Scoring a Whole in One: People in Enterprise Playing in Concert (Best Management Practices)

By Edward Martin Baker

Argues that trying to improve one part of the business can cause problems for other parts, and emphasizes having groups work together for a common goal. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1560525495
• ISBN13: 9781560525493
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Crisp Pub Inc
• Length: 89 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.3" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

An excellent contribution to organizational theory

Dr. Baker has given us an excellent reflection on the theoretical and practical aspects of systems thinking. Drawing us from a strictly mechanistic view of organizations, he leads us to a deeper understanding of the social, interactive organization, and the differences such thinking will have on our managerial actions. Second, this is an important book for educators. If we are to reform education, we must do so by return ing to a theoretical basis for ensuing dialog. Dr. Baker offers us an invaluable contribution in this task.

An excellent contribution to organizational theory

Dr. Baker's book is an excellent contribution to the Deming legacy of systems thinking. Our mental shift from mechanistic to social, interactive concepts is well served in "Scoring a Whole in One". I strongly recommend that educators as well as managers in business take this book seriously. Systems thinking is essential to re-thinking education. Dr. Baker adds substantially to this task.

Great book!

Although this book was short in length, it was long in content. The seldom addressed theory of systems was easy to understand. The author takes such seemingly unrelated analyses of golf and symphony orchestras to demonstrate the wholeness of systems theory. The first half of the book was jam-packed with management concepts and ideas that evolved from the theories of the late W. Edwards Deming. The second half was comprised of actual examples of these theories in successful practice. Overall, this was a marvelous learning book.

"Off the tee ... It's in the Whole!" A great read!

Dr. Baker has managed to create a very portable and accessible volume that gets to the heart of management theory. It is no secret that the issues associated with managing the modern enterprise have multiplied in complexity in recent times. Dr. Baker's experience in consulting and with Ford comes through in relevant examples. His examples of short sighted decisions and their impacts will feel familiar to many. The power of the book comes in the discussion of how such problems occur, the theory of how to solve them, and practical solution tools to use. This level of completeness sets this book apart. Dr. Baker's theories on management and systems are aligned with those of the late Dr. W. Edwards Deming. Dr. Baker condenses concepts which have troubled many in Dr. Deming's books into easily readable and practical format. Particularly for those intimidated by Senge's "The Fifth Discipline", Wheatley's "Leadership and the New Science" or Deming's "Out of the Crisis". Scoring a Whole in One is a great place to start.

A WHOLE lot of substance IN ONE easy read

Few books get to the essence of management challenges the way Dr. Baker's book does. With practical concrete examples and his gift of insight, Dr. Baker shows how vital it is for corporate managers and leaders to look beyond their organization silos and realize the impact of an individual decision on the whole company. Thanks to Dr. Baker, we may see a renaissance in corporate decision-making. A must read!