Going Visual: Using Images to Enhance Productivity, Decision-Making and Profits Review

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Going Visual: Using Images to Enhance Productivity, Decision-Making and Profits ReviewThis book aims at making corporate and marketing directors to realize that we have entered a culture of images and videos. It covers well some of the consequences of this mutation from writing to visual. Admittedly, lots of situation are covered to advocate for anticipating actions in the image civilization, and suggestions are made on how to do it. As a matter of fact, the discoveries of Neuro-sciences including Neuro-marketing (not covered in the book) explain why this phenomenum does happen. At a practical level, the successes of MySpace and YouTube (after the not so recent development of TV ads) should be sufficient evidence.
The book however does not refer to the problems linked to the daily use of images by the professional world (mainly the necessity to index them for database treatment or simply for searching, filing and handling). Machines do not know how to recognize if there is a blond guy on a picture in the middle of several other individuals, when they can do this selection with texts. There is a huge amount of research going on to solve such complex problems which have more consequences than it seems and the author simply does not even touches these aspects. Amazon's mechanical turk was created precisely for such reasons. Some scientists try to use the sound track of videos to that effect... This book totally misses these issues.
In brief a great topic properly advocated but imperfectly analyzed and not exhaustively covered. Reality doesn't need to be advocated, it lands by itself ; virtue for books (which are in depth studies) lays in detailed solutions and this book comes short on this.Going Visual: Using Images to Enhance Productivity, Decision-Making and Profits OverviewHow and why to make visual communication a powerful competitive toolFrom digital cameras and camera phones to videoconferencing, visual communication technology is changing not only personal lives but global business relationships and communities of interest. Visual communication is an essential tool for every corporation-in any industry-that wants to stay competitive.Going Visual demonstrates how businesses can harness the power of digital images and video to communicate comprehensively and unambiguously. Through real-world success stories the authors outline a clear, simple, five-step plan for developing a Visual Communication Strategy that will sharpen every organization's competitive edge and improve its bottom line.Alexis Gerard (San Mateo, CA) is the founder of Future Image Inc., an imaging technology think tank whose clients include Adobe, Canon, Eastman Kodak, IBM, Intel, Procter & Gamble, and Sony. He previously held executive positions in new technologies marketing at Apple Computer. Bob Goldstein (Los Angeles, CA) has been the president and founder of ZZYZX Visual Systems, president of the Altamira Group, and a visual communication consultant to such companies as Eastman Kodak, Apple, Oracle, Microsoft, Intel, and Hewlett-Packard. Gerard and Goldstein have coauthored articles in Red Herring and Forbes.

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The New HR Analytics: Predicting the Economic Value of Your Company's Human Capital Investments Review

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The New HR Analytics: Predicting the Economic Value of Your Company's Human Capital Investments ReviewDr. Jac continues to set the standard for how to measure HR activities. This book exends his previous work in useful and innovative ways. He has the unique ability to take broad and complex issues like HR metrics and put them into simple and useful frameworks and actions. His work shows that human capital issues are direclty relevant to business success. And, when we quantify the impact of human capital, HR can help businesses grow in the right way.
Well done!!!The New HR Analytics: Predicting the Economic Value of Your Company's Human Capital Investments OverviewIn his landmark book, "The ROI of Human Capital", Jac Fitz-enz presented a system of powerful metrics for quantifying the contributions of individual employees to a company's bottom line. "The New HR Analytics" is another such quantum leap, revealing how to predict the value of future human capital investments. Using Fitz-enz's proprietary analytic model, readers learn how to measure and evaluate past and current returns. By combining those results with focused business intelligence and applying the exclusive analytical tools in the book. Brimming with real world examples and input from thirty top HR practitioners and thought leaders, this groundbreaking book ushers in a new era in human resources and human capital management.

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Reorganize for Resilience: Putting Customers at the Center of Your Business Review

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Reorganize for Resilience: Putting Customers at the Center of Your Business ReviewIn his timely book, Gulati provides CEOS and managers with a wakeup call and a practical tool kit they can use to re-organize their firms to thrive in increasingly turbulent economic conditions. The issues discussed in this book are of importance for small, large and even non-profits. Gulati has done an excellent job of writing in a very readable style that I believe will benefit many firms that are seeking ways to survive and thrive.
The core message of this book is that only those firms attain resilience that are truly able to place their customers at the center of their enterprise. However, implementing this strategy is not easy for most firms. Gulati notes that many of the firms which believe that they are customer centric by virtue of going through the motions of traditional market research may actually be deluding themselves. Even when they do solicit ideas from their customers, they do so through the lens of their products as their focus remains on how the customer experiences their products. Further, most firms get caught up in their day to day operations and processes and forget to keep the customer at the center of their enterprise. Unfortunately, customers "become after thoughts" because firms become distracted and blinded by the rigidity of their internal architecture.
Based on qualitative and quantitative research, Gulati explains that while many firms get locked in self-erected silos and thick internal walls, some firms thrive while embracing brutal competition and demanding customer. What distinguishes these firms?
To answer this critical question, Gulati distills lessons from a broad array of firms. He explains that the key differentiator of these successful firms is not just their curiosity and engagement with their customers and their problems, but the ability to actually turn some of those insights into action.
To achieve this high degree of "customer-centricity" Gulati advises firms to dismantle their rigid "inside-out" organizational architecture and adopt a customer focused "outside-in" mind set with an intense focus on understanding and serving the needs of their customers. Putting the customer in the driver's seat can be accomplished only by radical reorganization. This in turn comes about from their capacity to effectively coordinate the appropriate organizational, human, and social resources for creating products and services that satisfy the real needs of their customers. By becoming nimble and flexible, firms can foster "resilience" to achieve competitive advantage for thriving under adversity.
The book not only provides an answer to the WHY of resilience but also the HOW. Gulati peels away multiple layers to demystify the operative mental models as well as the structural and social architecture of exemplary resilient firms. He explains the features and processes that are related with the five key levers that need to be engaged in reorganization. The five levers are: coordination, cooperation, clout, capability and connection.
I particularly appreciated Gulati's efforts to simultaneously highlight the structural, human, and relationship aspect of each lever. Most important, he provides clear and practical guidance on how to appropriately engage these levers to achieve resilience and customer centricity.
This book is not recommended for leaders who wish to undertake incremental changes. Gulati is blunt in his assessment and advice. While acknowledging that creating resilient organizations is not impossible, he cautions that it is not easy because it requires long term perseverance and consistent effort. He also notes that re-organization can be fraught with heightened concerns and operational chaos. But the eventually rewards can be dramatically positive. Thus, he cautions leadership to be prepared to invest considerable energy in creating companywide commitment.
Since any organizational transformation journey must begin with honest self assessment, I suggest that CEO's and leaders read this book first. After taking a hard look and reorienting their personal mental models, they should require their entire staff to read it. They should then use this book to initiate an honest conversation within their organizations and start preparing their blue prints for achieving "customer-centricity".
Reorganize for Resilience: Putting Customers at the Center of Your Business OverviewIn an era of raging commoditization and eroding profit margins, survival depends on resilience: staying one step ahead of your customers. Sure, most companies say they re customer-focused, but they don t deliver solutions to customers thorniest problems. Why? Because they re stymied by the rigid silos they re organized around. In Reorganize for Resilience, Ranjay Gulati reveals how resilient companies prosper both in good times and bad, driving growth and increasing profitability by immersing themselves in the lives of their customers. This book shows how resilient organizations cut through internal barriers that impede action, build bridges between warring divisions, and transform former competitors into collaborators.Based on more than a decade of research in a variety of industries, and filled with examples from companies including Cisco Systems, La Farge, Starbucks, Best Buy, and Jones Lang LaSalle, Gulati explores the five levers of resilience: Coordination: Connect, eradicate, or restructure silos to enable swift responses. Cooperation: Foster a culture that aligns all employees around the shared goals of customer solutions. Clout: Redistribute power to bridge builders and customer champions. Capability: Develop employees skills at tackling changing customer needs. Connection: Blend partners offerings with yours to provide unique customer solutions.Authoritative and practical, Reorganize for Resilience helps you walk the walk, not just talk the talk, of customer-centricity jump-starting a virtuous cycle of profits, growth, and competitive advantage.

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Pro Crystal Enterprise/Business Objects XI Programming (Expert's Voice in .NET) (v. 11) Review

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Pro Crystal Enterprise/Business Objects XI Programming (Expert's Voice in .NET) (v. 11) ReviewThe company I work for started a Crystal Enterprise project several months ago. I can honestly say that we would have been unable to complete the project if we did not have this book. It really takes you step-by-step in an easily readable format through what needs to be done. Also, the examples used all worked properly (a problem with many other computer books) and were extremely relevant. There are few people with Crystal Entreprise experience out there today so this book is really needed. We also find ourselves using it as a reference guide occasionally. If you are working with Crystal Enterprise or planning to implement CE I would strongly recommend this book.Pro Crystal Enterprise/Business Objects XI Programming (Expert's Voice in .NET) (v. 11) OverviewThis book will show you how to create customized solutions using the Business Objects/Crystal Enterprise object model. Here you'll see the object model brought together to create such tools as on-demand web services, report metadata extraction, scheduling, security and user management. You'll learn how to push the envelope to create almost any imaginable reporting solution that BO XI can handle (and even a few that it can't).

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Analysis Without Paralysis: 10 Tools to Make Better Strategic Decisions Review

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Analysis Without Paralysis: 10 Tools to Make Better Strategic Decisions Review'Analysis without Paralysis: 10 Tools to Make Better Strategic Decisions', by Babette Bensoussan & Craig Fleisher;
I reckon, to complete the strategy repertoire of a 21st century manager in today's competitive marketspace, & to serve as quick handy references to a broad spectrum of tools, strategies & tips, there are only two books that really stand out in the field of business (BI)/competitive (CI)/strategic intelligence (SI).
They are actually compendiums, as follows:

1) 'Strategic and Competitive Analysis: Methods & Techniques for Analyzing Business Competition' (published in 2002), by Craig Fleisher & Babette Bensoussan;
I recap its content tapestry as follows:
PART 1. ANALYSIS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO COMPETITIVE INTELLIGENCE AND STRATEGY:
1. The Strategy & CI Process.
2. Analysis & Its Pitfalls.
3. The FAROUT System.
PART 2. THE TECHNIQUES OF STRATEGY & COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS:
Section 1. Strategic Analytical Techniques:
4. BCG Growth/Share Portfolio Matrix.
5. GE Business Screen Matrix.
6. Industry Analysis.
7. Strategic Group Analysis.
8. SWOT Analysis.
9. Value Chain Analysis.
Section 2. Competitive and Customer Analysis Techniques:
10. Blindspot Analysis.
11. Competitor Analysis.
12. Customer Segmentation Analysis.
13. Customer Value Analysis.
14. Functional Capability & Resource Analysis.
15. Management Profiling.
Section 3. Environmental Analysis Techniques:
16. Issue Analysis.
17. Macro-environmental (STEEP) Analysis.
18. Scenario Analysis.
19. Stakeholder Analysis.
Section 4. Evolutionary Analysis Techniques:
20. Experience Curve Analysis.
21. Growth Vector Analysis.
22. Patent Analysis.
23. Product Life Cycle Analysis.
24. S-Curve (Technology Life Cycle) Analysis.
Section 5. Financial Analysis Techniques:
25. Financial Ratio & Statement Analysis.
26. Strategic Funds Programming.
27. Sustainable Growth Rate Analysis.Index.

2) 'Business & Competitive Analysis: Effective Application of New & Classic Methods' (published in 2007), by Craig Fleisher & Babette Bensoussan;
I recap its content tapestry as follows:
1. Business and Competitive Analysis: Definition, Context, & Benefits
2. Performing the Analysis Process
3. Avoiding Analysis Pitfalls
4. Communicating Analysis Results
5. Applying the FAROUT method
6. Industry Analysis (The Nine Forces)
7. Competitive Positioning Analysis
8. Business Model Analysis
9. SERVO Analysis
10. Supply Chain Management (SCM) Analysis
11. Benchmarking Analysis
12. McKinsey 7S Analysis
13. Shadowing
14. Product Line Analysis
15. Win/Loss Analysis
16. Strategic Relationship Analysis
17. Corporate Reputation Analysis
18. Critical Success Factors Analysis
19. Country Risk Analysis
20. Driving Forces Analysis
21. Event and Timeline Analysis
22. Technology Forecasting
23. War Gaming
24. Indications & Warning Analysis
25. Historiographical Analysis
26. Interpretation of Statistical Analysis
27. Competitor Cash Flow Analysis
28. Analysis of Competing Hypothesis
29. Linchpin Analysis
Combined, both compendiums discussed, compared, analysed & evaluated, with a seemingly strong bias towards application, almost 50 classic & popular contemporary tools & strategies in the BI/CI/SI field.
The two authors have apparently selected them out of 300 using their own prioritisation scheme to evaluate. [More information about the prioritisation can be found on the authors' weblog on Amazon.]
For each tool, the authors, backed with their own impeccable credentials in the BI/CI/SI arena, have presented clear descriptions, step-by-step instructions, & case study examples. For me, I have been quite impressed by their systematic & rigorous treatment.
Frankly, the first time I had encountered the authors' debut book (1), my managerial mind was blown as I have had real-world experiences with only a limited number of the tools & strategies, namely SWOT, STEEP/PEST Analyses, & GE's Nine Block Matrix (an adaptation of BCG's), plus strategic issues management.

Recently, I have acquired & read the authors' latest book (3), 'Analysis Without Paralysis: 10 Tools to Make Better Strategic Decisions', published in 2008.
I knew prior to my requisition that this book didn't offer new or fresh perspectives, but I had wanted to keep it as a memento, since I had really enjoyed the authors' earlier work.
For reader's benefit, I recap its content tapestry as follows:
Part I Introduction 1:
Chapter 1 Business Management & the Role of Analysis
Chapter 2 The Analysis Process
Part II Analysis Tools:
Chapter 3 BCG Growth/Share Portfolio Matrix
Chapter 4 Competitor Analysis
Chapter 5 Financial Ratio & Statement Analysis
Chapter 6 Five Forces Industry Analysis
Chapter 7 Issue Analysis
Chapter 8 Political Risk Analysis
Chapter 9 Scenario Analysis
Chapter 10 Macro-environmental (STEEP/PEST) Analysis
Chapter 11 SWOT Analysis
Chapter 12 Value Chain Analysis
All I can say about this book (3) is that it's a cannibalised version of the authors' earlier works, with only 10 selected tools & strategies, out of about 50.
If you have acquired the author's earlier masterpieces, then this book (3) is likely to be a redundant copy, unless of course if you are, just like me, want to have it as a memento.
If you want to access the authors' complete thoughtwares in the field of BI/CI/SI, I suggest getting the authors' two earlier books (1 & 2) as mentioned above. They may be pricey, but they are definitely worth the limited shelf space on your managerial bookshelf.
Reviewed by Lee Say Keng, Knowledge Adventurer & Technology Explorer, November 2008Analysis Without Paralysis: 10 Tools to Make Better Strategic Decisions OverviewIf you're a manager or business owner, you need tools to make better decisions--about business strategy, marketing, competition, positioning, product development, and much more. In Analysis Without Paralysis, two renowned experts on business analysis and strategy bring you those tools, in plain English! Babette Bensoussan and Craig Fleisher teach you exactly what you need to know, without dragging you through unnecessarily complex concepts or advanced mathematics. They start with a practical, realistic introduction to the analysis process; then they walk you through ten core sets of analysis techniques that every manager can use effectively. You'll master classic techniques like SWOT analysis and Porter's Five Forces, in addition to the latest approaches to competitor, financial, issue, and value chain analysis. Next, Bensoussan and Fleisher guide you through analyzing the global social, political, and macroenvironmental challenges that will increasingly shape the future of your business. For each tool, the authors present clear descriptions, context, rationales, strengths, weaknesses, step-by-step instructions, and case study examples. The result: a book you can rely on to address your strategic and business challenges--whatever your role, experience, industry, or environment.Don't just collect data--use it for competitive advantageUncover correlations, assess trends, identify performance gaps, and identify your best opportunities

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