Organizations Books

I puchased this book for my wife as a birthday present. Ironically I read it once she was done, based on her flowering recomendation. It was fantastic, well written, and inspirational. The pictures of the original texts are beutiful. I will read a page or two when ever I need a quick pick me up. In these times, thats probably going to be often.

This is a condensed version of the Psalms as editted by the Venerable Bede (c. 673-735). It is illustrated by plates of the Latin and translated well by a professor of Classics at the University of Illinois (Urbana). The translation is very readable.

The condensations may be as long 11 or 12 verses or a short as a phrase. Often they trigger a memory of the Psalm from which they come; this would be even more common among those who regularly pray the Psalms. Reading the condensations gives an overview of the Psalms as a whole, that is difficult to observe when reading the entire Psalter. This overview helps place the various psalms in their literary and theological context.

One oddity in Bede's abridgment; Psalm 50 not only prefigures Jesus but refers directly to him! The brief introduction explains this and the single line from Psalm 136 which in no way implies the well-known "By the waters of Babylon".

If you are interested in the early Church in England, liturgy, or a devotional version of the Psalms, this version is well worth exploring.

This book is concise but at the same time very explanatory, clearly breaking down the process of community organizing into its essential elements, at least according to the author's perspective. The book was written a while ago, but the issues are still very relevant. I'm very new to reading about CO, but just reading the book got me very excited about the possibility for real change. I highly recommend it to other interested in entering the field.

Many churches and synagogues, when faced with a needy situation in their neighborhoods, are paralyzed or indecisive. Should they provide for the needy while ignoring the root cause of the distress? Should they urge their members to pursue political correctives through the ballot box? Should the institution involve itself in partisan politics?

None of these approaches is the best way, according to Gregory Pierce. If they are truly to have an impact on their social milieu, congegations must involve themselves in broadly-based community organizations large and powerful enough to confront underlying causes of need. This tried and proven method was developed forty years go by Saul Alinsky and is still employed successfully today.

In order to be effective in community organizations, however, congregations must be willing to work with other groups with different ideologies, and they must understand and be willing to utilize the levers of power. This book is a primer for lay leaders and clergy who want to move their congregations into the arena of activism. It tells them what to do -- and what not to do -- if they want to make a difference in their neighborhoods.

This book is highly readable and has GREAT examples and tips. The author shows examples where organizations succeeded and where they failed. As a novice activist, I found it to be very helpful. The examples are diverse so I think there is a great deal for more experienced activits to learn as well. The only drawback of this book is that it focuses only on domestic issues. For those whose causes are on the international level as well as the domestic level would find that to be the only draw back. Still, this is a useful book with great examples and ideas that any activist could use and relate to their own campaign.

Even if you're not an activist and don't want to be, as long as you have any sort of interest in social change, this book will be well worth reading. Packed with examples of how movements have succeeded and failed, this extremely readable handbook will inspire through its analysis of strategies and tactics that can be used to accomplish what many of us desperately want. Most of us understand already that simply arguing for social justice will fail to achieve it, but -- as Shaw demonstrates -- Herculean efforts, if miscalculated, will just as surely fail. In this book, Shaw describes successful strategies for community organizers, effective relationships with elected officials, the use of coalitions, ballot initiatives, the media, lawyers, and direct action strategies. The most persuasive theme tying each of these discussions together is that the best defense is an effective offense, that a failure to aggressively pursue positive change is a strategy for worsening the status quo.

Although to many, the rate of change in the IT area has slowed down from the frenetic pace of the dot com era, to most that is just as much an illusion as the false profits of the dot com era were. The rate of change is still rapid, and in many areas the extent of the change is hidden. If your task is to make a "small" change to a large program, that single change may be monumental, in approach, execution and consequences. Therefore, when talk turns to being an adaptive enterprise, it must include both the ability to create new products in order to enter new markets and the capability of adapting current products to respond to smaller changes in customer needs. It is not possible to consider one to be microchanges and the other macrochanges, as either one could be large or small depending on the circumstances.
In both cases, it is not possible to be adaptable without adopting the appropriate mindset, which involves emotional and organizational adjustments. Emotionally, one must become tolerant of change and organizationally, it is necessary for information to flow quickly and in both directions along the hierarchy chart. The emphasis in this book is on the organizational adjustments that need to be made, although the emotional adjustments are occasionally mentioned. The organizational adjustments are handled very well, described in enough detail so that there is no ambiguity in understanding what they are and how they are performed.
The emphasis is on reusable components, not all of which are constructed of software. In chapter 2, there are descriptions of the physical components, functional components and interface components. Several different types of organizational patterns are described, what they are, how they are used as well as the consequences of their use. Chapter 3 covers the general categories of transact patterns, publish patterns and collaboration patterns. A transact pattern is any application that writes structured information to a system. Publish patterns deal with data that is presented in a read-only form, although it also includes any summaries and other analysis done on the data. The collaborate patterns deal with the sharing of data between peers. Each pattern covered is then summarized in sections describing the benefits of using it as well as the weaknesses that it exhibits.
In chapter 4, the emphasis is on the creation of adaptive services, which are shared structures that are static and permanent, reusable and have a different lifecycle than the physical infrastructure. As the authors mention, the key to providing adaptive services is to identify those parts that need to change independently, and structure the service so they can be altered without changing the other components.
Chapters 5, 6 and 7 deal with the strategies used to define the business problem(s) to be solved, developing arguments to justify the project and obtain the funding, managing per-project processes as well as periodic processes, communicating with developers and customers, and the management of the people in the process. This section is a summary of the best practices in how to identify and solve problems using methods that will lead to subsequent problems being easier to solve.
After a great deal of ink has been used to explain the failures of software development, the IT crowd has made relatively little progress in solving many of the problems of software development. Some of that ink might as well have been spilled, but not so for the ink used to create this book. Packed with sound advice as to how to build a solid yet flexible developmental infrastructure, this is one book that all managers of large projects should read.

The infrastructure management approach that the authors give in this book incorporates practices from systems (and software) engineering, and is a blueprint for success. The objectives are: (1) end-to-end management with no gaps in ownership, (2)cost efficiencies through reuse and component-based strategies, (3)holistic view that looks at business, operational and technology (instead of the common 'technology only' view), and adaptability (an infrastructure that is managed to long range goals, but can be quickly adapted to emerging and immediate business needs).

How the authors meet these objectives is by identifying physical, functional and interface components that make up the infrastructure and integrating them into a service-oriented framework. This is consistent with component-based software engineering, and it is a remarkably good fit to infrastructure management. Moreover, the authors introduce patterns, also borrowed from software and systems engineering disciplines, to map business requirements to design in an efficient manner that promotes reuse. Another advantage of patterns is this approach captures knowledge (something not directly pointed out in the book). If you're not familiar with process patterns the book I recommend for infrastructure professionals is More Process Patterns by Scott Ambler. This is the second of a two book set and it directly addresses patterns that are related to infrastructure (the first book, Process Patterns, is more focused on software engineering).

The two chapters I liked the most are 4, Developing Adaptive Services, and 5, Services Starter Kit. These chapters tie services to infrastructure and go into fine detail about how to integrate services and the underlying technology. I especially like the way the authors use multiple life cycle management for each layer in the infrastructure. Chapters 6 (Processes and Methods) and 7 (Packaging and People) neatly pull together the preceding chapters into a coherent, process-oriented strategy. The single appendix is also valuable because it gives a comprehensive component catalog. This catalog can be used as the basis of the infrastructure blueprint as well as the foundation of an encompassing asset management initiative.

I bought this book 4 weeks ago and I am still waiting. I just keep receiving emails saying that they are having some delay so in 1-2 week they will dispatche the book.
If you really need this book go and buy it someplace else.

No doubt, one of the best for those interested in graduate level of industrial organization. Readers can learn about major business strategies in industrial markets and its welfare implications. Leading theories, major empirical analyses, and added author's view against too influential Chicago ideas will give@excellent perspective of the progress in the field. The appendix of game theory is written to make the book self-satisfactory.

This worthy handbook explores ways in which language teachers can best be advised and supported in their teaching situations. The authors provide a comprehensive review of literature to support their contention that the goal of training should be to develop independent, autonomous and professionally-minded teachers. Additionally, they demonstrate the central role feedback plays in helping teachers to become self-critical reflectors on their teaching experiences. Throughout, advisors are prompted to think about how they can move teachers on to higher level concerns and there are many good points to emerge especially in the area of talking to teachers (Chapters 6-9). Based on this excellent discussion, I also see a need for advisors themselves to reflect on their own practices especially in contexts where collaborative relationships with teachers and colleagues are not high on 'personal' agendas.

Advising and supporting teachers by Mick Randall and Barbara Thornton (CUP) is a fine addition to the literature on teacher support. It guides teacher educators on how they can give support to teachers in training especially during their teaching practice. This book challenges teacher supervisors to examine their own philosophy of teaching and supervision by having them reflect on various tasks (part 2 of the book) that consist of case studies, observation tasks, role plays, feedback techniques and various other activities. The book begins by setting the scene for teacher supervision and offers a humanistic approach to helping trainee teachers through their teaching practice.
This book is really a must read for any teacher trainer/educator that is involved with teachers on the practicum. It offers many provocative tasks and approaches to teacher supervision and can be utilized pretty much in any context (although it is very much British influenced). Regardless of how much a teacher educator can implement from this book, just one reading of it will remind teacher supervisors just how much they may take for granted when supervising trainee teachers on teaching practice. However, given the workload that many supervisors are burdened with, I wonder how, and when they will get enough time to reflect on the tasks! So the book would be most suitable for trainee supervisors that have more time to discuss these tasks. That said, I recommend this book to all supervisors of teachers as well, so that they can reflect on the complexities of supporting new teachers. This book offers support for these teacher supervisor

Leaders of successful organizations in the next century will need to understand and implement the priciples contained in this outstanding book.

The author sets forth concepts that challenge current thinking about how to lead successful and competitive organizations. But he does much more. What makes this a significant work is clear-cut demonstration of value. Implementation of these concepts will become increasingly important as baby boomers retire in the next few years; organizations that learn how to build workforce affiliation will attract and retain human assets and will be more successful.

Dr. Ron Elsdon has already been awarded the Human Resource Planning Society's Walker Prize for advancing state-of-the-art thinking in human resources. This book clearly advances thinking about how to be successful in leading organizations in the next century.

A friend saw this book, Affiliation in the Workplace, on my desk, and commented to me, "That's not the kind of book I would expect you to be reading." That's true. The title conjures up a variety of visions. However, the book is not an irrelevant academic treatise, it isn't about dating people at work, and it isn't advocating a blind faith proposition that treating employees well will result in wonderful benefits for an organization. The secondary title, Value Creation in the New Organization, comes closer to expressing the focus of the book for me: Thoughtful approaches for strategizing and then maximizing the impact of people. In short, Elsdon makes a business case for the value of developing and retaining people.

The book is targeted to leaders and senior HR strategists. You don't need to go to Chapter Six which is chock full of calculus and models to realize this is something different. Also, there are no overly simplistic answers provided, no silver bullets that any organization can employ. Elsdon clearly points out that many variables determine what solution is best, such as the type of business (people or capital intensive), the life stage of the organization (Early Growth or Maturity), etc. He tells you which approaches may be most appropriate, given the characteristics of your organization and workforce.

Basically, the book suggests that organizations choose wisely when defining the relationship that they want to have with their employees. He points out that in many cases we are paying a large price for the "free agent" mentality that has been fueled by many recent organization practices, such as downsizing. However, we cannot in most cases go back to traditional, paternalistic relationships either. He argues for an energetic, inspiring work environment coupled with employee participation and strong support for focused employee development. This will in turn result in the broad-based creative and intellectual contributions that are required from employees today together with organization commitment and increased employee retention. It will help create what he describes as a "highly efficient internal job market."

This really is an interesting book, and you can "get through it" relatively quickly. I recommend it to anyone charged with making the most of an organization's human resources.

A credit to Peter Temes's efforts to bring back the dignity and respect that school reform has taken away from great teaching. Against School Reform (And in Praise of Great Teaching) describes and outlines some of the great philosophies that have shaped Americas schools. His genuine admiration for teachers and great teaching is apparent, in his accurate description of our failing educational systems. The connection he makes with what does and does not work in schools is evident of his knowledge of the educational structure. The issues and views of school reform come second to the power of great teaching.

Temes' central thesis is that nothing succeeds with any kind of student, from the most brilliant to the slowest, like devoted and intelligent teachers.

It isn't the curriculum, it isn't how many hours of sex ed they get, it isn't the standardized tests. It's the amount of time and effort the teacher spends working to inspire young minds.

Not surprisingly, a top-down approach "designed by geniuses to be implemented by idiots" is bound to fail. Teachers are idiosyncratic human beings. Each one will have his or her own approach to teaching, and if they are any good they will never teach the same class twice. The subject matter evolves, the teacher keeps learning, and the personalities in each class are different.

Temes' plea is for administrators to see their role as protecting the teachers from bureaucratic intrusion and hiring the best possible teachers. The role of education schools ought to be, as much as anything else, getting smarter people into education. Education majors today are at the bottom of the heap intellectually, about 100 points below the median on SAT scores. It is perverse that teaching is a job from which it is hard to get fired, and from which the only promotion paths lead out of the classroom. Temes quotes many administrators on the reality of the situation: 20% of classroom teachers are total losses, another 60% are capable of being inspired but often aren't, and maybe 20%, in a good system, are truly dedicated.

A short anecdote. I listen to the lunchroom conversation in my stints as a substitute teacher. In private school the conversation is usually about kids and curriculum. In public school it is about benefits and retirement.

As a man instinctively suspicious of feminism and feminist theology, I was delightfully surprised by this collection. I can't say much for the poems, but I found the prayers masterfully written and touching. Morley has a genius command of the scriptural themes and how they connect with everyday life. Her prayers are direct, poetic and inspiring and have a wide variety of potential uses. These aren't just great inclusive language prayers, they are great prayers period.

Janet Morley has responded to the growing need of women and men for inclusive collects and prayers. This book does not just replace the prayer book's use of He with She, but rather it develops a thoughtful alternative to traditional male centered prayers. THis book has something for both men and women seeking inclusive worship. I cried with joy and relief when I first used these prayers. Thank you, Janet!

This book states what teachers have known all along...children learn about their world by seeing, doing, touching & experiencing it. As a society, we need to give children the right and the luxury to their childhood.

Academics are important, but before children are ready for academic learning, they must first know how to get along in the real world. It is critical that children have social skills, problem solving skills, and the ability to function in the classroom. Most parents today only focus on "Will Mary learn her ABC's in your classroom?" "Yes, she will be exposed to the alphabet, but first Mary needs to be allowed to be a child and learn how to get along in the world."

Thanks to Sharna Olfman for writing about a subject that is so crucial to the success of all children. My hope is that every preschool parent would take time to read this book. America's children are in danger of losing something priceless ~~ their childhood.

This is an interesting book that makes you stop and think about our culture and the future of our children. If you care about the future of children today, read this book!