Teams Books

Global Outsourcing with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team System is an excellent book and informational resource. The format is easy to follow, intuitive, and simplifies gaining an understanding of both the concept of global outsourcing as well as the software.

Note: This review gives more importance to the processes than the other obvious benefits.

Who should read this book?
- On-site coordinators
- Off-shore managers
- Process managers/Product Managers
- Key people involved in distributed development/outsourcing.

Why this book is useful?
- This book can be used as a process guidance for outsourcing/distributed environment.
- This book clearly identifies the day to day issues of a distributed development environment and gives options on how to mitigate the risks.
- Explains all the possible options on how efficiently VSTS can be used.
- This is very useful not only for the teams using VSTS 2005, but also for any distributed development team as this clearly gives an idea of what processes should be in place. VSTS is an all-in-one tool which helps in making the life easier.
- For companies which do not prefer to use VSTS can also leverage from the processes clearly mentioned in the book and can achieve similar efficiency by using different free tools available in the market.
- The book has shown how to customize the VSTS to suit the specific need along with the code which is very handy and reduces a lot of effort in customizing.
- More importantly, this book is very handy and easily understood by techies and non-techies alike. Non-techies can understand the processes without getting into any technical details.
- Addresses the issues faced by bigger and smaller companies and bigger or smaller teams.

Jamil Azher's GLOBAL OUTSOURCING WITH MICROSOFT VISUAL STUDIO 2005 TEAM SYSTEM tells how to manage outsourced projects using Visual Studio 2005, which engages developers, project managers and team leads alike. GLOBAL OUTSOURCING takes it examples from the real world also: it examines typical outsource management issues, applications, and problem-solving in a fine technical overview programmers will relish.

This book is indeed about global outsourcing, but it deals with the outsourcing of software not athletic shoes or kitchen ware. Specifically, as you might guess from the title, it concentrates on the use of Microsoft's Team System version of Visual Studio 2005. Other Microsoft products such as Project and Excel from the Office suite are also shown as a part of an integrated management system.

There is little question tht outsourcing is here to stay. The cost savings are simply to great to be ignored. A programmer with a few years of experience in the US is paid an average of $55K, in India $15K, and in China $9K.

There is also no question that outsourcing brings its own problems in terms of management, control and especially communications. Many of these problems are specifically discussed in the book, and it goes on to show that the Microsoft tools can assist in these areas. The tools will not, of course, guarantee success but they may help to make a project a success.

THIS IS THE STORY OF THE 1993 KC CHIEFS WHO ALOMOST WON IT ALL. THE CHIEFS OF 1993 WENT OUT AND DID SOMETHING TO IMPROVE THEMSELVES BY PICKING UP 2 OF THE BEST BIG GAME PLAYERS OF THEIR TIME, MARCUS ALLEN AND JOE MONTANA. THE BOOK GOES INTO GREAT DETAIL HOW THE TEAM WAS PUT TOGETHER AND THEN GIVES A DETAILED LOOK AT HOW THEIR SEASON WENT. ALOT OF BEHIND THE SCENES INFO IS AVAILABLE IN THIS BOOK ALONG WITH SOME GREAT INTERVIEWS AND GAME BY GAME RESULTS IN MAKING THIS A MUST READ FOR ALL CHIEFS FANS.

This book rocks my world. I love the Chiefs and the Bob Gretz's daughter Liz is really cool.

Hail to the Chiefs changed my life. Before I was a bum out on the streets on Moscow, now I'm a successful astronaut. Hail to the Chiefs showed me the true meaning of life. Bob Gretz is my hero. He should win the Nobel Prize for Literature this year. Buy this book, it will change your life.

this book is sooo cool!!!!! bob gretz should win the noble prize!!!!! i loved it so much that i read it in a day!!! i couldn't put this book down! i would buy it if i were you!!!!!

Hayden Fry is a revered figure in the state of Iowa, and rightly so. He arrived in Iowa City in 1979 and quickly resusitated one of the worst football programs in the country. Under Fry's direction, the Hawkeyes went to the Rose Bowl three times in a nine-year span. Fry also integrated the Southwest Conference at Southern Methodist, and in this well-written autobiography, he brings his long, career successful career to life and recalls many colorful anecdotes. This is an entertaining and illuminating book from one of the most significant coaches of his generation.

THROUGH HIS STORIES AND MEMOIRS HAYDEN FRY SHOWS EVERYBODY ONCE AGAIN THAT HE IS A "CLASS ACT".HE MAKES ME PROUD TO BE A HAWKEYE!! THANK YOU HAYDEN!

As a long-time fan of the Iowa Hawkeye football time, I watched them get repeatedly shelled during the late sixties and the seventies. Teams used to defeat them by thirty or more points and rarely have to throw a pass. In 1979, the savior arrived in the form of coach Hayden Fry, but at first it did not seem that that was the case. His statements like, "Scratch where it itches", at times sounded so homey that many people wondered if he was just another over-hyped coach who would add to the string of failures.
However, that all changed in the first half of the first game the Hawkeyes played under Fry. They stormed ahead of Indiana 26-3 in the first half, although they ultimately lost 30-26. From that point, everyone was a believer and his teams went on to give us some of the most exciting moments in our lives. This is Hayden's recollection of his life, although most of the ink is used to describe his years at Iowa, and there is very little of a personal nature that does not directly involve football. Reading it brought back so many fond memories of listening and watching, that I found myself reliving some of those times. If you are a Hawk fan, then this is a book that you must read.

Easy reading book on the very successful career of legendary (ranks as 10th all-time winningest coach in NCAA history) college football coach Hayden Fry, known nationally as the long-time and much loved coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes ("Americas Team"). The book chronicle's his [unprecedented] success in "turning-a-round" hapless football programs at SMU, North Texas and Iowa. Highlights include his 17 bowl games (including 3 trips to the Rose Bowl), spending a lot of time with the Iowa Hawkeyes where he coached for twenty years, including 3 Big Ten Championships, but also recalls his days at SMU where he was the man responsible for integrating football in Texas (SouthWest Conference)- arguably his greatest achievement in his football career. His days as a high school and college standout player are also explored - a true "aficionado" for the game of football! Hawkeye fans and football fans alike will enjoy this "yarn" from one of the most colorful characters in college football in a generation!

I really like the different nijas it has...i like the evil ones better...Buahaha

First off, a lot of people like to complain about the abundance of nude figures in the "How to Draw Manga" series. This has, at least on Amazon, given the otherwise useful group of books a terrible reputation as smut.

Now, if you are interested in learning how to draw Manga (or Anime) that pertains to Ninja and Samurai, but are offended by nude figures, there is no need to worry with this book.

That's right, the others may be PG-13, but this one is a solid -G-. Not even blood is shown on the characters. So if you are a parent who wants their child to enjoy this art form, but are concerned over the (often over-reactive) reviews on this site, you have absolutely no concern over this book.

The book covers Ninja and Samurai in a variety of manners, dealing with clothing and brief history of several ninja and samurai. It even (for the samurai) deals with different time periods - the Edo and Warring States periods. So if you are concerned with making your style authentic to the time-period, you can be sure that you don't accidentally add a garment piece that is worn from a different period.

Also, the book makes it unnecessary, though obviously a bit unwise, to purchase others out of the series in order to get form and structure of the body down right. It covers information pertaining to running, jumping, fighting, etc. It even deals with these actions as they vary from character to character. The book covers the hands and feet (both difficult for any artist). It even covers the eyes, at least of the female characters, which I was very surprised and pleased with. While another book dealing solely with the body and its structure is very recommended, those concerned with mature content can rest assured that while this helps the reader understand the structure and form of the body, it does not contain any nudity at all.

Overall, I would have to say that this book not only gives what it promises, but goes beyond its base requirements. It portrays more character types than I had assumed it would, and it describes even minute details that can be given to show a character's proficiency in their art (or lack thereof if you want to break the rules).

It is difficult not to recommend this to anyone wishing to break into period manga for samurai and ninja.

I got this book yesterday, I looked over it and read it. This book, I must say, helped me with drawing ninjas and it showed me all the different types of ninjas and their weapons.
The chapters are as followed:

CHAPTER 1: Ninja Portrayal

Iga Ninja

Koga Ninja

Fuma Ninja

Kunoichi

Drawing eyes

Assorted Eyes

Hand Basics

Various Ninja costumes

Ninja props

Other Ninja weapons

CHAPTER 2: Ninja in Motion

Running

Peering Down

Leaping

Combat

Arobatic Movements

Concealment

Throwning Shuriken

Using the Shinobigatana

Hand Holding a Shuriken and

Hand After a Shuriken is released

CHAPTER 3: Ninja Portrayal

Samurai 1

Samurai 2

Bushi

Ronin

Toseinin (Gambler)

Busho in Oyoroi

Yoroi Musha (Warrior in Armor)

CHAPTER 4: Samurai in Motion

Walking

Running

Kneeling

Wielding a Swords

Striking and Being struck

Sword Makeup

Swordmanship, Samurai-Style

Foot, Feet

Hakama

CHAPTER 5: Varying Characters Design

Kabuki-style Samurai

Shounen Manga-style Samurai

Japanese Princess

Military Chieftain in Skin and Fur Armor

Military Chieftain in Dragon Armor

Ninja

Kunoichi (Female Ninja)

Characters Comparison Chart

CHAPTER 6: Assorted Scences

Samurai

Princesses

Military Chieftains

Ninja

Artist Proflie

I recieved this book the day it was released and I must say it was quiet helpful. I truthfully don't recommend it for beginners. It shows several ninja and samurai, in several manga styles, from different eras and things they wore. It also expains a few "how to not" ways for various clothing or positions. Overall a great book! I loved it. I recommend you have somewhat of an idea how to draw poses because a lot of the poses are a little more flexible than most normal human poses. It has some pages on how to draw various ninja and samurai weapons.

This is a highly amusing look at baseball by one of the game's most colorful characters. John Kruk looked more like a beer-swilling softball player from the corner tavern than a pro athlete - maybe that's why so many fans rooted for him. But Kruk was a good ballplayer, not to mention a decent and intelligent human being. Here he recounts the 1993 season with the Philadelphia Phillies, a colorful squad that won that year's NL pennant and faced Toronto in the World Series. Kruk describes himself, many of his teammates, and that very enjoyable season. He is both funny and revealing without being disrespectful. Kruk clearly enjoyed himself as a player and a teammate, and isn't baseball supposed to be fun?

This book may be no compendium of deep ideas, but it's a fun read by a player with a nice balance of decency and humor.

I think this book is great it was written so neatly and i think you should all call the publisher and tell them to bring it back.

Simply, there are three main reasons to read this book One, it provides the reader with an inside look at the lifestyle of Major League Baseball Players. This is especially interesting because the Krukker is not the stereotypical mold for a baseball player, physically, or as you will know when you finish the book, he has a more humble attitude then baseball players are given credit for. It really makes you wish you could live your life playing baseball Two, it is hysterical, especially the second or third time you read it (I have read it at least 5 times) Three, even non-baseball fans can appreciate this down to earth look at life generally.

John Kruk was not known in Philly for his neatness therefore you cannot expect his book to be neat either ! Instead the book is everything that embodied Krukker,and the rest of his team mates during that wonderful season 1993. He is honest, open and caring. He is straight forward where criticism is needed and gentle and kind where emotions ran high. His story about his bout with cancer was touching and human. I ain't an athlete lady, maybe not but you are a heck of a human being. Thanks for a terrific experience. This book makes us all part of the 93 Phillies. Welcome to Macho Row !

This is the premiere book of its kind on the Red Sox. Knoefel has clearly established himself as the Bob Dylan of sports writing. He is able to make sense of and put into words the things the rest of us only wish we could. No one his age has ever understood the psychology of the game as he does. How many masterpieces must a writer publish before you call him a sage? The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind but this kid has it!

This book was absolutely amazing. There aren't any sports authors his age that can understand the depth of baseball culture, fanaticisicm, and performance like Knoefel. He has a level of understanding that would make major sports networks weep, and could add more than quality insight to any major syndicated show in the US (not just because he is a sox author). Furthermore, he's been able to capture the essence of a season that really can't be described with any language god's been kind enough to pass to us. Not that I'm religious, but Knoefel has a divine talent and should be read, studied and respected by any baseball, or aspiring sports author in the planet. Enjoy, and to knoefel, keep hacking away.

We all knew it would hit--the onslaught of books, each claiming to be "the" definitive documentation of how the Red Sox won. I've perused most of them--except the O'Nan/King debacle which I blindly purchased thinking, "Hey, it's Stephen King--it's got to be good--right?" Wrong! Boy, do I wish I had my money back. The last time I read something so boring I think Joseph Conrad wrote it.

The first warning to every fan looking for a definitive documentary of the Red Sox 2004 season is to not be put off by the cover of Idiot-syncrasies. The cartoonish caricatures would make one believe the book is another in the long line of box score recaps that populate the market. Jerry Remy's forward certainly does nothing to alert readers to what will follow. Rather, it appears to simply be a vehicle for Remy to remind us of his playing days.

Then--then, if you will simply take a moment to read Longest's introduction, The Eternal Sunshine of Terry Francona, you will know that Idiot-syncrasies holds the promise of something as special as the 2004 season itself. I must admit that Longest knew how to hook me when he begins his season-long narrative with the grandest "idiot" of all--Johnny Damon. After a delightful analysis of how JD fit into the overall dynamics of the team I was captured. If Longest was to dissect the entire team as he did Damon I couldn't wait to read on. There they were: Manny and Ortiz. Varitek, Millar and Pokey--Mueller--well, count on it--they're all there. While many championship season books include only the post season, Longest puts us on a season-long path with the Red Sox--potholes and all.

Longest takes us far beyond the mundane stats of a season. He engages us in a deep analysis of what makes these men tick and how they converged to make a team tick. There are some who might argue his analysis, but this is precisely the point--you can't argue finite, historical statistics, but you can debate the elements, and eccentricities, of personality. It's the same as debating how one man won the presidency--a conversation of personality, character, soul and many intangibles we can never really quantify. This is what we'll discuss over the years rather than the stats--well, except "the walk"--a stat we'll not soon forget. Longest doesn't completely ignore statistics, but couches them in game situations that assist in explicating his analysis of character and skill.

Longest's compelling analysis of a season is enhanced by his generous inclusion of sidebars he labels "MONSTERminutiae" and his final words at the conclusion of each chapter (Idiot Rule) are thoughts one might choose to live one's life by.

A few hours later when I read the last Idiot Rule--The Future Can Wait--on page 288, I felt I had been in the stands for every precious moment of a precious season. I really didn't care there was very little box score trivia like so-and-so was lifted in the seventh for so-and-so; so what! Rather I now have a vivid portrait of a team of players who performed magic tricks for us. I agree with another reviewer who compares Longest to Roger Angell. While I think this is Longest's first book, it's obvious he's a student of baseball and probably a student of Mr. Angell's prowess at capturing so much more than statistics. In fact Longest may have an even keener sense of vision in his ability to seize nuance.

You might buy one of the "box score" books, but if you want a documentary to consult over time in reliving the 2004 Red Sox season--something to pass along to your children and grandchildren--then Idiot-syncrasies is the one book you should have. I've only owned the book two weeks and I've relived the season cover-to-cover three times.

Somehow this book is flying under the radar, and I'm afraid it's going to be lost under the deluge of titles hitting the market about the 2004 Red Sox. Too bad, because there is only one word to describe "Idiot-syncrasies" - Gem.

This book is difficult to describe precisely. It's not a nuts-and-bolts examination of the strategy of the 2004 season. It's not a retropective of the year. It's not a behind-the-scenes look at the team. I suppose it's best described as a look at the philosophy of and the lessons imparted by the "Idiots," and how we as fans related to them, and they to us.

What's best about this book is its style; it utilizes magnificent turns of phrase and builds profiles with the lyricism of Roger Angell (with perhaps a bit of the wryness of George Plimpton as well). At various moments I was nodding in agreement, then laughing out loud, and then breaking into tears. It's a magnificently crafted series of essays on most of the key players of the 2004.

This is a MUST read for any Red Sox fan. Treat yourself, or buy it for a Sox fan you love.

This book doesn't sugarcoat what Jackie Robinson experienced as an African-American player in Baseball. It is an interesting story about a white bat boy who may have his own racist tendencies too. He can't help that he admires and likes Jackie Robinson, but doesn't shine Jackie's shoes like he does the white players and watches the white players mistreat Jackie often. It isn't unsuitable for children but the story does hit home what Jackie may have experienced. I read a book on Hank Aaron yesterday and this book is a good companion to yesterday's story. Great for Black History Month or Baseball season.

This is a first rate book that has a message without being preachy and remains a children's book; one with substance. I have three kids and I am constantly amazed at how much mediocre, hollow work is out there. This is a well written book, with an interesting message that still resonates today - I wish more children's books hit this book's level of quality. The artwork is first rate as well.

This lyrical book is a treasure! It will be added to libraries of import for years to come. It's a life lesson, important for teaching our children how we were, and more importantly, how we can become. Mrs. Jackie Robinson's letter included on the cover was a poignant touch; perhaps she assessed it best. I'll use this book many times, as an example of honed prose, morality, and plain old American history. Thank you Ms. Lorbiecki for sharing your gift with our children.

My six-year-old son loves sports, and he loved this story about one of his baseball heroes. Along the way, he learned some important lessons about tolerance, kindness, and respect, taught by Lorbiecki's well-drawn fictional bat boy. It's great to find a picture book that works as both a great sports story and an inspiring tale about fighting prejudice that even a six-year-old can understand.

This book is easily readable by everyone at every level of the organization. That said, I've read it nine times and each time I learned something new. Don't expect any of the traditional team-building stuff that treats teams as the objective. This book treats teams as a means to real objectives - more capable people, producing better business results. The most important concept in the book is called "the bridge of confidence", a technique for building trust and confidence between supervisors and employees, allowing supervisors to let go of control gradually without losing control.

We bought a copy of this book for each of the 450 employees at Cape Canaveral Group (we maintain the launch pads and related facilities for Atlas, Titan, and Delta rockets). If you are implementing teams, this book is a "must read."

This book is easily readable by everyone at every level of the organization. That said, I've read it nine times and each time I learned something new. Don't expect any of the traditional team-building stuff that treats teams as the objective. This book treats teams as a means to real objectives - more capable people, producing better business results. The most important concept in the book is called "the bridge of confidence", a technique for building trust and confidence between supervisors and employees, allowing supervisors to let go of control gradually, without losing control.

We bought a copy of this book for each of the 450 employees at Cape Canaveral Group (we maintain the launch pads and related facilities for Atlas, Titan, and Delta rockets) and contracted with Everest Consulting Group (Regan's company) to help us implement our teams. If you are implementing teams, this book is a "must read."

This book effectively argues that unless you transform your supervisors from babysitters into coaches, they will negate all the team training you give your employees. It gives very specific coaching techniques that help both employees and supervisors overcome the initial fears of trusting each other. Michael Regan's methods for getting people to develop ideas and take responsibility for implementing them are excellent. His chapters on how to set up and measure teams so they share ownership and accountability for results are critical for anyone who wants to set up a team organization.

I successfully implemented teams at Alcatel before I read this book, but only after four years of dead ends and wrong turns - a result of reading traditional team books and using traditional team consultants. This book would have saved us a couple of years. Subsequently, I used it as our team implementation road map when I was hired as Director of Manufacturing at Sumitomo Electric Lightwave. Within two years we were making record profits, and I was promoted to VP of Manufacturing. I recently accepted a position as Director of Operations at another organization, with responsibility for three plants and a distribution center. The Journey To Teams will be required reading for all my managers.

I'm an internal consultant at Fiskars, Inc. For the past two years I've been reviewing books about how to implement teams, but everything I read contained the same old traditional ideas that haven't worked for us (i.e. give employees some basic skills training, then ask them to take turns doing various supervisory functions). The Journey To Teams is a completely different approach. The most important point is that most supervisors do too much of the thinking for their subordinates, which causes them to turn off their brains while at work, which in turn frustrates everything management does to create teams. I gave copies of this book to several shop-floor supervisors in our Alabama plant and they came back all excited saying that the author must be sitting around the corner watching us, because the book describes exactly the problems we've had implementing teams at our plant. I've started reading this book for the second time now, and I'm taking lots of notes. If you want to implement teams, you've got to read this book.

This book was found by me through a recommendation off this sight. Shawn Fury captures the perseverance provided by coaches and players in trying to achieve "victory" on the field and in life itself. I devour books about sports every year; however, I find this literary work to be one of the better ones I have read. To feel the emotions of these players and coaches fighting a constant state of adversity is admired. The book needs to be publicized more, because it is an extremely interesting and well written book.

Let us pray...

Shawn Fury's Keeping the Faith, a fantastic account of a college football team's woes and whines, its victories and values will have you caught up in the characters quicker than a five-yard slant pattern.

While Odessa, Texas glitters beneath Friday Night Lights, Trinity Bible College in Ellendale, North Dakota prepares for what will probably be another merciless clubbing by an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference opponent. Challenged by "method-to-the-madness" coaching, "AWOL footballs," and a losing streak as long as the North Dakota horizon, the Lions' football program is a recipe for disaster of epic proportions.

But, hallelujah, like Noah trusting God to save him from the Great Flood, the Lions have some semblance of faith, a sense that some good will come from simply staying on board with the program. Encouraged by the team's small (and expanding, thanks to Shawn Fury) fan base, which has the patience of Job, the Lions just may win a game-or at least a shred of dignity-even if it's against a struggling Christian Scientist team.

Buy the book, today. Amen!

As a resident of Ellendale, ND, the home of the college football team that's been ranked 697th out of 697 for years, I can attest that the picture painted in "Keeping the Faith" is so accurate, it's frightening.

Most sports novels focus on a team's rise to championships or the heartache after losing the big game. This takes the opposite perspective, looking at the team that's struggling to score 30 points a season, let alone win a championship, and the only victories they can find are the "moral victories." Yet somehow, in a season in which every single player on the team suffered an injury, each game averaging a 0-50 loss, they manage to keep fighting and trying their hardest despite.

Highly recommended.

This is more than a book about football - it is a character study. It tells the in-week struggle of the Trinity Bible College football team, as well as their struggles on Saturdays. The author does an excellent job of telling the players stories; their lives away from the game as well as some of their inner conflicts. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

This book is a great toolbox for anyone managing or leading groups or teams. It is not about getting up and presenting to a group. It is more about getting up and tapping into a group's creativity, ideas, and expertise and helps to solve problems, execute tasks, or implement solutions. Just because you're leading a group discussion doesn't mean you're automatically the designated leader. I was put into a temporary project team where we were required to solve a major problem. For many of the individuals it was the first time we had met. Putting this information to use definitely helped us arrive at our solution more quickly.

This book is an all around good and useable book. It is something teams, leaders, facilitators, and even public speakers might want to consider who deal with people in a guiding capacity. Chapter 21 - Facilitating the Group From Hell - helps in dealing with those difficult and frustrating situations we can all relate to.

A excellent book for anyone who is leading, facilitating, or coordinating group or team meetings. This will help in facilitating groups to solve problems, collaborate together, plan, organize, and make decisions. Each chapter has a quick reference at the end which makes it easy when refering back to the tools and skills sets provided in the book. It is very user friendly. For those looking to improve teams as opposed to facilitating groups, you should try CMOE's other book The Team Approach: With Teamwork Anything Is Possible

This is a great book for anyone facilitating team meetings. The book is more of a tool kit on how to draw out ideas and creative energy to build team consensus. It is not a book about teams, but offers a process on how to facilitate and help lead teams to a collective group solution. Could also be a good resource for anyone wanting help with general meeting management.