This is the first book on branding published in East Africa by an East African and takes a wide view of both the local and global brandscape. Through the collection of selected articles, the book which makes for an easy read, also tackles the future of brands and branding.

Intended primarily for undergraduate courses in small business management or entrepreneurship, this text also provides practical content to anyone interested in starting their own business.With a practical, hands on approach to entrepreneurship, this text aims to provide readers with the knowledge and tools they need to launch a business so that it has the greatest chance for success.

This book is about what I call "Fix it or lose it Management." I wrote it to help you do your own turnaround inside your organization, before someone else does it for you - or your organization goes under completely. This book is a compendium of carefully selected good ideas from good books, plus my own experience in nearly 20 years as a management consultant and the 27 years of Military service that preceded it. Like my last book, I wrote it so that you could have straightforward, no-nonsense material, ready to implement. CEOs and other responsible people in leadership positions don't always have time to do their own research. Instead, they throw themselves on the mercy of contractors, who think in terms of yearly contracts. You can do the job better.

Silver Bullets isn't about understanding the technology of standard, interoperable data; it's about why the technology is important and how you can use it. If you care about effective operations, no matter your job title, this book is for you. Interoperable data is a major game changer for business and information technology, government and commercial, national and international organizations. This book will let you make it happen, versus wondering what happened and how you were left behind. As Frederick Brooks famously noted in The Mythical Man-Month: Essays on Software Engineering, there is no single-approach solution - no Silver Bullet - that delivers significant improvements in productivity, reliability, or simplicity. But in Silver Bullets, Pete O'Dell shows how a single concept - standardized data interoperability - yields improvements in any industry to which it is applied. O'Dell builds his case by reviewing the past. From the Great Wall of China to shipping containers, from punched cards to the VISA network, standardization has fueled enormous breakthroughs. O'Dell investigates current data standardization including XML and the Common Alerting Protocol, using case studies to illustrate success stories ranging from homeland defense to diabetes management. Finally, O'Dell offers practical suggestions on how to get started with interoperable data and points to emerging leaders in commercial, governmental and not-for-profit fields. This accessible, plain-spoken book is full of parables, anecdotes and stories, delivering humor as well as insight. Reading it enables you to make practical decisions about your organization's future and growth. Silver Bullets shines a clear light into your inoperable future.

Despite conflicting belief systems and other divisive problems, people can still learn from each other to create new knowledge. The medium is conversation. This challenging new book asserts that business conversations can be seen as social experiences through which we discover new ways of seeing the world, destroying the barriers between us. When this occurs, new knowledge can emerge or be developed.

How can people learn from their differences, rather than be divided by them? One way is by creating conversational spaces--areas where conversation occurs. The authors show how such spaces are created, maintained, and enhanced, and how they are used to transform different interpretations and perspectives into new common understandings. With illustrations and case studies, the authors demonstrate the practical value of conversational learning in diverse organizational settings. Emphasis is shifted from techniques that are essentially insensitive to different contexts, attitudes, and beliefs, focusing instead on a theory of learning that is more social and interactive. This remarkable new source of explanatory theory validates an intensely pragmatic way to help organizations get people talking to one another, thereby advancing the well being of the organizations and those within them.

Offering both a male and female perspective on the dilemmas women face in business, this book provides the benefits of high-level executive coaching to all women who want to take control of their careers and achieve their aspirations for corporate leadership. Despite efforts to increase diversity within Fortune 500 companies and larger numbers of highly motivated and educated women in the workforce, women remain vastly under-represented at the highest levels of corporate leadership. Only about 15 percent of women hold senior executive positions, and about 17 percent are represented on corporate boards; worldwide, only 3–4 percent of CEOs are women. These statistics are in spite of the fact that many companies are actively seeking to take advantage of the financial boost that gender balance at the corporate level brings: Companies that have women in leadership roles are showing higher performance in various measures of profitability, such as revenues, assets, and stockholder value. How can qualified women leaders overcome the myriad longstanding hurdles of the corporate environment and reach the top? Coauthored by executive coaches to some of corporate America's most notable leaders, this practical, research- and experience-based guide identifies the various barriers that block women from reaching positions of corporate leadership and offers readers specific strategies and approaches that they can utilize to advance themselves into the positions they want—and apply their talents and abilities at the very top. The chapters address very specific challenges for women in the business world, such as strengthening and leveraging their closest connections, including those with their mentors and their sponsors; understanding how "performance" means more than doing their jobs well; garnering positive attention and recognition for their efforts and results; and getting honest, practical feedback that will serve to advance their careers.

How do successful architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms become leaders in their markets? While there is not one formula for all AEC firms, a common characteristic is effective marketing. These firms don't view marketing as an expense, but as a strategic approach to winning. Leading With Marketing embodies how an AEC firm approaches their business, their marketplace and their customers. When companies lead with marketing, they strategically choose which markets to target, what to offer, how to differentiate, how to communicate, and how to win. To truly lead with marketing, a firm's marketing strategy must be an ongoing, dynamic process. The process must enable a company to focus its resources on the right opportunities to increase profitability, while satisfying the customer needs and achieving a sustainable competitive advantage. Leading With Marketing will provide you with the insights, expertise and knowledge needed to lead with marketing. Having worked with Brian and Kimberly for many years and seeing the direct results of their wisdom help Structural Group grow to over $500 million in sales, now having their wisdom detailed in this great book will allow more of us to apply marketing strategies to our everyday business. I highly recommend this book to every Architectural, Engineering and Contracting company that desires a profitable growth strategy.- Peter Emmons, CEO, Structural Group Kimberly has helped ACI develop many successful communications and program-launch campaigns by integrating key message development, online and traditional marketing, public relations, and so much more. Brian helped guide ACI into and through several new promotion, search, and communications initiatives as member, then chair of our Marketing Committee. Their combined expertise in marketing and how to market concrete has been a huge asset to our organization and our members.- Kevin Mlutkowski, Manager, Marketing; American Concrete Institute www.LeadingWithMarketing.com

An unethical and undemocratic cult of business leadership seems to hold sway over the minds of President George W. Bush and many other leaders in our society. According to ethics and leadership expert James Hoopes, this cult claims that leadership is attained and exercised through morality. But by instilling false pride and moral egotism in executives, the leadership cult intensifies the tendency of power to corrupt. For the first time, Hail to the CEO pulls back the curtain on the cult of moral leadership, revealing its dangers while showing readers how to lead with greater integrity and competence. What's more, it will help all citizens better guard their freedom against corrupt, ruinous decisions and the "leaders" who make them. The notion of leaders as moral exemplars began in business schools and is increasingly influential in the rest of society. Bush, a veteran of corporate life, is our first president to hold the degree Master of Business Administration. As a result of his business education and business experience, he has carried the leadership cult into the White House--with disastrous results. Many others have deplored Bush's incompetence and moral arrogance. Hail to the CEO is the first book to explain that his failures--from faith-based initiatives to the unconstitutional war on terror--reflect not just on him but on the business culture that created him. Moreover, Hail to the CEO challenges many of the assumptions underlying today's conventional wisdom on leadership. It will show leaders, for example, that it is morally dangerous to manage by values rather than manage for values. Hail to the CEO offers a new model of leadership in which moral influence is earned, not used, by managing as competently and justly as possible. More important, by reminding citizens of the democratic principle that leaders may be moral menaces as well as moral exemplars, Hail to the CEO will help protect freedom.

This book portrays life inside a General Motors factory in the 1970's. Have you ever wondered why or how 'the lazy hourly workers' came to be that way? This myth is debunked throughout the book. Anyone who has ever worked hourly for General Motors, the big three, or any large manufacturing company will enjoy the experiences provided in this book. They will find themselves reminiscing in the past about their own work experiences. Anyone who has had a close relative that worked in a factory will want to read this book to get a feel of what their loved ones went through while earning a living.The book comes to the stunning conclusion that General Motor's top executives wasted a tremendous amount of human resources over the years. They looked down upon the factory workers and treated them as if they were 'disposable employees.' They never attempted to tap into the vast and almost incalculable amount of brainpower available because they simply dismissed their classification 'hourly worker' as useless. They treated them as if they were the source of all of their problems. They never even considered that with four hundred thousand hourly employees they might have had the resources right in front of them to help in solving the vast and complex problems that exist in the every day world of work.In today's competitive manufacturing environment Lean Manufacturing has stepped into the forefront for improvement. One of the two pillars of Lean manufacturing is respect for the worker. If you're an executive leader, manager or a student of lean you'll want to read this book to see how not to do it. One theory of management says that if you don't like what you see around you go look in a mirror first because your workforce is a reflection of your thinking and actions.

By any measure, workplace violence is increasing in frequency and intensity. A recent report estimates its cost at over $120 billion. Meanwhile, experts agree that risk factors, including psychological, behavioral, and situational stressors, are increasing in the context of today's volatile business environment. This timely book integrates insights from the fields of management and social psychology to identify the sources of workplace violence and offer readers practical strategies for preventing it, protecting themselves and their employees from it, and reacting swiftly and effectively when it happens. Featuring case examples, interviews, practical recommendations, and resources for additional information, the authors debunk common myths and misconceptions about workplace violence, its perpetrators, and its victims, and consider the link between domestic and workplace violence—in particular, its implications for women and minorities. The result is an essential guide for anyone, including managers and employees, human resource professionals and counselors, psychologists and other advocates, affected by the impact of workplace violence and seeking solutions. The statistics are alarming. Homicide is the most frequent manner in which female employees are fatally injured at work; it is the number two cause for men. According to a recent study cited by the Society for Human Resource Management, incidents of workplace violence have increased steadily over the past sixteen years; 58 percent of participating companies reported that disgruntled employees have threatened senior managers in the past year, 17 percent said employees had intentionally and maliciously downloaded computer viruses, and 10 percent said they were victims of product tampering. Meanwhile, the costs linked to workplace violence have been estimated at over $120 billion. Experts agree that risk factors for workplace violence include psychological, behavioral, and situational stressors—and today's volatile business environment increases their intensity. This timely book integrates insights from the fields of management and social psychology to identify the sources of workplace violence and offer readers practical strategies for preventing it, protecting themselves and their employees from it, and reacting swiftly and effectively when it happens. Featuring case examples, interviews, practical recommendations, and resources for additional information, the authors debunk common myths and misconceptions about workplace violence, its perpetrators, and its victims, and consider the link between domestic and workplace violence—in particular, its implications for women and minorities. The result is an essential guide for anyone, including managers and employees, human resource professionals and counselors, psychologists and other advocates, who is affected by the impact of workplace violence and is seeking solutions.

Compliance with the EU's Construction Products Directive is a reality for construction product manufacturers, as harmonised European Standards and European Technical Approval Guidelines come into full effect. Purchasers, specifiers and regulatory authorities expect to see products bearing the CE marking symbol and, in most European countries, marking is already compulsory. Many manufacturers are unclear about their obligations as regards this directive and need to be confident that they are receiving correct and unbiased advice about whether they need to obtain CE marking and if so, what they must do. This book offers a timely and thorough explanation of the directive and its application through harmonised European Standards and European Technical Approvals (ETAs). It leads the reader through the history and background of the CPD, explaining many of the fundamental principles and provisions, and then provides an in-depth explanation of all aspects of complying with the directive through its standards and ETAs, and the process of obtaining and using the CE marking. It goes on to look at other, related issues, such as where a product comes under more than one EU directive, what the manufacturer may expect once he has obtained the CE marking and is trying to sell his product throughout the European Union, and what is likely to happen in terms of market surveillance. The book presents each subject area logically and thoroughly and in a similar order as manufacturers will encounter them. However, some readers may prefer to concentrate only on those subjects which particularly interest them at any one time.

This book evaluates the economic and political implications of Britain's possible adoption of the Euro in a manner intended to be intelligible to laymen as well as professionals. It was begun at a time when there seemed to be an acute public need for a rational analysis of the issue and it initially explores some observations about economic behaviour drawn from a lifetime's work experience. As well as reviewing the UK Treasury's later findings on the question it assesses its important political aspects, including the recently rejected EU Constitution. Anticipating that China's rise as an economic power could prove the catalyst that induces the countries of the Euro-zone to adopt more market-oriented economic policies, the book insists that the question of Britain's membership of the Euro must continue to be monitored and attacks the apparent intransigence of Conservative Party policy on Europe. Its final pages are devoted to personal political reflections of vital relevance to Britain's long-term future.

About the Book: Rave reviews for Dentistry's Business Secrets

Dentistry 's Business Secrets by Dr. Ed Logan is a gift to dentistry. If you are a struggling or brand new practice, this book just might be the inspiration you need to help turn things around

Howard Farran DDS, MBA, MAGDFounder and CEO, DentalTown Magazine and DentalTown.com

In a well written and easily understood book, Dr. Ed Logan has answered in a practical way many of the most important questions about dental practice. The information in the book will be valuable to practitioners of all ages.

Gordon Christensen, DDS, MSD, PhDFounder and Director of Practical Clinical Courses (PCC)

If you are a dentist who is ready to seriously grow your practice, Dentistry 's Business Secrets will certainly help you reach your goals Written by a real dentist who has been there and done that, we consider this book a MUST READ for anyone in our profession

Dr. David MadowDr. Richard Madow The Madow Brothers, Co-founders, The Madow Group, Creating Success for Dentists since 1989

Finally A book that gives step by step instructions for operating an effective and efficient dental practice. Whether you are a brand new dentist or a seasoned dental professional, the systems outlined in this book will not only help you become more profitable, but will actually make your chosen profession more enjoyable. Don t just read this book, but implement the systems outlined in it and enjoy the success that follows. This book is a must read for every dental professional

Larry Mathis, CFP Author, Bridging the Financial Gap for Dentists

Ed Logan is a great business person who happens to be a dentist, and therein lies his value to us as his readers. Dentistry 's Business Secrets is a game plan for turning your dental practice into a thriving business. One of the best practice development investments you will ever make

Eric HerrenkohlPresident of Herrenkohl Consulting

Whether you are a new dentist opening your first practice or an experienced dentist looking to take your current practice to the next level, Dr. Edward Logan's new book on dental practice growth will help you achieve your goals. Written by a dentist for dentists, Dentistry's Business Secrets reveals the vital business truths Dr. Logan perfected while growing three successful dental practices from scratch. If you desire to maximize your practice value in the most efficient manner possible, then Dentistry's Business Secrets is your A to Z guide to success. Uncover the essential truths not taught in dental school and watch your practice life become less stressful, more predictable, more enjoyable and more profitable

For thousands of years money was real, usually gold or silver, until the Chinese invented paper money to replace real money. They, however, had such a bad time with it, with so many losing everything, time and time again, that it had been outlawed in China for more than a generation before western bankers thought up the idea and convinced King William in 1694 to replace the gold and silver and copper that Englishmen used with their newly printed paper. Thus began a grand experiment that may soon come to an end. The use of paper money, and a debt-based economy (once known as colonialism or imperialism, then capitalism, now called globalization) may soon be grinding down to a halt as nations around the world try to keep up with the United States in their printing of money. Because of derivatives everyone owes everyone else many times more money than the worth of the entire planet. The Kings of this Banker's Kingdom are killing the golden goose of taxpayers who have been supporting their lavish lifestyle for generations. So entitled are these super-rich that they see nothing wrong with goosing the taxpayers of the world for whatever they want. The United States and indeed the nations of the world exist for their benefit. If you understand this then so much of what goes on in the world becomes understandable, but even they are going to grievously suffer in the near future. Everyone is going to be affected The Book of Revelation, the last book in the Bible, refers to what I believe will be a banking world dictatorship which will require all citizens of earth to carry the world leader's mark (micro-chip or micro-computer) in their right hands or forehead in order to buy or sell anything. It specifically says that this will be required of even a king which in today's parlance would also include prime ministers and presidents. Also Interesting is the mention that this mostly One-World Government will be controlled from Babylon (Iraq). Much will have to happen to bring all this about but events happening right now seem to be leading in that direction. Unfortunately fewer and fewer people seem to believe the truths of the Bible or to heed it's warnings. Even with the discovery in the late 20th Century of an actual code hidden within the ancient Hebrew text and accessible only by computer, a code which seems to contain much of the future existence on this planet, scoffers still tend to look on the Bible as merely history or worse yet, myth. We truly live in interesting times and they are going to get incredibly more interesting very soon. We have already passed the tipping point but only a few see it. Even with the advice in this book your life is going to be greatly different in less than a decade, perhaps by next year. Ignore this book entirely and there is a much higher probability that you will be one of the victims of The Last Days of The Late Great United States.

This title is a practical guide for the millions of men and women who may find themselves dealing with difficult or problematic situations in the workplace. Managing Sticky Situations at Work: Communication Secrets for Success in the Workplace gives employers and employees the tools they need to resolve uncomfortable, unproductive workplace conflicts in a forthright, sensitive, and systematic way. This necessary and timely title gives readers examples of common, real-life workplace situations, followed up with a new and effective way to respond—the Say It Just Right model of communication—applied to each case. Managing Sticky Situations at Work ranges over a myriad of all-too-familiar problems involving and affecting bosses, co-workers, clients, and subordinates. Examples come from the health care professions, information technology companies, small businesses, retail, the public sector, and other sources. From back-stabbing and personality clashes, to bullying bosses and awkward office romances, to inappropriate Internet use and nasty emails, it gives readers recognizable scenarios, practical solutions, and the parameters to help them "say it just right" when it is time to act.

Change is relentless, disruptive, and unavoidable. To manage organizations today, executives need new ways to look at the world, their companies, their jobs and, most importantly, the people who report to them. Sims sees these as the prime requisites for success in management today: an ability to feel comfortable with ambiguity, with constant and increasingly demanding change, with a new, unique commitment to teams and teamwork, and with a willingness to stay customer-oriented. Marshalling his evidence from academic research and practical experience, Sims shows how researchers are continuing to redefine the roles and responsbilities of executives and their reports. One crucial finding: the emphasis is now and must remain on people. The executive today has to be a facilitator, team member, teacher, advocate, sponsor, and coach--and it is all of these tasks, requirements, outlooks, responsibilities, and accountabilities that Sims explores here. Offering a new way to look at work, at organizations, and at oneself, Sims provides not only the reasons why the new organization is what it is, but how to cope with it and to succeed in it. A must-read for supervisors, managers, executives, and recent graduates who are ready to take their own places in the new world of business.

Sims sees people as the key to the successful performance of any organization. He provides a balance between theory and practice, nuts-and-bolts prescriptives, and interesting anecdotes. Detailed, wide-ranging, and readable, his book offers up-to-date, relevant, and engaging discussions of the individual foundations of behavior--perception, attitudes, personality--plus various theories of motivation and the most useful tools derived from them to use in managing people. He also covers such issues as communication, groups, and teams, and the decision-making challenges that leaders, managers, and employees must actively address. Sims highlights the increasing importance of conflict and negotiation within and between individuals, groups, and organizations, as well as the special personal demands placed upon people as they strive to acquire flexibility, to become adaptive and more responsive to new organizational designs and structures. With its coverage of traditional topics as well, Sims' book offers a balanced, rounded, forward-looking view of what it means to work in today's changing organizations, and how to help one's own organization not just to survive but to prosper.

Achieving good credit is much more than what appears on your credit report. Good credit is achieved by successful budgeting skills, credit management skills and understanding what lenders are looking for when determining if they want to establish a financial relationship with you. Achieving good credit is a lifestyle and requires good information, good spending habits and a distinct discipline. Whether you're just starting out entering the world of credit, made some mistakes in the past, life changes has damaged your credit or you just want to be smarter as a consumer, this book was written with you in mind! Throughout the book you will find step-by-step instructions on how to EDIT YOUR CREDIT.

All businesses today face increasing pressure from customers and legislation to improve their sustainability credentials. Moreover, companies' employees and shareholders are demanding the same. Yet, many companies are playing catch-up and urgently need to get on track for the future. This book explains how companies - small or large - can do that in a series of practical stages. The authors adopt a method that asks a series of questions that then require brutally honest answers to, that then go on to develop guaranteed actions for companies to implement. For any business owner or manager who realize the importance of running a sustainable business, but do not know where to start, this book provides an essential springboard. It all adds up to a roadmap towards the next decade - and for businesses to remain relevant and resilient.

Anyone who manages more than one direct report becomes, de facto, a team leader, mediator, and communicator extraordinaire. From meetings to training exercises to brainstorming sessions, managers are called upon to lead groups—defining goals and tasks and bridging differences among members to collaborate and innovate. Drawing from their extensive research, teaching, and practical application in the field of counseling and group dynamics, the authors show readers how to master the role of facilitator—one who engages others in dialogue, resolves conflicts, and steers groups toward collective solutions. From leading project teams to getting buy-in for new policy recommendations, managers will develop skills that can be applied in many contexts, wherever people are working in groups, ultimately contributing to greater awareness and understanding of different points of view. Featuring diagnostic exercises, worksheets, examples, and an extensive listing of resources, The Manager as Facilitator will provide individuals and teams with the tools to promote effective communication, capitalize on diversity, and improve productivity. Anyone who manages more than one direct report becomes, de facto, a team leader, mediator, and communicator extraordinaire. From meetings to training exercises to brainstorming sessions, managers are called upon to lead groups—defining goals and tasks, creating a climate of mutual support, and bridging differences among members to collaborate and innovate. Drawing from their extensive research, teaching, and practical application in the field of counseling and group dynamics, the authors show readers how to master the role of facilitator—one who engages others in dialogue, resolves conflicts, and steers groups toward collective solutions. From leading project teams to getting buy-in for new policy recommendations, managers will develop the skills that can be applied in many contexts, wherever people are working in groups, ultimately contributing to greater awareness and understanding of different points of view. Featuring diagnostic exercises, worksheets, examples, and an extensive listing of resources, The Manager as Facilitator will provide individuals and teams with the tools to promote effective communication, capitalize on diversity, and improve productivity.