Very detailed research in current CEO market
596873
A lot of good examples and references.
An interesting history of corporate America and changes to management.
I would recommend to everybody interested in current US executives system and market.
2332777
This book have a detailed oberview of luxury producers, brands, intermediaries in the world, and in some new regions for the luxurt (like BRIC). Author gave his detailed analysis of existing positioning of luxury product, and also gave some predictions what will happened with luxury after recession, and in a new anvironment of rellocation of pusrchasing power in world's regions, and also in changing of consumer behavior.
3953617
Prof. Utterback spent over twenty years studying 20+ industries as they experienced dramatical technological change, trying to understand who were the market leaders before the change, who were the market leaders afterwards, and why?
He studies markets as varied as cooling (the harvested ice industry in the late 1800s), lighting (gas lighting giving way to incandescent lighting giving way to flourescent lighting), typewriters (manual typewrites giving way to electrics giving way to dedicated word processors giving way to PCs), and plate glass.
He observes that the market leaders prior to a technology change rarely are market leaders after the change, primarily because the entrepenuers and innovators are squeezed out of older companies by "incrementalists". This gave me a lot of encouragement and insight into pushing hard on Internet Explorer back in 1994..1996 at Microsoft, and also I think explains why Microsoft is struggling now.
2371471
I found it interesting that the authors of this book, Rosemary Coates and Jim Reily, did not know each other before writing this book. They spent two years interviewing executives from various companies and combined that information with their experience in global manufacturing and field service to create this material.

There are many tips from executives in large companies like Cisco and General Electric that will help readers think bigger when it comes to field service.  So many topics are covered in this book that it will make your head spin: procurement, mergers and acquisitions, counterfeit parts, maintenance contracts, trunk inventories, dealing with international staff and more.  The information is broken down into bite sized chunks that are easy to digest.

My favorite rule was #4 "Form Customer Advisory Boards to Build Loyalty".  The time to get customer input is before a crisis happens.  The authors recommend that you invite your top 20% of customers in terms of revenue and find out what they want and what they need.  This ties in nicely with a later chapter that discusses customer surveys and feedback.

If your company provides field service to customers then you absolutely must read this book and buy it in bulk for your employees.  Smart readers will recognize that they can take the material in this book and create a training program for employees that will catapult their field service above and beyond their competitors.
2837291
THE SUMMARY IS GREAT....THE BOOK IS DEEP.
THE CONCLUSIONS REINFORCED THE STRATEGY I HAVE EMPLOYED AS THE CEO OF FIVE SEPARATE TURN AROUNDS.
1524850
Mr. Porter's book did an excellent job in outlining all the key areas that  matter in the real world.  Mr. Porter takes you through the exercise of  properly choosing strategies (price, differentiation, technology) while  focusing on buyer values to create sustainable competitive advantages and  barriers.
His outline of industry segmentation helps to keep readers  focused on properly using capital to maximize earnings and competitive  positions (a common mistake in the business world).  I found the read most  helpful in structuring a much more sound strategic plan for my own company.  Thank you to Mr. Porter for providing such a wonderful strategic  guide.
CEO Profit Line of America, Inc.
603412
This is an awesome book. Excellent from cover to cover, especially for the emerging CEO. From building the story to setting up the board.
4592621
This is the best technical book I have read in the last 10 years, on any subject matter.  I cannot say enough about the quality depth and breadth of thought here. Quite frankly I'm concerned that my competitors will read it and adapt. Get this book as a gift for an old engineer, or a current CEO. It is timeless.. Thank you Peter for your efforts here, I believe your insights will impact generations. Yes I sound like some kind of groupie idiot, but I'm really not.. I work with Fortune 50 CEOs everyday..
3195545
Influence was rated by one business publication as the "top marketing and sales book of all time"-and with good reason.  Dr. Cialdini provides us with solid scientific research that was previously available only to social psychologists and Madison Avenue advertising executives.  As a marketer, I have used the principles Dr. Cialdini outlines and achieved some outstanding results.  As a consumer, I am glad that someone has explained so clearly the psychological levers that others might try to use on me.  I think of this book every time a charity calls and asks me to write letters in their behalf rather than make a donation.  Based on what I've learned from Dr. Cialdini, I'll gladly make the donation instead.

Larry Rondeau, Senior Director of Research and Business Development
The Allied Group
714881
Warren Buffett recommends this book, and it's clear why.  Whether you manage a business or are an investor looking to assess the management of a stock your considering, this book will prove to be very insightful.  Buffett has said that many people who become CEOs of companies worked their way up from positions in sales, marketing, HR, operations, etc.  However, that transition is like telling an engineer that his or her final task to reach the pinnacle of their career is to perform at Carnegie Hall.  The role of a CEO is unlike all other corporate positions.  Above all else, it requires skill in capital allocation, i.e. knowing where to reinvest the money the company is generating in order to provide the biggest return on investment and the most value to shareholders.  The book essentially provides eight case studies of eight incredibly successful CEOs.  The funny thing is that many of them had no prior experience.  What set them apart is that they thought like owners rather than managers.  A very good read.
1448796
Great research on why executives meet with salespeople: A recommendation from someone inside their company and a recommendation from a trusted source outside their company. Eighty percent never take a cold call. A referral introduction is essential for salespeople to get the meeting at the executive level.

The authors provide excellent tips and tools for preparing for an executive meeting once you've gained access, and for outlining when in the buying process executives get involved. Get new ideas or refresh your sales career. This book delivers compelling information. A great read.
2939602
I just finished reading this new book.  I found it fascinating, even though it is about a field I know very little (zero).
I am very impressed by the multiple functions and roles directors of a company assume.  And serving the interests of millions of shareholders!!!
The author obviously has much experience in the field and I hope this book will help future directors in doing the right thing.
658610
This is a good book with a lot of details. Over the past 10-15 years, Quantitative OR algorithmic trading has been further researched. Different researchers have come up with algorithms for various strategies.

Barry Johnson has done a good job of aggregating the strategies and algorithms. One need not have an advanced knowledge of financial instruments to follow this book. Since he himself was a software engineer, he provides details about the software side as well.

I have not fully read the book. Plan on doing so pretty soon.
2070943
This is explains the unethical methods used by rich to make money. I am still reading the book. Page 46-49 explains strategy used by CEO to accumulate huge sums.
2227205
I strongly recommend The Citizens Share to business leaders who are interested in developing a competitive advantage  la Southwest Airlines, NUCOR, SRC Holdings, or W. L. Gore & Associates. This book will appeal to those who are interested in learning how the middle class can be resurrected. It brings together the historical roots of employee ownership (EO) with the current research. By doing so it presents a strong argument for adoption of EO and a collaborative culture by corporate leaders. For others, it outlines how the schism between the Haves and the Have-nots can be reduced not by forced wealth redistribution, but by giving all the freedom to intelligently pursue personal growth, continuous innovations and success within their places of work.
Frank Shipper, Professor of Management, Salisbury University
Co-author of Shared Entrepreneurship: A Path to Engaged Employee Ownership (Forthcoming in 2014)
2123135
Rarely a CEO of a NYSE-traded company is willing to recognize and reflect about the missteps in her/his career (in most cases, they are portrayed as "heroes"). In this book, Sally Beauty Holding's CEO opens up and provides very valuable and practical learning for anyone starting to climb the corporate ladder or already in managerial roles. The book is a quick read, written with direct and unpretentious language. Brickman tells his story from experience, sharing real situations with real companies and people. No "solve-it-all" management prescriptions pushed. There are a couple of areas where I would have liked the author to expand further: managing work-family time balance as you climb and developing sponsors. Overall, a very pleasant find.
2827470
I enjoyed reading this CEOs empowering and personal success encounters in this world of perception and how it starts with your outer appearance. This is a MUST buy for ALL who are seeking career changes and business opportunities in a busy world where a glance at your exterior may determine (perception) your destiny. I commend this CEO for sharing his story that it may enlighten others on their life journey. Hurry and purchase your copy while the book is still available.