Analyzing Performance Problems: Or, You Really Oughta Wanna--How to Figure out Why People Aren't Doing What They Should Be, and What to do About It

Book Description

Analyzing Performance Problems gives you a step-by-step process for solving virtually any performance problem you face. Instead of guessing at solutions that won't work, you can save time, money, and frustration by finding the true cause of the problem and identifying the best and most economical way to solve it. You'll learn to:

- Identify the true causes of performance problems
- Determine if you can use "fast fixes" (solutions that are quick and easy)
- Identify realistic, economically feasible solutions

Customer Reviews:

A Training and Management Requirement.......2006-08-17

There are two books written my Robert Mager that I highly recommend for people in the field of training. This is one of them.

Having been a training specialist for more than fifteen years, I have, on occasion, tried to convince managers and chiefs why training was not a panacea, a be-all, end-all to their performance problems. If they had read a book like this, many of our discussions would never have taken place.

Mager and Pike have created an advanced performance flowchart from previous editions which enable the trainer or manager to first identify if a problem exists, it's importance, and then what to continue to do from that point. The result will be selecting the appropriate strategy to solve the problem. You end up with a detective story filled with clues to help you find out the true culprit hindering expected performance.

I offer this book to any new training manager who lacks a background in training.

This book is easy to read, and takes an afternoon to get it done. The Performance Flowchart is one you want to hang in your office.

Like "Preparing Instructional Objectives," also by Mager, this is a keeper.

The reason why I'm a performance improvement specialist.......2005-08-29

This book was first introduced to me during my Master's degree studies and has stayed with me ever since. It's an entertaining and easy read that helps you identify and tackle just about any performance problem that may come your way.

Mager and Pipe provide a number of performance problems in brief case studies as they guide you through the Performance Analysis Flow. Is training the solution to a problem in the workplace? Not always. Mager and Pipe will show you how simple solutions can make a world of difference.

This is one book I feel every training or performance improvement professional should have in their professional library.

A step by step approach .......2005-06-01

I have heard supervisors and managers say over and over how much this book helped them resolve work performance problems without creating hostility. I know it has helped me work through some difficult supervisory challenges. But I also want to note that employees--not just supervisors--have reason to be thankful for it as well.

Mager's approach speaks directly to the issue of not making the assumption that a performance discrepancy is the fault of the employee. Neither is it always the fault of a supervisor or the result of lack of training. Mager and Pipe's book reminds you that there are many reasons for work performance issues, and it is crucial to know the reasons before we order "Improvement, or else!"

Let me also comment on the reviews that refer one instead to Covey and others. Those are fine books and certainly have their value. But they do not tell you how to actually deal with an employee's performance issue when the problem has gone on forever and no one seems to have handled it successfully. Those books inspire you to want to do something and to want to use good methods while doing it. Mager's book, however, tells you, step by step, how to analyze a performance issue and how to work with others to correct it. While you are doing that, you could certainly use Covey's thoughts, One Minute Manager concepts, Who Moved My Cheese principles and anything else that you think will add to your effectiveness.

Robert Mager has a droll style that I find appealing and Peter Pipe adds his well-organized thought processes too. This isn't a feel good book, although it is certainly not a stick and carrot book, as implied by others. It is rather, a toolkit to help supervisors and managers intervene when work is not being done as it should be done, find out why there is a discrepancy, and work with the employee to develop methods for improvement.

Yes, there is a bottom line: At some point work has to improve, or else. But that is one of the things I like about the book: It is realistic and addresses the fact that once barriers to performance have been removed, there is only so long that an employee can be allowed to do substandard work. If you use the flowchart and the material in the book, it isn't likely to come to that point--and that is another reason employees as well as supervisors and managers should appreciate this inexpensive guide.

Good information, but a bit basic.......2004-04-29

Mager's book provides some great foundational information on performance problems in the workplace. However, it seems a bit basic and common sensical when compared to the new books being written on the subject. I looked to this third edition thinking it would have more up-to-date information and revisions and was disappointed when I found that it did not.

If you are into carrots and sticks... this is for you.......2003-05-25

This book has some wonderful ideas contained between its covers. The underlying assumption is that people are either motivated by rewards or punishment. There is a flowchart that helps you understand how to influence (read manipulate) people into behaving as you want them to.

The author gives many examples that make it seem as though his method of dealing with people is the most effective one. There are more aspects to leadership and management than he describes, and I can just picture in my mind's eye a person with no people skills trying to apply these techniques to his work. Then I get scared.

I would suggest reading books by more principle centered authors first - such as the various Covey books or other ones. If you are just looking for a new perspective, buy it. If you are frustrated because nobody seems to listen to you and you want to manipulate them all to do your bidding - please quit your job. This book wont help you.

Average customer rating:
Analyzing Performance Problems or You Really Oughta Wanna
Robert F.; Pipe, Peter Mager
Manufacturer: Center for Effective Performance, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Human Resources & Personnel Management | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1561033367

Average customer rating:
Analyzing Performance problems, or You Really Oughta Wanna, Second Edition
Robert Frank Mager
Manufacturer: Pitman Management and Training
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books | Business Ethics | Consolidation & Merger | Decision-Making & Problem Solving | Distribution & Warehouse Management | Industrial | Information Management | Leadership | Management | Management Science | Motivational | Negotiating | Operations Research | Planning & Forecasting | Pricing | Production & Operations | Project Management | Quality Control | Risk Assessment | Statistics | Strategy & Competition | Systems & Planning | Systems Analysis | Teams | Total Quality Management | Training
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Analyzing Performance Problems: Or, You Really Oughta Wanna--How to Figure out Why People Aren't Doing What They Should Be, and What to do About It

ASIN: 0822443368

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Analyzing Performance Problems Or 'You Really Oughta Wanna'
Robert F. & Pipe, Peter. Mager
Manufacturer: Fearon Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000L2BN76

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Analyzing Performance Problems or 'You Really Oughta Wanna'
Roger F. Mager , and Peter Pipe
Manufacturer: Feron Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NPRC6C

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Analyzing Performance Problems or You Really Oughta Wanna
Robert F. & Pipe, Peter Mager
Manufacturer: Fearon Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NSGVCK

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ANALYZING PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS OR YOU REALLY OUGHTA WANNA.

Manufacturer: Fearon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HI5PJQ

Book Description

The issue of asymmetric information and public decision-making has been widely explored by economists. Most of the traditional analysis of public sector activities has been reviewed to take account of the different incentive problems arising from an asymmetric distribution of relevant information among the actors of the public decision-making process. A normative approach has been developed, mainly employing the principal agent paradigm to design incentive schemes which tackle adverse selection and moral hazard problems within public organizations. Still, this analysis is under way in many fields of public economics.
However, a debate is ongoing on the theoretical limitations of this approach and on its relevance for the actual public sector activities. Public Decision-Making Processes and Asymmetry of Information encompasses different contributions to these issues, on both theoretical and practical areas.
The innermost problem in the current discussion arises from the fact that this normative analysis is firmly rooted in the complete contracting framework, with the consequence that, despite the analytical complexities of most models, their results rely on very simplified assumptions. Most complexities of the organization of public sector, and more generally, of writing "contracts", are therefore swept away. Once the need for an incomplete contracting approach is recognized, the question becomes how to relax some of the assumptions characterizing the complete contracting framework, without getting ad hoc results. The Introduction to this book, written by Jean Jacques Laffont, sets the general grid to interpret the position of its papers in this debate.
The four papers in Part 1 of the book are devoted to developing the analysis of some of the theoretical issues mentioned in the Introduction. Part 2 is devoted to discussing the applications of the theory to different public sector activities.

Public Decision-Making Processes and Asymmetry of Information

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Public Decision-Making Processes and Asymmetry of Information
Massimo Marrelli
Manufacturer: Springer-Verlag New York, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MV6646

Customer Reviews:

A book every American man, woman and child should memorize........1999-05-06

"It's a Conspiracy" is a fanatastic book. Dozens of scandels are clearly and concisely reviewed in a very easy-to-read format. Numerous references are cited to validate the editors' statements. The sections on the JFK Assassination are particularly informative. "Conspiracy" contains many great quotes. All in all, it's a very clever book.

Great summary of every American conspiracy story........1997-04-26

Has entries for *every* American conspiracy story, with summaries of the evidence, the positions taken by all sides, and references for further reading. I learned a *ton*. Plus, it's funny. This little book saved me reading lots of big books on each conspiracy

It's a Conspiracy!: The National Insecurity Council

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It's a Conspiracy!: The National Insecurity Council
Unknown
Manufacturer: Bathroom Readers Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Conspiracy Theories | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000JDUQ1Q

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It's a Conspiracy!: The National Insecurity Council
National ; Insecurity Council
Manufacturer: EARTHWORKS PRESS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Conspiracy Theories | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000OJJ4JA

Average customer rating:

great music!

Mel Bay presents Natalie Macmaster's Cape Breton Island Fiddle
Natalie MacMaster
Manufacturer: Mel Bay Publications, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Strings | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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Fit as a Fiddle

A Compilation

No Boundaries

Yours Truly

Mel Bay's Complete Irish Fiddle Player

ASIN: 0786644737

Book Description

This book contains transcriptions of selections from three of Natalie MacMaster's albums: A Compilation, Fit as a Fiddle, and No Boundaries. These tunes were selected because the fiddling was easily heard over the accompaniment and the tune settings were reasonably transferable to standard music notation. These meticulous transcriptions include ornamentations reflecting as clearly as possible the way Natalie currently performs the tunes, which may have evolved since the CDs were recorded. The album source and particular cut are indicated at the beginning of each tune. Contact Rounder Records at 1-800-768-6337 for the recordings.

Customer Reviews:

great music!.......2007-02-12

This is a great fiddle book. I've been playing the violin for 9 and a half years and I love playing her tunes. The fun part for me is playing them fast along with Natalie on the CD. I got it for my Mom who plays the violin as well. We are both having so much fun with it. The thing that's great about fiddle is there's no right way to play the music. I like putting my own style into it while other songs, I copy what Natalie does. Guitar chords are also nice addition in this book. You can find more of her music that you can print at, [...]
I recommend this to violin players from 5 to 10+ years.

Book Description

Departing from prior scholarship on T. E. Lawrence, this work examines the extent of Anglo-American cultural interplay and the popular culture machinery involved in the manufacture of the Lawrence of Arabia legend. Although not recognized as such, the Lawrence legend was as much an American product as a British one. American journalist Lowell Thomas first publicized the story through war travelogues given in New York City, which soon found their way to England. The legend was perpetuated by American literary interest in Lawrence and then by a Hollywood film. By the 1960s, the Lawrence of Arabia story had become a small commercial industry. The volume challenges conclusions about the relationship between Lawrence and Lowell Thomas, demonstrating it was much closer than Lawrence biographers have previously thought or were willing to admit. It also illustrates that American involvement in the construction and propagation of the Lawrence legend is greater than believed. The book features several unpublished or rare photographs as well as draws upon previously unpublished manuscript material, business letters, and supporting documents to recreate the origins of the popular legend of Lawrence of Arabia.

Book Description

A comprehensive empirical and theoretical study of broadcast news throughout the world, which examines the effects of syndication and questions whether this fiercely competitive business satisfies the democratic demands of its audience.

This title available in eBook format. Click here for more information.

Visit our eBookstore at: www.ebookstore.tandf.co.uk.

Customer Reviews:

You must understand the media inorder to live in the media.......2000-11-10

It goes into how the business uses the media for its own desires or the desires of its patrons. I even heard Dr. Baran himself lecutre about this too. His lecutres and his books ask you hard questions about how the business serve the democratic world in which we live in. The book doesn't favor any side, it telling you what to think about. The book is like a key that is opening the world to our media and how we chose to use it. This book is another item to have in the quest of understanding media.

Book Description

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Project Management Using Microsoft Project 2000 provides an easy to use source of answers for all your questions regarding project management fundamentals and the industry's leading project management tool. It is for anyone who is just starting to use or is thinking of using Microsoft Project. Topics include integration between Project data and other applications, Project analysis, using Project in workgroups, tracking costs, and Web Integration.

Customer Reviews:

Moving forward.......2005-05-14

While this book is about using Microsofts Project 2003 Software it contains a wealth of information about leadership and business and street smarts of managing yourself. Many times in life we get so involved we "can't see the forest because of the trees". Boged down in details we lose sight of the big picture. Ron provides clarity that can help anyone move forward with laser like effeciency, if they want. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to live larger, and be more successful. Lee Holden

Best Introduction Yet.......2004-01-11

I recommend this book to anyone getting started in PM

Why not use this as a text book?.......2002-09-06

Everything is explained so that is easy to understand, even amusing sometimes. I think a book like this would be perfect for a beginning course on project management.

Good Starting Point.......2002-06-21

I have just started using this application and this book has turned me in to a confident user. All of my departments projects will now go on to Project 2000. Ron not only explains how to use Project, he also describes the principles behind them and the common problems that can occur while trying to run a project. He also explains the importance of "iced mochas and pistachios" and other necessities.
the book is well written, applicable and easy to read. Ron's Mum should be proud :)

Outstanding Reference!.......2001-05-20

I was just hoping to find a book on how to use MS Project 2000, but instead I found an excellent reference on project management that also teaches MS Project. That is the value of this book - it teaches good project management skills, and how MS Project can help you reach your goals. I especially recommend this to project management rookies.

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