Gwenfrankum's Blog

Harvard Business Review on Building Better Teams

Super Admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Most teams underperform. Yours can beat the odds.

If you need the best practices and ideas for superior team building–but don’t have time to find them–this book is for you. Here are 10 inspiring and useful perspectives, all in one place.

This collection of HBR articles will help you:

- Boost team performance through mutual accountability

- Motivate large, diverse groups to tackle complex projects

- Increase groups’ emotional intelligence

- Reverse the fortunes of a struggling team

- Prevent decision deadlock

- Extract results from a bunch of touchy superstars

- Fight constructively with top-management colleagues

- Ensure productivity in far-flung teams

Harvard Business Review on Building Better Teams

Harvard Business Review on Making Smart Decisions

Why do bad decisions happen to good managers?

If you need the best practices and ideas for smart decision making–but don’t have time to find them–this book is for you. Here are 10 inspiring and useful
perspectives, all in one place.

This collection of HBR articles will help you:

- Make bold decisions that challenge the status quo

- Support your decisions with diverse data

- Avoid choices that justify past bad decisions

- Evaluate risks and benefits with equal rigor

- Check for faulty cause-and-effect reasoning

- Test your decisions with experiments

- Foster and address constructive criticism

- Defeat indecisiveness with clear accountability

- Root out unconscious prejudices

Expand the Pie: How to Create More Value in Any Negotiation

Super Admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Learn how to become a better negotiator! It’s not about haggling or intimidating–it’s about creating more value at the table. This guide is filled with easy to remember advice on how to become a better negotiator, worksheets to help you prepare for negotiations, and quizzes to test and apply your knowledge. “Expand the Pie” is a one-of-a-kind and important addition to your negotiation toolkit.

“…an extremely useful ‘how-to’ guide … can help you better prepare for any negotiation and achieve better results…” — Jonathan D. Greenberg, Director, International Graduate Studies, Stanford Law School

“…teaches a simple and effective process for achieving win-win outcomes in any negotiation.” — Sam Reese, CEO, Miller-Heiman

“A genuine contribution to the field.” — Raymond Shonholtz, President, Partners for Democratic Change

“Experience and expertise shine through in this powerful book.” — Deborah D. McWhinney, President, Schwab Institutional

“The best guide ever written on negotiating…a must read for any situation.” — Robert W. Page, Former Assistant Secretary of the Army and CEO, Kellogg-Rust

Developing Mental Toughness: Improving Performance Wellbeing and Positive Behaviour in Others

Super Admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Mental Toughness is measured by how effectively individuals respond to stress, pressure and challenge. This ground-breaking book clearly and effectively explains the concept of mental toughness and traces its development from sports psychology into organizational development, health and education. This is the first book to look at mental toughness and its application at the organizational level.

Written for coaches looking to improve the performance of individuals and teams, Developing Mental Toughness contains practical guidance on techniques that will provide skills for responding to and harnessing the effects of stress and pressure. The book covers the core skills and techniques required to recognize, use and develop mental toughness in others including: evaluation, ROI, and improving attention spans.

Developing Mental Toughness: Improving Performance, Wellbeing and Positive Behaviour in Others

Mental Toughness: Understanding the Game of Life

It is often said that 80% of what happens to us in life is based upon how we think. Initially, I wrote this as a letter to read to our children when they graduated from high school. I thought of this book as I was driving down the road, taking our children from practice to practice and game to game. After we got past “how was your day?” There were many times with periods of awkward silence. Neither one of us knew what to talk about. This was a very difficult time for me. I am used to speaking in front of large crowds, but at this point I did not know what to say to my 10 year-old son. What was wrong with me? I felt foolish. So I stepped back, and analyzed my life and the lives of the successful people around me. I decided to teach my children about the things that it took me 40+ years of listening to my family, friends, mentors, taking seminars, reading books, listening to the tapes/CD?s, etc. to learn to achieve success and happiness. There are hundreds of self help books, CD?s, DVD?s and seminars for adults. Why not teach this to kids and young adults? So I started talking to our children about positive life experiences and ways to lead a positive, happy, successful, productive life. This is what this book is about, helping us to understand the game of life. I wanted our children to have a reference when struggling with the game of life and this book was the result of those efforts. This is a reference book that we can use again and again throughout our life. Together we can change the world by recognizing one positive experience at a time.

Clear Leadership: Sustaining Real Collaboration and Partnership at Work

Super Admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Makes leadership accessible to all, even the quiet, shy, avoid-eye-contact ones among us. It is also written with elegant simplicity. Buy it, read it, pass it around. –Peter Block, partner, Designed Learning; author, Community, the Structure of Belonging

A thoughtful and thought-provoking book explaining how to untangle the hidden mush limiting your own, your team’s, and your organization’s effectiveness. masterful integration of theory and practice with extensive examples and skill exercises. Excellent resource for anyone who wants to be more effective interacting with others at work and at home. –Robert J. Marshak, author, Covert Processes at Work

Makes leadership accessible to all, even the quiet, shy, avoid-eye-contact ones among us. It is also written with elegant simplicity. Buy it, read it, pass it around. — Peter Block, partner, Designed Learning and author of Community, the Structure of Belonging

Provides insights that will enable leaders to harness the productive energies their people bring while avoiding many of the traps that imprecise and incomplete communication can sometimes create. –Bill Pasmore, SVP and Organizational Practice Leader, The Center for Creative Leadership

Stands above the usual fare by speaking to leaders who truly care about their craft. It offers them a disciplined agenda for bringing their whole selves to work and bringing the best out of their people and teams. –Philip Mirvis, psychologist; research fellow, Center for Corporate Citizenship; author, To the Desert and Back and Beyond Good Company

A thoughtful and thought-provoking book explaining how to untangle the hidden mush limiting your own, your team’s, and your organization’s effectiveness. It is a masterful integration of theory and practice with extensive examples and skill exercises. It is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to be more effective interacting with others at work and at home. –Robert J. Marshak, author, Covert Processes at Work

Provides new contributions to the thinking on leadership. The skill sets are not just for leaders, but for everyone engaged in partnering with others to accomplish something; and in today’s world, leading learning is just as important as leading performing. –David W. Jamieson, PhD, president, The Jamieson Consulting Group, Inc.; adjunct professor of management, Pepperdine University; adjunct professor, American University/NTL Institute MSOD Program

You Can Compete: Double Sales Without Discounting Management & Leadership Tr

Super Admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

This work gives the independent business person concrete advice from someone who’s worked in retail stores 50+ hours a week, has known what to do when their back is against the wall and has a proven track record of success. It is aimed at independent business owners, many of which are being challenged by chain stores.

Few retailers wont find something to make them glad they spent some time with this book.” — Food Management, September 2003

Mastering Successful Work: Skilful Means: Wake Up!

Super Admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Clear, powerful guidance on how to make work into a path of transformation and dynamic realization.

Mastering Successful Work: Skilful Means: Wake Up! (Skillful Means Series)

Gesture of Balance: A Guide to Self-Healing and Meditation

An excellent introduction to the Buddhist view, with practices to awaken the body, mind and senses.

Entrepreneur Magazine: Human Resources for Small Businesses

Super Admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The next best thing to hiring a human resources professional

If you need help managing the people side of your small business, you’re in luck! This comprehensive, practical guide supplies everything you need to know to manage human resources effectively and avoid legal hassles:
* Easy-to-follow guidelines for job advertising, interviewing, hiring, setting wages and benefits, and conducting performance reviews.
* Important information on civil rights, affirmative action, and the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).
* Guidance on developing workplace policies, dealing with layoffs, managing employees with disabilities, and other sensitive issues.
* Sample documents, including performance review forms, job descriptions, and applications.
* Sample letters and memos for key types of formal communication with employees.

Also available from the Entrepreneur Magazine library:
* The Entrepreneur Magazine Small Business Advisor
* The Entrepreneur Magazine Small Business Answer Book
* Guide to Integrated Marketing
* Making Money with Your Personal Computer
* Small Business Legal Guide
* Starting an Import/Export Business
* Starting a Home-Based Business
* Successful Advertising for Small Businesses

SPECIAL OFFERS!
* Free issue of Entrepreneur Magazine.
* 50% discount on Entrepreneur Magazine subscription.
* 1/2 price admission to any Entrepreneur Magazine Small Business Expo.
* Discount on American Entrepreneurs Association membership.

See details and coupons in back of book.

Entrepreneur Magazine: Human Resources for Small Businesses

365 Answers About Human Resources for the Small Business Owner: What Every Manager Needs to Know About Work Place Law

Finally there is a complete and up-to-date resource for the small business owner. Tired of high legal and consulting fees? This new book is your answer! Detailed are over 300 common questions employers have about employees and the law; its like having an employment attorney on your staff. Topics include: equal employment opportunity, age discrimination, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), workers or applicants with AIDS, unacceptable job performance, termination, substance abuse, drug and alcohol testing, safety, harassment, compensation policies, job classifications, recordkeeping, overtime, employee performance evaluations, wage and salary reviews, payroll deductions, reduction in wages, pay periods, payroll advances, wage garnishment, severance pay, unemployment compensation, operating policies, ethical standards, open-door policy, suggestions and customer feedback, smoke-free workplace, dress code, work schedule, flexible scheduling, telecommuting, absenteeism, tardiness, confidentiality, employee privacy, electronic communication, responsible use of equipment, e-mail and Internet, prohibited content, copyrighted materials, responsible use of cell phones, security procedures, telephone usage, use of company vehicles, solicitation for outside causes, outside employment, personnel files, release of information, access to files, possession of weapons, improper personal conduct, company benefits, time off, holidays, vacations, sick leave policies, bereavement, jury duty, education and training, leaves of absence, Family and Medical Leave Act, personal or medical leaves not required by law, military leave, insurance, on-the-job accidents or injuries, medical/life insurance, flexible benefit plans, pension, and profit sharing.

The Fundamentals of Production Planning and Control

Super Admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

This focused book concentrates on planning and control; it answers the question: “what parts of operations management do we really need to know?” It does not bog the reader down with details, but allows them to concentrate on fundamental principles, such as the development and application of software solutions, inventory management, and lean production concepts. Topics include: forecasting, sales and operations, scheduling, materials requirements, capacity management, production control, “partnering” activities, and system integration. An excellent handbook for operations managers, production control workers, inventory control employees, and those involved in supply chain, logistics, and materials management.

The Fundamentals of Production Planning and Control

Purchasing and Supply Chain Management

Gain a thorough understanding of the critical role of purchasing in the supply chain with one of today’s leading-edge strategy and purchasing books–PURCHASING AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, 5E. This turnkey solution provides current and complete coverage that makes it not only a useful book, but also a valuable professional reference tool. This edition presents the most recent critical developments in the field as well as the impact of the recent recession and ongoing business uncertainty on today’s supply chain. This leading author team draws from firsthand experience and their relationships with executives and practitioners worldwide to present numerous cases, memorable examples, and unique insights that enable readers to better understand today’s purchasing process.

Sams Teach Yourself SAP in 24 Hours Skills Office Automation

Super Admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Thoroughly Updated and Expanded!

Includes New Coverage on Cloud Computing for SAP!

In just 24 sessions of one hour or less, you’ll master the latest updates on SAP, and discover how to succeed with it in real business and technical environments! Using this book’s straightforward, step-by-step approach, you’ll learn through practical hands-on examples and case studies based on SAP’s free demonstration software. Each lesson builds on what you’ve already learned, giving you a strong real-world foundation with both the business and technical sides of SAP. Leading SAP architect and consultant George Anderson starts with the absolute basics…thoroughly covers core business, reporting, and administration tasks…and takes you all the way to the cutting edge, including how the cloud might
be used to support SAP environments.

Step-by-Step instructions carefully walk you through the most common SAP tasks.

Quizzes and Exercises at the end of each chapter help you test your knowledge.

By the Way notes present interesting information related to the discussion.

Did You Know? tips offer advice or show you easier ways to perform tasks.

Watch Out! cautions alert you to possible problems and give you advice on how to avoid them.

Learn how to…

Integrate various cloud resources into your current-day SAP environments
Understand SAP applications, components, and architecture
Obtain and install the trial version of SAP, step by step
Use NetWeaver, SAP ERP, the SAP Business Suite, and other SAP applications
Select an access method and create user roles and authorizations
Customize your user interface for maximum convenience and productivity
Transact day-to-day business, including sample sales order transactions, personnel updates, and more
Work through complex processes, such as “Order to Cash”
Query from SAP and third-party business productivity tools, such as SharePoint
Professionally tune, maintain, and monitor SAP systems
Plan and build new SAP applications
Prepare for SAP projects, including technical upgrades and enhancements
Develop your career as a SAP business or technology professional

Dr. George W. Anderson, senior architect and SAP Basis Consultant for Microsoft Services, specializes in designing and optimizing mission-critical platforms for SAP and other enterprise applications. He’s passionate about developing architectural patterns and tools capable of enabling the kind of business agility that IT has been promising for years and businesses today need more than ever. A certified SAP
technical consultant, PMI PMP, and long-time MCSE, his books include SAP Implementation Unleashed and the popular SAP Planning: Best Practices in Implementation.

Category:SAP Covers:SAP User Level:Beginning–Intermediate

Sams Teach Yourself SAP in 24 Hours (4th Edition) (Sams Teach Yourself — Hours)

SAP R/3 for Everyone: Step-by-Step Instructions, Practical Advice, and Other Tips and Tricks for Working with SAP

SAP R/3 for Everyone is the nontechnical users guide to working with SAP R/3, the leading business enterprise software product in the world. Written and road-tested by experienced SAP R/3 users and trainers, this book saves typical SAP R/3 users time and trouble by providing them with the universal skills needed to work with any module of this complex software.

SAP R/3 can be used effectively by anyone who can perform a handful of simple procedures that are employed in nearly every SAP R/3 transaction. The authors explain these procedures in plain English, using illustrations and real-world examples.

After a brief explanation of the architecture and operation of SAP R/3, readers get step-by-step instruction in

Logging on and off, managing passwords, and customizing the SAP application window and screensNavigating between screens with menu folders, transaction codes, and the menu barSetting up customized favorites folders with quick links to the initial screens of transactions and other useful resourcesUnderstanding the four basic transaction typesWorking on initial screens, including tips and techniques for entering codes, searching for codes, customizing initial screens, and using multiple selection screens and selection optionsCustomizing output reports with filters, sorts, sums, and display variantsExporting output reports to Microsoft Excel and Word and e-mailing output reports to other SAP users

Practical and jargon-free, SAP R/3 for Everyone provides readers with the skills and confidence they need to efficiently conduct any business activity with SAP R/3.

Our Own Time: A History of American Labor and the Working Day

Super Admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Our Own Time provides the first full account of the movement to shorten the working day in the United States. Combining the narrative and trade union emphasis of traditional labor history with the focus on culture and the labor process characteristic of contemporary labor history, the book offers an illuminating reinterpretation of the history of the U.S. labor movement from the colonial period onward. The authors argue that the length of the working day or week historically has been the central issue raised by the American labor movement during its most vigorous periods of organization. Beginning with a picture of working hours in colonial America and the early republic, Roediger and Foner then analyze the ideology of the movement for a ten-hour workday in the early nineteenth century. They demonstrate that the ten-hour issue was a key to the dynamism of the Jacksonian labor movement as well as to the unity of male artisans and female factory workers in the 1840s. The authors proceed to examine the subsequent demands for an eight-hour day, which helped to produce the mass labor struggles of the late nineteenth century and established the American Federation of Labor as the dominant force in American trade unionism. Chapters on labor movement defeats following World War I, on the depression years, and on the lack of progress over the last half-century complete the study. Our Own Time will be an ideal supplemental text for courses in U.S. labor and economic history.

It is obvious that the struggle for shorter hours must become an essential element in the workers’ present-day battle against exploitation. Although the progress of this battle cannot be adequately dealt with in the limited space of this review, it is necessary to point up the value of Our Own Time as a resource for today’s working class, especially for trade union activists. We have much to learn from our history.People’s Daily World

. . . this cohesive and well-documented study shows, organized labor won the 40-hour week after intense and deliberate battle with the nation’s business class, as well as with the national and local governments. The struggle was often conducted by Eastern Eurpoean immigrants and Socialist and Communist union members, who advocated more leisure time to allow workers to educate themselves in citizenship, civic culture, literacy and other skills.The New York Times