The Effective Executive in Action: A Journal for Getting the Right Things Done [Journal]

This journal is just that...a personal journal. It guides you through several thought provoking scenarios and asks you how you feel, think, what you will/can do, etc. If you do not like to think, this is not a product you will enjoy. If, however, you enjoy noodling over your own thoughts, actions, feelings, and working through them to a plan for personal/professional development, this is a must buy item.

Drucker is someone who yields more and more every time you read him. This journal will help you collect a rich harvest of useable ideas.

The author has written another classic on the dynamics of
executive management. The book suggests that organizations and
the people who run them need to assess what must be done
as a condition precedent to directing their energies productively. Time is the classic limiting factor. It applies
to the activities of everyone in the organization. The effective use of discretionary time is another important asset. The success
of organizations over time is dependent upon an uneventful
transition strategy together with the ability to continue
the business as a going concern. In Accounting, the Quasi-
Reorganization in bankruptcy provides the needed second chance
for organizations to start over again- although standard reporting requirements call for dating the retained earnings
into the future. Companies having extensive overseas operations and outsourcing must be more vigilant about disaster
recovery and contingency planning for random Acts of G-d. These
unplanned emergencies may consist of a tsunami, earthquake or
expropriation in countries where the political infrastructure
is fragile or unpredictable.

The author suggests that the organization give much thought into
choosing people and assignments to optimize organizational
strengths rather than magnifying weaknesses for short term
gain. Ultimately, maximizing strengths renders weaknesses to be
irrelevant. Each job should be structured to accommodate the
personality of the occupant(s). Accordingly, this strategy
will go a long way toward perpetuating the organization well
into the future. In addition, training and development of staff
is an important aspect of work. These activities will provide
threshold competencies so that employees can function maximally.
In addition, training assists in the development of successor
employees due to retirements, job transfers etc.

With the right people matched to the right jobs, an organization
can move forward. In addition, maximization of an individual's
strengths obviates the necessity for the classic flight/fight
phenomena in an organization. In implementation, the management philosophy aims to accentuate strengths rather than exploit weaknesses which may result in a sum zero conflict.

This rendition does not emphasize the optimal organizational
design to accomplish work, although the dynamics may vary from
firm to firm. Organizational conflicts may be reduced by
looking at the following options dispassionately:

- considering the flat organizational hierarchy with less
vertical integration, where possible

- controlling predictor information more carefully

- completing a comprehensive job and task analysis for all
company positions and vital job categories in particular

- standardizing complex operations and codifying knowledge so
that expertise is not a barrier to performing a job within
a shorter learning curve ( today artifical intelligence systems
and expert system algorithms may help accomplish this task)

- transferring employees within an organization and providing
more challenging scenarios

- providing employees a share in the ownership of the company
through stock plans or employee representation on the Board

- support and funding for staff training/development and
personal growth

- a clear and uncomplicated succession strategy

The book will assist corporate planners, human resource personnel, students of organizational design
and a large constituency of scholars in academe. It is worth
the price for the huge value of the information content contained therein.

Drucker's book covers basic business strategies for all occasions. Excellent book for all business majors, and business people.