Reviews (93)

Beyond expectations for firms searching for answers
I admit I was skeptical of the promises this book made.The book went beyond my expectations.It gives a structured framework for culling newness out of tired competition.
Profound Insights into Marketing and into Life!
The authors show us examples of companies who were not satisfied with the socially accepted business paradigms of their industry and were eventive enough to create a whole new market for themselves with their intuition, grit and determination. Exciting! May even change your life!

If you do not own your own business, his could be fun reading
I have never made the time to review a book, but this book came highly reccommended by other reviewers.Since I cant know their business backgrounds, I'd like to help someone else in making the decision of reading this book.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Investments & Securities - General    5. Market segmentation    6. Marketing - General    7. Marketing Management    8. New products    9. Product Management    10. Strategic Planning    11. Business strategy   

Editorial Review

Five years ago, Jim Collins asked the question, "Can a good company become a great company and if so, how?" In Read more

Reviews (482)

Superb!
This is the best book I have read in regards to successful business.If you work in the corporate world, this is a must read.It is based on five years of research, and the author doesn't try to prove anything other than that which the facts prove.I am reading it for the fourth time now and draw more from it each time.Again, a must read.

Good to Great review from Steven Vornea
Every single person needs to read this book and just buy it! This book can be a life changer for people.
One of the best business books out there
Jim Collins puts forward one of the great concepts in business...and in life...that getting the right people in the right situations is the best staple of great leadership.Collins' message can be applied to any situation (business, sports, education, etc.).He has an engaging writing style and uses a wide variety of companies to illustrate his central theme of leadership as leading to great success.Collins also illustrates the great importance of a humble leader, one who gives of him/herself for the betterment of the system as a whole.This was a fascinating read, and you will close the book with a great deal of insight into how you run both your professional and personal life.A terrific, terrific read.In fact, I have gone back and begun to read Built to Last, which is actually the prequel to Good to Great.I honestly could not recommend this book more than I do. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Corporate & Business History - Strategies    5. Corporate Planning    6. Leadership    7. Leadership In Business    8. Management    9. Management - General    10. Organizational change    11. Strategic Planning    12. Technological innovations    13. Business & Economics / Management    14. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (60)

Behind-the-scenes of Big Business
A good behind the scenes type of book. Interesting to learn why Toyota is one of the big three automakers.

Good Summary of Toyota Culture
This book brings it all together under 14 principles. It is a good book for those who would like to learn about Toyota's success.

THE TOYOTA WAY CD REVIEW
On disk # 2 some of the tracks "skip" when played and are inaubible.Have not yet played all of the disks, but was disappointed to find this lack of quality - especially when the book topic stresses the importance of quality. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Case studies    5. Corporate & Business History - Strategies    6. Corporate culture    7. Management - General    8. Production management    9. Quality Control    10. Business & Economics / Management    11. Management & management techniques   

Reviews (3)

Informative business guide to strategy
I bought this book for a college class and kept it. While it is not the most exciting book, the case studies are an excellent guide to a wide range of business plans and strategies. The cases are divided into four categories: single business companies, diversified companies, implementing and executing strategy and ethics & social responsibility. The cases are very complete and interesting. The downside is the shelf life of the book - I would expect a new edition before long.

Student Review
I am a student majoring in Business Administration who recently used this text in an upper-level management course.The book's writing is utterly superfluous.Boredom was frequently my sentiment as I weeded through unnecessarily labyrinthine sentences.The ideas in the book were occasionally interesting, but were usually ideas I had already developed on my own via simple intuition.Perhaps the most valuable part of the text is the section of case studies.This closing segment of the book contains many great ideas for student projects.Overall, this text disappoints me as a student

Product Still to be Used
I will begin using this product next week, and will be in a better position to review it after my six week module. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Management - General    5. Self-Help    6. Strategic Planning    7. Business & Economics / Management    8. Business strategy   

Reviews (58)

Highly readable, useful, and even inspiring
What happens when an organization needs to change (if it hopes to be successful in the future) but hasn't put much thought into what the process of change itself looks like?More than likely: failure.
Read it too late
This book is excellent for anyone going through or planning to make changes in any organization. The material is straight forward, concise, and right on target. I only wish I had read this book last year before attempting to make major changes in our organization

Very Helpful
I would recommend this book to any manager who is currently leading an organizational change effort. It's very practical. Kotter's Eight Steps are easy to follow. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Entrepreneurship    5. Industrial organization    6. Leadership    7. Leadership In Business    8. Organization Development    9. Organizational change    10. Strategic planning    11. Structural Adjustment    12. Business strategy    13. Organizational theory & behaviour   

Editorial Review

Personal-finance author and lecturer Robert Kiyosaki developed his unique economic perspective through exposure to a pair of disparate influences: his own highly educated but fiscally unstable father, and the multimillionaire eighth-grade dropout father of his closest friend. The lifelong monetary problems experienced by his "poor dad" (whose weekly paychecks, while respectable, were never quite sufficient to meet family needs) pounded home the counterpoint communicated by his "rich dad" (that "the poor and the middle class work for money," but "the rich have money work for them"). Taking that message to heart, Kiyosaki was able to retire at 47. Read more

Reviews (1871)

Not much to learn
I found his advises similar with what I knew since my childhood (save money, invest to bring you more money, don't spend much, real estate is good, etc). It does not give tips on what "rich" people know (at least I suspect they would know more). Like how and where to get valuable information. How to buy stocks, what to look for, nothing of that. May be inspirational book for some, a poor kid who became rich... Tells 100 times the same things, annoying at some point.
"Good" Salesman; QuestionableBook
RICH DAD, POOR DAD seems contradictory in more than one way:economically and philosophically.Probably, Kiyosaki's most inviting, yet deceptive, chapters is Eight, "Overcoming obstacles."Here, he is at his most fervent; one can feel he believes what he is writing is true.But it is not necessarily true about life itself.
GREAT!
This book is very motivational and understandable.It doesnt matter what your background is on investing, this book will help you learn and identify great investments! It reveals the way you think and how to develope the right way of thinking for Wealth!
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Consumer Finance    3. Finance, Personal    4. Investments    5. Personal Finance    6. Personal Finance - General    7. Personal Finance - Investing    8. Rich people    9. Business & Economics / Personal Finance / Investing    10. Business strategy   

Editorial Review

Spawned by a 10-year study of 2,000 firms conducted at Bain & Company, a global consultancy specializing in business strategy, Read more

Reviews (28)

Define your core business clearly
The authors of this book see 3 essential elements separating a good growth strategy, one that is successful from a poor growth strategy, one that fails:
Skip this one and read the sequel instead
This is not a terrible book- it has some interesting case studies which the authors use to prove their points. However, there is not a great deal in here that is new if you've read the sequel to this book first ("Beyond the Core", Zook), and have read other
Very Realistic and very useful
This book is very good, it explains very clearly the different growth concepts with clear definitions, and a very interesting growth matrix. in addition, unlike other books, this book uses a lot of real world examples to illustarte the different concepts and growth startegies. It explains how companies, that succeded, evolved from their core business and developed new products without getting lost in the process. Also, explains why and how some companies failed. The book is realistic, and gives you some tools and matrix that you can apply when analyzing and developing a growth strategy. You should also check out the web site, it has some examples of how to apply the gowth matrix. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Corporate & Business History - General    5. Corporate Finance    6. Corporate profits    7. Corporations    8. Entrepreneurship    9. Growth    10. Industrial management    11. Management - General    12. Strategic Planning    13. Business strategy   

Reviews (47)

Are you adding or destroying value ? - Find it out with The Balanced Score Card
The financial performance of an organization is essential for its success. Even non-profit organizations must deal in a sensible way with funds they receive.
Aligning four key business areas to your vision and strategy
This book has become a classic in the field of business management.The 'balanced scorecard' has surely been referenced enough to include it in the dictionary.Robert Kaplan is the Arthur Lowes Dickson Professor of Accounting at Harvard Business School.His co-author David Norton is the president of Renaissance Solutions, Inc.
Effective for top down planning
The balanced scorecard approach is a very effective tool for top-down planning initiatives. The method will ensure that any business unit initiative is cross-checked with the broader corporate goals.The book provides an easy-to-understand yet detailed how-to guide to strategy planning.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Corporate Planning    5. Entrepreneurship    6. Evaluation    7. Industrial Management    8. Industrial productivity    9. Management - General    10. Measurement    11. Organizational effectiveness    12. Strategic Planning    13. Budgeting & financial management    14. Business strategy   

Reviews (16)

A great book to learn MS Project 2003 AND scheduling techniques
I purchased this book as part of the "Microsoft Office Project 2003 Orange Belt Self Study Package" from IIL (Institute for International Learning). For those who understand the basic concepts of project management, the book is extremely educational as it will teach you the basics of MS Project, as well as various project scheduling techniques that you may not have been aware of.
Reveals Many MSP Issues-but Not for Beginners
This book will not teach you how to perform 'work planning' (or scheduling) and it will not teach you the basics of how to use MS Project.I have at least 5 thick books that do that, and I consider most of them useless.I have been managing IT projects since the 1980s, and have used MS Project (MSP) since the early 1990s. I have spent many late hours struggling with its confusing and misleading and Poorly documented) functions that do not always do what you expect (or the help/manual says)it will do.I particulary dislike it's seemingly random choice to recalc a critical path, and changes dates and durations based only on resources.In June, my team (an experienced set of IT project managers)took advanced MS Project training from the "International Institute for Learning". All 15 people who attended the training said it was the best MS project training they had ever had!
Solid book
I bought this book off to help me with scheduling.I found it to be both comprehensive and fun; Using examples at the end of each chapter to reinforce the learning.I tend to refer back to it whenever I'm planning a new project.This book was well worth my time and energy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Business Software - General    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computer programs    5. Computers    6. Microsoft Project    7. Project Management    8. Business strategy    9. Project management software   

Reviews (2)

Why Re-Invent the Wheel When You Don't Have To?
The most successful companies learn more and more from the best practices of other successful companies. John Baldoni has selected some of the most persuasive people from the twentieth century and has analyzed and revealed their secrets so that you or I or anyone can improve our communication.It saves precious time to learn from others.Don't waste precious time by learning to communicate better by trial and error.Buy this book and learn from some of the best communicators of the twentieth century how they did and do it, so you can do the same.

AN INTRIGUING "HOW-TO" OF LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATIONS
Baldoni's "Great Communication Secrets Of Great Leaders" is a well-researched and highly readable "how-to" of leadership communications.This author knows his material, and presents it through the interesting device of linking principles to some of the world's leading communicators. It was refreshing to read a business-centered book that focus specifically on the communication aspects of leadership, which Baldoni obviously understands quite well. As a former professional actor, I also enjoyed how the author links dynamic presentations to effective performance.This book is well worth the modest cover price.A definite "buy!" ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Communication - General    4. Business/Economics    5. Communication In Business    6. Communication in management    7. Corporate & Business History - Strategies    8. Leadership    9. Leadership In Business    10. Business & Economics / Business Communication    11. Business communication & presentation    12. Management & management techniques   

Reviews (17)

First we start with a mistake...
Having observed the healthcare industry for the last couple of decades, I would like to point out a flaw in the author's recommendations:
the next 20 years, explained
Michael Porter, of value chain and competitive advantage fame, has taken on the US health care system.Your reviewer, who is speaking from inside the system, can guarantee that both his diagnosis and his proposed fix are bang on. In short, you bring the US healthcare system in line with other industries by making information about the outcomes of healthcare available to consumers, then letting them choose. How to get there from here takes up most of the book, and it is as brilliant and thoughtful as Porter fans have come to expect. Read this one.

A sentinel work on healthcare reform
Michael Porter and Elizabeth Teisberg have presented a sentinel work in the field of healthcare management.American healthcare is capable of providing the very best skill, professional expertise, and technology the world has ever seen. What is failing in our healthcare system is the management and business organization required deliver value to the recipients of this expertise-- patients.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Cost control    5. Cost effectiveness    6. Economic Conditions    7. Evaluation Of Health Services    8. Health Care Issues    9. Health Policy    10. Industries - General    11. Management - General    12. Medical Economics    13. Medical care    14. Public Policy - Economic Policy    15. Quality control    16. Business strategy   

Editorial Review

IDEO, the world's leading design firm, is the brain trust that's behindsome of the more brilliant innovations of the past 20 years--from the Applemouse, the Polaroid i-Zone instant camera, and the Palm V to the "fat" toothbrushfor kids and a self-sealing water bottle for dirt bikers. Not surprisingly,companies all over the world have long wondered what they could learn from IDEO,to come up with better ideas for their own products, services, and operations.In this terrific book from IDEO general manager Tom Kelley (brother of founderDavid Kelley), IDEO finally delivers--but thankfully not in the step-by-step,flow-chart-filled "process speak" of most how-you-can-do-what-we-do businessbooks. Sure, there are some good bulleted lists to be found here--such as thesecrets of successful brainstorming, the qualities of "hot teams," and, towardthe end, 10 key ingredients for "How to Create Great Products and Services,"including "One Click Is Better Than Two" (the simpler, the better) and "GoofProof" (no bugs).Read more

Reviews (61)

Absolutely interesting and motivating!
Tom Kelly presents us with a rare book that protrays interesting insights into how one can be innovative. He gives us hope that you need not be incredibly smart or technological enabled to be among the elite innovators.
Must have
Not every designer but also every innovative business-man should read this book. I've read many design-management books and applied many technics to improve innovation, but only this book tells you what is wrong and what is right with the best big test area in the world, IDEO.

Innovating the process of Innovation
Full of information about the development of innovative products and services ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Case studies    5. Corporate & Business History - Strategies    6. Creative ability    7. Creative ability in business    8. Economics - General    9. New Product Development    10. Operations Research    11. Structural Adjustment    12. Technological innovations    13. Technology    14. Business & Economics / General   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Human Resources & Personnel Management    5. Management - General    6. Business & Economics / Human Resources & Personnel Management    7. Business strategy   

Editorial Review

This analysis of what makes great companies great has been hailed everywhere as an instant classic and one of the best business titles since Read more

Reviews (133)

Should be from bad to worse
Despite trying very hard to deny that this is just another fad management book - there is nothing new in this title.Clueless managers will recite the core principals of this book and treat them as gospel as they try to improve their bottom line.It is also worth noting that at least one of the "great" organizations in the book, Fannie May, has imploded in an accounting scandal.Not the worst fad management book ever written, but that isn't saying much.

How Companies Succeed by Collins and Porras
The book separates core values from the operating practices of
A huge business hit of the early 90s that has aged pretty well
This is one of the business classics in the past twenty years.It has sold a huge number of copies and I am sure many of those purchased copies were actually read!As impressive as its sales numbers have been, the way it has affected the approach to the way business was discussed and talked about for the past dozen years has been even more impressive.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Corporate & Business History - General    5. Corporate & Business History - Strategies    6. Development - Sustainable Development    7. Entrepreneurship    8. Industrial management    9. Management - General    10. Success in business    11. United States    12. Business & Economics / Management   

Reviews (4)

Bought for class..
if your class is using this txt, i would highly recommend buying a used copy... new editions come out on almost a yearly to bi-yearly basis... after i completed my course, my book store would not buy the book back because the professor ordered a different edition for next semester...

Strategic managment -- a clear choice
This is an excellent text that is the bible of many strategy professors around the US.It is clear, concise and very thorough.the case studies at the back of the book offer a great deal of practical examples.I highly recommend making this book part of your professional reference library.

Strategic Management in the Context of Globalizatiion
This book is a detailed investigation of strategic management in the context of globalization and competitiveness. An integrated approach is used, but firm-based theory of strategic management is stressed throughout the book.Cases included in the book are chosen properly in relation with the topics, that is theory is clearly connected to the real experiences. Especially, topics titled as "Cooperative Strategy" , "Corporate Governance" , "Corporate Entrepreneurship and Innovation" will be very useful to better understand the planning dynamics.Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Industrial management    5. Management - General    6. Strategic Planning    7. Business & Economics / Systems & Planning    8. Business strategy   

Editorial Review

Sometime during the last 30 years, the service economy emerged as the dominant engine of economic activity. At first, critics who were uncomfortable with the intangible nature of services bemoaned the decline of the goods-based economy, which, thanks to many factors, had increasingly become commoditized. Successful companies, such as Nordstrom, Starbucks, Saturn, and IBM, discovered that the best way to differentiate one product from another--clothes, food, cars, computers--was to add service.Read more

Reviews (32)

How to Sell the Sizzle
Authors B. Joseph Pine II and James H. Gilmore look at the ways that corporations create engaging experiences for their customers to boost sales. They amass examples that confirm the developing trend toward an "Experience Economy." Their premise is that the post-industrial economy has evolved beyond delivering commodities and services, and is now poised to deliver "experiences." These experiences can include everything from a meal at a theme restaurant to a Disneyland vacation. The premise is interesting, but before you hit the trend button, realize that this is not the first time marketers have courted customers with powerful retail experiences. However, it may be the first time sellers have used virtual reality and Hollywood-style animated props. This intellectually interesting book dares to be far out and to pursue the concept of engaging customers to its extremes. We recommend this book to business owners or marketers more as a theoretical introduction to the "Experience Economy" than as a marketing manual. If you feel intrigued and engaged, that's the point. For more information, please refer to Disney World.

Curtain-Call Economics
Wow!I was so fascinated with this insightful book that I coined the above phrase.Curtain-call economics is the thrust of this book.How would your customer describe his experience with your company?How entertaining, how engaging, how educational and how beautiful was his experience?This book is chock-full of real-life examples of how to capitalize in this new arena comprising our economy.First there arose an industrial era, then a service era, now, an experiential era.With all types of services abounding and ubiquitous, your differentiation will be in providing the superior experience.This book categorically and metaphorically allies you with the absolute fundamentals for positioning your establishment for success.So, in keeping with one of the teachings of this book on building suspense, I will just say that there is an era immediately following this 'experience' economy that is delineated with much delight at the conclusion of the book.

More Exciting Than it Sounds
With a title like "The Experience Economy" and a tagline that reads "Work is Theatre and Every Business a Stage," one would think this would be an exciting and daring book on innovative business strategies. Daring it most certainly is; the metaphor comparing work to theatre is adventurous and eye-opening. But it is also overdrawn, and is rooted too much in theory and not so much in practical example. A particular disappointment was that the book did not really address how online businesses can create experiences for their clients; it is geared primarily towards offline busineses. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Customer services    5. Development - Business Development    6. Diversification in industry    7. Entrepreneurship &nbs