Pocket Strategy

The modern manager faces a bewildering range of challenges every single day. Their ability to make critical decisions, often under pressure, can directly determine the future success of the company and their career. It is therefore surprising that so few managers take the time to learn the art of decision making. In this groundbreaking book from Caroline Wang, readers will learn that quality decision making is a competence that can be acquired according to a simple framework. The framework is practical and easy-to-remember, consisting of two acronyms: GPA and IPO. GPA for decision content quality (Goal, Priority, Alternatives); and IPO for decision process quality (Information, People, Objective reasoning). The book places emphasis on leading a team to make decisions, even though the framework can be used for personal and individual decisions. By using this common decision-making framework, managers and leaders will gain credibility and team support for the decision, will confidently articulate, promote, and defend the decision, and will have made the necessary preparations for successful implementation when the decision-making process is complete. This proven framework from one of Asia's most dynamic leadership experts will improve the quality of your decisions and change the way you do business.

"Princeton Architectural Press, in association with The University of Washington"-- title page.

Every day on the job, you face common challenges. And you need immediate solutions to those challenges. The Pocket Mentor Series can help. Each book in the series is packed with handy tools, self-tests, and real-life examples to help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and hone critical skills. Whether you're at your desk, in a meeting, or on the road, these portable, concise guides enable you to tackle the daily demands of your work with speed, savvy, and effectiveness. The latest volume in the series: Executing Strategy That strategy you've defined for your group is brilliant--promising better market share, higher profits, or some other impressive business result. But your strategy won't deliver the expected outcomes if you and your group don't execute it that is, if you don't put it into action by implementing the right strategic initiatives. This volume helps you master the challenging art of strategy execution. You'll learn how to: -Craft action plans for the strategic initiatives required to meet your goals -Keep your action plans on course despite the inevitable setbacks and surprises -Cultivate employees' sense of ownership and accountability for your plans -Create a group culture in which everyone views strategy as their job

`Cummings′ book is very interesting, refreshing and intellectually stimulating... It should be a mandatory textbook for all serious students of management′ - Management Learning `Stephen Cummings′ Recreating Strategy is currently the best book on strategy, combining a holistic and critical understanding of the issue′ -Stewart Clegg, University of Technology, Sydney `An imaginative attempt to bring together and apply the many analytical frameworks relating to the organization as a whole into strategy theory and practice. Written for students on strategy, change management and more general management and organization theory courses. Encourages students to question assumptions and think creatively about strategy and management. Stimulating and original′ - Long Range Planning `In this intriguing book [Cummings] claims to be surprised that academics critical of management theory don′t critique its history, and proposes a kind of liberation theology in response, but this is not as doctrinaire. It′s more like replacing some well-justified habits with a refreshing originality of approach. The outcome is stimulating.... The author offers a cogently argued deconstruction of some well-known frameworks in strategy, and delivers his own reinterpretation of strategic discourse. There are five longer case studies in the book and several shorter vignettes scattered throughout early chapters, as well as pedagogical aids at the end of each chapter′ - Best of Biz, The Business Information Site `Do you worry about organizations becoming slaves to markets? Do you wish that organizations had the nerve to build their own ethos rather than just grubbing for profit? Do you aspire to inspiration rather than perspiration? Why does management practice get in the way of thinking and creativity? Stephen Cummings provides insight and guidance in a book of genuine scholarship and creativity′ - John McGee, President of the Strategic Management Society, USA `Management courses need more of what Stephen is offering. He wants us to go on an `unlearning curve′, one which leads to fresh thinking about strategy and the emerging roles and responsibilities of business and companies. This book not only tells us where we are coming from but, more importantly, it inspires us to think profoundly about where we could go. It′s also a very good read′ - Josephine Green, Director of Trends and Strategy, Philips `ReCreating Strategy provides a challenging examination of the emergence of management which combines postmodern and orthodox perspectives. Stephen Cummings is able to provide not only a fresh treatment of strategy and ethics but also to engage with a variety of potential audiences. He provokes and informs in equal measure′ - Richard Whipp, Cardiff University ′A truly eclectic approach to strategy! Intellectually capturing, the book is great fun to read at the same time. A must for those who want to discuss management beyond styles, fads and fashions′ - Hubert Wagner, Qonsult ReCreating Strategy is written for students of strategy, change management and more general management and organization theory courses. It will provide a better understanding of how to bring together and apply the many analytical frameworks relating to the organization as a whole. Stephen Cummings challenges the view that there is never one best framework and shows why the latest theory is not necessarily better than earlier ones. The textbook includes short and long case studies, interesting pictorial aids and examples, and a generally more participative and rewarding approach than that offered by more mainstream texts. PowerPoint slides to accompany the book are now also available by clicking on the link to `Sample Chapters and Resources′ in the left hand margin. The book also offers more scope for individual lecturers who wish to encourage students to question assumptions and think creatively about strategy and management.

Become the Dangerous Player! Learn Strategies and Tactics to become the Smarter, Tougher Competitor! Inside this book is everything you need to: • Play a smarter game • Think “Above the Table” • Beat better players • Control your opponent • Manage the table Among the many features of this book are: • Descriptions of all the safety tools • Exercises to master cue ball speed & spin • Strategies to hinder your opponent • Tricks and traps to win more games. • Tactical responses to table circumstances • How to make table problems work for you • Ways to get out of safety traps • Psychological warfare tools • 8 Ball & 9 ball tactical maneuvers

This European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Handbook on Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy has been developed by experts from the ESC Working Group on Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy. Its recommendations are aligned with the ESC Clinical Practice Guidelines and based on the most recent scientific evidence in cardiovascular pharmacology and pharmacotherapy. The Handbook provides up-to-date information on pharmacotherapy for cardiovascular disease prevention, and treatment of cardiovascular disease, including ischaemic heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, and structural heart disease. The Handbook also deals with the important problems of cardiovascular pharmacotherapy in pregnancy and lactation, kidney insufficiency, and liver disease as well as focusing on major drug interactions, a topic of extreme importance in clinical practice. Two large sections of the book provide a comprehensive A-Z formulary of cardiac and non-cardiac pharmacological agents with practical and accessible information on the most important pharmacological aspects of these agents and their use in clinical practice. The Handbook represents essential reading for cardiologists, general practitioners, internal medicine specialists, anaesthetists, clinical pharmacologists, geriatricians, obstetricians, and cardiovascular nurse consultants. Junior doctors and trainees in all these specialties are also likely to find this book of help. The print edition comes with full access to the online version that will be updated at yearly intervals to keep it up to date.

This timely book uses thinking structures to deepen student writing. It revolves around “brain pockets” to help students appreciate the qualities of different writing forms. Some powerful examples include memory pockets for personal narrative writing, fact pockets for nonfiction, and imagination pockets for story writing. Detailed lesson plans are featured along with sample anchor books and book lists. Based on extensive classroom testing, student samples throughout the book illustrate this unique approach to teaching writing. Suggestions for setting up an effective writing program and assessment tips for guiding instruction complete this comprehensive approach to developing a year-long writing program.