Tools Books

I rarely get excited about a book that has information that I've already mastered, but this is an exception, and here are the reasons why:

- It's a short guide to the essential tools that will assure success if they are all used in planning, scheduling and controlling a project. In this respect the book is a memory jogger and sanity check.

- Each tool is succinctly, but thoroughly, covered. The format is: What it is, How it's used and an example. The copious use of graphics and the clear writing result in a small page count that is crammed with information.

- It epitomizes great document design. Like all consultants I spend a lot of time writing and communicating. This book is the standard to which I compare my own work, and I appreciate the , thought and effort that went into writing and laying out this book. It may look simple, but I assure you that the design alone is a masterpiece.

Even though I know the material the book has valid uses beyond serving as a model of technical writing. One use is to convey to team members (and stakeholders) the value of the techniques and tools that you're using to manage the project. Instead of spending valuable time drafting explanations, simply hand them a copy of this small book, or borrow heavily from it and throw together a presentation. Another use is to use this book as both a framework and checklist during the project planning phase.

The book is divided into eight sections. Section 1 is an overview that depicts project management as a process and superimposes the Plan-Do-Check-Act quality cycle on the process. This guides you in planning a project within the context of a quality-focused framework, and the potential pitfalls and prevention checklist in this section adds depth to the overview. The remaining seven sections list tools that you'll use in each process stage: project selection, selection and contract, planning, implement, monitor progress, and complete and review. The final section covers tools for managing multiple projects, such as resource loading and monitoring. The acid test is to assess whether the tools are appropriate and reflect best practices. The book passes with flying colors, and I am basing this opinion on the content of the planning section. It contains all of the key tools used in proper project planning, including work breakdown structures, responsibility charts, cost breakdown structures, critical path analysis and contingency plans.

Regardless of your level of expertise or experience you'll appreciate this book. If your budget allows a copy for every key member of your project team I predict a substantial return on your investment.

For anybody interested in making metal handplanes, this book gives complete directions. Including, history, technique, materials, etc. Beautiful color photos of the authors handiwork too.

Don't let the rather crude looking sam on the cover fool you. This book has some great ideas from two different table saws to a jointer and even some ideas on shaper knives. The part I liked most was that the instructions had just the right amount of detail to cover the rough spots but left the rest up to you, it is after all going to be your tool. Also for the price its hard to go wrong.

As a student it is a useful book in decision analysis area.It consists the tutorial of the decision tools coming besides it.It has lots of exercises and also the software is free to use for the students and the software has a good needy online tutorial.

A fascinating and highly detailed account of the author's approach to making fly rods. The book was originally hand lettered and self-published. This edition, published by a commercial publisher, retains the hand lettering and author's hand drawn illustrations. The amount of time that went into just preparing the book--never mind all the research into technique for rod building--is staggering. I found the level of detail to be almost overwhelming for just a read-through. I'll look forward to moving the book into my work shop where all the author's attention to detail will be truly appreciated.

I will offer one word of caution. The title of the book was just a little misleading. I am a woodturner, and in part looked forward to figuring out how to use traditional turning tools and a lathe to craft a flyrod. In fact, the lathe is used to support and rotate the rod blank so that the builder can use sanding blocks to achieve the correct taper. Not quite as elegant as turning tools, but probably a lot more practical on such thin stock.

All in all an excellent and interesting book.

Gunther and Hawkins do excellent worik in reframing TQM into a human service perspective. Following a comprehensive overview of the principles of TQM the authors present actual cases of human service organizations utilizing TQM. the authors epilogue and guide for implementation are valuable adjuncts for any TQM initiative. This text is must reading for human service managers.

Ok I bought a bandsaw so I wanted to add to my woodworking resource library. This book has lots of useful tips and great projects. I am glad I bought it and would recommend it. It has scaled easy-to-replicate drawings that can be used. It even shows you how to make boxes out of any wood, scap 2 x 4's etc.

An accomplished wordsmith, Hilary Powers is well-known among editors for wise and practical suggestions. She's done much work in the area of figuring out how to make Microsoft Word work for you rather than against you, as is often the case. She has mastered the fine art of macros in MS Word and, that is in large part what this book addresses. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to spend their writing and editing time creatively by simplifying the repetitive maneuvers for which robots are better equipped.

If you are like a lot of managers that don't know how to achive the promise of TI's (the right information, at the right time, to the right place), then it is for you. Through some of the most important concepts of the business world like "strategic intent", "core competences" and "competitive forces", the authors show how to link the information with the business strategic and enable the companies to be informed. This book is one of the 90's classical (or should be:) strategic-business literature.

Collaboratively written by social scientist Derick W. Brinkerhoff and Management Systems International director Benjamin L. Crosby, Managing Policy Reform: Concepts And Tools For Decision-Makers In Developing And Transitioning Countries is a diverse and informative work proffering concepts and tools for policy change and enhancing democratic governments of, by, and for the people in developing countries. Individual chapters address such diverse topics as citizen participation in the process of creating governmental policies, workshops for overseeing policy reform, conflict resolution, and more. Encompassing broad ideas with meticulous scholarly analysis, Managing Policy Reform is recommended to students of international studies as a thoughtful study with an laudable motivational purpose to effectively and significantly improve self-directing governments of nations worldwide -- and the populations they serve.