Teams Books

Santa's Little Helpers: "Sometimes even Santa could use a little muscle."

This is a short book about a small group of thieves who try to recover a truckload of stolen toys from *another* group of thieves.

The "welcome" that the lead character gives to a group of carolers is alone worth the price of the book.

This is a very short book, and the cover price is low to match the length, but you should buy it with a group of other books because Amazon's shipping charge would nearly double the cost of the book if you ordered it separately.

Around Christmas time, you might want to buy a few extra copies of "Santa's Little Helpers" and give them as gifts. They'd probably make good stocking-stuffers for anyone who doesn't absolutely *hate* to read. You can even give it to teens. (I don't remember anything offensive being in the book.)

I also recommend Heisler's earlier book, "An American Christmas," a collection of 5 short stories.

W.A. Heisler created a fantastic, feel good, easy to read, hard to put down, story when he came up with Santa's Little Helpers. Young or old, you will have no trouble connecting with Heisler's characters and letting them rope you into their world. I would recommend a visit to that world to anyone looking for a great story to read in their favorite reading spot.

Prison, bad boys, bad luck, good vs. evil. Entertaining and one mans life journey and soul search in one quick read. You got to love it! W.A. Heisler sets the story line but then takes you on an unexpected journey that tugs at the heart but also warms it. A full circle story with the right amount of humor.

Another well written plot and subplot from this author. Action packed and explosive. It shows the real heart of these men who keep fighting even when they don't know who to trust. Superb and I can't wait to reread it.

This book is one of the best in this amazing series about Navy SEALS and the missions they are in. It is a fast paced book with on-the-edge of your seat action and adventure. If you want a great military series with guns and troops on secret missions, this is for you!!
Seal Team Seven RULES!!!

Seal Team Seven (15) Ambush has to be in the top three best in this series. From start to finish, I could not put it down. The only thing I didn't like is the death of one of my favorite characters. I will not reveal who that was so I do not ruin the book for those who have not read it yet. At least the new Master Chief is good addition. Navy Seals are a cold, calculated
group of men. These books do them justice.

Book shows the first time the team has to work with other agencies or groups. Well handled. Each scene is carefully written so new readers can keep up. A well plotted story from start to finish. A good read.

A terrific military thriller. Filled with action and suspense it is the best book ever written about the Navy Seals. Fictional but could easily be tomorrow's headlines.

Nucflash is the closest to the first book. Great action scenes and great scenarios for operations. These books have the perfect pace for the reader who loves a great blend of speed, action, and techology, without stretching it to 1000 pages.

"We soon realized that many companies which adopted such methods were caught in the middle between two competing organizational paradigms: the bureaucratic and democratic. In our analysis, these methods failed to transform the DNA, or fundamental design principle, that informs how organizations are structured and managed...When we understood that these two diamectrically opposed traditions for designing and managing organizations were competng for dominance, it became clear to us why managrs and employees were often being bombarded by mixed messages and a confusing mishmash of structures, management styles, and techniques. The bureaucratic and democratic design principles are based on different logics; each constitutes a distinct class with a specific genetic order...When these logics are mixed together in efforts to shore up the failings of bureaucracy, empowerment and reengineering efforts often fizzle because the basic tenets of a traditional hierarchy have not been uprooted...This book describes the principles and methods for designing the self-managing organization. We show how companies in any industry can change and evolve to become fully self-managing organizations"(from the Preface).

In this context, Ronald E. Purser and Steven Cabana, in Chapter 8, outline fundamental choices of two competing organizational design paradigms as following:

I- Bureaucratic Structure: Coordination and control of work tasks is done by supervisor.

1. Mind Set...*People have specialized skills and are easily replaced. *The work (technical system) is designed first. The people (social system) must adopt and fit in. *Workers are cogs in the machine of the enterprise, a commodity. *Total specialization of everything. *Within a complex organization, simple jobs are created. *Tthe building block of the organization is one person- one task. *Competitive structures, processes and reward systems are the best way to produce high performance.

2. People Act As If...*The environment our enterprise exists in is stable and unchanging. *There is little to learn at work; success comes from reacting resourcefully to problems. *Procedures are sufficient to guide behavior. Change interferes with productivity and can often be postponed. *Responsibility, and blame can be shifted to others; we are separate and therefore I can win at your expense. *We don't need to coordinate work closely with other functions. Their problems are their problems. *Unspoken assumptions need not to be explored. Simple solutions to problems are adequate.

II- Democratic Structure: Coordination and control of work is done by those doing the work.

1. Mind Set...*People possess many skill sets and can do many jobs/functions. *The needs of the work (technical system) are balanced with the needs of the doers of the work (social system). *People are learners. Machines and information systems can extend the skill set of employees to many functions. *As little as possible is specified, leaving the rest to the skill and discreation of the workers. *Complex jobs are created within a simple organizational structure. *The building block of organization is the self-managed work team. *Cooperative structures and reward systems are the best way to produce high performance.

2. People Act As If...*The environment our enterprise exists in is constantly changing. *Skepticism and doubt are valuable and enable continuous learning. *Outcomes are best reached with flexibility built into the approach. *I am fully responsible for any work I agree to perform. *Every task is part of some larger whole. I can't win at your expense. *Everyone's ideas are taken seriously. Cooperation is essential for our mutual survival. *Making our assumptions explicit and exploring them is worth the temporary discomfort.

Hence, in order to transform an entire enterprise to self-management, they discuss these choices within the context of Participative Design method. And they argue that "Dmocratic business organizations won't solve all the world's problems, but they will be places where people can find meaning in their work. Work becomes meaningful when people have attained real membership status, when work is restored to its rightful place, which adds value to both the customer and to the worker, and when people are shapers and creators of the organization's future."

Highly recommended.

This book contains a number practical nuggets for executives and middle managers who are seeking to move from a command and control management style to a style that systematically enlists the participation of employees at every level of the organization. Purser and Cabana provide insightful analyses of how some of the world's most successful organizations have initiated efforts toward higher employee participation that have resulted in superior organizational performance.

This is an easy to read book that blends practical theory with best practices. This book will satisfy the interests of bottom-line focused executives, human resource professionals, and academics who are looking for actual implementations of sound theory about self-managing organizations.

The book introduces a set of organizing principles that are valid across a variety of industries. These principles are introduced in the context of case studies of distinctly different companies such as Motorola, Microsoft, and Charles Schwab. The authors shed light on age-old management dilemmas such as, "How can I give people more autonomy, but still ensure that we have order and productivity in the organization?" and "How can I accelerate people's learning that I know will be critical to our future, but still have them accomplish their business tasks that need to be finished today?" The authors present solid self-management principles that I have seen work in small and large-sized firms, and for industries as diverse as professional services and hi tech manufacturing. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in improving organizational performance by creating opportunities for higher employee participation.

-- Tom Devane (tdevane@iex.net)

If you are struggling with questions related to your business strategy, how work is designed, and the way your organization ought to be managed - READ THIS BOOK. "The Self Managing Organization" (by Ronald E. Purser and Steven Cabana) explains why we have been on a merry-go-round of quick fixes and false promises, and what to do about it. The concepts and real applications in this book move everyone back to ground zero. By the time you finish reading, your thinking will have changed about what it takes to produce effective change, and how self-organization can be facilitated.

It will take a while to read the book. Take the time. The first half analyzes the key management methods of the recent past and dissects what went wrong. You'll understand the principles which facilitate organizational learning, put in place a team-based system of shared responsibility, and re-energize the workforce and management at all levels of the business. You'll also understand why we continue to make costly mistakes when we go about changing organizations and what it takes to be successful right now.

In the second half of the book, Purser and Cabana describe the "how" of moving from today's inadequate practices, to a lean, non-bureaucratic, and powerful future. You'll learn how to develop an urgency for change, get the right people involved, develop common, tangible goals and accelerate their implementation. One benefit of the approaches described is a results-oriented future built from a shared understanding of the business environment. Another is an energized leadership with a shared vision, and a workforce whose local knowledge is translated into effective work designs. Swift deployment throughout the organization occurs.

You might see alignment of the practical concepts in "The Self Managing Organization" with those of John P. Kotter. The alignment is, in fact, perfect with Kotter's Eight-Stage Process of Creating Major Change, as written in his "Leading Change" book. Kotter beautifully frames the steps that EVERY successful organization goes through when making fundamental change. What Purser and Cabana do is describe HOW to rapidly and effectively move your organization through those major changes. There are only two books on my recommended list. "The Self Managing Organization" pushed Kotter's book out of the number one slot. If you need permanent, pervasive change in your business, don't miss it!

Rob McClusky, Baldrige Manager, Picker International, Cleveland, Ohio

The book Snake is the biography of Ken Stabler the Oakland Raiders renegade quarterback of the 1970's. The book was very interesting and was very detailed. I recommend reading this book if you are a football fan. Also if you are an Oakland Raiders fan this book is for you. If you do not vulgar language or talks of sex, drugs and rock and roll you should not read this book. The book had many strong points, which include very detailed recolations of games and wild nights. My overall opinion of the book is that was very interesting and if you have a weak stomach this book is not from you. Snake is a book for football lovers and if you liked this book check "I'm the Assassin" by Jack Tatum another renegade from the Oakland Raiders in the 1970's. Go Raiders.

This had to be one of the funniest behind the scenes sports books ever. Shocking tales of hot-tub orgies, drunken spree's, and other general hedonism highlight page after page. And there is some football, too.

What were considered rumors about the wild lifestyles of the Oakland Raiders are actually truths according to one of the leaders, Kenny Stabler. Drinking, honky-tonking, reading the playbook by the jukebox light, womanizing and oh yes - football are some of the sideshows in this book. This is not only about the "Snake" but also about the other characters from the Oakland Raiders during their heyday.

If you are thinking of starting a team, or you have had one fail miserably, then you MUST read this book!

I've read Star Team Dynamics and am convinced that it is one of the best resources on teams and team-building available. The book is full of examples, how-to advice, charts, etc. The author relates accounts of companies who have gone "through the fire" and have come out the other side -- healthy, well-functioning teams. She also tells what NOT to do. The book is well-written, humorous and informative. I highly recommend Star Team Dynamics.

A wonderful guide to creating teams within any size company. The author is insightful,providing terrific, practical suggestions just when you need them!

Though she doesn't get to do much, Ensign Hoshi Sato is my favorite character on the new Enterprise. She was left out of the first series of figures, but here she is finally, albeit encased in a bulky spacesuit.

Her facial sculpt is a decent likeness. But, like all these Art Asylum Trek figures so far, it seems to capture the features, but not the expressions, sorta like a "dud" photo. Better than 95% of the figures this size, but just close enough to leave you wanting better.

The articulation is excellent. She can stand in different positions no problem, and her hands hold the props from this series great. She's held onto T'Pol's communicator through some pretty demanding missions. Her removable air supply pack (not shown in Amazon's photo) fits on perfectly. The helmet detaches from it, again perfectly.

I would have preferred Hoshi in her uniform (or maybe in her decontamination outfit ;), but this is such a nicely done toy I can't complain.

Though she doesn't get to do much, Hoshi is my favorite character on the new Enterprise. She was left out of the first series of figures, but here she is finally, albeit encased in a bulky spacesuit.

Her facial sculpt is a decent likeness. But, like all these Art Asylum Trek figures so far, it seems to capture the features, but not the expressions, sorta like a "dud" photo. Better than 95% of the figures this size, but close enough to just leave you wanting better.

The articulation is excellent. Her hands hold the props great; what a rare treat! She's held onto her communicator through some pretty demanding missions. Her removable air pack fits on perfectly. The helmet detaches from it, again perfectly.

I would have preferred Hoshi in her uniform, but this is such a nicely done toy I can't complain.

I have purchased all the aciton figures and toys that Art Asylum has made since they have been doing Star Trek. They are simply the finest on the market. The attention they pay to detail is amazing.

Two thumbs up for Star Trek and Art Asylum

A lot of books have been written on the 49ers' great Quarterback Steve Young but none is as deep in details as this one. It is entertaining, absolutely interesting and (i would say) formative because it teaches about how fulfilling our dreams, heading in the good direction...I loved this book.

This book is informative and brilliantly written. Unlike the other books on Steve Young that I have read -- books which often rely on "angles" about this man's life -- this book is an honest and compelling account. It's writing is tight and detailed. I loved this book.

I read this book when I became a Steve Young junkie while at BYU. I am still at BYU, and still a S.Y. junkie, but at least now I know a lot more about the man. The authors of this book seem to have gotten close enough to the protagonist to show some of the most private aspects of his personality. I got a truer sense of who Steve really is, what he believes, and why he comports himself the way he does. Apart from being well-written and chronologized, the book provided a lot of back-ground kowledge with regards to Steve's football career, starting out with his college experience, as well as some of the challenges he had to face in the AFL and NFL, right up to the point where he led his team to a superbowl victory during the 1994 season. It also invoked a lot of compassion in me for Steve Young, because one only has to read the book half-way to realize that the path he had to travel to success was not an easy one. It has inspired me in many ways. I would recommend this book not only for people who are interested in the 49er Quarterback, but also for those who don't favor him that much, or who don't really know a lot about him. For those of us who will never meet the guy, this is the closest we will ever get to his inner-self, to understanding where he's coming from, and perhaps, eventually understanding Steve, the man.

I've read a number of project management books over the years, and very few of them fit at all in a product development environment. This book fits and matches product development very well. In fact, in my opinion, it is the best basic project management book on the market currently for application in product development. This shouldn't be a surprise though since Mickey Rosenau understands project management practice in the field of product development. Beware of the other authors who claim that they understand product development and then apply a traditional approach to project management. Project management in product development is different, and a traditional approach to project management doesn't work in product development. Stay away from the traditional management approach and get this book instead.

Excelent Book. Direct to the point. I have recommended this one to other project managers and they agreed with my opinion.

Easy to get, easy to undertand.

Best Regards

Rolando Ramos
Bogota-Colombia

Excellent book, a good guide to improve project management

There have been numerous books written on New York baseball, but, at least for me, it is the photographs that make this a unique baseball book. I have vivid memories of the World Series of the 1950's, and all except 1959 involved at least one of the teams in New York City. The New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers series were classics, and will always be remembered. I enjoyed the descriptive writing of New York Daily News writer Dick Young. When Duke Snider made a wide turn at 3rd base in coming home, Young wrote, "Duke, who is a poor base-runner for a man of his superior speed, took the scenic route home...He was out by some 20 feet." Many of the photos brought back the names of players and umpires of my youth. The photographs illustrate how small the dugouts were in that era. Fans are predominantly dressed in suit coats, ties, and fedoras. Also of interest are photos of fans leaving the park via the playing field, and photographers near home plate photographing the action. Photographs of Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds show views from above the playing field in addition to close ups of the center field area of the Polo Grounds and the center and right field areas of Ebbets Field with the advertising on the wall are also of interest. I am a fan of the Detroit Tigers, but I will always have precious memories of those historic New York teams in addition to the arenas they played in. The text is nice, but it is the photos that make this book unique.

You don't just have to be a fan of New York baseball to enjoy this wonderful photo-filled book showcasing the great Big Apple teams of the late 1940's to the late 1950's. This wonderful book containing superb photographs from the baseball archives of the New York Daily News, is like a mirror through time. The large photos, (dont you just hate small photos in large books), showcase the players, (stars or not), stadiums, but above all action surrounding the great New York teams of 1947-1957 with a small but no less interesting text explaining each one. The most enjoyable thing about the book for me were the full-page sized photos showing all the action in ballparks, some unfortunately no longer with us (Ebberts Field and the Polo Grounds) and the pre-renovated Yankee Stadium. The nuances of these parks with their crazy outfield angles and advertising boards gives us an appreciation of what it was like to play or watch baseball in them back then. The shots of the fans who populated these parks also tells a story, of rabid fan allegience and spirited optimism. Any baseball fan will love this book as part of their collection. There is a brief text opening the selection of photos for each year that may be short but this book let's the photos do the describing. A fabulous book!

The seminal book about the Golden Age of Baseball in New York. A must have for any baseball fan. The photograph selection by Claus Guglberger is sublime. I eagerly anticipate another release containing the photographs selected by this gifted photographer.