Book Review: ACHIEVING CLASS A BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

ACHIEVING CLASS A BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

Achieving Class A Business Excellence

Authors: Dennis Groves

ISBN-13: 9780470260340

Topic:  Business & Economics

Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2008

Rare Books

REVIEW:

A tough, challenging, and eventful journey is outlined in this cutting-edge business story. Greg, the company President, uses the latest edition of the trusted industry standard, The Oliver Wight Class A Checklist for Business Excellence, to transform his business from mediocrity to industry leading performance. What he learns about senior management responsibilities and behaviors drives him to achieve outstanding rewards and benefits, not the least of which is his company's survival.

Crucial reading for anyone aspiring to or newly promoted to management.  A very good book for learning and critically thinking about business.

About the Authors

DENNIS GROVES is Chairman of Oliver Wight Americas and President of Oliver Wight International.

KEVIN HERBERT is a partner in Oliver Wight Europe, Africa, and Middle East, and is coauthor of the Wiley book Gaining Control.

JIM CORRELL is a former co-chairman of Oliver Wight International and chairman of Oliver Wight Americas. Jim is a Principal in Oliver Wight Americas, and is coauthor of the Wiley book Gaining Control.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Prologue.

Introduction.

1. Opportunity.

2. Fact-Finding—Greg Meets His Team.

3. Greg's Directives.

4. Breakdown.

5. Listening . . .

6. . . . and Learning

7. Observing.

8. Possibilities.

9. Beginning.

10. Hope.

11. Decision Time

12. Kick-Off . . .

13. Involvement.

14. Education, Education, Education. . .

15. Process Design.

16. Customer Service.

17. Customer Satisfaction.

18. Competitive Pressure.

19. Class A Leadership

20. Sustainability, and More . . .

Epilogue.

Readers's Reference.

Index.

Book Review: CLOSING THE EXECUTION GAP

CLOSING THE EXECUTION GAP

Closing the Execution Gap

Authors: Richard Lepsinger

ISBN-13: 9780470531303

Topic:  Business & Economics

Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2010

SPONSOR:  Art Artifacts

REVIEW:

Closing The Execution Gap provides a clear, practical and proven approach to moving from strategic intent to action and results. Unlike many on this topic, Lepsinger's book provides a "how to" guide.  Clear steps are provided and the cycle of decision making is mapped out.

Anyone struggling with implementing strategy should read this book, many books attempt to address the need for implementing strategy. None have come close to addressing the need in such a way.

It provides practical tools in a user-friendly format in which managers at any level in their organization can identify. It is obviously a very-well researched book that adds another level of credibility for the reader. The book contains excellent information and insights that are well connected to meaningful bodies of research. Lepsinger hones in on tangible, real-world problems that many leaders will recognize and then offers practical solutions.  Line managers and Learning and Development professionals will find this book of interest because it captures the critical concepts that make an organization and its people successful.

Many of the books on strategy development and execution are "mechanical" in that the topic is presented as a "connect the dots" exercise with only cursory attention paid to the human element. Lepsinger does a great job recognizing that organizations are built of flesh and blood people with ambitions, fears, insecurities and agendas to promote. 

FOR BUSINESS BOOKS, CLICK HERE

Book Review: CONFESSIONS FROM THE CORNER OFFICE

CONFESSIONS FROM THE CORNER OFFICE

Authors: Scott Aylward & Pattye Moore

Confessions from the Corner Office

ISBN-13: 9780470126783

Topic:  Business & Economics, Careers

Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2007

BUY IT NOW

REVIEW:

This book is very motivating.  It is easy to read and filled with good advice.  This is required reading for all “rising stars”.  The book is practical and entertaining as well as informative.  The authors have an easy going style that is very upbeat.  “Good things can happen to good people,” is an underlying theme.  I highly recommend to help get your your career where you want it.

About the Authors

SCOTT AYLWARD and PATTYE MOORE are cofounders of INSTINCTS, LLC, a company dedicated to helping up-and-coming executives develop their leadership instincts and skills. Moore is the former president of Sonic Corp., parent company of Sonic, the largest drive-in restaurant chain in the United States. Aylward is the former chairman and CEO of Barkley Evergreen & Partners, the largest employee-owned advertising agency in the United States. During Aylward's tenure as CEO, Barkley Evergreen was recognized as one of the fastest growing agencies in the country. With Moore at Sonic and Aylward leading Sonic's advertising agency, Sonic grew from less than $900 million to just over $3 billion in system-wide sales; store-level volume and profit more than doubled; and Sonic was consistently ranked by Forbes magazine and other business publications as one of the best franchising opportunities and one of the fastest growing companies in the country.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

I. Attitude Instincts.

Get Married Again-Your Spouse Won't Mind.

Corner Office Instinct 1: Find a Corporate Soul Mate.

2. What's Love Got to Do with It?

Corner Office Instinct 2: Have a Passionate Love Affair with the Office. 

3. Put Down you Fingers and Listen.

Corner Office Instinct 3: If Someone Is Talking to You, Return the Favor and Listen.

4. Of Course I want Your Opinion-As Long as It is the Same as Mine.

Corner Office Instinct 4: Take Pride in Sharing the Spotlight.

5. Check for Blocked Arteries.

Corner Office Instinct 5: It's Okay to Take It Personally.

6. I Rest My Case, Your Honor.

Corner Office Instinct 6: Protect, Honor, and Defend Those Who Work for You.

7. 9 to 5 Was Just a Movie.

Corner Office Instinct 7: Jobs Have Time Clocks-Careers Don't.

II: PERFORMANCE INSTINCTS.

8. Open 24 Hours.

Corner Office Instinct 8: Smart Always Beats Fast.

9. Never Leave the Office Without It-A Nutcracker, That Is.

Corner Office Instinct 9: Use the World Outside Your Office as Your Muse.

10. Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace and Possibly Your Career.

Corner Office Instinct 10: Find Your Voice and Never Take It for Granted.

11. Working the Room Is Not Just for Politicians.

Corner Office Instinct 11: Be Seen, Be Heard, and Be Approachable.

12. Sometimes You Have to Face the Firing Squad-Sometimes You Are the Firing Squad.

Corner Office Instinct 12: Always Remain Objective When Evaluating Talent.

13. Oops, and Other Important Words to Lead By.

Corner Office Instinct 13: Have the Confidence to Admit Your Mistakes and to Ask Others for Help.

14. If they Give It, Take It: Take All of It.

Corner Office Instinct 14: Recharging and Reenergizing Is a Requirement.

15. Honey, When Did We have a Third Child?

Corner office Instinct 15: Make Our Personal Life a Priority.

Index.

Book Review: THE NEW ELITE

THE NEW ELITE

Authors: Doug Harrison, Jim Taylor, Stephen Kraus

The New Elite

ISBN-13: 9780814400487

Topic:  Business & Economics, Marketing

Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2008

BUY IT NOW

REVIEW:

This thought-provoking, stereotype-challenging business guide illuminates the values, buying habits, and lifestyle choices of the wealthiest Americans, focusing on both the top one percent and the top five percent. Combining extensive market research data with marketing expertise, the authors tell business leaders how to first deeply understand the market--in part by learning to differentiate five distinct types of wealthy Americans--and then create a more targeted marketing strategy to reach them.

This book is ok if you are trying to target the top 1000 wealthiest people in America, not very motivating. I wonder if targeting wealthy individuals by zip code would be more effective.

Most interesting is the research into what the wealthy are like compared to the beliefs of marketers. Marketers believe only about half of the very wealthy are married; the truth is that 83% are. And while fully 48% of the wealthy consider luxury items such as expensive watches and cars as a "waste of money" (page 19), marketers think only 18% of the very wealthy would agree.

Also, about 36% grew up in either poverty or lower middle class circumstances. Both the wealthy and the children of the wealthy believe strongly in hard work, in school and later. And they like to shop at places like Walmart and Target. The very wealthy named Ralph Lauren and MAC cosmetics as among their favorite brands, brands which are available in most malls.

About the Authors

The authors (all of the strategic marketing consulting and research services firm The Harrison Group) summarize their marketing research into the lifestyles of the rich and not-necessarily-famous, profiling the characteristics of America's wealthy, those individuals in the top 1 percent of the economic spectrum. They examine mind-sets and lifestyles, attitudes and values; and saving, investment, and consumption patterns and preferences.

Book Review: BRANDED

BRANDED

Branded

Author: Bernie Brennan & Lori Schafer

ISBN-13: 9780470768679

Topic:  Business & Economics, Marketing

Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2010

 

REVIEW:

Branded!: How Retailers Engage Consumers with Social Media and Mobility

Written through the eyes of retail and technology executives, Branded! explores retailers who are successfully implementing social media and mobility strategies.

Market-leading retailers are engaging technology-savvy customers though social media and mobility. Branded! reveals how these digital communication channels are an extension of a retailer's culture and strategy resulting in building brand equity. Comprehensive reviews of Starbucks, Zappos, Wet Seal, Macy's, 1-800-Flowers.com, JCPenney, Pizza Hut and Best Buy are featured.

Branded!:

·         Provides a clear review of social media as well as the rapid changes in the development and use of mobility.

·         Demonstrates why retailers cannot 'wait and see', and must move rapidly

·         Shows how each company's social media and mobility initiatives are based on the individual personality of the company.

·         Discusses sophisticated analytic tools that enable retailers to measure their performance and make informed decisions on the data

The book includes detailed interviews and stories of the successful use of social media and mobility by some of the most prominent retailers and restaurants. 

As per Bernie Brennan “Branded! provides important information on the impact of social media and mobility in the retail and quick serve restaurant industries. It reviews the power of technology savvy consumers using these new communication channels. Equally important, Branded provides relevant information to executives in consumer-facing industries with unique insights though the successes of major retail leaders in this new digital era.” Lori Schafer adds that “retailers can no longer expect customers to find their stores.  They must bring the store to the customer—where she spends her time – on social media and on her phone.”

BRANDED! comprehensively reviews how retailers use social media and mobility to extend their strategy and culture, while improving market share and brand equity. It further discusses the importance for retailers to embrace transparency and engagement both with their employees and customers.  Branded devotes chapters to retail leaders including: Starbucks, with more than 14 million Facebook fans; Zappos, whose culture is its brand, with over 1.7 million follower on Twitter; Best Buy, a visionary leader in the “Connected Word;”  Wet Seal, an innovator in teen engagement through its Outfitter social network; Macy's, using its digital hub to engage customers across all channels;  JCPenney, embarking on a digital transformation through open culture; Pizza Hut, with its award-winning "killer" iPhone app & ubiquitous Tweetologist; and 1-800-Flowers.com, a trailblazer in mobile and social shopping.  This book is essential reading for leaders of all consumer-focused companies including boards of directors, CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, merchandising and marketing executives, operational executives, and industry consultants.  

The blog style makes for a quick read.  Very insightful and the case stories help bring home the message.  Even though it is geared towards large corporations, there is valuable tools and ideas for the small business owner.  I recommend this book to stay current with what is happening with social media.

About the Authors

Bernie Brennan is a consultant and investor in retail-related technology. He has served in a number of roles over thirty years in the retail industry, with seventeen of them as Chairman and CEO of Montgomery Ward, Sav-A-Stop Inc., and Household Merchandising. Brennan is a former Chairman of the National Retail Federation and earned the Gold Medal Award as Retailer of the Year.  

Lori Schafer is the Executive Advisor for SAS Institute's Retail Practice. Schafer, an entrepreneur with twenty-five years of experience in retail and consumer-packaged goods' technology, was CEO of Marketmax, Inc., and Vice President of SAS Global Retail. She serves on the board of directors of several retail and technology companies as well as the National Retail Federation.  

Please visit: www.brandedretailer.com for additional information. 

Book Review: BOLD LEADERSHIP

BOLD LEADERSHIP

Bold Leadership

Author: Jim Tompkins

ISBN-13: 9780965865999

Topic:  Business & Economics

Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2007

BUY IT NOW

REVIEW:

Everyone suffers from extreme overload today. Fast-paced schedules, conflicting priorities and overburdened days can leave us feeling as if we are continually trying to fit 15 pounds of apples into a 5-pound bag. The remedy for extreme overload can be found in this book.

From personal experience, Tompkins knows what it means to be a bold leader and how to inspire others to reach new heights. He founded Tompkins Associates, a supply chain consulting and integration firm, more than 30 years ago with two staff members in a spare building in his back yard. Today, the company is one of the most respected consulting firms in the world.

From my experience, various tasks and initiatives come up during the course of business.  This book allows for their possibility and provides insight on how managers can lead during implementation and execution. 

This quote from the book makes you think about your own company’s business model:

The number of companies admitting that their business models do not work anymore is increasing. Recently, Ford and Viacom admitted that they need to change the way they do business or they will not make money, and even Dell and pharmaceutical giants Merck, Pfizer, and Bristol-Myers Squibb say that they must develop new ways of doing business. The pressure is on and company boards and other stakeholders are not patient -- if you do not fix things in a short period, you are toast. In some ways, it's almost better to be like the company that gives up, because they haven't expended all their energy trying to get ahead by doing the same things they've always done.

About the Author

Written by Jim Tompkins, CEO of Tompkins Associates and noted business expert, Bold Leadership holds the keys to simplifying and enhancing life—professionally and personally.

Tompkins maps out Bold Leadership with three essential themes: inspirational leadership, defining core competencies, and business resiliency. Each topic is illustrated with current case studies from well-known organizations such as Google, Wal-mart and IBM, along with his experience improving the supply chains of some of the world’s foremost companies.

Book Review: THE BUSINESS-ORIENTED CIO

THE BUSINESS-ORIENTED CIO

The Business Oriented CIO

Author: George Tillmann

ISBN-13: 9780470278123

Topic:  Business & Economics

Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2008

BUY IT NOW

REVIEW:

The Business-Oriented CIO: A Guide to Market-Driven Management introduces the Market Driven Management approach, which applies and adapts some of the best for-profit business thinking for use by CIOs and IT managers. IT departments are integral parts of businesses; if the electronic components like e-commerce sites fail, the business will come to a screeching halt. Run your IT department like a business rather than a reactive entity that only functions to fix problems, and transform your image from that of service center to a true business partner.

The book is crucial for the IT guy in the company.  As a manager my experience has been a struggle to get IT aligned with operations and sales.  Tillman makes a substantial number of points that serve as food for thought and further exploration. For example, when IT develops their goals for the year, it should not be done in a vacuum.  If IT’s goals are not there to make operations and sales better, then the CIO does need to re-align.  Tillman makes the strong point that IT needs to be keenly aware of where the business is going if they are going to contribute to the effort.

About the Author

George Tillmann is a former Booz Allen Hamilton partner, CIO, and management consultant. He has helped nearly 100 IT organizations worldwide and is the author of more than two dozen articles on information technology management appearing in publications such as CIO, Strategy + Business, Optimize, and Computerworld. He currently splits his time between writing and working as a private consultant.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Preface.

Acknowledgements.

Part One: The Fundamentals.

Chapter 1. In Search of Overhead Heroes.

Chapter 2. It Governance.

Chapter 3. It Strategy and Planning.

Chapter 4. Portfolio Management.

Part Two: Learning from the Best.

Chapter 5. Customer Management.

Chapter 6. Market Intelligence.

Chapter 7. Service-Offering Management.

Chapter 8. Performance Management.

Part Three: Pushing the Envelope.

Chapter 9. Organizational Competencies.

Chapter 10. In Search of Customer Service.

Chapter 11. Local Heroes.

Index.

Book Review: YOUR BUSINESS BRICKYARD

YOUR BUSINESS BRICKYARD

Your Business Brickyard

Author: Howard Mann

ISBN-13: 9780980154306

Topic:  Business & Economics

Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2007

Rare Books

REVIEW:

The basics. That is what you lost when you went from feeling like, I am going to make my mark, to It is too hard to keep up so let us just try to survive. It is time to admit you re not having fun anymore. Only then can you find your way back to the beginning when your business was all promise and no misery. Only then can you build (and keep building on) the basics that will never let you down. This small book contains the secret basics to unlock the true power and potential of your business.

Strategist, speaker and consultant Howard Mann has collected twelve bricks essential to any business foundation. Mann shows you how to get back to basics, reconnect with your purpose, and grow your business, instead of getting stuck following the latest trend or innovation. Most important of all, Your Business Brickyard provides a game plan for how to make your business fun to run again. You will learn how to Reconnect to Your Purpose and keep your goals uppermost in your mind. You will say goodbye to worries over competition when you Lose Your Nemesis. You’ll appreciate the powerful simplicity of Pay Fast, Get Paid Even Faster. You will learn how to Goaljump and work backwards from your most ambitious goals to actionable tasks you can do today. Your Business Brickyard shows you how to eliminate whatever it is that hinders your ability as a business owner to enjoy your position properly. With practical, hands-on exercises and a fresh, concise format, The Brickyard will help you establish a brick solid foundation so your business can grow without limit while you enjoy the journey.

The book is short and respects your time at 64 pages.  Mann writes with a simple elegance and not a word is wasted.  Approximate reading time is 2 hours.  I took lots of notes while I read this and then went back for a second read.

The basic premise is that we can make running our businesses fun again if we simply go back to the basics - and that’s why it works so well. It’s the diary of things that made a lot of sense back then that we’ve sadly grown out of. When you read it, you might kick yourself, I did.

The “practice drills” the author provides will keep you in tune and focused after you put the book down.

Sample quote: 

The ideas behind your purpose transcend your company. The truths of your idea exist whether or not a company is there to put them into practice. The ideas are universal.

This is a book for business owners of any size, however I believe senior management will get a lot out of it too.

About the Author

Howard Mann is the president of Brickyard Partners, a leading strategy, marketing and communication consultancy based in New York, and a founder of Sideshow Digital, an award-winning interactive agency. Prior to founding The Business Brickyard in 2001, Mann was the President of a premier customs broker and international freight forwarder with six U.S. offices and a network of over 35 agents worldwide.

Mann currently works as an adviser to entrepreneurs and business owners. His highly focused workshops and year-long programs help executive teams dig down to unlock the power of the perfect execution of the basics of business. His clients learn how to build brick-solid foundations that sustain growth and make their businesses more fun to run. In addition to consulting, Mann speaks and writes frequently about the importance of the basics and reconnecting to the passion that too often gets lost as businesses mature.

Book Review: INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL IN ENTERPRISE SUCCESS

INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL IN ENTERPRISE SUCCESS

Intellectual Capital in Enterprise Success

Author:  Lindsay Moore & Lesley Craig
ISBN-13: 9780972002172

Topic:  Business & Economics

Format:  Hardcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2007

BUY IT NOW

REVIEW:

Maximize your company's intellectual capital with the tools, techniques, and framework found in Intellectual Capital in Enterprise Success: Strategy Revisited. This timely book will take you a step ahead of your competitors in driving successful and appropriate intellectual asset management practices, showing you how to capture and effectively deploy intellectual assets within your business.

Overall, a good handbook for moving into the future.  Well written and handles complex ideas in a straightforward manner.

About the Author

Dr. Lindsay Moore is the founder and CEO of KLM, Inc., a management consultation firm that specializes in strategy, planning, branding, marketing, knowledge management, and the management of intellectual capital assets. She has published many articles and has served as a keynote speaker at numerous national and international conferences.

Lesley Craig, Esq., is one of the country's most well-respected intellectual property attorneys. Ms. Craig has had a varied career in technology and law spanning thirty years, with law practices in D.C., California, and Denver. She is often called a "rainmaker" and entrepreneur, and has been recognized as such by being named both the "Best of the Bar in IP" and "Outstanding Woman in Business" by the Denver Business Journal.

Dr. Moore and Mrs. Craig currently teach intellectual asset management at George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Dedication.

Acknowledgements.

Part I. The Field of Play.

Chapter 1. The Rise of Intellectual Capital and the New Economy.

Chapter 2. The Theory of Intellectual Capital.

Chapter 3. The New Role of the Law in Enterprise Strategy.

Part II. The Changing Rules.

Chapter 4. The Law in Flux.

Chapter 5. Intellectual Asset Management.

Part III. Strategy Revisited.

Chapter 6. Intellectual Asset Strategies.

Chapter 7. Corporate Strategy during the Era of  Intellectual Capital.

Chapter 8. Strategy and the Future.

Addendum.

The Ethics of Intellect Asset Management.

Book Review: GET SLIGHTLY FAMOUS

GET SLIGHTLY FAMOUS

Get Slightly Famous

Author:  Steven Van Yoder
ISBN-13: 9780972002172

Topic:  Business & Economics

Format:  Softcover
Language:  English
Publication Year:  2007

REVIEW:

With practical marketing help for the small business owner or independent professional on every page, Get Slightly Famous shows how to build visibility and credibility by making yourself a thought leader and indispensable resource to your potential clients and customers.

This expanded new edition provides a toolbox of strategies for:

* Getting consistent media attention

* Using speaking engagements to cultivate your target market

* Becoming a center of influence within your industry

* Leveraging the Internet and Web 2.0 to its full potential

* Creating ancillary "info-products" that supplement your income and build public awareness

Slightly Famous Media Strategies that Work: 

The public values the media, and so should you. In one way or another, the media reach and influence everyone who has a direct impact on your business. When properly pursued, media strategies establish your reputation and build your brand, reaching far more prospects than you ever could in person.

* How to position your business as a media resource.

* How to identify magazines, trade publications, newspapers and broadcast media and reach your target.

* How to position yourself as the media "go-to" person for your industry.

* How to get quoted in media stories about your industry.

* How to publish articles that attract prospects.

* How to land radio and television interviews.

* How to use previous media coverage to develop marketing materials that easily replace expensive brochures, mailers, and newsletters.

About the Author

Steven Van Yoder   http://www.getslightlyfamous.com/  is a public relations consultant and freelance journalist specializing in client positioning and reputation marketing. Yoder has published hundreds of articles, given numerous media interviews, and landed hundreds of thousands of dollars in free media coverage for his clients in consumer and business publications. This talk will leave attendees with a clear understanding and action plan of how to get "slightly" famous in media that reach their target markets.  His articles (both bylines and ghosted for clients) have appeared in the Washington Post, Industry Week, Boardwatch, Home Office Computing, Financial Executive, Epicurean Magazine, ASTA Journal, Beauty

Lesson Learned

Get Slightly Famous provides hands-on, step-by-step insights for developing a comprehensive thought leadership marketing program, making company executives irresistible to the media, writing effective press releases, getting articles into print, developing an effective Internet presence, using Web 2.0 marketing tools, including blogs, podcasts and online networking, speaking strategies and tele-classes, developing strategic alliances and embracing social responsibility with cause marketing.

I found it a very good blueprint for setting up a strategy.  The book is easy to read and has many humorous examples.  Whenever Yoder makes a point, he always backs it up with an example.  However, some of the examples are for large established corporations and are not relevant for smaller companies.

If you are in the marketing department or a business owner, this is a must read.  A word of caution, some of the activity levels are unrealistic for the business owner juggling multiple priorities.