Product Description
It is now seen as essential that all businesses assess their exposure to business risk especially in relation to value creation. This book explains the practical links between risk management and the impact it has on the value of your business. It offers vital, accessible and timely tools to assist you in making an immediate difference to the core value of your business and thereby satisfy the demands of an ever increasing range of stakeholders.

This book will help you:
. Discover how risk exposure can have a financial impact on your business
. Make your business become more sustainable financially, socially and environmentally
. Learn how to apply knowledge fast with this practical guide to risk management issues

The sustainable approach covered by this book spans business survival to more recent issues, such as the use of energy and natural resources. It highlights the value of a more enlightened approach throughout an organization. In doing so the book explains the practical links between risk management and the impact on value using the Sustainable and Economic Risk Management (SERM) methodology which considers:
. inherent risk
. management of risk
. residual risk exposure.

By exploring the various frameworks that organizations operate in today - whether compulsory, compliance driven, voluntary or motivated by best practice - the book offers a practical tool through the SERM model which is at the heart of the book's approach to risk management. This model, together with its global EFR model, have established proven and practical methodologies to achieve sustainable risk management techniques that are accessible to all organizations.

* a practice-oriented guide to risk management issues with examples of how risks are quantified and explains how risk exposure can have a real 'material' financial impact on an organisation
* provides best practice examples along with case studies which demonstrate how risks are dealt with by organisations that are rising to the challenge to become more sustainable, financially, socially and environmentally
* explains why risk management is a significant tool in enhancing the overall value or performance of any given organisation. ... Read more

Product Description
The Ultimate Guide to Applied Strategies for Managing Business Units and Portfolios Two of the most important business trends of recent years are increasing corporate acquisitions and managing business units as individual companies with a synergistic relationship to the parent company. Business Portfolio Management is an indispensable tool for corporate managers and strategists involved in these pursuits. This no-nonsense reference cuts through the competing claims and conventional wisdom to take a hard look at the realities of portfolio management. It provides the concepts and strategies necessary to create real strategic alternatives, estimate accurately the value of each alternative, and understand the risks involved in each. It supplies a framework for choosing between alternatives, for making tradeoffs between risks and opportunities, and for understanding how individual units in a portfolio will interact. From beginning to end, the concepts, techniques, and situations discussed in Business Portfolio Management are illustrated with detailed examples drawn from actual consulting engagements conducted by the author and his colleagues. These examples not only provide specific descriptions of how portfolio management concepts are implemented in the real world, they also give a real-world picture of the magnitude of value increases that are created through effective portfolio management. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Linking strategy with the numbers
It's a book about strategy. The author shows how to establish avalue-creating business portfolio stategy, stressing the importance ofdeveloping different strategic alternatives, including possibleaquisitions, and assesing the risk involved. The book is an excellentchoice for those facing the definition of an optimal non-financialportfolio.

Missing the point
The book was written probably some 15 years ago, when Real Options barely existed and the only tools available to consultants were efficient frontier and NPV.The treatment of risk vs. return is very simplistic, NPV conceptdoes not hold any more (ROV is a way to go).In summary: an outdated book.

Excellent Job!
Michael Allen has portrayed the real meaning of portfolio management in a manner that is readily accessible to business executives. His concept of "full value" is a challenging one for anyone charged withcreating value where portfolios of products, business units, R&Dprojects, and so on, are involved. ... Read more

Product Description
This extensive BPM resource is truly unique and like no other. It provides step-by-step guidelines on how to actually do BPM projects. The framework gives confidence that all aspects will be addressed during a project.

The content addresses precisely the type of issues which organizations are struggling with. This book is very pragmatic, highly recommended and filled with useful tools and checklists.

Many organizations are looking to improve their understanding with regards to aligning their business processes, and as a result are looking to implement/improve the Business Process Management process, as an overall improvement to the structure and quality of the organization.

This is wherethe Business Process Management Guide comes in.

The Guide is designed to answer many of the questions that Business Process Management raises and provides you with useful guides, blueprints and templates covering Introduction Business Process Management, BPM & Workflow SoftwareAvoiding Disaster - Your first BPM Project, Value & Benefits - Make your Case for BPM, BPM & ROI, BPM Continual Improvement

The templates andassessments will help you identify the areas within your organization that require the most activity in terms of change and improvement.

They are itemized and categorized into a logical order of Plan, Do Check and Act, relating to the stages of planning, implementation, or improvement, where they will be most helpful to you.You can use these documents and resources within your own organization or as a template to help you in prepare your own bespoke documentation:

PLAN

BPM - The Business Process Model

Business Process Modelling Overview

Business Process Modelling Notation

Sample Case Study

BPM Benefits Check list

DO

The Integration of Knowledge Mapping into Existing Business Processes

Business Process Management-How to Scale your Process Documentation Initiative

RACI Methodology and BPM

BPM - Design for Work flow & Rules Management Systems

BPM Architecture Considerations: Deployment Environments, Architecture Options, Hardware and Database Sizing

CHECK

KPI's

Align Roles and Responsibilities to Make BPM Work successful

ACT

Project to Program

Perform Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery via Business Process

Management and Other Software Tools

... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent BPM Intro
This book is an excellent introduction to Business Process Management and is effective in its organization by integrating the topical knowledge areas to the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle. Outlines the historical context of BPM and elaborates to how it is relevant in today's work environments. Includes and introduction to the topic of Six Sigma as well as some excellent template documents under "Six Sigma Defining Requirements". ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Project Management for Business and Engineering is a direct response to the ever-increasing need for better project management.This book encompasses the full range of project management - everything from origins, philosophy, and methodology to actual applications.Nicholas describes concepts and techniques such as project initiation and proposals, scope and task definition, scheduling, budgeting, risk analysis, control, project organization, and the often overlooked "people" side - project leadership, team building, conflict, and stress management.

The Systems Development Cycle is used as a framework to discuss project management in a variety of situations, making this book useful for managing virtually any kind of project, program, or task force.Over 230 figures and tables, 60 short examples and illustrative cases, and end-of-chapter summaries, review problems, questions, and case studies are included.

The author draws upon his experience with projects in information technology, systems analysis, aerospace engineering, human resource development, and over a decade of teaching project management as a university professor.

· Comprehensive, balanced topical coverage; interesting to read
· Numerous figures and tables (figure/table appears every 2.5 pages, average)
· Systems approach: methodologies, development cycle, and engineering ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Authentic, practical and realistic with no PMI bull
Project Management for Business and Engineering, Second Edition is a wonderfully authored resource; and, picks up from the first edition with new and proven techniques as well as case studies that are based upon real life scenarios.

Of particular interest is the book's reference to actual project management principles and practices, originally developed and offered by the leaders in Program and Project Management (i.e., the U.S. Military, Unisys, Dupont, General Electric and Westinghouse).These references, combined with 21st century case studies will enable the reader to apply in either a functional, managerial, operational or technical mode, Program and Project Management methodologies that actually work from a quantative as well as a qualitative perspective, which will not only enlighten the reader, but empower the reader with the abilty and boldness to apply methods confidently (despite objections from PMI graduates)!

Thankfully, this book is not ladden with PMI rubbish or PMBOK chit-chat; and, relies upon a clear and concise examination of various, up-to-date approaches that can be utilized to maximize Program or Project Management success regardless of industry, sector or geographical / resource constraints.It also offers the reader the opportunity to examine Program / Project Management techniques from other business and technical perspectives.

If there was ever a Program or Project Management "bible", this book is it, and those who master the knowledge provided here can truly call themselves "Professional Project Management Experts" in their respective fields.

Too Much on the Topic
The book is a good book, but it is overkill.

It is an excellent textbook, but when the "rubber hits the road" in the real world, the academic side of the book becomes overkill.

I most likely will donate this book to my university library and let the students learn from it while I take a small tax write off on the donation and continue search of a good book that blends academic with the real world.

THE text for project management courses at the MBA level
Nicholas's book was the adopted text for a graduate course for MBA students in the Spring term of 2006. Although the class was an elective, it attracted 38 students, more than any other elective. For elective classes, the students often examine the assigned textbook before deciding whether they should enroll.

At the end of each course, the students provide feedback on the assigned textbook and its value to the course. For the course that just ended, their reviews were positive throughout and downright enthusiastic in many cases. Many felt that Nicholas's textbook significantly enhanced their grasp and understanding of project management.

The MBA students particularly appreciated the book's clear layout and topic development: philosophy and concepts of project management, systems development cycle, and organization behavior. A great plus are the many case studies at the end of the chapters. Not only do these cases reinforce the message of the chapter with focused questions, but they also further the big-picture understanding of the project manager's role in contributing to an enterprise's bottom line.

This reviewer warmly recommends this text to any instructor preparing a course in project management as part of a formal degree program and hopes that a future edition will also present links to the ANSI standard 99-001-2004, known as the Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, the PMBOK Guide.

Managing Business and Engineering Projects
The business operating environment in most industries worldwide is fiercely competitive with rapid changes and developments in technology, which have impacted on the conduct of projects. New challenges are constantly arising which require unique, innovative and creative solutions to meet the dynamic needs of consumers and customers for high quality goods and services. To meet these needs, organizations find it necessary to organize the workforce into productive project teams with combined expertise from several functional areas.

The book equips the reader with project management skills to raise significantly the probability of success with our projects. The book is about managing business and engineering projects which enables technical specialists such as architects, quantity surveyors, engineers, systems analysts and chemists to not only understand the technical aspects of projects but also the critical relevant business and management topics. People with business training background also benefit from understanding and appreciating the technical aspects of projects.

The book is suitable for practicing managers in business and engineering as well as people doing project management at an advanced level (such as at university level). The book focuses on practical application of project management concepts and the successful implementation of projects. The book covers both the broad aspects of project management as well as the practical aspects. Among the topics covered are PERT/CPM, scheduling, budgeting and control, systems and procedures for project planning as well as organizational and human side of projects.

Among the critical aspects in managing projects are good communication, trust, teamwork, effective conflict management and managing emotional stress.

I found this book very comprehensive in its treatment of project management and I recommend it to those wishing to study this interested subject at an advanced level.

For systems thinkers, a great book.
Project Management for Business and Engineering can serve as a secondary book for students undertaking Project Management courses.

Secondary I say, because the wealth of information and prespectives presented is not for the soft hearted.

Apart from the usual PM, tools and techniques presented in many other literature, the author revolves his presentation around systems thinking.

The concepts explained in this book are backed by case studies and examples that are somewhat fun to read.

For those looking for that little bit extra in PM, this is the book for you! ... Read more

Product Description
"Although big scandals grab headlines, it is often the little mistakes which managers make that impact a business's bottom line. Eppler does a masterful job identifying common pitfalls, while providing solid advice on how to avoid problems. Managers should keep a copy within arm's reach!"

—Paul Orfalea, Founder & Chairperson Emeritus, Kinko's Inc.

"Easy to read and loaded with real world examples, Management Mess-Ups is great for small business owners and managers alike."

—USA Today

"Mark Eppler is to be commended for his work. He uses wonderful, often amusing, anecdotes to illuminate difficult management problems. He provides helpful management tips in a very readable format. I appreciate his commonsense approach."

—U.S. Congressman Lee H. Hamilton, Retired, Vice Chairman of the 9-11 Commission

Can you imagine losing a two-million-dollar customer over sixty cents?

It happened! According to a story reported by USA Today, a bank teller refused to validate a customer's parking ticket because he failed to execute a "transaction" (deposits are transactions, withdrawals are evidently not). Even the branch manager firmly upheld this policy. The next day, the frustrated customer closed his account—a little over $2,000,000 worth. The root of the problem wasn't this company's blind adherence to policy, but management's inability to empower employees to use their own good judgment and intuition.

Management Mess-Ups examines a variety of mistakes managers commit daily that stifle productivity, squelch opportunity and generally irritate employees-mistakes not big enough to grab headlines, but significant enough to undermine the efficiency and success of their departments and organizations. By reading of the management mess-ups of others, you can avoid these common stumbling blocks to success and become a manager with a true winning edge.

A bestseller for nearly seven years, Management Mess-Ups has been revised to reflect current issues challenging today's managers. Gleaned from the author's ongoing work with organizations of all sizes and types, some of the new mess-ups include:

Failure to hold mediocre performers accountable

Failure to understand that all managers are growth leaders Failure to teach employees to contend for their ideas

Management Mess-Ups is a book that should be read and reread, then placed in a handy spot for future reference.

Mark Eppler (Milford, Ohio) is a professional speaker and seminar leader specializing in leadership and management issues. His clients include P&G, GE, 3M, the IRS, and the E.W. Scripps Company, as well as state and national associations. An award-winning adjunct lecturer at Indiana University, Mark also has over 20 years of experience at the executive level as a practicing manager and leader. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Sound advice for providing leadership and communication
Awesome book about managing others. He is really dealing with leadership not management per se; the leadership and communication chapters were a great asset.Rock solid advice about you having to activily listen to the ones you manage.The case history examples were helpful, though I wish the author would have provided more advice how to do it better and continually improve yourself. Good for people who want to jump into the management world.

A "MUST READ" for New and Experienced Managers!
Ever wonder how you are perceived by the people you manage? Eppler's "Management Mess-Ups: 57 Pitfalls You Can Avoid (And Stories of Those Who Didn't)" is a must-read for managers who want to know how their actions effect the team they lead. Positive and inspiring, this book encourages managers to improve their leadership skills and build solid working relationships with their staff.

Company presidents should require Eppler's book for their executive team.Executive leaders should require this book for their mid-level managers. Entry-level employees who aspire to manage should put this book at the top of their list.

"Management Mess-Ups: 57 Pitfalls You Can Avoid (And Stories of Those Who Didn't)" is critical for anyone that wants to take their leadership skills to the next level.

The breakfast bar of management books
This book is the breakfast bar of management books - take it with you, read in small bites, come back to it whenever you need something specific. I go back to it often, reading a chapter or two relevant to the day's issues. Topics are well written with enough explanation to keep your interest, but not so much that you forget the point. Everytime I read it, there is an "aha" moment that I discover about myself or a co-worker. Topics are practical, logical and timeless. Though there are stacks of management books on my shelf, this is the only one I use as a reference. It ought to be "required reading" upon promotion to management.

Really Opened My Eyes
Look, everyone knows the management buzzwords.We must embrace change; we must empower the employees; we must listen; we must plan; we must maintain focus.If everyone were doing it, a lot of people would be a lot less dissatisfied.The problem is, you may not know how your behaviour makes you a less effective manager.

The stories in this book (all true) tell about companies where they've got it right and companies where someone is clueless.When you recognize your own behaviour and realise (as you've never realised it before) how you've been sabotaging yourself, you've taken the first step toward fixing it.

I don't usually like to read books on how to improve my business style, and this book taught me why, and why I'm hurting myself instead of allowing myself to grow.It was a real pleasure to read, I've got a few action items to work on, and I'm going to approach future books on this topic with a whole different attitude.

Avoiding Business Pitfalls
The more clearly you can know what doesn't work, the greater clarity you can have about what works.

You will find it refreshing to hear the thoughts of someone who understands management mess-ups and can shed light on 57 pitfalls you can avoid in an engrossing fun read that pushes his points home through powerful stories.

Instead of just walking you through the fog produced by problems, Eppler helps you clear the air with his Turning Failure into Victory at the end of each of the 57 pitfalls. ... Read more

Product Description
A collection of reflective articles walks readers through tough career challenges--from effective time management to part-time arrangements to launching a new career. Softcover. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Manage your Career
The subject and content is nice and helpful. I prefer more simple book like DK publishers management series. DK publishers book provide more general information. ... Read more

Product Description
Business Process Management: Practical Guidelines to Successful Implementations provides organizational leadership with an understanding of Business Process Management and its benefits to an organization.

This is an easy-to-use, easy-to-read guide that provides a practical framework, complete with a set of tools and techniques, to successfully implement Business Process Management projects. In addition, it features vital organizational perspectives that not only provide an overall view of BPM and the move towards a process-centric organization, but also reveal how to embed BPM within an organization to ensure a continuous business process improvement culture.

* A proven step-by-step framework for the Business Process Management practitioner

* Features practical tools, explanations, guidance and over 50 case studies to illustrate best practice

* New edition includes checklists of all phases & steps, summaries of tools per phase, and an overview of business process trends ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Probably a better book for large scale implementations
I didn't feel like this book was very helpful for me looking forward to planning a small-scale BPM implementation.

I think it tended to describe best practices for a large scale implementation.

From that perspective I feel I didn't get much from the book.

A masterpiece on BPM
Really a masterpiece on Business Process Management, every BPM professional should read it and keep it as a main reference

Martín Roberts
I think this book offers an interesting set of tools to be used in aBPM implementation, but the approach is too "soft", it lacks of deeper treatment of topics. The transition of a company from "function centric" to "process centric" is crucial in this kind of projects, and I think this subject is not developed in the right way.

Eminently practical
We love this book and have purchased a copy of it for everyone on our team.Great handbook for running a BPM project except for when it comes to details on how to execute process solutions in a BPMS.

Good Discussion of Practical BPM
This is a good for obtaining practical information on business process management. It not only provides a detailed discussion of a variety of topics, but also a good number of tips, tools, and tactics for implementing BPM smoothly and efficiently. Overall, the authors offer a lot of insights on the book while providing solid direction on BPM projects. The book is ideal for executives and managers new to business process management. ... Read more

Product Description
The Harvard Business Review paperback series is designed to bring today's managers and professionals the fundamental information they need to stay competitive in a fast-moving world. Here are the landmark ideas that have established the Harvard Business Review as required reading for ambitious businesspeople in organizations around the globe. The eight articles in Harvard Business Review on Knowledge Management highlight the leading-edge thinking and practical applications that are defining the field of knowledge management. Includes Peter Drucker's prophetic "The Coming of the New Organization" and Ikujiro Nonaka's "Knowledge-Creating Company." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Harvard Business Review on Knowledge Management (Harvard Business Review Paperback Series)
Ok but we found the complete idiot's guide on Knowledge Management to be a bit more useful for our needs.

Harvard Business Review on Knowledge Management
Used as a textbook for a leadership course. It is o.k., have read more interesting pieces of KM. Recommend if you need scholarly material.

Extraordinary Guidance for Practitioners
This is another great book in the HBR paperback series. There are several very helpful article/chapters in this book; each one taken alone is worth more than the cost of the book.

The article by Argyris, "Teaching Smart People to Learn," is quite insightful. Argyris explains why smart, highly trained professionals find it difficult to learn from their mistakes and failures.

In David Garvin's article/chapter, he talks about what real people in real organizations are doing to build learning organizations.

John Seely Brown discusses the importance of new innovations found in "how work is done" in his chapter.

Add to these helpful chapters, the work of Drucker, Nonaka, and Kleiner, and this is a must-have for practitioners.

Michael Beitler
Author of "Strategic Organizational Learning"

If KM seems expensive, try ignorance
I read this book when it was first published in 1998 and recently re-read it, curious to see how well it has held up since then. It has done so to a remarkable extent.

Again, I am reminded of Derek Bok's observation "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance."

This is one in a series of several dozen volumes which comprise the "Harvard Business Review Paperback Series." Each offers direct, convenient, and inexpensive access to the best thinking on the given subject in articles originally published by the Harvard Business Review. I strongly recommend all of the volumes in the series. The individual titles are listed at this Web site: www.hbsp.harvard.edu. The authors of various articles are among the world's most highly regarded experts on the given subject. All of the volumes have been carefully edited. An Executive Summary introduces each selection. Supplementary commentaries are also provided in most of the volumes, as is an "About the Contributors" section which usually includes suggestions of other sources which some readers may wish to explore.

In this volume, we are provided with a variety of perspectives on knowledge management: Peter F. Drucker on "The Coming of the New Organization," Ikujiro Nonaka on "The Knowledge-Creating Company," David A. Garvin on "Building a Learning Organization," Chris Argyris on "Teaching Smart People How to Learn," Dorothy Leonard and Susaan Straus on "Putting Your Company's Whole Brain to work," Art Kleiner and George Roth on "How to Make Experience Your Company's Best Teacher," John Seely Brown on "Research That Reinvents the Corporation," and James Brien Quinn, Philip Anderson, and Sydney Finkelstein on "Managing Professional Intellect: Making the Most of the Best." Listing the article titles correctly indicate the nature and scope of the specific subjects offered.

Quite true, some of the material is dated and inevitably so, given the elapsed time since the articles were published in the Harvard Business Review. However, in my opinion, the principles advocated and the core strategies recommended remain relevant to the contemporary marketplace. For example, Drucker notes that "to remain competitive -- maybe even to survive -- businesses will have to convert themselves into organizations of knowledge specialists." Garvin presents an especially informative analysis of Xerox's six-step problem-solving process which addresses questions to be answered, expansion/divergence issues, contraction/convergence issues, and "next steps" after implementation. Leonard and Straus rigorously examine the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator process, including within their narrative a brilliant overview of the MBTI©. Indeed, readers are provided with rock-solid material throughout each article.

For less than the cost of breakfast in an upscale Manhattan restaurant, each volume in this series provides an intellectual feast. It remains for each reader to determine, of course, which of the volumes will be most nutritious to her or his appetite.Those who share my high regard for this volume are urged to check out Carla O'Dell's If Only We Knew What We Know: The Transfer of Internal Knowledge and Best Practice, Peter Senge's The Fifth Discipline and The Dance of Change, Thomas H. Davenport and Laurence Prusak's What's the Big Idea?: Creating and Capitalizing on the Best New Management Thinking and also their Working Knowledge, Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert I. Sutton's The Knowing-Doing Gap: How Smart Companies Turn Knowledge into Action, and Ikujiro Nonaka and Hirotaka Takeuchi's The Knowledge-Creating Company: How Japanese Companies Create the Dynamics of Innovation.

Knowledge Management with practical applications
Excelente libro que proporciona las bases suficientes sobre la administración del conocimiento, además de tener como respaldo el prestigio de una casa de estudios como es la Universidad de Harvard.

Lo recomiendo ampliamente. ... Read more

Product Description
In this advanced textbook, Michael Myers brings a wealth of insight to the research process. Combining abstract and theoretical considerations with those of a practical nature, such as tips for interviewing or for the final stage of writing up, Myers establishes an expansive resource for those involved in qualitative research that will aid them from start to finish.
... Read more

Product Description
"Read even the first chapter of this extraordinary book and you'll find yourself cheering, screaming, jumping up and down with excitement. The companies described in this book are decades ahead of the reengineers -- and you don't need to be a Bill Gates or a Jack Welch to put their ideas into practice today." -- George Gendron, editor in chief, Inc.

"Companies that practice open-book management seem to have captured some sort of lightning in a bottle." -- Chris Lee, Training

"This book should be required reading in corporate America." -- Chicago Tribune

"If you want to give your preconceived notions a good kick in the you-know-where, give Case the opportunity to articulate the merits of open-book management." -- Entrepreneur

Open-book management is not so much a technique as a way of thinking, a process that actively involves employees in the financial life of the company. Numerous companies have already found that employees who are informed and aware of the company's financial situation are motivated to seek solutions to problems and assume a greater degree of responsibility for its performance. John Case begins by examining the current competitive climate and the history of established management techniques. He shows how the traditional treatment of workers as "hired hands" with little involvement or responsibility beyond their own area is no longer effective in today's ever more competitive global environment.

Case clearly and carefully explains the principles of open-book management: timely sharing of crucial financial information with employees; educating the employees to understand and apply the information; empowering employees to apply the information to their own work; and offering employees a stake in the successful implementation of their ideas. Open-book management will take different forms at every company, Case notes, but he offers a wide range of suggestions and guidelines for implementing these principles. He concludes with a series of in-depth case studies, featuring companies of various sizes and financial situations that have successfully implemented open-book management. Open-Book Management is the indispensable guide to teaching employees how to think and act like owners. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

This is THE KEY to successful management!
What do TQM, reengineering, empowerment, teaming, and even six sigma have in common?They all implement parts of open-book management.And that's the reason they all have spotty records- they were successful when they, accidentally, incorporated enough of the rest of open-book management.

The principle here is very simple- instead of your company or division relying on only the handful of minds at the top of the organization to improve the company, it treats all the employees as adults with brains and encourages everyone to work for the company's benefit.This also has the effect of reducing or eliminating office politics since everyone's pulling in the same direction.

How?Fortunately the process is pretty simple, though it needs to be tailored to each business.The pieces are:
1. Giving employees all relevant financial information,
2. Giving employees training to understand the financial information,
3. Giving employees appropriate responsibility for the numbers under their control, and
4. Giving employees appropriate stakes in the outcomes (through bonuses, stock, options, etc.).

It's Here...It's Now...It's Happening
When Open-Book Managementwas first in 1995, its subtitle suggested "The Coming Business Revolution." Well, that "revolution" has arrived and author John Case deserves much of the credit. In the Introduction, however, hemakes it crystal clear that open-book management is NOT a panacea, is NOT asubstitute for TQM or reengineering or any other operational overhaul, andis NOT a single system. In essence, open-book management helps companies tocreate a shared environment in which everyone understands that they arecompeting in a marketplace, trying to make money. But for whom? Frequently,effective ownership has been limited to relatively few people. Inprivately-held companies, usually to a single person and/or to a family.Presumably Case agrees with Al Ehrbar (author of EVA) that the traditionalconcept of "ownership" must be re-defined so that everyone involved in agiven enterprise assumes personal responsibility for adding value. Hencethe importance of recognition of peak performance but also the importanceof financial incentives. "What's in it for me?" is a quite legitimatequestion. Given the increasingly greater impact of globalization, theinformation revolution, and what Case calls "entrepreneuralization",companies must find new and better ways to answer that question. For Case,each company needs a mission, a strategy. "But more than anything else itneeds eager, willing employees, people who have a reason to care abouttheir employer's prosperity and who know how to help itsucceed."

Ultimately, the measurable value of open-book principles willbe determined by several factors: The extent to which a company modifiesthem to accommodate its own circumstances; the extent to which employees inthat company (top to bottom) commit to the program, once devised; and theextent to which everyone involved shares equitably (NOT equally) in therewards.

Those who admire this book as much as I do will presumably wantto read (if they have not already read) The Open-Book Field Book and TheOpen-Book Experience. These two books develop in much greater detail thematerial first introduced in Open-Book Management. Also, they provide anabsolutely essential guide to deriving maximum benefit from John Case'swisdom and experience.

Employees at open book companies act (and profit)like owners
Case shows, with many examples from open book companies, that companies' performance really takes off (or pulls out of jeopardy) when they organize to: 1.Give all their financial information to all employees; 2.Teach employees to understand it; and 3.Give employees a financial stake in how the company performs. In summary, experience shows that employees at open book companies act like owners.Case shows exactly how to do it. Give this book to your boss! ... Read more

Product Description

Business Process Management Systems: Strategy and Implementation discusses business management practices and the technology that enables them. It analyzes the history of process management practices and proposes that BPM practices are a synthesis of BPR (radical change) and TQM (continuous change) practices. Both business and IT professionals receive an integrated view of how various management practices merge into BPM.

This volume describes the many technologies that converge to form a Business Process Management System (BPMS), illustrating BPMS standards and service-oriented architecture (SOA).

Exploring BPM implementation methodology, it discusses business management concepts, principles, and practices and the technology that enables these practices. The book reviews data integration, messaging-based integration, component-based integration, and workflow technologies, as well as highlights BPMS standards. It also illustrates types of business process management systems, including data-centric, application-centric, and process-centric integration products. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Business Process Management Systems
I like it. This is a good review with the theory, the evolutions of the theories and couple of more practical chapters. Well written and easy to understand

Concur with first 2 reviews
I agree with other reviews which claim that the book is well-written and informative. I used it as a reference for one of the chapters in my own book which is on the topic of SAP's Enterprise SOA.

Another Must Have for BPM Practioners
If you are seeking guidance on the benefits for a process-centric corporation and what corporation need to do to become process centric, this is a good book on the topic. The book is well written, well organized, and the discussions reflect much wisdom.

An especially good section the writing on the proces-centric-versus the functional management style.

My only quible is that it is a bit expensive.

Very good entry to BPM
I've found the book very easy to go through. Comming from an IT backgroud, it does give you very good general background on BMP business past and current business trends.

The IT concepts described in the book are very well described for such a book.

References coverage in each chapter is the most valuable part. You can see easily the book is a result of several years of work. ... Read more

Product Description
Many companies do not provide their managers with adequate development programs, failing to recognize how often new managers can become overwhelmed. How can you prevent your most promising employees from being derailed? Should you schedule more coaching or training - or is it simply too soon to promote an employee to the next level? In a world of intensifying talent wars, companies that can develop high-potential leaders throughout their ranks stand the best chance of consistently trouncing rivals. As a manager, you play a crucial role in cultivating leadership skills in your own teams. This collection of HBR articles provides a range of advice on the best ways for companies to keep their next generation of leaders on the right track. ... Read more

Product Description
Nonprofit Financial Planning Made Easy presents straightforward strategies to make financial management a more smooth and successful process. Filled with practical forms and checklists to aid you in planning and managing your organizations' financial resources, Nonprofit Financial Planning Made Easy equips your nonprofit with step-by-step solutions to the dilemmas involved in keeping financial resources and the mission in balance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Pretty Basic
This book would be good for those wanting to start a non-profit and those new to the non-profit world. As someone who's been a non-profit accountant for several years, there wasn't much new to me.

By getting a copy of this book the nonprofit executive can get a good handle on her organization's financial planning req'ts.

[This review is actually for the Second Edition of this book which I read at B&N on Saturday, February 09, 2008. See ISBN 0471715271.]

This is a gem of a book. I have a financial background, so it was a pretty easy read for me. Like the author I too hold the CPA designation. But unlike the author I don't use that designation professionally any longer. The book has the following 8 chapters:

1. Introductory concepts
2. Structuring the organization for fiscal strength
3. Financing the dream
4. Budgeting
5. Asset management
6. Nonprofit accounting
7. Special financial tools
8. Obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status

For two years not too long ago I worked as a consultant to nonprofits that needed help with multi-million-dollar capital campaigns. The nonprofit world was new to me then, except for the time I spent in Washington DC a number of years ago as a staff auditor auditing trade associations for E&Y. As a result of my fundraising experiences I found it necessary to read lots of books about aspects of nonprofits. I read books on nonprofit management, nonprofit fundraising, nonprofit capital campaigns, nonprofit endowment campaigns, major gifts, grant proposals and writing, and nonprofit strategic planning.

I didn't read nonprofit books on nonprofit accounting, bookkeeping, or financial planning since I basically knew that stuff. But some people who are not well versed in such subject matter would do themselves a favor to get a copy of Ms. Blazek's book on nonprofit financial planning if they want a well written and well outlined book on the subject. CEOs and CFOs of nonprofits should be adept at their organization's (1) operations, (2) financial planning, and (3) fundraising efforts and abilities. By getting a copy of this book the nonprofit executive can get a good handle on the second leg of the three-legged stool. 5 stars! ... Read more

Product Description
Just as factory automation revolutionized manufacturing in the 20th Century, business process management (BPM) is poised to dramatically change the way 21st Century organizations conduct business and serve their customers. Although much has been written about the benefits of BPM, this is the first truly practical book that goes beyond the theory to provide an in-depth understanding of BPM and the way it changes the way organizations work.

BPM enables an organization to create automated "production lines" for processing information by leveraging modern software technology with the power and ubiquity of the Internet. Automated business processes enable the modern organization to reduce the time and cost for delivering information, goods and services to customers, while at the same time increasing accountability and metrics-driven performance improvements. Like a production line that effectively integrates workers and machines, BPM binds workers and line-of-business applications in a process that moves work at the speed of the modern network. It is essential for creating an agile organization capable of real-time response to business need.

Propelled by rapid advances in software technology, the pervasive growth of the Internet, and more recently, the rapid acceptance of Web Services, BPM is moving quickly to the business mainstream. It is therefore imperative for anyone concerned with improving productivity in a modern organization to understand the basic facts about this technology and how it is changing the way business is conducted.

This book is a practical guide to BPM. It devotes very little to the many benefits of BPM that have been amply covered by other authors, some of whom are cited in the bibliography. It is also not a book for software developers interested in the bits and bytes. Instead, it is devoted almost exclusively to the space where business meets technology. The goal is to educate the business people who are the ultimate beneficiaries of BPM. Unique to this book, readers who want to bring the concepts to life can request complimentary business process modeling and optimization software and examples for a hands-on BPM experience. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

BPM
Thats a real good book, the only problem is a focus on a single software.

Too much biased focus on IT
This book describes well the IT aspects and opportunities of Business Process Management.

However, in most projects the challenges are at the organization and people aspects.

Furthermore, this book is written by the CEO of an IT company, this gives a bias to the topic, this should have been specified better upfront.

Thoughts on BPM
Rashid does a wonderful job of describing the needs of companies seeking business process automation tools, which should be any business out there with more than twenty or thirty employees.His thoughts are very well organized and you will find that the book contains valuable information for decision makers, business analysts, and even technical (IT) staff.

Although it is very easy to tell that he is writing primarily from the Ultimus perspective, and making points about features found in the product, Rashid is very careful to leave the marketing out of the book.Instead, he imparts what sounds like nearly a decade of knowledge that he's collected about automating business processes.

I personally give this one a definite "must read" rating.In fact, I'm making it mandatory reading material for everyone on my staff!

Markus Pope
Chief Scientist
PaperWise, Inc.

A Balanced Perspective
Unlike many readers or reviewers of this book I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Rashid Khan for the BPMG.org . His views on BPM and the way the market is going were extremely refreshing and not at all what you might expect from the CEO of a product vendor.

To ignore or sideline this book because of that vendor connection would be a great mistake. The book is well written and contains a wealth of useful information - whether you are looking to put a BPM system in place or not.

The book covers the key areas such as motivation and performance as well as providing many practical tips on how to make BPM happen in your organization. Whilst it is certainly written from a more technical perspective and will not appeal so much to business managers, it is nowhere near as technical as many other books on the subject.

Those who see the book as a veiled sales pitch for Ultimus perhaps do not understand the ins and outs of the BPM product landscape, to the best of my knowledge Rashid keeps the feature suggestions to those that are actually quite widely available in the market and not to Ultimus unique points. The uniqueness, if any, comes from the different way that Rashid and his company look at the BPM market and that is more about their philosophy than their product features.

The weak area, depending on your point of view has more to do with the fact that the book does not really address the organizational issues surrounding BPM or deal with the executive perspective. But again this is subjective as it is not very likely that many executives will take a "hands on" approach to many of the more technical aspects of BPM.

In closing, this was a book that I had to read the whole way through and not something to be skimmed over lightly, the content was too valuable for that. But as with any commentator I can't say that I was in full agreement with all of the ideas presented.

A great introduction to BPM systems and well worth a read

Full Disclosure Required
Regardless of the content of the book,which might be well worth the purchase,please note that Rashid N. Khan is founder and CEO of Ultimusapparently a player in the BPM field.Now the prior reviewer either didn't know that or perhaps found this irrelevant.If the CEO of Ford professed to identify all the best in class for SUV'syou might anticipate he would be pointing out features found in his own product line even if sub-consciously, because if he believes in what he says.. he builds them that way.

(...)

His book may well provide his target market with information, I just choose to read from a disinterested 3rd party for this information."BPM the Third Wave" is a bit higher level look at BPM but they have no products to offer. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

Indian Culture guiding top management in creating the India way
One amazing fact I found about India's business leaders is the novel concept of putting your employees before your customers. Indian business leaders are creating new paradigms in management approaches and corporate governance. The role of Indian culture in management is simply fascinating. Fulfilling social responsibility, maintaing great corporate culture and setting long term strategy are bigger drivers than maximizing shareholder wealth for India's top management. Good financial results are merely the by-product of good governance...This is the underlying mantra and this is the India Way and it will shape the future of business in this century. Must read for everyone who is in management

Compelling case for Indian management style
India's economic boom in the past 20 years has left many other nations enviously eyeing it as a new, forceful competitor. With growth rates greater than those of most developed countries, India has become a world-class industrial player, and its business leaders have become the "rock stars" of its industrial development. How did a country with few natural resources, a vastly diverse population and stifling bureaucracy do so well in such a short time? And what lessons can India teach the rest of the business world? Wharton School professors Peter Cappelli, Harbir Singh, Jitendra Singh and Michael Useem explore the drivers of India's explosive growth. Their conclusions - after interviewing more than 100 senior executives from among the nation's 150 largest companies - are that several of India's success factors, despite being tempered in conditions specific to that country, can form the foundation of a new business model for the developed world. The authors offer compelling case studies and well-researched profiles of companies and entrepreneurs who are taking on the challenges of building their businesses and assuming leadership roles in India's political life. If you wonder how global businesses will adapt in the 21st century, getAbstract proposes that this book is vital to your understanding of a new way forward.

Lessons from India
"The governing board of Western Companies has traditionally been viewed as the owners eyes and ears, ensuring that company executives take prudent risks to optimize investor value and engage in no self-serving behavior or malfeasance while doing so. But drawing on the broad sense of mission and purpose that defines the India Way, Indian directors have become more deeply engaged in guiding company directions with less of an eye or ear on the shareholders and more of a concern for the community and the country."

American corporate governance has increasingly turned to rules, whilst Indian corporate governance have turned to more values. With more of a stakeholder approach, Indian companies are more focused on balancing the company needs with that ofthe broader community. The India Way: How India's Top Business Leaders Are Revolutionizing Management, by Peter Cappelli, Harbir Singh, Jitendra Singh and Michael Useem is the result of interviews 100 of India's top business leaders in order to determine if India has lessons that can be applied to the West.

Three principles appear as key to many successful Indian companies:

1. Employees are viewed as a company's best assets and not something to be adjusted to fit cost structure or to be manipulated through layoffs to save money.
2. There is a willingness (perhaps out of necessity) to do more with less.
3. An all important underlying social mission to business and an interest beyond the immediate return for shareholders.

US companies could benefit from The India Way, with its greater focus more on long-term thinking and the corporation's role in social progress.

Businesses can make profits and do good !
A wonderful read that successfully challenges the common U.S. belief that the sole purpose of business is to create shareholder value.

The India Way demonstrates that businesses can create value for employees, customers, shareholders, and society by having a purpose bigger than just profit. Purpose, meaning, high employee engagement, and customer centricity can create value for multiple stakeholders.

Many of theirfindings are supported by academic research @ Stanford, Harvard, Michigan, and Darden/Virginia Business Schools that focuses on U.S. companies.As examples from my research,Sysco, Best Buy, Room & Board, Starbucks, Levy Restaurants, Southwest Airlines, Costco, Whole Foods, the Ritz Carlton chain, Outback Steakhouses, UPS, SAS, Synovous Financial, Chick-fil-A, and Patagonia all understand that execution excellence and compelling customer value propositions come from meaning, purpose, a highly engaged workforce, and leaders who are humble passionate operators. All are high performance businesses.

The India Way adds much to the conversation that businesses as a member of society should create value for society as well as for shareholders.


Ed Hess

[ASIN:0231150504 Smart Growth: Building an Enduring Business by Managing the Risks of Growth (Columbia Business School Publishing)]]

GREAT BOOK FOR VISIONERS,ENTREPRENEURS
I LIKE THE BOOK VERY MUCH,WRITERS TAKE TIME OUT DEEPER INTO ISSUES,YOU GET LOTS OF INSPIRATION FROM LARGE NUMBER OF PIONEERS IN THE INDIAN BUSINESS WORLD,

CANGRATS !!!!!!!PROFESSORS FOR YOUR GREAT WORK ... Read more

Product Description
The Harvard Business Review Paperback Series is designed to bring today's managers and professionals the fundamental information they need to stay competitive in a fast-moving world. From the preeminent thinkers whose work has defined an entire field to the rising stars who will redefine the way we think about business, here are the leading minds and landmark ideas that have established the Harvard Business Review as required reading for ambitious businesspeople in organizations around the globe.

This dynamic collection of articles features the latest theories on change management and real-world stories of successful turnaround efforts. With compelling first person stories about successful turnarounds, readers will learn how to address their own organizations' needs from such diverse figures as Rich Teerlink, Gary Hamel, and Bill Parcells. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Ok
THis book give you some views about turnarounds. If you want to learn about turnarounds this is a book that can help. I suggest reading this and a more " hands on"to balance theory+ pratical stuff.

Could be better
Rather disappointing with what I considered largely facile commentary ~ yes entertaining but not illuminating

Obviously, much easier said than done....

This is one in a series of several dozen volumes which comprise the "Harvard Business Review Paperback Series." Each offers direct, convenient, and inexpensive access to the best thinking on the given subject in articles originally published by the Harvard Business School Review. I strongly recommend all of the volumes in the series. The individual titles are listed at this Web site: www.hbsp.harvard.edu. The authors of various articles are among the world's most highly regarding experts on the given subject. Each volume has been carefully edited. Supplementary commentaries are also provided in most of the volumes, as is an "About the Contributors" section which usually includes suggestions of other sources which some readers may wish to explore. In this volume, the reader is provided with eight articles. Here are brief excerpts from the executive summaries with precede three of them:

Cracking the Code of Change (Michael Beer and Nitin Nohria): "In this article, [the authors] describe two archetypes -- or theories of corporate transformation that may help executives crack the code of change. Theory E is change based on economic value: shareholder value is the only legitimate measure of success, and change often involves heavy use of economic incentives, layoffs, downsizing, and restructuring. Theory O is change based on organizational capability: the goal is to build and strengthen corporate value." (May-June 2000)

Turning Goals into Results (Jim Collins): "In this article, [Collins] introduces the catalytic mechanism, a simple yet powerful managerial tool that helps translate lofty aspirations into concrete reality. Catalytic mechanisms are the crucial link between objectives and performance; they are a galvanizing, nonbureaucratic means to turn one into another...[They share] five characteristics. First, they produce desired results in unpredictable ways. Second, they distribute power for the benefit of the overall system, often to the discomfort of those who traditionally hold power. Third, catalytic mechanisms have teeth. Fourth, they eject `viruses' -- those people who don't share the company's core values. Finally, they produce an ongoing effect." (July-August 1999)

Changing the Way We Change (Richard Pascale, Mark Millemann, and Linda Gioja):"The authors identify three interventions that will restore companies to vital agility ands then keep them in good health: incorporating employees fully into the principal business challenges facing the company; leading the organization in a different way in order to sharpen and maintain incorporation and constructive stress; and instilling mental disciplines that will make people behave differently and then help them sustain their new behavior." (November-December 1997)

Hopefully these brief excerpts encourage those with whom I now share them to obtain a copy of this volume and then read each of the eight articles. Those who share my passion for athletic competition will be especially interested in Bill Parcells' article, The Tough Work of Turning Around a Team. His efforts to do so here in Dallas continue.

Harvard Business Review on turnarounds.
Many airlines worldwide are ailing. Many large airlines have been liquidated or are facing serious viability challenges. I work for an airline association which, among other things, seeks to find solutions to turnaround the fortunes of the legacy airlines. After searching for a book to guide me in this regard, I came across Harvard Business Review on Turnarounds.

The book proved to be useful as it is a collection of articles highlighting how others have effectively managed change and turned around failing organisations. From the compelling stories about successful turnarounds, one can also distil some ideas and principles that can be used to effect successful turnarounds. This book would be a useful reading for those people in businesses that require to be re-energising or revitalising to stay competitive and be customer focused.
... Read more

Product Description
The Harvard Business Review Paperback Series brings managers and professionals the fundamental information they need to stay competitive in a fast-moving world. Gathered in a highly accessible format are the leading minds and landmark ideas that have established the Harvard Business Review as required reading for forward-thinking businesspeople worldwide.

Managers at every level, and in every industry, must balance various working styles, build efficient management teams, and develop sharp negotiation skills to remain competitive. Harvard Business Review on Negotiation and Conflict Resolution offers a selection of the best thinking on negotiation practice and managing conflict in organizational settings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great addition to your library.
This is a great addition to an engineers library in the field in managing construction projects. I recommend it greatly.

You can't fire everybody
Management of Differences & Overcoming Group Warfare
What should a manager do when subordinates or groups disagree?In these chapters, the concepts of equality, understanding, evaluation, and action are discussed.It's important for a leader to view each employee/group equally, find the facts, and make an informed decision.Toeing the line between authoritarian and laissez faire leadership fundamentals, a manager must achieve an end-state that is educational but doesn't damage the more fragile sensitivities of some employees/groups.Sometimes it's even necessary to include arbitration in the process in order to placate those involved without negative repercussions.Additionally, a manager should promote loyalty, teamwork, and solidarity without stifling creativity, causing dissension, or creating groupthink.

The Team That Wasn't
Group dynamics and teamwork are often the most difficult assignments in the business world.In this lesson, the group must deal with a maverick, a person intent on disrupting the collaborative process.Focusing on team-building and consensus, experts weigh in on goal accomplishment and accountability while handling an unruly employee, when relatively little authority has been delegated to the group leader, and no ground rules have been established for behavior detrimental to the effort.

Negotiating With a Customer & Negotiation as a Corporate Capability
These lessons are straightforward solutions to realistic conflict resolution with customers while establishing a corporate-wide negotiation infrastructure.Displaying an ability to delay or avoid confrontation, it is determining how to appease the customer with little personal or corporate sacrifice that is paramount to success.

When Consultants and Clients Clash
The least helpful of all chapters, this lesson includes the details of a fictitious merger that requires the outside help of a consulting firm, and how difficulties can arise between an established company and a outside group proposing new ideas.

Five Ways to Keep Disputes Out of Court & Alternative Dispute Resolution
These chapters deal with the core principles of conflict resolution, and are perhaps the most helpful.Providing several examples of Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR), experts weigh in on how a company can save legal and management time and money by avoiding court with hybrid forms of arbitration that sometimes carry legal clout.Further, the problems with ADR - which amount to the creation of business-saturated, private judicial systems - are discussed and shown to sometimes cause more harm than good.

This is a great collection of analyses for the manager/leader faced with conflict in an ever-changing social and business environment.It is highly recommended for the reinforcement of conflict resolution techniques.

Useful supplement to Harvard Negotiation Program's new book...
This book offers articles on negotiation and conflict resolution, but has no overarching theory to it.The individual chapters are all well-written, however.I especially liked "5 ways to keep disputes out of court" and "the team that wasn't."These kinds of chapters make the book poignant and show how groups operate under conditions of conflict and high-intensity emotion.

THis book is a useful supplement to the groundbreaking new negotiation bestseller "Beyond Reason: USing Emotions as You NEgotiate" (written by Roger Fisher, who is probably the most influential thinker in the field of negotiation and conflict resolution).

A must!
The Harvard Business Review has done it again.A very useful tool for negotiation. ... Read more

Product Description
The Performance Management Revolution shows you how your business can get prepared for the future—transforming strategies into plans, plans into actions, and actions into results. Written by Howard Dresner, a worldwide authority in the area of business intelligence and performance management, this lucid book offers great insight into strategies that any company interested in improving its business performance and accountability could adopt. This visionary book provides an intelligent framework toward the path to better performance through insight and action. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Truly an introduction to the future
Howard Dresner is the perfect person to undertake the educating of the business masses in Performance Management.As the assumptive "father" of Business Intelligence and resulting owner of the revolution to Performance Management, he embodies the thought process of what must occur to catapult the business into the 21st century.

His handling of the material in this book gives clear insight into the process and pitfalls of adopting a true corrective course of action enabling the business to achieve performance success.While I agree that the references to "nameless" companies in the early pages of the book is annoying, he more than makes up for it with the corporate citations used in illustration throughout the rest of the book.As a fellow software executive, I sympathize with Mr. Dresner's challenge in finding businesses willing to share their stories that they consider part of their "corporate secret weapon."

The materials are presenting in such a way that a junior executive or the uninitiated in management disciplines will easily consume and be able to make use of the material.It is thoughtful, clearly stated and encourages the reader to take advantage of the simple prescription to change the path of business to success.

EPM revolution in progress
The opening of the book draws an analogy between the American Revolution and the revolution currently building momentum in the Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) space.The author, Howard Dresner, whom some refer to as the "father" of Business Intelligence (BI) from his days as a Gartner Analyst, seems an unlikely person to make the clarion call for the EPM revolution.Many of the early BI adopters and proponents (the Dresner faithful among them) will argue that EPM is nothing more than a "re-swizzle" of BI and is not a "real" solution.It is true that EPM does not exist without a strong underlying BI infrastructure and it does seem to be difficult to define exactly what EPM is and how it works without drawing a number of boxes and arrows. However, the author is clear that EPM is a space unto its own and Dresner describes the goal of EPM to "link the insight provided BI to the planning and control cycles of the enterprise, which deliver tangible action and, consequently, business value".Dresner's transition from the George Washington of the BI campaign to the Paul Revere (or perhaps Thomas Jefferson?) of EPM is to be commended.This is the same transition that IT leaders will be required to make in order to successfully partner with key business areas to execute an EPM Strategy.

Dresner does an especially nice job of explaining the linkages or "glue" that hold the various components of EPM. Many EPM discussions wave their hands over these "gray areas", but Dresner presses on to give the reader some practical insights that will help set the scope and help avoid the many landmines that can stymie EPM implementations. Those barriers to adoption and the different paths to EPM are well laid out with good discussions of how to mediate risks.

I did find it a bit frustrating early in the book that most of the examples and success stories did not provide the name of the actual organizations involved.There were a few too many fictional or unnamed examples for my taste. I kept finding myself trying to figure out the identity of the organization being referenced in the examples and wanting to know more of the context. Having anonymous stories in the book is not surprising given that Howard as a Gartner Analyst had been privy to many confidential conversations over the years, which he would have to continue to hold under NDA. No worries though, as a bit deeper into the book I was rewarded with many more stories that are fully referenced.

The book explains that "EPM product suites" are required to deliver all the required functionality in order to consolidate departmental solutions to get economies of scale with a common platform to collaborate. Dresner was clear that businesses should select a provider that delivers a full solution with out of the box integration as well as the extensibility to work with other solutions because it is never a completely homogenous environment.

For those interested in understanding the impending EPM revolution and the history ofhow the first few waves of reporting and analysis technology lead to this point, The Performance Management Revolution is required reading.The solid advice in the book provides a roadmap for individuals to begin or accelerate the EPM revolution in their organizations.

The Reality of Enterprise Performance Management
There are only a handful of books available on the relatively new area of enterprise performance management (aka business/corporate performance management).This one is based in customer reality and is written by a guy on the front-lines.It puts EPM into context - where it enables the 'Modern Management System' and addresses the benefits of EPM and what problems it solves.It then goes into detail on each of the components of EPM including 'what if' modeling, budgeting/planning/forecasting, financial & operational analytics, business intelligence, scorecarding and enterprise reporting - and how all those components interrelate. Next it helps you understand ways to bring it into your organization: how to get started, how to support it, and how to justify it.It even presents implementation methodologies and various tips & tricks for making EPM successful.There are lots of real-world case studies used throughout and advice 'from the trenches.'It even connects EPM to risk management and other areas of the business.
Highly recommended, and I can't wait for the sequel. ... Read more

Product Description
Now in its 7th edition, Business Finance by Eddie McLaney gives an invaluable and up-to-date introduction to finance and investment. Taking a userÂ’s perspective it explores where finance and investment sit in a companyÂ’s decision-making process. The way the author blends the theoretical, analytical and practical aspects of business finance makes this text a highly successful and popular choice for students who have little or no experience of the subject. This text is suitable for students taking an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in finance or accounting and for those on business courses with an option in finance or accounting. It is also highly appropriate for professional accounting students. ... Read more