Organizations Books

I've read this great work for many times. In Taiwan, there are too much fascinating heritage from US education and some unethical stuff, too. Although it seems to be a little unorganized, that's the ways of conducting academic research and nature of science. After all, Dr. Kennedy did write something insightful and helpful and, somewhat practical. Read it and know the academic community. I would say: "salvation lies within." I would like to see more revisory supplements and concurrent issues like Dr. Kennedy's works.

An outstanding antidote to misinformed university bashing. All new assistant professors should read this book. It gives excellent advice and insights into the inner workings of the university.

Great book. Not only should all assistant professors read it, but it should be required reading for all new doctoral students no matter what discipline. It illuminates the way universities actually work and details common pitfalls into which people entering the profession (academe and the professoriate)can fall. In addition, the reader is given an insider's look into one of the major research universities in the world (Stanford). It has the bonus of being extremely well written and a pleasure to read. Again, great book.

As an academic aspirant, I read this book with diligence and thoroughness. Twice. Donald Kennedy has an impressive academic achievement as an environmental scientist, along with institutional leadership experience as former President of Stanford University. In this book-inspired by a conviction of the need for academic aspirants to know the true workings of the academia- various duties of members of the academia are elaborated and modern day issues facing the universities are dissected. However, after reading the book twice, as excited as I was with the book, there were some deficiencies.

Traditionally, the roles of a professor in a university have been to teach and to research, with different emphasis on the two roles, in different universities. With this as an accepted view, Kennedy further breaks down the roles of the academic into mentoring, institutional service, publishing, as symbols of truthfulness and perhaps, closest to his heart, as agents of change.

In the 303 pages, Kennedy warns the current and the future members of the need to balance academic duty with academic freedom. With no implicit arguments, he stressed the need to re-focus on undergraduate teaching, a central role of universities. The members of the academia are not only teachers but also mentors and influential role models of the students in institutions of higher learning.

He also questions the current style and intensity of producing Phd students, the majority of whom make up the future professoriate. Kennedy exposes truths about the over-production of PhD students; the subsequent failure of many to break into the academia; the lack of teaching training for those who eventually become young professors.

What is personally the most exciting discussion was without doubt the one on research, research misconduct and the pursuit of truth. Kennedy carefully elaborates examples of the difficulty of research with appropriate stories of fictional but realistic characters. However, as a student of social sciences, I was nonetheless disappointed that many of the examples were in the field of sciences and there was no significant discussion of the field of social sciences or humanities. Added to that, there were hardly any examples of Kennedy's own experiences in research. Perhaps, the author thought that any personal experiences were materials insufficient to demonstrate the arguments or that he was uncomfortable in using his own experiences as examples. Either way, I felt that lessons of his own research experiences would have been very enlightening.

However, this short book has powerful insights and lessons for the future members of the academia, not excepting me. Somehow, after reading this book, I understand the fallacy of the ivory tower. Much of the universities' world, as a scholarly enterprise, lofty in their pursuit of truths and free of political man-handling, has changed into an institution under public scrutiny and subjected to public accountability. This book has inspired me to write a piece for a scholarship application. Despite the challenges to be faced by hopeful academics, the resolve is still strong in me to become one and that is, I believe, the essence of this book-the academia, despite its pitfalls, will always be sustained in its important mission of education and discovery, by future members, themselves the product of that mission.

This is a fascinating CD which takes the listener into deep relaxed states in no time at all. I find that by listenibg to this CD I feel more energised and focussed! The only downside is that you have to wait a number of weeks here for it to be posted, but its worth the wait!

First, I think I'll mention Richard Bandler's name so as to give credence to my comments. On second thought, no, I won't either.

Having settled that, I can tell you that Nick really knows how to weave a trance that will keep you spellbound as you begin an inner adventure that will take you places you've never even dreamed of ... and yet ... will bring you safely home again. To your own, true self.

Nick is a master of both indirect and direct hypnotic suggestion, yet even as he gives you direct instructions, you still know ... at the same time ... that the direct suggestions in here are just to set you free.

Free from fear. Free from compulsion. Free from pain.

I've listened to the CD twice so far and I'm here to tell you that after the first listening, only, I discovered I had recovered my old sense of confidence.

And now. Now that I have that sense of confidence instilled deep within me ... never to be wrested away again, I can only wonder what I might decide to do with ... and because of ... it.

If you, like me, don't easily experience deep trance ... I'd suggest you give this CD a listen. It's well worth your time!

This is a wonderful CD from Nick Kemp who studied with Richard Bandler the creator of NLP.The CD takes the listener on a magical ride into deep relaxation and altered states and produces a great sense of well being. The music is fantastic and the intricate use of hypnosis makes this an important product for students of NLP and hypnosis.

Nick Kemp has achieved something quite remarkable with this CD. By mixing skilfully crafted music, and in language that everyone can follow, he carefully guides the listener through many of the concepts of meditation. But more than this the CD gives anyone the chance to experience some of the altered states of consciousness that meditation promises. The music may remind you at times of "Revolver", while the opening tamboura-like drone, and tabla, point to the source, Nada Brahma - Sound Is God. Truth seekers and sceptics alike will find flashes of insight here that might lead to further exploration, which I guess is what Nick Kemp has set out to encourage. Highly recommended.

Dr. Hemphill's book is certainly valuable to pastors, college and seminary ministerial students. It was greatly accepted as a textbook for my class in church growth at Temple Baptist Seminary. All pastors who are interested in a Bible base for church growth will find this book very helpful.

This is without a doubt one of the best books on church growth I have ever read. Everything Hemphill mentions is basic fundamental church growth strategy. He takes us back two thousand years to help us get a clear picture of what Jesus had in plan originally when he said, "upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it".

Hemphill has written an excellent book which focuses on biblical principles, not church growth strategies or techniques. This powerful book assists the reader to examine what kind of church has the power of God in it. As a former pastor, church growth consultant, and current seminary president, Hemphill is very qualified to write a book on church growth.

The Antioch Effect is a balanced church growth book, which emphasizes the spiritual condition of the church without discounting the importance of methods and strategy. Using the church of Antioch as his model church, Hemphill examines eight characteristics of an effective church. They are supernatural power, worship, prayer, leadership, fellowship, vision, evangelistic passion and discipleship. The book is written from the perspective of a Southern Baptist church consultant who combines the experience of both a practitioner and a consultant. At times I thought the book bogged down but it was worth the read. The Antioch Effect contains solid growth principles to learn and practical methods to implement.

This is a wonderful program. I honestly can't say enough good about it. What a way to reach out to the women in your church, or in your neighborhood! I went through the program last summer and had the opportunity this week to serve at a new AOG session. It has been such a blessing to me, especially at a time where not many take the time out of their busy schedule to nuture friendships. I have never felt so truly cared for. The meals we did were not the ones in the book, but we did do meals. Some groups have chosen to leave this part out. I would definitely not do this. There is something so great about having a meal together and also not lifting a finger! You feel so pampered! Can't wait until the author pens a continuation study!

If you can find some mentors to lead you and friends through this study do it, but don't be afraid to start your own group. This is great for a neighborhood study. JE

This is a wonderful idea for strengthening relationships with older and younger generations. We are going to try it in our church. We may alter the program a bit as it is quite ambitious, but I think we can make it work. Be willing to work with it and don't get bogged down in the details of making it look just like the model.

This is a great book and program by a lady that really shows her love for the LORD!

Read this book and then buy more to give to your friends. This is a wonderful group program for older women to mentor younger women.

This book was very helpful in showing me the ins and outs of a 360 degree review system. Has the basic theory, how to implement the system, and ways t work around the resistance to change.

The book is excellent for development of policy for 360-Degree, why it should be implemented, and what steps to take before and after the feedback.

This is not an instructional book in the development of a 360-degree questionnaire.

The book provides excellent knowledge on what, where, who, when, and how. Highly recommended for knowledge, but not for building of the questionnaire.

Lots of ideas that can be transferred into one's real life situation easily.

"We wrote this book", write R.Lepsinger and A.D.Lucia, "with three audiences in mind. The first consists of 'human resources professionals' who are just beginning to look at 360-degree feedback as a means to address the business needs of their organizations. These are people who have not had much experience using 360-degree feedback to solve business problems and have many basic questions that require answers if they are going to use the technology successfully. The second audience consists of 'line managers' who have heard a lot about 'this 360-degree feedback stuff' and want to understand it well enough to determine if it is the right approach for their organization. The third group consists of 'more experienced HR professionals' who would like a compherensive reference work on 360-degree feedback that makes it easy to access the information they are looking for without having to skim through dozens of magazines and journal articles and textbooks."

In this invaluable study, authors organize their book into two parts :

(I). Preparing to use 360-degree feedback.

In this part, they :

i. offer basic information, including a definition of 360-degree feedback and a brief overview of its history and evolution.

ii. illustrate how a diverse group of companies (real cases) has successfully used 360-degree feedback to address different organizational issues, such as achieving business strategy, supporting cultural change, fostering individual development, enhancing team effectiveness, and identifying training and selection requirements.

iii. discuss and compare the two most common methods for collecting 360-degree feedback- interviews and questionnaires.

iv. focus on the use of interviews alone to collect data or as a supplement to the data provided by a questionnaire.

(II). Implementing a 360-degree feedback.

In this part, they :

i. focus on how to administer a 360-degree feedback process in a way that increases people's enthusiasm and ensures a high degree of confidence in the results.

ii. describe and compare three methods for delivering the feedback- group workshops, one-on-one meetings, and self-study.

iii. review what needs to be done after the feedback is collected and reviewed to ensure that recipients absurb the messages they have been given and take appropriate action.

iv. discuss the benefits and obstacles to using 360-degree feedback in HR management systems.

I highly recommend this invaluable study.

This book is a decent introduction to the Aum Shinrikyou. If you want a more detailed look read Ian Reader's _Religious Violence in Contemporary Japan_ which is not only the best source availible in english it gives comparative thoughts on groups such as the Davidians and Heaven's gate. As stated eariler this book is a good introduction because it gives good details on what makes Aum. However, don't let the title fool you too much because that is really only covered in one chapter. Also the book uses quite biased language against Asahara amd the upper echelons of Aum. Although they did do some very bad things at the end. Asahara and his group of followers at first were only trying to enrich themselves

MESSAGE:

In my new book by Edwin Mellen Press you list me TWICE as author, including as Daniel A. Matraux. My name is Daniel A. Metraux and I am the sole author of this book

Do you know Oumu Shinrikyou? There may be some people who do not know the name in foreign countries, but in Japan everybody know the name because the religion group broke incredible terro cases in Japan where is the safest county over the world, that is, one case that was a mass terro killing in Tokyo downtown metro, other that was a large terro killing in local town. The killed and injuried person was over a thousand.

You may have some questoions when you hear the title[Aum Shinrikyou and Japanese Youth], some questions why the case had the connection to the word Youth. But in my thinking, the connection is very important. Because the persons who had believed the cult reliegion was young men or women except some old person like the leader Syoukou Asahara.

In Japan now, people have many their heart ploblems. I think that the cause is many things, however one example that there are some people who are not filled by mental herlth with the overpopulated, the society that chase their benefit and so on. I have lived in Tokyo over 20 years, and I feel that the Japan is getting to bad thing on the youth mental problem especially.

For example, the number ofthe young men that have been into their home without the society activity like working and school is increasing day by day, the youg men is called [Hikikomori] in Japan, in one report, the number is said over a million. The cause that the youger do Hikikomori is various. But the some of them have their mental problems or mental disorder in medical genre. Maybe such condition is not alway in Japan, in such big city like Tokyo even if that is foreign countries, the possibirity will exist.

Oumu Shinrikyou tempted such young men with mental problems, who do not know how to live their life and so on by playing Oumu's clever tricks. There were many high school career young men like Tokyo university, medical shool etc in Oumu too. Japan is a perfect shool career society, for that if men can not enter to high school(compulsory education is till junior high school and after that the future rely on their endeavor) it is said that their future no exist. On the other hands, even if they enter to such high carrer school like Tokyo university, some of men lost their way because they had done nothing except of study in their life, it is not study in good mean, the study for entering high carrer shool only. You may think that the condition is a little curious. But in Japan the most important thing is how to enter well known university rather than what to how to study in university. Japanese universities is like brand name goods almost. When we consider about such young mental problem like Hikikomori or the distorted school carrer problems in Japan, we understand about the connection of Youth and Oumu.

I think that they that commited such terro cases is off course criminals, but on the other hands they will be victims on the points that I wrote in up writing, that some of them have their mental problems. Such thinking may not be the proper thing. But I think so.

In Japan the main theme is how to chase the county benefit, how to develop their GNP and so on. But everybody do not care about how to cope with our mental problems. That is very dangerouse thing. I think that the same shing can be said in big town over the world.

Thank you for reading my poor English and writing.

HELLO--PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE PUBLISHED A SECOND BOOK ON AUM SHINRIKYO--BUT YOU LIST ME AS AUTHOR DANIEL A. MATRAUX. IF YOU GO TO THAT LISTING MATRAUX YOU WILL FIND IT. PLEASE CHANGE TO MY CORRECT NAME, DANIEL A. METRAUX

Today it seems that we the church are more independent than interdependent, this book helps to foster how we as saints can build more loving caring relationships that cross Racial, Social and economic lines. As paul says in Colossians 2:2 " My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in LOVE, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ."

"God's frozen chosen?" HA! I am a New Englander - born and raised. On behalf of my brothers and sisters in the body of Christ here in the Northeast, I'd like to inform the world that we are indeed chosen - but we are no longer frozen! The warm wind of God's Spirit has been melting much of our cold independence and pride. THIS BOOK CONFIRMS THAT THE SPIRITUAL ICE AGE IN NEW ENGLAND HAS COME TO A CLOSE! Read about real pastors - real people - real churches in the Northeast where God's plans and purposes are unfolding. Macchia provides a brilliant blend of real-life circumstances with practical guidelines. This book filled me with faith, hope, and renewed strength to press on in my role as a vital part of the Body of Christ in my region.

This book is for God's frozen chosen everywhere who long to become His freed indeed!

The author provides ten characteristics of a healthy church, revealing the principles they represent and the process whereby a church can become healthy. Based on two major surveys of what people want in a church--and what they actually experience in their church. Loaded with real life stories of churches in the northeast that exhibit one of more of the ten characteristics. The author reveals a strongly biblical and deeply spiritual approach, with a real heart for the church. A former children's and youth minister who eventually became associate pastor in a large Boston area church, the author, Stephen A. Macchia is president of America's largest regional association of churches, Vision New England.

I find this book to be a helpful way of looking at the local church. The author is not devloping a particular model, or specifically prescribing how to "do it right." Instead, he is submitting principles that can be applied in virtually any setting. There is a healthy mixture of real life stories, biblical principles and exhortations. The author clearly has convictions about the need for health in the local church, and he communicates his convictions well.

The 10 characteristics outlined in the book are worth regular review, and can be used to help develop a vision for healthy balance in ministry. The book doesn't hold out any quick fixes, but rather upholds the value of healthy sowing and reaping over time. Many, many churches will benefit from the concepts and principles presented in this book.

The book written by Richard Hughes and Katherine Colarelli continues with the tradition of the Center for Creative Leadership of producing tools and information based on solid research and experience.
The book proposes a model of strategic leadership composed of three large competency clusters: strategic thinking, strategic acting and strategic influencing and then it explains and analyze each of these clusters, providing, not only a theoretical explanation of the different skills but also examples, tools and activities to develop them.

Before I bought this book I did not realize that it is such a very useful resource. If you are looking for a resource to inspire your startegic leadership, it is the right one.

I really like to have more books from CCL :-).

Becoming a Strategic Leader is a focused and wonderfully written work for those who believe in approaching challenges in a strategic way. The authors, trainers and researchers at the internationally acclaimed Center for Creative Leadership (www.ccl.org), use a framework familiar to strategic planning processes to improve the likelihood of obtaining results in enhancing one's leadership effectiveness. The content is solid and full of real life examples and applications. This book will appeal to those who are drawn to a logical approach to problem solving but should also engage the heart of others seeking to add structure to their own development or that of their teams. If you liked Execution, and Good to Great, you should like this as well. It is well worth a look.

Dr. Christopher Evans
www.christopherevans.org

Most of the publications that come out of CCL (or Center for Creative Leadership), which I have acquired for my personal library, are seemingly well-supported by research findings & concisely written by the respective authors, who apparently hold impeccable track records in their fields. This particular book is one of them. (CCL has earned its #1 Rank in Leadership Education by Business Week).

My primary interest in strategic leadership stems from my relentless search for better understanding of the thinking processes that go inside the heads of leaders. To be more precise, the strategy formulation processes! This has been by burning passion for more than two decades.

In this book, the authors have artfully as well as logically demonstrated how readers can exercise effective strategic leadership through their distinctive & systematic approach:

- strategic thinking (Chapter 2);
- strategic acting (Chapter 3);
- strategic influencing (Chapter 4);

These serve as the synergistic driving forces. In the authors' own words: Driving strategy as a learning process. (I am actually quite tempted to use the term, `syn-vergent' instead of `synergistic' [driving forces] as the former term was originally coined by Michael Gelb, in Thinking for a Change, which means `the art of balancing convergent and divergent thinking modes, logic and imagination, reason and intuition.' In the current book under review, the authors contend that strategic thinking engages the heart as well as the head.)

With an excellent introduction in Chapter 1, Chapter 6 shows how readers can apply the above approach in the broader organizational context.

Chapter 7 sums up the book: Becoming a Strategic Leader, using surfing as a metaphorical platform (I like it!) - keeping your balance while learning the best path to follow amid constantly changing conditions.

Throughout the book, the authors discuss in depth the specific competencies & perspectives related to each of the above driving forces, as well as their interdependency in producing a more wholistic (or more appropriately, `syn-vergent', as explained above) & meaningful strategy.

In conclusion as a whole from the standpoint of reader friendliness & action-packed learning, I rate this wonderful book a 5.

So, readers, please add this book to your Strategic Thinker's Bookshelf.

Attention Readers: To complement as well as to reinforce your understanding of Chapter 2 of this book, please read `Choosing the Future: The Power of Strategic Thinking', by Stuart Wells.

I have used this book as a text book in many Change Agent classes I have taught and have found it to be a very pragmatic and useful guide. It is a shame that it is out of print now. In fact, the last class I tought, I had to go scrounging around the office to find copies on bookshelves to use. I wish they would republish it.

The list of consequences "when bad things happen to good projects" or What-NOT-To-Do is worth the price of the book. I wish I had read this book before starting my 6+ years as a consultant helping organizations to improve. This book presents most of the lessons that I've learned during those years and gives quite a few additional ideas on organization change.

Don't let the garish cover art distract you. This is a solidly good book, which I regularly recommend to my clients. Of course, I can't vouch for the Price Waterhouse consulting group's ability to get clients to change successfully or whether they even follow their own advice. I just know that I do apply the best ideas in this book (plus some of my own) in my consulting practice.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Easy to read and it truly made sense. We are just beginning an effort to change our organization and this book has helped us plot our course. I am encouraged that this book will help us achieve positive change for our company and employees.

If you're trying to figure out why a project isn't going well, this book just may solve your problem. It takes you through the basics of change mangement, and makes you aware of just what you're dealing with. Good, practical advice that made me wear out a highlighter. When I showed it to other IS people on our Oracle software implementation project, they said "that's us"!!! We didn't realize we were in the middle of a change project - now we can try to take a step back and regroup.

Many fundraising books show you the mechanics of fundraising. Ms. Sprinkel does that, but more importantly, she shows the reader how to approach fundraising with the proper mindset. Gone it the "tin cup" mentality. Instead, she advocates that we approach fundraising with an investment mindset.

Having set the stage with her philosophical approach to fundraising, Ms. Grace proceeds to walk the reader through the different stages of fundraising, including annual and capital campaigns.

I used the information in this book to assist the development team at my children's school with a capital campaign. We trained a number of people in the art of fundraising and went on to raise the money needed for a new building. While I won't give Ms. Grace all the credit, I can say with confidence that the advice she dispenses in clearly written and very effective.

This book provides non-profit executives with a very practical approach to making their organizations more successful financially and more relevant to their audiences. I have advised many non-profits on a range of issues, and I am envious of Grace's admonition to "put away the tin cup." That's one of the truest, most important things that today's non-profit leaders could hear.

Many fundraising books show you the mechanics of fundraising. Ms. Sprinkel does that, but more importantly, she shows the reader how to approach fundraising with the proper mindset. Gone is the "tin cup" mentality. Instead, she advocates that we approach fundraising with an investment mindset.

Having set the stage with her philosophical approach to fundraising, Ms. Grace proceeds to walk the reader through the different stages of fundraising, including annual and capital campaigns.

I used the information in this book to assist the development team at my children's school with a capital campaign. We trained a number of people in the art of fundraising and went on to raise the money needed for a new building. While I won't give Ms. Grace all the credit, I can say with confidence that the advice she dispenses is clearly written and very effective.

Defining the difference between fund-raising and donor development was an eye-opener. In a non-profit world that is increasingly competitive for the donor dollar, Ms. Grace offers a powerfully different approach. Of particular interest was reference to values-based mission statements. Something from which every fund-raising organization can learn