, deploying, and managing services instead of networks and applications.

This book is a buyer's guide into the numerous products that manage services in one way or the other. The first 50 pages are devoted to concepts in service level management, while the remaining 300 or so pages describe some 70 SLM solutions along several dimensions, including product functionality, distinguishing features, data sources, third-party product reliance, support for service-related standards, pricing/packaging, and strengths/weaknesses. I would think that readers would study the first 50 pages carefully and use the product description section as a reference. The 50 page overview is excellent, from both a technical and business point of view.

I almost gave the book four stars because it is inevitable that SLM vendors with change their products, some will go out of business, and new ones will come into play, and thus the book would become obsolete in relative short order. However, the very last page of the book promises a 2nd edition. A book of this sort should probably be updated annually.

Also, I almost gave the book 4 stars because it has no references to other sources. But section 2 refers to several SLM standards bodies and lists URLs, including ITIL, Telemanagement Forum, and IEFT.

There was just one thing about the book that puzzled me: In the table of contents, about a dozen of the 70 companies are in bold, and I couldn't figure out why. However, that problem wasn't worth taking off a star.

In sum, the book is perfect for businesses comtemplating SLM expenditures. I would expect to see it updated from time to time to keep up with the industry.

The analysts at EMA have written a very clear guide to helping IT people prepare for, evaluate and compare, and implement an SLM solution. The book is divided into two parts. The first part is a detailed discussion of the important facets of Service Level Management: what it is, all of the things that it encompasses, how to create and negotiate SLAs (Service Level Agreements), creating RFPs to evaluate SLM offerings, and some of the nitty-gritty around the actual measurements. The second part is a synopsis of the majority of commercial software products available for SLM. Each vendor gets a four or five page write-up that summarizes key features, the pricing model, expected support costs, and a brief EMA summary of the product and company, including strengths and limitations. If you need to implement an SLM solution, don't expect to find all of your questions answered just by looking at the product comparisons. Chapters 3 and 4 provide a wealth of information about how to evaluate solutions based on your specific environment and then how to write the RFP so that you will get the information to meet your specific needs. The one thing that is missing from the Vendor Briefs is any mention of open source software. In some cases, open source solutions my provide a better fit than COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) software products at a somewhat lower price point. Regardless of the direction chosen (commercial or open source), the information in "SLM Solutions: A Buyer's Guide" will provide the reader with important information about the whole SLM process.

Great resource for anyone trying to implement SLM. A must have
that lists (what seems like) every vendor's product with an honest
evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of each. Every IT professional should have a copy on his/her bookshelf.

What a resource!! I found so many practical ideas and helpful suggestions in this book. I wish I had this book in my hands when I started my consulting business 4 years ago. The ideas about marketing the business and how to set up a financial system are particularly helpful. Lots of real life examples made the book interesting as well.

What a resource!! I found so many practical ideas and helpful suggestions in this book. I wish I had this book in my hands when I started my consulting business 4 years ago. The ideas about marketing the business and how to set up a financial system are particularly helpful. Lots of real life examples made the book interesting as well.

Small Business Savvy is the most comprehensive book I've ever read on building a business, and the best book I've ever seen on clearing the distinct hurdles a woman-owned business presents.

Rist and Jones take turns exploring the start-up, marketing, pricing, and myriad in-between issues women owners face. Their ability to draw from those who've gone before is key. Not only do you soak up their considerable insights, but you get practical, illuminating anecdotal illustrations of hundreds of women whose successes and struggles are described as a learning tool. You get real, solid action plans instead of vague principles. With the first chapter you know what works and what does not, from real women business owners who've been there and from the authors' knowledgeable advice.

This book is a must-read for any woman considering or already entrenched in owning a business -- men, too. The principles work (I've tried many of them!) and the advice is a business saver and grower. This booke enables me to confirm places in my own business model where I have made right and wrong decisions...and receive direct methods for correcting the wrong ones. Outstanding!!!!

The authors present all kinds of useful ideas that I can implement right now, from bartering for services to collecting money due, i.e.,the nuts and bolts of a business. Tact and sensitivity are strong characteristics of dealing with prople, and I can tell that the authors have had much experience and success in this area. "Common entrepreneurial mistakes" such as charging too little is easy for business women to fall into, since we are used to giving our all to our families; therefore we tend not to value our efforts as much as we should.

I really like this book and plan to give copies to friends as Christmas gifts.

I've looked up a lot of resources on the net. You can do so many things for free on your own, don't pay the services on the web to do it for you. This book will help a lot. I've found answers to all of my questions here, in simple plain English:

Naming your business

Trademarks/servicemarks

Pricing your work or goods

Taxation (including some great ways to save money on your taxes)

Web domain registration

Choosing the type of business you want to own (sole proprietorship, LLC, etc.)

Web sites and e-business

Location (working from home, leasing a commercial site, etc.)

Writing contracts

Hiring workers if you choose to

Changing ownership in the future

Marketing

And a lot more...

The book also includes many of the legal forms you will need both in tear-out page form and on a CD-ROM so you can print out more copies on your computer. This book is easy to follow and thorough. I highly recommend it.

I have always trusted Nolo products so this book was a given for me. I like the CD that came with it. It is a very well written, easy to understand book.

If you want info clear and concise....English!!! Better than those for dummies!!

Skip the Small Business Administration or state small business websites. Forget the "For Dummies" or "Idiots" guides. This is the one book you need to read if you're serious about starting a business.

From taxes to finances to planning entry into a market, Nolo's book covers the gamut. Starting a business sounds intimidating, but it's really not...if you have this book by your side. The CD-ROM has a couple of useful files, but to really get the most out of the book you may have to follow their recommendations for further reading. It's a great place to start, however.

And be sure to order the latest edition, as laws change! [I reviewed the 5th edition.]

If this book could make me stop smoking it can make anyone stop smoking. If Mr. Lacey had written it 30 years ago, I wouldn't be smoking today and neither would thousands and thousands of other smokers. I had no idea anything could be this powerful. Do yourself the best favor of your life. Stop what you're doing. Buy this book. When it arrives take the phone off the hook and read it cover to cover. You'll be stunned you won't know what to say or think, but one thing for sure, you'll never smoke again. Thank you Smoke Stop!

Dr. PHIL will never need to write a successful stop smoking book because Mr. Lacey already has. THE SMOKE STOPS HERE will motivate you with narratives and fill you head with the facts and give you the direction to stop smoking this week. I also used their on-line help. All for the cost of three packs of cigarettes at the local 7-11 store, $12.95. THANK YOU MR. LACEY!!!

Stop smoking --- and have no fear. Of gaining weight. Of failing. You CAN QUIT SMOKING ... this book really works.
It's a fun read ... and arms you with the mental/emotional courage you need to kick the habit.

What's to lose?

Damage to your lungs ... smelly rooms ... bad breath ...
Go for it. Buy it today.

You GOTTA get this book. NOW. Today! It's inspirational .. motivational. It's for REAL. This guy understand smokers, no "butts" about it. If you wanna QUIT SMOKING FOREVER, you owe it to yourself to INVEST in this book. It's a bargain you can't afford to pass up.

Go ahead. Get real with yourself. But THE SMOKE STOPS HERE today. It works!

This book is very good. I had a copy of it before and paid $30 for it. I found it online and paid $10, shipping included!!!

Great book. Very good to have if you do any instruction at all or are new and want to know the ins and outs of officiating.

This book is exceptional because it is geared toward everyone who wants to improve their game. Young/new officials will find this book helpful and it clearly explains each point. Each set of rules are clearly defined in the book (NCAA, USSF, & Federation), which allows it to be used as a wonderful teaching tool. The topics covered are relevant to today's game because the author is still very active in soccer.

From my experience with the Baseball Umpire Guidebook, I knew, sight unseen that I would love the Soccer Officials Guidebook. This book is full of information and excellent diagrams that will help not only new referees, but veterans as well. Any fans that always wondered about the officials positioning, or rules applications, will also find this book almost impossible to put down. This was my first purchase using Amazon.Com, and I'm sure it won't be my last.

Once you have memorized the rules, read this book in order to learn how to be an official. This book takes the rules off of the printed page and onto the field of play. The spirit of the game is emphasized over the letter of the law. Many excellent illustrations make it easier to understand the mechanics of soccer officiating. The reader should be able to understand the nuances of rules differences between FIFA, NCAA, and USSF.

This is very clearly written and so helpful. I just got my first computer a little over a year ago, 2nd hand, and with no owner's manual. I have looked at many self-help computer books from the library and think this is the best one. I keep it by the computer to refer to if I get stuck. If you need to really go into depth, the same authors publish separate books for that purpose. But this is really the only one you should need. I am nearly 63, and am teaching myself with this book and not doing too badly. It comes with a CD-ROM disc which I have not yet downloaded, but probably will. I heartily recommend it.

We're slowly starting to deploy Office 2003 across out network and this book has been a pretty good general all-in-one type of resource for answering the vast majority of the questions that the users has posed. As well, we've been able to generate several traning sessions based on the content of the book itself using our customized screen shots.

If you need super-deep coverage of a specific application, this is probably not the book for you. If you need a very good overview of the entire suite and what's new and improved, get this book.

A few of the really nice things I liked about this book were the full index and the chapters in the back on macros and VBA...very useful.

This book has a good overview on all the office programs. If you are looking for in depth information on a certain aspect of office I would look elsewhere. I will be buying the Access book because I need in depth information about about Access and this book does not get that deep. I would still recommend this book to anyone because it is much easier to read than the help included with Office.

Once again, Ed and Woody come through for those genuinely interested in exploiting Office functions to their benefit. Hitting topics not referenced in help screens or the MS Knowledge Base, the authors address challenging circumstances with efficient solutions. Learners in many professional roles, from Administrative to Executive relate to Ed and Woody's clearly explained situations and resolutions, which are easy to implement. If you wish to have a top-notch book, which covers all Professional Office Suite applications, this is the book to buy. The front cover is right on target where it states, "The only Office 2003 book you will ever need."