Best in the West

Reading most Western management books, it is easy to see why the West has been losing ground to the East over the last 25 years. You either get a business man boasting about their way, or you get an impractical academic with no real experience pushing a second rate theory.<br /><br />This book, at last, is different. It made me take notice. It is highly practical: the stories used to illustrate the points made are clearly real world and make immediate sense to anyone who works in an organisation.<br /><br />How to Manage is covers lots of practical skills in three areas: EQ (Emotional Quotient), IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and PQ (Political Quotient). IQ and EQ are made presented as a series of learnable skills. You do not have to be a genius to be a smart manager: you can learn the skills. PQ is the most interesting bit. I thought this would be all about how to advance your career. Instead, it is about how you make things happen when your responsibility is greater than your resources. That is a familiar challenge to most managers today, and How to Manage gave lots of ideas on how to deal with this challenge. Much of this section was new to me, but made sense when I thought about both Western and Japanese organisations I have worked for.<br /><br />This is the first good management from the West which I have read.

Great to listen to in the car

Seeing as there are mostly reviews for the book here I thought I'd add one about the audiobook.<br /><br />The CD lasts about an hour and is read in a jovial interesting manner that sounds very professionally read by Templer himself.<br /><br />I've listened to the CD a few times now and it fits perfectly into my journey to+from work.<br /><br />I have flicked through the paperback version from a colleague, and this abridged version seems to distill the information as you may do making notes.<br /><br />For me the great thing about the audiobook is, inevitably I wouldn't remember half of the rules (at least!) having read the book, which is too cumbersome to read over periodically. however I find myself listening to the audiobook regularly to keep the rules (which as another reviewer has pointed out not really 'hard' rules).

very interesting reading

My girlfriend and I have opened up a clothes store recently and are working hard to let it survive the first few difficult years. Although this book gives many tips for bigger stores, I have found great insights and tips that make it valuable for us to try and stay ahead of the competion.

Be aware! Not for us locals...

This book is written from a US perspective. While the basic principles are the same, it uses US terminology and can be a little confusing. The tax section relates to that of the USA and not the UK. I sent mine back for an immediate refund and will wait until the UK version is published in February 2007.

JUST WHAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!!

Having recently set up a small business and being useless with"tax things" I really had to get to grips with tax. This book's straight-talking, non-nonsense style told me exactly what I needed to do. I have only owned the book a few days but I am already more confident about tax.<br />What I liked about this book was the fact that I didn't have to read it all - but I read more than I thought I would. <br /><br />The first three chapters got me started. I then read chapter 5 to see if I was working out my business profits correctly, chapter 7 to see how much tax I would save by buying equipment and chapter 10 because I was wondering whether to register for VAT. Excellent - Thanks sooooo much!

A Business Paradox: Less Really Can Achieve More

This is a new and expanded second edition of a book first published in 1996. Of special interest to me was what Womack and Jones had to say in the preface regarding what has since happened to the companies previously discussed. Apparently lean thinking has enabled Toyota, Wiremold, Porsche, Lantech, and Pratt & Whitney to sustain operational excellence and economic prosperity.

Briefly, how do Womack and Jones define lean thinking? It is the opposite of muda (a Japanese) word for anything which consumes resources without creating value. In a word, waste. Lean thinking is lean because"it provides a way to do more and more with less and less -- less human effort, less equipment, less time, and less space -- while coming closer and closer to providing customers with exactly what they want." Lean thinking is thus a process of thought, not an expedient response or a stop-gap solution. The challenge, according to Womack and Jones, is to convert muda into real, quantifiable value and the process to achieve that worthy objective requires everyone within an organization (regardless of size or nature) to be actively involved in that process. Once again, in this new edition they address questions such as these:

1. How can certain"simple, actionable principles" enable any business to create lasting value during any business conditions?

2. How can these principles be applied most effectively in real businesses, regardless of size or nature?

3. How can a relentless focus on the value stream for every product create"a true lean enterprise that optimizes the value created for the customer while minimizing time, cost, and errors"?

In Part IV, Womack and Jones update the continuing advance of of lean thinking. They rack the trend in inventory turns and the progress of their profiled companies. Also of special interest to me was the discussion of what Womack and Jones have learned since 1996 which probably explains why they introduce a new range of implementation tools support value stream mapping initiatives and thereby"to raise consciousness about value and its components, leading to action."

Obviously, even if everyone involved within a given organization is committed to lean thinking, to creating value while (and by) eliminating waste, the process requires specific strategies and tactics to succeed. Hence the importance of the last chapter in this book.,"Institutionalizing the Revolution." I presume to suggest that the process of lean thinking never ends. Inevitably, success creates abundance; abundance often permits waste. I also presume to suggest that priorities must first be set so that the implementation of lean thinking process does not inadvertently create or neglect waste in areas which influence the creation of value for customers.

Although highly readable, this is not an"easy read" because it requires rigorous thinking about what is most important to a given organization, rigorous thinking about the root causes (rather than the symptoms) of that organization's problems, and rigorous thinking about the most prudent use of resources to eliminate those problems. Because of the importance of the material which Womack and Jones share, I strongly recommend that decision-makers read and then re-read this book before getting together to exchange reactions to it. Out of that discussion, I hope, will come both a collective commitment to lean thinking and the personal determination of each executive to apply what she or he has learned from this book in operational areas where waste has most diminished value.

Builds on his excellent first book

Even if you own Dr Elder's first book I recommend getting this as well as he re-visits his earlier technical inidicators and explains how he has updated them, as well as many new indicators that he uses. If you liked the first book then you'll definitely like this one as it has many additions and new ideas.

The organizational paradigm shift from hierarchical to massive egalitarian collaboration

A paean to the cataclysmic changes effected by massive, self-organized collaboration and cocreation via the internet venue in an open globalized era.<br /><br />The authors have a penchant for unusual or coined words for chapter titles:'Wikinomics' used as both the book and a chapter title is derived from the word 'wiki' meaning a website or database developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add or edit content and is explained in a subtitle in the former as 'how mass collaboration changes everything'and in the latter as 'the art and science of peer production'; 'Ideagoras', a coined and composite word from 'idea'and 'agora', in classical Greece a public open space used for assemblies and markets suitably subtitled 'marketplaces for ideas, innovations, and uniquely qualified minds'; 'Prosumers' also a coined word which derives from the fusion of the words 'producer and 'consumer', the authors arguing that the boundaries between the two are becoming blurred in the sense that consumers by cocreating goods and services rather than simply consuming the end product become 'prosumers'; 'The New Alexandrians', subtitled 'Sharing for Science and the Sience of Sharing', I cite because I found it elegant and appealing for certainly it is neither coined nor contrived. The authors draw a beautiful parallel between the library of Alexandria and the current effort to digitize the present human knowledge which is infinitely wealthier than that in Alexandrian times in order to create a new virtual library of Alexandria which will provide a shared foundation for collaboration, learning and innovation; under the indifferent title 'Platforms for participation', we are introduced among other with the recent and very productive development of mashup or mixing. Web services mashups are created according to the following principle: a programmer mixes together at least two services or applications to create something new, and often better than the sum of the parts; and in the chapter 'The global plant floor', we are intimated that the global open community is also engaged in the creation of physical in addition to virtual entities.<br /><br />In conclusion the authors in this important, well documented, pioneering and visionary book argue convincingly - though prudently cautioning the reader on the attendant difficulties and complexities - that profound changes in the nature of technology, demographics, and the global economy, are giving powerful new models of production based on community, collaboration, and self-organization rather than hierarchy and control and that we are making the transition from an economy, research, developmet and production which is confined and local to one that is open and global.<br /><br />The writing of the authors is sanguine and engaging with possibly a touch of missionary, albeit legitimate zeal.

Best spread betting book I've read

Humerous, educational and well written. Of most use to those new to spread betting but pros will relate to her anecdotes. In Bets and the City, Sally Nicoll makes the mistakes so amatuers don't have to. Essential reading for anyone who wants to get started into spread betting

Helpful and non confusing

This book is great for those just about to head in to the city to work, those thinking about doing so but are scared or even people that have been in there for a while and need to brush up.<br /><br />It answers so many questions that you'd feel embarassed to ask and does so delightfully - it's written simply and not like a textbook, it's actually enjoyable to read and you won't want to put it down.<br /><br />However I would recommend looking elsewhere for a better price, I got mine on ebay for £9 inc. delivery!

If you buy 1 book on starting up your own business buy this

Thought other readers might like to know that we agree with every comment left by my fellow reviewers. This is a book which assumes you know nothing (we didn’t) but by the time of finishing you are left with a very clear idea and (hopefully) plan on how to turn your idea into a reality.

It holds your hand and walks you through a 20+ week plan to turn your initial"shall we / shan’t we" thoughts of starting up your own business into a reality.

It’s written in simple and easy to understand language - it never baffles and has some great tips. It doesn’t presume to have all the answers and offers alternative sources of information at the end of each chapter, as appropriate to the activities for that week.

Well done Steve for writing a great book. I never thought that we could actually run our own business but after reading your book we really believe we can - and a succesful business at that.

one for all

I have no idea about investments. Never have. More to the point never thought it affected me since I didn't have any cash spare, but as my parents edge towards retirement I started thinking about pensions and my family's future so I investigated, looked at some books and found Jim Mellon. This book is great because it makes you realise you can invest regularly with the smallest sums of money ( or largest), tells you how, and then helps you to decide where you should invest it. It works on all levels, there are experienced investors out there - so skip the reassuring part and go straight to where you should put your money, because this guy knows.<br />Brilliant - thanks for the advice Jim. I'm recommending this to everyone - including mum & dad.

Boring, Boring, Boring!

Sure this book gives you the facts where the author knows them but with Larry and Sergey well known for not often giving interviews or much away there really isnt much you couldnt find with a bit of good web research. The biggest disappointment is that book is written in such a boring and uninvolving way with zero entertainment value. Has to be one of the worst books I have ever read!

Best biz book for a long time

You don't usually expect this sort of enjoyment from a biz book on a subject as desiccated as cost management, but if you're familiar with Mr Wileman's writing you might not be surprised. Highly insightful and intelligent, although a tad pompous at times, witty and direct, sometimes almost to the point of being downright rude. A hoot of a good read, and chokka with serious good sense, too. Recommended.

Plenty of good ideas

How they started How 30 good ideas became great businesses BY David Lester<br /><br />I devour business books but this one looks like a cut an paste job. It is trying to appeal to a large audience but it is set out like a reference book.<br /><br />A good business book should mix facts with anecdotes and personal stories. It claims that their criteria for choosing was they were started by individuals, they are successful and they are a household name. Perhaps I hadn't been paying attention but they were a few I had not heard of . Out of 30 there were nineteen I had really heard of.<br /><br />The good ones have been well covered elsewhere such as Dyson, Friends Reunited and Moneysupermarket .com.<br /><br />People who think about starting businesses but ever get round to it cite two reasons ! I need a good idea 2 someone will steal my good idea. Perhaps there are no new ideas just variations on a theme. Even modern phenomena like Bebo never claimed to be the first just one of the more successful. Very rarely if ever does someone come up with a world beating new idea. even Dyson was just developing a better vacuum cleaner.<br /><br />Another reviewer has commented on the section on what we can learn from these businesses as a group? that is 1 The X Factor 2 Minimal personal reward financially 4 Do what it says on the tin 5 Keep it simple 6 Work hard than you might think possible 7 Kept trying and believing 8 Who needs money? 8 Ambition 9 So what?<br /><br /> Can I make a plea for business book writers and journalist to stop telling us that X ! Quit the rat race" to start his own business. It is rubbish and boring.<br /><br />Maybe a book for people who do not read the business pages but there are better books out there on ideas and how to start your own business. Business appears to have become the new Rock and Roll but on The Apprentice we see it is a lot harder than you think. Perfectly bright intelligent hard working people do not seem to be able to get it right.<br /><br />They are uplifting stories but like the apprentices you should try just a basic business to start with to see if you have the staying power. The vast majority of the population will not make it in business because they are not hard working enough, do not have enough ambition and have an inability to work consistently every day.<br /><br />A reasonable enough book but it did not inspire me to read it from cover to cover. I dipped into the ones that I liked.<br /><br /><br /><br />

Not really instructional but some good stories worth a read.

This book isn't really going to teach you much. Sure there's a few lessons here but to be honest the majority of readers of this book will be wannabe Day Traders or Day Trading currently and won't ever be in the position to worry about Institutional dilemma's. Really this book is what I would term a hobby filler. You know... the kind of book you read when you're doing something new and you're interested and want to keep the enthusiasm alive. Sort of like buying the book of '100 Great Fishing Tales' if you've just discovered fishing. That's not to say the book is a waste of time as it isn't .... it's a really good read. Buy it. For fun.

Only worthwhile for absolute novices...

OK, I realise that I'm sticking my neck out by disagreeing with most of the reviews here, but I was disappointed with this book.<br /><br />That said, if you are a complete beginner to ebay and only intend to make a small amount of money from it, then it's probably for you - it covers all the basics in detail.<br /><br />My main disappointment though is that it all seems rather obvious - anyone who has sold 2 or 3 items will know 90% of what is in this book. <br /><br />A final point - do not buy this book if you intend to make a living, or a significant income, from ebay. Even in the introduction, where the author should be grabbing the reader's attention, he points out that a busy day nets him about £100 - before tax. Hardly a fortune. The fact that he considers this a good day, and moots taking the next day off because of it, does not speak of a man with ambition. <br /><br />If you want some basic advice on selling low-value items and are new to ebay, then this book probably gives good advice. If your sights are set higher, don't bother.

Correctly addresses psychology not prop trading secrets

Readers who wanted to have insights into the minds of traders have definitely got it here. There are a handful of technical inconsistencies but they're insignificant compared to the wealth of information and advice available. Of course NO book can tell you a secret trading strategy (just like no technical trading system that actually makes money will be sold). But the key message of emotional control and avoiding psychological biases is what leads to good trade initiation/exit as well as risk control. Those who think there is a conspiracy to keep the big ideas secret within a club obviously didn't read about the humble backgrounds that many of the super-traders came from.