Reviews (44)

"the book" for all executives and managers
It is not a book focus on "managing career transmission" as suggested by the title of the book. Actually it is the guide book on all management related topics on management effeciveness, leadership, negotiation and organizational behavior. Very clearly articulated, easy to read and down to earth. Another excellent example of Harvard's high intellegence assets.

Great Topic - kudos Mr Watkins!
My husband took the book out from the library for me and after reading the first few chapters I decided that this was a book to own. As you will keep going back to re-read the roadmap to help you on your new venture(s).
Most helpful!
Sound, practical advice for anyone climbing the corporate ladder. Great exercises and guidelines for conversations with new bosses as well as new underlings. Great help for those first 90 days and beyond. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Decision Making & Problem Solving    5. Executive ability    6. Leadership    7. Management    8. Strategic planning    9. Structural Adjustment    10. Management & management techniques   

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

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Reviews (22)

Just what we needed!
This book hits the "heart" of what many managers miss in planning change initiatives.This helps us remember that change isn't all number and business decisions.It's the people.I was able to immediately apply some of the ideas and resteered a change initiative successfully. Now all of my supervisors are reading and learning.

Fundamentals for helping an organization undergo change successfully
This book is the textbook for how an organization can successfully lead with change.I have used the 8-step method with various organizations and successfully 'seen-felt-changed' for the better.

Best Change Management Book I've Read to Date
I'm now in a "Change Management" role with my work, and decided to read some texts on the subject to further my understanding of the topic.Of those books that I've read, this one has clearly been the most helpful.Kotter articulates the steps of change in a way that connected with me, and made it real with a number of relevant examples.It's not onerous to read (<200 pages) but equally isn't "lightweight."While I would never recommend reading only a single book on the topic,I would definitely recommend that this be one of the books you read!
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Entrepreneurship    5. Leadership    6. Organizational Behavior    7. Organizational change    8. Structural Adjustment    9. Management & management techniques   

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   

Reviews (242)

The original theory of constraints story
A particularly easy, menorable read -- I still refer to it in my engineering discussions in the business place.A must read whose applicability goes beyond manufacturing engineering.
A Classic!!!
I was required to read this book as apart of my MBA program.Boy am I glad I was!!!This is an excellent book that uses the favorable fable approach to get points across.There are excellent principles that are presented in a way that seems more like reading a NY times best seller.Very easy read!!!

Still effective after all these years.
Even though the first edition of this book was 1984, the message is still applicable.The Goal of the business is to make money, and Goldratt tells us how in a very entertaining read.Subsequent books by several authors still mimic his theme of continual process improvement through the reduction of bottlenecks which uncovers still more areas for improvement.This is one book I always buy for new managers when they start their corporate journey.I bought this one for a new CEO friend of mine.He thought it was great! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Business/Economics    3. Didactic fiction    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Organizational Behavior    7. Production & Operations Management    8. Structural Adjustment   

Reviews (21)

enjoyed
I enjoyed reading this book.It was written in a concise manner and still managed to explore the details of negotiation.

Wonderful tool for handling transitions of all kinds
Whether we are leading a team, a family, or even ourself through a transition, this book gives us the necessary tools to thrive through it. You get the theory and the practice. Since we all undergo change which sparks transitions, this book will benefit everyone.

Start-ups and Managing Transitions
The focus of the venture capital community is on the change a new disruptive company intends to bring to the world, and little, if any, attention is paid to the changes and transitions that the company, as it moves from concept development to full commercialization, will have to negotiate to achieve its vision. "Transition Management" provides an excellent `how to' book for young, fragile companies as they negotiate the never ending changes and transitions that they will be forced to make.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Economics - General    5. Entrepreneurship    6. Industrial management    7. Management    8. Management - General    9. Organization Theory    10. Organizational change    11. Structural Adjustment    12. Management & management techniques    13. Personnel & human resources management    14. Takeovers, mergers & buy-outs    15. Business and Management   

Reviews (4)

A good "door" to be opened by those interested for Innovation
A collection of reviews in Innovation Strategies/Policies/Theories/Practices some of them related with case studies in big companies.
state of the art on innovation
I'm searching for new ways to develop an entrepreneurial area at the university, and this book gave us more tools and knowledge to center in creativity rather than business plan the entrepreneurial curricula.
A Good Introduction to Innovation
While by no means a great book, this collection of articles on innovation from the Harvard Business Review is a good introduction to the art of innovation, as it is written in a simple but effective style. The articles also address the topic of innovation in a variety of ways, thus ensuring that almost everyone will find something useful that is written in a style conducive to their preferences.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Development - Business Development    5. Entrepreneurship    6. Organizational change    7. Organizational effectiveness    8. Structural Adjustment    9. Technological innovations    10. Project management   

Reviews (8)

The Improvement Guide
A very clear update of performance improvement process for business.Can be used as an introduction to the concept for newly trained staff and an everyday reference for those working on real projects.

A must read for all Black Belts
This is a very practical and powerful guide for improvement. Improvement viewed as a science.
Whether involved with improving products/processes within a business or coaching little league baseball, The Improvement Guide provides a practical and fundamental approach for improving performance.The book serves as anexcellent reference for those involved with change, specifically, changethat will result in improvement.Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Corporate Planning    4. Entrepreneurship    5. Management - General    6. Organizational change    7. Organizational effectiveness    8. Quality (Management)    9. Quality control    10. Reference    11. Structural Adjustment    12. Total Quality Management    13. Business & Economics / General    14. Production & quality control management   

Reviews (5)

Excellent!
Change and transition have become the norm for most organizations today.Change is difficult, unpredictable and demanding, and can threaten a company's success.In order to cope with change, your organization and its people must be able to balance between the familiar and the unfamiliar.You must be able to absorb as much change as possible without slipping into chaos.In order to do this, you must take steps to make your organization and its employees more nimble.The author provides the following advice for companies to become more flexible in an environment of constant change:
Insightful!
Daryl R. Conner's book operates under the assumption that the future of business will be steeped in chaos. Thus, it tries to prepare the leaders of the future for the kinds of challenges that result from chaos. These challenges will primarily involve employees, since every person reacts differently and usually unfavorably, to change. The companies that marshal an agile workforce and adapt quickly to unexpected circumstances will do the best in this unstable environment. This thoroughly researched book gives leaders a decisive look at what happens when the human psyche tries to navigate change. Conner documents the problems people have when they deal with change and offers a disciplined strategy for making your organization more limber. Even if you've heard many of the key concepts presented before, as you navigate the waters of change, this calm, lucid manual will keep your hands steady at the helm. Therefore, we [...] recommend it to everyone who is confronting change, and that is everyone.
Capitalizing on the emotional edge-
The consideration of the human component of the organization should not be overlooked- nor it's importance be minimized. Anyone who has ever tried to lead the unwilling or otherwise disinterested can appreciate the value of the Human Due Diligence model.Recent focus on employee satisfaction polling and scores underline today's concern with the "happy" employee, assuming that he/she is also the more complient, resilient and productive one.This book is a melding of how humans function in transition and organizational change.It provides a formula and certainly a novel slant to a topic much written about.Daryl Connor has taken concern for employee's feelings about their work environment directly to the heads of corporations and their boards.He creates a replicable framework on which to build an organization that can recognize, adapt to, and recover from change faster than it's competition. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Corporate reorganizations    5. Entrepreneurship    6. Management    7. Management - General    8. Organization Development    9. Organizational Behavior In Business    10. Organizational behavior    11. Organizational change    12. Organizational sociology    13. Structural Adjustment    14. Business & Economics / Leadership    15. Management & management techniques   

Reviews (16)

Deep Change or Slow Death?
In this wonderful book, Quinn challenges us to confront our own hypocrisy and make a choice between deep change or slow death -- that is to say between commitment or disengagement. It's actually not an easy choice to make. Most of us have taken the easy path and chosen not to speak out when w've known what needed to be changed. Or, we've run from a difficult work situation, leaving the problems behind for someone else to clean up, not admitting our part in the failure or taking responsibility for changing ourselves.
An Eye Opener
This is probably the best book I have seen that tackles the theory behind how groups or corporations grow and change over time.I found it particularly helpful in seeing our church from an organic point of view.The writing is more metaphysical than I like at the beginning, but by working through it, I was better able to understand the remainder of the book.
Change at a Core Level
This book is for readers who are ready to look inside themselves in order to change their organizations. It isn't a book for novices. You need a fair amount of business experience to have the perspective to understand author Robert E. Quinn's message. Likewise, you need to have enough invested in your current organization to care if it changes. Quinn offers some theoretical analysis, but leavens it with ample practical examples and exercises. If you have a job, rather than a career, or if you are committed to staying in a narrow, technical field or just waiting for your retirement, skip this book. However, if you're willing to engage in extended self-examination, we suggest this to you. However, be warned that that many of Quinn's drills are emotionally challenging, such as identifying how you resist change or pegging which elements of your organization are more committed to the status quo than to success. But, then, whoever said change was easy? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Entrepreneurship    5. Leadership    6. Leadership In Business    7. Management    8. Management - General    9. Organizational change    10. Structural Adjustment    11. Advice on careers & achieving success    12. Business & Economics / General    13. Project management   

Reviews (24)

Only for business managers?
Contrary to popular opinion on this website, I found this book to be boring, repetitive and badly written. It was so boring I struggled to finish it during a journey where I had little else to do. This book summarizes a few events that were significant to Intel and offers advice on how similar business changes should be handled. Being an engineer, and not a manager, I found this to be vague and rambling. However I do agree with the book's title - Only the Paranoid survive. I think this outlook is useful for everyone, and not just business types.

Lengthy Writing
I picked up this book after seeing some good reviews about it.
How to survive in the new economy
This a good book based on facts. Andrew Grove goes on describing how Intel managed to shift from a semiconductor to the microprocessor company while he was the CEO... (now it is shifting again under Paul Otellini).
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Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Business/Economics    3. Economic aspects    4. Executive Management    5. Management - General    6. Organizational change    7. Strategic planning    8. Structural Adjustment    9. Technological innovations    10. Business & Economics / General    11. Business strategy   

Editorial Review

In this third installment in the popular Read more

Reviews (12)

A great read at the 1 year mark after Fish! 1
As a manager in a government agency, I utilized the first Fish! book with our team as a part of our Manager's meeting last year this time. It was widely regarded as the best meeting we've ever had. Everyone loved it. Everything that the first book indicated would happen did. It was really pretty awesome. We are now widely regarded as the the best shops in the state, largely because of the practices we put in place with the first book.
Make Change Stick
The well known FISH! philosophy can be applied to the health care setting. In this series, the 6th floor of a local hospital is transformed by the FISH! philosophy started by a nurse manager. After she leaves, the health care administrators are concerned that the FISH! philosophy was just a gimick. They plan to ensure a lasting change. This is achieved by helping employees make an internal change of heart rather than only an external or pep rally type of change. The application to health care is very timely and may be very helpful to nurse managers and nursing staff, especially those who work on units with low morale.

This Fish STINKS!
Chirpy ideas, bad writing.I feel sorry for the poor saps who get stuck being slaves under this motivational trash.In your job, to "make their day" is best made by giving them a paycheck, or better yet a raise.That's why people work.You have to "be there" otherwise you get fired.As for "play"?Heh.Who feels like "playing" when they feel like they're going to puke when they are force-fed this garbage at the office?
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Management    5. Management - General    6. Motivational    7. Organizational Behavior    8. Organizational change    9. Structural Adjustment    10. Business & Economics / Motivational   

Reviews (29)

A "must-understand" for leaders concerned with long-term prosperity
Many thanks to Vijay Govindarajan (VG) and Chris Trimble for this grand exposition of ideas first shared in the Spring 2005 California Management Review and the May 2005 Harvard Business Review.VG and Trimble's "Forget, Borrow, Learn" framework is the most powerful recipe for corporate reinvention that I have encountered.
Raising Tigers
In Nature it is rare for one species to successfully rear the young of another species. The difficulties, for example, of a tiger cub being raised by a herd of elephants are easy to imagine. If the tiger isn't accidentally trampled underfoot while it is still too immature to look after itself, it is only a matter of time before some astute members of the elephant herd recognize they are raising a natural enemy, and trample it underfoot on purpose.
How to start a new business structure inside an established success
Even the most successful business eventually hits a growth ceiling which can lead to stagnation and new industry emergence: but most businesses can use their profitable platform to make changes with a little extra innovation, which is explored in Vijay Govindarajan & Chris Trimble's TEN RULES FOR STRATEGIC INNOVATORS: FROM IDEA TO EXECUTION. Start a new business structure inside a large, established company structure with the rules here: they are accompanied by industry profiles of companies which have successful made such changes, and provides ideas managers can't afford not to consider. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Enterprise    4. Business/Economics    5. Creative ability in business    6. Entrepreneurship    7. Management    8. New Business Enterprises    9. Strategic Planning    10. Structural Adjustment    11. Business strategy   

Reviews (9)

Excellent Resource
Ms. Goodman's book is a much needed resource on CDOs.If you are just learning about the CDO market, Ms. Goodman clearly defines key terms and explains the structures from beginning to end.Those with extensive Wall Street experience will enjoy having one of the few well-written references available in the market.It is also a good marketing tool to give to potential investors.This is a good comprehensive reference guide.

Ridiculous and outrageous accusation by an idiot reviewer
The reviewer below suggests that Moorad Choudhry has posted a negative review of this book. To him/her I say this: Moorad Choudhry did not write it. I did. Mr Choudhry actually has a very high opinion of this book, and recommended to me I buy it when I attended a Bloomberg seminar he lectured at a few months ago. "Buy the new Goodman/Fabozzi book on CDOs, its excellent" he told me. Great book on CDOs - personally recommended
I have no hesitation in recommonding this as a great book on CDOs. I have bought a copy myself and it is very impressive. Moorad Choudhry. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asset-backed financing    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Debt    6. Finance    7. Financial Economics (General)    8. Structural Adjustment    9. Business & Economics / Finance    10. Investment & securities   

Reviews (5)

After 2 years, I refer to this most often
I've noticed that I reach for this book in my Lean practice, more than any other. Coincidence or a great book? I think it's not coincidence. This is lean classic for the TOTAL ENTERPRISE.

Excellent Book
Solid book.Filled with quality info, no fluff.I wish every book was of this quality.

Good Overview of the Lean Journey
I have been a Lean Practitioner for over twenty years and have had the privilege of learning from some of the original teachers of Lean in the United States. I have reviewed other publications on implementing LEAN Systems and this book is one of the few that have any value to the reader. If you are a company owner or President, I would recommend you also read "The Toyota Way" (the most enjoyable to read), or "Leading the Lean Initiative" by John W. Davis. If you are a Lean Champion "Lean Production Simplified" is the BEST introduction to the Toyota Production System and to LEAN Tools that exists today. If you have any responsibility for leading or implementing LEAN in your organization, this would be required reading for everyone who will be part of your own transformation. Lean Production Simplified is an excellent investment of your time and money. Another good introduction to LEAN is "Running Today's Factory". The series of shopfloor guides by Productivity Press is also helpful for your first "baby steps". Beyond that, find a real lean "sensei". A great place to find one is at your state's "MEP" (Manufacturing Extension Partnership) Center.
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Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Management - General    3. Structural Adjustment   

Reviews (5)

Too Academic
This book is much too academic. Can somebody recommend an organizational change book written by a practitioner? This book is designed for undergraduate students.

Professional 'Keeper'
This 'Guide' book is one of four used in a Human Resource Development course that I took in a masters program.The content is the type that will be referred to over and over again in the course of an HRDV career.Some principles should not change, and the ones in this book are rich.A copy is staying in my personal library.

Solid definitions and foundation for understanding OD
I love this book!It is a must-have for all practitioners, beginners, or anyone who wants to place solid definitions of all elements associated with organization development. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business consultants    4. Business/Economics    5. Handbooks, manuals, etc    6. Management    7. Organizational Behavior    8. Organizational change    9. Structural Adjustment    10. Training    11. Business & Economics / Human Resources & Personnel Management    12. Business & Management   

Editorial Review

After Michael Treacy finished writing his bestseller, Read more

Reviews (8)

Fail often, Fail fast, Fail Cheap
[...]
Growth-focused Management
This straightforward book reduces the problem of corporate growth to five simple disciplines. Some of these disciplines will be familiar to readers of author Michael Treacy's bestseller `The Discipline of Market Leaders'. The author identifies sound principles, and he supports his case with numerous examples from the annals of corporate success and failure. Although the five disciplines are sometimes so obvious (try to get more customers) that a reader may well wonder if any businessperson could possibly be unaware of them, it is true that egregious corporate downfalls often result from a failure to recognize and respond to the obvious. If the book only pointed out the obvious to those in danger of ignoring it, we would find that entirely worthwhile and, for companies that wish to grow, it does a good bit more.

Great insights, a must for corporate "victims" everywhere.
Michael Treacy sets out to show that growth, double digit growth at that, is possible in every economic environment.This is of course a crea