Organizations Books

Dr. Nemiro has raised the standard on books on virtual creativity. Her expansive and detailed rendering of the subject should help this book find its way to a number of re-issues. As a magazine editor who works with writers from all over the continent, I can appreciate the comparison of differing virtual models. I only wish that I had had Dr. Nemiro's book a decade earlier before I began my career in publishing. Regardless, I am grateful for this book - for the precision work of a fine mind.

Working in the film business and having been a member of virtual teams in the past, this book has helped me understand why some teams have worked while others haven't. In particular, I enjoyed the section on climate and interpersonal communication and bonding. With the future promising increased use of distance collaboration, this will be my reference for being part of a healthy, productive team. I highly recommend this book.

I own my own business and was encouraged by one of our bankers to read Barton's book. The work is easy to read, well organized and pretty amazingly accurate. In my nine years of running a fairly large company, I've dealt with irate customers, earthquakes, contractors who filed for bankruptcy (mid project!), two serious cases of workplace violence, and assorted other not-so-mild incidents. This book spells out not only what could happen to your company, but what i REALLY loved was reading how other owners and CEO's got their companies out of trouble...and sometimes, how their mistakes made them considerably worse. Barton uses humor, fact, and practical insight to drive home the case for preparedness. I wish there were more photos in the book- those would have made the reading more enjoyable. Yet the case studies and interviews spice the work up very well, and this may be one of the single best books on management I've ever read.

When I saw the author on The Today Show a decade ago, I rushed to buy his book, and I've referred to it dozens of times each year at my job in Los Angeles, CA. To my delight, Dr. Barton has completely updated this book, and it's a joy to read. He examines why corporations in various industries face serious crises more than others, and then supports his arguments with credible, well written analysis. I learned much from the lessons of Coca-Cola's recall last year in Europe; even great brands can misjudge public opinion- and lose hundreds of millions of dollars as a result. I would say the best features of Barton's book are those that reflect on "best practices" in leading companies worldwide. And his new chapters on workplace violence, natural disasters and how to write a crisis management and communication plan all easy to apply, whether you work in public relations, security, human resources or in any position where you supervise people. Since Barton's first edition, he served as Vice President of Communication for Motorola, and I must say that his experience there boosts the practical value of this edition immensely. It's less theory this time, and more "here's the way it is" in writing: I valued his candor about managing downsizing, environmental spills and other serious incidents in the workplace. Barton's bibliography is thinner this time, as he has placed those resources on his web site. But that's a small point. Overall, this remains the single best book on crisis management I've read in a 30 year career spanning the industry. It's a must-read if you are interested in why companies get into serious trouble with the media, stockholders, employees and the public. His book is simply an outstanding read.

Reading THE CURE FOR THE COMMON SCHOOL feels far more like being in conversation with an inspired and inspiring teacher than it does reading a typical text on theoretical pedagogy. It's obvious that Mr. Ognibene does what he does because he loves to see students' faces light up. "The Cure" is a clear and down-to-earth description of approaches to teaching and specific activities that engage students' curiosity and involvement, making the learning process fun. What more effective way is there!
I especially enjoyed the real-life experiences, his own and those of his students, that Mr. Ognibene shares. This very readable book will make your face (and heart) light up too.

Ognibene's book is brilliant! This book takes one through his time tested method of whole teaching and motivational techniques for today's students of all ages. If you want to be the teacher that your students can't stop talking about at the dinner table or in the college student lounge then this is a must read for you. Five stars and two thumbs up -Bravo!

This book pre-dates web conferencing (sharing data over a browser with a teleconference) but their principles and insights are first rate, terse and straight to the point. The lesson of planning different strategies for different types of meetings is very helpful and practical. They give tips and strategies for specific types of virtual encounters from brainstorming sessions, to working team meetings, remote presentations and formal board meetings. They also offer a key insight that the use of video conferencing is not a technical solution that reduces travel cost but strategic managment issue that goes to core of communications within an organization.

As web conferencing and Video over IP become realities, this book establishes the principles for holding any type of virtual meeting. )

This book is a must read for anyone looking to use cybermeetings to improve access to justice and to resolve eCommerce disputes amicably. Anyone in the burgeoning field of web conferencing should learn the constructive lessons of video conferencing from this book.

Jim Keane - JKeane.Com - ABA-LPM eLawyering Task Force

Helps you look at your meetings and real time collaboration processes, and see how/if technology can support them. For once it doesn't look at it from a technology standpoint. The authors lets you consider what you want with your meetings. Then they take a look at how tech can support this.

I expected a quick, funny read, and got more than I'd hoped for. It's a goofy gimmick - a clever underachiever gets less than he wanted from life and kvetches to a famous terrorist organization - but as we proceed, the anger, arrogance and shock humor slowly give way to deep sadness and cold, clear insight. Creney has a playful, conversational style reminiscent of the best stuff in zines, and he can write alienation without romanticizing it. If future social historians want to know how it felt to be a lonely, pissed off, downwardly mobile Joe during the Bush years, they can consider this recommended.

With a title like this, I really wasn't sure what to expect, and I think I would have been surprised no matter what. Creney's writing is always evocative, whether he's talking about the absurd parade of Americana in Florida or the heart-wrenching personal problems he's going through. With each turn of the page I found myself laughing and, on occasion, also being deeply moved by sorrow. This book isn't about politics or terror, it's about life.

Seymour Martins Lipset is the author of the preface and of this abridged edition of Moisei Ostrogorski's major and fundamental work: the two volumes set entitled "Democracy and the Organization of Political Parties", first published by Haskell House Publishers of New York in 1902. Through this fantastic work, we can understand how the political theatre is made and used not for the protection and guarantee of the people's interests, but for the political elite, the minority interests instead. Concepts like: clientelism, corruption, power image, caucus, ring, whip, dark horses... are only but some of the many examples that show how actual and important the knowledge and understanding of that work remains until today. The study and analysis pursued by Ostrogorski, the problems he was able to found and the construction he made of the British (1st Volume) and American (2nd Volume) societies and civilizations remain actual, and we can find today the repetition of the majority of the "difficult" situations that are able to exist (even) in a "democracy". Its a fundamental and prioritary author for those interested in understanding how the world goes on, and through what kind of rules... Good not only for those with interests in political science subjects, but to all citizens in general.
It was for that reason that I have been studying Ostrogorski's thought and all his work, and I have already written a book on it, which is entitled, in portuguese, "A Fórmula do Poder. Elite, Democracia, Partidos e Corrupção Política no pensamento de Moisei Ostrogorski", something which in english could be "The Power's Formula. Elite, Democracy, Political Parties and Political Corruption in Moisei Ostrogorski's Thought".

This is one of the most interesting and realistic analysis on democracy and political parties. The author goes deep into the "real", factual functions of the social and political institutions and through his analysis he concludes that "real" and perfect democracy as well as the representativity of the majority, the people, became much compromised by the professional politician who, with the help of the caucus and bosses, he considers to be the figure that plays the most important role in society, as part of the elite which effectively have the power. Although the solution he advocates has no application nowadays as it had not in the 19th century - the ocasional parties -, the analysis seems mostly actual and real.

Mariano Bernardez is one the most insightful members of the Human Performance Technology profession. When Mariano speaks, people should listen. His writing is always clear, relevant, and powerful.

We all know that just patching up the problems in an organization just delays the inevitable failure. This book is refreshingly clear, precise, and user-friendly. It creates success where other books simply tell you to react to failure.

Built on solid research and international applications, this book will guide you to move from identified needs (not wants) to designing, developing, and implementing measurable performance success. It is new-yet-proven and will allow you to define and deliver success and be able to prove that success.

DESIGNING CLOTHES: CULTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE FASHION INDUSTRY is a top pick for college-level collections strong in fashion history and design. It considers how fashion operates in society and how it works in an organizational context, considering how fashion firms operate, how they market more than just clothing, and how they actually sell bigger concepts than the latest style choices. Not only art collections but business libraries as well will find it an important survey of how the presentation of fashion is influenced by social change. From fashion industry trends and leadership to the efforts of the fashion designer, DESIGNING CLOTHES is an excellent, in-depth survey.

a really good book that looks at how fashion designers became celebrities and a look at what it is like to work as a designer, whether it is an assistant designer or a top designer like tommy hilfiger. this book gives a good review of theory on fashion from both the meaning it has to people who buy and wear fashion to the role of fashion in everyday life, and it talks about fashion firms, their leaders, the culture in the firms and how fashion has become a global industry. i learned a lot about the ways that fashion influences individuals and how it works as a business, and I didn't know much before on this topic. it is well written for the college grad or above level.

A "must" reading for all executives managing living organizations and their human assets.

"This book is about designing effective organizations. It emphasizes that design is a key task of the leader. It suggests that effective organizations are necessary for competitiveness and they are a growing source for competitive advantage. The focus of the book is therefore on equipping leaders with the understanding and the tools necessary to create organizations that are superior to those of their competitors."

In this context J. Galbraith :

* examines the forces (buyer power, variety, change, and speed) that are shaping organizations.

* presents the organizational design framework in the form of "the star model". In the star model, design policies fall into five categories :

(1) Strategy,

(2) Structure,

(3) Processes,

(4) Rewards,

(5) People.

* looks at policy areas/dimensions that determine the structure of an organization : specialization, shape, distribution of power, and departmentalization.

* discusses the lateral processes as a multidimentional aspects and the ability to be responsive to products, customers, functions, geographies, and work flow processes.

* focuses on three organizational design models : functional integrators, the distributed organization, and the front/back hybrid structure.

* examines virtual corporation as a network of independent companies.

"In conclusion", J. Galbraith writes, "I wish to emphasize once again the role of leader. I see the leader as a decision shaper rather than a decision maker. The decision-shaping role is achieved through the organizational design. The star model provides the management-controlled policies that will influence how others make decisions."

I highly recommend.

See also :

* J. Galbraith - Designing the Global Corporation (2000)

* E. Lawler - From the Ground Up (2000)

* S. A. Mohrman et al - Tomorrow's Organization (1998)

This is an excellent book. I knew very little about grant writing prior to reading this book. Now I know that I can write grants and get funding. This book is great for novice grant writers. I highly recommend it!

After reading Developing Successful Grants, I feel confident in my ability to write a successful grant! This book really takes you step-by-step through the entire process. All of the concepts were explained clearly, great examples were provided, and the book provided a comprehensive overview of the whole process. I am excited about writing my next grant now that I am equipped with the necessary tools to be successful! I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in grant writing.