War Economies in a Regional Context: Challenges of Transformation (International Peace Academy Occasional Paper Series)

Book Description

Corporate DNA explores what happens when managers think about and run their companies as if they were living things. An organic model is at the heart of the transformation of companies like AT&T and EDS, working to redesign the bureaucracies that they were built upon. This book addresses the frustrations felt among corporations by focusing on the role of the organizational models in the transformation process. The book's key perception is that the choice of a mechanical or organic model results in an organizations developing either mechanical or organic structures. Those structures, in turn, lead to certain types of behavior.

Corporate DNA provides tools with which managers can replace their old mechanical models with organic ones. Readers will discover how living things use information to create work; how they learn, develop, and govern themselves; and how prototype organic corporations such as 3M and Federal Express apply organic models to their operations.

Ken Baskin, Ph.D., is a consultant on communicating quality and culture change. In addition to his own public relations business, he has worked for the US Department of Energy, the New Jersey Department of Education, and Bell Atlantic, including speech writing for CEO Ray Smith. Ken leads workshops on ¦Creating Competitive Advantage in a Market Ecology¦ and ¦Using the Principles of DNA for Problem Solving,¦ among others.

· Looks at companies as if they were living things
· Offers a new and easy way to navigate today's most turbulent markets
· Teaches how to map and apply strategies for a thriving organization

Customer Reviews:

Rules for business success in a complex 'business ecology'.......2000-06-09

Goes beyond simply advocating that organisations should be thought of as living organisms, to work through the implications and challenges of this perspective in some detail. In particular, it takes the concept of a 'business ecology' (see eg. Moore: 'The Death of Competition') to develop rules for success in a world of 'punctuated equilibrium' - periods of relative stability followed by chaotic periods due to a destabilising invader or event, from which a newly shaped ecology emerges, with different dominant species.

While this is a highly simplified view of the formation of natural ecologies (and of the underlying complexity theory), it is still useful in looking at dynamic markets.

Part 1 looks at market ecologies. The framework is a generalisation of themes that recur in many other contexts. The idea of moving to preempt or build dominance in emergent market ecologies lies at the base of Hamel and Prahalad's strategy ('Competing for the Future'). Ormerod in "The Death of Economics' proposes that economies operate to precisely the same rule of punctuated equilibrium. Baskin goes on to draw out rules for business success in market ecologies.

Part 2 takes the same analogy inside the corporation, looking at the building of identity, the flow of information and development of the 'corporate nervous system', the issue of organic community structures and finally the role of senior managers, while Part 3 makes the distinction between change and transformation and highlights the differences.

Book Description

This accessible and authoritive text has been written for students undertaking programs of study in stock and station agency practice, and for practising stock and station agents who will find this an invaluable reference work. Care has been taken to
ensure that the information contained within this book is not only accurate, but follows the syllabus provided for in the national core curriculum for rural agent/stock and station agent courses conducted throughout the country, but with some emphasis on
matters peculiar to New South Wales.

Book Description

Most biologists use nonlinear regression more than any other statistical technique, but there are very few places to learn about curve-fitting. This book, by the author of the very successful Intuitive Biostatistics, addresses this relatively focused need of an extraordinarily broad range of scientists.

Customer Reviews:

Found the book I needed!.......2005-05-12

I've been looking for a book like this for 5 years to help me understand better nonlinear regression. The only choices before this were the same old basic stats books, or the other extreme of stats books for mathematicians. As an engineer, I needed a book that does APPLIED, not THEORETICAL, nonlinear regression. This book gives examples and speaks normal English, unlike Seber and Wild's book, which is virtually devoid of examples and drowns one with matrix math instead. Seber and Wild's book is more like a dictionary of stats equations. For Motulsky's book, here are 3 examples of things you won't find in most other statistics books: 1) the difference between confidence bands and prediction bands for Y(p. 32), showing that the former doesn't include a majority of the points, while the latter does; 2) How to compute egg- and elliptical-shaped joint confidence regions for 2 parameters (p. 114-121); 3) Good explanation of 3 different ways to compute parameter conf. regions (asymptotic, Monte Carlo, model comparison). Just one of these 3 makes it worth the price of the book for me.
Motulsky has so many different helpful topics in here, that he obviously has run into many of the problems that nonlinear regression people will see. The book is helpful regardless of the software you use, because I do a lot of coding in Matlab. I may make this book a standard text for a new engineering statistics class I am preparing.
The main shortcoming of the book for me (remember that I'm an engineer) is lack of the exact equations 1) for confidence bands and prediction bands for Y (p.32), 2) for asymptotic conf. interval for parameter (p. 98), and 3) for standard error vs. standard deviation. For the first 2, the author could reference eqn. numbers in Seber and Wild or Bates so his text flow would not be interrupted. For those of us who publish, we need to know what's going on in the black box. The standard error/standard dev. formulas would make the explanation given easier to follow.
In summary, this is the book that will help walk you through many of the problems and concerns in nonlinear regression. I'm glad someone who understands my situation finally wrote it!

Fitting Models to Biological Data Using Linear and Nonlinear Regression: A Practical Guide to Curve Fitting

Average customer rating:

Fitting Models to Biological Data Using Linear and Nonlinear Regression: A Practical Guide to Curve Fitting
Arthur Christopoulos Harvey Motulsky
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OKDWRE

Amazon.com

How do bombardier beetles choose their mates? Why does a firefly's tail light up at night? What does a monk seal talk about, barking out there on the offshore reef? These questions all have some bearing on the way we humans live our lives, strange though they may seem. Diane Ackerman, a tireless explorer of the natural world, looks for answers among animals that are fast disappearing as their native habitats are destroyed--creatures such as the monarch butterfly, the short-tailed albatross, and the wonderfully named golden lion tamarin. She writes with grace and compassion, but also with a considerable command of science, which makes her work essential for students of nature writing.

Book Description

Ackerman journeys in search of monarch butterflies and short-tailed albatrosses, monk seals and golden lion tamarin monkeys: the world's rarest creatures and their vanishing habitats. She delivers a rapturous celebration of other species that is also a warning to our own. Traveling from the Amazon rain forest to a forbidding island off the coast of Japan, enduring everything from broken ribs to a beating by an irate seal, Ackerman reveals her subjects in all their splendid particularity. She shows us how they feed, mate, and migrate. She eavesdrops on their class and courtship dances. She pays tribute to the men and women hwo have deoted their lives to saving them.

Customer Reviews:

Grand Adventures!.......2005-06-12

Diane Ackerman writes with such eloquence. This book was such an enjoyable read, it is easy to forget that it deals with tough environmental issues. The author has collected short stories from many of her travels to various places to witness endangered species first-hand. From the rain forest to a remote island in Japan, she blends the story of her trip with information about the endangered species/habitat and the interesting people she meets along the way. She manages to get us to think about our impact on nature without being preachy, and in an entertaining manner. A must for any adventurer, actual or armchair.

beautiful journey.......2004-07-07

Diane Ackerman takes us on a journey from continent to continent exploring the habitat of several rare animals, including the golden lion tamarind, short-tailed albatross, and monk seal. In every case, Ackerman doesn't just observe, she gets right up close, in some cases risking or sustaining injury. She catches crickets, tags seal pups, and presses bombardier beetles to see them spray a warning. (All this is done under the eyes of experts in the various fields.) Her descriptions of the habitats are, as usual, beautiful but real enough so that you are transported right into these remote locations with her. By simply describing the work of those who study and handle the animals, Ackerman reminds us how important it is to preserve what's left of their habitats, always worth emphasizing.

Collection of essays on endangered species.......2004-03-03

I want Diane Ackerman's life. She gets to visit weird, remote, exotic locations, observe unusual flora and fauna, write about them - and earns enough money to go out and do it again.
In The Rarest of the Rare, she gathers together 6 essays previously published elsewhere; all deal with endangered species such as the golden lion tamarind, the monarchs, monk seals, and others. But she's not just a do-gooder naturalist: she's also a poet, a philosopher, and a heck of a good writer. Some of her musings, the questions she asks of herself, the parallels she makes, remind me of Annie Dillard's nature writing - her books such as Pilgrim at Tinker Creek.
It's a joy to share these things that I will never experience through the eyes of such a consummate scientist and writer and human being.
Also, for an entirely different approach to observing endangered species, see Daniel Glick's Monkey Dancing.

What We Stand to Lose.......2002-01-31

Ackerman's gift is her ability to capture and convey her wonder, delight and fascination with the creatures that inhabit the Earth. She is equally at home with whales and crocodiles, finds cuddling baby penguins as entertaining as discussing bombardier beetles and thinks nothing of tackling stormy seas and the vertical slopes of volcanic islands to catch a glimpse of a rare sea bird.

In this, her latest attempt to help humans see and understand the "interlocking business of species," Ackerman introduces us to some of the world's most beleagured inhabitants. Meet the Hawaiian monk seal with its "bulbous head covered in silky fur, with black-buttonhook-shaped eyes, a snout on which springy nostrils open full like quotation marks, tiny tab shaped ears, a spray of cat's whiskers, and many doughy chins;" the golden tamarind monkey, with its "sunset-and-corn-silk coloring;" and the magical monarch butterfly, "gliding, flapping and hitching rides on thermals like any hawk or eagle."

Then there are the creatures of the Amazon river - armoured catfish, cashew piranhas, striated herons, sphinx moths, yellow-footed tortoises and bewhiskered dolphins. On the volcanic Japanese island of Torishima, we are introduced to the last of the short-tailed albatrosses and the young Japanese orinthologist who is trying to save them.

Whether she is bushwacking through rainforests, fighting seasickness or summoning the nerve to touch a shiny beetle, Ackerman is always fully and actively present for her reader. Reading one of her books is the next best thing to being in the field with her, and certainly a lot less strenuous. This book is a treat that shouldn't be missed.

Heartfelt and beautiful.......2000-07-17

This is one of my favorite books for many reasons: it's heartfelt, knowledgable, deeply respectful of the animals and landscapes she knows personally, enviromentally conscientious, and written in unforgettable language. I don't know which I admire more-- her integrity, her passion, or the poetry of her language. I've read and reread it and will read it again.

THE RAREST OF THE RARE: VANISHING ANIMALS, TIMELESS WORLDS

Average customer rating:

THE RAREST OF THE RARE: VANISHING ANIMALS, TIMELESS WORLDS
Diane Ackerman
Manufacturer: Publisher Unknown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000WR19AQ

Book Description

This book shows how women can change their lives with running. Running can help combat stress, depression, PMS, menopausal systems and more.

Customer Reviews:

Thank you for your inspiration..........2004-01-05

Karen, I received your book at the exact right moment. I admittedly don't really like running but I love races! Yes, I know this sounds rather bizarre but I love being involved in 5km, 10km, 1/2 marathons and even triathlons! In order to finish these I need to run to train!

Well, I am just getting over a broken foot (I can walk fast but not run much yet) and have a 1/2 marathon in a week. I got Karen's book in early December and it was the kick I needed. I have been training and will be finishing my race! It may be a lot slower than originally planned but I will do it!

I highly recommend this book for women = especially if you don't think you would like to run!

a "must-read" for all women.......2002-11-16

I highly recommend this book to all women. It speaks in a unique, personal tone to all ages & athletic abilities. RUN FOR IT is a comprehensive guide that will help improve your health, fitness, and well-being.

Highly recommended for women of any age or background.......2002-08-11

Run For It: A Woman's Guide To Running For Emotional And Physical Health by freelance journalist and three-time marathon competitor Karen Bridson (who also conducts women-only running clinics at the Toronto running shop "The Running Room") is a straightforward guide to the health benefits a running regimen can provide for women, as well as how to safely pursue this great sport and physical fitness activity. From taking precautions, to protect one's physical safety, to maintaining health and learning, to stay with running in all seasons, Run For It offers a wealth of useful, practical information and is highly recommended for women of any age or background who would like to engage in running for their personal health or pleasure.

Amazon.com

Anyone interested in the English language will be fascinated by -- and then obsessed with -- this dictionary that reads like an erudite gossip column for the city of words.

Book Description

The first Edition of the Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins detailed the fascinating and little known stories behind thousands of words and phrases that we use every day. In this new edition, William and Mary Morris update and expand their classic work to keep pace with our ever changing language.

New entries include:

New trends--crack, glitch, greenmail, Harrier attack airplanes
Foreign terms--falafel, geisha, jihad, paparazzi
People--batman, dead end kid, Dutch uncle, hatchet man, Young Turks
Given names--Chester, Edith, Jennifer and others
Food--Adam and Eve on a raft, alligator pear, grapefruit, Harriet Lane
Sports--box score, cheese champions, full court press
and many more

Throughout the Morris's present the histories of intriguing expressions in an eminently entertaining and readable fashion.

Customer Reviews:

Entertainment value that sticks with you through the years.......2005-06-24

I owned an earlier edition of this book and lost track of it some 30 years ago. I've been haunting bookstores for it ever since, but (duh) it only just occurred to me to search Amazon. Others are right, it's really not a reference book. It is simply an endlessly entertaining trove of interesting trivia about the source of our idioms.

Excellent reference for phrase origins.......2003-08-27

Just a short comment: I own several reference books on phrase etymology. This is the best of the bunch.

Better Resources Available..........2003-04-05

I much prefered The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins by Robert Hendrickson. The Morris book seemed very random, while the work by Hendrickson seemed more in-depth.

Enjoyable book, but not true dictionary.......2002-07-17

This book is an enjoyable read, with some phrases I have not found in other work phrase books (and I have about six such type books.) However, I think the title of the book has given this book and average rating among reviewers. Those expecting a comprehensive amount of word/phrase origins will be disappointed, but no fault of theirs, the book's title is misleading. The book's title should be something like "Interesting Word and Phrase Origins". It's also a little high-priced for what you get new, so definately get a used version.

Handy, but I've seen much better.......2001-05-29

As a budding linguist (by hobby not vocation) it's kind of fun to be able to cross-reference with other dictionaries of word origins. But if you are of limited funds or just want a better source, I'd definitely suggest you give this a miss and go for something by Ayto or Oxford.

Average customer rating:

Dictionary Of Word And Phrase Origins
Morris
Manufacturer: Harper & Row
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000EZJTBC

Product Description

Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins VOLUME TWO.

Average customer rating:

Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins
William Morris; And Mary Morris
Manufacturer: HARPER & ROW, PUBLISHERS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OKJQKG

Average customer rating:

Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins
Morris
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

English (All) | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Etymology | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0060130687

Average customer rating:

Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins
William & Mary Morris
Manufacturer: Harper & Row
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OR6HZG

DICTIONARY OF WORD AND PHRASE ORIGINS 2 VOLUMES

Average customer rating:

DICTIONARY OF WORD AND PHRASE ORIGINS 2 VOLUMES
William & Mary Morris
Manufacturer: Harper & Row
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N3RAM0

Average customer rating:

Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins 2 Volumes
William and Mary Morris
Manufacturer: Harper & Row
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KOQBSQ

Dictionary Of Word And Phrase Origins Volume II

Average customer rating:

Dictionary Of Word And Phrase Origins Volume II
Morris
Manufacturer: Harper & Row
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JDA0TE

Average customer rating:

Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins Volume II
William and Mary Morris
Manufacturer: Harper & Row
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NZOTN6

Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins, Vol I and II

Average customer rating:

Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins, Vol I and II
William and Mary Morris
Manufacturer: Harper
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K00YT2

Book Description

In this fresh and contemporary look at the world of workbenches, Lon Schleining takes us on a guided tour of a wide variety of classic, modern, and specialty benches and offers hundreds of options for choosing or building that perfect bench and its accessories. The Workbench looks at the classic subject with a focus on helping readers find the right bench and accessories for their needs. The object is to guide the reader through making critical choices, including whether to buy it or build it. Even long-time woodworkers dream of the perfect bench and the time to build it, and for them the real enjoyment is in the planning. With 279 color photos and additional illustrations, this book provides in-depth information along with the inspiration to fulfill workshop dreams.

Customer Reviews:

Not quite complete.......2007-07-16

Scant on details but good for ideas to design and build your own bench.......especially if you have not even seen one before.

The Incredible Workbench Creation.......2007-05-28

There are two categories for this review.

Firstly is the short period of time it took for the book to arrive from America to Australia, being just 14 days. This was impressive to say the least!

The second part is not only the fact that it is a brand new hard back in perfect condition, but that the information inside the book is incredible. this was not my first choice for a work book, but has so far been my best choice.

Recommended to anyone thinking of looking up how to build a work bench - from this group. Thanks guys.

Andrew

Nice to get ideas.......2007-03-03

This book shows those "I wish I'd thought of that" moments. Very good reference and idea book.

Read again and again and again.......2006-12-03

It seems that I read this book then I am reading another book on the same subject. It never fails but I will have to reread a portion of this book to put everything together so the new book makes sense. Other times I will just have a thought come to mind as I am designing a new bench. A quick scan of this book puts the idea's in order to fit what a customer wishes for their custom bench. Saves making a lot of false steps while building a bench you have not built before.
drayegon

Great book on workbench philosphy and design.......2006-02-12

This is a great book for what I wanted - a survey and idea book to design my own bench. Essentially the author surveys a number of different woodworkers and what type of benches they use and why. The book is broken down into logic chapters on various components of the bench including the top, base, vises and holding techniques. He covers ideas on how the bench fits in the shop, ergonomics, tool storage/trays, holding wood, and other issues related to layout and placement. It covers some history of workbenches but isn't a history book.

In Chapter 8 he explains his bench design and building process. This is really a nice design and I think I will use it for the basis of my bench. Note as 1 reviewer mentioned that this isn't a very detailed engineering view plan; it contains basic part measurements in a 3-dimensional view. It is enough information to design and build the same bench but you may have to dimension out a few things in more detail when building yours.

The layout and photography in this book are excellent, and the writing style is easy to follow.

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