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

Peter F. Drucker (Author), Joseph A. Maciariello (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2, 2005 | Series: Journal

The Effective Executive in Action is a journal based on Peter F. Drucker's classic and preeminent work on management and effectiveness -- The Effective Executive. Here Drucker and Maciariello provide executives, managers, and knowledge workers with a guide to effective action -- the central theme of Drucker's work. The authors take more than one hundred readings from Drucker's classic work, update them, and provide provocative questions to ponder and actions to take in order to improve your own work. Also included in this journal is a space for you to record your thoughts for later review and reflection. The Effective Executive in Action will teach you how to be a better leader and how to lead according to the five main pillars of Drucker's leadership philosophy.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Effective Executive (1966) forms one of the foundations of Drucker's reputation as a corporate leadership guru, and this workbook companion developed by Maciariello, a professor at Drucker's business management school, draws heavily upon the master source. The format extracts bullet points from the original text, along with supplementary material from other Drucker writings, then adds reinforcing questions and suggested action items. Additional space is provided to write down reflections and results. "Decision making is the specific activity of the executive," Drucker writes, but before you can learn how to make the right decisions, you need to manage your work time and concentrate your focus on the right tasks, then develop your strengths and the strengths of those around you. These precepts have become familiar mantras in the corporate environment, so little of the material should come as a surprise, making the exercises accessible and easy to perform. Key points are emphasized and re-emphasized, developed in broad themes then presented once more for individual review. If the text is repetitive, it can perhaps be forgiven by the authors' obvious desire to drill Drucker's recommended behavior into readers' heads so that it becomes consistent practice. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Peter F. Drucker is considered the most influential management thinker ever. The author of more than twenty-five books, his ideas have had an enormous impact on shaping the modern corporation. Drucker passed away in 2005.

Product Details

• Journal: 224 pages
• Publisher: HarperBusiness (December 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060832622
• ISBN-13: 978-0060832629
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #247,283 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For the Reflective Practicioner, February 16, 2006

By 

Sojourner "Learning to Live Life" (Suisun City, CA United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: 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.

32 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker et., December 11, 2005

By 

Joseph S. Maresca "Dr. Joseph S. Maresca CPA,... (Bronxville, New York USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Effective Executive in Action: A Journal for Getting the Right Things Done (Journal)

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars It Is Effective, May 6, 2010

By 

Jeanne Scott (Seattle, Washington) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Effective Executive in Action: A Journal for Getting the Right Things Done (Journal)

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