This is one of the best books written by Dr. Igor Ansoff, known worldwide as the "Father of Strategic Management". This book, in addition to its theoritical content, provides managers with a step-by-step guide to pilot their firms through the turbulent environments in the 21st century. This is one of the best books available on the topic of strategic management.

This is one of the best books written by Dr. Igor Ansoff, known worldwide as the "Father of Strategic Management". This book, in addition to its theoritical content, provides managers with a step-by-step guide to pilot their firms through the turbulent environments in the 21st century. This is one of the best books available on the topic of strategic management.

Implanting Strategic Management is a compilation of a life-timework that organizes the major contributions in the field under oneumbrella, as Ansoff ingeniously develops a model that divides the competitive environment into five levels of turbulence: 1) repetitive, 2) expanding, 3) changing, 4) discontinuous and 5) unforeseen. His strategic success theorem states: For optimal success of an organization, the strategic aggressiveness (both technological and marketing) and the components of capability (both managers and organizational climate, competence and capacity) must match the level of environmental turbulence in which the organization competes. Ansoff uses a five-point integral scale to also measure the corresponding five levels of strategy: 1) stable, 2) reactive, 3) anticipatory, 4) entrepreneurial and 5) creative and the corresponding five levels of capability: 1) custodial, 2) production, 3) marketing, 4) strategic and 5) flexible, as he develops a strategic diagnostic questionnaire to obtain the perceptions of the general managers of an any organization. When there is alignment or minimal gap between the average level of competitive environment and each of the components of strategy and capability, then the organization should have optimal success, which has been validated by several doctoral dissertations under Ansoff. This book is a comprehensive integration of several of Ansoff's scholarly articles, enhanced with each edition. Well thought out concepts involving strategic segmentation, resistance to change, optimizing strategic portfolio, strategic dimensions of technology, societal strategy issues, real-time strategic response to managing surprising changes, strategic issue management,and environmental surveillance for strong signals and weak signals in anticipating environmental change. Ansoff's theory says that at levels 1 to 3, a firm can extrapolate the future from the past. However, at level 4 (discontinuous) and level 5 (surpriseful), strategic management must be used by an organization to realistically plan for future successes in a highly turbulent competitive environment. Ansoff's theory applies to all types of organizations, and he explains how industries can have unexpected shifts from one level of turbulence to another, as in the case of Apple Computer Corp. When Apple created the personal computer, it also created a whole new marketplace with new customers at an initial turbulence level of 5, which shifted to a level 3 of marketing mentality, which seemed to be why Steve Jobs, a creative visionary, was replaced by Scully, a marketing guru, as the Board wanted to milk their "cash cow" and not be continuously creating new dimensions. However, when the envirnoment shifted up to level 4, Apple almost went out of business when they did not respond fast enough. Level 4 is discontinuous, where the future is only partially predictable from the past, and it requires 4) entrepreneurial strategy and 4) strategic capability of the firm for optimal success. Steve Jobs was brought back in as interim CEO, and he was able make Apple once again competitive by enhancing the company's technological and marketing strategy, as well as its organizational capability, by bringing the firm's strategy and capability components up to level 4, so as to be successful. (Note: The above scenario is used by the reviewer as a realistic example of Ansoff's theory being applied in the real world.) In summary, Ansoff's work is far beyond anything published in the field, and one of the most comprehensive empirical studies that validates his complete theory is called "The Financial Performance of Technology-Driven Firms Aligning Strategy, Capability and Environment" by Richardson, John F. 1996. (Ann Arbor, MI: UMI No. 9623859), 564 pp. or URL: www.ilarsystems.com. This reviewer recommends Ansoff's book Implanting Strategic Management to any individual who desires to learn from the top scholar in the field, considered by many world authorities as the "Father of Strategic Management." This reviewer has read numerous works by the leading scholars in the field, and nobody has integrated the various contributions under one umbrella or into one paradigm, as Ansoff has done. Scholars come from all corners of the world to study under Ansoff and his disciples at United States International University, San Diego, California, USA. When is America going to wake up and learn from this "latter-day saint" of strategic management, while he is still with us? We ignored Demming, considered the "father of quality management," for years until he became infamous in Japan, teaching the Japanese firms how to dominate world markets with quality management. Some of the best minds in the world come every year to study under Ansoff, but few Americans are in their numbers.

I also may be partial to Dr. Dixon's book because he has counseled our family through some very difficult times. However, I have found that by taking Dr. Dixon's advice, it has become so much easier to communicate with,understand,and relate to,my son.I strongly recommend this book to all parents--It will definitely help in the most important job of all--parenting your children.Thanks, for all your help Dr. Dixon!

I wish i had discovered unemotional parenting along time ago. Putting Parents in charge teaches you how to disciple with alot less stress. As a mother of 3 teenages i was always on an emotional rollercoster. My inconsistancies allowed them to renegotiate any punishments. Now by making contracts ahead of time allows them to learn that they make the choices and the consequences. It is never too late to get to know your child and teach them responsiblity.

Excellent book Dr. Dixon. I see myself and my family on almost every page. This has helped me take charge of my kids by putting my parenting energy before they act out, not after they do. My kids have responded so positively to your parenting philosophy,, we have cut down on the struggles a hundred fold,,, Thank you,, A must read for all parents

When Stephen Vincent Benet finished John Brown's Body in 1928 and the critics awaited its issue, the South was most anxious and skeptical that they would be portrayed honestly. They were and Stephen Benet's masterpiece is America's greatest epic poem and a most unappreciated work of literature. But, I love it and always will love it, because it makes those historic figures of so long ago - come alive. Out of the mist, they ride. Come traveler, pick it up, open its pages and from fish hook Gettysburg to the end, watch them ride and try to understand over all the years what was happening and why they were fighting. It was not all about Slavery!

During the Pax Romana the emperor Augustus commissioned Vergil to write an epic history of the Romans. The result, of course, was The Aeneid, a stunning blend of epic poetry and historical fiction that some would argue has yet to be topped. John Brown's Body is the closest thing we have to an epic poem "about" America. And while it takes place during the civil war and makes no claim to be an authoritative history, the book is no less impressive as a literary feat. No book in the history of this country has so artfully depicted our nation's great schism.

Written in the 20s, John Brown's Body redefines the word ananchronism. Its contemporaries are The Great Gatsby, The Sun Also Rises, and Their Eyes Were Watching God. Professors widely praise these modern works for their groundbreaking aesthetics, and not without justification. However, it's hard to imagine a more daring or daunting task than the writing of John Brown's Body. Never mind the fact that he pulled it off marvelously. Stephen Vincent Benet remains the only writer to have even _attempted_ to write an American epic poem. Stephen Vincent Benet deserves high scores both for degree of difficulty and final product. Yet conventional education regarding 20th century American books never seems to give him these high marks.

Why Benet and his book don't get the recognition they merit is a terrific question. Is his book canonically superior to Gatsby and Their Eyes? No. And on some level, it's difficult to see what someone living in Taiwan could glean from this document of American struggle and triumph. To wit, the book can also be criticized for being slightly skewed toward a Yankee perspective. But as a whole, the book is outright better than a lot of works revered as American classics.

What does better mean? What it should mean. Simply a more impressive work of art. More entertaining. More provactive. More fun to read. More intellectual depth, conveyed subtly and beautifully, embedded skillfully but not invisibly in an absorbing tale. On these counts, John Brown's Body is vastly superior to classics like The Sun Also Rises; The USA series of John Dos Passos; Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis; and certainly Hawthorne's later novels. Yet John Brown's Body continues to get short shrift, to the point where it's well nigh unfindable in many a book store. One can only hope that the critics and canon-makers of later generations restore the book to its proper place, high atop our shining history of American letters.

This book won the Pulitzer Prize in the '40's. It covers the Civil War principally from the perspectives of a young, small town Connecticutt boy and the heir to a Geogia plantation. It begins with a gripping view of events on a slave ship and ends with two crippled young men and the women they love, beginning to rebuild ther lives. Part poetry, part prose, it all sings.

Since I started graduate school, I've profited greatly from the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, and this little volume is o exception. I bought it for my sister's boyfriend and read it before I gave it to him; now I want to get one for everybody I know.

I give this book a very high rating due to the fact that Watchmen Nee provides us with so much useful information to help us in our daily walk with Christ. 'Let Us Pray' makes the basics of prayer available to us so that we may come to God with effective and fervent prayer. Watchman Nee expresses the importance of knowing what we Christians have to deal with daily so we may conquer the opposition and allow Gods will to prevail on earth. This book is essential for anyone who has just accepted Christ ; it is also rewarding to anyone who wishes to sharpen their discernment in the area of prayer.

Watchman Nee succinctly explains the privilege and science of true prayer. He doesn't present his own ideas...his presentation is that of what the Word of God reveals in this matter. This is a powerful little book that give you the tools needed to approach God in prayer with confidence.

If you really want to be delivered from strongholds in your life, grow closer to God, understand what Col 3:3 means (for as far as this world is concerned, you hve died and your new, real life is hidden with Christ in God - Amplified version), if you have never really understood (with the heart, not the head) how to live the life God has commanded us to live then this is the book to read.

Do not be deceived though - I think of this book as a mirror. You cannot read this book and not see the stark, glaring image of yourself in it - and it is not a pretty sight - which is good - because when we look in the mirror we should be seeing Christ, not ourselves. There is so much in this book - but the best thing of all is that it is very practical, very applicable and very detailed yet in a step by step approach. Trust me, people - if there is no other book that you read, read this one. I have read about 12 other Watchman Nee books - by far this is has been the most impacting. Enjoy and be changed!

I would recommend this book to every Christian today. These words come from the life of a Chinese Christian leader who was dedicated to God by his mother and taught by the Lord. The Holy Spirit continues to work in significant ways underground in China today and this man was a vessel that the Lord was able to pour Himself from in the early and mid 20th century. The meaning of his words, I dare say, is nothing new at all. Jesus spoke of it when he said that "the man who loses his life for My sake will find it." Paul called it "living by faith" and spoke of it when he said that he had been crucified with Christ and no longer lived. John declared it when he spoke of "walking in the light" and "knowing Him." Every vessel of the Lord in the Bible pointed to our Redeemer. That He alone is victor, and what that means. That we can't, but He can, so Satan stands condemned (the witness of the Holy Spirit as Jesus said in John 16:8-11). This is what Watchman Nee does here. This is simply the Holy Spirit pointing to Himself. Nee lays out the lack in the experience of Christians in his time (very much the same today), then he speaks of what the Bible shows our experience really is in the Lord (just the Lord's life!). Finally, he speaks on the simple truth of Jesus as Lord of all and how to let Him be all victory through you. Because "it is finished". Is Jesus the victor in and through you? Or are you still doing and "reaching more victory" with time? Does Satan stand condemned in your life because He's fighting the Lord? We need not try to do anything. "For the LAW of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the LAW of sin and death." In speaking here, Watchman Nee reveals a deep problem within so much Christian view today. It is the same old problem of sin: living in unbelief as if we are the answer. Christ is Victor! And in these ripe times He will boldly live my life. His victory is in me!

Dear Reader,

I've been in ministry for quite some time now. And I'm a huge fan of Jesus Christ, whom by the power of the Holy Ghost, used Watchman Nee in a mighty way. "ALL" of his books, I have about 40 from his collection. All of what I've read has changed my entire ministry. Although in Nee's teachings, he indicates with the Word of God to back it up, that we're not changed, but EXCHANGED! I thank God, and I glean from all of his teachings, and preach them from the pulpit. Many are set free and awakened by the anointing and truth of his teachings. Some thought they knew it all until they've read Nee, and even preached Nee.

Glory to God in the Highest!

The Hooterville Handbook gives the reader unknown knowledge about the creation, and development of one of the kookiest sitcoms, "Green Acres". It supplies various essays regarding the impact of and interesting things about Hootervile (also Green Acres) and all of its locals. What was so special about Arnold the pig? WAS that salesman married or not? Such pressing questions are masterfully answered by Mr. Cox. Only one glitch, that seems to occur in most of Cox's Classic TV books; he doesn't seem to enjoy writing, watching, or doing anything involving his profession. He writes with a cold air of superiority, which could come across as professional, or rudely distant. Overall, however, this book was fascinating, a good read, and had the insights of the cast, crew, and random essay writers.

I saw Eddie Albert signing a copy of this book at a nostalgia event in Los Angeles in 1998 and I had to go out and buy this book. It's fantastic. You will need no other book to find out about this surreal and wonderful TV classic. Author Steve Cox has done a great job covering the bizarre characters and the exquisite cast of actors who made up this neat show. The photos are rare and presented in the book with a nice design and the Foreword by my favorite character, Hank Kimball, is hilarious. If you want a book about a Sixties TV show and you like Paul Henning's programs ( The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction) then you'll love this book. Don't pass it up.

I have had this book in my possession for a long time. It is a necessary tool for any one that wants to know all there is to know about "Green Acres". All of the episode descriptions, guest star information and original dates of airing are listed. There are also interviews with the cast members. Again this is a must have item.

really interesting read. rainey has a way of making something seem very fresh. his plots always seem original, even when they are not. great stories. great descriptions at times. what rainey is really master at, however, is the angle. he writes a story from a certain angle, making it very intersting. his stories are at their best the most refreshing stories i read in horror. very enjoyable

Rainey does what so many Cthulhu Mythos fans cannot - he takes the idea of unknowable horror, things that see us as nothing, and places that idea firmly in the modern day without doing a Lovecraft pastiche. His stories in this volume are all connected by locale, but range in horror from trapped heroes, doomed to a grisly fate, to a feisty futuristic heroine, fighting for survival after the stars have become right. Satisfying work, set in the Mythos, but without the standard trappings so many authors feel necessary to throw in (the million moldy volumes, rattling through the entire Old One pantheon, etc.). Highest recommendations. I've just ordered Balak, his novel, after finishing the collection, and can't wait for it to arrive!

If you love the Cthulhu Mythos for its sheer alienness & imcomprensability instead of for repetative buzzwords (you know them) then this is for you. With his own setting & minimal direct connection with the mythos, Rainey has expanded far beyond the traditional pastiches that make up the majority of material being offered. These stories show how truly brain-twisting impossible realities can affect people. Great reads!

I enjoyed this book completely...it really gave me a sense of the human experience of the journey, and made me appreciate just what an incredible accomplishment it was. The illustrations really add to the enjoyment of the book, as do the excerpts from the journals of several of the men. I also liked the background information on what goals were actually behind the exploration and how they worked to meet those goals. There's only one reason that I didn't give this book 5 stars, and that's because it lacks a good map to help understand where they were during some of the events described. But that can be found in other works, and this really is a good introducion to Lewis and Clark...it's a relatively easy read but full of interesting facts and adventures.

I give high praise to this book and this reading. You will learn so much about the journey, and you'll feel the cold of the winters and the wonderment of their adventures. Taken from their actual journals, this book is even better than "Undaunted Courage". p.s. the unabridged is even better.

This audio is a great telling of this amazing journey. Any history buff should order this and play it over and over. The facts of the ride and the aftermath of the characters will leave you in awe.

Great book for recovering people who are lost souls, trying to find the meaning for their lives, both internally, and externally, without the Grace of the Lord. Will help many to find their true purpose, as God through Jesus Christ, intended.

I use this Bible to facilitate two Christian 12-Step recovery meetings in West Texas and highly recommend it to all newcomers. I have found that having a Bible that focuses on the principles of the 12-Step program and tying those principles for living to the Word of God have been very helpful to not only me personally, but also to those who come to the two groups. Thanks such much for such a wonderful tool to learn how to clean up my past, live in the present and look forward to the future as I apply these principles and use the devotionals to my life one day at a time

We use this Bible in our co-dependency support group. It is good for all types of recovery, all types of addictions, alcohol, gambling, food, etc.

I first read lives of the musicians when I was about 7 yearsold or so. Then, I thought it was terrific. I still do. However, I amnow 12 years old, and now that I have paid more attention to it, I see several faults, but overall it is still a very good book. First of all, their choice of musicians is not the best. I would have recommended Debussy and Schubert, like the Kirkus Reviewer. Some of the composers I have hardly ever heard of, like Igor Stravinsky or Nadia Boulanger. And while Clara Schumann was a great pianist, I think they should have focused more on her husband, Robert, a prolific composer, whose works are among the very best. Also, some of the parts of the biographies are questionable. Frederic Chopin may not have actually been romantically involved with Aurore Dudevant (George Sand), but in love with the Countess Delphine Potocka. The book states that the Waltz in D-Flat, or Minute Waltz, was written for George Sand's dog, when in fact it was probably written for Potocka. However, the book was still very well written, and I enjoyed it, despite the possible mistakes. I recommend this book to anyone who likes music, classical or not. So sit back and enjoy!

I loved this book because it made those musicians seem like real people instead of great-all-star-super-geniuses. It is full of strange little facts about all the famous musicians like Bach,Gershwin,Beethoven and Schmann.

---Megan W.

This book provides interesting insight into the lives of composers. I teach music to elementary and high school students and I read this book to all of my students. They all enjoy learning the details of the composers lives. The book presents the composers in such a way that the students remember the information about the composers. The book does not provide information about what the composers' music sounds like, and that is something I also like to teach. A great book to gain kids'interest in famous composers.