For practitioners, this text provides an easy-to-understand approach to strategic planning and execution. The general recipe for achieving an intended outcome is equal parts of the following: clear vision and mission, a practical strategic plan, daily activities linked to the mission, and unified commitment to the plan. However, orchestrating the details of these necessary components is somewhat more complicated. Crash Course in Strategic Planning uses a process approach to the creation of a strategic plan, providing practitioners with no-nonsense instruction on planning. The volume is arranged to lead the reader through the stages of planning, from the beginning development stages through the execution of the plan to completing the plan and attaining the objective. A variety of recommended planning techniques are supplied for groups to use to accomplish their planning goals, and the final chapter emphasizes the importance of overall organizational commitment to execution of the plan.

"This text provides an easy-to-understand approach to strategic planning and execution for the practitioner"--

When Fortune Magazine estimated that 70% of all strategies fail, it also noted that most of these strategies were basically sound, but could not be executed. The central premise of Strategic Project Management Made Simple is that most projects and strategies never get off the ground because of adhoc, haphazard, and obsolete methods used to turn their ideas into coherent and actionable plans. Strategic Project Management Made Simple is the first book to couple a step-by-step process with an interactive thinking tool that takes a strategic approach to designing projects and action initiatives. Strategic Project Management Made Simple builds a solid platform upon four critical questions that are vital for teams to intelligently answer in order to create their own strong, strategic foundation. These questions are: 1. What are we trying to accomplish and why? 2. How will we measure success? 3. What other conditions must exist? 4. How do we get there? This fresh approach begins with clearly understanding the what and why of a project - comprehending the bigger picture goals that are often given only lip service or cursory reviews. The second and third questions clarify success measures and identify the risky assumptions that can later cause pain if not spotted early. The how questions - what are the activities, budgets, and schedules - comes last in our four-question system. By contrast, most project approaches prematurely concentrate on the how without first adequately addressing the three other questions. These four questions guide readers into fleshing out a simple, yet sophisticated, mental workbench called "the Logical Framework" - a Systems Thinking paradigm that lays out one's own project strategy in an easily accessible, interactive 4x4 matrix. The inclusion of memorable features and concepts (four critical questions, LogFrame matrix, If-then thinking, and Implementation Equation) make this book unique.

This is the time to expand your career opportunities-and the knowledge in here can be the key. This third edition compresses the most significant skills and lessons of a two year MBA into one comprehensive guide. With clear, concise information, expert Tom Gorman includes recent developments in management, economics, marketing, leadership, information technology, and communications. Whether the reader is studying to achieve an advanced degree or needs the concrete, practical skills required in the business world, this guide is the most current and comprehensive available. • Practical guide to the most significant issues facing business professionals today. • A suitable study tool for all graduate students as well as those trying to expand their skills and knowledge in their careers.

Boomers reinvented society; now they're reinventing themselves, and AARP wants to facilitate that process. This book explores both the motivations and the methods of those taking part in the social phenomenon known as recareering. A new generation of American workers is no longer counting the days until retirement; instead they're seeking greater fulfillment in their personal lives by tackling new--and often much more socially significant--work. Switching careers is a challenge at any age, yet boomers may have more to overcome than their younger counterparts. Author Greengard shows readers how to sort out their feelings about their existing career; successfully transition to a new one; and work toward a greater sense of balance in their daily lives. Profiles of recareering veterans show how others have attained their own goals. These are rounded out by tips, quizzes, worksheets, how-to sidebars, and other practical resources.--From publisher description.

Provides a concise yet rigorous introduction to strategic management and its contemporary challenges, with multiple examples, case studies and references.

Everything you need to know about eBooks is explained in this holistic guide to a new world of reading—from selection and curation of an eBook collection to training and support for staff and patrons. EBooks are a must for today's libraries, making this introduction indispensable for those who have yet to delve into the ever-expanding universe of downloadable material. This "crash course" is an easy-to-use, hands-on approach that will simplify the decision and implementation processes. It introduces you to eBooks and eReading and covers the many issues surrounding eBooks in circulating libraries including technology, acquisition, and training. You'll learn how to launch a program, what to buy, how to let your public know you've added eBooks to your collection, and how to circulate the materials. The guide will also help you with decisions like vendor selection, how many eBooks to purchase, which delivery platforms to employ, how best to offer access, and licensing agreements. Chapters can be consulted as stand-alone overviews of key areas, or the book can be used as a source of holistic instruction. While it will be especially useful to small or rural circulating libraries, including public libraries, school libraries, and specialty libraries that may have a small staff responsible for all aspects of library service, tips on things like promoting an eBook collection are pertinent to enhancing any collection.