Unfortunately, it bears little resemblance to a UK MBA. Many of the theories explained (eg accounting, stock trading and govt bonds) are US centric and the whole thing is woefully out of date and superficial (I was prepared for superficial as I wanted to use it as an aide memoire). Topics include sections on staff interviewing / hiring, how to conduct a meeting and negotiation - important for managers but hardly strategic in nature. Where are the sections on organisational design? Cultural ownership and fit? Brand? Strategic human resource management? Competitive advantage and differentiation? Net Present Value and WACC for calculating future value of projects?

I wanted a book that quickly recounted how to use the various business models much beloved by strategists - from Ansoff to BCG to Porter to Mckinsey and back again. Looking through I can't see any of these - let alone a critique. The only one covered seems to be the perennial SWOT.

For me, the book is characterised by the section on "your new employee's first day at work". I'm not sure where this would have been covered in the 2 year / $40,000 MBA that this book is supposed to be able to replace in some way, but it sure wasn't on my 13k 3 year OUBS MBA - and neither would I want it to be. The book is overly tactical in nature, written for the practicing US manager (and then not particularly well). It does not give much insight into the skills and modelling required of the strategic manager. Even the section on the marketing plan is weak - giving little guidance on any aspect other than a quick nod to the 5 Ps (what happened to the other 2? We were up to at least 7Ps in the marketing mix at last count!) What about relationship marketing? Product portfolio management? Environmental scanning? Segmentation and target marketing? Etc., etc. etc.

The perforated section in the "Dummies" series gives a good indication of what is important in the book - a tear out and keep quick reference. As an idea of the dearth of material in this badly misnamed guide (how far from complete could it be!) the topics of greatest importance deemed are: the right way to delegate tasks, advertising guidelines, the basics of managing risks and how to create a marketing plan. The first two clearly have no place in any MBA, the third and fourth are of interest - but both are badly written and superficial.

Steer clear. I want my money back!


A succinct , interesting and easy-to-read MBA materials   June 3, 2001
 51 out of 58 found this review helpful

It contains essentially the basic but important materials for MBA study. Despite the "thickness" of the book which consists of 387 reading pages, the words employed are simple and easy to understand , together with the amusing "Far-side" comics at the beginning of each section/part[ I finished reading the book within one week simply as "bed time" reading! Just like reading a novel!]. What's interested me are the examples given through the practice and the view from different Corporates, though a reference for those examples quoted will increase the credibility and the possibility for advanced study.I'll recommend this book as a pre-MBA reading or simply as passtime reading .

-Thomas