Editorial Review

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Reviews (21)

Overview, technique and implementation
An outstandingly well written book that decribes the balanced scorecard and provides excellent examples. An effective, practical guide for C-level executives and mid-level managers for implementing strategic scorcarding. I recommned this book for the breadth and depth of the explanation of the subject matter and concise implmentation examples.

If you can measure it, you can manage it
The Balanced Scorecard was initially designed as a financial and non-financial corporate performance measurement tool.Organizations focused on strategy have taken the Balanced Scorecard and transformed it into a strategic tool for measurement.These 5 key principles transform the Balanced Scorecard:
Highly Recommended!
The fact that executives keep trying new strategic initiatives despite their abysmal rate of failure is, like second marriages, a triumph of hope over experience. Or, it may indicate just how much pressure top managers face to improve their profits. By one estimate, nine out of ten companies fail to execute their strategic visions. Yet, CEOs - who witness a world in constant flux - continue to introduce change initiatives. Are they trapped in the operational definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result? Or, are they just ready for this book? Authors Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton offer wise counsel to help executives break the cycle of strategic flops. They advise executives to transform their companies into "Strategy-Focused Organizations" using the "Balanced Scorecard" and "strategic mapping" tools. With these initiatives, CEOs can ensure that every employee pays attention to strategy implementation. Kaplan and Norton, the all-star co-author team who wrote "The Balanced Scorecard" and "Strategy Maps", have done it again, in this well-organized but somewhat dry volume. We strongly recommend this book to any manager who is responsible for designing or implementing a strategic change initiative. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Corporate Planning    5. Entrepreneurship    6. Executive Management    7. Forecasting    8. Leadership    9. Management - General    10. Strategic Planning    11. Business strategy    12. Organizational theory & behaviour    13. Performance Measurement   

Reviews (4)

Best place for on line purchases
As always, very happy with the service received by Amazon. Pront delivery and in perfect condition.

Overall a very good book
This is a very well written book. I used this book as part of my MBA program. No frills or fluff - just goes right to the point and explains it well in relatively fewer words. Also helped me tremendously in my job and the knowledge gained from this book does helps me in doing a better job. A must read for all managers.

Easy to understand
This book gets right to the point. Even though it is direct it also offers excellent examples to help you understand the information quickly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Life - General    4. Business/Economics    5. Management Science    6. Organizational Behavior    7. Organizational Behavior In Business    8. Business & Economics / Systems & Planning    9. Organizational theory & behaviour   

Reviews (4)

Using IT to support the business, not the other way around...
All too often, an "enterprise architecture" is designed for a company by IT, and then it gathers dust as everything continues along the same path it always has.The book Enterprise Architecture As Strategy: Creating A Foundation For Business Execution by Jeanne W. Ross, Peter Weill, and David C. Robertson approaches the whole subject from a different perspective, and it's one that actually integrates IT and business...
Pointing the way to how successful companies operate
The typical path taken by the CEO of the company is typically up the channel ofproduct, sales, or financial -- in today's world, a lot of financial types are reaching the big corner office. Unfortunately none of these paths to the top tend to educate the executive into the relatively arcane world if the information technology specialist.
How to achieve and then sustain superior execution

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Subjects:  1. Automation    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Industrial management    6. Information Management    7. Information technology    8. Management    9. Strategic planning    10. Business strategy   

Reviews (21)

Some Really Good Points.
According to the author economics is in the midst of a revolution. But economics is always in the midst of a revolution. There's the old saying that if you take a thousand economists and lay them in a line that they will all point in a different direction. Yes, there are new economists challenging the field's traditional assumptions. But that's how you get your Ph.D. in economics.
A lot of intrinsic value but...
I bought the book initially because the economist issued an article commenting it which draw my interest. Quite honestly, I was surprised to see that it is basically a compilation of works, essays and academic papers defying orthodox finance and economics viewpoints rather than groundbreaking material. Throughout the book, the author cites many heavyweights in different sciences to augment his thesis of a new paradigm in economics along with the typical historical retrospective on economics, from Adam Smith to Samuelson and beyond which serves the purpose of claiming economics is locked in its own on intellectual embargo.
Ambitious survey; flawed logic
Scattered throughout The Origin of Wealth is a five star survey of new ideas in economics, incorporating discoveries from science and psychology.Unfortunately, in the end, the book is undone by Beinhocker's unfortunate habit of stating hypotheses and non sequiturs as facts, and his continuous harping on "Traditional" economics (and "Traditional" finance) as obsolete and irrelevant.Also, the book is quite uneven in the amount of detail presented; there's too much sometimes (which is tedious), and too little other times (which is frustrating).I really wanted to be able to give the book three stars because of its broad scope and entertaining analyses, but just cannot do so after a few days of mulling over the entirety of its content.If you can separate the wheat from the chaff, it's a decent read; but if you are not already familiar with the subject matter discussed, caveat emptor (buyer beware)!
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Development - Economic Development    5. Distribution Of Income    6. Economic Theory    7. Economic development    8. Economic history    9. Economics    10. Economics - Theory   

Reviews (15)

Nice book, but too easy after reading SPIN Selling
I bought this book together with SPIN Selling. I read the Fieldbook after reading SPIN Selling. If you've already read SPIN Selling, this book is not going to tell you much new things.
Indispensable part of the salesman's library
This book is a practical guide for implementing the principles learned in the original book about 'Spin selling', however it is not necessary to have read the other book to make good use of this one. I think the SPIN methodology is a most valuable contribution from Mr. Rackham to the field of large sales and this book gives sound help to implement it.

Spin Selling Fieldbook
I use this book to train new salespeople on the SPIN selling method.I originally was trained on this years ago with Xerox.I like the fieldbook approach because the salespeople can focus on real world scenarios with our products and our customers.We break it up into 2-3 chapter segments and hold a working lunch to discuss the content and the assignments.
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Subjects:  1. Advertising & Promotion    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Handbooks, manuals, etc    6. Marketing - General    7. Sales & Selling - General    8. Sales & Selling - Techniques    9. Sales Management    10. Sales promotion    11. Selling    12. Business & Economics / Sales & Selling    13. Sales & marketing   

Reviews (64)

Eternal truths (and lies)
This is the most candid and honest record of Trump's deals by the great master to date, or so it seems. This impression can be attributed, however, to the great job Tony Schwartz did on this book. Compare this to Trump's "How to get rich" and you know what I mean.
Written After The Early Years: Good Trump Entertainment
Let us give him his due. He has great style and tenacity and the nerve. This book was written in better days before his fall. I have visited a number of his buildings - which I understand that he was closely and personally involved in the design and construction - and they are beautiful.
For What Its Worth
You never know whether to ever really trust what Trump says or not. I actively avoided reading this book for some time. I just resisted it. I must have felt that it is a propoganda piece and I was right. It is just another win for Trump. Another chance to boast about himself and his competence. And the ironic thing is the lesson to be learned by the man on the street is exactly that. In real estate, it is simply connection and bravado after a certain level of core competencies have been achieved. This book does not go into the details of how to do what he has done.....as step by step approach beside being boring would have been ridiculous. First thing to do is go back in time and be born in a family where your father is a wealthy builder. And be born to a father who was historically in the right situation himself--building homes when the soldiers came home and started families. The second thing is go to the premier business school in the nation. After that, you do a few deals with your father and learn the business inside and out. After that make some connections through your father's friends. And the most important thing is to start your career and venture when the real estate market is absolutely deppressed. You can't help but make money.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Business    5. Personal Memoirs    6. Real Estate Finance    7. Rich & Famous    8. Business & Economics / General   

Reviews (8)

An excellent book
I finished reading "Vital Friends." This is a great book and very easy to read. It is only 152 pages if you exclude the appendices. So, it can be finished in a few sittings.
Usefulbut just a bit disquieting (at least for me)
Tom Rath's Vital Friends will be considered a controversial book by some and common sense by others. The work is based on Gallup polling data that indicates increased satisfaction and effectiveness among those that can count one or more close friends at work. I'm certain that I fall into the "this is common sense" camp while I've known a significant number of managers that would contend that close friends at work tend to waste time and possibly build cliques or alliances that are not conducive to good business.
Don't waste your time!
The book tells you that friendships at work are good.That's it.The author doesn't address when those friendships over take the workplace and what to do when the workpplace is the only friendships people have.The author also doesn't address the issue of diversity.It is large type and double spaced - it is a waste of your money.If you are a fan of the information from the Gallop Organization, you are going to be very disappointed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Family    5. Friendship    6. Interpersonal relations    7. Management - General    8. Motivational    9. Personnel And Human Resources Management    10. Business & Economics / Management    11. Business & Management   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Finance    5. Management - General    6. Marketing - General    7. B2B Brand Management    8. B2B Branding    9. Brand Management    10. Brand Myths    11. Branding    12. Business & Economics / Marketing / General    13. Business Branding    14. Business Brands    15. Business-to-Business Branding    16. Re-branding    17. Sales & marketing   

Reviews (48)

Think and Become Great
Many life coaches and business gurus use most of what Napoleon Hill learned over 50 years ago.Anthony Robbins has built most of his core philosophy on Mr. Hill's teachings.

Some Useful Information---Worth Reading!
Napoleon Hill devoted 20 years of his life to researching and writing this book. It's about how to "make money" but the ideas seem to me to pertain also to "how to feel successful" even if you don't make millions of dollars.Much of the book is "I already knew that" information.But, it never hurts to be reminded of things you may know but are not putting into practice.And, there are some other ideas that are quite "original" such as the chapter on "The Transmutation of Sexuality".I recommend this book highly.Email: Boland7214@aol.

Wow!!!
I am a huge fan of "Think and Grow Rich" and have read the book countless times.This is a book to study not just read.I love this version!"Think and Grow Rich" is the undisputed greatest book on achievement ever written.Great job with this restored version.This is a must have for all Napolean Hill fans.David Otis, Author of "Walk Fast, Talk Loud and Smile". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1835-1919    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Life - Inspirational    4. Carnegie, Andrew,    5. Motivational    6. Personal Growth - Success    7. Self-Help    8. Success in business    9. Advice on careers & achieving success    10. Business & Economics-Motivational    11. Self-Personal Growth - Success   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Corporate & Business History - General    4. Reference - General    5. Management & management techniques   

Reviews (22)

Among my first batch of books...greatest influence on attaining personal achievement in life!
The first batch of significant books that had the greatest influence on me in terms of attaining personal achievement includes mostly Napoleon Hill's books:
The Distilled Power Of Thinking And Growing Rich...
Sure, this is a wonderful starter kit (yes, I do have this book...) in addition to Hill's other books like "Think and Grow Rich", "The Master Key To Riches", et al. But more than that, it is a primer that makes you hungry for the mental nourishment of his full "Law Of Success" which I have just ordered through Amazon. And why am I giving this distillation five stars? C'mon, isn't it obvious, through these *distilled* principles you get a pretty good taste of the "spirit-voice" of Napoleon Hill. And when he says in later versions of "Think and Grow Rich" - 'through these pages we have met'. You know what he means here, even though it is shortened and edited. So, I've said enough, get started, happy reading.
Conceive... Believe... Achieve
"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve."
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Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Business/Economics    3. Leadership    4. Motivational    5. Personal Growth - Success    6. Self-Help    7. Self-actualization (Psychology)    8. Success    9. Success in business    10. Advice on careers & achieving success    11. Self-Help / Success   

Reviews (47)

Both Honest, and Dishonest, Just Like the Magic Kingdom
I can't give this book a one because it does summarize Disney's business morals well, BUT, it leaves out what is obvious, it's lack of respect for God. Disney, as this book shows, relies on pleasing the customer, not God. It's also helpful in that it does give business advice, although not totally.
Seven Keys to Success
This is a fun book, easy to read, great ideas to make your business more successful and customer friendly.I would recommend it highly and it is a great tool for a staff training or retreat.

Customer Service 101:A Must Read for Your Staff
This is an excellent tool for managers.While a good manager knows the seven secrets, the presentation in this book reinforces what you know.The secrets are presented in a different format that makes you think of other ways to motivate your staff.What makes this book really stand out is it is an easy, interesting book to read.Most books of this type are presented in a boring, academic format...while this is presented through various characters...those we have in our workplaces.I would recommend this book for all managers...especially those first time managers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Corporate & Business History - General    5. Entrepreneurship    6. Management    7. Management - General    8. Recreation Industries (Economic Aspects)    9. Walt Disney Company    10. International business    11. Social history    12. USA   

Editorial Review

How can you join the ranks of America's wealthy (defined as people whose net worth is over one million dollars)? It's easy, say doctors Stanley and Danko, who have spent the last 20 years interviewing members of this elite club: you just have to follow seven simple rules. The first rule is, always live well below your means. The last rule is, choose your occupation wisely. You'll have to buy the book to find out the other five. It's only fair. The authors' conclusions are commonsensical. But, as they point out, their prescription often flies in the face of what we think wealthy people should do. There are no pop stars or athletes in this book, but plenty of wall-board manufacturers--particularly ones who take cheap, infrequent vacations! Stanley and Danko mercilessly show how wealth takes sacrifice, discipline, and hard work, qualities that are positively discouraged by our high-consumption society. "You aren't what you drive," admonish the authors. Somewhere, Benjamin Franklin is smiling. ... Read more

Reviews (674)

Wow- I had no idea!
I guess that when you think of millionaires, you think of flashy people with nice cars and a lot of bling, but I had no Idea that there were so many BORING millionaires!I guess it's not really pboring to have over a million dollars, but I want to be able to enjoy my monye.THeat's the purpose of this book , though- to show that you have to be boring and then you can get to be a millionaire with all the money you didn't spend on fun stuff!I almost fell asleep a couple times reading this, but when I stayed awake it was really eye-opening.I won't scoff at those people who don't have "big hats" but have a lot of cattle anymore.

Common Sense
Nothing really groundbreaking here.Mostly common sense.You can visit a few websites and virtually get the same info presented in this book.

Unrealistic, repetitive, couldn't finish
This book was interesting at first.It shatters what most of us think the typical millionaire looks and acts like, but that only takes a chapter.After that, it just keeps repeating itself over and over."Who do you think bought the $1000 watch and who bought the lower priced watch?"Yeah, yeah, I get it; the millionaire has a lower priced watch than the overspending, no real wealth guy.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Consumer Finance    5. Finance    6. Millionaires    7. Personal Finance - General    8. Rich people    9. United States    10. Wealth    11. Advice on careers & achieving success    12. Biography & Autobiography / Business   

Reviews (5)

Motivate Young Employees
I was often puzzled by employees in their early 20s.They brought different values, expectations and skills to the workplace.My job was to teach them the service ethic, to keep them long enough to get the benefit of my training efforts and keep them motivated to put in a good day's work.
A 'must' for any member of the 'next generation employer'
Eric Chester's Getting Them To Give A Damn: How To Get Your Front Line To Care About Your Bottom Line provides an excellent key to turning uncaring employees into performers and innovators. The latest generation shares a new set of values and won't blindly conform to company policy - but they can be motivated, and 'Generation Y expect' author Eric Chester shows how. From recruiting the best new employees to using different types of training to make them loyal, this is a 'must' for any member of the 'next generation employer'.
A 'must' for any member of the 'next generation employer'
Eric Chester's Getting Them To Give A Damn: How To Get Your Front Line To Care About Your Bottom Line provides an excellent key to turning uncaring employees into performers and innovators. The latest generation shares a new set of values and won't blindly conform to company policy - but they can be motivated, and 'Generation Y expect' author Eric Chester shows how. From recruiting the best new employees to using different types of training to make them loyal, this is a 'must' for any member of the 'next generation employer'.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Corporate & Business History - Strategies    5. Employment    6. Management - General    7. Personnel And Human Resources Management    8. Personnel management    9. Sales Training    10. Small Business - General    11. Teenagers    12. Training    13. United States    14. Workplace Culture    15. Young adults    16. Business & Economics / Finance    17. Small businesses & self-employed   

Reviews (51)

Best personal finance book out there
David Bach wrote a personal finance and investment book that anyone can benefit from, no matter how old or young you are or what your financial situation is.David wrote the book in a very approachable, comprehensive format so the reader should walk away with many ideas about how to improve his or her financial situation.You will probably not agree with every word on every page (and David probably wouldn't want it that way), and for example, I am very happy being a renter at the moment rather than taking on a mortgage, and I have very good reasons for doing so.
There's hope for anyone!
Excellent and informative. It got me really excited about planning for my future, even if you are at middle age. It really points out what you SHOULD know about your finances and how to find out what you don't know by giving you alot of links to look up. It was really helpful in explaining the 401k and how to invest for it. Mostly, I found it inspiring. It made me want to go out and be somebody!

Start Late, Finish Rich
I just finished the book. Based on additional financial information presented in the book, I now have an action item list to finish rich with a late start. As far as the information on employment is concerned, I now have better direction on how to become a great employee and not just a good one. Answering the questions honestly provided me that direction. I will admit, I have to go back and really read the chapters on real estate. With owning my own home, I already have a head start.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Consumer Finance    3. Finance, Personal    4. Financial security    5. Investments    6. Motivational    7. Personal Finance    8. Personal Finance - Financial Planning    9. Personal Finance - General    10. Personal Finance - Money Management    11. Business & Economics / Personal Finance / General   

Reviews (38)

A Very High Level View
Being co-authored by a business school alum, I had to buy this book. I believe it provides a pretty good overview of how business consultants (mostly strategy) approach problems analytically. It introduces readers to hypothesis based analysis.
Doesnt really deliver -- former McKinsey trying to cash in on the name
Ok, everyone wants to know how McKinsey does it. Works with leading companies, drives corporate strategy, has great influence and often wind up CEOs in their own right.
The Five Activities of McKinsey Consultants
This is framework and brief explanation of the five areas of activities that McKinsey consultants enagage in.They are:
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business consultants    4. Business/Economics    5. Corporate & Business History - Strategies    6. Industrial management    7. Leadership    8. Management    9. Management - General    10. McKinsey and Company    11. Business & Economics / Consulting    12. Business strategy    13. Management & management techniques