Kids Play: Igniting Children's Creativity

Book Description

Teach children to use intuition and spontaneity to fuel their creativity and gain confidence in themselves. A must read for art teachers and parents.

In Kids Play, Michele Cassou brings her unique method of creative instruction to children and shows parents how they can inspire their children to discover the world of art. Too often a child's creativity is stunted because he or she feels the need to produce something specific that will meet with the expectations of teachers and parents. Cassou explains that it is the creative process that should be encouraged in children, and criticism, evaluation, or even praise of the end result can actually be damaging.

Kids Play uses examples from Cassou's own teaching experience to illustrate how helping children trust creative intuition instead of overloading them with technique will lead to self-expression and self-discovery. It will give them confidence not only in their art, but in themselves as well.

Customer Reviews:

"A must read for all parents and teachers!".......2005-08-10

As an art teacher and parent, I found this book to be an amazing breath of fresh air. Not only did I love reading "Kids Play" but it is also revolutionary in the area of kids creativity. I will highly recommend it to all the parents and teachers I know.

Creating safe environments for our children to fully express themselves is crucial and I see kids flowering when they feel that freedom from evaluation, no matter how well meaning. Specifically, thanks to "Kids Play", I was able to support one of my 7-year-old students who was standing in front of her white paper, brush in hand, looking so scared to begin her painting. Close to tears, she said, "I don't know what to paint." I answered lightly, "you don't have to know what you're going to paint before you start. You can just let your brush and the color take you
on a journey and see what happens!" I came back 10 minutes later to find her excitedly painting with great energy and joy!

Average customer rating:
Lucha Mascarada: Pro-Wrestling Masks of Mexico
Sdf
Manufacturer: Galgiani, Phillip
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 4752077868

Amazon.com

Oh My Goddess!, is described by some as "Friends" meets "I Dream of Genie," but this comic book has much more charm than that. Keiichi is a good-looking teenage boy with a low self-esteem, and as a result of this self-esteem problem, he's spending another Friday night alone. But lo and behold, when he goes to dial up a pizza delivery, he accidentally reaches the Goddess Technical Help Line, which sends him a "goddess" (a beautiful teenage genie named Belldandy) to grant him any one wish. Well, Keiichi wishes to have a goddess like her be with him always (and, of course, he gets his wish). Add to the mix Belldandy's mischievous sister, who is intent on getting them to sleep together. But that's just the setup. What makes Oh My Goddess! hard to put down until you're finished is the playful courtship between this young boy and girl, which inches toward consummation. This comic book is fulfilling and entertaining.

Customer Reviews:

Buy this volume if you can find it, & get the whole series........2003-12-28

If you can find this (out of print) title for a reasonable cost, itýs good because it was the original graphic novel release in the USA. The subsequent origin has restored stories, and is issued in three separate volumes. Those books are: Wrong Number, Leader of the Pack, and Final Exam. They should all still be in print, and available on Amazon.

The Oh, My Goddess series is one of the cleanest, yet funniest manga to come out of Japan. They don't resort to blood violence, overt sexual situations, foul language, or nudity at any time. Despite this the concept has a knack for extremely funny, crazy situations that always keep you wanting more. The basic story may seem similar to those like Chobbits, Steel Angel Kurumi, Hand Maid May, or other manga based on a powerful non-human woman. It is generally more original than all those, and never crosses the lines of child proof decency, that those others occasionally bypass.

The concept may take a little getting used to by some of us Western folk. Some strict Christians may not want to confuse their children with the concepts, although there is nothing offensive. Japanese lore is a world full of demons, gods, goddesses, oni's, and other spirit entities. The Religious concept of one God, or Goddess does not apply, and this may be a new concept for some Americans. The stories in the Oh, My Goddess series do not deal with religion. This would not be like much Christian literature found in a Christian book store. It's intent is merely a humorous story with some standard elements of good and evil. These concepts follow the Eastern notion that nothing can be perfectly good (although Belldandy comes close) or totally evil. They do not follow any specific religious philosophy.

The story has Keiichi, a young man attending a technical college in Japan. He likes motors, both in automobiles and especially motorcycles. Initially he lives in somewhat of a Fraternity house, and one boring weekend, his friends out, he tries to order some food. Instead, he gets the Goddess help line, and Belldandy, an ultra-nice, ultra pure, fairly high level Goddess, who offers him a wish. Thinking its all a joke by his friends, he requests that Belldandy be his girlfriend, for as long as he wants. To his surprise she agrees, and shows up to be with him. Unfortunately, with girls not allowed, he must now move, and his resources are limited.

This series is not the typical of the powerful girl genre in that it contains elements of motorcycle racing, computer technology, and other things that tend to set it apart. Since Belldandy alone would ultimately be too nice to make a good story, her half-demon, half-goddess, sister Urd is introduced, to sometimes play ýdemonsý advocate. Still even she is a Goddess first and a demon repressed. I read a lot of manga graphic novel compilations. Iýve read Ranma ½, No Need for Tenchi, Video Girl AI, Maison Ikkoku, and many other similar series. What sets this apart is the exceptionally inventive humor and writing. Despite the fact that this is a long running series, itýs never gotten stale, or fallen into repetitious predictability.

One thing that helps (for at least the near future) is that itýs published by Dark Horse. They still publish these compilations in the larger (8.5ý X 6ý) format. All the Viz, and Tokyopop books, have gone to a smaller size that makes it more difficult to read. Since these were all originally published in comic book size, the more you shrink them the more difficult to read the captions, and the more detail is lost. The recent issues of Oh, My Goddess books have kept the bigger size, and I think thatýs a big asset. Finally, the series did have a limited run anime, thatýs available on VHS and DVD. A fairly well done movie was made later. Surprisingly, theyýve made little use of a wealth of material to make further episodes.

Oh My God, this book .............2003-04-27

From first glance, the manga looked completely stupid (not to mention ugly), but I read it anyway because of the "don't judge a book by its cover" line. Well, I should have followed my instincts. Not only are the illustrations horrible, but this manga also has no plot build up. The first page starts off right in the middle of the story, and you wouldn't understand what the heck he (the main character guy; didn't even bother to remember his name) was doing unless you read the summary on the back cover. Further more, the characters' relationships are unclear. The author gives no indication to whether or not Belldandy likes the main character, but then has them kissing out of nowhere. Um, what happened to character conflicts and all that good stuff?

I like this book, but some of the later ones are better...........2003-04-15

I am a big fan of Oh My Goddess! and have been for years. I actually started on 'Sympathy for the Devil', and went back and looked this one up. I own almost all of the OMG books in print ('Hand In Hand' is the one I need to get) and love them.

This is the very first OMG book that Kosuke Fujishima did, and it shows in his artwork. While this is nice, it is the later art that grabs most fans.

The characters are all original and all-around wonderful. Urd is my favorite, and Belldandy is a close second. Keiichi is a normal human being, unlike many heroes. And I try not to spend too much time with people like Tamiya and Otaki.

If you want to see what started it all, then get this book!

By the way, the reason I gave this only 4 stars was because some of the pages look as though they were put through a copier without Edge Erase on. In some places they are too dark to see what is going on very clearly.

But, that is a minor complaint. So, get the book!

Oh my God, it's Oh my Goddess!!!!.......2002-01-20

Well, I was really kinda of iffy on starting this series.Even though everyone around me was saying excellent things about, I still wasn't sure.The reason? Well the artwork didn't really appeal to me, but despite that I got it anyway. Apart from the artwork(which does get better as the series goes along)it was actually a pretty cute and lighthearted Manga. Keichi who is kind of a loser college guy that has no luck with girls, accidentally calls 1-555-goddess meaning to call for pizza, When Belldandy comes forth telling him that she would grant him any wish that he desired. Thinking it's a joke that his buddys are pulling on him, he then wishes that Belldandy will stay with him forever, and that's where the whole story begins and will probably end. But that's what I really do like about this series, because despite that Keichi who wished for Belldandy to be with him forever doesn't start out as a relationship, he does end up falling in love with her as Belldandy for him. This quirky series gets even better as more characters are added and some really weird plot lines as well. I hope this helps if you had any doubts about the series!!!!

Ah Belldandy.......2002-01-02

The reason that this book did not receive 5 stars is because of the way that Dark Horse comics butchered the early chapters. I mean Urd did not arrive in the second chapter. Important details are left out of the book such as how and when Belldandy and Keiichi came to live in a temple. It is also obvious that Fujishima's art style did not evolve as much as it did between only two chapters. Overall though this is still a very entertaining book to read. It is a quite simple boy meets girl story. the girl just happenens to be a goddess. In this volume we also meet Urd, Belldandy's older sister whose desire is to get Belldandy and Keiichi in the sack together, Sayoko Mishima a beautiful rich girl who harbors feeling sfor Keiichi, Aoshima Sayoko's cousin who wants Belldandy for his own, and Tamiya and Ootaki Keiichi's upper classmen who seem to only want to make life hard for Keiichi. Good stuff check it out

Oh My Goddess Set II (1-555-Goddess, Love Potion No. 9, Sympathy for the Devil) (Oh My Goddess)

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Oh My Goddess Set II (1-555-Goddess, Love Potion No. 9, Sympathy for the Devil) (Oh My Goddess)
Kosuke Fujishima
Manufacturer: Dark Horse Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VMREHE

Book Description

Roger Folger, age sixty-one, is a recent widower, but the spirit of his wife, Stella, hasn't wandered far. An all-too-corporeal Roger converses at will with Stella's disembodied voice in the privacy of the home they shared for many years-and you can bet Stella talks back. Roger fills Stella in on the latest about their kids and neighbors, while Stella tells Roger what Heaven's like-picture the Ritz-Carlton in Florida, managed by Moses aided by assistant manager Saint Peter. She also worries that Roger is lonely and decides that what he needs is a new woman in his life. But once Roger begins to date, Stella grows jealous. She can't help but wonder what a second Mrs. Folger will mean for her and Roger-both in this world and the next.

With his signature wry humor, Buchwald delivers a comic gem of a novel-a guaranteed delight for his many fans.

Customer Reviews:

Cute and Catchy.......2007-02-04

Stella in Heaven is a very fast read. The idea that a dead woman can communicate with her husband is witty and thought provoking. I thoroughly enjoyed the way novel is presented -- Roger's Story and Stella's story as each side gives his/her accountability of the issue being discussed. I thought the character "Mimi" who is Roger's mother is outstanding. If you are looking for something different, with a twist of articulate humor -- then I recommend the book. If you've been married for a number of years (like I have) and suddenly your mate dies (which I fortunately haven't) you would like to think you could somehow, someway stay in touch -- atleast until the living can move on. The concept of Stella in Heaven is a pretty darn creative.

Direct Line to Heaven.......2007-01-22

Buchwald is the master of poignant humor. (Upon his recent death, his video was released: "Hello, this is Art Buchwald and I just died.") This small, easily read book deals with everything-life, death, loss, love, war, bar mitzvahs, gossip, all discussed by wife and husband from her Princess phone in Heaven. The heartbreaking braveness to go on in the face of all of this is simple and touching. I heartily recommend it. Keep tissues by your side when reading.

Thin characters, and little enough humor, plot, or even point.......2005-09-10

Art Buchwald was perhaps the most celebrated humor columnist of his time, but you'd never know it from this wholly forgettable novel about a man who's lost his wife. Or has he?

Roger Folger is a sixty-one year old widower who has daily communications with his departed wife Stella. The point of view alternates between these two characters, and certainly the best part of the book is Stella's quaint descriptions of heaven, which, she gushes, is very much like the Ritz-Carlton in Florida. Given the wealth of possibilities, it seems as though Buchwald should have been able to come up with something a little more inventive, but unfortunately, that's about as funny as this book gets. Convinced that her husband is pining away without her, Stella does everything she can to fix Roger up with another woman: one who meets her stringent criteria of what kind of wife he needs, naturally. The chapters with Roger are almost painful as we watch his fitful attempts to get on with his life. These scenes aren't comic so much as pathetic, and there's no real insight into either his character or his plight.

This middle-aged husband found the story more depressing than funny, and possessing little enough in the way of redeeming social value. Even Buchwald must have recognized the weakness of this book since he subtitled it "Almost a Novel". The characters are lame jokes, the plot is razor-thin, and the point is something like "Love is where you find it" or "Life goes on", and that's about it. This slim volume possesses enough humor for a couple of good newspaper columns, and that's really all.

So-so.......2004-07-17

It's a very quick read, but I didn't get into it like I should have. I did feel something for the characters obviously because I was sad at the end. Maybe it's for a different demographic, but it's not for me.

A different persective.......2002-05-09

I think it takes a person with a more open sense of humor - or just a different sense of humor than my own, to enjoy this book. I just didn't find Buchwald's characters very funny; the more I read, the more dissatisfied I felt. I think it's a matter of Buchwald's style just not being my type, that's all. For example, I just didn't think Stella's descriptions of Heaven were funny. Portraying God as an absentee boss who gives orders from a distance and has no qualms about shipping someone from heaven to hell and Moses as a slave and everyone else in heaven as gossiping busybodies just wasn't funny to me. I guess the descriptions seemed cold and empty, even when describing what Stella liked about Heaven - maybe there was supposed to be humor in the pitifully meager joys of Heaven, but I just didn't get it. Stella's gripes about people bringing her food when she was sick, and her obsessive need to know every detail about her funeral wasn't funny or even interesting (Roger finally mentions that people tell funny stories about Stella, but doesn't give any examples), either - everything seemed to revolve around being a critic of someone who could possibly care. It wasn't even funny when Roger blew the money he'd received from Stella's life insurance policy, or how he had to sneak around to see his best friend when Stella was alive and now when she's dead, too. I thought it was sad. But again - it's just a matter of liking the author's style, which I didn't. If you like Buchwald's style, I'm sure you'll enjoy the book.

Amazon.com

Did you know that the history-making documentary Woodstock was made possible by funds from 1960s talk-show host Merv Griffin? An innovative TV special featuring Griffin (and earnings of $23,000) allowed filmmaker Michael Wadleigh and his partners at Paradigm Films in New York to push the boundaries of filmmaking technology--and their considerable skills--by creating the epic documentary chronicling Woodstock, the 1969 musical celebration of peace, love, and rock & roll that attracted "half a million strong" to Max Yasgur's idyllic farm in upstate New York.

Published to coincide with the film's 30th anniversary, this delightful book--aptly described by editor and Woodstock associate producer Dale Bell as "our Rashomon story"--is an oral history composed of recollections from more than 40 of the film's primary crew members and festival musicians. This rich tapestry of memory creates a rush of affection, fascination, and deepened appreciation for the film and its creators, all of whom (including Martin Scorsese and now-legendary editor Thelma Schoonmaker) remain deeply moved by the lasting influence of their efforts. The suspense is palpable as participants describe the rush of preparation, the frenzy of filmmaking, an exhausting marathon of editing and Warner Bros.-funded postproduction (165 hours of footage whittled down to a four-hour director's cut!), and, finally, a well-deserved Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

Bell guides us chronologically through this phenomenal tale of brilliant collaboration, cooperation, frustration, and astonishing achievement. (From multiple-image editing to the first-ever use of Dolby noise reduction for a feature film, Woodstock was technologically ahead of its time.) What's amazing is that the film almost wasn't made at all. But in this engaging book, we see why Woodstock had to be made--as revealed by the crew members' proud recollections of making a film that shall forever remain one of the pivotal visual documents of the 20th century. --Jeff Shannon

Book Description

Where were you in the summer of '69? During these tumultuous times, the war was raging; Ali had been stripped of his crown; and in an obscure patch of earth in upstate New York, an event called Woodstock would change the world. This unique book is a collection of remembrances and perceptions from the filmmakers who created, and for performers and festival producers who appeared in, the Academy Award winning film, Woodstock.

Customer Reviews:

Looking at Woodstock from the filmmakers point of view.......2000-06-20

For those of us who weren't around when the Woodstock Music & Art Fair in 1969 happened (I was born a year after the fact), the music and the movie gives us a chance to look at what it was all about. For those of us in the younger generation that were influenced by Woodstock in some form or another, "Woodstock: An Insider's Look at the Movie That Shook Up the World and Defined a Generation" is a book that shows what it was like to be the 50 or so people who were responsible for the creation of the film. Dale Bell was part of the crew hired by director Michael Wadleigh, and through letters and interviews with other crew members, we get a chance to relive what it was about, from a perspective most of us have never heard about. By reading memories from the gaffers, grips, sound people, and even a few musicians, it's a miracle that the movie was ever made, and literally an oddity that the movie ever got finished. For young filmmakers, it offers a look into the world of documentary making, capturing an event as it happens, hoping that at least the film hasn't run out and that you have enough lighting to get you through. As you turn each page, you'll literally right there with them, either in the mud, or in a New York editing room, or in sunny California dealing with the "suits" who wanted a 90 minute movie, and couldn't see the historical significance behind the event. Once you read this, you will view the movie in the same manner again, and that's good. For the first time, you'll see the movie and realize all the hard work (and money, or lack of it) it took to document one of the most important events of the 20th century.

Book Description

In tune with the interest in oldies music, this book spotlights the once-famous performers who recorded those cherished songs and timeless albums so strongly imprinted on the millions of Americans growing up in the 1960s. Based on dozens of conversations with performers, talent agents, personal managers, and booking agents, the book includes the life experiences of 43 individuals--solo artists, bands, and singing group members-from Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs and The Beau Brummels to Gary "U.S." Bonds and Peter and Gordon.

Customer Reviews:

Echoes of the Sixties.......2000-06-01

Echoes if the Sixties is not only interesting, but entertaining. I was impressed with the way it was organized into a "Time Capsule," summary, "Hit Singles," and interviews. What a wonderful reference vehicle. After reading it from cover-to-cover, I enjoyed reviewing sections again.

Great, Honest Writing.......1999-12-07

This book was so great. I espically liked the Gary Puckett and the Union Gap section. I am from San Diego, CA and it is cool to hear where they are now, and what their lives have been like. For the music lover this is a great selection!

Review of Echoes of the Sixties.......1999-12-05

This is an honest, truthful, profile of 43 of the most popular Rock Stars from the 60's. Written after in depth interviews with the stars themselves, it tells their histories and what they are doing now. How their Rock fame affected their lives. It is fun to read and really brings back memories. Highly recommended!

Average customer rating:

Most Important Book which Covers Pawn Sturctures

If you understand this work, you can crush Class players in IQP positions

Great book on Isolani Pawn!

Great book but you need to be an advanced player

A (redundant) review, AND correction of A.J.Goldsby I

Winning Pawn Structures
Alexander Baburin
Manufacturer: Batsford
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Chess | Board Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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Pawn Structure Chess

Understanding Pawn Play in Chess

Dynamic Pawn Play in Chess

The Road to Chess Improvement

Mastering the Chess Openings: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings, Volume 1

ASIN: 0713480092

Book Description

Pawns are the soul of chess--and one of the aspects of the game that chess computers just don't handle well. This modern guide to pawn structures, written by an experienced grandmaster, analyzes a variety of typical formations, and explains the approaches, patterns, and techniques used by professionals in all phases of the game. The know-how gained from the sample matches presented will give any player a practical advantage on the board.

Customer Reviews:

Most Important Book which Covers Pawn Sturctures.......2006-08-21

Rarely have I found a book reviewing pawn structures as they relate to actual tournament experience. Alexander Baburin has written, what has clearly been recognized already, as a classic! The ideas are developed around the typical pawn structures arising from many opening leading to the isolated queen pawn (IQP) and it's derivatives (pawn couples, hanging pawns, etc.) which occur in most openings like the Queens Gambit, Caro Kann, etc.. He develops his concepts and teaches ideas and plans with examples from very well annotated full length games from actual competition. Reading this book, is almost as good as having a private coach!

Definitely a 5 star rating for this book!!!

If you understand this work, you can crush Class players in IQP positions.......2006-02-06

The quality of Baburin's work is off the charts. This book opened my eyes to the Isolated Queen's Pawn structure, which I try to get in as many games as I possibly can because this book showed me how to demolish people with it (at my level, Class "A," and even somewhat above my level).

One could call this a "specialized" middlegame text, but because the presence of the IQP is so ubiquitous in chess, this is just an extremely important work, and one that I feel doesn't get as much attention as it deserves.

The whole book is fantastic, but Part 1 (basically, Attacking with the IQP) is absolutely exceptional. THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR BEGINNERS, and you MUST know "basic" kingside attacking motifs to get optimal value out of it. But tournament players who go through it will have their eyes opened for sure. This book trains you to play IQP positions with calculation and general principles together! Baburin shows you the plans (even multiple plans in the same opening system) and when faced with such positions you will know almost exactly what to do.

Great book on Isolani Pawn!.......2004-09-01

If you like to learn how to handle chess positions with the isolated Queen's Pawn ("Isolani") this is the book! Baburin explains the methods to play the isolated pawn positions clearly. This book would be very beneficial for players between USCF 1700-2000. While learning about the isolated pawn positions your middle game technique will improve in general as well.

Great book but you need to be an advanced player.......2004-06-25

Please be careful with this book. Its basically a very advanced text on Isolated Pawn structures, in fact its the most advanced text on this subject in the English language. I really do not think that you would be able to read it cover to cover unless you are at least ELO 2000. Its a brilliant piece of work and I hope the author continues the series to cover passed pawns,doubled pawns etc. The only way i would advise anyone below ELO 2000 to buy this book is to use it as a game reference with your opening book. You would need to play one of the following openings Caro Kan, Queens Gambit, the Nimzo Indian defense or the French defense. It makes you realise that the Isolated pawn is a great source of strength or a fundamental weakness and occurs a lot in certain types of openings. As an advanced player you need to know how to play each side of this equation as it will often be the central issue that will decide the game.

A (redundant) review, AND correction of A.J.Goldsby I.......2004-05-02

Yes, this is a great book on the IQP. How can I add anything to the splendid reviews by Hashimm4 and A.J.Goldsby I? I can't, except to say, the book's title, "Winning Pawn Structures," is suspiciously misleading. How about something like "The Isolated Queen's Pawn: Winning Strategies"? Surely the title is a crass attempt by the publisher to increase his market of chess readers.

But my REAL complaint (with a segue back to Baburin's work) is with A.J.Goldsby's misrepresentation of Nimzowitsch's "My System", which happens too often for me to let this one go by (especially by a top 1000 reviewer who presents himself as a chess authority -- which he probably is). To quote Goldsby's review:

"This book was a major revelation to me. Having grown up under the influence of Nimzovich, I had mostly assumed that the positions containing an Isolated Queen's-Pawn, like any isolated pawn; was weak and should be avoided at all costs. (I almost never allowed myself to be saddled with an IQP, mostly as a result of what I had learned from Nimzowitsch's "My System.") This is a fallacy."

I am yet again amazed by a chess critic's misinformation regarding "My System" (while, admittedly, the later "Chess Praxis" tends to tarnish the IQP's reputation). It's as if they've never even read this classic!

In "My System," Nimzowitsch has a chapter entitled: "The isolated d-pawn and its descendants." In it he addresses both the potential weaknesses of the IQP and the inherent strengths. He refers to the IQP as "permeated with dynamic strength." He COMMANDS that the student experience "how dangerous an enemy isolani may be." He says the IQP's strength "lies in its lust to expand (advance)," and that it "protects and indeed creates the White outpost stations at e5 and c5 [noting the enemy has only one outpost, and that White's at e5 "would have a sharper effect than is ever possible to an opposing Knight on d5."]. He shows how to take advantage of the extra open file that comes with the IQP. And he even has a section entitled, "4. The isolani as a weapon of attack in the middlegame." While, yes, he fully explains how the IQP can be weak, especially in the endgame (suggesting as a countermeasure that you make a timely use of the IQP's attacking possibilities in the middlegame), the fact is that Nimzowitsch gives a FULL understanding of the IQP's advantages... as well as weaknesses.

Which brings us back to "Winning Pawn Structures." Just like Nimzowitsch, Baburin discusses both the advantages and disadvantages of the IQP. How to attack WITH it and AGAINST it. Nimzowitsch covers this topic (and that of isolated pawn couples and hanging pawns!) in about 10 pages. Very effectively, I might add.

Thus, if you already have a good grasp of positional chess, then read Baburin's great book. Otherwise, pick up a more general book on positional chess that includes, but does not dote on, the IQP....

How about this little gem: "My System"

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Winning Pawn Structures
Alexander Baburin
Manufacturer: Chrysalis Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K76CV4

Book Description

"Performance begins with focusing on outcomes instead of activities. In my experience, most people in most organizations most of the time do the reverse. They concentrate their efforts on the pursuit of activities instead of outcomes. As a result, they rarely set or achieve performance results that matter."

Today's performance challenges demand outcomes-both financial and nonfinancial-that must simultaneously benefit customers, shareholders, employees, and management. Therein lies a cycle of sustainable performance that functions as a framework to ensure your organization's goals are set, met, and balanced for today's business world.

Make Success Measurable! enables you to avoid activity-based goals that can go on indefinitely, and articulate aggressive outcome-based goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

This is a how-to book, emphasizing outcomes as opposed to actions in setting goals. You'll learn how to: Set goals that matter to customers, shareholders, and funders. Set nonfinancial as well as financial goals and link them together. Understand and use outcome-based goals that support success while avoiding activity-based goals that produce failure. Select and use management disciplines needed to achieve your goals. Smith provides the what's and why's behind today's performance challenges and shows how to convert them into measurable concrete achievements.

Using an innovative approach, Smith divides each chapter into an explanatory Mindbook section and a practice Workbook section. The Mindbook sections provide descriptions and explain key concepts, frameworks, tools, and techniques. They seek to build your intellectual understanding of how to set and achieve the performance goals that matter.

The Workbook sections include detailed examples and exercises that you and your colleagues can use to practice the concepts, tools, and techniques put forth in the Mindbook section. Workbook exercises allow you to convert understanding into action-and action into results! "Doug Smith's work on performance and measurement has been an invaluable management resource for us. We believe that if you can't measure it, you can't improve it. Thanks to Doug, we can focus on the right measures to drive performance against today's many new and different challenges throughout our enterprise."-Leon Gorman, President, L.L. Bean, Inc.

"Make Success Measurable! is a practical and powerful step-by-step guide to setting and achieving the goals we all need to accomplish in a constantly changing and challenging world."-Charles Dolan, Chairman, Cablevision Systems Corporation.

"No one writes as clearly about today's key management issues as Doug Smith. Whether you're in a small eCommerce startup or a large, already established organization, the frameworks, tools, techniques, and exercises contained in this book are the only things you'll need to manage the performance that matters to your customers, your people, and your shareholders."-Steve Goldstein, CEO, eChores and former CEO, American Express Bank.

"Achieving results that matter-to donors and clients-is the true measure of success for any nonprofit organization. This book provides a thoughtful and extremely practical guide for setting goals and effectively meeting them. It is an absolutely indispensable tool for leaders and a model for good management."-Jenna Dorn, President, National Museum of Health.

Customer Reviews:

The Bottom Line of Success.......2002-08-12

Make Success Measurable! is definitely becoming the Bible at work. Very well written, and Smith's ideas are well-supported. We've received positive feedback from clients, and we've expanded our client base because of this good word-of-mouth. I strongly recommend Make Success Measurable! It's as good as Guerilla PR: Wired, which focuses on techniques to getting solid public relations coverage, especially nowadays.

Learn How to be SMART.......2000-10-05

You can rarely pick up a job description in the public or private sector that does not include a statement seeking "demonstrated experience and success working with the principles of quality management and a commitment to customer service." One of the cornerstones to quality management is the ability to focus on outcomes instead of activities.

Make Success Measurable is filled with practical techniques. Even more, it is a workbook, providing opportunities to apply new concepts to real work. Whether you want to be able to create more focus within your own work unit, be able to demonstrate tangible results to your manager, prioritize your own work by aligning your day to day activities with the most important initiatives, or coach customers who are seeking your expertise in developing performance measures, this book can help.

As a result of reading this book and trying the exercises, you should be able to:

1) Convert new visions, strategies, and directions into achievable outcome-based goals that can better yourself and others in your organization.

2) Set goals that are specific, measurable, aggressive, achievable, relevant, and time bound. (SMART Goals)

3) Set goals that matter to those expecting a return on their funding dollars.

4) Set goals that matter to you personally in terms of opportunities, rewards, and skills.

5) Choose from a variety of management disciplines to achieve your goals.

6) Set goals that matter to customers who want speed, quality, and prompt service.

Ten Management Principles for Leading Change.......2000-06-05

"I believe you will benefit from this book because the challenge of setting and achieving performance goals has become very confusing". Douglas K. Smith writes, "It has been more than 30 years since Peter Drucker wrote about the importance of managing for results. His work led to the widespread practice of management by objective. But an awful lot has happened in the past 30 years. The world of business and organizations has changed dramatically, turning many of Drucker's specifics (though not his wisdom) upside down. In the aftermath of total quality, customer service, time-based competition, strategic alliances, globalization, reengineering, core competencies, continuous improvement, innovation, teams, horizontal organization, benchmarking, best place to work, information technology, diversity, environmentalism, deregulation and reregulation, eCommerce, and privatization, those of us left standing in today's organizations are unsure about what performance goals and outcomes make the most difference and why. We know that setting performance goals is key to managing ourselves and others, but we no longer know how".

Douglas K. Smith organizes his book in four parts. In the first part (Chapters 1-4), he provides the background, concepts, tools, techniques, and frameworks you need to set specific outcome-based goals that matter to successfully navigate today's most pressing performance challenges. In the second part (Chapters 5-7), he focuses on helping you align and coordinate goals throughout your organization. In the third part (Chapters 8-10), he describes the management disciplines you need to achieve your goals and how to make choices among them. In the fourth part (Chapter 11), he concludes the book with a step-by-step design for building an outcomes management system in your organization.

In this context, in Chapter 10, he reviews the management disciplines you must understand in order to succeed in the face of change, and introduces the critical distinction between decision-diven change and behavior-driven change, and describes how to manage each successfully. Hence, he argues that most change efforts fall far short of their potential. Usually that's because leaders fail to address the deep behavioral changes they are seeking. And thus, he lists the following ten management principles as the heart of any successful change effort:

1. Keep performance results the primary objective of behavior and skill change.

2. Continually increase the number of individuals taking responsibility for their own change.

3. Make sure that each person always knows why his or her performance and change matters to the purpose and results of the whole organization.

4. Put people in a position to learn by doing and provide them with the information and support they need just in time to perform.

5. Embrace improvisation as the best path to both performance and change.

6. Use team performance to drive change whenever demanded.

7. Concentrate organizational designs on the work that people do, not on the decision-making authority they have.

8. Create and focus energy and meaningful language because these are the scarcest resources during periods of change.

9. Stimulate and sustain behavior-driven change by harmonizing initiatives throughout the organization.

10. Practice leadership based on the courage to live the change you wish to bring about.

Finally, he argues that if you expect others to change their behavior, you have to change yours. It's as simple and as hard as that.

I strongly recommend.

A useful and practical book........1999-11-27

This is one of those rare books that makes it points clearly and then guides your through exercises that reinforce its key messages.

I found the book incredibly helpful in preparing realistic plans that set you up for success. I have used it extensively to help me design major projects and I am well on my way toward measurable success on those goals.

Read this book and apply its lessons.......1999-03-04

Make Success Measurable tells you how to set business goals that matter for shareholders, customers, and employees. That is good advice, and it is backed up by "workbook" exercises that help you focus on what is really important. The "mindbook-workbook" format makes room for exercises that you can work on with your colleagues at the office. I found that the "mindbook" portion held my interest as an individual reader. I started getting REALLY interested about halfway through the book when Smith introduced the concept of "working arenas" - the different groupings of people (sometimes in multiple companies) that are necessary to achieve these goals. Smith explains that you need to shape your goals and methods to fit the appropriate working arena, rather than a pre-set corporate structure. If you work in a complex organization, you should read this book and apply its lessons.

I would compare Make Success Measurable very favorably to the Kaplan and Norton book on The Balanced Scorecard. The Balanced Scorecard tends to be vague and anecdotal on the subject of how to set measurable goals, and it is hard to finish. In contrast, Smith packs his book with original analysis and specific recommendations on topics like "Vertical versus Horizontal Management Disciplines" and "Injecting Creative and Personal Tension into Goals". The Balanced Scorecard presents a four way cause and effect chain from employees through process improvements, customers, and shareholders. Make Success Measurable presents a three way performance cycle as including employees who provide value to customers who provide rewards to shareholders...who provide rewards to employees and so on. The "process" piece doesn't appear in Smith's analysis, because focusing on process measures doesn't necessarily help anyone. In fact, it is a trap that can lead to meaningless work. Smith encourages us to focus on "outcomes" - measures that matter directly to employees, customers, and shareholders. This brings us quickly to reality and hopefully to consensus with our colleagues. Get real. Get this book.

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