The A to Z of Corporate Social Responsibility includes 350 entries split into 10 core terms, 85 key terms, and 250 definitions. The core terms give an in-depth discussion approximately two thousand words in length. For example, “business ethics” has an eight-page entry that includes everything from a definition to a list of key debates surrounding the term. Entries for key terms give less detail and are 500–750 words in length. Finally, the definitions simply provide short statements that encapsulate the essence of the term and are 100–250 words in length. The book includes terminology from business, government, civil society, and nongovernmental organizations.
The arrangement of entries is alphabetical. However, several useful indexes, such as one with a hierarchical structure of the terms, are also included. The book would have benefited from the inclusion of bibliographies or “further readings” lists. Overall, this notable book is definitely a must-buy for any library serving individuals involved in corporate social responsibility.—Terry Zarsky, Pikes Peak Library District, Colorado
Concise Encyclopedia of Economics. 3rd ed. Ed. by David R. Henderson. Indianapolis, Ind.: Liberty Fund, 2008. 656p. $45 (ISBN 978-0865976665).
This newly revised version of the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics contains 168 signed articles in one easy-to-use reference volume. New entries have been included, as have twenty-one new biographies of select economists. The articles, many newly updated, will help citizens better understand current controversies by offering economic analyses of political issues, including social problems, such as discrimination and poverty; global issues, such as environmental policy and global warming; and historical events, such as bubbles and business cycles.
Most articles are followed by brief author information and further reading list. Longer articles are divided into subsections with subtitles in boldface. Many entries contain tables and figures, as well as short case studies. Cross references are made in the text by capitalizing all topics that are also main entries.
The Contributors section confirms that most of the 153 authors are affiliated with top universities or think tanks in the United States. The specialized appendixes list some authors as Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics winners, former chairmen of the Council of Economic Advisors, or former presidents of the American Economic Association.
Although these experts usually write at an advanced level, this authoritative resource concisely explains complex concepts to those without an economics background. Therefore this resource is recommended for both academic and public libraries. Researchers interested in exploring former article entries, especially those omitted from the current edition, can freely access them by visiting Liberty Fund’s Econlib website (www.econlib.org).—Caroline Geck, MLS, MBA, Somerset, New Jersey
Encyclopedia of Products and Industries—Manufacturing. Ed. by Patricia J. Bungert and Arsen J. Darnay. Detroit: Gale Cengage Learning, 2008. 2 vols. $740 (ISBN: 978-1414429830).
The Encyclopedia of Products and Industries is a timely publication that helps users understand manufacturing trends in the United States. Unlike the Encyclopedia of American Industries, which provides a traditional industry-level analysis, the Encyclopedia of Products and Industries focuses on product categories within the industrial framework (for example, recycled paper and hand tools). A user of both encyclopedias will gain a deep understanding of industry structure, major players, and products.
The 120 product entries are arranged alphabetically and accompanied by 233 informative exhibits or graphics. Each entry contains twelve rubrics, including industrial code, product overview, market, key products/manufacturers, materials and supply chain logistics, distribution channel, key users, adjacent markets, research and development, current trends, target markets and segmentation, and related associations and organizations.
The editors claim that the purpose of the encyclopedia is not just to provide historical record, but also to illuminate the trends for each product category. Some entries may be a little sparse on explicating trends, but overall, the encyclopedia provides insightful information for industry research projects. Especially useful are the sections on distribution and supply chain logistics. Often this information is either scattered or hard to find. The encyclopedia also does a very good job summarizing the supply chain of each product category.
The Encyclopedia of Products and Industries is available both in print and online through the Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL). The print price may be too steep for libraries with tighter budgets. However, if a library already subscribes to GVRL, this encyclopedia is a worthy addition.—Baseema Krkoska, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
The Essential Management Toolbox: Tools, Models, and Notes for Managers and Consultants. By Simon A. Burtonshaw-Gunn. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley, 2008. 360p. $50 (ISBN 978-0470518373).
Consultant and professor Simon Burtonshaw-Gunn captures the essence of management consulting with this handy collection of classic business models and general business tools.
Twenty broad topics are covered in this book, including “Change Management,” “Decision Making and Problem Resolution,” “Supply Chain Management,” and “Customer Relationship Management.” The categorical arrangement of entries makes it useful for students and business practitioners. A detailed index adds to its usefulness as a reference tool.
Core management concepts such as “Deming’s 14 points,” “Porter’s Five Forces,” and “Johari window” are presented concisely. Brief entries discussing figures typically studied in business school are also included. In addition, psychology models such as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs are explained.
Two features set this book apart from other recent general business reference titles. First is the ease of access to standard business concepts. For example, comprehensive works such as the Encyclopedia of Business and Finance (Macmillan, 2007) and Business: The Ultimate Resource (Basic Books, 2006) index the term “Deming.” However, one has to read the entry to determine if the “14 points” are listed. The index entries for The Essential Management Toolbox are tool-specific, such as “Deming 14 points.” Secondly, this book focuses on the work of a consultant and provides practical tools and models for individuals working in that field.
Overall, this is an excellent resource and is highly recommended for all collections.—Patricia Kenly, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
An Executive’s Guide to Information Technology: Principles, Business Models, and Terminology. By Robert Plant and Stephen Murrell. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Pr., 2007. 374p. $65 (ISBN: 978-0521853361).
Every manager today needs a rudimentary understanding of information technology (IT). This compendium of two hundred IT terms, laws, and processes introduces the complex world of IT to the nontechnical practitioner. Following a brief definition, an overview explains the technology and its history as well as its role within the IT organization. Each entry also details why the subject should be of concern to the executive.
The distinctive features of An Executive’s Guide are the “Business value propositions” and the positive and negative issues for each term. For example, could there possibly be a value proposition to cookies? Well certainly, there is to marketing companies! The authors point out that the Internet Engineering Task Force is examining the issue of “third-party” cookie requests. A positive issue for cookies is that they facilitate electronic commerce transactions. The negative issues include third parties who profile users and potential security risks.
An executive who had reviewed the above distinctive features and followed up with the references and associated terminology would be sufficiently armed to challenge the proposals of her or his internal IT consultants or biased vendors.