Exceeding Customer Expectations: What Enterprise, America's #1 car rental company, can teach you about creating lifetime customers
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • "Pick Up" Your Customer Service!!!
  • Great book about a great company
  • PROVIDES IMPORTANT GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS IN A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE MARKET.
  • Good Book. Wrong Title.
  • Great for your business
Exceeding Customer Expectations: What Enterprise, America's #1 car rental company, can teach you about creating lifetime customers
Kirk Kazanjian
Manufacturer: Currency
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0385518323
Release Date: 2007-01-16

Book Description

What’s the secret to wowing your customers while maintaining a loyal and dedicated workforce? No one knows better than Enterprise, the nation’s #1 car rental company. Drawing upon the time-tested strategies that have propelled Enterprise from a single location in St. Louis into a $9 billion global powerhouse, EXCEEDING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS reveals how to:

• Actively seek out unsatisfied customers and quickly turn them into loyal fans
• Hire smart people and train them from the ground up
•Develop methods to reduce costs and add value for your customers in every interaction.
• Grow your business by rewarding employees with financial incentives, forming strong partnerships, and focusing on the long-term
• Thrive during tough economic times by bringing new advantages to the market
• Cultivate a fun and friendly workplace where teamwork rules

In EXCEEDING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS, noted business author Kirk Kazanjian reveals how your company can consistently outperform and outsmart the competition by following a simple philosophy espoused by Enterprise founder Jack Taylor: “Take care of your customers and employees first, and the profits will follow.” Winning customer loyalty is like running a marathon–not a 100-yard dash. By mastering this principle, Enterprise has earned not only record profits, but also received numerous awards for customer service and earned an enviable reputation as one of the world’s best companies to work for.

EXCEEDING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS imparts timeless lessons on satisfying both customers and employees that you can put to use right away, no matter what your business or industry.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars "Pick Up" Your Customer Service!!!.......2007-03-10

This book is AWESOME! Although Enterprise is a car rental company, many of their methods can be successfully applied to other businesses. Another great companion book to this is The Ultimate Question by Fred Reicheld. They both make the assertion that you have to turn first time customers into "promoters" who will return AND bring others with them. When I need to rent a car I will Pick Enterprise...They Pick Me Up!!!

5 out of 5 stars Great book about a great company.......2007-03-08

Enterprise is the best, and this book tells us exactly why. Take care of your customers and employees first, then the profits will follow. Well written, easily understood, this is a book that anyone having anything to do with customer service should read. Learn the secret that makes Enterprise Rent-a-Car so succussful. Well worth the read.

5 out of 5 stars PROVIDES IMPORTANT GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS IN A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE MARKET........2007-03-02

The author uses Enterprise to uncover critical insights that he distills into clearly stated key points. The essential focus of the book is on people...employees.

This is an first-rate analysis of a winning company, giving the reading important guidelines for success in any highly competitive market. Human resource professionals (yes, HR folks) should read this book, along with those who are concerned with business planning and marketing.

4 out of 5 stars Good Book. Wrong Title........2007-03-02

EXCEEDING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS by Kirk Kazanjian may be viewed in a variety of ways. Many will consider this book nothing more than a marketing campaign, and in large part, they would be correct. However, I find no fault in that. If that were the intention of the people at Enterprise, it is ingenious. They certainly won my loyalty, not that I ever have much need to rent a vehicle, but if I ever do,....

Others might view this book just as the title opines, an instructional treatise on customer service. They too would be correct, but only to a certain degree. I say that because I found the book to be more of a business model. In fact, I would say this book is broken down thusly; 50% business model, 30% Enterprise company history and 20% customer service. Therefore, my only big knock on this book is the title, which leads the reader to believe customer service is the primary focus here. It is not. That is not to say, however, that readers will not glean valuable information on customer service, just not as much as this reader would have liked.

The book reads well and Kazanjian is to be commended for his work, but I do not believe the story paints quite the intended picture. I found in large part, the Enterprise Company bumbled its way into prosperity because a few headstrong employees refused to follow company policy! A good example is the Enterprise "we'll pick you up" mantra. I won't give too much of the book away, but this and other business innovations within the company happened by chance. Please do not mistake this as ridicule of the company. Enterprise is certainly a gem in today's marketplace, just understand that according to this book, much of the company's success wasn't planned that way. Perhaps that in and of itself is what has made them successful; their ability to adapt.

I would like to make one other observation about the title of the book. My fear is that many will miss out on this book because of the title. This is an excellent resource for constructing a business model and is, at best, a mediocre source on customer service. If you are on a quest for knowledge on "exceeding customer expectations" you will likely be disappointed here as there are certainly more informative volumes available.

5 out of 5 stars Great for your business.......2007-02-17

If you are looking for a book to give your employees for customer service skills this is the only one.
Training to See: A Value Stream Mapping Workshop: A Value Stream Mapping Workshop (Lean Enterprise Institute)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Training to See: A Value Stream Mapping Workshop: A Value Stream Mapping Workshop (Lean Enterprise Institute)
    Mike Rother , and John Shook
    Manufacturer: Lean Enterprise Institute
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Loose Leaf

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    ASIN: 0966784324

    Book Description

    P When Mike Rother and John Shook first realized the power of value stream mapping in the mid-1990s they began to offer workshops on this invaluable technique. /p

    Fundamentals of Multinational Finance (2nd Edition) (Eiteman Series)
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • The second edition needs some work.
    Fundamentals of Multinational Finance (2nd Edition) (Eiteman Series)
    Michael H. Moffett , Arthur I. Stonehill , and David K. Eiteman
    Manufacturer: Addison Wesley
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 0321280318

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars The second edition needs some work........2007-07-09

    I have had other texts that did a great job at highlighting the key concepts, perhaps creating a sidebar to point out definitions and concepts as they occur in the text. This book assumes that your highlighter will find these nuggets by itself. Also, the chapter summaries were pretty skimpy, and I did not find them to be a valuable study resource.

    However, the end-of-chapter questions and problems were fantastic resources to expand my learning and discover weaknesses. I was also impressed by the choice of case studies. These real-world examples contributed to a deeper understanding, and provided a starting point for research.

    The range of topics included:
    -The International Monetary System.
    -Balance of Payments.
    -Foreign exchange markets and rates.
    -Management of risk due to foreign exchange exposure.
    -Sources of global equity and debt.
    -International Portfolio Diversification Theory.
    -International Tax Management Strategies.


    I did learn alot about Multinational Finance from this book, but I think my learning would have been enhanced if the book were developed further.
    Free to Choose: A Personal Statement
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Life transforming
    • A book for freedom
    • Be Free
    • Still a beauty
    • A Classic and Totally True but Slightly Incomplete
    Free to Choose: A Personal Statement
    Milton Friedman , and Rose Friedman
    Manufacturer: Harvest Books
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    ASIN: 0156334607

    Book Description

    The international bestseller on the extent to which personal freedom has been eroded by government regulations and agencies while personal prosperity has been undermined by government spending and economic controls. New Foreword by the Authors; Index.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Life transforming.......2007-06-23

    Friedman was a genius. He was also the most articulate and fearless advovate for freedom. It seems that most are willing to give a little here and there for their pet projects. He was not. This is the best argument for the economic power that comes from freedom as well as the advantages for the individual. Over the long hall it is also the only way to prevent the loss of all freedoms. Read this book and it will positively change your life.

    5 out of 5 stars A book for freedom.......2007-06-14

    Mr. Friedman, God rest his soul, continues to demonstrate the link between laissez faire economics and personal freedom. This companion to "Capitalism and Freedom" is a must read for those who are interested in individual liberty and the economic system that pertuates such liberty.

    5 out of 5 stars Be Free.......2007-05-24

    Milton and Rose Friedman, "A society that puts equality - in the sense of equality of outcome - ahead of freedom will end up with neither equality nor freedom.
    ...
    On the other hand, a society that puts freedom first will, as a happy by-product, end up with both greater freedom and greater equality."

    Milton Friedman, "Everybody agrees that socialism has been a failure. Everybody agrees that capitalism has been a success... yet everybody is extending socialism."

    Lawrence Reed, "Free men are not equal and equal men are not free."

    Tusen Takk!

    5 out of 5 stars Still a beauty.......2007-04-08

    Almost 30 years on, Free to Choose still offers valuable insights to the political economics in western democracies. The books main message is that special interests always prevail over general interests. For that reason, we have tariffs on sugar though the majority of the electorate loses from it and we have restricted entry into several occupations like real estate brokers and furniture designing. The story of the development of the Interstate Commerce Commission is particuylarly readable. The ICC was established to protect the consumer (general interest), but quickly turned to protect the producers (special interest). Because special interests always prevail, the governments role in the economy should be restricted.

    The Freidmans finish their book with a faint of hope. The final chapter is called The Tide is Turning, and in the foreword written in 1990, they acknowledge that public opinion is greatly different in 1990 than it was in 1975. And economic policy in the US is improved. Marginal tax rates are reduced sharply. Inflation is low and stable. The former communist countries have gone capitalist in scores.

    Many of the key messages of the book are now conventional wisdom. Its still worth reading, though. The book offers a very gook look into the intellectual climate of the late 70s. It is one of the central works of one of history's most prominent economists. But foremost, it describes the logic of economics in a very beautiful way.

    4 out of 5 stars A Classic and Totally True but Slightly Incomplete.......2007-04-02

    Milton Friedman was an economics professor at the University of Chicago who won the Nobel Prize in economics for his development of monetary economics. This book briefly explains how an economy works. Yet "Free to Choose" is something more. It's a personal statement that we should embrace free markets and freedom for all of us as individuals to make our own decisions. When we freely choose, the economy is more fair because individuals make their own choices with their own benefits and consequences. The economy is more prosperous and more efficient because the economy competed for customers and the best win out. A controlled economy is a huge mistake. The proper role of government should be that of a referee to ensure fair play - not run the game itself. Friedman's ideas moved the global economy ahead to more efficiency and prosperity, yet his ideas were based on the old ideas of liberty and free markets.

    Friedman was an old-school liberal, better known these days as a libertarian. He believed strongly in the power of liberty, as opposed to extreme social orders such as Communism, Nazism, monopolies, mafias, religious theocracies, slavery, segregation, sexism, etc.

    Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness is one of the foundations upon which America had been founded. Yet pure free market economics fell out of favor in the wake of the excesses of the Gilded Age when unregulated capitalism was seen to have an immoral side of exploitation. After the trauma of the Great Depression, capitalism was seen to be unstable and cruel. Theodore Roosevelt used the Bully Pulpit to argue that government should regulate the "malefactors of great wealth." He created the Food and Drug Administration, broke up trusts, regulated railroads, and the American approved. Franklin Roosevelt pursued policies for economic stability and basic security, and Americans elected him president four times. Many people sincerely feared capitalism. This would inadvertently lead to some well-intentioned but very bad economic policies.

    Some of the pragmatic reforms of the New Deal were excellent, such as the SEC to require audited financial statements, which leads to more transparent and more efficient markets. Without the SEC we would have many more Enron disasters. The Federal Reserve Open Market committee, a New Deal reform, manages the money supply. New Deal banking legislation requires certain capital reserves and insures deposits to $100,000, which forever ended bank panics. The FHA insured mortgages, which created the 30 year mortgage and brought home ownership to millions of people who used to have to rent or inherit a pile of money. Government regulations adopted later require safe consumer products, such as home appliances and the electrical hardware to bring electricity into our homes. The government regulates pollution. Student loans allow citizens to learn the skills that a prosperous economy needs.

    Unfortunately, some of the government experiments in the mid-to-late 20th Century with regulations were mistakes, such as price controls and some welfare programs. Socialism became fashionable to many, especially in Europe, and regulations kept creeping upward. In the United States, this culminated in the late 1960s with the Great Society, although America never became truly socialistic like some European nations. By the 1970s, the global economy was mired in stagflation. Too many bureaucrats were making too many business decisions, hampering market activity and taking away the automatic operation of the economy through prices and consumer choices. Too many politicians were making decisions for purely political gain. Big city politicians have especially been that way for well over a century.

    Friedman's weakness in this book is that he does not give due credit to the "referee" government regulations that ensure free and FAIR competition. Friedman is too one-sided in his argument. Indeed, his ideas work today because of pragmatic government reforms of capitalism, such as the New Deal, that did not exist in the past. Friedman emphasizes freedom, as he should for the time period he lived in, but there must be an assumption of at least mild fairness in order for free competition to work.

    Remember the books by Charles Dickens on the horrors of the industrial revolution? Remember the disgusting pollution that was so bad in London that the fog was filthy black? Some old buildings in Europe today are still stained black from the filth because they could not be cleaned of the filth. Remember the horrors of industrial child labor and slavery? The most powerful quickly overwhelm the less powerful in a "free" market without protections, and that's how some people want it.

    Friedman blames the Federal Reserve for the Great Depression, which is partly true, but the constrictive gold standard was a leading cause as it caused the Fed to tighten and then spread the Depression globally. The countries that abondoned the gold standard the quickest recoverd the quickest. The countries that were not on the gold standard did not experience the Great Depression at all! Hoover refused to abandon the gold standard. FDR abaondoned it quickly, and the contraction ended. Ironically, Friedman's critique says the government was responsible because it did not intervene as it should have earlier.

    Also, the financial systems completely collapsed when over 10,000 banks collapsed. The economy would never have recovered without government intervention to save and then reform the financial system, which FDR eventually did. Friedman was not honest about this. He seems so fixated on claiming that government is the problem that he is not truthful about the Great Depression. Friedman also says that the Great Crash did not cause the Great Depression, which is true. But it did make a natural recovery impossible. The financial system fell like a house of cards because there was no regulatory structure to support it. Also, numerous financial scandals rocked the financial system, such as the scandal involving Richard Whitney, formerly the president of the New York Stock Exchange, a member of the board of governors, and arguably the most recognized broker in America.

    Friedman also has an overly simplistic solution to inner-city poverty, and he says that schools should receive voicers so inner city parents can be better consumers through more freedom. This would do nothing to solve the real underlying (and maybe unsolvable problems) of cultures of disfunction, broken families, crime, and massive drug use. Ironically, Friedman would legalize drugs for more freedom. Friedman's overall theme of liberty being best is definitely correct, but with some commonsense exceptions please.

    Adam Smith, the creator of economics, also said that government must make the investements for the common good that the free market never would make. America has a long history of making these investments, such as canals, roads, bridges, dams, school buildings, parks, aquaducts, etc. Yet Friedman mentions little about this partnership with government. Free markets do not work for everything, although I would argue for 95% of things.

    Finally, economic activity is ultimately a social activity. People make money when they organizations with different functions and many people performing those function. It is only because we are socially cooperative that an economy can work. Friedman's emphasis on the individual is correct, but there is more to it. Look at this book as one of a dozen needed views.

    Friedman was an optimist. He believed in the power of competition. He was 95% right. True competition will correct most economic problems. I wish more socialist liberals would read this book and learn that less is more. I highly recommend this book.

    I also recommend Ronald Reagan's autobiography titled "An American Life," since he was the political figure who rhetorically sold Americans again on free markets. Reagan explains his optimistic views of free markets, his opposition to excessive government controls, his disgust for able-bodied freeloaders on welfare, and his optimistic belief in the goodness of individuals. He also says that he voted four times for Franklin Roosevelt, who said that welfare could destroy the work ethic like "a narcotic" and liquidated the temporary welfare programs designed to aid the country through the Depression once the crisis passed, only to be revived later. Reagan said he was not trying to undo the New Deal; he was trying to unleash the economy from the excesses of 1960s liberalism and excessive economic controls.
    Business Analysis and Valuation: Using Financial Statements, Text and Cases
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • Case study is worth reading...
    • good case study
    • Useful if cumbersome
    • Required Text
    • Excellent Capstone Book
    Business Analysis and Valuation: Using Financial Statements, Text and Cases
    Krishna G. Palepu , Paul M. Healy , and Victor L Bernard
    Manufacturer: South-Western College Pub
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 0324118945

    Book Description

    Financial statements are the basis for a wide range of business analysis. Managers, securities analysts, bankers and consultants all use them to make business decisions. There is strong demand among business students for course materials that provide a framework for using financial statement data in a variety of business analysis and valuation contexts.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Case study is worth reading..........2007-04-21

    First part of this book is about reading financial statements. If you already know the statements, you don't need to read the first part. However, even if you can read the statements, the second part, case study, will be helpful to your real analysis.

    3 out of 5 stars good case study.......2006-04-30

    I found the chapters are not very in detail. I was using it as the textbook and the lecture notes are way better. I read the book at the begginning but stopped in the middle as it doesn't really help. However, the end of chapter case studies are pretty good.

    4 out of 5 stars Useful if cumbersome.......2002-12-16

    This review applies to the edition WITH CASES. This isn't recommended for anyone who is just starting out with choosing investments. Beginners might be better off with a more general overview of financial statement analysis (FSA) like Higgins' "Analysis of Financial Statements" or Fraser and Omriston's "Understanding Financial Statements".

    This was one of two textbooks used in a financial statement analysis course I took for my MBA. Most chapters are down-to-earth and as a whole the book is well-written.

    The other text we used was Penman's "Financial Statement Analysis and Security Valuation" which was also a great resource as far as gaining a basic understanding of the mechanics of financial statements and how to build a valuation model.

    I contrast the two books because while Penman provides a run-down of several different models analysts can use (and does a good job of arguing for the Residual Income Model of valuation model as being the best), Palepu delves into the implications of companies' choices of accounting methods and provides more insight into what different kinds of businesses should look like in terms of their financial statements.

    The cases at the end of each chapter add a lot of value to the text because they get students to focus on the specific issues detailed in each chapter. By picking apart different companies' financial statements we learned to use financial statements to assess the success or failure of companies' efforts to carry out their business strategies.

    I rate it "Good - 4 stars"

    2 out of 5 stars Required Text.......2002-09-17

    This is a required text at my school, but after having read the first 5 chapters there is almost nothing of value that I have read. I have spoken to several people that have used this text for the class in prior semesters and they told me that they had stopped reading it after the first several chapters also.

    5 out of 5 stars Excellent Capstone Book.......2000-10-12

    This book is an excellent description of all the elements that would go into reviewing a potential investment opportunity. It is not a detailed book in one category, such as financial accounting, but it ties business strategy analysis, financial analysis, forecasting analysis, and valuation analysis together. Most other books focus on one area and don't tie all of these together well. This one takes you down the path to evaluating the opportunity to its fullest. It is an excellent capstone book after you have sifted through the details of strategy, finance, and accounting.
    Opening a Restaurant or Other Food Business Starter Kit: How to Prepare a Restaurant Business Plan and Feasibility Study
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • The perfect tool for reassurance
    • Opening a Restaurant or Other Food Business Starter Kit: How to Prepare a Restaurant Business Plan & Feasibility Study by Sharon
    • Great book for starting restaurant business
    • Guide for Starting a Restaurant
    • Holding Success in Your Hand!
    Opening a Restaurant or Other Food Business Starter Kit: How to Prepare a Restaurant Business Plan and Feasibility Study
    Sharon Fullen
    Manufacturer: Atlantic Publishing Company (FL)
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    Binding: Paperback

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    ASIN: 0910627363

    Book Description

    Restaurants are one of the most frequently started small businesses, yet have one of the highest failure rates. Survivors need a powerful strategic advantage: a sound business plan and feasibility study prior to opening. A new study from The Ohio State University has found the restaurant industry failure rate between 1996 and 1999 to be between 57-61 percent over three years. Don't be a statistic on the wrong side, plan now for success with this new book & CDRom package.

    A business plan precisely defines your business, identifies your goals, and serves as your firm's resume. The basic components include a current and pro forma balance sheet, an income statement, and a cash flow analysis. It helps you allocate resources properly, handle unforeseen complications, and make good business decisions. Because it provides specific and organized information about your company and how you will repay borrowed money, a good business plan is a crucial part of any loan application. Additionally, it informs personnel, suppliers, and others about your operations and goals. Despite the critical importance of a business plan, many entrepreneurs drag their feet when it comes to preparing a written document. They argue that their marketplace changes too fast for a business plan to be useful or that they just don't have enough time. But just as a builder won't begin construction without a blueprint, eager business owners shouldn't rush into new ventures without a business plan.

    The Cd Rom will cover the following subjects: Elements of a Business Plan, Cover sheet ,Statement of purpose, The Business, Description of The Restaurant, Marketing, Competition, Operating procedures, Personnel, Business insurance, Financial Data, Loan applications, Capital equipment and supply list, Balance sheet, Breakeven analysis, Pro-forma income projections (profit & loss statements), Three-year summary, Detail by month, first year, Detail by quarters, second and third years, Assumptions upon which projections were based, Pro-forma cash flow, Supporting Documents, For franchised businesses, a copy of franchise contract and all, supporting documents provided by the franchisor, Copy of proposed lease or purchase agreement for building space, Copy of licenses and other legal documents, Copy of resumes of all principals, Copies of letters of intent from suppliers, etc.

    A new study from The Ohio State University has found the restaurant industry failure rate between 1996 and 1999 to be between 57-61 percent over three years. Don't be a statistic on the wrong side, plan now for success with this new book and CD-Rom package.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars The perfect tool for reassurance.......2007-05-13

    Especially for people who have been in the business for awhile, but never did their own thing- the sample business plan/program outlines major items you may not have thought about.
    Also has helpful contacts, web addresses, and other resources pertinent in educating someone on opening a restaurant.

    5 out of 5 stars Opening a Restaurant or Other Food Business Starter Kit: How to Prepare a Restaurant Business Plan & Feasibility Study by Sharon.......2006-12-29

    Sharon Fullen provides thought-provoking as well as practical steps to prepare for entrepreneurship by making the Readers aware that opening a restaurant is more than an idea but requires planning.

    Not only are you moved to do more than come up with a wish list but one must take the time to write their vision, study the market, and come to terms if their business idea will be a profit maker or a profit shaker.

    Such helpful information can propel the business in positive directions and bring about a boost in the economy by following the guidelines and suggestions within this book.

    The added benefit of having a CD to provide hands-on experience of completing a business plan is another way the author shows her expertise in bringing the tools in the book to actual life for the Readers. The old saying that " experience is the best teacher" or "practice makes perfect" seems to have been a consideration of the author. This in my opinion sets this author apart from others.

    5 out of 5 stars Great book for starting restaurant business.......2006-12-23

    Before reading this book I have never thought that opening a small restaurant might be so involved process. But I guess it is better to learn it before you invest your money. I am glad I read this book it opened my eyes and allowed to look behind my dream of being a restaurant owner. I would not say this book discouraged me - not at all. I will be able to make more educated decisions instead of emotional ones.

    Recommend it to everyone who thinks of opening a restaurant business.

    4 out of 5 stars Guide for Starting a Restaurant.......2006-12-20

    This Restaurant starter kit is a good reference as well as the companion CD that provides a sample business plan. From preliminary information gathering in preparation to writing the business plan such as market research, audience, expected clientele, scope of perceived services, menu planning this resource provides all the pieces necessary to guide you through the start-up process.
    The section on software is expertly done in providing the layperson with a grasp of the software available and will save a fortune in missteps if read and followed. The choice in software can undoubtedly determine the quality and speed that you develop your plan.
    Sharon Fullen does an exceptional job in guiding the layperson through the process of the feasibility analysis to include concept, location, execution and financing thus rounding out the completed business plan. The idea of a marketing plan is discussed showing the importance of a well-planned and executed marketing effort versus just tossing a few bucks to the wind and hoping for the best. The author has provided an invaluable tool for the upcoming restaurateur as he/she plans, develops and opens their life dream.

    5 out of 5 stars Holding Success in Your Hand!.......2006-05-24

    While this resource guide by Sharon Fullen may not deal with the most glamorous aspect of opening a new restaurant or other food business, it certainly discusses the most import: the business plan. The entire book and accompanying CD-ROM handles basic business preparation with aplomb. Starting with What is a Business Plan? and ending with an entire chapter devoted to an example of a sample business plan, Fullen leaves no stone unturned. She highlights business plan writing strategies, pinpoints problem areas that are often stumbling blocks to success, intersperses invaluable information on writing a feasibility analysis and deftly assists the reader with ideas on how to implement and understand successful marketing strategies. One section that should not be skipped discusses Getting Your Plan Published, offering tips on standing above the competition when presenting your business plan. The CD-ROM is an extra bonus that affords you the luxury of having printable examples and a portable way to use and share your new-found information. Opening a Restaurant or Other Food Preparation Starter Kit is a must-have resource for any aspiring restaurant owner; a resourceful guide that offers sound advice, concrete examples and hidden nuggets of valuable information that only serve to solidify a sound start to the opening of your new restaurant.
    International Business: A Managerial Perspective (4th Edition)
    Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    • Griffen & Pustay are liers
    • Worth reading
    • Littletext.com switch
    • Too much self-reference
    International Business: A Managerial Perspective (4th Edition)
    Ricky W. Griffin , and Mike W. Pustay
    Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 0131422634

    Book Description

    This comprehensive overview of international business is divided into various business functions, making it clear and easy to understand. In every chapter “Culture Quest Insights” into culture, geography, and business lead readers to a multi-media experience of a certain country or region that provides useful information on the impact of culture on business. Cases specific to each region or country add to the total reading experience. Topics covered include: the world's marketplaces, the international environment, managing international business and business operations. For CEOs, managers, and other executives who need to understand the cultural mores of the global societies with which they do business.

    Customer Reviews:

    1 out of 5 stars Griffen & Pustay are liers.......2007-06-19

    The book is below average. However, I understand that everyone needs to make a buck--it's all politics !
    The Author is such an ediot to the extent that he/she or whatever ediot editors helping them to issue this book, are saying that the Israelies won the war in October 1973; while that it is a fact that the egyptian army had them surrounded and was about 40 miles of their capital ready to make them a history,if it wasn't for the U.S stepping in; Israel would have been a history !
    I wonder how much did the israely government paid you stupid to publish such lies ? I have no respect for you biast !

    5 out of 5 stars Worth reading.......2003-11-22

    I took a course at my university requiring this book. What I found most useful is the numerous updated examples and cases that the author provided. In addition, the discussion is objective and thought-provoking.

    4 out of 5 stars Littletext.com switch.......2003-08-05

    Ordered this book from Littletext.com as a new hard cover and recieved a softcover international addition. I wouldn't mind using international version since there is hardly any difference, but don't bait and switch on me I don't like it. I'd buy from someone else if the price was within a couple bucks. Got my book not from Chicago as advertised, but Thailand. However it was delivered in no time.

    3 out of 5 stars Too much self-reference.......1999-07-03

    I had this book for one of my classes at my University this semester, and although the content of the book is concise and updated, nonetheless the authors rely too much on self-reference. The book is written too much from a "USA is superior" perspective. I also found some errors such as translations from other languages that were completely off. If you have to get this book for Intl. Business it is overall a good book, but if you can get a better one, do so.
    International Marketing (Mcgraw Hill/Irwin Series in Marketing)
    Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    • This is my textbook
    • Very Good Text For MBA International Marketing Course
    • Not as bad as others are saying!
    • Knowledgeable authors-boring writing
    • Wordy, poorly organized, requires significant supplements
    International Marketing (Mcgraw Hill/Irwin Series in Marketing)
    Philip R. Cateora , and John Graham
    Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill/Irwin
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    Accessories:
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    ASIN: 0073080063

    Book Description

    Cateora and Graham's International Marketing is far and away the best selling text in the field, with a pioneering approach to making the material accessible and relevant that has become the standard by which other books are judged. Providing a well-rounded perspective of international markets that encompasses history, geography, language, and religion as well as economics, Cateora helps students to see the cultural and environmental uniqueness of any nation or region. The 13th edition reflects all the important events and innovations to affect global business within recent years, while including several new and updated technological learning tools.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars This is my textbook.......2007-05-14

    I hope that it could help me to get a good result in this semester!

    4 out of 5 stars Very Good Text For MBA International Marketing Course.......2006-08-17

    I don't understand how people could complain about this book being too complex, poorly-written, or poorly organized. Everything is presented clearly and logically, and the case studies are relevant and interesting. I found it simple to read, informative, enlightening, and actually fun for the most part. My only criticism is that the authors don't, in my opinion, give an entirely neutral treatment of some of the politically-charged issues raised in their book. It seemed as though they would sometimes more heavliy emphasize one point of view (their point of view, quite obviously) over others.

    4 out of 5 stars Not as bad as others are saying!.......2006-06-20

    I purchased this book for an International Marketing course I had to take for my MBA Program. I have to disagree with what I have read about in other reviews - I found this book easy to read, and simple to understand. The examples used help clarify concepts and I felt the book was well organized. I especially liked the Country Notebook section in the back of the book. It was the perfect course-long project to apply the concepts and knowledge we learned about in class. I feel that this book is just about as good as an International Marketing MBA textbook can get!

    3 out of 5 stars Knowledgeable authors-boring writing.......2005-12-14

    I took an International Business class for my MBA. I read every chapter in this book. There was a lot of knowledge included but there is often too much wordy writing and the book drones on. The definitions need to be in the margins. The last chapters are more of a cross cultural study of doing business with Japanese. It was a boring read-but good before bedtime for those that do not fall asleep easily.

    2 out of 5 stars Wordy, poorly organized, requires significant supplements.......2005-06-15

    I used this book in an MBA International Marketing course. The text is a very cumbersome read. While the book contains adequate anecdotal information, the information is poorly organized and often fails to engage the reader. I routinely found myself searching for more concise supplemental materials for concepts the book failed to develop. The narratives are extremely wordy and consistently obfuscate salient points. If I were using the book as an instructor, I would use the country notebook section as a course guide and scrap the rest.
    International Business: Environments and Operations (11th Edition) (Pie)
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      International Business: Environments and Operations (11th Edition) (Pie)
      John Daniels , Lee Radebaugh , and Daniel Sullivan
      Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

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      ASIN: 0131869426
      International Management: Managing Across Borders and Cultures (5th Edition)
      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
      • Still number one in International Management
      • Great book describing culture
      International Management: Managing Across Borders and Cultures (5th Edition)
      Helen Deresky
      Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

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      ASIN: 0131095978

      Book Description

      This globally oriented book covers the most current research and trends in International Management. It offers comprehensive and integrative cases that illustrate the actual behaviors and functions required for successful cross-cultural management at the strategic and interpersonal level. Includes numerous boxed features that relate concepts to real-world practice. Also includes experiential exercises for self-test. For professionals in international business.

      Customer Reviews:

      4 out of 5 stars Still number one in International Management.......2007-07-06

      This book was published in 2004. I have used it for the past three years in a college course with exactly the same title. It covers the cultural differences of managerial operations in multinational enterprises. The PowerPoint slide is useful for lectures. Many in-class exercises were done using articles from: BusinessWeek, Crains NY Business, Economist (online), Financial Times (online), Forbes and Fortune magazines.

      The book will be better if more real-world examples were given on CEO of Ikea, Mittal Steel or News Corporation. Students did the reseach on the CEOs of these firms and reported their final projects. Final projects were done individually or in a group. Students generally like the book except the cost. But the book is cheaper than most of the other international management titles. I would recommend this book to everyone.

      4 out of 5 stars Great book describing culture.......2000-09-15

      Excellent Book. I was impressed on how the author was able to showthe various difficulties that are faced and how one can go about managing them. Real scenarios helped a lot in understanding the difficulties better in International relations.

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