"One of Strategy & Business's Best Business Books for 2003" R. Preston McAfee is J. Stanley Johnson Professor of Business, Economics, and Management at the California Institute of Technology. One of North America's leading experts in industrial organization, he is the author of dozens of papers on antitrust, pricing, auctions, and business strategy and coeditor of the American Economic Review. McAfee codesigned the Federal Communication Commission's...

"Stories that capture our times by "a young author who has already established himself as a unique American voice" (Elle). Saïd Sayrafiezadeh has been hailed by Philip Gourevitch as "a masterful storyteller working from deep in the American grain." His new collection of stories-some of which have appeared in The New Yorker, the Paris Review, and The Best American Short Stories-are set in a contemporary America full of the kind of emotionally bruised...

To survive in today's hypercompetitive marketplace, leaders must find ways to elevate the performance of their employees. By continuously setting higher goals to strive for, strengthening employee competencies via coaching, and providing feedback to employees, leaders can create a positive performance cycle that leads to improved individual and team performance and, ultimately, stronger operating results for the organization. This action guide covers...

Increasing recognition of the economic and social inequities experienced by Black Americans is spurring new investments in Black businesses and entrepreneurs. Making such investments in both the U.S. and in Africa can help increase diversity in entrepreneurship and create economic opportunities for communities of color, to the benefit of local economies. The authors explain why the period known as the golden age of Black business still offers lessons...

"Productive Performance Appraisals is a fast and easy guide for turning the dreaded performance appraisal into a constructive, collaborative effort. The book gives you all the easy-to-use tools you need to conduct an effective review - including sample dialogs, checklists, and forms." "In addition, this completely updated edition contains new sections on rating employees, justifying scores, and weaving disciplinary language into the review. The book...

There's more to performance management than the yearly review. Here's how to get exceptional performance from every employee!

Companies--especially more complex organizations--require standard, documented processes and procedures to achieve high levels of quality and productivity. Yet excessive processes can result in strangulation and inefficiency. Successful Business Process Management provides a succinct, accessible overview for anyone who needs to create, improve, implement, or manage business processes. The book's systematic, holistic approach is the key to streamlined...

It's the worst sort of surprise: A valued and seemingly happy employee gives his notice. Can you do anything at this point Probably not. Could you have anticipated the departure and tried to prevent it? Absolutely. That's where this book comes in. This practical guide introduces managers to a powerful new engagement and retention tool: the stay interview. Smart companies have begun conducting these periodic reviews in order to discover why their important...

More than any other practice in your career, your ability to manage time will determine your success or failure. It's a simple equation. The better you use your time, the more you will accomplish, and the greater your rewards will be. This pocket-sized guide reveals 21 proven time management techniques you can use immediately to gain two or more productive hours every day. Featuring the strategies that business expert Brian Tracy has identified as...

A practical guide to understanding economic forecasts In Inside the Crystal Ball: How to Make and Use Forecasts, UBS Chief U.S. Economist Maury Harris helps readers improve their own forecasting abilities by examining the elements and processes that characterize successful and failed forecasts. The book:Provides insights from Maury Harris, named among Bloomberg's 50 Most Influential People in Global Finance. Demonstrates ""best practices"" in the...