This easy-to-read book integrates research and performance-based concepts in order to demystify and debunk the conventional wisdom about education. For many years, education has been beset by myths - myths that it can't be fixed with new concepts, that it takes specialists to diagnose what's wrong, that research doesn't reflect the real world, that the lessons of business cannot be generalized to education. This book takes on these misunderstandings and shows precisely what educators may d...

Clay Christensen's groundbreaking bestselling work in education now updated and expanded, including a new chapter on Christensen's seminal "Jobs to Be Done" theory applied to education."Provocatively titled, Disrupting Class is just what America's K-12 education system needs--a well thought-through proposal for using technology to better serve students and bring our schools into the 21st Century. Unlike so many education 'reforms,' this is not small-bore stuff. For t...

Selected as one of the "Best Books on Innovation, 2008" by BusinessWeek magazineNamed the "Best Human-Capital Book of 2008" by Strategy + Business magazineA crash course in the business of learning-from the bestselling author of The Innovator's Dilemma and The Innovator's Solution…"Provocatively titled, Disrupting Class is just what America's K-12 education system...

"Michael Barber outlines the steps that will enable courageous education leaders around the country to execute their plans and bridge the gap between hope and reality."—Joel Klein, ChancellorNew York City Department of Education"No one knows system reform better than Sir Michael Barber. His delivery contains bold, inspiring, crystal clear ideas that are never more timely than today. A must-read for reformers at all levels of the system."—Micha...

In the world of Facebook, Twitter and Yelp, water-cooler conversations with co-workers and backyard small talk with neighbors have moved from the physical world to the digital arena. In this new landscape, organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies to government agencies to political campaigns continuously monitor online opinions in an effort to guide their actions. Are consumers satisfied with our product? How are our policies perceived? Do voters agree with our platform? Measuring ...

As the current recession ends, many workers will not be returning to the jobs they once held--those jobs are gone. In The New Division of Labor, Frank Levy and Richard Murnane show how computers are changing the employment landscape and how the right kinds of education can ease the transition to the new job market.The book tells stories of people at work--a high-end financial advisor, a customer service representative, a pair of successful chefs, a cardiologist, an automot...

As sales managers are encouraged to manage increasingly global territories, the art of selling becomes complicated and the rules of negotiation more diverse. This absorbing book considers the many facets of cross-cultural sales management, to provide salespeople and managers with a guide to making the most of the global sales force. Topics covered include:* cross-cultural negotiations* hiring, training, motivating and evaluating the international sales force* Customer...

The inspiration for this book was a crucial observation: that if the school turnaround movement is to have widespread and lasting consequences, it will need to incorporate meaningful district involvement in its efforts.The result is a volume that considers school turnaround efforts at the district level, examining the evidence thus far and indicating fruitful directions for district-based initiatives going forward. At the heart of the book are case studies of distr...

Since A Nation at Risk was published in 1983, there has been widespread recognition that public education is failing in the U.S. Numerous expensive reforms have been attempted to no avail, and costs have increased dramatically. Furthermore, economic austerity requires educational systems to do more with less. This book presents convincing evidence that paradigm change – such as the change of lighting systems from the candle to the light bulb – is the only way to significantly improve stude...

Breakthrough Problem Solving with Action Learning explores why and how action learning groups have been so successful and creative in solving complex problems. The text begins by briefly reviewing the theories that undergird the effectiveness of action learning, philosophically situating readers and pointing them in the direction of related academic works that they may wish to explore. It then turns to stories of how organizations have employed action learning in solving specific,...

Conducting Market Research for International Business is designed to help managers and scholars understand the fundamentals of international market research. It offers a comprehensive treatment of the research issues that international business managers face when contemplating market entry, engaging buyers in foreign markets, maintaining and growing market share, and expanding to newer opportunities abroad. The book describes how to initiate an international resea...

Designing the practically paperless classroomInstead of carrying bulging backpacks, imagine students carrying mobile devices that allow them to access information from anywhere at any time. How do we transition from print to digital learning in the midst of economic challenges? This breakthrough guide shows educators how to affordably make the shift to one-to-one computing and transform schools into digital learning centers. Jonathan P. Costa, Sr. outlines...