Chinese Economic Transition and International Marketing Strategy

Book Description

As China's markets evolve, marketing strategy must adapt to meet changing circumstances. Alon and his contributors provide a comprehensive look at how economic transition affects marketings strategies across a wide range of industries, including telecommunications, the auto industry, the hospitality industry, the airline industry, textiles, cosmetics, and wine. In addition, they discuss the changing situation of joint ventures, collective enterprises, and state-owned businesses. Bringing divergent perspectives to bear from Hong Kong, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and China itself, the marketers and scholars who contributed to this volume have integrated research relating to economic transition with strategic considerations for more effective and competitive marketing plans. In addition to the industry-specific information, this volume includes chapters on entry barriers, e-commerce, market research, branding, and promotion.

Customer Reviews:

An excellent book on a niche market.......2003-05-30

The book provides excellent analysis of several Chinese industries. As a CTO of a software development company I found the sections regarding Chinese e-Commerce and web sites trends insightful. The author covers the dot com effects on Chinese computer consumption and its impact on US markets. I strongly recommend this book to anyone looking to gain a well researched (and well written) perspective on Chinese businesses and behavior.

An excellent well written book.......2003-05-30

Book Description

Money and Macroeconomics is a significant collection of David Laidler's most important papers on the so-called 'monetarist counter-revolution'. This volume contains both published and unpublished examples of his influential contribution, detailing empirical work on the demand for money, the economics of inflation, the foundations of the 'buffer stock' approach to monetary theory, the monetarist critique of new classical economics and issues of economic policy. David Laidler has also prepared a personal memoir to accompany his volume which gives a revealing account of his academic career and influences and places each essay in its original intellectual context. Money and Macroeconomics presents in one volume of David Laidler's most important contributions to monetary economics. It will be invaluable to monetary and financial economists as well as policy makers and historians of economic thought.

Book Description

This is the very first work on the Certified Internet Webmaster E-Commerce exam, in our dependable Certification Bible format, to appeal to motivated test-takers as well as those responsible for implementing e-commerce on the job.

CIW E-Commerce Designer Certification Bible closely follows Prosoft Training's curriculum and their objectives for the CIW E-Commerce exam. Throughout the chapters and exercises, the authors use a mock Web site, created to be used as a case-study for all phases of design and development. Topics include legal issues, marketing to the web, online promotion techniques, building a web site, attracting e-customers, supporting business-to-business activities, using online storefront packages, working with IIS, working with Site Server (Commerce Edition), customization, transaction security, and management.

Covers: Exam 1D0 425

Customer Reviews:

Good, but not good enough.......2002-12-05

First of all let me congratulate you for your efforts in becoming an Certified E-Commerce professional, before writting this review I thought about this book a lot, I have to tell you that I read it from cover to cover and here are my thoughts: This book is extremely long, it talks about issues that you will not get on the exam nor they will be applied in real life, the test engine to my surprise had many, many errors, they were questions that will contradict themselves or sometimes you will find 2 correct answers when the test engine was only asking for one, futhermore, some questions had the wrong answer or were asked with insufficient information, bottom line it made it more confusing. It would mixed terms like EDI, SET and SSL.

Did I pass? yes, some questions in the test were addressed in the book, I also used online examcrams and free tests. You can pass the test with this book, but I think there room for improvement. Unfortunately, I cannot recommed this book, the most important chapter Security was left almost at the end, the explanation for symmetric and asymmetric encryption were very brief and doesn't explain it in a way you can understand it easily, also one of the key subjects for e-commerce today is security, which the book left for the end (when you are tired and your concentration is not at its peak) this makes it a lot more difficult. I wouldn't rely on the test engine at all, rather I will look for a more subject comprehensive and to-the-point text. I hope this comment might help in your search for an e-commerce text book and good luck!

Great pre-testing material.......2002-11-02

Once again the CIW Bibles are worth the price! Everything you need to get you through the test and pass.
Thanks a ton

Only book I used, and I passed!.......2002-03-13

This is the only book I used to study for the E-commerce exam and I passed with an 85 percent. I think it is very adequate for the exam, but perhaps has some extra material (like Actinic Businees and so forth) that you do not need to know.

This book can be a bit confusing, so I recommend that you do all the questions in the book and also all the practice questions on the CD.

Here's what I did: the two nights before the exam, I reviewed every single chapter's pre-test as well as the chapter reviews and the questions at the end of the chapter. I also read all of the exam tips in each chapter (these are life savers for the exam). Make sure you do this!

The night before the exam I took three out of four tests from the CD. I recommend if you have the time and are confused to do all these tests and to go over them an additional time. This process will help you focus on the priorities for the exam. Best of luck on the exam!

great book!.......2002-01-23

After being unimpressed with some of the stale CIW material
available, I was pleasantly surprised with the CIW E-Commerce
Bible.

The book is well suited to self-study, it treats the material
in depth, and yet weaves in exercises and labs to keep you
interested. The labs give you a reasonably "hands-on" feel
for the material. You're expected to have a Windows 2000
Professional or Windows 98 PC on the net for the labs.

The book comes with a Boson practice exam and a CD
with various packages. My only gripe is that the three were
not as well integrated as I would have liked. The practice
exams weren't great, but after taking and passing the CIW
test, I'd have to say they are as good as the real thing.
It's important to learn the CIW exam way of thinking, which does
not necessarily match the real world.

The packages on the CD did not match what the book expected.
For example, it's not necessary to have Winzip to unzip the
E-business software on the CD, but the book believes it is.
The Apache source code package on the CD won't install,
but you can download it from apache.org. The errata sheet at The book did the job for me. After a read-through, the labs,
and the practice exams, I passed with 88%.

An example on how self- paced study books should be written.......2001-12-21

This book delivered me an 84% pass in the exam through self-paced study.
This was the only resource I used other than the Internet.

An excellent feature of this book is that it is crammed full of real e-commerce applications that allows you to simulate an online business to get the hang of what online commerce is all about.
You will learn about :
Creating online catalogues
Shopping carts
Shipping scenarios
Payment models

These are all essential elements that have to be experienced from the other side to comprehend how a successful online store should be constructed.

The exam question-testing engine included in the CD is the best I have come across.
To guarantee maximum success in passing the exam and or comprehending E-commerce principles make sure you follow the authors "How to use this book section".

This publication will feature in a prominent position on my bookcase as a comprehensive companion "oracle" to all real world E-Commerce matters for some years to come.

Customer Reviews:

The most help I've found in one spot for my new business........1998-10-26

Lindsey o'Connor's book has become a "best friend" to me in getting my publishing company up and running. The corners of the pages are now dog-eared and my highlighter is dry from all the passages I've marked. She covers everything from organizing your closets to marketing your product. You're going to love it!

Book Description

"A much-needed, comprehensive, and essential reference for special events professionals throughout the world. My copy will always be at arm's reach as I use this to research, design, coordinate, and plan world class events such as those provided by Ms. Malouf's extraordinary book." —Dr. Joe Jeff Goldblatt, CSEP Founding Director, The Event Management Program The George Washington University

"From how you start planning the event, to how you create beautiful designs, to running an effective and profitable event office, to themed events —this book is an all-inclusive event designer's 'How To!'." —Tim Lundy, CSEP Distinctive Design Events, Atlanta, Georgia

"This book is a must on the bookshelf of every event practitioner who wants to be the consummate event designer." —Richard Aaron, CMP, CSEP President, Mallory Factor, Inc.

Lena Malouf, CSEP, is recognized as an international authority in the special events, party, and floral industries. She gives you an arsenal of proven techniques to administer, coordinate, and create a special event that will leave your clients and their guests with a truly memorable experience. Lavishly illustrated, this valuable guide is packed with inspirational and imaginative examples of Malouf's most successful corporate events, theme parties, flower arrangements, table designs, and much more. Packed with checklists, forms, and double-checking methods, this book helps you feel confident that even the tiniest detail will not be missed.

This practical how-to book covers:

Inspirational concept and theme ideas
What to include in contracts and agreements
Setting a budget and sticking to it
Creating a more efficient work schedule
Using the power of color to its fullest potential
The endless possibilities of design, décor, and sets
Exquisite flower arrangements and beautiful linens

For the newcomer, student, or professional planner, this step-by-step book walks you through the entire event process.

Customer Reviews:

Dated & disappointing! .......2005-07-18

Warning to potential buyers of this book...it's pretty expensive for what you get - have to say I expected a gorgeous hard cover and lots of glossy pics but it is NOT like that. Whilst the cover is hard, there is minimal coloured pics. All in all, whilst this book has good ideas I was generally disappointed.

Outdated for Event Planners of the New Millennium!.......2000-05-08

If you are not a professional event organizer planning a non-official function, this book may be of some use to you. However, I found the book a disappointment due to the fact that most of the material including context, venue layout, theme concepts, designs, and especially the photos (mostly in black & white) very outdated. These material would have been useful in the early 80s. Definitely not worth the price it is charging.

Average customer rating:

Scam reference from New York Times, etc!

"You'll need 50-100 copies (of your resume)."

Misleading Title!

Only 3 pages with tips on how to apply!

The book's focus is actually the life and work onboard

How to Get a Job With a Cruise Line: How to Sail Around the World on Luxury Cruise Ships and Get Paid for It (How to Get a Job With a Cruise Line)
Mary Fallon Miller
Manufacturer: Ticket to Adventure
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Guides | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

How To Get A Job On A Cruise Ship

Cruise Ship Job In 14 Days: The Laser Strategy For Next Generation Applying

ASIN: 0962401935

Book Description

New 5th Edition. Finally, a legitimate guide to Cruise Ship Jobs!

If you've dreamed of traveling the world aboard luxury cruise ships and getting paid for it- this book is for you. Recommended by the New York Times, US News & World Report, Conde Nast Traveler, Miami Herald and the 23 cruise line members of the Cruise Lines International Association.

This guide gives you complete Job Contacts, Web sites, email, addresses, phone numbers and fax numbers. Choose from 300 jobs. Complete Job Descriptions with personal stories from employees and personnel directors gets you aboard.

17,000 copies have sold to eager job seekers like yourself. Get ahead of your competition. Get How to Get a Job with a Cruise Line and Get PAID to Travel! Now in its 5th Edition.

Customer Reviews:

Scam reference from New York Times, etc! .......2005-02-25

Give me 15 seconds and I'll prove you that the so called recommendations from the biggest names in the US Media are scam and they will never ever even look at such "book".
1. No page numeration! Have you ever seen a book which doesn't have page numeration? I haven't, nor did I think I will until I opened this "book".
2. No header! Have you seen a book without a header stating the book's name and the current chapter or the author's name? This doesn't have also this standard element.
3. No Table of Contents! Have you seen a book without a Table of Contents, which immediately shows you exactly on which page to find curtain chapter or topic? Well, this doesn't have such. I was lost in it and the only way to find anything in this book is to list many pages until luckily I find it. If the author cannot provide us with the standard navigation for a book HOW she will help you with something as complicated as getting a cruise ship job?
Furthermore, just think for a moment. Thousands of top quality books are being all the time rejected for review from New York Times and similar big names. So tell me, which respecting himself editor will even look at amateurish "book" like this one without any page numeration, header, Table of Contents and great value for the reader? Not even one!

In adition, the first 3.5 pages are full with paragraph long quotes from people such as "J.S", "J.B. Owen", "V. Durej", "Amy Oliver", etc anonymous people living in the middle of nowhere. BUT not even a word WHO, WHAT Exactly and in WHICH issue of New York Times, Conde Naste Traveler, Miami Herald, etc have said about this ridiculous "book".

As a Sales and Marketing Manager with 11 years experince I guarantee you with my signature that this is an author's trick designed entirely to increase the sales of her book which otherwise has very little to offer regarding "how to get a cruise ship job".

I can excuse the difficult to read huge font size, overstretched content, the few pages with practical advice on successful applying but NEVER an obvious manipulation against the readers' best interest! If you buy this book, you are not different from a brainless sheep and the author will keep on using such shameful marketing tricks instead of providing great value and service with her book!

If you are looking for a "legitimate" book on cruise jobs which is independantly recommended as "5-star Exceptional" from an authority such as Foreword Magazine and everyone can immediately verify it at www.ForeWordreviews.com, buy Cruise Ship Job in 14 Days.

"You'll need 50-100 copies (of your resume)." .......2005-02-08

I will present two points in this book which amazed me unpleasantly. Let's start with the following advice for resume writing: "You'll need 50-100 copies. Sounds like a lot? Don't cheat yourself. You will have to send your resume with each of your initial applications and any follow up correspondence."

This sounds like buying as many lottery tickets as possible only and only to increase your chances to win the big prize. She stresses on huge quantity "50-100 copies", which from my background as Desktop Publisher I can label as mass mailing. In the brick and mortar world its success ratio is around 1% in case that the marketing/sales pitch is really good.

Furthermore you can read: "Carefully proofread your resume as if your job depends on its accuracy. A misspelling or typo brands you as careless..." Well, while I was reading the book, I found 3 typos, 4 grammar mistakes and 3 serious defects in the typesetting of the book. I really want her to DO what she preaches. Unfortunately she neither cares so much how qualitative is her book nor will be your resume. Cynthia Ossenfort, the author of Cruise Ship Jobs! is the other example of going overboard with:" Have a professional photo made and make about 30-50 quality copies."

In the category's bestseller Cruise Ship Job in 14 Days the author advices to make one, maximum two resumes, which are targeted to a specific cruise line, position and hiring manager. Also he has written that The Professional Association of Resume Writers does NOT recommend sending any photos. That's why I prefer to skip the Numbers Game of Mary Miller and Cynthia Ossenfort and follow "The LASER Strategy for Next Generation Applying" in Cruise Ship Job in 14 Days. It will be cheaper and there is greater possibility to get a cruise ship job!

Misleading Title!.......2005-02-02

The title of the book is "How to get a job with a cruise line". However this is NOT at all what the author is talking about. The book is full with mainly autobiographical stories, which don't give any insider information. These people have had a hired relative, nearby office of a cruise line, 14 years experience or something similar. This makes them useless for the typical applicants who have to rely entirely on the quality of their cover letter and resumes. With only few pages mainly common sense tips on writing and applying this book can only tell you what is onboard BUT NOT and how to get there!

Only 3 pages with tips on how to apply!.......2005-02-02

I thought that this book in addition to description of the work and life onboard provides detailed information on how to write a cover letter and resume as well as to pass an interview. Unfortunately all I found about this were 3 pages with common sense tips. I think that instead of having 15 caricatures and funny pictures long 1/2-1 page the author had to provide detailed information on these 3 crucial for successful applying topics. That's why if you really want to get a cruise ship job search for another book.

The book's focus is actually the life and work onboard.......2005-01-20

The name of the book is quite misleading because half of the book consists of "Questions and Answers" to different aspects of the life and work onboard. There are also so many personal stories from people performing all kinds of cruise ship jobs. That's why the book gives insider information, which can be found to some extend only in "Working on Cruise Ship". If you are interested in the book for its potential to help you for writing a great cover letter and resume you will be disappointed because it contains only few pages with common sense tips. Actually this is typical for all other books.

The only exception is "Cruise Ship Job in 14 Days", which provides complete instructions based on the Professional Association of Resume Writers Standards. However it doesn't contain even one personal story. As you see there is specialization, which I guess is forced from the huge amount of information, which has to cover a book either on the life and work onboard or on writing a competitive application and acing the interview after this. If you can afford it your best bet is to buy two books, which cover both sides- applying and working onboard.

Average customer rating:

5 Years Old Useless Book!
"all new, second edition"- Lie! The prove
Nice try!
Only 3 pages on how to write your application!
5 years old, useless information

How To Get A Job On A Cruise Ship
Don H. Kennedy
Manufacturer: Careersource Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Job Hunting | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

jp-unknown2 | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0929255259

Book Description

Would you like to be making money and having fun at the same time? The major Cruise Lines hire more than 30,000 new employees on-board each year in 100 skill areas, from trainee to experienced. This all new, second edition explains step by step how and where to apply to get a job with more than 30 Cruise Lines and 100 Cruise Ships. Written from the author's personal experience with four cruise lines. Details what jobs are available and what you would do in each position; where to apply for each position and what to send with your application to be considered; what to include in your cover letters and resumes; how and when you should follow up to get an offer.

Customer Reviews:

5 Years Old Useless Book!.......2005-06-08

The author states in the book description "all new second edition" but this is lie. It is still first edition written more than 5 years ago. This automatically makes all addresses, telephone numbers and time sensitive information good for nothing. Furthermore, there are only few pages with tips on how to apply. If he has succeeded to get a cruise ship job his book has NO potential to help anyone to do the same. Instead of it I highly recommend the only "exceptional, 5-star" book in the world at this category "Cruise Ship Job in 14 Days". Thanks to it I got a job at Royal Caribbean Cruises in 17 days and from July 1 I will see those paradise-like islands sailing on a 5-star luxury cruise ship.

"all new, second edition"- Lie! The prove.......2005-03-01

When I looked at the book I neither found such information on the front or back cover, nor in its content. It is clearly written "first edition March 1, 2000" and this is the truth! The author can and do say anything in the description BUT the ugly reality is that he is shameless enough to lie you only and only to sell you his 5 years old, low quality book.

As a Sales Manager with 11 years experience I am telling you that his tips are practically useless for marketing and selling yourself to the cruise lines. That's why this author and his book are for 0.5-star rating because trust and honesty are the foundation of everything. Instead of shamelessly lying you, it is better to finally move his ass a little bit and at least update his book although it badly needs a transplantation of valuable content! If you are looking for the latest cutting edge stategies for applying and writing an impact cover letter and resume, the only book in the world I recommend is Cruise Ship Job in 14 Days!

Nice try!.......2005-02-13

This is a nice try for a good quality book. It is neither updated for the past 5 years, nor it offers something more than good tips on cover letter and resume writing. I doubt that anyone can defeat the severe competition for any cruise ship job having only this as foundation and advice.

I have also bought Cruise Ship Job in 14 Days and if I have to compare them it's just like Ph.D thesis and pupil's notebook with tips and tidbits of basic information. I followed The L.A.S.E.R Strategy for Next Generation Applying and got a job in 10 days as an Engineer onboard of Royal Caribbean Cruises. That's why if you really want a cruise ship employment at least you will need the current addresses of the cruise lines in order your application to reach them. Does the author care that the ones in his book are 5 years old? NO! Will you rely on him for the best possible advice and strategies on getting a cruise ship job?

Only 3 pages on how to write your application!.......2005-02-10

This book promises to help you with a tough task such as getting a cruise ship job. That's why I wonder HOW you can write an attention-grabbing application when the author provides you only with 3 pages tips on cover letter and resume writing. If he has been lucky enough to get a job I doubt that anything from the brief advice in the book and the 5 years old addresses and telephone numbers will help YOU to achieve the same result. If you really want to get a cruise ship employment the only book which I feel confident to recommend in written form is the category's bestseller- Cruise Ship Job in 14 Days.

5 years old, useless information.......2005-01-22

A true expert will keep his book up-to-date giving his readers the most accurate and current information. For the past 5 YEARS this book is NOT touched from its author. This is the reason why most of the addresses, telephone and fax numbers are outdates and useless. Tell me how your application will reach a cruise line, so they can consider you, if the address from the book is wrong? The only current and full with instructions from the Professional Association of Resume Writers book is Cruise Ship Job in 14 Days. Check it out.

How to get a job on a cruise ship: A step-by-step guide

Average customer rating:

How to get a job on a cruise ship: A step-by-step guide
Don Kennedy
Manufacturer: Official Career Guides
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Transportation | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006EY9HU

Average customer rating:
Yes You Can... Achieve Financial Independence: A New Diet for Financial Independence
James E Stowers , and Jack Jonathan
Manufacturer: Andrews McMeel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Financial Planning | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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The Best Is Yet To Be

ASIN: 0962978892

Book Description

This insightful book presents information that's great for your financial well-being and easy to digest. It contains money-management strategies and ideas never before revealed.

Yes, You Can . . . Achieve Financial Independence will:

" Reveal strategies for combating your biggest enemy-the shrinking value of a dollar.

" Teach you important facts about stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.

" Show you how investing even a small amount every month, year after year, can result in much higher yields than investing the same amount annually as a lump sum.

" Explain ways you can budget for all the necessities of day-to-day living while investing for the future.

This book includes Stowers Financial Analysis CD-ROM. The Stowers Financial Analysis software helps you think about your long-term financial goals-providing the facts needed to develop a plan to make them come true. The detailed interactive worksheets help you learn exactly where you are today and what it will take to continue improving your financial position (for PC and Mac).

Average customer rating:

if you are still curious about the history of management & marketing, particularly from a CEO's perspective...

Very good insight into the vacuum-sealed area of Apple

Beyond Self Pity there is Actual Value and Insight

Apple Made a Big Mistake

The Man Who Saved Apple

On the Firing Line: My 500 Days at Apple
Gil Amelio , and William L. Simon
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Company Profiles | Biography & History | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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Apple: The Inside Story of Intrigue, Egomania, and Business Blunders

Odyssey: Pepsi to Apple : A Journey of Adventure, Ideas, and the Future

Apple Confidential 2.0: The Definitive History of the World's Most Colorful Company

Big Blues: The Unmaking of IBM

Marketing High Technology

ASIN: 0887309194

Amazon.com

It's hard to think of a company that has captured the public imagination as much as Apple Computer. The rise and fall of the business that single-handedly created the PC market and then let it slip away has been the fodder for several books, most notably Insanely Great by Steven Levy and more recently Jim Carlton's Apple: The Inside Story of Intrigue, Egomania, and Business Blunders. Now in On The Firing Line, former Apple CEO Gil Amelio tells his own story about his 500 days at Apple.

The book provides some insight into the significant events that occurred under Amelio's watch, such as Apple's failed in-house development of Copland, the search to license an operating system for the Macintosh, as well as details about those who would buy Apple including Sun Microsystems and Oracle. But the real focus of the book is Amelio's own frustrations in working with Apple's chaotic and undisciplined culture as well as Steve Jobs, the man who would eventually fire him. Although Amelio's account is at times overly self-serving, On the Firing Line is an interesting read that should interest most Macaholics.

Book Description

On the Firing Line: My 500 Days at Apple is Gil Amelio's gripping and fast-paced recollection of what happened during his seventeen months as the CEO of Apple. This is the revealing story of how a proven high-technology turnaround artist took on the biggest challenge of his careerand perhaps his life.

At once a frank revelation of the inner workings of Apple and a cautionary tale of business in today's changing marketplace, On the Firing Line is a must-read for Apple devotees and anyone interested in the politics of today's digital economy.

Customer Reviews:

if you are still curious about the history of management & marketing, particularly from a CEO's perspective..........2006-10-17

On the Firing Line: My 500 Days at Apple
by Gil Amelio

Towards the end of the nineties, I came across this book. I was attracted to it because I was partly fascinated by the author's earlier work, 'Profit from Experience: The National Semiconductor Story of Transformation Management' which I had read a few years earlier. The latter documented the author's success story at National Semiconductor. I had also reviewed this book on amazon website.

This book captured the author's unsuccessful attempt to turn around the world's most famous personal computing company, where he had spent some seventeen months earlier at the helm. He eventually got himself fired by Steve Jobs. In the book, he obviously conveyed a sense of disbelief that he had gotten himself into such a mess.

As I was reading this book at that time, I could not help recalling a similar kind of hard-hitting & compelling account of life as a CEO of Apple Computer almost a decade earlier i.e. towards the late eighties. I am referring to John Sculley's 'Odyssey: Pepsi to Apple : A Journey of Adventure, Ideas, and the Future.' In the book, John Sculley vividly described how, after working as an executive for Pepsi, developing winning strategies in the Cola Wars, & being promoted to president at age 38, he abandoned a "second-wave" company to join Apple, a "third-wave" firm epitomizing creativity, & innovation. He eventually got himself out-manoeuvred & then fired by Steve Jobs. What a coincidence?

Interestingly, the book also captured Steve Jobs' infamous challenge to John Sculley to take up the CEO job offer: `Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water, or do you want to change the world?'

Even up to today, what intrigues me most about the 'On the Firing Line' book is the author's failure (he practically faced an uphill task from Day I, despite the fact he is a PhD technologist by training!) in replicating his previous 'model of success' at National Semiconductor in the Apple setting? I can only deduce in broad terms, the 'clash of iconic personalities' & 'culture shock' as possible contributing factors.

I can only say this: if you are still curious about the history of management & marketing, particularly from a CEO's perspective within Silicon Valley, the above two books, namely 'On the Firing Line' & 'Odyssey' certainly offer some valuable lessons.

Both books had been very fascinating for me to read.

Very good insight into the vacuum-sealed area of Apple.......2006-01-04

Gil Amelio provides excellent advice on how to deal with the difficult, stubborn and bright people who run Apple. At the end of the book it becomes clear that "if you contend with an influential person, then you will fall into his power" (Old Testmnt., Sirach 8:1).

Dr. Amelio contended with Steve Jobs and challenged him in many ways. For example, back in the winter of 1995, Mac OS 7 was having problems and possible solutions were "two years" away (p. 151). Amelio immediately started the process of fixing OS 7 and contacted three outside sources: Bill Gates who promised to "put hundreds of people on the probject" (p. 152) even though Mr. Gates' technical solutions were "sophomoric at best" (153); Jean Louis Gassee who "scarmbled to the top of the Apple organization in France" but lacked the ability to create " a steady stream of new products" (p. 154); and Steve Wozniak who was concerned that "Apple was not putting enough energy into education" (p. 223). At the same time Apple engineers worked on "Copland" and "Gershwin".

The well-known result of the efforts of Amelio and others lead to the July 1997 release of OS 8.1 which sold 1.25 million copies in less than two weeks and became the best selling software of that time. However, the private result of Amelio's efforts to fix OS 7 by consulting outside sources was the humiliation of Mr. Jobs and his followers. Amelio writes, "To someone obsessed, when another person gets in the way, the solution is to roll right over him... I was in Steve's way and had to be eliminated" (p. 269).

"On the Firing Line" is a very good book, because "On the Firing Line" is fun to read, full of excellent advice for business people, discusses some of the major personalities in Silicon Valley, shows the brilliance of Mac engineers, gives examples of the "narrowness, passivity and lack of unity" within Apple (pp. 268, 276), and is a business person's review of "what the heck just happened?" after getting fired from a job without good reasons.

Beyond Self Pity there is Actual Value and Insight.......2005-04-21

I know he seems rather naive and in a serious mode of self pity, but Jobs is infamously known for getting under people's skin and turning them inside out. He can make you a true believer, a zealot, or fill you with such dour disposition that you'd even contemplate suicide. He's that powerful. And it looks like Gil is caught up in that distortion field to his determent, so cut him a break please.

Now I was there before and after Amelio was there, when things were in dire straits. My manager in a team meeting would ask "Common sense, and why is there none at Apple?" When in a rare moment, all of the QA divisions would say thumbs down to shipping the buggy OS, the infamous Dave Nagel would say ship it anyways. The local community college in Cupertino (who dearly love Macs) had actually put a purchase freeze on Macs. I recall Amelio relaying a story about him trying out the new Macs at his desk, and had it crash all the time; he understood there was a serious problem and tried to do something about it, but unfortunately there was Nagel and others. Some engineers' attitudes was the workaround for the bug was to "buy a new computer". Now Nagel is off to Palm to destroy drive that into the ground.

Other infamous people were Ike Nassi (a.k.a. Ike Nasty) who was known for gauging funding from the TCP/IP stack (OpenTransport) and spending on pet projects he was dazzled with. OpenTransport later became affectionately called BrokenTransport internally.

Gil has account for dealing with these two infamous characters and others, and it is rather enlightening. I only wish he had the minerals to fire their butts.

Apple Made a Big Mistake.......2003-08-25

After reading this book, I came to a conclusion that Apple made a big mistake by getting rid of Amelio. The truth is, they could be a lot further along than they are, even today, had they not have made the descision to oust him from his post after only a year and a half. The book is written very well, and is a book that you can get through, and understand easily. There were not many typos that I noticed in the book. This is a must read for Apple fans, Windows fans, and businessmen alike.

The Man Who Saved Apple.......2002-03-06

It is now clear why the best OS in the world didn't catch on. If the business fundamentals of a company are not sound, the company will lose marketshare and eventually...fail.

Here is a look into how Apple's loose corporate culture almost became it's undoing. This book proves that you can have all the talent in the world, but if there is no discipline and teamwork, it will all be for not. I had thought Gil's short tenure was due to incompetance....a stuffed shirt who was wrong for the job. I mean, Steve Jobs saved Apple...right?

Wrong. Gil was exactly what Apple needed. Apple had a rotten core of self-serving individuals. I find it incredible that Apple management would listen to Gil's order and then do nothing to act on them. His biggest failure was a failure not to kick their lazy butts out the door sooner! How can a business be run with everyone doing their own thing? And surprise...the sales people were only interested in achieving a certain quantity of sales even if it meant selling computers at such a low price that the company lost money on a per unit basis.

If you are into Apple and/or business turnaround stories, this is a great read. I could hardly put it down. Throw in Gil's encounters with Bill Gates and Steve Jobs and you really get keen insight into the whole computer industry and the personalities of the industries biggest movers and shakers.

It is ironic that today so many credit Apple's turnaround to Steve Jobs. If you still believe that then you really need to read this book.

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On The Firing Line - My 500 Days At Apple
Gil and Simon, William L. Amelio
Manufacturer: Harper-business
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IWB44Q

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