Product Description
Leveraging scorecards to remain competitive and achieve lasting business success

Scorecard Best Practices provides best practice guidance on the design and implementation of scorecards. It outlines how organizations use scorecards to create an environment conducive to open communication of strategy, simple evaluation of operational performance toward achievement of goals, and fostering a culture of collaboration and trust.

Raef Lawson, PhD, CPA, CMA (Montvale, NJ) is Director of Research for the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). Toby Hatch (Ontario, Canada) is a Domain Leader for Performance Scorecard with Hyperion Solutions. Denis Desroches (Ontario, Canada) is a Domain Leader in the Business Performance Management field with Hyperion Solutions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

filled with real-world examples
At last a practical book on scorecards/metrics. This book is filled with many examples of how real organizations measure performance.There are also a number of alternative architectures presented other than the over-used Kaplan & Norton model.While some of these metrics and approaches, might not be the "best" practices, they are all real examples of what business and government organizations are measuring.This book could save you hundreds of hours of consultants' fees and shoukld stimulate ideas for developing your own scorecards and metrics

Real world scorecard advice.
This is a very practical book by some folks who have been designing and implementing enterprise scorecards for over 10 years - they are true pioneers.While they could have easily just told us Scorecard best-practices, they decided to let us hear it directly from the front-lines: this book is based on surveys of almost 400 respondents from 44 countries.

I like that it's not just about the ubiquitous Balanced Scorecard (based on the work of Norton & Kaplan), but includes other "organizing frameworks" that are used in the real world.They include:
- Value Dynamics (Arthur Andersen/Accenture)
- Malcolm Baldrige Award
- EFQM - European Foundation for Quality Management
- Six Sigma
- EVA - Economic Value Add (Stern Stewart)
- APIC - Army Performance Improvement Criteria
- Performance Prism (Cranfield University)
- ValueReporting (PricewaterhouseCoopers)
- Logic Model
- And customized Frameworks

If you have anything to do with Scorecarding in your organization, or you are interested in learning how other organizations use them, this is a great book with lots of candid case studies and proven tips & traps.It includes guidance on the design and implementation of scorecards, it outlines how organizations use scorecards to create an environment conducive to open communication of strategy, simple evaluation of operational performance toward achievement of goals, and fostering a culture of collaboration and trust. ... Read more

Product Description
Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Ewan Mcgregor, Sir James Henderson-Stewart, 1st Baronet, Denis Lawson, David Jack, Gavin Strang, Thomas Thomson, William Wright, Alexander Murray, Jackie Dewar, Sophie Stewart. Excerpt:Alexander Murray Alexander Murray , CMG (2 June 1810 18 December 1884) was a Scottish geologist . Murray was born in Crieff , Perthshire , Scotland. He worked as a geologist in the United Kingdom and Canada , before coming to Newfoundland in 1864 to become the first director of the Geological Survey of Newfoundland . His first major task was to produce a reliable topographical map of the interior of the island. Murray did detailed work in the area between Hall's Bay and St. George's Bay , as well as the area surrounding Conception , Placentia and St. Mary's Bays. He also mapped parts of the Great Northern Peninsula and central Newfoundland. Murray produced the first geological map of Newfoundland and his reports of rich resources in the island's interior were an important factor in the decision to build the trans-island railway in 1881. Poor health caused him to return to Scotland in 1883. Websites (URLs online) A hyperlinked version of this chapter is at David Jack David Jack (18 April 1822 11 January 1909), also known as David Jacks , was a powerful Californian landowner, developer, and businessman. Born in Scotland , he emigrated to California during the 1849 Gold Rush, and soon acquired several thousand acres in and around Monterey , shaping the history of Monterey County in the first decades of American possession. He is also credited as being the first to market and popularize Monterey Jack cheese . Early life David Jack was born at Crieff , Perthshire , Scotland , the sixth of nine children of William Jack and the first of three William had by his second wife Janet McEwan. Little is known... ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Lulu, Ricky Sbragia, John Hendrie, John Johnston, Jim Mcginlay, John Mclane, Ian Murray, Alex Ferns, Denis Lawson, Jack Britton. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 45. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: The following WikiProjects or Portals may be able to help recruit one: WikiProject Biography· Biography Portal WikiProject MusiciansIf another appropriate WikiProject or portal exists, please adjust this template accordingly.(August 2009) Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, OBE (born Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie, 3 November 1948, Lennoxtown, Stirlingshire), best known by her stage name Lulu, is a Scottish singer-songwriter, actress,and television personality who has been successful in the entertainment business from the 1960s through to the present day. She is most famous worldwide for her hit "To Sir, with Love" and in the UK for "Shout". Lulu grew up in Dennistoun, Glasgow, where she attended Thomson Street primary school and Whitehill Senior Secondary School. She lived in the Gallowgate for a while before moving to Garfield Street.At the age of 12/13 she and her manager approached a band called the Bellrocks asking if she could sing with them to get used to a live band and the stage. Alex Thomson (base player of the Bellrocks) said even at that age her voice was unbelievable. She then went on to sing with them every saturday night. They were asked to become here backing band, however for then playing was just a hobbie and a bit of fun. Taken under the wing of Marion Massey, she became famous at the age of fifteen with her version of The Isley Brothers "Shout", delivered in a raucous and extraordinarily mature voice. Her backing group was called The Luvvers, but after several more British hits she left the group to become a solo artist. Massey would guide her career for more than 25 ye...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=168324 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The books that turned the tide
These books reshaped the the way people thought about Star Wars. Their action, and amazing plot, gave the idea a rebirth which continues to this day. Read these books, they're well worth the time and money.

The books that brought back the Force!
There was a time almost a decade ago when SW was dead, a thing from the past, then one day passing by a bookstore something called my attention "Heir to the Empire", What's this? I wondered, and as I wasreading page after page of this novel I relived the thrill and excitementand dreams from my childhood. Undoubtely this trilogy (completed by"Dark Force Rising" & "The Last Command") are asclose to the original vision of George Lucas as they could have been and itis the best story of all the Expanded Universe. Now with the audiobookversion I will have a chance to listen to the story everytime that I desireit. If you haven't read the books, buy this audio version, you won't regretit. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Textbook of Acupuncture Therapy
This is the first truly comprehensive textbook of Chinese acupuncture in the English language.

The author, who practices acupuncture and osteopathy, describes in a clear and straightforward manner the complete range of acupuncture techniques, with anatomical references to the structure of the human body.

Dr. Austin presents through text and many detailed illustrations the precise locations of all acupuncture points along the 12 organ meridians (or pathways of energy), as well as the points on the two major vessel meridians. When manipulated by needle, massage, percussion, or Moxa, these points can help balance deficiencies and excesses within the body.

The text is well suited for doctors, nurses, students, and others interested in understanding this art and science of healing.
--- from boo's dustjacket ... Read more

Product Description
It's five years after Return of the Jedi: the Rebel Alliance has destroyed the Death Star, defeated Darth Vader and the Emperor, and driven out the remnants of the old Imperial Starlfleet to a distant corner of the galaxy. Princess Leia and Han Solo are married and expecting Jedi Twins. And Luke Skywalker has become the first in a long-awaited line of Jedi Knights. But thousand of light-years away, the last of the emperor's warlords has taken command of the shattered Imperial Fleet, readied it for war, and pointed it at the fragile heart of the new Republic. For this dark warrior has made two vital discoveries that could destroy everything the courageous men and women of the Rebel Alliance fought so hard to build. The explosive confrontation that results is a towering epic of action, invention, mystery, and spectacle on a galactic scale--in short, a story worthy of the name Star Wars. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (391)

Awesome book.
I've been reading Star Trek for a long time and this is my first book for Star Wars.Great story and can't wait to read the other 2 books of the series.

I loved it
This book is really good and I do thing the Thrawn Trilogy is the best set of Star wars books out but to each there own if you do not like it.

A masterpiece
I first read this book 15 years ago, and it hasn't lost its magic. While much of the rest of the Star Wars Expanded Universe has become bogged down with irrelevant characters and unrealistic plot twists, Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire Trilogy actually manages to recapture the feeling of the original Star Wars trilogy. The original characters all play great roles and the ploy is well paced. More important, this book introduced several of the Expanded Universe's most beloved characters, from Mara Jade to Grand Admiral Thrawn. I personally love how Zahn spends so much time with the Imperials, using Captain Gilad Pellaeon as a narrative device to explain plot twists to the reader. This allows readers to appreciate Thrawn as a character, but also deftly manages to preserve some surprises. Overall, this trilogy is required reading for any Star Wars fan (the other books - not so much).

Must-Read for Long-time Fans and Newcomers Alike
Zahn was one of the first authors to come up with his own Star Wars plot, back in 1991. He's so great that many Star Wars authors will give him a nod in their "Acknowledgements" section. He deserves it.

This trilogy is thrilling. If you don't know anything about Star Wars, this is a great place to get started - just watch the original 3 movies and you'll be all right. If you're a well-read Star Wars fan, you must read this book - Zahn created the characters of Grand Admiral Thrawn, Mara Jade, and Talon Karrde - possibly three of the most interesting characters in the Star Wars cast.

The plot is fascinating. Though it's been 5 years since the destruction of the second Death Star and the death of Darth Vader and the Emperor, the New Republic is suddenly put on the defensive when Thrawn gathers what's left of the Empire's resources to subtlety bring down the New Republic. While you have to root for the "good guys", you are forced to respect Thrawn because he is such a tactical genius.

Zahn also does wonderfully in preserving the essence of all the movie characters - Threepio is still a priss, Han is still an incurably sardonic rogue, Lando is still a diehard businessman with a soft spot, and Luke and Leia are still... Luke and Leia. The writing is very good for this genre, and the books are perfectly paced.

Zahn takes you all around the galaxy of Star Wars, showing you just how big it really is. You get to see Chewie's home world of Kashyyyk, meet a new alien race - the Noghri, and discover a lost fleet of two hundred Dreadnaughts. This trilogy reads quickly, is authentic, and has crazy twists. You won't know who to side with - the New Republic or the remnants of the Empire and its Dark Side weapon.

Really Great Book!!!!
This book was amazing. I thought that it started slow but quickly picked up and in the end it turned out to be one of the best books i have read so far. Timothy Zhan really delivers an adventure in this book and it is the beginning of a really really really, GOOD trilogy. ... Read more