Buy BEFORE you start your dissertation!, 14 Aug 2006
I started my dissertation very late - too late - and bought this book to help me through. It's a very simple, uncomplicated book which helps you set out your dissertation in the right way and guide you through the process of planning it, writing it, and checking it.

Also, as it is written by an ex lecturer the advice is coming from the right sort of person. There is a checklist at the back of the book which helps you mark your own piece of work and check that you've done the basics. It also has some useful tips yo help you avoid the most common errors.

I managed to get a First for my dissertation, thanks largely to this book. But save yourself rushing about like I did if you can, and buy this simple little book early, before you start!

very helpful and it's in plain english, 18 Apr 2005
I bought this book alongside with other books on writing dissertations. I found this the most useful and helpful of the lot as it was written in a clear logical way that i could understand, there were no fancy words, complicated issues etc.

Throughout my dissertation it has provided me with guidance on what to write in certain sections of my work, not only that it has provided me with the structure of what a dissertation should look like. Overall it has kept me sane and I would definately recommend it to people who are undertaking a dissertation, plus it is at a reasonable price too.

Lets wait and see., 01 Jun 2004
I bought this book some time ago, knowing that i would have to choose a dissertation for when i go back to university in Sept 2004. The task is much more difficult as i am currently on placement in Westminster and my university is in Sheffield so its impossible to recieve any help/ advice on what i am supposed to do. I haven't read a book in at least 8 years and then that was a shakespear book for my GCSE's i think? Anyway this was the first book i have read in all that time and found it easy to get into. It had some nice tips and advice on how to choose the right subject. It was very limited in parts and after reading two thirds of the way into the book i got bored and just flicked through the rest - it was unhelpful for my subject of Business information systems as i think it is more aimed at social degree's and masters thesis students. I did take a couple of tips from it and feel that it was a good first book to read in order to progress onto other more MEATY titles, which will go more into depth about dissertation writing. I have Since gave the book to my girlfriend and read three other titles (becoming the proverbial book worm) - i hope she gets more from it than i did. I will see if it was helpful, when i begin my final year in Sept.

Very helpful!, 11 Feb 2004
I have used this book constantly whilst thinking about my dissertation and when doing the write up. Very helpful, and very informative!

If only I had bought it sooner..., 04 Jun 2003
This book is ideal for when you are first thinking about your dissertation. Unfortunely I panic bought it when I was doing the writing up, so it was unable to provide me with information that I didnt already know at that point. I will definitely pass it on to someone going into their final year as it is a good starting point.

Buy BEFORE you start your dissertation!, 14 Aug 2006
I started my dissertation very late - too late - and bought this book to help me through. It's a very simple, uncomplicated book which helps you set out your dissertation in the right way and guide you through the process of planning it, writing it, and checking it.

Also, as it is written by an ex lecturer the advice is coming from the right sort of person. There is a checklist at the back of the book which helps you mark your own piece of work and check that you've done the basics. It also has some useful tips yo help you avoid the most common errors.

I managed to get a First for my dissertation, thanks largely to this book. But save yourself rushing about like I did if you can, and buy this simple little book early, before you start!

very helpful and it's in plain english, 18 Apr 2005
I bought this book alongside with other books on writing dissertations. I found this the most useful and helpful of the lot as it was written in a clear logical way that i could understand, there were no fancy words, complicated issues etc.

Throughout my dissertation it has provided me with guidance on what to write in certain sections of my work, not only that it has provided me with the structure of what a dissertation should look like. Overall it has kept me sane and I would definately recommend it to people who are undertaking a dissertation, plus it is at a reasonable price too.

Lets wait and see., 01 Jun 2004
I bought this book some time ago, knowing that i would have to choose a dissertation for when i go back to university in Sept 2004. The task is much more difficult as i am currently on placement in Westminster and my university is in Sheffield so its impossible to recieve any help/ advice on what i am supposed to do. I haven't read a book in at least 8 years and then that was a shakespear book for my GCSE's i think? Anyway this was the first book i have read in all that time and found it easy to get into. It had some nice tips and advice on how to choose the right subject. It was very limited in parts and after reading two thirds of the way into the book i got bored and just flicked through the rest - it was unhelpful for my subject of Business information systems as i think it is more aimed at social degree's and masters thesis students. I did take a couple of tips from it and feel that it was a good first book to read in order to progress onto other more MEATY titles, which will go more into depth about dissertation writing. I have Since gave the book to my girlfriend and read three other titles (becoming the proverbial book worm) - i hope she gets more from it than i did. I will see if it was helpful, when i begin my final year in Sept.

Very helpful!, 11 Feb 2004
I have used this book constantly whilst thinking about my dissertation and when doing the write up. Very helpful, and very informative!

If only I had bought it sooner..., 04 Jun 2003
This book is ideal for when you are first thinking about your dissertation. Unfortunely I panic bought it when I was doing the writing up, so it was unable to provide me with information that I didnt already know at that point. I will definitely pass it on to someone going into their final year as it is a good starting point.

Very good book for 'Business Strategy' students, 16 Oct 2008
I bought this book only for one reason - to pass an upcoming June 2008 ACCA Paper P3 'Business Strategy' exam. And I did! I had only 9 days allocated for this paper so my only hope was this book. Its language is very understandable, though sometimes I felt that material is too much detailed (maybe because I hadn't much time).

With the book you receive access to an online content. At that time the content was incomplete and was partly lacking business case scenarios, but the tests module was perfect. For every chapter you have many multiple-choice questions and all your answers and results are being recorded. So you can easily see where an improvement required. Also you have an option to download mp3's summarizing the content of the book. You have also 'Interactive key concepts', 'Flashcards', 'Glossary', etc.

Highly recommended!

Great book, but terrible online content, 10 Sep 2008
I ordered this book as part of my Masters in Business Administration course. The book is neatly structured, mainly separating subjects in three main parts: Strategic Positioning, Strategic Choices and Strategy in Action.

I also found the case studies presented in this book to be of great help when studying for the Business Environment module of my MBA. A matrix table presents a guide for each case study in the book and what are their main focus. For example, if you want a case study that focus on Porter's five forces, then read the TUI case study on page 619, and so on.

The book also comes with an "student access kit" to access further content online, and claims that users would have access to more than 30 "classic case studies" within the companion website.

The book is good but I must say the so called online content is a joke. You can only find the case studies that came with the book, and there are no further "classic case studies" to be found. I was particularly interested on a given business case which is mentioned in the book as available in the companion website for my dissertation, and I can't help but to feel cheated about it.

I emailed support asking for advice but I never got an answer, and I tried to call Pearson's support line but I have never received a call back or a proper answer to my query.

The experience I had with Pearson's student access kit was terrible that comes with this book, and I would warn anyone who is thinking to buy one of their books or a standalone student access kit to stay away from them.

Buy BEFORE you start your dissertation!, 14 Aug 2006
I started my dissertation very late - too late - and bought this book to help me through. It's a very simple, uncomplicated book which helps you set out your dissertation in the right way and guide you through the process of planning it, writing it, and checking it.

Also, as it is written by an ex lecturer the advice is coming from the right sort of person. There is a checklist at the back of the book which helps you mark your own piece of work and check that you've done the basics. It also has some useful tips yo help you avoid the most common errors.

I managed to get a First for my dissertation, thanks largely to this book. But save yourself rushing about like I did if you can, and buy this simple little book early, before you start!

very helpful and it's in plain english, 18 Apr 2005
I bought this book alongside with other books on writing dissertations. I found this the most useful and helpful of the lot as it was written in a clear logical way that i could understand, there were no fancy words, complicated issues etc.

Throughout my dissertation it has provided me with guidance on what to write in certain sections of my work, not only that it has provided me with the structure of what a dissertation should look like. Overall it has kept me sane and I would definately recommend it to people who are undertaking a dissertation, plus it is at a reasonable price too.

Lets wait and see., 01 Jun 2004
I bought this book some time ago, knowing that i would have to choose a dissertation for when i go back to university in Sept 2004. The task is much more difficult as i am currently on placement in Westminster and my university is in Sheffield so its impossible to recieve any help/ advice on what i am supposed to do. I haven't read a book in at least 8 years and then that was a shakespear book for my GCSE's i think? Anyway this was the first book i have read in all that time and found it easy to get into. It had some nice tips and advice on how to choose the right subject. It was very limited in parts and after reading two thirds of the way into the book i got bored and just flicked through the rest - it was unhelpful for my subject of Business information systems as i think it is more aimed at social degree's and masters thesis students. I did take a couple of tips from it and feel that it was a good first book to read in order to progress onto other more MEATY titles, which will go more into depth about dissertation writing. I have Since gave the book to my girlfriend and read three other titles (becoming the proverbial book worm) - i hope she gets more from it than i did. I will see if it was helpful, when i begin my final year in Sept.

Very helpful!, 11 Feb 2004
I have used this book constantly whilst thinking about my dissertation and when doing the write up. Very helpful, and very informative!

If only I had bought it sooner..., 04 Jun 2003
This book is ideal for when you are first thinking about your dissertation. Unfortunely I panic bought it when I was doing the writing up, so it was unable to provide me with information that I didnt already know at that point. I will definitely pass it on to someone going into their final year as it is a good starting point.

Very good book for 'Business Strategy' students, 16 Oct 2008
I bought this book only for one reason - to pass an upcoming June 2008 ACCA Paper P3 'Business Strategy' exam. And I did! I had only 9 days allocated for this paper so my only hope was this book. Its language is very understandable, though sometimes I felt that material is too much detailed (maybe because I hadn't much time).

With the book you receive access to an online content. At that time the content was incomplete and was partly lacking business case scenarios, but the tests module was perfect. For every chapter you have many multiple-choice questions and all your answers and results are being recorded. So you can easily see where an improvement required. Also you have an option to download mp3's summarizing the content of the book. You have also 'Interactive key concepts', 'Flashcards', 'Glossary', etc.

Highly recommended!

Great book, but terrible online content, 10 Sep 2008
I ordered this book as part of my Masters in Business Administration course. The book is neatly structured, mainly separating subjects in three main parts: Strategic Positioning, Strategic Choices and Strategy in Action.

I also found the case studies presented in this book to be of great help when studying for the Business Environment module of my MBA. A matrix table presents a guide for each case study in the book and what are their main focus. For example, if you want a case study that focus on Porter's five forces, then read the TUI case study on page 619, and so on.

The book also comes with an "student access kit" to access further content online, and claims that users would have access to more than 30 "classic case studies" within the companion website.

The book is good but I must say the so called online content is a joke. You can only find the case studies that came with the book, and there are no further "classic case studies" to be found. I was particularly interested on a given business case which is mentioned in the book as available in the companion website for my dissertation, and I can't help but to feel cheated about it.

I emailed support asking for advice but I never got an answer, and I tried to call Pearson's support line but I have never received a call back or a proper answer to my query.

The experience I had with Pearson's student access kit was terrible that comes with this book, and I would warn anyone who is thinking to buy one of their books or a standalone student access kit to stay away from them.

Don't expect to learn much, 13 Oct 2008
This is very typical of self-help books. Full of self-assessment exercises, quotes taken from The Oxford Book of Quotations or similar. The text is cobbled together from popular psychology and management theory. Some of the questionnaires would seem to belong in a women's magazine, rather than an academic book. Anyone who has done PD/PSE or a motivation course will have a good idea what to expect. It is amazing that this is set as essential reading on many university courses now.

Excellent book, 01 Oct 2008
I used this in conjunction with the Experts Guide Job Interview DVD Job Interview Skills - Extended DVD & CD, and found them both to be indispensable.

Excellent guide to PDP, 09 Oct 2007
For students at school and university this is an essential guide. Personal and Professional Development Planning is key to making the most out of your experience in any educational institution. Employers are looking for much more that the diploma/degree that you emerge form Uni' with. You are required to be able to demostrate your skills and attributes as they apply to the work that you would be doing. Cottrell shows you how to draw these out, collect evidence and demonstrate what you have gained and achieved through your educational experience.



Lot's of detail, too much, not inspiring, 09 Feb 2006
i was dissapointed when i bought my copy of this book. it is set out very much as an academic text and not very user friendly. i was surprised by the style of book the author chose to do. mostly forms and questionaires to fill in, followed by some short paragraphs. it is very much the typical type of offering from an hr department when they are encouraging time management, or reflective practice. not inspiring or motivational at all. the content is ok, but reminded me very much of the type of exercise they gave us for professinal development courses at university. i did not get a lot from them either. thorough but left me dissapointed.

Buy BEFORE you start your dissertation!, 14 Aug 2006
I started my dissertation very late - too late - and bought this book to help me through. It's a very simple, uncomplicated book which helps you set out your dissertation in the right way and guide you through the process of planning it, writing it, and checking it.

Also, as it is written by an ex lecturer the advice is coming from the right sort of person. There is a checklist at the back of the book which helps you mark your own piece of work and check that you've done the basics. It also has some useful tips yo help you avoid the most common errors.

I managed to get a First for my dissertation, thanks largely to this book. But save yourself rushing about like I did if you can, and buy this simple little book early, before you start!

very helpful and it's in plain english, 18 Apr 2005
I bought this book alongside with other books on writing dissertations. I found this the most useful and helpful of the lot as it was written in a clear logical way that i could understand, there were no fancy words, complicated issues etc.

Throughout my dissertation it has provided me with guidance on what to write in certain sections of my work, not only that it has provided me with the structure of what a dissertation should look like. Overall it has kept me sane and I would definately recommend it to people who are undertaking a dissertation, plus it is at a reasonable price too.

Lets wait and see., 01 Jun 2004
I bought this book some time ago, knowing that i would have to choose a dissertation for when i go back to university in Sept 2004. The task is much more difficult as i am currently on placement in Westminster and my university is in Sheffield so its impossible to recieve any help/ advice on what i am supposed to do. I haven't read a book in at least 8 years and then that was a shakespear book for my GCSE's i think? Anyway this was the first book i have read in all that time and found it easy to get into. It had some nice tips and advice on how to choose the right subject. It was very limited in parts and after reading two thirds of the way into the book i got bored and just flicked through the rest - it was unhelpful for my subject of Business information systems as i think it is more aimed at social degree's and masters thesis students. I did take a couple of tips from it and feel that it was a good first book to read in order to progress onto other more MEATY titles, which will go more into depth about dissertation writing. I have Since gave the book to my girlfriend and read three other titles (becoming the proverbial book worm) - i hope she gets more from it than i did. I will see if it was helpful, when i begin my final year in Sept.

Very helpful!, 11 Feb 2004
I have used this book constantly whilst thinking about my dissertation and when doing the write up. Very helpful, and very informative!

If only I had bought it sooner..., 04 Jun 2003
This book is ideal for when you are first thinking about your dissertation. Unfortunely I panic bought it when I was doing the writing up, so it was unable to provide me with information that I didnt already know at that point. I will definitely pass it on to someone going into their final year as it is a good starting point.

Very good book for 'Business Strategy' students, 16 Oct 2008
I bought this book only for one reason - to pass an upcoming June 2008 ACCA Paper P3 'Business Strategy' exam. And I did! I had only 9 days allocated for this paper so my only hope was this book. Its language is very understandable, though sometimes I felt that material is too much detailed (maybe because I hadn't much time).

With the book you receive access to an online content. At that time the content was incomplete and was partly lacking business case scenarios, but the tests module was perfect. For every chapter you have many multiple-choice questions and all your answers and results are being recorded. So you can easily see where an improvement required. Also you have an option to download mp3's summarizing the content of the book. You have also 'Interactive key concepts', 'Flashcards', 'Glossary', etc.

Highly recommended!

Great book, but terrible online content, 10 Sep 2008
I ordered this book as part of my Masters in Business Administration course. The book is neatly structured, mainly separating subjects in three main parts: Strategic Positioning, Strategic Choices and Strategy in Action.

I also found the case studies presented in this book to be of great help when studying for the Business Environment module of my MBA. A matrix table presents a guide for each case study in the book and what are their main focus. For example, if you want a case study that focus on Porter's five forces, then read the TUI case study on page 619, and so on.

The book also comes with an "student access kit" to access further content online, and claims that users would have access to more than 30 "classic case studies" within the companion website.

The book is good but I must say the so called online content is a joke. You can only find the case studies that came with the book, and there are no further "classic case studies" to be found. I was particularly interested on a given business case which is mentioned in the book as available in the companion website for my dissertation, and I can't help but to feel cheated about it.

I emailed support asking for advice but I never got an answer, and I tried to call Pearson's support line but I have never received a call back or a proper answer to my query.

The experience I had with Pearson's student access kit was terrible that comes with this book, and I would warn anyone who is thinking to buy one of their books or a standalone student access kit to stay away from them.

Don't expect to learn much, 13 Oct 2008
This is very typical of self-help books. Full of self-assessment exercises, quotes taken from The Oxford Book of Quotations or similar. The text is cobbled together from popular psychology and management theory. Some of the questionnaires would seem to belong in a women's magazine, rather than an academic book. Anyone who has done PD/PSE or a motivation course will have a good idea what to expect. It is amazing that this is set as essential reading on many university courses now.

Excellent book, 01 Oct 2008
I used this in conjunction with the Experts Guide Job Interview DVD Job Interview Skills - Extended DVD & CD, and found them both to be indispensable.

Excellent guide to PDP, 09 Oct 2007
For students at school and university this is an essential guide. Personal and Professional Development Planning is key to making the most out of your experience in any educational institution. Employers are looking for much more that the diploma/degree that you emerge form Uni' with. You are required to be able to demostrate your skills and attributes as they apply to the work that you would be doing. Cottrell shows you how to draw these out, collect evidence and demonstrate what you have gained and achieved through your educational experience.



Lot's of detail, too much, not inspiring, 09 Feb 2006
i was dissapointed when i bought my copy of this book. it is set out very much as an academic text and not very user friendly. i was surprised by the style of book the author chose to do. mostly forms and questionaires to fill in, followed by some short paragraphs. it is very much the typical type of offering from an hr department when they are encouraging time management, or reflective practice. not inspiring or motivational at all. the content is ok, but reminded me very much of the type of exercise they gave us for professinal development courses at university. i did not get a lot from them either. thorough but left me dissapointed.

I use it constantly, 05 Nov 2008
I have found this book so useful that I simply haven't bought another on the same subject. It is written by someone who truly understands the subject, and I believe it will be indispensible to a new entrepreneur, an experienced one, or in fact an exec with planning responsibility that wants a budget approved. As a new entrepreneur you could work through the book from start to finish and have a highly workable business plan, or with experience you could use this as a reference guide to jump around in to improve your weak areas, or use as a reference as and when. Its written in a style that is easy to read, complex concepts are given proper and sensical explanation. If only all business books were this helpful.

An absolute must., 20 May 2007
Whether a guide or a reference book, Richard Stutely provides immeasurable insight into how to develop of your business ideas into business. His experience from the "other side" guides the reader in an orderly and accumulative fashion to construct effective business plans and projects. The form is easy to comprehend, for even the least experienced entrepreneur, and provides essential decision making processes that could save the reader fortunes. This book is a must and should portray a "Wealth Warning"-do not start a business without it.

Fantastic, 15 Oct 2003
I bought the previous version of this book to help me write a business plan before seeking startup funding for a technology idea. For my needs, this book continues to be my primary reference when writing business plans.

The language used is clear, and there are a few dry jokes that I'm ashamed to say did make me laugh out loud. Having said this, the book is probably more thorough than some readers need - if you want to write the type of business plan that the bank invites you to do when opening an account (e.g. competitive landscape is a single page of local competitors, their prices and their strengths/weaknesses) then you'll find that this book is overkill. If you plan to spend two weeks or more writing your business plan then this book will probably make the process much easier, and lead to a more thoughtful document that stands up to detailed financial and strategic analysis by bank managers, investors, advisors etc. If this is what you're trying to write, then you'd be a total monkey to start without reading this book.

An extremely practical and useful guide., 17 Jun 2003
This is one of the best business planning guides I have read. It gives practical advice and examples on all aspects of planning that are as applicable to the small business as to the larger organisations. As a middle manager who was not used to preparing a business plan, it really helped me deal with everything from presentation to resources and forecasting. I liked the way that the subjects were organised, allowing me to dip into the sections that I had less expertise in.
There are plenty of helpful tips and hints highlighted along the way that make the book very readable and not too dry in an otherwise stressful activity.

Not for Startups, 30 Apr 2003
This book appears to be very much aimed at management figures within existing companies writing internal business plans. For startups, its not really suitable, very confusing and irrelevant in many repects.

Buy BEFORE you start your dissertation!, 14 Aug 2006
I started my dissertation very late - too late - and bought this book to help me through. It's a very simple, uncomplicated book which helps you set out your dissertation in the right way and guide you through the process of planning it, writing it, and checking it.

Also, as it is written by an ex lecturer the advice is coming from the right sort of person. There is a checklist at the back of the book which helps you mark your own piece of work and check that you've done the basics. It also has some useful tips yo help you avoid the most common errors.

I managed to get a First for my dissertation, thanks largely to this book. But save yourself rushing about like I did if you can, and buy this simple little book early, before you start!

very helpful and it's in plain english, 18 Apr 2005
I bought this book alongside with other books on writing dissertations. I found this the most useful and helpful of the lot as it was written in a clear logical way that i could understand, there were no fancy words, complicated issues etc.

Throughout my dissertation it has provided me with guidance on what to write in certain sections of my work, not only that it has provided me with the structure of what a dissertation should look like. Overall it has kept me sane and I would definately recommend it to people who are undertaking a dissertation, plus it is at a reasonable price too.

Lets wait and see., 01 Jun 2004
I bought this book some time ago, knowing that i would have to choose a dissertation for when i go back to university in Sept 2004. The task is much more difficult as i am currently on placement in Westminster and my university is in Sheffield so its impossible to recieve any help/ advice on what i am supposed to do. I haven't read a book in at least 8 years and then that was a shakespear book for my GCSE's i think? Anyway this was the first book i have read in all that time and found it easy to get into. It had some nice tips and advice on how to choose the right subject. It was very limited in parts and after reading two thirds of the way into the book i got bored and just flicked through the rest - it was unhelpful for my subject of Business information systems as i think it is more aimed at social degree's and masters thesis students. I did take a couple of tips from it and feel that it was a good first book to read in order to progress onto other more MEATY titles, which will go more into depth about dissertation writing. I have Since gave the book to my girlfriend and read three other titles (becoming the proverbial book worm) - i hope she gets more from it than i did. I will see if it was helpful, when i begin my final year in Sept.

Very helpful!, 11 Feb 2004
I have used this book constantly whilst thinking about my dissertation and when doing the write up. Very helpful, and very informative!

If only I had bought it sooner..., 04 Jun 2003
This book is ideal for when you are first thinking about your dissertation. Unfortunely I panic bought it when I was doing the writing up, so it was unable to provide me with information that I didnt already know at that point. I will definitely pass it on to someone going into their final year as it is a good starting point.

Very good book for 'Business Strategy' students, 16 Oct 2008
I bought this book only for one reason - to pass an upcoming June 2008 ACCA Paper P3 'Business Strategy' exam. And I did! I had only 9 days allocated for this paper so my only hope was this book. Its language is very understandable, though sometimes I felt that material is too much detailed (maybe because I hadn't much time).

With the book you receive access to an online content. At that time the content was incomplete and was partly lacking business case scenarios, but the tests module was perfect. For every chapter you have many multiple-choice questions and all your answers and results are being recorded. So you can easily see where an improvement required. Also you have an option to download mp3's summarizing the content of the book. You have also 'Interactive key concepts', 'Flashcards', 'Glossary', etc.

Highly recommended!

Great book, but terrible online content, 10 Sep 2008
I ordered this book as part of my Masters in Business Administration course. The book is neatly structured, mainly separating subjects in three main parts: Strategic Positioning, Strategic Choices and Strategy in Action.

I also found the case studies presented in this book to be of great help when studying for the Business Environment module of my MBA. A matrix table presents a guide for each case study in the book and what are their main focus. For example, if you want a case study that focus on Porter's five forces, then read the TUI case study on page 619, and so on.

The book also comes with an "student access kit" to access further content online, and claims that users would have access to more than 30 "classic case studies" within the companion website.

The book is good but I must say the so called online content is a joke. You can only find the case studies that came with the book, and there are no further "classic case studies" to be found. I was particularly interested on a given business case which is mentioned in the book as available in the companion website for my dissertation, and I can't help but to feel cheated about it.

I emailed support asking for advice but I never got an answer, and I tried to call Pearson's support line but I have never received a call back or a proper answer to my query.

The experience I had with Pearson's student access kit was terrible that comes with this book, and I would warn anyone who is thinking to buy one of their books or a standalone student access kit to stay away from them.

Don't expect to learn much, 13 Oct 2008
This is very typical of self-help books. Full of self-assessment exercises, quotes taken from The Oxford Book of Quotations or similar. The text is cobbled together from popular psychology and management theory. Some of the questionnaires would seem to belong in a women's magazine, rather than an academic book. Anyone who has done PD/PSE or a motivation course will have a good idea what to expect. It is amazing that this is set as essential reading on many university courses now.

Excellent book, 01 Oct 2008
I used this in conjunction with the Experts Guide Job Interview DVD Job Interview Skills - Extended DVD & CD, and found them both to be indispensable.

Excellent guide to PDP, 09 Oct 2007
For students at school and university this is an essential guide. Personal and Professional Development Planning is key to making the most out of your experience in any educational institution. Employers are looking for much more that the diploma/degree that you emerge form Uni' with. You are required to be able to demostrate your skills and attributes as they apply to the work that you would be doing. Cottrell shows you how to draw these out, collect evidence and demonstrate what you have gained and achieved through your educational experience.



Lot's of detail, too much, not inspiring, 09 Feb 2006
i was dissapointed when i bought my copy of this book. it is set out very much as an academic text and not very user friendly. i was surprised by the style of book the author chose to do. mostly forms and questionaires to fill in, followed by some short paragraphs. it is very much the typical type of offering from an hr department when they are encouraging time management, or reflective practice. not inspiring or motivational at all. the content is ok, but reminded me very much of the type of exercise they gave us for professinal development courses at university. i did not get a lot from them either. thorough but left me dissapointed.

I use it constantly, 05 Nov 2008
I have found this book so useful that I simply haven't bought another on the same subject. It is written by someone who truly understands the subject, and I believe it will be indispensible to a new entrepreneur, an experienced one, or in fact an exec with planning responsibility that wants a budget approved. As a new entrepreneur you could work through the book from start to finish and have a highly workable business plan, or with experience you could use this as a reference guide to jump around in to improve your weak areas, or use as a reference as and when. Its written in a style that is easy to read, complex concepts are given proper and sensical explanation. If only all business books were this helpful.

An absolute must., 20 May 2007
Whether a guide or a reference book, Richard Stutely provides immeasurable insight into how to develop of your business ideas into business. His experience from the "other side" guides the reader in an orderly and accumulative fashion to construct effective business plans and projects. The form is easy to comprehend, for even the least experienced entrepreneur, and provides essential decision making processes that could save the reader fortunes. This book is a must and should portray a "Wealth Warning"-do not start a business without it.

Fantastic, 15 Oct 2003
I bought the previous version of this book to help me write a business plan before seeking startup funding for a technology idea. For my needs, this book continues to be my primary reference when writing business plans.

The language used is clear, and there are a few dry jokes that I'm ashamed to say did make me laugh out loud. Having said this, the book is probably more thorough than some readers need - if you want to write the type of business plan that the bank invites you to do when opening an account (e.g. competitive landscape is a single page of local competitors, their prices and their strengths/weaknesses) then you'll find that this book is overkill. If you plan to spend two weeks or more writing your business plan then this book will probably make the process much easier, and lead to a more thoughtful document that stands up to detailed financial and strategic analysis by bank managers, investors, advisors etc. If this is what you're trying to write, then you'd be a total monkey to start without reading this book.

An extremely practical and useful guide., 17 Jun 2003
This is one of the best business planning guides I have read. It gives practical advice and examples on all aspects of planning that are as applicable to the small business as to the larger organisations. As a middle manager who was not used to preparing a business plan, it really helped me deal with everything from presentation to resources and forecasting. I liked the way that the subjects were organised, allowing me to dip into the sections that I had less expertise in.
There are plenty of helpful tips and hints highlighted along the way that make the book very readable and not too dry in an otherwise stressful activity.

Not for Startups, 30 Apr 2003
This book appears to be very much aimed at management figures within existing companies writing internal business plans. For startups, its not really suitable, very confusing and irrelevant in many repects.

Unleashing the power of Excel in Corporate Finance!!, 22 Sep 2007
In 2001, I was working for an investment bank in London where I was trying to come up with a consistent framework for my Excel models as applied to everyday corporate finance issues. My boss showed me this book he'd recently purchased in the High Street that set out a standardised methodology for developing models and unleashing the power of Excel. This book was Day's first edition and I had to have it but for some reason it slipped off my book purchase list. Try as I might, I was unable to find a copy these last six years (mainly because I'd forgotten the title & author!!).

Anyhow, I finally tracked the book down (completely by accident) together with its counterpart "Mastering Financial Mathematics" recently on a trip back to London. This book is great for those seeking to develop intuitive models that are likely to endure and serve the needs of the business. The corporate finance theory is kept (deliberately) a bare minimum as the focus is on structuring a consistent framework that maximises the presentational aspects of modelling and at the same time minimises the potential for errors. The model templates serve as a springboard for in-house customization and the techniques used are both simple and intuitive.

Although there may be superior Excel modelling books out there, I believe Day has truely laid out the stage for the common or accidental modelling analyst to deliver high impact corporate finance presentations using Excel.

Highly recommended!!

The McKinsey Way, by former McKinsey & Company associate Ethan M. Rasiel, provides a through-the-keyhole perspective on the way this worldwide consulting institution approaches--and solves--the myriad professional problems encountered by its high-powered clientele. His goal, Rasiel writes, is simple: to communicate "new and useful skills to everyone who wants to be more useful in their business." He then does so by explaining the highly structured, fact-based proprietary methodology that McKinseyites are taught to employ with their Fortune 100 clients, complete with details on the entire process from first considering the basic situation at hand through finally selling a solution to the appropriate powers that be.

All of the critical steps (assembling a team, managing a hierarchy, doing research, conducting interviews, brainstorming) are broken down into specific actions and fleshed out with applicable examples that Rasiel has gathered through interviews with dozens of other former McKinsey employees. The concluding sections on surviving the mythically grueling pace at the organization, known simply to insiders as "the Firm," are designed to help readers successfully tackle the similar challenges and obstacles they regularly face in their own work environments. --Howard Rothman

Buy BEFORE you start your dissertation!, 14 Aug 2006
I started my dissertation very late - too late - and bought this book to help me through. It's a very simple, uncomplicated book which helps you set out your dissertation in the right way and guide you through the process of planning it, writing it, and checking it.

Also, as it is written by an ex lecturer the advice is coming from the right sort of person. There is a checklist at the back of the book which helps you mark your own piece of work and check that you've done the basics. It also has some useful tips yo help you avoid the most common errors.

I managed to get a First for my dissertation, thanks largely to this book. But save yourself rushing about like I did if you can, and buy this simple little book early, before you start!

very helpful and it's in plain english, 18 Apr 2005
I bought this book alongside with other books on writing dissertations. I found this the most useful and helpful of the lot as it was written in a clear logical way that i could understand, there were no fancy words, complicated issues etc.

Throughout my dissertation it has provided me with guidance on what to write in certain sections of my work, not only that it has provided me with the structure of what a dissertation should look like. Overall it has kept me sane and I would definately recommend it to people who are undertaking a dissertation, plus it is at a reasonable price too.

Lets wait and see., 01 Jun 2004
I bought this book some time ago, knowing that i would have to choose a dissertation for when i go back to university in Sept 2004. The task is much more difficult as i am currently on placement in Westminster and my university is in Sheffield so its impossible to recieve any help/ advice on what i am supposed to do. I haven't read a book in at least 8 years and then that was a shakespear book for my GCSE's i think? Anyway this was the first book i have read in all that time and found it easy to get into. It had some nice tips and advice on how to choose the right subject. It was very limited in parts and after reading two thirds of the way into the book i got bored and just flicked through the rest - it was unhelpful for my subject of Business information systems as i think it is more aimed at social degree's and masters thesis students. I did take a couple of tips from it and feel that it was a good first book to read in order to progress onto other more MEATY titles, which will go more into depth about dissertation writing. I have Since gave the book to my girlfriend and read three other titles (becoming the proverbial book worm) - i hope she gets more from it than i did. I will see if it was helpful, when i begin my final year in Sept.

Very helpful!, 11 Feb 2004
I have used this book constantly whilst thinking about my dissertation and when doing the write up. Very helpful, and very informative!

If only I had bought it sooner..., 04 Jun 2003
This book is ideal for when you are first thinking about your dissertation. Unfortunely I panic bought it when I was doing the writing up, so it was unable to provide me with information that I didnt already know at that point. I will definitely pass it on to someone going into their final year as it is a good starting point.

Very good book for 'Business Strategy' students, 16 Oct 2008
I bought this book only for one reason - to pass an upcoming June 2008 ACCA Paper P3 'Business Strategy' exam. And I did! I had only 9 days allocated for this paper so my only hope was this book. Its language is very understandable, though sometimes I felt that material is too much detailed (maybe because I hadn't much time).

With the book you receive access to an online content. At that time the content was incomplete and was partly lacking business case scenarios, but the tests module was perfect. For every chapter you have many multiple-choice questions and all your answers and results are being recorded. So you can easily see where an improvement required. Also you have an option to download mp3's summarizing the content of the book. You have also 'Interactive key concepts', 'Flashcards', 'Glossary', etc.

Highly recommended!

Great book, but terrible online content, 10 Sep 2008
I ordered this book as part of my Masters in Business Administration course. The book is neatly structured, mainly separating subjects in three main parts: Strategic Positioning, Strategic Choices and Strategy in Action.

I also found the case studies presented in this book to be of great help when studying for the Business Environment module of my MBA. A matrix table presents a guide for each case study in the book and what are their main focus. For example, if you want a case study that focus on Porter's five forces, then read the TUI case study on page 619, and so on.

The book also comes with an "student access kit" to access further content online, and claims that users would have access to more than 30 "classic case studies" within the companion website.

The book is good but I must say the so called online content is a joke. You can only find the case studies that came with the book, and there are no further "classic case studies" to be found. I was particularly interested on a given business case which is mentioned in the book as available in the companion website for my dissertation, and I can't help but to feel cheated about it.

I emailed support asking for advice but I never got an answer, and I tried to call Pearson's support line but I have never received a call back or a proper answer to my query.

The experience I had with Pearson's student access kit was terrible that comes with this book, and I would warn anyone who is thinking to buy one of their books or a standalone student access kit to stay away from them.

Don't expect to learn much, 13 Oct 2008
This is very typical of self-help books. Full of self-assessment exercises, quotes taken from The Oxford Book of Quotations or similar. The text is cobbled together from popular psychology and management theory. Some of the questionnaires would seem to belong in a women's magazine, rather than an academic book. Anyone who has done PD/PSE or a motivation course will have a good idea what to expect. It is amazing that this is set as essential reading on many university courses now.

Excellent book, 01 Oct 2008
I used this in conjunction with the Experts Guide Job Interview DVD Job Interview Skills - Extended DVD & CD, and found them both to be indispensable.

Excellent guide to PDP, 09 Oct 2007
For students at school and university this is an essential guide. Personal and Professional Development Planning is key to making the most out of your experience in any educational institution. Employers are looking for much more that the diploma/degree that you emerge form Uni' with. You are required to be able to demostrate your skills and attributes as they apply to the work that you would be doing. Cottrell shows you how to draw these out, collect evidence and demonstrate what you have gained and achieved through your educational experience.



Lot's of detail, too much, not inspiring, 09 Feb 2006
i was dissapointed when i bought my copy of this book. it is set out very much as an academic text and not very user friendly. i was surprised by the style of book the author chose to do. mostly forms and questionaires to fill in, followed by some short paragraphs. it is very much the typical type of offering from an hr department when they are encouraging time management, or reflective practice. not inspiring or motivational at all. the content is ok, but reminded me very much of the type of exercise they gave us for professinal development courses at university. i did not get a lot from them either. thorough but left me dissapointed.

I use it constantly, 05 Nov 2008
I have found this book so useful that I simply haven't bought another on the same subject. It is written by someone who truly understands the subject, and I believe it will be indispensible to a new entrepreneur, an experienced one, or in fact an exec with planning responsibility that wants a budget approved. As a new entrepreneur you could work through the book from start to finish and have a highly workable business plan, or with experience you could use this as a reference guide to jump around in to improve your weak areas, or use as a reference as and when. Its written in a style that is easy to read, complex concepts are given proper and sensical explanation. If only all business books were this helpful.

An absolute must., 20 May 2007
Whether a guide or a reference book, Richard Stutely provides immeasurable insight into how to develop of your business ideas into business. His experience from the "other side" guides the reader in an orderly and accumulative fashion to construct effective business plans and projects. The form is easy to comprehend, for even the least experienced entrepreneur, and provides essential decision making processes that could save the reader fortunes. This book is a must and should portray a "Wealth Warning"-do not start a business without it.

Fantastic, 15 Oct 2003
I bought the previous version of this book to help me write a business plan before seeking startup funding for a technology idea. For my needs, this book continues to be my primary reference when writing business plans.

The language used is clear, and there are a few dry jokes that I'm ashamed to say did make me laugh out loud. Having said this, the book is probably more thorough than some readers need - if you want to write the type of business plan that the bank invites you to do when opening an account (e.g. competitive landscape is a single page of local competitors, their prices and their strengths/weaknesses) then you'll find that this book is overkill. If you plan to spend two weeks or more writing your business plan then this book will probably make the process much easier, and lead to a more thoughtful document that stands up to detailed financial and strategic analysis by bank managers, investors, advisors etc. If this is what you're trying to write, then you'd be a total monkey to start without reading this book.

An extremely practical and useful guide., 17 Jun 2003
This is one of the best business planning guides I have read. It gives practical advice and examples on all aspects of planning that are as applicable to the small business as to the larger organisations. As a middle manager who was not used to preparing a business plan, it really helped me deal with everything from presentation to resources and forecasting. I liked the way that the subjects were organised, allowing me to dip into the sections that I had less expertise in.
There are plenty of helpful tips and hints highlighted along the way that make the book very readable and not too dry in an otherwise stressful activity.

Not for Startups, 30 Apr 2003
This book appears to be very much aimed at management figures within existing companies writing internal business plans. For startups, its not really suitable, very confusing and irrelevant in many repects.

Unleashing the power of Excel in Corporate Finance!!, 22 Sep 2007
In 2001, I was working for an investment bank in London where I was trying to come up with a consistent framework for my Excel models as applied to everyday corporate finance issues. My boss showed me this book he'd recently purchased in the High Street that set out a standardised methodology for developing models and unleashing the power of Excel. This book was Day's first edition and I had to have it but for some reason it slipped off my book purchase list. Try as I might, I was unable to find a copy these last six years (mainly because I'd forgotten the title & author!!).

Anyhow, I finally tracked the book down (completely by accident) together with its counterpart "Mastering Financial Mathematics" recently on a trip back to London. This book is great for those seeking to develop intuitive models that are likely to endure and serve the needs of the business. The corporate finance theory is kept (deliberately) a bare minimum as the focus is on structuring a consistent framework that maximises the presentational aspects of modelling and at the same time minimises the potential for errors. The model templates serve as a springboard for in-house customization and the techniques used are both simple and intuitive.

Although there may be superior Excel modelling books out there, I believe Day has truely laid out the stage for the common or accidental modelling analyst to deliver high impact corporate finance presentations using Excel.

Highly recommended!!

It should have been so much more, 04 Mar 2008
As a strategy consultant I found small portions of this book quite interesting to see how McKinsey runs through its analytical framework, however as a whole it is very vague and uninformative.

The last couple of chapters in particular are focused more on boosting Mckinsey-ites egos then giving strategic insight from one of the worlds largest consultancies.

I would recommend this book to people thinking about getting into the industry but apart from that as an 'Idiots guide', however there are many more insightful and educational books out there.

On the positive side it is very easy to read so I guess I didnt waste too much of my life

If you are new to Business Consulting, read this Book First, 27 Dec 2007
Friends,

Please read this book if you are new entrant to business consulting.

As a fresh incumbent, we will have many questions to kick start the journey, just imagine the author to be our first friend to help us start the exciting career as a Consultant.

As a reader belonging to the above said category, I found this book immensely useful that opened up many important facets that are required to be performed by us in this prestigious profession, otherwise would have taken months to learn or experience. Many of the management concepts described in this book are known, yet to have it in the same book having a common purpose supported with live examples apart from McKinsey tools like MECE, Waterfall chart, Elevator test, Prewiring etc will really add value to us.

From the need to send a simple thanks note to our client or to manage a non cooperative member in the client side, this book throws many useful tips that are necessary to have a comfortable journey.

Read it to learn, No doubts, will experience the learnings during practise

Good Luck




This book is what McKinsey is about..., 09 Aug 2005
This book is unintentionally a clear representation of these "elite" consulting firms:
- Too expensive for what it is
- Nice cover and picture ... but big letters and no content (have a read of the "Surviving at McKinsey" chapter for a good laugh)
- Inflated ego (eg: "McKinsey is to management as Cartier is to jewels...")

If any young MBA's hope to find a few hints to enter the "ivory tower", don't look here.

In conclusion, please find my "strategic recommendation" about this book: don't buy it. This advise is worth a few dollars.

Basic overview, 07 Sep 2004
Buying the book I thought it would go into great depth about the techniques which McKindsey-ites use, but it failed to meet my requirements. It is a good book for people that have little or no knowledge of management or dealing with a management problem. But overall it is a good bedtime read.

Short, clear introduction into management consultancy, 29 Dec 2002
McKinsey & Company is a world-famous strategic consulting company, also known as "The Firm". Ethan Rasiel worked at McKinsey & Co. for several years and provides a quick, clear introduction into management consulting firm's problem solving methods. "I wrote this book with the goal of communicating new and useful skills to everyone who wants to be more efficient and effective in business. ... In addition, this book will give any executive woho works with management consultants, whether McKinsey or elsewhere, some insight into how these strange beings think."

The book is split up into five parts. In Part I, Ethan Rasiel explains the McKinsey-way of thinking about business problems. The author explains that the solution of the problem needs to be fact-based (facts are friendly), rigidly structured (MECE = mutually exclusive), and hypothesis-driven (solve the problem at the first meeting - the initial hypothesis). In addition, the author explains how McKinsey-ites approach business problems and apply the McKinsey problem-solving process to maximum effect. There is also a short introduction into a number of rules which McKinsey-consultants use for problem-solving purposes: the 80/20-rule, find the key drivers, the elevator test - sell in 30 seconds, make a chart every day, look at the big picture, say "I don't know", and don't accept "I have no idea".

In Part II, the author introduces the McKinsey-way of working to solve business problems. The author explains the selling process at McKinsey (the Firm does not sell, it markets), how to structure an engagement, and assembling of a team. Then the author comes to the most important part of the book, doing research, conducting interviews (the author insists on reading Chapter 8 - Conducting Interviews - "If you read no other chapter of the book from start to finish, read this one."), and brainstorming.

In Part III, the author, and the McKinsey-way of selling solutions. This part discusses the way McKinsey makes presentations, which is one of the strongest parts of McKinsey according to the author, displays data with charts (read Gene Zelazny (1985), 'Say it with Charts'), and the way to work with clients.

In Part IV, Rasiel gives some lessons how "McKinsey-ites" have learned for coping with the stresses of life at the Firm, and in Part V, the author recounts the lessons he learned at McKinsey and shares memories of various ex-McKinsey-ites. Both Part IV and V are 'a waste of paper' in comparison to the first three parts, but gives a little insight into what goes on behind the scenes at McKinsey & Co.

Yes, I can understand that some readers are disappointed by this book as it gives just an introduction into management consultancy (and McKinsey & Co). The author introduces the various problem-solving methods and tools, but does not discuss them in great detail. For more details on these methods and tools you will have to read some other literature. The book uses simple US-English.

Buy BEFORE you start your dissertation!, 14 Aug 2006
I started my dissertation very late - too late - and bought this book to help me through. It's a very simple, uncomplicated book which helps you set out your dissertation in the right way and guide you through the process of planning it, writing it, and checking it.

Also, as it is written by an ex lecturer the advice is coming from the right sort of person. There is a checklist at the back of the book which helps you mark your own piece of work and check that you've done the basics. It also has some useful tips yo help you avoid the most common errors.

I managed to get a First for my dissertation, thanks largely to this book. But save yourself rushing about like I did if you can, and buy this simple little book early, before you start!

very helpful and it's in plain english, 18 Apr 2005
I bought this book alongside with other books on writing dissertations. I found this the most useful and helpful of the lot as it was written in a clear logical way that i could understand, there were no fancy words, complicated issues etc.

Throughout my dissertation it has provided me with guidance on what to write in certain sections of my work, not only that it has provided me with the structure of what a dissertation should look like. Overall it has kept me sane and I would definately recommend it to people who are undertaking a dissertation, plus it is at a reasonable price too.

Lets wait and see., 01 Jun 2004
I bought this book some time ago, knowing that i would have to choose a dissertation for when i go back to university in Sept 2004. The task is much more difficult as i am currently on placement in Westminster and my university is in Sheffield so its impossible to recieve any help/ advice on what i am supposed to do. I haven't read a book in at least 8 years and then that was a shakespear book for my GCSE's i think? Anyway this was the first book i have read in all that time and found it easy to get into. It had some nice tips and advice on how to choose the right subject. It was very limited in parts and after reading two thirds of the way into the book i got bored and just flicked through the rest - it was unhelpful for my subject of Business information systems as i think it is more aimed at social degree's and masters thesis students. I did take a couple of tips from it and feel that it was a good first book to read in order to progress onto other more MEATY titles, which will go more into depth about dissertation writing. I have Since gave the book to my girlfriend and read three other titles (becoming the proverbial book worm) - i hope she gets more from it than i did. I will see if it was helpful, when i begin my final year in Sept.

Very helpful!, 11 Feb 2004
I have used this book constantly whilst thinking about my dissertation and when doing the write up. Very helpful, and very informative!

If only I had bought it sooner..., 04 Jun 2003
This book is ideal for when you are first thinking about your dissertation. Unfortunely I panic bought it when I was doing the writing up, so it was unable to provide me with information that I didnt already know at that point. I will definitely pass it on to someone going into their final year as it is a good starting point.

Very good book for 'Business Strategy' students, 16 Oct 2008
I bought this book only for one reason - to pass an upcoming June 2008 ACCA Paper P3 'Business Strategy' exam. And I did! I had only 9 days allocated for this paper so my only hope was this book. Its language is very understandable, though sometimes I felt that material is too much detailed (maybe because I hadn't much time).

With the book you receive access to an online content. At that time the content was incomplete and was partly lacking business case scenarios, but the tests module was perfect. For every chapter you have many multiple-choice questions and all your answers and results are being recorded. So you can easily see where an improvement required. Also you have an option to download mp3's summarizing the content of the book. You have also 'Interactive key concepts', 'Flashcards', 'Glossary', etc.

Highly recommended!

Great book, but terrible online content, 10 Sep 2008
I ordered this book as part of my Masters in Business Administration course. The book is neatly structured, mainly separating subjects in three main parts: Strategic Positioning, Strategic Choices and Strategy in Action.

I also found the case studies presented in this book to be of great help when studying for the Business Environment module of my MBA. A matrix table presents a guide for each case study in the book and what are their main focus. For example, if you want a case study that focus on Porter's five forces, then read the TUI case study on page 619, and so on.

The book also comes with an "student access kit" to access further content online, and claims that users would have access to more than 30 "classic case studies" within the companion website.

The book is good but I must say the so called online content is a joke. You can only find the case studies that came with the book, and there are no further "classic case studies" to be found. I was particularly interested on a given business case which is mentioned in the book as available in the companion website for my dissertation, and I can't help but to feel cheated about it.

I emailed support asking for advice but I never got an answer, and I tried to call Pearson's support line but I have never received a call back or a proper answer to my query.

The experience I had with Pearson's student access kit was terrible that comes with this book, and I would warn anyone who is thinking to buy one of their books or a standalone student access kit to stay away from them.

Don't expect to learn much, 13 Oct 2008
This is very typical of self-help books. Full of self-assessment exercises, quotes taken from The Oxford Book of Quotations or similar. The text is cobbled together from popular psychology and management theory. Some of the questionnaires would seem to belong in a women's magazine, rather than an academic book. Anyone who has done PD/PSE or a motivation course will have a good idea what to expect. It is amazing that this is set as essential reading on many university courses now.

Excellent book, 01 Oct 2008
I used this in conjunction with the Experts Guide Job Interview DVD Job Interview Skills - Extended DVD & CD, and found them both to be indispensable.

Excellent guide to PDP, 09 Oct 2007
For students at school and university this is an essential guide. Personal and Professional Development Planning is key to making the most out of your experience in any educational institution. Employers are looking for much more that the diploma/degree that you emerge form Uni' with. You are required to be able to demostrate your skills and attributes as they apply to the work that you would be doing. Cottrell shows you how to draw these out, collect evidence and demonstrate what you have gained and achieved through your educational experience.



Lot's of detail, too much, not inspiring, 09 Feb 2006
i was dissapointed when i bought my copy of this book. it is set out very much as an academic text and not very user friendly. i was surprised by the style of book the author chose to do. mostly forms and questionaires to fill in, followed by some short paragraphs. it is very much the typical type of offering from an hr department when they are encouraging time management, or reflective practice. not inspiring or motivational at all. the content is ok, but reminded me very much of the type of exercise they gave us for professinal development courses at university. i did not get a lot from them either. thorough but left me dissapointed.

I use it constantly, 05 Nov 2008
I have found this book so useful that I simply haven't bought another on the same subject. It is written by someone who truly understands the subject, and I believe it will be indispensible to a new entrepreneur, an experienced one, or in fact an exec with planning responsibility that wants a budget approved. As a new entrepreneur you could work through the book from start to finish and have a highly workable business plan, or with experience you could use this as a reference guide to jump around in to improve your weak areas, or use as a reference as and when. Its written in a style that is easy to read, complex concepts are given proper and sensical explanation. If only all business books were this helpful.

An absolute must., 20 May 2007
Whether a guide or a reference book, Richard Stutely provides immeasurable insight into how to develop of your business ideas into business. His experience from the "other side" guides the reader in an orderly and accumulative fashion to construct effective business plans and projects. The form is easy to comprehend, for even the least experienced entrepreneur, and provides essential decision making processes that could save the reader fortunes. This book is a must and should portray a "Wealth Warning"-do not start a business without it.

Fantastic, 15 Oct 2003
I bought the previous version of this book to help me write a business plan before seeking startup funding for a technology idea. For my needs, this book continues to be my primary reference when writing business plans.

The language used is clear, and there are a few dry jokes that I'm ashamed to say did make me laugh out loud. Having said this, the book is probably more thorough than some readers need - if you want to write the type of business plan that the bank invites you to do when opening an account (e.g. competitive landscape is a single page of local competitors, their prices and their strengths/weaknesses) then you'll find that this book is overkill. If you plan to spend two weeks or more writing your business plan then this book will probably make the process much easier, and lead to a more thoughtful document that stands up to detailed financial and strategic analysis by bank managers, investors, advisors etc. If this is what you're trying to write, then you'd be a total monkey to start without reading this book.

An extremely practical and useful guide., 17 Jun 2003
This is one of the best business planning guides I have read. It gives practical advice and examples on all aspects of planning that are as applicable to the small business as to the larger organisations. As a middle manager who was not used to preparing a business plan, it really helped me deal with everything from presentation to resources and forecasting. I liked the way that the subjects were organised, allowing me to dip into the sections that I had less expertise in.
There are plenty of helpful tips and hints highlighted along the way that make the book very readable and not too dry in an otherwise stressful activity.

Not for Startups, 30 Apr 2003
This book appears to be very much aimed at management figures within existing companies writing internal business plans. For startups, its not really suitable, very confusing and irrelevant in many repects.

Unleashing the power of Excel in Corporate Finance!!, 22 Sep 2007
In 2001, I was working for an investment bank in London where I was trying to come up with a consistent framework for my Excel models as applied to everyday corporate finance issues. My boss showed me this book he'd recently purchased in the High Street that set out a standardised methodology for developing models and unleashing the power of Excel. This book was Day's first edition and I had to have it but for some reason it slipped off my book purchase list. Try as I might, I was unable to find a copy these last six years (mainly because I'd forgotten the title & author!!).

Anyhow, I finally tracked the book down (completely by accident) together with its counterpart "Mastering Financial Mathematics" recently on a trip back to London. This book is great for those seeking to develop intuitive models that are likely to endure and serve the needs of the business. The corporate finance theory is kept (deliberately) a bare minimum as the focus is on structuring a consistent framework that maximises the presentational aspects of modelling and at the same time minimises the potential for errors. The model templates serve as a springboard for in-house customization and the techniques used are both simple and intuitive.

Although there may be superior Excel modelling books out there, I believe Day has truely laid out the stage for the common or accidental modelling analyst to deliver high impact corporate finance presentations using Excel.

Highly recommended!!

It should have been so much more, 04 Mar 2008
As a strategy consultant I found small portions of this book quite interesting to see how McKinsey runs through its analytical framework, however as a whole it is very vague and uninformative.

The last couple of chapters in particular are focused more on boosting Mckinsey-ites egos then giving strategic insight from one of the worlds largest consultancies.

I would recommend this book to people thinking about getting into the industry but apart from that as an 'Idiots guide', however there are many more insightful and educational books out there.

On the positive side it is very easy to read so I guess I didnt waste too much of my life

If you are new to Business Consulting, read this Book First, 27 Dec 2007
Friends,

Please read this book if you are new entrant to business consulting.

As a fresh incumbent, we will have many questions to kick start the journey, just imagine the author to be our first friend to help us start the exciting career as a Consultant.

As a reader belonging to the above said category, I found this book immensely useful that opened up many important facets that are required to be performed by us in this prestigious profession, otherwise would have taken months to learn or experience. Many of the management concepts described in this book are known, yet to have it in the same book having a common purpose supported with live examples apart from McKinsey tools like MECE, Waterfall chart, Elevator test, Prewiring etc will really add value to us.

From the need to send a simple thanks note to our client or to manage a non cooperative member in the client side, this book throws many useful tips that are necessary to have a comfortable journey.

Read it to learn, No doubts, will experience the learnings during practise

Good Luck




This book is what McKinsey is about..., 09 Aug 2005
This book is unintentionally a clear representation of these "elite" consulting firms:
- Too expensive for what it is
- Nice cover and picture ... but big letters and no content (have a read of the "Surviving at McKinsey" chapter for a good laugh)
- Inflated ego (eg: "McKinsey is to management as Cartier is to jewels...")

If any young MBA's hope to find a few hints to enter the "ivory tower", don't look here.

In conclusion, please find my "strategic recommendation" about this book: don't buy it. This advise is worth a few dollars.

Basic overview, 07 Sep 2004
Buying the book I thought it would go into great depth about the techniques which McKindsey-ites use, but it failed to meet my requirements. It is a good book for people that have little or no knowledge of management or dealing with a management problem. But overall it is a good bedtime read.

Short, clear introduction into management consultancy, 29 Dec 2002
McKinsey & Company is a world-famous strategic consulting company, also known as "The Firm". Ethan Rasiel worked at McKinsey & Co. for several years and provides a quick, clear introduction into management consulting firm's problem solving methods. "I wrote this book with the goal of communicating new and useful skills to everyone who wants to be more efficient and effective in business. ... In addition, this book will give any executive woho works with management consultants, whether McKinsey or elsewhere, some insight into how these strange beings think."

The book is split up into five parts. In Part I, Ethan Rasiel explains the McKinsey-way of thinking about business problems. The author explains that the solution of the problem needs to be fact-based (facts are friendly), rigidly structured (MECE = mutually exclusive), and hypothesis-driven (solve the problem at the first meeting - the initial hypothesis). In addition, the author explains how McKinsey-ites approach business problems and apply the McKinsey problem-solving process to maximum effect. There is also a short introduction into a number of rules which McKinsey-consultants use for problem-solving purposes: the 80/20-rule, find the key drivers, the elevator test - sell in 30 seconds, make a chart every day, look at the big picture, say "I don't know", and don't accept "I have no idea".

In Part II, the author introduces the McKinsey-way of working to solve business problems. The author explains the selling process at McKinsey (the Firm does not sell, it markets), how to structure an engagement, and assembling of a team. Then the author comes to the most important part of the book, doing research, conducting interviews (the author insists on reading Chapter 8 - Conducting Interviews - "If you read no other chapter of the book from start to finish, read this one."), and brainstorming.

In Part III, the author, and the McKinsey-way of selling solutions. This part discusses the way McKinsey makes presentations, which is one of the strongest parts of McKinsey according to the author, displays data with charts (read Gene Zelazny (1985), 'Say it with Charts'), and the way to work with clients.

In Part IV, Rasiel gives some lessons how "McKinsey-ites" have learned for coping with the stresses of life at the Firm, and in Part V, the author recounts the lessons he learned at McKinsey and shares memories of various ex-McKinsey-ites. Both Part IV and V are 'a waste of paper' in comparison to the first three parts, but gives a little insight into what goes on behind the scenes at McKinsey & Co.

Yes, I can understand that some readers are disappointed by this book as it gives just an introduction into management consultancy (and McKinsey & Co). The author introduces the various problem-solving methods and tools, but does not discuss them in great detail. For more details on these methods and tools you will have to read some other literature. The book uses simple US-English.

Essential reading for anyone involved in e-Marketing, 31 Oct 2008
e-Marketing eXcellence, third addition, covers the entire scope of e-Marketing:
Objectives - Do you want to sell? build a brand? talk to and or serve customers?
e-Models - e-commerce, communications, online revenue, web2.0.
e-Customers - Who are they? why do they/don't they buy online? how do they buy? how do you build relationships with them? how do they communicate with each other?
Tools - Not just the internet! iDTV, Digital Radio, Mobile etc.
Site design - Establishing the purpose of the site, best practice design, navigation, structure and copywriting.
Traffic building - SEM, display advertising, e-mail, viral, PR.
CRM - Developing lasting relationships with your customers - database marketing, profiling and personalisation.
e-Business - From value chains to value networks; an analysis what's involved in setting up and managing an e-Business.

The main body text is well written, and the depth of coverage for each topic is just right for a book this size.

Throughout the book you'll find the following boxes:
e-Marketing Excellence - Real world case studies of how large corporations have used the topic being discussed in that part of the book.
Practical/Best Practice e-Marketing tip - Specifics on how you can use the topic being discussed in your own e-marketing campaigns.
e-Marketing Insight - Views from corporations, technology providers (e.g. Google), e-Marketing experts to get you thinking in multiple directions.
The book is also littered throughout with high quality charts, graphics and screenshots of actual websites, all in colour, to give you actual examples of how these techniques are being used.

This third edition of the book has extensive coverage on the latest trends in e-Marketing - viral marketing, web2.0 approaches such as social networking and online PR.

One of the highlights of this book, for me, is thorough coverage of the SOSTAC® approach to e-Marketing planning. Created by Paul Smith (who is a co-author of this book), the model provides a structured framework for building your e-Marketing plans. The model can be applied to projects from small to massive. The book concentrates on how to apply the SOSTAC® model specifically to e-Marketing. Essential reading for anyone involved in writing e-Marketing plans.

This book has broadened my knowledge of e-Marketing in a way that I would not have been able to do so without it. I found myself constantly thinking in new directions when reading it. I now have an appreciation of many more aspects of what's involved when planning for, implementing, and testing e-Marketing campaigns, and I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone involved in all aspects (strategizing, managing, implementing) of e-Marketing. The book also serves as an excellent resource for the e-Marketing student.

Buy BEFORE you start your dissertation!, 14 Aug 2006
I started my dissertation very late - too late - and bought this book to help me through. It's a very simple, uncomplicated book which helps you set out your dissertation in the right way and guide you through the process of planning it, writing it, and checking it.

Also, as it is written by an ex lecturer the advice is coming from the right sort of person. There is a checklist at the back of the book which helps you mark your own piece of work and check that you've done the basics. It also has some useful tips yo help you avoid the most common errors.

I managed to get a First for my dissertation, thanks largely to this book. But save yourself rushing about like I did if you can, and buy this simple little book early, before you start!

very helpful and it's in plain english, 18 Apr 2005
I bought this book alongside with other books on writing dissertations. I found this the most useful and helpful of the lot as it was written in a clear logical way that i could understand, there were no fancy words, complicated issues etc.

Throughout my dissertation it has provided me with guidance on what to write in certain sections of my work, not only that it has provided me with the structure of what a dissertation should look like. Overall it has kept me sane and I would definately recommend it to people who are undertaking a dissertation, plus it is at a reasonable price too.

Lets wait and see., 01 Jun 2004
I bought this book some time ago, knowing that i would have to choose a dissertation for when i go back to university in Sept 2004. The task is much more difficult as i am currently on placement in Westminster and my university is in Sheffield so its impossible to recieve any help/ advice on what i am supposed to do. I haven't read a book in at least 8 years and then that was a shakespear book for my GCSE's i think? Anyway this was the first book i have read in all that time and found it easy to get into. It had some nice tips and advice on how to choose the right subject. It was very limited in parts and after reading two thirds of the way into the book i got bored and just flicked through the rest - it was unhelpful for my subject of Business information systems as i think it is more aimed at social degree's and masters thesis students. I did take a couple of tips from it and feel that it was a good first book to read in order to progress onto other more MEATY titles, which will go more into depth about dissertation writing. I have Since gave the book to my girlfriend and read three other titles (becoming the proverbial book worm) - i hope she gets more from it than i did. I will see if it was helpful, when i begin my final year in Sept.

Very helpful!, 11 Feb 2004
I have used this book constantly whilst thinking about my dissertation and when doing the write up. Very helpful, and very informative!

If only I had bought it sooner..., 04 Jun 2003
This book is ideal for when you are first thinking about your dissertation. Unfortunely I panic bought it when I was doing the writing up, so it was unable to provide me with information that I didnt already know at that point. I will definitely pass it on to someone going into their final year as it is a good starting point.

Very good book for 'Business Strategy' students, 16 Oct 2008
I bought this book only for one reason - to pass an upcoming June 2008 ACCA Paper P3 'Business Strategy' exam. And I did! I had only 9 days allocated for this paper so my only hope was this book. Its language is very understandable, though sometimes I felt that material is too much detailed (maybe because I hadn't much time).

With the book you receive access to an online content. At that time the content was incomplete and was partly lacking business case scenarios, but the tests module was perfect. For every chapter you have many multiple-choice questions and all your answers and results are being recorded. So you can easily see where an improvement required. Also you have an option to download mp3's summarizing the content of the book. You have also 'Interactive key concepts', 'Flashcards', 'Glossary', etc.

Highly recommended!

Great book, but terrible online content, 10 Sep 2008
I ordered this book as part of my Masters in Business Administration course. The book is neatly structured, mainly separating subjects in three main parts: Strategic Positioning, Strategic Choices and Strategy in Action.

I also found the case studies presented in this book to be of great help when studying for the Business Environment module of my MBA. A matrix table presents a guide for each case study in the book and what are their main focus. For example, if you want a case study that focus on Porter's five forces, then read the TUI case study on page 619, and so on.

The book also comes with an "student access kit" to access further content online, and claims that users would have access to more than 30 "classic case studies" within the companion website.

The book is good but I must say the so called online content is a joke. You can only find the case studies that came with the book, and there are no further "classic case studies" to be found. I was particularly interested on a given business case which is mentioned in the book as available in the companion website for my dissertation, and I can't help but to feel cheated about it.

I emailed support asking for advice but I never got an answer, and I tried to call Pearson's support line but I have never received a call back or a proper answer to my query.

The experience I had with Pearson's student access kit was terrible that comes with this book, and I would warn anyone who is thinking to buy one of their books or a standalone student access kit to stay away from them.

Don't expect to learn much, 13 Oct 2008
This is very typical of self-help books. Full of self-assessment exercises, quotes taken from The Oxford Book of Quotations or similar. The text is cobbled together from popular psychology and management theory. Some of the questionnaires would seem to belong in a women's magazine, rather than an academic book. Anyone who has done PD/PSE or a motivation course will have a good idea what to expect. It is amazing that this is set as essential reading on many university courses now.

Excellen