Charles Prow has brought together an impressive lineup of businessmen and women, reporters, and experts to show how the United States can be more competitive in the global economy. This book shows not only what is wrong with the current federal spending plan, but ways to fix it. Business professionals and anyone interested in the government's response the recession will find this an important book.

Play the game to win "More and more CEOs are discovering that managing one's businessenvironment is as important as managing operations, finance, andsales. Winning the Influence Game explains how a strategicgovernment relations program can make a major impact on thatenvironment at the federal, state, and local levels."-Douglas G.Pinkham, President, Public Affairs Council "A useful, detailed handbook that should find itself on thedesktop-or at the bedside-of every business leader. These are theskills that every business leader needs to succeed in theincreasingly complex and rapidly changing globalized economy inwhich they operate-and to gain competitive advantage for theircompany's future."-Ira Jackson, Director, Center for Business andGovernment, John F. Kennedy School of Government "Winning the Influence Game provides an excellent overview for thecorporate leader of how government can impact the bottom line-bothpositively and negatively. The clear, concise, and practical mannerin which the book is organized and information provided makes it anextremely useful resource to those charged with the responsibilityof creating an effective government relations program."-MargeryKraus, President and CEO, APCO Worldwide

Learn the crucial ins and outs of the world’s largest market The U.S government market represents the largest single market—anywhere. Government contract tracking firm Onvia estimates that government business—federal, state, local, and education—represents better than 40 percent of the nation’s GDP. While anyone can play in this market, only those with the right preparation can win. Selling to the Government offers real-world advice for successful entry into the biggest market anywhere. Get proven approaches, strategies, tactics, and tools to make your business stand out, build relationships, understand procedures, and win high-stakes contracts. • Every year thousands of companies enter the massive U.S. Government (BtoG) marketplace, and by the end of the first year, most are gone and less than 10 percent make it to year two • Author has advised hundreds of companies, including Apple, Dell, CDW, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, IT, GTSI, and many small firms, on all aspects of marketing and selling to the government From the go/no-go decision, through company infrastructure requirements, marketing, sales, business development, and more, this book offers the best advice from the most recognized authority in the market.

In a revised and updated edition of For the Win, authors Kevin Werbach and Dan Hunter argue that applying the lessons of gamification could change your business, the way you learn or teach, and even your life. This edition incorporates the most prominent research findings to provide a comprehensive gamification playbook for the real world.

Why is Congress mired in partisan polarization? The conventional answer is that members of Congress and their constituencies fundamentally disagree with one other along ideological lines. But Gregory Koger and Matthew J. Lebo uncover a more compelling reason that today’s political leaders devote so much time to conveying their party’s positions, even at the expense of basic government functions: Both parties want to win elections. In Strategic Party Government, Koger and Lebo argue that Congress is now primarily a forum for partisan competition. In order to avoid losing, legislators unite behind strong party leaders, even when they do not fully agree with the policies their party is advocating. They do so in the belief that party leaders and voters will reward them for winning—or at least trying to win—these legislative contests. And as the parties present increasingly united fronts, partisan competition intensifies and pressure continues to mount for a strong party-building strategy—despite considerable disagreement within the parties. By bringing this powerful but underappreciated force in American politics to the forefront, Koger and Lebo provide a new interpretation of the problems facing Congress that is certain to reset the agenda for legislative studies.