A Tale of Two Transformations

A Tale of Two Transformations
Author: Michael K. Levine
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 327
Release: 2011-12-05
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 146651681X

There are many books that seek to explain Lean and Agile software that offer theory, techniques, and examples. Michael Levine’s first book, A Tale of Two Systems, is one of the best, synthesizing Lean manufacturing and product development with agile software concepts in an engaging business novel. However, there has been precious little practical guidance for those seeking to change existing organizations to become Lean and Agile, until now. Mr. Levine has followed the successful approach of A Tale of Two Systems, telling two simultaneous intertwined and contrasting stories, to bring organizational transformation to life. Mary O’Connell and James "Wes" Wesleyan, recently engaged to be married, share a commitment to Lean and Agile Software. They have recently become leaders in two very different companies – one, stuck in a slow-moving, unresponsive, process-driven quagmire of a software culture; the other, struggling through the chaos of a sales-driven, process-less swirl. Together with their wise mentor, Neville Roberts, they identify two approaches to making needed changes: Drive People (a top-down approach focused on processes and tools), and People Driven (an enablement approach focused on people and organizations). Mary and Wes evaluate their situations and choose approaches that best fit for them, and the transformations commence. A Tale of Two Transformations differs from many information technology books by grappling with all the complexities of our organizations: the people, the politics, the financials, the processes – in short, the culture from which our Lean and Agile journeys must begin. The change model presented in the flow of the stories is generally applicable, and can help anyone thinking about how to improve their organization.

Joint Ventures

Joint Ventures
Author: Trish Regan
Publisher: Wiley
Total Pages: 272
Release: 2011-04-19
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780470559079

CNBC anchor Trish Regan takes you behind the scenes of America's thriving pot industry, to show readers things only drug dealers know about this secret world. Forget amber waves of grain. Today, it's marijuana plants that blanket the nation from sea to shining sea in homes, in backyards, and even in our national parks. In Joint Ventures, Trish Regan takes you behind the scenes to explore every aspect of this flourishing underground economy. Her focus is the so-called Emerald Triangle Northern California's Mendocino, Humboldt and Trinity counties where many small-time, part-time marijuana growers contribute to a trade that generates roughly a billion dollars a year. A fascinating investigation into the inner workings of today's exploding American marijuana industry Based on extensive research and interviews by Trish Regan, whose Emmy nominated documentary Marijuana, Inc. attracted more viewers than any documentary in CNBC's history Regan examines all aspects of this new culture. She reveals how small time growers get their start, make (or lose) a fortune, struggle with violence, try to keep up with constantly changing laws and regulations all while walking an increasingly fine line with the Feds Regan reports on the current and potential impact of legalized marijuana on local economies, uncovers the link between marijuana and violent Mexican cartels, questions whether decriminalization would work on a national scale, as it has in Portugal since 2001 As the decriminalization and legalization debates gather steam, Joint Ventures arms you with the facts on both sides of the issue.

International Joint Ventures

International Joint Ventures
Author: Dennis Campbell
Publisher: Kluwer Law International B.V.
Total Pages: 658
Release: 2009-04-01
Genre: Law
ISBN: 9041144536

Joint ventures have become a common vehicle for companies to create strategic alliances with partners that have complementary capabilities and resources, fostering opportunities to exploit distribution channels, technology, or finance in ways not available to the sole partners. Simply put, in a joint venture, two or more parent companies agree to pool defined capital, technology, human resources, risks, and rewards in the formation of a distinct entity under shared control. The complexities of such an arrangement are magnified when the project embraces more than one jurisdiction. In this special issue of the Comparative Law Yearbook of International Business, practitioners who have specialized in domestic and cross border joint venture formations report on their respective jurisdictions as well as particular cross border issues. The volume provides national reports on Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon, The Philippines, Romania, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, and Vietnam. European competition law relative to joint ventures, taxation issues in The Netherlands, and governing law also are treated.