 | The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement by Eliyahu M. Goldratt
Buy new: $16.47 / Used from: $7.99 The fundamental book describing the use of Theory of Constraints in a manufacturing setting; great story, easy read. Must read this first, then Critical Chain to see non-manufacturing business use of TOC
|
 | Critical Chain by Eliyahu M. Goldratt
Buy new: $31.77 / Used from: $22.00 A great book in the tradtion of "The Goal" to illustrate a real-world story of using Theory of Constraints to control and plan projects much more effectively than any other approach I've ever seen
|
 | Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins
Buy new: $16.50 / Used from: $7.45 A frank discussion of what enables a company to make the transition from being just "good" to becoming truly "Great." Excellent writing style, Jim Collins creats a follow-up on his prior work
|
 | Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths And Total Nonsense: Profiting From Evidence-Based Management by Jeffrey Pfeffer
Buy new: $19.77 / Used from: $12.44 Introducing the concept of "Evidence Based Management" rather than the traditional "because we did it that way yesterday." Also uses the new evidence based medicine (a breakthrough approach) as an example of the unbelievable benefits of using facts and evidence, rather than rote, tradition, and pure balogna as rationalizations for bad decisions.
|
 | The Knowing-Doing Gap: How Smart Companies Turn Knowledge into Action by Jeffrey Pfeffer
Buy new: $21.45 / Used from: $10.94 Pfeffer's concept is that there have only been a few really unique business texts, and that all the others over the years have been "copies." Most books are used as doorstops. Most managers really know what to do, but just don't do it. This is a real eye openner.
|
 | The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't by Robert I. Sutton
Buy new: $15.63 / Used from: $9.49 You've been here - now understand what to do about it, and how.
|
 | What Were They Thinking?: Unconventional Wisdom About Management by Jeffrey Pfeffer
Buy new: $16.50 / Used from: $6.95 How tradition and rote constantly lead us to make bad decisions, and how to avoid do so yourself. A series of quick vignettes that apply to everyday business.
|
 | Weird Ideas That Work: 11 1/2 Practices for Promoting, Managing, and Sustaining Innovation by Robert I. Sutton
Buy new: $17.16 / Used from: $4.09 Great idea sourcebook, and how to put them in practice
|
 | A Bias for Action by Heike Bruch
Buy used from: $18.95 Don't get caught in the day to day trivia - take control of what you do, set your goals, and get to work. Some great stories of people who did this, and made startingly effective differnces that even saved big companies from destruction
|
 | Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
Buy new: $10.20 / Used from: $5.94 Becoming a classic. A must read for every business person. Get your environment under control, so you stop doing useless tasks, keep your data organized an accessable, pick the right things to do, and push the crap into the wastebasket. Loaded with details, no "systems" materials to buy (other than folders and a labeler), and you'll get your life under control this weekend.
|
 | Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done by Larry Bossidy
Buy new: $18.15 / Used from: $2.06 A Great execution of a mediocre plan will beat the pants off the poor execution of a perfect plan every time. Read the real life results of putting this thought and philosophy into action. Easy to read, easy to grasp, and not much tougher to do, once you decide to do it.
|
 | Confronting Reality: Doing What Matters to Get Things Right by Larry Bossidy
Buy new: $18.15 / Used from: $0.03 A follow up to "Execution." Shows how to distinguish what needs to get done from what just looks important; "seeing into the future" and "seeing around the corner" to avoid potential problems that may be caused by a poorly thought out decision. Excellent ideas and methods.
|
 | Extraordinary Guarantees : A New Way to Build Quality Throughout Your Company & Ensure Satisfaction for Your Customers by Christopher W. L. Hart
Buy used from: $5.08 Great ideas on how to make an offer to customers they can't refuse - The "Mafia" offer. Also, explains how to use this customer offer to incent your staff to perform at higher levels. Very readable.
|
Listmania!
