Customer Reviews (8)

Disappointing C# Reference
I have found this book to be a very disappointing C# reference. The scope of the book is very large, but it doesn't seem to give adequate coverage of much of anything. Time and again I have gone to this book looking for a specific piece of information only to be disappointed. Other sections of the book are very poorly written. For example, in the section on exception handling, they state correctly that exceptions shouldn't be used to break out of for or while loops, and then proceed with an example that does just that. I think the author's could have invested a little more time and effort in coming up with a better example of using exceptions. Instead of buying this book, you're much better off saving your money and just using the MSDN documentation pages.

Exellent Book
I don't agree that the authors used too many words. Each topic is covered clearly and succinctly. The reason the book is large is that it covers a huge amount of information (look at the table of contents). It is easy to read because the style is that of a person explaining the important points rather than a rehash of a manual. It gives insight and perspective not just facts. Lastly, there is no need to read the book cover to cover. I started with appendix A and B, then read the first 3 chapters and then skipped to the ADO.NET and ASP.NET sections.

As good as it gets!
This is truly a useful book, and my primary reference in parallel with the MSDN documentation. That is, it does not merely parrot the C# documentation, but supplements it. It gives behind-the-scenes insights, as well as useful application examples and snippets. It's as good as a 1272 page book on this expansive subject can get. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Languages / Programming   2. Computer Books: General   3. Computers   4. Programming - General   5. Programming Languages - C#   6. C & Visual C   

Customer Reviews (14)

Excellent Step-by-Step finish carpentry guide
I loved this book. It's very helpful in planning, estimating, and installing molding. Unlike most finish carpentry books this book is beautifully illustrated with examples of moldings and decorative ideas. It is not an exhaustive example of molding styles - and I didn't expect it to be. What this book does well is explain how to make your rooms resemble the rooms in the book. If you are a do-it-yourselfer I'd highly recommend this book

Worth Every Penny!
I couldn't agree more with Ricardo's review. I, too, stumbled upon that same article in "Today's Homeowner" and anxiously awaited the book's release. I had been looking for a comprehensive book on trim carpentry for a long time. I read the book cover to cover and started a new project the very next day. Jay's ideas and techniques are exactly what I was looking for to take my skill to the next level. My wife is in amazement with what I've done so far (with the right tools and Jay's guidance, it's EASY). I only have one question for Mr. Silber, "How long do I have to wait for your next book???"

Pretty Pics, Spotty Advice
If you're interested in ideas for interior woodwork, this book offers some nice photos that may inspire a project ... and sometimes inspiration is just what's needed to get us out of the chair and actively working. However, if you're interested in executing the work that's shown, an inexperienced carpenter will be hard pressed to succeed based on the information here. No book can substitute for experience, and this book is great for dreamers, but there are better carpentry guides out there if you actually want to do the work. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals   2. Decorating   3. Decorating - General   4. Do-It-Yourself - Carpentry   5. General   6. Home Improvement / Construction   7. House & Home   8. Trim carpentry   

Customer Reviews (10)

Short and sweet but too theoretical
This book is useful in directing novice options traders to the four biggest mistakes usually made in this area. The book does what is says with describing the theory behind the authors arguments but unfortunaly does not provide market examples on how that should be implemented in real life. Having read other books by this author, I am sure he is capable of supplementing his theory with examples . One of the mistakes he mentions is buying only out of the money options and he recommends buying in the money options. Unfortunately he does not address the fact that this approach could still result in a total loss if the option ends out of the money by expiration day. In addition to be successful in trading in the money options your timing needs to be accurate enough to be certain you do not face a total loss. Timing is never addressed in this book and you would need to supplement this by other books that focus more on this area.
Why 5 stars? Even with these shotcomings it is important that beginners know where they can go wrong and then focus on what to do right.

A worthwhile read for any option trader
I have just finished reading Jay Kaeppel's 1998 publication "The Four Biggest Mistakes in Option Trading". I found the book to be the most down to earth common sense approach to options trading that I have read to date.

Excellent book that delivers exactly what its title says
There are four basic mistakes all beginning option traders make, these are:
1)Relying solely on market timing;
2)Buying only out-of-the-money options;
3)Using strategies that are too complex; and
4)Casting too wide a net on option choices

Relying solely on market timing.
It causes failure because it ignores implied volatility. It can lead to paying far too much to purchase an option. It would be like buying a stock without knowing its P/E, or buying a car without knowing its blue book value. The way to avoid this mistake is by carefully analyzing which options are best suited to achieve your objective. Also, measure what is the current implied volatility of these options and compare it vs. the historical volatility of this option. This will give you an idea of the current valuation of this option, and whether it appears overpriced or underpriced.

Buying only out-of-the-money options.
By doing so, you ignore the probability that the option will eventually be in-the-money. It leads to buying options with little likelihood of profiting. You can get lucky once. But, such a blind strategy is a sure way to get wiped out in option trading. Instead, you should know exactly what is the probability of you making money on each option trades. This entails knowing the "Delta" of a specific option. If an option has a Delta of 20. It has a 20% chance of being in-the-money.

Using strategies that are too complex.
This leads to unfavorable risk\reward situations. First, you should determine your objective and make certain the trade you are going to make can achieve those objectives without more risk than you can handle.

Casting too wide a net.
You will spend too much time wasted looking for opportunities among illiquid options. By doing so, you will waste a lot of your potential returns on the wider bid and ask spreads of these less than liquid options. Instead, focus on securities that have actively traded options.

This book is a real eye opener on option trading. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics   2. Business / Economics / Finance   3. Business/Economics   4. Investments & Securities - General   5. Investments & Securities - Options   6. Personal Finance - Investing   

Customer Reviews (6)

A book that every opthometrist should have
This book have mostly of the phatologies that we found in every day practice.Even do that we as opthometrist don't treat all of them, is very important that as primary eye care providers we give our patients the proper information about their simptoms and their desease.I find this booh very handy to understand most of the ocular pathologies for non eye doctors and students as well.

P.D. MUST HAVE IT

EFRAIN CASTELLANOS O.D.

Six Star Book
I wanted to give six stars to this book, but Amazon.com does not have this option. This is the must have book for all the ophthamologists.

A Fantastic tool to have beside you !
After 2 years at university, you tend to rely upon certain sources for inspiration to carry on. This book was designed to teach and entertain symbiotically. The new format leads the reader into a pattern of thought that they can use in clinical practice. A must, to further your knowledge. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Medical   2. Medical / Nursing   3. Ophthalmology   

Customer Reviews (2)

excellent resource
Really good intro to ideas and concepts needed to redesign an organization in terms of its structure. Best if you already have some degree of experience in do it so you can really apply the concepts.

Guide to the factors that shape organizational design
Jay R. Galbraith is an internationally recognized expert on organization design. He is a Senior Research Scientist at the Center for Effective Organizations at the University of Southern California and Professor Emeritus at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland. This book is a updated/revised edition of 'Designing Organizations' which was originally published in 1995. It is split up into 10 chapters.

Chapter 1 - Introduction - really sets the stage for the rest of the book. It discusses the six main organization shapers: the increase buyer power; increase in the number of products and services; the Internet; multiple dimensions (functions, products, and geography, but also customer segments, solutions or offerings, and channels and processes); the requirement for a capacity to change; and speed (in bringing products and services to the market).

The following two chapters discuss how companies have to shape their organizational design, strategy, and structure in order how to deal with these organization shapers. Galbraith introduces his copyrighted Star Model (Strategy, structure, people, rewards, and processes), which looks AND sounds very similar to McKinsey's 7-S framework. Chapters 4 and 5 build on these chapter and discuss how organizations have to link their processes to coordination needs and integrate group processes. Then, in Chapter 6 discusses the easily changeable or reconfigurable organization based on the Star Model, which, according to Galbraith, results from the skilled use of three capabilities: (1) forming teams and networks across organizational departments; (2) the use of internal prices, markets, and marketlike devices to coordinate the complexity of multiple teams; and (3) the forming of partnerships to secure capabilities that it does not have. Each of these capabilities are discussed in detail.

The Chapters 7 to 10 are all very current and fashionable. They discuss the organizing around the customer, customer-focused structures, the design of the virtual corporation, and organizing the continuous design process. Although the subjects discussed are important, some of the examples are too long and take up most of the chapters. Some of the examples also do not really apply to every company/organization but are too specific. Still, these are issues that should not be forgotten about, especially organizing around the customer remains important.

I must admit that I am somewhat disappointed with this book, which is written by a leading authority in the field of organizational design. I believe it is especially the title that lets the book down. It is not so much a guide into strategies and structures; it more discusses the organization shapers and the possibilities that companies/organizations have to tackle the organization shapers. I believe that the book is especially weak in discussing organizational design and structures. Galbraith discusses his own Star-model (which reminds me of McKinsey's 7-S framework) and his reconfigurable organization (the learning organization?), but leaves all other models/designs/structures untouched. I have not been generous, the book really deserves a 3.5-star rating. The author uses simple business US-English. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics   2. Business / Economics / Finance   3. Business/Economics   4. Corporate Planning   5. Entrepreneurship   6. Organization Theory   7. Organizational effectiveness   8. Strategic Planning   9. Business & Economics / Systems & Planning   10. Business strategy   11. Organizational theory & behaviour   

Customer Reviews (2)

Great Book!
Very good book. You learn and understand the basics of operations management very fast. Also very usefull book on advanced level.

Professional, interesting and comprehensive!
As someone who has taught Operations Management since Spring semester, 1980 following fifteen years in operations management in the steel industry, I've had the opportunity to review a large number of textbooks in this area. Without exageration, this is the most comprehensive, "user friendly" text that I have found. The illustrations, practice problems, power point slides and text book web site are great. Student comments have been very positive.

I strongly urge my colleagues who teach Operations Management to give this book a very serious look. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics   2. Business / Economics / Finance   3. Business/Economics   4. Production & Operations Management   5. Business & Economics / Production & Operations Management   

Subjects:  1. Football - College   2. Football - General   3. History   4. Sports   5. Sports & Recreation   

Customer Reviews (1)

A well-done text w/ plenty of support
I'll make two separate sets of comments - one for professors and one for students.

Students first... There is a well-done website that accompanies the book, which includes outlines, sample tests & quizzes, and related study materials. The text is about average in terms of readability in comparison to other texts on the subject, and there are plenty of real-world examples to illustrate OM concepts (OM texts, as a general rule, don't read well). You may be able to get by with a previous edition if the textbook contents are your priority, but be advised, however, that the seventh edition contains some new and revised material, a few chapters have been re-arranged, and there are some different end-of-chapter exercises and cases.

For professors... You are probably already aware that OM can be challenging for the professor as well as the student, esp. with respect to where to aim the course - to the managers and generalists, or to the technicians & quantitatively-oriented. Heizer and Render have enough material to support either approach. The text is accompanied with ample instructor resources, including a CD and a website with slideshows, notes, outlines, and various other pedagogical tools. The testbank is easy to use, but should be supplemented with some quantitative short problems (if a quantitative approach is important to you).
Heizer and Render have also done a fair job of keeping the material up-to-date, which has resulted, after seven editions, in a pretty decent product. For me, the instructor resources and the comprehensiveness of the content (adequate support for either a managerial or quantitative approach) make Heizer and Render a good choice by comparison to other OM texts. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics   2. Engineering - General   3. Operations Management   4. Production & Operations Management   5. Science/Mathematics   6. Technology & Industrial Arts   7. Business & Economics / Production & Operations Management   

Customer Reviews (3)

Practice and Love at core of his coaching success
I am impressed that John Wooden put his highest priority on the character of the players entrusted to him. He would never allow his players to criticize one another and took personal responsibility as a coach for his students' improvements.

He says that Love as described in 1 Corinthians 13 is the most important goal for life's center. What great wisdom this 90+ year old wise one leaves for us.

The Cross of Christ was held secretly in his palm as he led every game. What humble man who made sure that this book would not place him on a pedestal; but rather, the LORD of Love as the core teacher and Top Coach of all of life!

Truly impressive!

A Great Book about a Great Man by the Great Man!
Coach Wooden is a man I have admired as a sport's fan. I was in college during Coach Wooden's unbelievable run as the coach of so many NCAA championships while at UCLA. But, what I didn't know, until reading this book, what an amazing teacher he was to his students (athletes) and to those who had the priviledge of spending time with Coach away from the court. Coach Wooden shares his thoughts, his philosophies, his heart in this very well-written book. But the added bonus is that the reader gets a chance to hear from one of his assistance at UCLA, who adds some light into this man's dedicated life. Jay Carty, former college basketball star and LA Lakers' player,and author of several inspirational books, shares his humor and wisdom along side Coach Wooden. The tandem is irresistible. You won't want to buy one - you'll want to buy several to share with others who are fans' of basketball or participants of the game of life.

Our Son Asks For Wooden's Book!
When I ask my kids, "What do you wanna read tonight?" They say, "ONE ON ONE!" They love it because it's funny. I love it because it has great life lessons. I also bought this book as a gift for college students. It's been a popular gift among my friends. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Devotional   2. Devotional calendars   3. Meditations   4. Religion   5. Religion - Prayer & Spirituality   

Customer Reviews (2)

Check Table of Contents
In the table of contents it states that the appendices are at www.wrox.com. Perhaps it can be clearer, but that's where you can find them. As one of the authors on this book I can say that several chapters were completely re-written but most were updated to stay in line with Visual Studio .NET 2003 and the 1.1 version of the framework. The 2nd edition is based on version 1 of the framework.

Don't buy this version!
I have the 2nd version of this book. And I checked the 3rd version difference with its previoud version. Mostly re-organized the contents into new chapters, very few new content added. No descriptions on what's new in updated version. Worst of all, I checked the book in Borders: it has no appendices at all! The last chapter is chapter 32, ends at 10XX page, and there should be 4 appendices after it, then comes the Index at page 13XX. To my surprise, the publishing house just cut the appendices pages so the book jumps from 10XX to 13XX, the Index!

So, don't buy this version. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. C# (Computer program language)   2. Computer Bks - Languages / Programming   3. Computer Books: Languages   4. Computers   5. Programming Languages - C#   6. Computer Programming   

Customer Reviews (16)

decision support systems & intelligent systems
There is a need for such a book as its subject elements are eclectic in nature. Some integration effort exist in this edition but is far from being completed. By trying to be up-to date the book takes a form of a poor encyclopedia. It would have been much better to reduce the explosion of concepts to concetrate on few that are generic with well developped examples and illustrations. So at the end the student will say "yes I understand". The conclusion today is by most of my students "too [much money] "

throw it into the trash
Used it for school, found it dry, boring, ugly. I got frustrated every time I picked up the book. Really want to throw it into the trash if not for the resell value.

The worse text book ever
I am currently using this textbook for my undergraduate course. The whole class complains on how the books gives one definition for one thing and then turn around and provide a totally diffent definition. We all find it really difficult to concentrate reading this book, when there is no color or any outlines to go by. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance   2. Computer Books: General   3. Computers   4. Data processing   5. Decision Making & Problem Solving   6. Decision support systems   7. Expert systems (Computer scien   8. Expert systems (Computer science)   9. Management   10. Management Information Systems   11. Computers / Management Information Systems   

Customer Reviews (23)

A Real Privilege to Read! Get it!
This book is larger than life. It is one of those rare books on which, I suspect, fundamental issues turn, like Newton's Principia or Darwin's Origin of Species. Gonzalez and Richards combine a breadth of scientific detail with philosophical sophistication and nuance. But the book still manages to be a pleasure to read!

I first heard about this book during a presentation I attended in which one of the co-authors discussed its main thesis and arguments. Everything I heard souned fresh and was well-supported, and thus I have been eagerly awaiting its publication. Needless to say, this book has even exceeded my expectations!

The Privileged Planet is a seminal contribution to the growing debate over purpose and intelligent design in the universe. Most of the action in the last few years has taken place in biology, with the inevitably rancorous debates over neo-Darwinian evolution. It's very refreshing to read a book on design that doesn't having anything to do with that debate.

The list of endorsers for this book is truly impressive, so one need not take my word for it. The Privileged Planet will give many of our elite scientists a lot to discuss over the coming years. This is not to say that non-scientists won't be talking about it, either, since it is well-written and can be understood by a general audience.

Are We Alone in the Universe?
This books works on the eternal question: Are we alone in the Universe.

It's clear that a tremendous number of things had to happen just exactly right for life to develop as it has. Just the right temperature, the amazing characteristics of water at this temperature range, exactly the correct amount of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other elements and compounds necessary for life.

There was a school of thought centered around the late Carl Sagen that there must be a lot of life in the Universe. He estimated that there were as many as a million civilizations in the Milky Way alone. Since then a revisionist school has come about. The authors of this book have collected a massive amount of knowledge about the nature of life on our planet, much of it just developed in recent years. Their conclusion is that the circumstances surrounding life on earth make it more rare than previous studies might have believed.

Does it prove that we are alone in the universe, absolutely not, it is theoretically impossible to prove a negative. You can only prove a positive, and this question will remain until we receive a signal from outer space or perhaps when a UFO joins the flight pattern at the airport in Washington, London or where ever.

Honesty Shines Through
After reading a number of writings by scientists who lean towards an intelligent designer and also a number by those who support blind chance as a maker, I find that there seems to be a certain ring of "sincere honesty" to be found among the former, whereas the sheer speculation and real lack of suporting evidence for evolution leaves the latter in a position that almost makes forces them to seem dishonest in there theories. The Privileged Planet reflects this honesty to which I refer.

Some have dismissed the Anthropic principle, reversing the reasoning to support evolution, yet, if the chances are that because of the sheer number of possible planets in the universe, life had to arise on one of them that was perfect for life (Earth) in an unguided way, then would it not also be reasonable to think that in a biologists perfect laboratory (out of all the labs worldwide) that a living cell could be developed from scratch (even with a highly intelligent designer and his technology). This has not happened in recent decades and doesn't seem likely it will happen in the anywere near future. A human being in full bloom with his conciousness and mental ability is a completely different matter. Honesty will have to lead us to accept the absolute neesessity of a designer ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cosmology   2. Discoveries in science   3. Earth   4. General   5. Philosophy & Social Aspects   6. Planets   7. Religion & Science   8. Science   9. Science/Mathematics   10. Solar systems   

Customer Reviews (22)

A Top Reference for Any Business Owner
This book is a great reference for any business owner seeking to really make the most out of their marketing budget. I used the data in this book and actually made miracles happen with it. The average industry expectations on marketing dollars is 5X the return invested. By applying the principles, strategies and bright ideas I learned in this book I managed to make a 12X return for every dollar invested, and that means a whole lot when you are a small business with not an unlimited budget! This book is very basic and useful, and the data Levinson provides is incredible. I learned so much about the actual nuts and bolts of the marketing industry with this text. It's brilliant, creative and imaginative. Expect to keep a pen and paper handy when you start to have all those bright ideas go off like church bells as you read. If you take this information and apply it to your business or activity, you can save yourself a great deal of experimentation and start out with the rocketing results first off.

A must for Small Business owners and marketers.
With thousands of books written on marketing and its implementation for all business sizes, this book has created a unique brand name for itself with a series of books all aimed at a particular type of marketing - Guerrilla Marketing. As its name implies, these books are aimed at achieving significant results through non-traditional marketing avenues that have now become fairly established and are probably not Guerrilla tactics anymore (in the strictest sense of the word).

This book though originally written in the 1980s has been updated in late 1990s and the update has been driven by the feedback received over 15 years. If you are a small business owner or someone responsible for the marketing division of a small business, you may not have that much money available to run your marketing campaigns professionally and using more traditional channels. Therein lies the appeal to this book that assumes that your only resources are time, energy, and imagination.

The book is split into 5 sections - the first section is an introduction to the whole Guerrilla Marketing process all the way from its definition to the thirteen most important marketing secrets and how to develop a Guerrilla Marketing plan.

The second section focuses on mini-media marketing which is nothing but the various marketing approaches you can use - canvassing, personal letters, telemarketing (don't be discouraged as the author explains how to do this right and not annoy people), brochures, etc.

The third section is about maxi-media marketing which means all the marketing techniques that cost money. But the author has a compelling argument that it is worthwhile if you can benefit from it financially. Newspapers, magazine advertising, radio, television, etc. are addressed one after the other with detailed explanations of what to do and what not to do.

The fourth section is nonmedia marketing - free seminars, trade shows, etc. and follows a similar approach of what to do and what to avoid. The author also recommends combining these three types of marketing in a fashion that works for your particular situation.

The final section is on actually launching your Guerrilla Marketing attack and how to win!

Even large organizations have listened to the author and have started experimenting and successfully implementing Guerrilla Marketing strategies.

A marvelous book that convinced me to get a few of the other books in the series with interesting titles like 'Guerrilla P.R. WIRED' that addresses online Guerrilla marketing along with the offline approach. I have several types of marketing books and this set comprises the biggest chunk. I have been experimenting and understanding the various techniques over several months now. Being a small business owner, I like this approach better than most of the others. Bottom line - if you are responsible for marketing your small business goods or services, I recommend at least looking through this book. Good luck!

This is the real thing.
I read this in 1984 and again in 2004
Levinson is the guy. The real thing. The man. Stay away from Michael Levine - he is a copy cat. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Advertising   2. Budgeting   3. Business & Economics   4. Business / Economics / Finance   5. Business/Economics   6. Management   7. Marketing   8. Marketing - General   9. Small Business - General   10. Small Business Management   11. Small business   12. Business & Economics / Small Business   

Customer Reviews (1)

Premier reference for high-risk obstetrics
This book is an excellent reference source for all practitioners of obstetrics and a must-have for those with an interest in high-risk pregnancies. Comprehensive and well-written. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Family / Parenting / Childbirth   2. Fetal Diseases   3. Gynecology & Obstetrics   4. Medical   5. Obstetrics   6. Perinatology   7. Pregnancy & Childbirth   8. Pregnancy Complications   9. Prenatal Diagnosis   

Customer Reviews (6)

Bravo to the editors!
This book is terrific! I only hope that more best practices books are created like this one in the future. Please keep these books coming! They are better than benchmarking reports because they provide all of the elements necessary to fully understand how to lead initiatives in addition to all of the research.

Five Topic Areas of OD and HRD Initiatives
"The principal goal of this book is to provide you with the key ingredients taken from best-companies to help you create and enhance your organization and human resource development (OD/HRD) initiative. Through a case study approach, this book provides practical, easy-to-apply tools, instruments, training, concepts, and competency models that can be used as benchmarks for the successful implementation of your specific OD/HRD initiative (from the Introduction)."

In this context, Louis Carter, David Giber, and Marshall Goldsmith (editors) divide core part of this book -Organization and Human Resources Development Case Studies- into following five OD/HRD topic areas:

I. Organization Development and Change: In this section, W. Warner Burke says, "Seven rich cases (Kraft Foods, Nortel, ServiceMASTER, SmithKline Beecham, Westinghouse, CK Witko, and Xerox) of organization development and change are discussed...The cases cover a wide range of change from how OD occurs every day to deep change in an organization's culture...Without doubt we can learn from these cases. And learn we must. Changing organization is too intricate to be left to novices. We have indeed learned and noted at the outset, but we still have much to learn. As one who has been involved for more than 35 years, helping organizations change is both thrilling and very satisfying. Learning, however, is the most exciting part (pp.6-8)."

II. Leadership Development: In this section, Jay A. Congerwrites that "In the cases that follow, we look at three companies (Boeing, Johnson & Johnson, and Sun Microsystems,Inc.) that have dedicated serious time and resources to leadership development...In addition, all three of the company cases make extended use of competency models, 360-degree feedback, and action learning (p.186)."

III. Recruitment and Retention: In this section of the book, John Sullivan writes, "you'll learn how three diverse companies tackled their retention and recruiting problems. Two of the firms are high tech (AMD and Cellular One), while another (Allstate) is in a more traditional industry. Both AMD and Cellular One focus on solving the hot issue of retention while Allstate takes a new look at the recruiting and selection processes. All three of the case studies use a scientific approach to identify which solutions have the most impact...All three of these case studies are worth examining because of their scientific methodology as well as their results. All are full of powerfull 'lessons learned' for those who are soon to begin a major recruitment or retention effort (pp.303-304)."

IV. Performance Management: This section examines performance management systems of Case Corporation and Sonoco. Edward E. Lawler III says that "the performance management systems in most organizations are contoversial, ineffective, and constantly under construction. They are so problematic that critics argue many organizations would be better off if they simply didn't have a performance management system, particularly one in which performance appraisals are tied to pay actions. But-and it is an important but- if individuals are not appraised, counseled, coached, and rewarded for performance, how can an organization pruduce the organized, coordinated, and motivated behavior that it takes to perform well? The answer most likely is that it can't (p.393)."

V. Coaching and Mentoring: Introduction of this section, Beverly Kaye writes, "the last 5 years have seen a groundswell in both arenas. And it's not just been more of the same; organizations have begun to use mentoring and coaching more purposefully. HR and OD practitioners have worked to utilize both interventions to meet pressing business problems having to do with the development and retention of talent, as well as the growth of future leaders. These interventions have been more systemic, more thoughtful, and more innovative than ever before. The case studies (Dow Corning, and MediaOne Group-AT&T) illustrate this trend. Both were motivated by specific business drivers, both were preceded by intensive research, both were implemented over time, and both were evaluated seriously. Readers will find them instructive, detailed, and engaging (p.438)."

Finally, Louis Carter (editor) says that "contributors were asked to indicate where they envision their organization is heading with its initiative within the next 5 to 10 years. Responses indicate that the contributors want to keep the organization on a track to continuously learn and develop its capabilities. Comments from some contributors indicate that they want to leverage lessons learned from this experience. Some contributors commented that they want to firmly ingrain the initiative into the organization to the point that it is almost invisible to the user, making it an accepted part of life at the company. Other contributors will continue to refine the present initiative in place, while others will expand their efforts into other business lines. Survey results clearly indicate that the present state of the initiatives represented in this book represent snapshots of moving targets. Further growth and innovation is inevitable for these best practice organizations, as they work to stay ahead of their competitors by embracing change and continuously learning and improving (pp.531-532)."

Strongly recommended.

Substantial Cost...and of Even Greater Value
Here in a single volume is about all that is needed to design, implement, and then monitor a program through which to achieve organizational transformation. Moreover, the editors have selected both information and wisdom which can help to ensure that such a program is comprehensive, cohesive, and cost-effective. The phrase "best practices" is apt but should not be misconstrued to mean that strategies and tactics which have been highly successful in some organizations are necessary going to be successful in all others. Moreover, I urge the reader to keep in mind that, although the organizations featured (e.g. Boeing, Johnson & Johnson, Kraft Foods, Nortel Networks, ServiceMASTER, SmithKline Beecham, and Sun Microsystems) are among the largest in their respective industries, much of the material in this book is also relevant to small-to-midsize organizations. My own rather extensive past experience with all manner of organizations (including non-profits) has convinced me that most people do not fear change; rather, they fear the unfamiliar. Hence the importance of three on-going initiatives: communicate, communicate, and communicate.

Part One consists of Acknowledgments, About This Book, How to Use This Book, and an excellent Foreword by Richard Beckhard. Carter, Giber, and Goldsmith then shift their attention in Part Two of "Organization & Human Resources Development Case Studies." The individual case studies are distributed within this thematic structure:

Organizational Development & Change

Leadership Development

Recruitment & Retention

Performance Management

Coaching & Mentoring

Part Three: Conclusion consists of Research (OD/HRD Trends and Findings), Endnotes, About Linkage, Inc., About the Editors, Index, and How to Use the CD-ROM, terrific value-added benefit.

Back to Beckhard's Foreword for a moment. In it, he identifies six (6) "elements" which are basic to each case study; all are central to and sequential within the change process associated with organizational development/human resource development (OD/HRD). They are: Business Diagnosis, Assessment, Program Design, Implementation, On-the-Job Support, and Evaluation. It is helpful to keep these six "elements" clearly in mind while working your way through the abundance of information which the editors provide. Fortunately, they have organized the (sometimes daunting) material with meticulous care and write exceptionally well. I also urge you to use the same six "elements" as guidelines when determining what the design of your own program for organizational change should be, and, when selecting those strategies and tactics discussed in the book which are most appropriate to the implementation and evaluation of that program. This is especially true of decision-makers in small-to-midsize organizations.

Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out O'Toole's Leading Change, Katzenbach's Real Change Leaders as well as his Peak Performance , Kaplan and Norton's The Balanced Scorecard and The Strategy-Focused Organization, Quinn's Deep Change, O'Dell and Grayson's If Only We Knew What We Know, Isaacs' Dialogue and the Art of Thinking Together, and Senge's The Dance of Change. Those especially interested in Six Sigma are encouraged to check out (and read in this order) Pande's The Six Sigma Way, Breyfogle's Implementing Six Sigma, and Eckes's Making Six Sigma Last. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics   2. Business / Economics / Finance   3. Business/Economics   4. Case studies   5. Development - Business Development   6. Entrepreneurship   7. Human Resources & Personnel Management   8. Leadership   9. Leadership In Business   10. Organization Development   11. Organizational change   12. Structural Adjustment   13. Business & Economics / Human Resources & Personnel Management   14. Management & management techniques   15. Personnel & human resources management   

Customer Reviews (2)

exelent
Short: this is trully a great book on mech vent for neo/peds and should be in evryones personal library who cares for respiratory patients: neonatologist,pediatricians,neo/ped respiratory therapists, neo/ped nurses and for anyone who needs a great reference on this subject.

A feast on neonatal ventilation
I do not think if any other book has covered neonatal ventilation the way this one has. It is an essential item for every doctor caring for the newborn. There is no need to look forward to any other publication on this subject. It has dealt with every aspect of neonatal ventilation so well that it has become a gold standard. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Allied Health Services - Respiratory Therapy   2. Artificial respiration   3. General   4. Infant, Newborn, Diseases   5. Medical   6. Medical / Nursing   7. Pediatrics   8. Respiration, Artificial   9. Respiratory therapy for newbor   10. Respiratory therapy for newborn infants   11. therapy   

Customer Reviews (12)

A great tool for learning
This book is great if you want to learn the words to some really beautiful songs or learn to play them on piano. I bought it to learn the words to the Italian and Spanish songs. It's very useful in that way. You can read along and listen and learn how to pronounce the words and after a few listens you'll be singing along with Josh. His self titled cd is a must have. His voice is heavenly and he is not an opera singer, he's a classically trained vocalist that could sing anything he wants.

HE IS A POP SINGER!
In fact, Josh has never said that he is an "Opera" singer. Never. He specifically said he's a pop singer. Josh said he wants to try to sing opera after 10 years, it's the medias who keep labeling him as an opera singer. The songs he sings are pop songs with classical influences.

Reponse to La Pierre
Josh has never been categorized as Opera, and that's something you should no. Fans have said that because they don't know what opera is, but he is NOT classified as opera and never has been. He says this himself, that is not and will never be opera. He is easy-listening, classical-pop-vocal, almost genreless, but they gotta put him somewhere in the music store. That place is easy-listening. Maybe know the facts before you write a really negative review? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Instruction & Study - Voice   2. Music   3. Musical Instruments - General   4. Songbooks - General   5. Songbooks - Popular   

Customer Reviews (13)

A must-have book for audio production.
Jay Rose has put together an excellent resource for anyone working with audio, espcecially for those who are working with video or editing. Great audio is extremely important for the success of any production and can do more to set your work apart from the crowd, more so than video technique or any special effects. With that being said, audio is a tricky science unto itself (a technical and touchy science it seems to me, at least). This book will help, it is a terrific reference for those who are accomplished with audio production as well as an invaluable tool for those who may be skilled in other areas of video production, but may be new to audio production. This book explains all the terms and jargon, expains sound theory and digital audio theory, answers questions about common problems (the ones all of us have encountered on shoots), how to avoid them on future shoots and provides specific technical assistance with cleaning up bad audio, fixing problems, selecting and setting up mics, planning, getting good sound from the start, editing and sweetening audio on the computer, mixing, effects, etc... Lots of tips, techniques, finishing touches and other good stuff. You will gain a better understanding of all aspects of audio. This is a complete course! Better than the college course I took 20 years ago. You will learn a lot here and it will show in your work. This is a great book from an experienced working professional. You won't be disappointed.

Jay Rose delivers
I am convinced that audio is the biggest diference between professional productions and home video. People will "watch" anything, but if the audio is bad the whole project is bad. Jay Rose makes it clear how to get the best sound tracks you can get on video and how to make them better in post production. This book covers everything needed, and the CD is actually filled with useful sound clips. In just a few days I learned what I was doing wrong and how my projects could be much better. I found the book very well written as well. If you produce digital vidio, this book is a must.

a gem
Jay Rose is an excellent audio engineer and in this book shares knowledge that can only come from years of professional experience. He delivers information on a very difficult topic in an easily accessible manner.

This book is a great resource. As an engineer with years of experience, I can honestly recommend this book to beginners and pros as well. There's a wealth of practical information. I reviewed this book for creative cow (production website) and gave it five stars. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustics & Sound   2. Computer Animation   3. Computer Books And Software   4. Digital Audio Technology   5. Digital techniques   6. Digital video   7. Electronics - Digital   8. Film & Video - General   9. Recording and reproducing   10. Sound   11. Technology   12. Technology & Industrial Arts   13. Television & Video   14. Television soundtracks   

Subjects:  1. History   2. History: American   3. Illinois - Local History   4. Maritime History   5. Ships & Shipbuilding - History   6. Ships & Shipbuilding - Shipwrecks   7. Shipwrecks   8. Transportation   9. United States - State & Local - General   

Subjects:  1. 1897-1962   2. 20th century   3. Biography   4. Biography & Autobiography   5. Biography / Autobiography   6. Biography/Autobiography   7. Faulkner, William,   8. General   9. Literary   10. Novelists, American   11. Biography & Autobiography / General