Get ahead of the competition with some expert planning. As any business manager knows, success doesn't just happen. Ittakes hard work and planning to get the desired results. Strategicplanning is the discipline that helps businesses build on theirpresent success by analyzing all the factors that can impact thefuture and take measures to anticipate them. The Complete Idiot'sGuide(r) to Strategic Planning offers clear and concretediscussions about: ? Defining business goals in mission statements ? Proven methods to gather the information necessary to formulatea strategy ? Anticipating the competition ? Executing a strategic plan

What are the most important things in your life? Do they get as much care, emphasis, and time as you'd like to give them? Far from the traditional "be-more-efficient" time-management book with shortcut techniques, First Things First shows you how to look at your use of time totally differently. Using this book will help you create balance between your personal and professional responsibilities by putting first things first and acting on them. Covey teaches an organizing process that helps you categorize tasks so you focus on what is important, not merely what is urgent. First you divide tasks into these quadrants: Important and Urgent (crises, deadline-driven projects) Important, Not Urgent (preparation, prevention, planning, relationships) Urgent, Not Important (interruptions, many pressing matters) Not Urgent, Not Important (trivia, time wasters) Most people spend most of their time in quadrants 1 and 3, while quadrant 2 is where quality happens. "Doing more things faster is no subst

By exploring measures that have transformed businesses, DavidParmenter has developed a methodology that is breathtaking in itssimplicity and yet profound in its impact. Now in an updated andexpanded Second Edition, Key Performance Indicators is a proactiveguide representing a significant shift in the way KPIs aredeveloped and used, with an abundance of implementation tools,including: The four foundation stones that lead the development and use ofKPIs A 12-step model for developing and using KPIs withguidelines A KPI resource kit including worksheets, workshop programs, andquestionnaires A new and pragmatic approach to finding critical successfactors Over 300 performance measures Implementation variations for small to medium enterprises andnot-for-profit organizations New implementation short cuts How to brainstorm performance measures Templates for reporting performance measures A resource kit for a consultant who is acting as a coach /facilit

This title presents a practical approach to fuel game changinggrowth through business model innovation. Transformational newgrowth remains the Holy Grail for many organizations. But a deepunderstanding of how great business models are made can provide thekey to unlocking that growth. This landmark book describes howcompanies can achieve transformational growth in new markets Or,simply put, how they can seize the white space. To step out intothe unknown and seize the white space requires a new language - anda framework with which to understand an existing enterprise and thewhite space it hopes to conquer. This book - from ClayChristensen's firm Innosight - is devoted to making game-changingbusiness model innovation a possibility. Leaving the rhetoric toothers, it provides the building blocks for creating business modelinnovation: first, by showing executives how to discover newbusiness models and then by showing them how to bring theseinnovations to market. With road-tested frameworks, analytics, anddia

The8 Dimensions of Leadership is the first book to explore leadershipthrough the lens of Inscape's third generation DiSC model of humanbehavior. This title is designed to paint an inclusive picture ofthe varied approaches that make for strong leadership. It primarilyfocuses on the interpersonal realm of leadership and helps readersidentify which of the eight approaches comes most naturally tothem. Sugerman, Scullard and Wilhelm show readers how to determine whichof the eight DiSC dimensions aligns best with their leadershipapproach: Pioneering, Energizing, Affirming, Inclusive, Humble,Deliberative, Resolute or Commanding. The authors explore thestrengths and weaknesses of each style in depth. But they alsoemphasize that any single-dimensional approach to leadership isincomplete. It's not enough to just build on your strengths. To betruly effective you need to incorporate all eight dimensions intoyour leadership approach. This book will give readers new,scientifically-based insights into what makes them tick

Praise for Best Practices in Talent Management "This book includes the most up-to-date thinking, tools, models,instruments and case studies necessary to identify, lead, andmanage talent within your organization and with a focus on results.It provides it all—from thought leadership to real-worldpractice." Patrick Carmichael head of talent management, refining, marketing, andinternational operations, Saudi Aramco "This is a superb compendium of stories that give the reader apeek behind the curtains of top notch organizations who havewrestled with current issues of talent management. Their lessonslearned are vital for leaders and practitioners who want a veryvaluable heads up." Beverly Kaye Founder/CEO: Career Systems International and Co-Author, Love'Em or Lose 'Em "This is a must read for organization leaders and HRpractitioners who cope with the today's most critical businesschallenge—talent management. This book provides a vast amount ofthought provoking ideals, tools, and models, for building

Now nearing its 60th printing in English and translated into nineteen languages, Michael E. Porter's Competitive Strategy has transformed the theory, practice, and teaching of business strategy throughout the world. Electrifying in its simplicity -- like all great breakthroughs -- Porter's analysis of industries captures the complexity of industry competition in five underlying forces. Porter introduces one of the most powerful competitive tools yet developed: his three generic strategies -- lowest cost, differentiation, and focus -- which bring structure to the task of strategic positioning. He shows how competitive advantage can be defined in terms of relative cost and relative prices, thus linking it directly to profitability, and presents a whole new perspective on how profit is created and divided. In the almost two decades since publication, Porter's framework for predicting competitor behavior has transformed the way in which companies look at their rivals and has given rise to the new discipline of co

The Associate Professional Risk Manager (PRM) is a new PRMIAcertificate program intended for staff entering the risk managementprofession, or those who interface with risk management disciplineson a regular basis, such as auditing, accounting, legal, andsystems development personnel who want to understand fundamentalrisk management methods and practices. Designed to bemathematically and theoretically less detailed than theProfessional Risk Manager (PRM(tm)) certification, the new programwill cover the core concepts allowing non-specialists to interpretrisk management information and reports, make critical assessmentsand evaluate the implications and the limitations of suchresults.

The New Manager's Guide and Mentor "The Harvard BusinessEssentials" series is designed to provide comprehensive advice,personal coaching, background information, and guidance on the mostrelevant topics in business. Whether you are a new manager seekingto expand your skills or a seasoned professional looking to broadenyour knowledge base, these solution-oriented books put reliableanswers at your fingertips. Decision making is a critical part ofmanagement, and bad choices can damage careers and the bottom line.This book offers the tools and advice managers need to avoid commonbiases and arrive at and implement decisions that are both soundand ethical.

We live in an age of unprecedented opportunity: with ambition,drive, and talent, you can rise to the top of your chosenprofession regardless of where you started out. But with opportunity comes responsibility. Companies today aren'tmanaging their knowledge workers' careers. Instead, you must beyour own chief executive officer. That means it's up to you tocarve out your place in the world and know when to change course.And it's up to you to keep yourself engaged and productive during acareer that may span some 50 years. In Managing Oneself, Peter Drucker explains how to do it. Thekeys: Cultivate a deep understanding of yourself by identifyingyour most valuable strengths and most dangerous weaknesses.Articulate how you learn and work with others and what your mostdeeply held values are. Describe the type of work environment whereyou can make the greatest contribution. Only when you operate with a combination of your strengths andself-knowledge can you achieve true and lasting excellence

Managers are faced with a variety of challenges every day.There are decisionsto make, conflicts to resolve, and strategies toimplement, among many otherresponsibilities. As a new manager youneed to build the skills necessary fortackling problemshead-on. The Complete New Manager is a valuable toolkit that helps youmeet day-to-day challenges quickly and effectively. Filled withtips, techniques, andproven advice from renowned experts, TheComplete New Manager teachesyou how to:

Opening in theaters November 20, 2009, The Blind Side is afeature movie based on Michael's Lewis's New York Times bestseller,produced by Alcon Entertainment and distributed by Warner Bros.Pictures. The Blind Side tells the inspirational story of MichaelOher, a homeless black teen taken under the wing of the Touhys, awealthy white Memphis family. Oher's size and speed on the footballfield bring him accolades. But learning the game's strategy andmaking it as a student take the help of his new family, coaches,and tutor. Sandra Bullock stars as Leigh Anne Touhy, thesharp-witted and compassionate matriarch. Tim McGraw stars as hersports-enthusiast husband. Oscar winner Kathy Bates plays Miss Sue,Oher's indefatigable tutor. Quinton Aaron has his first major roleas Oher. John Lee Hancock, who directed The Rookie and The Alamo,writes and directs the film. Michael Oher was just drafted in thefirst round of the NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. This editionincludes a new afterword bringing Oher's life up to date thro

Your LEAN and mean guide to Lean Six Sigma Ready to implement better, faster, cheaper, more-profitableprocesses in your organization? Lean Six Sigma Demystified, SecondEdition, shows you how to use proven techniques for simplifying,streamlining, and optimizing business practices for maximumproductivity and profitability. Written in a step-by-step format, this practical guide covers thefundamental methods and tools of Lean Six Sigma. You'll get detailson reducing defects and deviation, sustaining improvements, andachieving laser-focused process innovations. Measurement systemsanalysis (MSA), Design for Lean Six Sigma, and statistical toolssuch as analysis of variance (ANOVA) are also discussed. Clearexamples, helpful diagrams, and concise explanations make it easyto understand the material, and end-of-chapter quizzes and a finalexam reinforce key concepts. It's a no-brainer! You'll learn about: The seven speed bumps of Lean Value stream mapping and spaghetti diagramming

Although much as been written about how to make betterdecisions, a decision by itself changes nothing. The big problemfacing managers and their organizations today is one ofimplementation--how to get things done in a timely and effectiveway. Problems of implementation are really issues of how toinfluence behavior, change the course of events, overcomeresistance, and get people to do things they would not otherwisedo. In a word, power. Managing With Power provides an in-depth lookat the role of power and influence in organizations. Pfeffer showsconvincingly that its effective use is an essential component ofstrong leadership. With vivid examples, he makes a compelling casefor the necessity of power in mobilizing the political support andresources to get things done in any organization. He provides anintriguing look at the personal attributes--such as flexibility,stamina, and a high tolerance for conflict--and the structuralfactors--such as control of resources, access to information, andformal authority

The creators of the revolutionary performance management toolcalled the Balanced Scorecard introduce a new approach that makesstrategy a continuous process owned not just by top management, butby everyone. In this book, Robert Kaplan and David Norton share theresults of ten years of learning and research of more than 200companies that have implemented the Balanced Scorecard. Theseorganizations have used the scorecard to create an entirely newperformance management framework that puts strategy at the centerof key management processes and systems. Kaplan and Nortonarticulate the five key principles required for buildingstrategy-focused organizations; 1)translate the strategy intooperational terms 2) align the organization to the strategy, 3)make strategy everyone's everyday job, 4) make strategy a continualprocess, and 5) mobilize change through strong, effectiveleadership. The authors provide a detailed account of how a rangeof organizations in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors havedeployed the

Go from being a good manager to an extraordinary leader. If you read nothing else on leadership, read these 10 articles.We've combed through hundreds of Harvard Business Review articleson leadership and selected the most important ones to help youmaximize your own and your organization's performance. HBR's 10 Must Reads On Leadership will inspire you to: - Motivate others to excel - Build your team's self-confidence in others - Provoke positive change - Set direction - Encourage smart risk-taking - Manage with tough empathy - Credit others for your success - Increase self-awareness - Draw strength from adversity