Driving Shareholder Value: Value-Building Techniques for Creating Shareholder Wealth

Book Description

BusinessWeek and Harvard Business Review tout value-based management as the benchmark for creating and enhancing shareholder value. Numerous industry-leading companies embrace VBM. Now Driving Shareholder Value travels to the heart of VBM, providing approaches, perspectives, and strategies managers can use to implement VBM for better decisions and maximized shareholder wealth. The authors’ one-of-a-kind value creation framework—complete with dozens of useful worksheets, checklists, case studies, and more—draws on current practices plus 25 years of VBM lessons, including: *The four guiding principles of VBM activities *Five steps to institutionalizing VBM *An integrative VBM framework—complete with step-by-step examples

Customer Reviews:

Insightful!.......2002-04-08

Every so often, the language of consultants seeps into general use throughout the business world and beyond. This is certainly the case with the phrase "value driver," which in the late 1990s became ubiquitous in corporate conference rooms. But how many of us have actually given detailed thought to what value drivers actually are, how they should be identified and managed, and how they should fit within the confines of your overall corporate strategy? Luckily, Roger Morin and Sherry Jarrell have given this subject more than enough thought to rescue a concept in dire danger of slipping into cliché. Warning: This is not a breezy, skim-it-in-an-afternoon, how-to book. If you don't crunch numbers, this is not the book for you. However, we from getAbstract do recommend this book to anyone willing to grapple with its equations and graphs. They're not too painful, and even if the strategic concepts are not entirely innovative, they do add weight to some overused and poorly understood business jargon.

Excellent reference resource.......2001-01-21

A comprehensive study and approach for financial analysis of corporations, divisions, and discreet business units. A terrific reference for how to evaluate value creation within a firm. A must have for anyone interested in financial concepts and the study of true economic value creation.

Product Description

The Consulting Services Manual explains World Bank Policy Guidelines for the Employment and Use of Consultants by Bank Borrowers, and describes the correct use of the World Bank Standard Request for Proposals including the Standard Contracts. The manual also provides comprehensive advice to Bank Borrowers, consultants and Bank staff on the application of sound practices and correct procedures when dealing with consultants, consistent with considerations of quality, efficiency and economy, fair competition, transparency, and participation of national consultants in Bank funded consulting services assignments.

Consulting Services Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to Selection of Consultants

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Consulting Services Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to Selection of Consultants

Manufacturer: World Bank Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Consulting | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Questions & Answers | Education | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0821348779

Book Description

The second volume in an annual series based on lectures held at the Center for European Law Studies in Oxford, this volume examines the respective roles in the legal process of judges, legislators, academics, and regulators, as well as the ways in which these players influence one another.
Each group was represented at the lectures, and both the diversity of experience and the depth of knowledge of those in attendance are in evidence throughout this book. Like the first, this volume collects contributions from some of the world's most distinguished legal professionals.

Law Making, Law Finding and Law Shaping: The Diverse Influences: Volume II...

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Law Making, Law Finding and Law Shaping: The Diverse Influences: Volume II...
Foreword-Lord Bingham of Cornhill; Editor-Basil S. Markesinis
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OLADLQ

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy

Average customer rating:

An amazing book
Great Book, took the class from the author
Fantastic!
A great work of scholarship--and great fun

The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy
James Evans
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

History of Science | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0195095391

Amazon.com

In Ptolemy's The Almagest, the earth is placed at the center of the universe and the planets move in crystal spheres against a backdrop of fixed stars. While these ideas have been swept away since the scientific revolution, Ptolemy's influence on astronomy was profound and long--we'll be dealing with the Y3K problem before Copernicus's time of influence catches up.

James Evans, historian and astronomer at the University of Puget Sound, believes that "staying close to the practice of astronomy means explaining a subject in enough detail for the reader to understand what the ancient astronomers actually did." As this unique book teaches you to do astronomy the old-fashioned way, you gain a profoundly deeper understanding of what the Greeks and their successors thought and did. "There is all the difference in the world between knowing about and knowing how to do," says Evans. The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy is truly hands-on history, and deserves to be widely imitated. --Mary Ellen Curtin

Book Description

The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy combines new scholarship with hands-on science to bring readers into direct contact with the work of ancient astronomers. While tracing ideas from ancient Babylon to sixteenth-century Europe, the book places its greatest emphasis on the Greek period, when astronomers developed the geometric and philosophical ideas that have determined the subsequent character of Western astronomy. The author approaches this history through the concrete details of ancient astronomical practice. Carefully organized and generously illustrated, the book can teach readers how to do real astronomy using the methods of ancient astronomers. For example, readers will learn to predict the next retrograde motion of Jupiter using either the arithmetical methods of the Babylonians or the geometric methods of Ptolemy. They will learn how to use an astrolabe and how to design sundials using Greek and Roman techniques. The book also contains supplementary exercises and patterns for making some working astronomical instruments, including an astrolabe and an equatorium. More than a presentation of astronomical methods, the book provides a critical look at the evidence used to reconstruct ancient astronomy. It includes extensive excerpts from ancient texts, meticulous documentation, and lively discussions of the role of astronomy in the various cultures. Accessible to a wide audience, this book will appeal to anyone interested in how our understanding of our place in the universe has changed and developed, from ancient times through the Renaissance.

Customer Reviews:

An amazing book.......2005-08-29

Not only is the layout and presentation of this book beautiful, the writing is lucid and engaging. I have already learned a tremendous amount from this book and I have only read the first 30 pages.

Great Book, took the class from the author.......2002-01-24

This is great book. I got to take the class for which the book was the class book, and the author was the professor. Class time was used for discussing the history and practice of the ancient astronomers from the babylonians to copernicus. We then were able to take a lab time to go through the well written excerisize to actually do the astronomy as, say, the ancient greeks did it. You can learn how the ancient greeks were able to predict the position of the stars and planets using the principle that the earth is the center of the universe. I took the class 2 years ago, and every once and awhile i pull out the book just to read through or make a new astrolobe plate.

Fantastic!.......2000-07-21

The big problem when writing a book about history of science, is how much background to include. If you don't include any background, the ordinary reader will not really get what's going on. Evans has instead written what can best be described as a two-fold book. It's both an introduction to astronomy and an introduction to history of astronomy! His explanations, and particularly his illustrations, are excellent. Both his scholarship and his writing are exceptional! Read it!

A great work of scholarship--and great fun.......1998-11-06

An impressive compendium of thousands of years of astronomy--from Babylon to Copernicus. In tracing the history of star-gazing, Evans traces the history of science, showing how ideas arose, migrated, stood up or failed under testing, and were passed down through the centuries. One learns a deep respect for ancient astronomers. Almost 2,000 years before Columbus, Greek scientists had figured out that the world was round, and had even determined that the Earth was miniscule compared to the size of the universe. Evans is committed to the idea of learning by doing, so he gives detailed instructions on how to construct every instrument that ancient astronomers used--from sundials to astrolabes. The book is full of great science projects. I would strongly recommend this book for those interested in the history of science, ancient and medieval thought, backyard astronomy... even astrologers would benefit greatly from this book.

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The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy
James Evans
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OKFFJM

Average customer rating:

Worthy topic but poorly written and edited

Very good history book

Good and interesting, but vastly overrated by the reviewers

The Chemical Tree: A History of Chemistry
William H. Brock
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General & Reference | Chemistry | Science | Subjects | Books
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History of Science | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books
General & Reference | Chemistry | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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Transforming Matter: A History of Chemistry from Alchemy to the Buckyball (Johns Hopkins Introductory Studies in the History of Science)

The Development of Modern Chemistry

Creations of Fire: Chemistry's Lively History from Alchemy to the Atomic Age

A Short History of Chemistry (3rd ed.)

Crucibles: The Story of Chemistry from Ancient Alchemy to Nuclear Fission

ASIN: 0393320685

Book Description

From alchemy to industry, a synthetic history of chemistry through the ages. In this authoritative volume, a New York Times Notable Book of 1993, scientific researcher and historian William Brock recounts the astonishing rise of a sophisticated science. Tracing the roots of chemistry back to the alchemists' futile attempts to turn lead into gold, he follows the emergence of the modern study of chemistry through the works of Boyle, Lavoisier, and Dalton, and the twentieth-century breakthroughs of Linus Pauling and others. This timely, comprehensive history examines the shifting conceptions of chemistry over the past centuries--from its development as a scientific philosophy to, more recently, its practical applications in the commercial, industrial arena. Originally published under the title The Norton History of Chemistry.

Customer Reviews:

Worthy topic but poorly written and edited.......2006-06-02

Poorly written, poorly edited (was it edited?) and painful reading, although the topic of the history of chemistry deserves exploration and could have been made much more interesting and accessible than it was here. The writer is an overly wordy name-dropper, writing over the heads of the average science person, failing to adequately explain identities, information, and uncommon terminology before moving on. Our college class finally gave up on this book and resorted to the use of another text.

Very good history book.......2002-02-16

In short:

This is the most engaging book of history of chemistry that I have ever read. It is technical sometimes, but if you have a good high school chemistry it will be OK.

Good and interesting, but vastly overrated by the reviewers.......2001-10-31

The subject matter that Brock takes on is historically complex and rich. Unfortunately, he responds to this challenge by adopting an aloof and arrogant style in describing and detailing some of the problems. His prose and word choice is often needlessly prolix and his descriptions of many of the chemical problems were incomplete. As a Ph.D. chemist, I became suspicious of his treatment of the early history of chemistry and became more and more suspicious as the book progressed into the modern era (with which I am quite familiar). There are many mistakes in his descriptions of chemistry--though some of these seemed to be the result of bad type setting or proofreading. This book would be an impossible read for someone without a background in chemistry-there are simply too many intellectual gaps that the reader must be prepared to fill in. It is as though the author assumed that by expressing a few ideas and facts about each problem the epistemological relationships would become self-evident. This approach rarely succeeds here. A close read by a historian might also reveal an occasional Whiggish streak in his analysis of some of the events.
With this said, I did find the book interesting and informative enough to read it in its entirety. I was particularly ignorant of the history of chemical education before reading it. The disappointment that I've expressed here lies in its promise-I consider it a good first draft. But I wonder, where was the editor?

The Chemical Tree : A History of Chemistry

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The Chemical Tree : A History of Chemistry
William H. Brock
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O96INU

Book Description

This volume of Lady Bulldog’s diaries was discovered by accident in the British Library by editor Sandi Toksvig. The partially restored account of the Grand Tour undertaken by this intrepid Victorian traveler and her maid Jinks in 1880 includes a selection of Jinks’ original sketches. Of particular interest are the episodes involving Lady Burton’s initiation into the murky world of French opium dens, her entirely accidental participation in the running of the bulls in Pamplona, and a rather tiresome week on a Greek shipping vessel where, it is believed, designs for her groundbreaking double-gusset underpant first began to take shape.

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Travels of Lady Bulldog Burton
Sandi Toksvig
Manufacturer: Time Warner Books UK
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K3Y9KE

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