Positive organizational change does not have to be planned or managed top down in a linear, urgent manner. Rather, it can be "unleashed" or discovered by helping people within organizations to identify their own best experiences in the past, and then use them to imagine, design, and bring into being the organization they most want and which works best. The method is called "Appreciative Inquiry." The volume editors and their panel of experts examine how AI works in practice, and how its many (and often surprising) benefits can be realized in just about any organization. The result is a major explication and source book for HR and organizational development specialists and upper level management trying to lead effective change. Detailed case reports from the field show how this unique approach is actually applied and what its consequences are. Readers will learn to identify the "positive core" of any system--the practices and principles that encourage the best in organizational capacity and performance. They will find not only specific outcomes but also some detailed reflections by practitioners on the use of Appreciative Inquiry. A volume summary lays out the themes and lesson that span the cases. Also presented are powerful and novel propositions on how to approach the crucial issues in organizational change. The result is a major explication and source book for HR and organizational development specialists.

Written for corporate strategic planners and market researchers as well as students of management, this book offers the most complete introduction to the methodology and applications of ordinal time series analysis available in book form. Particularly useful for managers who seek a reliable and accessible means of analyzing the strategic performance of firms, products, industries, or political entities, the ordinal time series approach uses simple data, longitudinal analysis, and rank positions to produce results that more accurately reflect the dynamics of competitive position and corporate performance than those generated by more traditional methods which rely on absolute numbers and complicated analyses. The level of mathematical sophistication required is that of college introductory mathematics for business, making the methodology widely accessible. The contributors explain how to use the methodology and how to collect the appropriate data, review the statistical procedures involved, and examine numerous real-world applications of ordinal time series analysis. The book begins by introducing the notion of formalizing managerial intuition about strategic situations by employing rankings over time to describe the performance of products, firms, and departments, for example. Having established the advantages of using ordinal data, the contributors illustrate the use of rank statistics and show how to incorporate uncertain aspects of strategic situations in an ordinal context. A separate chapter covers information statistics that describe the aggregate behavior of a group of organizations over time. The contributors then present a series of examples demonstrating the wide applicabilityof ordinal time series analysis to various types of situations. Included are an analysis of the transportation industry over a 30-year period, an ordinal analysis of corporate performance, the application of ordinal analysis to the problem of product strategy, a look at world export activity, and an examination of international competition in the microelectronics industry. Throughout, particular attention is given to providing the reader with the background and information necessary to successfully employ ordinal time series methodology in his or her own environment.

The 1980's information explosion on new-product development demands a broad-scope, up-to-date review of literature. Calantone and di Benedetto take on the task in this comprehensive annotated bibliography, citing more than 450 articles and books on product innovation and new product development. They have produced a thoroughly integrative review of marketing, business, and engineering literatures, identifying general managerial conclusions. Outlining key issues and problems faced by product managers, Calantone and di Benedetto determine to what extent these issues have been addressed in academic literature. How much of reported research is relevant? What is the quality of available scientific knowledge? Can business managers and marketing staffs learn from other functional areas, i.e. engineering or technical journals? This bibliography is a valuable entry into innovation literature for both product managers and academic researchers. Calantone and di Benedetto's review is structured according to topic area: factors influencing product and process innovation; stages in new-product development; product diffusion forecasting; the R & D-marketing interface; organizational structure; and technology transfer. Each chapter includes a literature review and an extensive annotated bibliography. A representative set of articles from major marketing, business management, operations research, and engineering publications are selected. As a rule of thumb, articles from 1978 to the present are included. Several major works from earlier years are also cited. The authors complete this volume with their own observations and conclusions, an author index, and a subject index.

Cross-cultural business negotiations are an important part of international business. Much business has been lost overseas due to miscalculations caused by cultural differences. Negotiating is a lengthy, difficult process by itself; but, when one adds the cultural aspect it becomes extremely intricate. Cross-cultural negotiation skills can be improved by adequate attention to details and a better understanding of the cultural heritage of the other side. This work examines cross-cultural negotiations from the point of view of a practitioner, and provides country profiles with advice on how to best negotiate with people from those countries. International business negotiations are made more difficult by problems of communications and culture. In order to conduct business outside of one's native culture, it is necessary to understand the style and intent of the business partners, and to learn to deal with culturally based differences. In addition, communciations are conducted verbally and non-verbally; therefore, it is not just a problem of language barriers. The authors show those involved in international business how to conduct their business communications successfully by seeing what is important about the transactions through eyes of another culture. The authors are widely experienced in cultures other than that of the United States. Having lived and worked in many parts of the world in addition to the United States, the authors advise business professionals and business academicians in this work.

Every day each of us experiences the marketing power and influence of a widely-recognized brand name. When we use Coke as a synonym for cola products, or Kleenex to mean tissue, we reinforce the power of these brands. It is no surprise, then, that companies with established brand names protect and nurture them, and that companies without brand names continuously strive to build them. Many have theorized about the most effective way to establish a popular brand. Seldom, however, have the owners of the world's leading brands given their views on the subject. In this volume, successful brand owners reveal their own views on the power and importance of brand names.

Senior executives from major international companies such as Coca-Cola, Nestle, Guinness, and Mercedes-Benz get at the heart of what it takes to create, manage, and protect brand names. Coming from a variety of perspectives, the sum of the contributions offers a blueprint for the aspiring brand owner. Further analysis from academics, management consultants and marketing experts rounds out this comprehensive study.

EFFECTIVE LETTERS IN BUSINESS by ROBERT L. SHURTER. Preface: This book is infeqjfed to present the fundamental principles of the major types of biismesS letters and to assist the student or correspondent in learning these principles by numerous examples and exercises. It grew out of a conviction that there is a need for a comparatively brief text whose scope would be halfway between the sketchy handbook with its Do's and DonYs in boldface type and the encyclopedic volumes of six or seven hundred pages covering every conceivable prob lem in business correspondence. In fairness to readers or to students of this textbook, it seems best to outline the beliefs that color its tone. First, there is no mention in these pages of business English; the point of view that results in the production of books on engineering English, the English of business, and eventually if the trend goes to its logical conclusion mortician's English finds no sympathy in these pages. There are only good English well adapted to its purpose and occasion and poor English. The person who can write good English will soon find that the same basic principles of writing apply in business, engineering, and other fields. There is no escaping the inexorable connection between clear thinking and clear writing, and breaking up the English lan guage into separate compartments is merely a delusion* What is needed is a knowledge of the purposes, forms, and methods most acceptable in correspondence. This textbook attempts to provide that knowledge. Second, it seems rather trite to say that the business letter is one of the most widely used forms of writing in the twentieth century. Yet that fact needs emphasis, for, paradoxicallyenough, our schools and colleges devote more time to such types of writing as the research paper, complete with the scholarly paraphernalia of footnotes and bibliographies and knee-deep in ibids. and op. cits., than to more widely used forms of writing. The research paper has its place, but for every person who will find occasion to write a research paper there are certainly a thousand who will be required to pro duce effective business letters. For that reason, this book is colored by the conviction that learning to write good business letters is a highly important aspect of a student's education and, furthermore, that the letter offers as much opportunity for originality, good organization, and creative ability as any other form of writing. For kind permission to reprint materials in this book, the author is indebted chiefly to two sources: first, to the Dartnell Corporation of Chicago, publishers of the Office Administra tion and Better Letter Bulletin; second, to Letters, the mag azine of The Wolfe Envelope Company of Cleveland, and to its editor, H. Jack Lang. Finally, to Mrs. Margaret C. Gar retson, for her great help in preparing the manuscript and to David M. Rein, for his assistance in proofreading, the author wishes to express his appreciation. ROBERT L. SHURTER. Contents include: PREFACE: v EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION ix INTRODUCTION i I What Is an Effective Letter? 3 II The Form of the Letter 17 III Business Jargon 47 IV Making Letters Easy to Read 58 V Inquiries, Answers to Inquiries, Orders 74 VI Claim and Adjustment Letters 94 VII Credit Letters 1 1 5 VIII Collection Letters 137 IX Sales Letters 163 X The Application Letter 188 INDEX 2 2 1 vi i Editor's Introduction In manyrespects this treatment of a most important sub ject is unique. N

An invaluable resource for tourism leaders, policy makers and stakeholders as they drive the global tourism economy forward. Covering topics from the role of government, diplomacy, tourism investment, and destination branding to niche tourism development, media, tourism safety and green tourism, COME CLOSER offers a framework for strategic and practical tourism economy management and competitiveness. The book includes valuable direction for managing the fine balance of government and private industry in tourism to create shared, sustainable destination growth. Using emotive anecdotes to bring readers closer to the heartbeats of the people who inspire and direct industry growth, Mendiratta's collection of topics helps introduce critical aspects of tourism sector development.

An industrial accountant with an accountant's dedication to accuracy, Harold E. Meyer is also a master of precise, clear writing. In his latest book on how to express yourself in a variety of settings, for a variety of purposes, he proves that easily understood writing can be learned. He shows how to use ordinary English to produce clear messages of any kind. Meyer's approach is informal, pleasant, and presented in brief sections, each with its point clearly expressed. His book is well illustrated throughout by amusing--often startling--examples of good writing and bad writing, and what the result can be from both. A remarkable, business-oriented guide for people at all levels and in all capacities in today's organizations--where the ways in which ideas are expressed are at least as important as the ideas themselves. What makes Meyer's book enjoyable and so easy to read, grasp, and is his use of personal anecdotes. Readers will learn how to punctuate, how to organize and present ideas, and other essential skills. Meyer also provides a helpful reference that explains many of the changes in the language that have occurred in recent years and when to use them. The result is an essential aid and resource for anyone who has to communicate through the use of the written word.

Human resource consultant Joan Curtis provides a new, practical approach to conducting job interviews. Her strategic interviewing is a way to strip off the information you don't need and focus on what you do need when you and the job candidate meet face to face. Dr. Curtis helps you ask the crucial questions to get at the most useful, important answers. With her proprietary POINT process, an easily remembered step-by-step way to recall and apply the principles she describes, you will learn how to work within a framework of solid communication skills and how to ask the right questions, then listen for the right answers. She lays out the concept of strategic interviewing, its definition and applications, and provides the practical examples you need to operationalize it. The result is a complete view, from planning to the actual interview (including team interviewing), plus an important analysis of the entire hiring process. Her book is a major resource for HR managers -- and the executives they work with as well.

Curtis maintains that most books on interviewing do not address the communications skills necessary to conduct a successful, productive interview. Her POINT process does. At its core is INtentional Listening. It rests on the premise that quality interviewing requires skilled communicators, people who can both listen and question. The process begins with Planning and ends with Testing. To use the process you must plan, then demonstrate and encourage openness, then heighten your own communications skills by intentional listening, and constantly test yourself, the candidate, and the hiring process itself. With her practical examples and exercises, Dr. Curtis makes you able to understand that strategic interviewing is viewed from three distinct angles: the job, the candidate, and the actual interview.

Challenging work experiences are the richest source of learning for today's managers. Yet lessons embedded in these experiences are not always obvious. This comprehensive book describes a critical yet under-researched element of how managers learn from these experiences: reflection. Today's workplace demands continual learning, which in turn requires reflection. While this book supports the prevailing view that reflection is central to experiential learning, it challenges the traditional views that it is the same as contemplation, that it is incompatible with management, and that it is time-consuming and unnatural for managers.

Original quantitative and qualitative research reported in this book indicates that two different yet complementary modes of managerial reflection exist: active and proactive. Active reflection is something that managers naturally engage in during challenging job experiences, whereas managers must be prompted to engage in proactive reflection. Both modes involve processes of intentional inquiry. Different forces are necessary to stimulate each type of reflection. Based on these findings, the claim is made that the potential to learn from experience is greatest when managers intentionally engage in both modes. Accordingly, a holistic model that integrates active and proactive reflection is presented. This model has important implications for theorists and researchers of managerial learning by identifying previously unreported aspects of reflection. It is also relevant to practitioners and companies who desire to enhance what their managers learn from their workplace experience.

Maxi van Weller ist ein ganz normaler Mensch. Mit einem Job, Kollegen, Kolleginnen und ihrem Chef. Von einem Tag auf den anderen bricht ihre bisher heile Welt in der PR-Agentur Clarke zusammen. Das Unternehmen wird verkauft. Vermeintlich nichts Besonderes, denn das passiert jeden Tag in deutschen Unternehmen. Maxi van Weller allerdings lässt den Leser teilhaben an dem, was in ihrem Inneren passiert, denn sie hat zwei Begleiter im Kopf: Ratio und Emotia. Die Leser erfahren durch den inneren Dialog von Ratio & Emotia aus erster Hand, wie Maxi denkt und fühlt sowie mit ihren täglichen Herausforderungen umgeht. Ratio und Emotia begleiten sie durch sämtliche sieben Basis-Emotionen, die Maxi und generell wir Menschen durchleben können und nehmen dabei kein Blatt vor den Mund. Das Buch von Nadja Kahn und Christoph Theile zeigt, dass sowohl Denken als auch Fühlen zusammengehören. Es inspiriert die Leser, Situationen aus dem (unternehmerischen) Alltag zu reflektieren: Denken wir vermeintlich nur oder fühlen wir gerade? Wie spielt beides im unternehmerischen Umfeld zusammen? Durch die spannende Geschichte von Maxi van Weller und ihren beiden Begleitern Ratio & Emotia werden die Leser vom Erkennen zum Verstehen bis hin zum Aktivieren aller Emotionen geführt. Sie erfahren, dass Verstand und Gefühl einander brauchen und Hand in Hand gehen. Abgerundet wird die Story durch einen erläuternden Fachteil, in dem durch den Globe of Emotions(R), ein einzigartiges System zur Einordnung der sieben Basis-Emotionen, aufgezeigt wird, dass alle Emotionen ihre Berechtigung in unserem Leben haben. Die fiktiven Textpassagen werden hier aufgegriffen, das emotionale Problem damit gezeigt. Dann folgen eine Situationsbeschreibung sowie eine klare Idee, wie diese Situation mit dem Globe of Emotions besser gelöst werden könnte und auch, was dazu notwendig ist. Nach der Lektüre gehen die Leser gelassener mit Alltagssituationen um und können sich selbst und ihr Gegenüber besser einschätzen. Sie erfahren, dass alle unsere Emotionen ihre Berechtigung haben, auch die vermeintlich negativen, wie etwa Zorn und Ekel.

This unique book explores the complex issue of how successful multinational firms manage interfaces of R&D, manufacturing, and marketing on a global basis, emphasizing the linkages among them in the value chain. The author calls this interface issue global sourcing. The major objective of the book is to investigate the market performance of various global sourcing strategies employed by multinational firms. In particular, successful Japanese cases are scrutinized to better understand the nature of global competition being shaped by Japanese firms. Based on his extensive theoretical and empirical research, the author provides practical and normative guidelines for managing new product design and development, manufacturing, and marketing around the world. These include proactive product standardization, emphasis on both product and manufacturing process innovations, integrated procurement of major components, and marketing on a global basis.

The book is divided into two parts. Part I investigates European and Japanese multinational firms' sourcing strategies and related management issues that facilitate development of their sourcing strategies. Part II examines whether practical and normative implications gleaned from the experiences of European and Japanese firms equally apply to successful U.S. multinational firms. Although the European and Japanese data and the U.S. data are not directly comparable, similar findings warrant generalilzability of the performance implications of various sourcing strategies. Finally, based on research findings, the author offers long-term implications for emerging issues, including the role of product design as a competitive weapon and emerging strategic alliances for new product development on a global basis.

Here is an insider's account of the telecom industry and the true story of a telecom industry executive turned Wall Street analyst, just as the stock market bubble was beginning to burst. Thomas J. Lauria was a Wall Street analyst covering the white-hot telecom sector during the stock market bubble of 2000. 'The Fall of Telecom' revisits the telecom industry's historic and humble beginnings as part of the monopolistic Bell System and brings us into the life of a telecom industry executive turned Wall Street analyst, just as investor euphoria with technology stocks was starting to unravel. He shares many personal reflections on his time in industry and on the Street. This book will appeal to investors, business executives, former industry employees, and students of business history and the global telecom industry. It ends with a summary of valuable lessons and a Q&A discussion with the author.

Product Launch the Microsoft Way distills years of Microsoft marketing and product launch expertise into one convenient book, providing an in-depth "How-to" for all aspects of a product launch. Increase the effectiveness of your product launch process, strategy and execution and learn the product launch techniques, tips, and best practices of the Microsoft marketing machine. Topics covered include launch strategy, roll-out plan creation, partnership deal creation, public relations, product positioning, pre-launch channel and customer programs, marketing tools and collateral, channel sell-in, marketing ROI, customer relationship management, analysis techniques, marketing opportunity sizing, segmentation, research techniques, channel strategy, naming, customer service, loyalty programs, product packaging, international considerations, sales pipeline creation/management, and much more. Visit www.bluerainmarketing.com for business/marketing strategy, and marketing program execution consulting services.

The COVID-19 pandemic has offered the world and its governments many challenges in how they will conduct their responsibilities and best assist their citizens. The COVID-19 pandemic not only brought a global health emergency, but also helped to shed light on systemic inequalities, caused conspiracy and distrust within the masses, and exhausted global health services. The government and nonprofit sector, including healthcare, education, and social service organizations, will have to utilize the best practices, greater collaboration, and joint venturing to survive post pandemic. Transforming Government, Nonprofits, and Healthcare in a Post-Pandemic Era serves as a resource for those in education, healthcare, government, social service, and other nonprofit organizations who wish to advance their missions in an age of uncertainty. It further discusses how democracy can continue to advance the world, its countries, and the way that we see one another. Covering topics such as BIPOC academic leaders, economic development, and health science education, this premier reference source is an essential resource for government officials, public administration, community leaders, advocacy networks, social service organizations, hospital administrators, health officials, medical professionals, students and faculty of higher education, researchers, and academicians.

Financial reform is often seen as the "achilles' heel" of the overall Chinese reform process: this book assesses the stability of the Chinese economy and the nature of its economic governance. Svenja Schlichting examines how internationalization has impacted on financial market development in China and how far this has contributed to the development of new institutions within China.

Productivity has become a national priority. Its effects are being felt on all levels--national, industrial, and individual. An organization must be able to measure productivity before effectively improving it. This volume is the first practical guide for developing productivity measurement systems. It describes the use of the Productivity Measurement and Enhancement System (ProMES) designed by its author and his colleagues. An important tool for organizations, this step by step guide discusses how to measure productivity and then how to use this measurement.

Robert Pritchard's guide first presents a detailed description of the development and uses of ProMES. The background and description of ProMES is followed by details on how to develop ProMES in any organization. Questions and answers about using the system are discussed together with further issues on how to implement the system. The use of the system with other productivity improvement techniques is also covered. The volume concludes with a discussion on evaluating the effects of a productivity improvement system. It is a valuable practical source for industrial and organizational psychologists, management consultants, classes, and workshops.

Gastronomy food tourism has made remarkable progress over the past 10-15 years in both academia and its own sector. Research topics in food tourism include topics like offering unique food experiences, authenticity through food experiences, using food in destination marketing and focusing on food tourism and sustainability together. There are, however, several themes that have not been explored so far in the literature that this book presents. This book presents the most recent of food and gastronomy research in hospitality and tourism, highlighting emerging research themes and different methods of approach. This book focuses specifically on the areas of Gastronomy and Hospitality, and consequently Tourism. It is necessary to define strategies that necessarily pass through analysis and planning and to verify the role of gastronomy and hospitality in the tourism sector. This book is ideal for academics and practitioners, managers, policy makers, consulting professionals, marketing researchers, and other interested groups and individuals.

For half a century at least, I.T. teams have focused on solving business problems through computer technology - and largely ignoring the human element in their interactions with end users. In his new book I.T. IN CRISIS: A NEW BUSINESS MODEL, consultant L. Paul Ouellette shows how to bring the I.T. team into the twenty-first century. Organizations that employ I.T. professionals are facing a new economic landscape - one where closer, more engaged relationships with internal and external customers are not merely nice if you can get it, but essential for organizational survival. I.T.'s old business as usual approach - and let the relationship thing take care of itself - is, Ouellette warns, now a recipe for disaster. I.T.'s challenge is to adapt to the customer-focused operational realities of the twenty-first century. Teams that meet this challenge will thrive, and will create extraordinary opportunities for themselves and their organizations. Teams that don't, Ouellette believes, will be marginalized or phased out. How do we make this (long-overdue) transition? By upgrading the I.T. Professional's skill sets - and moving from the back room to the forefront of the business, the place where person-to-person connections with customers as human beings take place. In I.T. IN CRISIS: A NEW BUSINESS MODEL, Ouellette offers proven, real-world strategies for I.T. teams to forge closer bonds with their end users. He shows I.T. professionals how to change the way their customers think about I.T., how to improve I.T.'s standing within their own organizations, and how to enhance their own careers -Paul offers the 1 tool to turn negative relations into a positive one. Methods for successfully conducting the 3 main points of your clients' interactions, learn what clients really want from I.T. and the 5 steps to building your sustainable service strategy. Building very specific empathy, listening skills, rapport-building, and overall relationship management capacities. Ouellette also includes the case studies and action forms that will help I.T. teams to execute on the book's core concept. Today's business environment is highly competitive. In order to survive, organizations must create new business models that focus "like a laser beam:" on the customer. For those who work in Information Technology (I.T.) customer relations is no longer a "nice to have skill, but rather a "must have:" skill. The average professional Information Technologist is lacking skills in this area - and thus I.T. faces a crisis. For the first time since the introduction of computer technology to the world of business, I.T. funding has been reduced, and investments going into computer business technology are declining. I.T. is no longer seen as the savior of a company's bottom line. This state of affairs actually represents a new opportunity for I.T. If we make a conscious decision to conduct business differently, upgrade our skills, and focus on the customer - we can get the credit, attention, and recognition we deserve. Computer technology solutions are but one part of what we offer. In the twenty-first century, we need to play a much broader role ... build stronger relationships with the people we serve ... and become an irreplaceable part of the client's business solution. Addressing the problems and offering corrective strategies facing today's I.T. professional are the sole purposes of this book. Once we do this, we will not only succeed, we will thrive I.T. IN CRISIS: A NEW BUSINESS MODEL strategizes how to make this transition.