{"data":[{"id":474,"title":"Intermediate Financial Accounting","edition_statement":"2021-A","volume":"Volume 2","copyright_year":2017,"isbn10":null,"isbn13":null,"license":"Attribution","language":"eng","accessibility_statement":null,"accessibility_features":["unknown"],"description":"This new text by G. Arnold and S. Kyle, developed in collaboration by Athabasca University and Lyryx, is intended for the second of two in Intermediate Financial Accounting courses. It presumes that students have already completed the Introductory Financial Accounting, and the first Intermediate Financing Accounting course. The text reflects both current International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and ASPE. This text covers all topics essential to a second level Intermediate Accounting course: current, long-term and complex liabilities, income taxes, pensions, leases, shareholders' equity, earnings per share, statement of cash flows including the direct approach, effects of changes and errors, and disclosures and analysis. Topics that are covered in Advanced Financial Accounting courses, such as consolidations and foreign exchange, are not included here.","contributors":[{"id":4261,"contribution":"Author","primary":true,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Glenn","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Arnold","location":"Athabasca University","background_text":"Glenn Arnold, Athabasca University"},{"id":4262,"contribution":"Author","primary":false,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Suzanne","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Kyle","location":null,"background_text":""}],"subjects":[{"id":2,"name":"Business","parent_subject_id":null,"call_number":"HF5001","visible_textbooks_count":144,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/business"},{"id":18,"name":"Accounting","parent_subject_id":2,"call_number":"HF5625","visible_textbooks_count":18,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/accounting"},{"id":19,"name":"Finance","parent_subject_id":2,"call_number":"HG173","visible_textbooks_count":25,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/finance"}],"publishers":[{"id":408,"url":"https://lyryx.com/intermediate-financial-accounting-volume-2/","year":2021,"created_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:39.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-04-06T10:22:51.000-05:00","name":"Lyryx"}],"formats":[{"id":884,"type":"PDF","url":"https://collection.bccampus.ca/textbooks/intermediate-financial-accounting-volume-2-2021a-lyryx-167/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":885,"type":"eBook","url":"https://collection.bccampus.ca/textbooks/intermediate-financial-accounting-volume-2-2021a-lyryx-167/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":886,"type":"Online","url":"https://collection.bccampus.ca/textbooks/intermediate-financial-accounting-volume-2-2021a-lyryx-167/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":1404,"type":"Hardcopy","url":"https://opentextbook.docsol.sfu.ca/store/product/otb156-02/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":1405,"type":"Hardcopy","url":"https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1719211981","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null}],"rating":"4.5","textbook_reviews_count":2,"reviews":[{"id":3389,"first_name":"Jenny","last_name":"Simmers","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Manchester University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This text covers most of the subject matter that is covered in a typical second semester of Intermediate Accounting.  One additional section that I include in Intermediate Accounting II is revenue recognition; however, it appears this is covered in the first book (for use in Intermediate Accounting I).","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"It is difficult for me to speak to this fully as this text covers the material using International Financial Reporting Standards rather than US GAAP, which is what I teach in my classroom.  The convergence between the two sets of standards has created many similarities, so the material was not unfamiliar yet there are some differences in terminology and the way certain reporting is handled.  I did not notice any glaringly inaccurate statements nor did I notice any bias in the writing.  ","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Most examples given were from the 2014-2015 timeframe, so they are just a few years old.  This is a problem with any text as time elapses between the writing and the publishing of the text.  The subject of accounting is sensitive to timing as the standards being used to prepare financial statements are constantly changing.  I think the way in which the material is presented, any updates could be easily incorporated.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text was easy to read with appropriate context for understanding new terms.  There are an abundance of examples to illustrate the concepts being discussed.  The tone is conversational which makes the reading flow well and learning more effective.  ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The chapters are set up in the same way with a beginning story, then learning objectives are stated.  After this, the content of the chapter is presented with information grouped according to main topic and examples included within.  At the end of each chapter, the learning objectives are summarized again for reinforcement of the concepts.  After the chapter content, there are a number of exercises where students may apply the topics.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"If preferred, each chapter could be segmented further to cover only certain parts of a chapter at one time.  The book is organized in a similar fashion to the text that I am currently using in my course.  I will typically spend three or four 50-minute class sessions per chapter.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The organization of the text is good.  There is an opening to each chapter that introduces actual application of the material about to be presented.  Learning objectives are stated clearly at the beginning of the chapter and again at the end of the chapter to wrap up and summarize the content that was just discussed.  There is even a flowchart included in each chapter that covers this very topic – the organization of the material in the chapter.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"I did not encounter interface issues.  There were many examples given which were easy to read and follow.  These illustrations were not overdone; in fact, I might have liked a few more images to break up the monotony of the text.  Accounting can tend to be dry, to liven it up a bit including more pictures, charts, colorful sections with actual application scenarios would help engage the reader a little better.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not identify any significant grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I did not notice any cultural bias.  It would be difficult to do this, in my opinion, with accounting information.  There is variety in the examples given.  There is also much diversity in the companies used.  A comparison of International Standards with ASPE (accounting standards for private enterprises – Canadian GAAP) is given at the end of each chapters in an easy to read table format.  ","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I think the book is well organized and is written with students in mind.  The many examples included aid in understanding the material.  While I could not use this text in my course as I teach US GAAP rather than IFRS, I think it could work well for other instructors who do teach IFRS.  It could work as a supplement to other required materials in my course.  I like to have a robust set of exercises and problems to assign and this text includes some exercises, but not as many as I personally would like to see.  The solutions to these exercises are included at the end of the text for each chapter.  This has both advantages and disadvantages.  \r\nIt is fantastic that resources such as this exist!","created_at":"2019-12-17T13:46:45.000-06:00","updated_at":"2019-12-17T13:46:45.000-06:00"},{"id":4374,"first_name":"Mostafa","last_name":"Maksy","position":"Professor of Accounting","institution_name":"Kutztown University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book is very comprehensive as it covers most of the material covered in the second course of two-semester Intermediate Accounting sequence. Compared to the text I use, this Volume covers accounting for current liabilities whereas, in my school, accounting for current liabilities is covered in Intermediate Accounting I. To compensate for this, accounting for revenue recognition and accounting for investments are not covered in this Volume but they are covered in Volume 1 (Intermediate Accounting 1).","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"This book is covering accounting topics using Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (or Canadian GAAP), which the book refers to as Accounting Standards for Private Enterprises (ASPE) or Private Enterprises (PE) GAAP. The book also ends each chapter with a comparison of ASPE and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). While I am very familiar with IFRS and can attest to the accuracy of the book in this regard, I am not very familiar with Canadian GAAP. However, I know that Canadian GAAP is very similar, in many respects, to US GAAP but there are some differences. For example, US GAAP requires the disclosure of Earnings per Share (EPS) on the face of the income statement, but ASPE does not.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"I believe that, for any faculty teaching at a Canadian university, the book is very relevant. Some examples in the book are somewhat dated but I do not think this is a problem. I would recommend that the material be updated online from time to time especially if there are any revisions to the accounting standards. With respect to accounting for leases it appears to be the same as the accounting for leases under US GAAP before it was revised. I believe there has been a very minor revision in Canada as well and, thus, the book needs to be updated.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The writing of Volume 2 is very clear and the examples used are very easy to follow. This Volume included many examples to illustrate the concepts being discussed. However, some topics, e.g., accounting for stock appreciation rights plans (SARs) or performance-based plans, were covered in theory only without illustrations of journal entries. Perhaps this is due to space limitations because there are so many other difficult topics to cover in Intermediate Accounting 2. But I liked the conversational tone of the writing which makes the book easy to understand by the students.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The book is internally consistent. All the chapters are consistent as far as the organization and content. The authors are consistent in first introducing the topic and the accounting principles related to the topic, then giving examples of the journal entries required to apply those principles. A summary of learning objectives and exercises are consistently provided at the end of each chapter.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"At the instructor’s preference, the organization flow-chart of each chapter can be segmented further so only certain parts of a chapter can be covered at one time. This is typically the case in most Intermediate Accounting textbooks because some faculty have two classes a week, some have one class a week, and some may even have three classes a week.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Each chapter starts with a beginning story, followed by learning objectives, then a brief introduction of the chapter content and an organization flowchart of the main topics. Each chapter also ends with a summary of the learning objectives covered in it to reinforce the concepts discussed. Each chapter includes a number of exercises. The solutions of exercises of all chapters are provided at the very end of the book.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I believe the text is free of significant interface issues, including navigation problems, distortion of images/charts, and any other display features that may distract or confuse the reader. I didn’t encounter any of these issues at all.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"In my opinion, there were no significant grammatical errors in the book.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I believe that the text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. It actually makes use of examples that are inclusive of a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I believe that this book is well organized and is written in a very clear way that makes easy to understand by the students. It is an excellent book to use for faculty teaching at Canadian universities or those who are teaching an International Accounting course with some emphasis on IFRS. Some faculty may like the fact that the solutions to all exercises are at the end of the book so they don’t have to post them on the online learning system (e.g., Blackboard, Desire to Learn, Schoology, etc.) but some faculty may not like that because they may want the students to try to solve the exercises on their own first before seeing the solutions.","created_at":"2020-11-07T21:47:44.000-06:00","updated_at":"2020-12-06T12:00:05.000-06:00"}],"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/intermediate-financial-accounting-volume-2","updated_at":"2025-12-15T02:19:59.000-06:00"},{"id":8,"title":"Communication for Business Success","edition_statement":null,"volume":null,"copyright_year":2015,"isbn10":null,"isbn13":null,"license":"Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike","language":"eng","accessibility_statement":null,"accessibility_features":["unknown"],"description":"Business Communication for Success (BCS) provides a comprehensive, integrated approach to the study and application of written and oral business communication to serve both student and professor. This series features chapters with the following elements: Learning Objectives Introductory Exercises Clear expectations, relevant background, and important theories Practical, real-world examples Key Takeaways or quick internal summaries Key terms that are easily identified In-chapter assignments Postchapter assessments linked to objectives and skills acquisition Each chapter is self-contained, allowing for mix-and-match flexibility and custom or course-specific design. Each chapter focuses on clear objectives and skill demonstrations that can be easily linked to your syllabus and state or federal requirements. Supported by internal and external assessments, each chapter features time-saving and learning-enhancement support for instructors and students. BCS is designed to help students identify important information, reinforce for retention, and demonstrate mastery with a clear outcome product. The text has three content categories: Foundations Process and products Contexts The first three chapters form the core foundation for the study of oral and written business communication. The next sequence of chapters focus on the process of writing, then oral performance with an emphasis on results. The final sequence focuses on contexts where business communication occurs, from interpersonal to intercultural, from groups to leadership. In each of the process and product chapter sequences, the chapters follow a natural flow, from prewriting to revision, from preparation for a presentation to performance. Each sequence comes together in a concluding chapter that focuses on action—where we apply the skills and techniques of written or oral communication in business, from writing a letter to presenting a sales speech. These performances not only serve to reinforce real-world applications but also may serve as course assessments. This text has been used in classes at: Ohio University, Miami University – Oxford, Kent State University – Salem Campus, Cuyahoga Community College – West, University of Toledo, Cuyahoga Community College – District, Northern Arizona University, Gateway Community College, University of Arizona, Arizona Western College, Boise State University,Western Governors University, Doane College, Mcpherson College, University of Nebraska Med Center, Suny Fredonia, State University of New York Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome, Trinidad State Junior College, University of Delaware, Brenau University, Brewton-Parker College, Loras College, Kapiolani Community College, Muscatine Community College, Greenville College, University of Illinois – Chicago, Millikin University, Rockland Community College, Cornell University, National-Louis University – Lisle, St. Gregory's University, University of Southern Indiana, Missouri State University – W Plains, Bucks County Community College – Newton, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Pulaski Technical College, Temple University, Dixie State College of Utah, Averett University, Virginia Polytech Institute, Fond Du Lac Tribal Community College, Lipscomb University, Edgewood College, University of Wisconsin – Stout, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Virginia State University, North Georgia Technical College – Blairsville, Paradise Valley Community College, Fordham University – Lincoln Center, New England College of Business/Finance, Eastern New Mexico University, University of Alabama, Albertus Magnus College, Pepperdine University, Fullerton College, Santa Ana College, Miracosta College – Oceanside, San Jose State University, De Anza College, University of The Southwest, Florida Institute of Technology, Forida State University, Dean College, California State University, University of Massachusetts, Suffolk University, Stevenson University, Worcester State College, University of Maryland, Clover Park Technical College, Minnesota State University – Moorhead, College of St. Scholastica, Ferris State University, Concordia University, Southern New Hampshire University, Lower Columbia College, University of North Carolina – Greensboro, Rockingham Community College, Stanly Community College, Wayland Baptist University, Bunker Hill Community College, Salve Regina University, University of The Incarnate Word, St. Mary's University, University of Rhode Island, Texarkana College, Renton Technical College, Tarleton State University, Wayland Baptist University – Plainview, University of Houston, Stephen F. Austin State University, Bates Technical College, Chabot College, Bakersfield College, Azusa Pacific University, University of Houston – Downtown, California Southern University, Miracosta College, American Public University, American Public University System, Huntington Junior College, Flat World Knowledge University, Jackson Senior High School, Holmes High School, Dlielc, Clintondale High School, American University in Kosovo in Conjunction with Rochester Institute of Technology, Southeast Lauderdale High School, Benedict Business Hotel Management School, University of the People, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, New England School of English, Comsats Institute of Information Technology, Wayland Baptist University – Anchorage, Volcano Vista High School, Wayland Baptist University – San Antonio, Morrill High School, North Island College – B Campus, Seneca College, APOU, University of North Carolina – Greensboro, Southern New Hampshire University, University of Maryland University College, Harrisburg High School","contributors":[],"subjects":[{"id":2,"name":"Business","parent_subject_id":null,"call_number":"HF5001","visible_textbooks_count":144,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/business"},{"id":16,"name":"Journalism, Media Studies \u0026 Communications","parent_subject_id":null,"call_number":"P91.3","visible_textbooks_count":57,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/journalism-media-studies-communications"}],"publishers":[{"id":184,"url":"https://www.lib.umn.edu/publishing","year":null,"created_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:37.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:37.000-05:00","name":"University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing"}],"formats":[{"id":2240,"type":"Online","url":"https://biz.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Business/Business_English_and_Communication/Communication_for_Business_Success_(LibreTexts)","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":192,"type":"PDF","url":"https://biz.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Business/Business_English_and_Communication/Communication_for_Business_Success_(LibreTexts)","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":1614,"type":"eBook","url":"http://open.lib.umn.edu/businesscommunication/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":2241,"type":"XML","url":"https://open.lib.umn.edu/businesscommunication/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":2242,"type":"ODF","url":"https://open.lib.umn.edu/businesscommunication/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null}],"rating":"4","textbook_reviews_count":40,"reviews":[{"id":152,"first_name":"Daniel","last_name":"Emery","position":"Associate Professor of Business Communication","institution_name":"University of Oklahoma","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book is exceptionally comprehensive, comparable to other large omnibus collections for business communication. The book would be suitable for business communication courses or business and professional speaking.  It's arrangement and scope of coverage are comparable to the largest for profit books used in the field.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"I would describe the content as accurate and a good portion of the material presented had a clear basis in writing research.  I find the author's sender/message/receiver model for communication somewhat dated theoretically, but that is also my critique of most textbooks in the area.  In later chapters, the book could stand more examples from professional contexts and would benefit from thorough research in the business communication literature.  I wouldn't call it inaccurate, but I find it underdeveloped. ","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"Several of the examples and allusions are recent and relevant, but the development of the content is not what I would hope for developing a state of the art introduction to the field.  It's no worse than the majority of books in the area, but I wish it were better.  Specifically, I think the communication generalist approach of the text makes it somewhat accessible for a wide variety of instructors, but I'd like to see a deeper grounding in persuasion, organizational communication, and business discourse.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Very clear and often clever.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"I would describe the book as somewhat over broad in its lexicon.  Part of the issue may be with arrangement, but the opening chapters were rife with lists and redefinition of common terms. One of the challenges of working in Communication as a field is that much of our content is taken for granted or treated as common sense.  A narrower focus and an emphasis on key ideas would be very helpful. An adopter of the book might do well to adopt the elements on communication or language, but probably not both to keep the content clear.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"It looks very good to me.  One of the things I appreciated most was that the elements of the book I think were strongest could be realigned and revised with relative ease. The volume tries to be an \"everything book\" in many ways, so the opportunity to cut and remix is its most useful property.  Facutly who use the giant comprehensive industry standard books end up excising a ton of content anyway.  \r\n\r\nThe weakest chapters of the book were those that discussed research in business writing. I'd recommend that the aothor consult with a buisiness librarian who migh offer a more comprehensive and effective review of sources of business information. Those modules should be much stronger. ","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The organizational strategy makes sense, but it isn't how I might prefer the book to be laid out.  The opportunity to cut material would be an advantage here.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"Textually, the book is solid.  I appreciate the typographic choices and the chapter outlines are very clear and straightforward.  The visuals are less effective, as the are occasionally too small and somewhat unfocused.  The choice to use gray text boxes or filters over sample documents was a poor one.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Unsurprisingly, it's very good.  I appreciated the converstional tone.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The book makes frequent mention of inrercultural issues in business communication, which is absolutely relevant to the globalized marketplace of today's graduates.  Additional examples of itnernational correspondence would be potentially invaluable, even amid the chapters on genres.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"I deeply appreciate McLean's Business Communication for Success as the first truly effective and customizable open source text in our area. The coverage of the book equals or exceeds that of the majority of the books available from publishers, and the exercises and activities are appropriate to a wide variety of teaching circumstances and environments. For an instructor or program looking for a low cost option for students, the content and customizability of this book is a welcome starting point regardless of the disciplinary or curricular home of a business communication course.","created_at":"2015-01-12T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2015-01-12T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":229,"first_name":"Brandy A.","last_name":"Brown","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"University of Arizona","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"I integrated this book as a supplement in a Psychology of Leadership course. Communication is such an essential leadership skill and myself and a fellow Associate Professor teaching this course found that student's skills in that area were deficient.\n\nOne of my criticisms of the majority of open texts is that they do tend to fall out of date. This text uses a very simple communication model and doesn't provide additional information or models which would apply better to virtual teams and their communication. \n\nThis text is comprehensive enough to actually be used for a full business or professional communication course - several of my students chose to explore the entire book despite only being assigned specific chapters because they found it relevant and helpful to their lives, not just to their coursework.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"For the majority of my students this was appropriate for their current level of knowledge. Nothing struck me as inaccurate, there were research bases for the material, however, my criticism of a lack of additional models and examples which would better apply to current prevalent business communications is appropriate for this as well (e.g. virtual distributed teams). Those would be expected in a publisher supported text.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this text does feel slightly limited (only one model of communication) and behind the current communication trends (virtual teams). Previous reviewer, Dr. Emery, said it perfectly, '....I'd like to see a deeper grounding in persausion, organizational communication, and business discourse.\"","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Students found the text very clear, including my Japanese native student who struggles with English quite a bit. Another student remarked that it was an enjoyable read and that they at times found it funny.  Those are quite the complement for a textbook.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The book felt like it was almost two separate books put together - which is part of why it can be considered so comprehensive.  There were chapters focused on descriptions and definitions and lists, but then some which were very applied and focused on specific communications.  I was able to assign these together (something I will address under modularity), but the book could have a better flow and be more narrow, given the focus of the title.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"As noted under consistency the text can easily be mixed together, which is very important given the differences in certain types of chapters (list/definition chapters vs. actual applied writing chapters). I chose to assign only the chapters I felt were most relevant to the topics of leadership communication, but allowed students to do the others and provided quizzes they could complete for bonus points. They loved that approach, and how well it worked speaks to the appeal and flexibility of the text.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"I did not follow the organization or structure of the text as it was in any way, that was the only challenge I found with using this text. While it was 'modular' based on the definition provided here and I did like the structure and flow of individual chapters, remixing the text was difficult and required students to find their own places in a Word document or PDF version which displayed differently than mine usually. If it were to be posted on a platform that made that easier to do that would be a large improvement.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"Students registered no complaints, and overall I have no major issues with it. Nothing is distracting or confusing, but I also wouldn't rate it high on engagement (visuals are different in different formats and sometimes have issues with clarity). Students (and I) appreciated the chapter structure and outlines, but again the format to interact with the text (Word or PDF unless I find my own method to host or remix it) was limiting and not necessarily ADA compliant in the current formats.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Students commented on the accessibility of the tone, and I have found no errors.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Students in my program are often multicultural, they and I had no issues with the text. However, I am always looking for more examples to help them see the differences in cultures and how to handle communication in those instances. ","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"This textbook saved my students and I from two large issues: 1) needing to deal with a difficult enrollment and grading interface process on another website, and 2) paying for the additional materials needed in this course on top of our current required items (which I am not able to break free from currently).  It reduced both friction with our course materials and my need to be technical support, while increasing engagement through allowing students choices and the ability to pursue additional knowledge on their own. That is why texts like this one matter so very much. Many of my students struggle financially, and the option to enable them to learn more without adding any financial burden is invaluable.","created_at":"2015-06-10T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2015-06-10T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":241,"first_name":"Gail Emily","last_name":"Fey","position":"Ph.D., Lecturer","institution_name":"Eller College of Management, University of Arizona","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"At nearly 800 pages, the text is immensely comprehensive.  It includes both pre- and post-lesson exercises.  Some of the exercises seem a bit “silly”; and the author seems to prefer “fives and sixes” for just about every exercise.  Still, because many options are offered, the instructor or learner would be free to find something appropropriate.\r\n\r\nOne especially interesting section was LANGUAGE.  It was thorough enough to get the main points across but not SO deep as to be offputting to those not into linguistics.  Language seems to be a topic  that is often eliminated or minimized in other business communication texts.\r\n","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The author includes references at the end of each chapter.  Moreover, the author’s brief bio makes it clear that he has expertise in the subject of Speech and Communication.  That ethos lends credibility to the text.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The overarching principles of business writing (clarity, knowing audience, understanding context, bottom line on top, concision) are not likely to change any time soon. \r\n \r\nThe last 2 chapters (intercultural and teamwork) are especially relevant for the near future.  According to the SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) “Changing demographics, relocation patterns and the globalization of business will be among the key trends influencing the workplace in the next five to 10 years.”\r\n","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Fine job of clear writing.  \r\nThe author does a good job of modeling clear writing... necessary for business writers.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"Since one individual authored the entire text, it has a consistent voice and tone.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"Yes, the chapters can be individual modules for study.  \r\n\r\nHowever, as indicated below under my structural comments, really the modules are “Writing”, “Presentations”, and “Context”.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The structure can be thought of as comprising 3 parts: Background, Writing, Context. \r\nThe author might consider 3 overarching headers under which to place the current chapter titles (e.g., “Writing” is the high-level category; then “Revising your Writing” would go under it.  Similarly, “Context” would be the high-level category with “Intercultural and International” under it.).\r\n\r\nThe inclusion of “key takeaway” would be re-enforcing to students… especially those who read words but are not so good at making meaning of those words.\r\n\r\nAs much as I appreciated the Language section, its title of “Delivering your message” seems misleading.  That title implies presentation/writing techniques.  Why not entitle it simply “Using Language”? \r\n","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"N/A","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical errors that this reviewer noticed.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Yes, absolutely.  For the 21st century worker (in ANY discipline, but especially in business), communication is crucial.  \r\n\r\nWarren Buffet stated that he thinks “The most valuable investment that you can make in yourself is to improve your ability to communicate. ‘Communication is enormously important; oral and written,’ said Buffett.” (Lukas Partners, posting on 3-2014, http://www.lukaspartners.com/communication-important-says-warren-buffett/).","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"One area that could be improved is that of visual design.  The version I reviewed had next-to-no graphics.  Quite possibly the no-graphics approach was an effort to prevent the book from becoming even longer.  \r\n\r\nAnother formatting item that this reviewer found annoying was the omission of extra line space between paragraphs.  I would vote for single line spacing within paragraphs and double line spacing between para’s to signal the reader a new paragraph was beginning.\r\n","created_at":"2015-06-10T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2015-06-10T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":353,"first_name":"Carolina","last_name":"Selva","position":"Adjunct Faculty, BA and MSD","institution_name":"Portland Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Extremely comprehensive.  Covers all critical areas of business communication including electronic messages, team communication, presentation skills, and even \"language.\"  Learning resources such as exercises and activities are included - many of them quite useful and very relevant to the material.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Accurate and timely as of the date of publishing (2010).  Good blend of theoretical and practical applications bolsters credibility.  I found no errors or hints of bias.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Relevant in today's dynamic business environment.  Many of the principles are (almost) timeless, but the book also includes chapters on newer dynamics of communication in the current climate.  These chapters (specifically the last two - on intercultural communication and teamwork) may require more review/updating in coming years than much of the other material.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Clear and to the point - as business writing should be.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Very consistent tone and voice throughout.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Absolutely divisable into specific modules in order to assign at different points.  I envisioned using this text in my current Business Communication course and thus assigning chapters out of order and it would work with no problems whatsoever.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Organization/structure is logical.  If I were to assign chapters in sequential order, flow would be no problem here.  As mentioned in the section on modularity, however, the chapters could stand on their own provided context was present.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"Good interface and easy navigation.  Some of the graphical elements were not as sharp as others, and some were a bit small.  Overall, the book seemed text-heavy and could use visual elements (such as white space and/or more graphics/images) throughout.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical errors - good modeling of grammar usage. ","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"No cultural insensitivities were perceived.  I was impressed with the section on intercultural communication.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2016-01-07T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2016-01-07T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":365,"first_name":"Judy","last_name":"Boozer","position":"Business Faculty/AOP Program Lead","institution_name":"Lane Communicty College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book is comprehensive in regards to business communication, but it lacks a table of contents, index, or glossary for ease in finding the concepts presented in it.","accuracy_rating":3,"accuracy_review":"This book has a few errors throughout--spaces missing between words, inconsistent formatting, lack of first line indents for paragraphs, etc. The content does appear for the most part to be unbiased and often gives both sides of concepts/views of proper communication.\n\nBecause paragraphs are not indented, it makes it extremely hard to see where paragraphs begin and end.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"Content is relevant to today's world, but it lacks some of the more current digital communication options available to us. This would be easy to add.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The clarity of the book is quite good. The author has done a good job of explaining all content, especially if new or unusual terminology is used.","consistency_rating":3,"consistency_review":"Each chapter in this text has been organized the same way. Although it is nice to be consistent, it almost makes it boring. A list of terms used in each chapter would be helpful.\n\nAs mentioned before, there is also inconcistency with the formatting of the contents of this book.","modularity_rating":3,"modularity_review":"The book is clearly organized by chapter content and then by objectives within each chapter's topic(s). There are times, however, when few side headings are used, which makes it difficult to comprehend the material presented.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The topics are presented in a logical manner, and they often refer to previous topics as the reader progresses through the book.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"There are no interface issues, except that there is not much to excite the reader into reading. There are very few graphics, tables, charts, used. A text only book is difficult to read and comprehend.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I find almost no grammatical errors. (necessary for a book on business communication)","cultural_rating":3,"cultural_review":"The book is not insensitive or offense to any cultures, but it does lack too many references to various races, cultures, etc.","overall_rating":7,"overall_review":"This book has a wealth of information with resources provided, but it lacks those elements that appeal to those learners that require more than just reading text in order to learn a topic. There are a wealth of exercises at the end of each lesson that students can complete to gain competency in the chapter's concept(s). ","created_at":"2016-01-07T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2016-01-07T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":413,"first_name":"Eric","last_name":"Dodson","position":"Instructor of ESOL","institution_name":"Portland State University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book includes a review of sentence grammar, paragraph structure, process writing, rhetorical styles, principles of judging sources, and business genre forms. The grammar sections provide a backbone; generally good examples provided. The individual grammar points require supplementary material for review of more examples and grammar-focused exercises. However, there are some exercises that marry both grammar and business writing functions. ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The grammar points and exercises that I browsed were accurate. Rare typos. ","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Business norms may change, but the main focus is on underlying writing and rhetorical competency, and any updates will be relatively easy and straightforward to implement.","clarity_rating":3,"clarity_review":"Some of the grammar for native speakers seems to be targeted for students who know some grammar terms, but do not know others. For example, the term “clause” is given a rough definition, but later the term “phrase” is used without a clear definition, in the context of “prepositional phrase.” ","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"When discussing the specific genre of business writing (Ch. 10), the text often focuses on academic writing demands. Some sections are really focused on overall rhetorical styles and classical rhetoric, with a bit of business window dressing. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"\\The text is organized and composed in a perfect way for picking-and-choosing chapters or sections. Important concepts that are shared by several chapters (sentence fragments, for example) are generally introduced and explained in each chapter they appear in (though with different levels of detail, depending on the chapter). ","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"No table of contents in the document, and correspondingly, no hyperlinks between sections. The first chapter’s grammar review and the second, punctuation, offer the chance to review a wide range of sentence grammar topics, but the topics are not ordered in a sequentially logical way. For example, adjectives and adverbs are tackled after sentence fragments and other sentence-level errors (which are unanalyzable if readers do not understand basic word-level grammar).  The third chapter on word choices has a similar issue. ","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"Some editing exercises are single-spaced, which makes them very difficult to correct via pen-and-paper. Example writing often is not clearly labeled or differentiated from the main text. ","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"Rare omitted words or punctuation (e.g., p. 141). Otherwise clear and accurate. ","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Occasional glimpses of a multi-cultural reality via examples or use of names from different backgrounds. However, the focus is on (presumably) North American business English demands. The only issue with this is that this is not explicitly explained, and learners would need supplemental materials in order to raise awareness of the existence of different genre expectations internationally. ","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"This work would offer a good set of resources for introductory university student writing courses or business English for speakers of other languages. For example, Chapter 3 has a welcome list of commonly confused words. However, this work would likely be most useful as a teacher planning supplement or to provide readings/exercises on specific topics. Much of the grammatical information, including the chapter for ESL students, does not offer much application to business contexts. For example, there is a review of the concept of idioms, and some example idioms, but not commentary on how students should use them in writing, or if they should use them at all. For the presentation of grammar and mechanics, I would supplement with more genre-specific projects, but the succinct and broad overview of grammar makes a good basic resource. ","created_at":"2016-01-07T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2016-01-07T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":437,"first_name":"Sally","last_name":"Stanton","position":"Senior Lecturer","institution_name":"UW-Milwaukee","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Comparable to most business communication texts available commercially. \n\nCoverage seems to be missing of social media as business communication (mentioned as a communication channel but not otherwise addressed specifically) and of how to cite/attribute sources in writing and speaking (styles and methods)\n\nNo index or glossary that I could locate in the e-pub version reviewed.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Appears to be accurate, error-free, and unbiased.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"Some of the communication theories seem rather outdated, given the undeniable role of social media in the digital marketplace and the instant, global nature of communication in 2016. Thus, the text does not seem to reflect the significant need for theories and approaches that address the ability of today's customers, shareholders, competitors, etc. to immediately influence businesses through immediate and very public forms of communication. A bad review on Yelp! or Trip Advisor requires thoughtful handling; organizational communications strategies for dealing with such scenarios should be presented, along with relevant theory or/or research from the professional literature on online business communication. It's no longer enough to just \"understand\" your audience - business communicators now have a very much two-way, real-time relationship with them.\n\nThe topics of social media and managing interactive stakeholder communication could perhaps be added in Chapter 3 or Chapter 16. \n\nCoverage of organizational communications theory and strategies is woven into much of the text but not in an explicit way - the focus is more on developing the individual's own strategy. When that conflicts with organizational strategy, what then?\n\nDetailed coverage of ethics/ethical communication is limited and somewhat difficult to locate (especially since there is no index or glossary) - the chapter devoted to it is very short and lacks sufficient grounding in the professional literature.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Clear and conversational, easy to read.","consistency_rating":3,"consistency_review":"It is definitely a broad, general overview of the subject matter. In the first three chapters it covers terms and theories common to both writing and speaking, and then devotes six chapters specifically to each. I would prefer to have chapters 16-19 at the beginning of the text along with chapters 1-3, as these topics equally relate to both writing and speaking, and are very timely - specifically intercultural communication and crisis communication. (Unfortunately topics presented at the end of the text/semester often get short shrift from students, or are cut because they don't fit easily in a 15-week semester. The framework would then proceed more logically from the general to the specific.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Modularity is very good; subheadings are used frequently to break up text, especially for online readers. I was surprised not to find hypertext links other than those in the citations - but I suppose that would make it difficult to publish in multiple formats, and managing broken links would be a nightmare.","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"An index/glossary would be a very strong addition.\n\nAs mentioned previously, I would prefer to have chapters 16-19 at the beginning of the text along with chapters 1-3, as these topics equally relate to both writing and speaking, and are very timely - specifically intercultural communication and crisis communication.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"Serviceable interface, but it didn't particularly wow me. Use of grayed lines on charts makes it hard to see, especially on a smaller digital device (let's face it, students read books on their phones and iPads). Still it seems like it would be easily customized, which is a plus. \n\nI understand that copyright issues prevent the use of the many photographic images found in commercial texts, but I find the lack of images is one downfall of using this kind of digital text. Students seem to read increasingly less, or if they do, don't comprehend well information presented only in lengthy textual form. Meaningful images can enhance understanding.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No problems found. Conversational tone makes it accessible.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Good specific coverage of intercultural communication, although as I mentioned before, this should come earlier in the text given how critical this topic has become in a globalized economy. Examples used seem to be quite diverse and appear throughout the text, not just in the specific chapter on intercultural communication. More examples of intercultural business writing would be helpful, though.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"Overall, it seems to be a useful secondary text, or one used to provide additional coverage of specific topics, rather than as a primary text. However, it is difficult to find a textbook that provides both sufficient breadth and depth of coverage whether open-source or not. So, if you are interested in \"slicing and dicing\" content to fit your curriculum, this text would be a good place to start.","created_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":551,"first_name":"Joy","last_name":"Koesten","position":"Lecturer","institution_name":"University of Kansas","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This textbook is very comprehensive, both in breath and depth.  I would have like more information regarding how to facilitate a meeting, ethical communication, and organizational culture. The topics were well selected, though formal speaking always seems out of place in a business communication text. While some may need to make formal presentations, the majority of workers do not. It's more likely they will need to hone their interpersonal skills and how to speak up in a group. \n\n I did not find an index or glossary, which would have been nice.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I think some might find the use of an egalitarian approach to be biased, but not me. Otherwise, I thought the book was well written, error free and unbiased.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"I think the content is relevant and up to date. I'm seems updates would be easy and straightforward.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Very clearly written. I liked that key terms were highlighted. I thought the highlighted terms were linked to a glossary, but that wasn't the case. I downloaded it in KIndle, so maybe that was the problem.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"I didn't find any inconsistencies in the text.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"It seems this text could easily be divided into units or sections as needed. That is what I plan to do, so I hope that this is the case.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The presentations n section seemed out of place to me. But, otherwise the organization worked fine.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"the only navigation issue I ran into was when I went back and forth to the table of contents. I always had to start at the top of the table for f contents and scroll all the way to the most recent chapter. Otherwise, I was not distracted by anything else.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Well written. No grammatical errors were found.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"I didn't encounter anything in the text offensive, though I don't recall an emphasis on multiculturalism or a variety of races dipicted in the visuals. There weren't a lot of photos in the book.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I am very likely to use a good portion of this text in an upcoming course.","created_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":795,"first_name":"Bonnie","last_name":"Yarbrough","position":"Lecturer","institution_name":"University of North Carolina at Greensboro","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This text covers all areas of the subject appropriately and provides a good Table of Contents. At roughly 600 pages, coverage of the subject matter is extensive. There is no glossary, however, and the index is less comprehensive than I would have liked. ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The text has been updated (2015) from the first edition. In subject matter, the text is accurate, although there are occasional mechanical errors and typos that should have been caught.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The content is up to date, but will need to keep pace with evolving technology over each year. For example, the chapter containing a long discussion of mobile communication messages will need revision next year to accommodate changes in the marketplace and in the workplace. Some of the information here is basic, almost elementary, when measured against other more specialized texts. Still, it should be easy to update; discussions could be accommodated for individual audiences.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is extremely clear and compelling in its discussions of the material. Each area of the field is covered substantively and with effective examples. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Consistent in its terminology and organization. Concepts introduced early in the text and followed up in later sections of the book and built upon.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"This text is already divided into small reading sections and each is numbered in a clear way, manageable online. The headings are descriptive and each section has numerous graphics, video links, and \"key takeaways\" that provide an ongoing summary of the material covered.","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"The organization raised some questions. There are several chapters that could be re-arranged or collapsed and presented in a different order. \"Organization and Outlines,\" for example, is presented long after \"Revising\" and \"Presenting\" writing.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I ran across a couple of problems with connectivity or dead links. ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"This is a text about business communication; the grammar is accurate and contains no errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text makes a point of being culturally inclusive, particularly since that is so important in business today. The examples are relevant and illustrative--compelling.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I would recommend this text for a course particularly in oral business communication--although it also covers writing. It has numerous helpful exercises in each chapter and ideas for further exploration of the subject matter. I didn't see any options for text banks, however; I would have liked to have additional resources for quizzes.","created_at":"2016-12-05T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2016-12-05T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":901,"first_name":"Carrie","last_name":"Gay","position":"Adjunct Professor","institution_name":"J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Richmond, VA","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book is very comprehensive. Contains an vast array of business communication principles applicable to today's business environment.  However, there is no index or glossary which makes the book somewhat ineffective for quick reference points.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"I found the content of the chapters accurate and up-to-date.  No grammatical errors were found.  Material appears unbiased with prejudice.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Once again, the material is up-to-date.  I enjoyed the introductory exercises and the learning objectives presented in each section.  Students know exactly what to expect in each chapter.  Easy to read and comprehend.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The text is well written, easy to understand.  Technical terminology was comprehendable and use of jargon was acceptable.  No errors detected.","consistency_rating":2,"consistency_review":"The book is consistent in its chapter presentations.  I appreciated the resources presented after each chapter.  Great sources of additional information if the student is interested in searching for it.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"The sections were easy to read and were divided adequately.  Subunits could be reorganized and realigned if need be without too much effort.  Readers should still be able to follow printed material even if it has been rearranged.   ","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"This appeared to be the weakest part of the book...the chapter arrangements.  I believed the last chapter of the book, Chapter 19, could have appeared somewhat earlier in the book.  I compared this book to a couple of others I have seen in recent years  and the flow was \"off.\"  I still say good material presented throughout, however.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Very few graphics presented in the book overall.  I clicked on several Web sites and had no interface/nor navigation issues.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I found no grammatical errors during my first reading of the material which speaks well of the book and the authors/proofreaders.  Well written sentences and paragraph structure.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"I did not find the book culturally insensitive in any way.  I asked three students of Asian, Hispanic, and African-American descent to read Chapter 18, Intercultural Communication--none were offended.  ","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"Again, I believe the book requires an index or glossary.  These would make word or phrase searches less time-consuming.  Perhaps review the table of contents for chapter rearrangements too.","created_at":"2017-02-08T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2017-02-08T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":951,"first_name":"Rathin","last_name":"Basu","position":"Professor","institution_name":"Ferrum College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text is quite comprehensive in its coverage of the key (and standard) topics and compares favorably with the very well known and widely used conventional text that I have been using in my Business Communications class, as well as others that I have used or reviewed  in instructing the subject over the past 20 years. The sequence of the topics is somewhat different from some of the conventional texts but, over all, the content covers all aspects expected in this subject area. However, some of the  important and fast developing and changing areas of communication which have developed in recent times (e.g. social media) and their models, challenges and impacts might have been included. They would also need to be discussed in the context of ethical communication as well. Another topic of importance that needed discussion is communication relating to applying for a job and preparing for interviews. A third aspect that I cover in my Business Communication class is formal business report writing, and this would need more coverage and even a chapter devoted to it. Despite these gaps, which are common to most current texts though, it generally covers the standard and essential areas of the subject well.  It would have been useful, especially in an introductory text such as this, to have had a comprehensive index.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The content, in terms of the concepts and theories of communication, and the explanations and examples presented, is accurate and supported by citation of relevant and relatively recent sources. In addition, some of the seminal publications which may not be as recent but are essential sources are also referenced. There is no suggestion of any bias in the discussion and presentation of ideas and perspectives. It would have been helpful to have used colors or fonts in such a way that embedded active links could be clearly distinguished from  highlighted terms. Also, if what might be more completely addressed is considered under this item, then inclusion of some of the most current, dynamic and important aspects of developments in communication especially relating to  technology and society might be included.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Since the concepts and theories discussed are, in general fundamental ones, these aspects are not likely to require short-term changes. The examples used are also ones that are not  limited in time or  context and hence less susceptible to change. However, this does mean that some of the more dynamic areas of communication such as technology, social media, virtual teams might have been covered in greater depth given their increasingly important roles in communication. This is possibly the most important area that has been most dynamic in recent years and would need updating, when included. In addition, recent case studies of specific firms and incidents are one aspect that would be found in publisher based texts that open texts, by their nature, must sacrifice.  ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"I found the very accessible prose and the personal and informal tone to be a particular strength of the book. Terms and jargon are explained with appropriate examples which students are generally likely to be able to relate to. In addition, not making this a reference text and overwhelming the undergraduate student with too many examples and too much detail has added to the clarity and relevance for the intended audience. The inclusion of pithy quotes, short exercises after each section, and sections and chapters which are not too long have also enhanced clarity and readability. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is internally consistent in terms of its tone, explanations, audience, and structure. In addition, the exercises have a consistency in framework and resulting time required to do them. The approach of starting sections with some questions which are then addressed with examples and explanations makes for an engaging, more Socratic and less pedantic method.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"I found the breakdown of the topics into chapters and the chapters into  sections, both of which are in sizes manageable for students, to be a strength of the text. This is contrast to many available texts which  have long chapters which are dense with content, much of which is too much detail for an undergraduate  course. The relatively short modules also suggested several possible ways in which I could smoothly reorganize them and use them in a class without making the sequence seem disjointed. The text draws in outside sources rather than being self-referential. ","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The organization of the text is something that I usually find to be one that I do not stick to, even with private market texts. The organization of the current text is also one that I  would change to suit the particular circumstances of my students and institutional facilities (such as availability of the career center for mock interviews as part of course). However, with digital texts, I have had no difficulty in making the changes and even rearranging the chapters as needed. ","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"In general, the book  has no interface issues that I encountered, except the one that I found the use of the brown font for both terms (which were not live links) as well as live links was confusing. It would  be helpful to have the standard blue font for the live links to distinguish them. ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not find any grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The book shows an appreciation of diversity and inclusion of various perspectives. Given the nature of the subject  matter, which calls for discussion of various cultural perspectives, this is done in an interesting way that encourages exploration. It is particularly interesting that the cultural aspects are not confined to the standard understanding of the scope of such differences (such as races, ethnicities and nationalities) but also includes artifacts and examples which students can relate to and demonstrate that cultural differences can also be local, inter-generational, etc.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I found the text to be very readable, engaging and interesting and one that I am considering adopting. I would need to draw in some current case studies that involve relevant aspects of communication as well as introduce the topics of career related planning and communication (resume, cover-letter, job-related interviews and interviewing, follow-up), as well as formal business report writing. ","created_at":"2017-02-08T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2017-02-08T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":1265,"first_name":"Catherine","last_name":"Wright","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"George Mason University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"It covers too many areas, would need to be \"chunked\" into smaller clusters.  It tries to do too much for one text.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I found it to be accurate.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"I found it to be relevant.  Since the format of Open Textbooks allows for things to be quickly updated, anything the authors found in need could be easily changed.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The overall writing in the text is great.  Easy to read, easy to digest, easy to follow.  It’s not taxing and presents information in a way that will engage the reader.  The style is casual and informative.  I found it inviting and I believe that students will want to read the chapters assigned.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"I found it to be consistent with current literature and other texts.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"It tries to cover too much in one text and would absolutely need to be made into modules.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Overall the organization is fine.  The structure of the book in its entirety is too grand.  It could/should be no less than three books.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I was easily able to gather information. I found no issues with this book.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"so far, so good ;o)","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"This appeared to be fine too.  I had no complaints.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"The scope of the book, however is too broad.  I would not use it for any Business Communication class that I personally taught.  \n\nThe reason for this is that it focuses on several areas, which could not be adequately covered, or covered well, in one semester.  I believe you would be able to do all of it at a very cursory level and none of it well in order to produce informed and prepared students.  It really doesn’t cover “business.” \n\nMy recommendations for application follow:  Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 could easily be one full semester, as they focus on writing.  Chapters 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 are another semester, as they focus on public speaking.  Chapters 16, 17, 18, and 19 are individually entire courses and almost seem extraneous here.\n\nPart of what appeals to me about Open Textbook Library is the opportunity to take a text offered and to adjust it to make it something you could use in you class.  This book has the potential to do so if the teacher reduces the number of chapters assigned during a semester.  Rather than trying to do everything adequately, teachers would need to focus on only a few chapters to use this book well.","created_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":1470,"first_name":"Brandi","last_name":"Quesenberry","position":"Advanced Instructor","institution_name":"Virginia Tech","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"Solid overview of foundations of business communication. I would prefer a more advanced textbook but this text works well for a lower level or introductory course. Broad overview of both written and oral communication considerations and best practices.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Content is correct and consistent with other texts.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"Due to nature of subject matter, some references will become outdated. Overall examples are current and helpful.  Technology references can be easily updated due to formatting and section headings.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Clear language, easy to read, relevant examples.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Accurate use of terminology and framework.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Divided well. Only complaint is the redundancy of information across multiple chapters.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"I would prefer oral communication chapters to come before written communication. Overall, flowed well.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"No issues.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Well written.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Relevant and diverse examples. Good discussion of cultural differences in business setting.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"Good choice for an introductory business communication class.","created_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":1478,"first_name":"Alicia","last_name":"Edwards","position":"Adjunct Professor, Business Management, Marketing and Communications","institution_name":"Northern Virginia Community College, Annadale Campus","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"I was definitely impressed with the comprehensiveness Business Communication for Success.  For every concept of the author introduced, he gave context, the why and if needed consequences if the conventions are not heeded. While there is not a glossary or an index, he does provide additional resources after each chapter. \n\nEach chapter is effectively mapped out with subheadings so you could easily find the topic that you need.  Because of this attention to detail, I can envision this book being an excellent resource for an entry level junior manager or a refresher for a seasoned professional as their communication needs evolve throughout their career.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"In general, I felt that the author did pretty balanced job of avoiding stereotypes and clichés. He used a variety of quotes from people with origins in all parts of the world and historical periods. \n\nI was disappointed with the slang used in Chapter 2's introductory exercises. The words used were outdated at the least and mildly offensive. All 10 examples of page 35, appeared to be derived from African American slang...certainly not inclusive. The population that attends NOVACC are very diverse culturally and linguistically so this would not go over well.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"This book was written in 2010 and focused more on written and verbal communication.  Social media is not addressed but text, email, and netiquette were briefly touched upon. The information is still current and accurate but clearly lends itself to frequent updates. Since the bulk of business communication is online now, I would like to see at least full chapter dedicated to texting, email and internet communication. The way the book is laid out, this could be can easy addition. \n\n\nSocial Media is now an integral part of business communication internally and externally but it is STILL treated as an afterthought or footnote in academia. While not every platform is mainstream, the ones that are increasingly used in professional settings certainly need to be taught at the collegiate level in a comprehensive manner. LinkedIN, Twitter, Instagram and to some extent Pinterest have proven their marketing prowess and are structured enough to teach the business applications.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The concepts that text introduces are consistent within each chapter and throughout the book as a whole. Other than expanding on email/text and internet communications and including social media, I did not see any gaps in knowledge.\n\nSince I did read the book on Apple device, Apple has built in technology that is helpful. For example, the book reference Aristotle and his concept of \"ethos\".  While I knew he was from ancient Greece, I used the lookup feature on his name to fill in the historical timeframe that helped me fully understand what may have shaped his views.  The look-up feature took me to several books, wesbites and a Wikipedia page.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The concepts that text introduces are consistent within each chapter and throughout the book as a whole. Other than expanding on email/text and internet communications and including social media, I did not see any gaps in knowledge.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"Each chapter is effectively mapped out with subheadings so you could easily find the topic that you need.  Because of this attention to detail, I can envision this book being an excellent resource for an entry level junior manager or a refresher for a seasoned professional as their communications needs evolve throughout their career. \n\nWhile the book flows well from start to finish, the chapters and subheading are very specific and are quickly referencable. I read the book on my Ipad and I easily bookmarked pages when and highlight notes as needed. \nEach section can be understood independently, I didn't find myself having to reference previous chapters to make sense to the  current one. \n\nI downloaded the entire book as a PDF. It would be nice to have the option to download sections as needed.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Each chapter is effectively mapped out with subheadings so you could easily find the topic that you need.  Because of this attention to detail, I can envision this book being an excellent resource for an entry level junior manager or a refresher for a seasoned professional as their communications needs evolve throughout their career. \n\nWhile the book flows well from start to finish, the chapters and subheading are very specific and are quickly referencable. I read the book on my Ipad and I easily bookmarked pages when and highlight notes as needed. \nEach section can be understood independently, I didn't find myself having to reference previous chapters to make sense to the current one. \n\nI downloaded the entire book as a PDF. It would be nice to have the option to download sections as needed.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"The interface is very basic but effective. I read the book on my Ipad within the iBooks platform.  I quickly find the section I wanted and go straight to whatever page I wanted.  There are a lot of links to internet sites, I referenced quite a few and they seemed to load up quickly.\n\nThe charts and pictures that are included are without distortions.  However, I would like to see more videos and visuals.  Since readers will most likely reference this book from a laptop/phone or tablet, the assumption is that they would be able to seamlessly go from reading the material to answering the discussions via BlackBoard or whatever learning software their school adopts.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The author took the time to edit very well.  I didn't see any glaring errors of any kind.","cultural_rating":3,"cultural_review":"In general, I felt that the author did pretty balanced job of avoiding stereotypes and clichés. He used a variety of quotes from people with origins in all parts of the world and historical periods. \n\nI was disappointed with the slang used in Chapter 2's introductory exercises. The words used were outdated at the least and mildly offensive. All 10 examples of page 35, appeared to be derived from African American slang...certainly not inclusive. The population that attends NOVACC are very diverse culturally and linguistically so this would not go over well. \n\nSince slang and pop culture are moving targets, I would have eliminated that exercise completely and let the students self-direct this exercise by sharing slang words in their own language with the class.  I would further reinforce the exercise by letting students that speak the same language but are from different countries share words that differ within their culture.  I would also have them give examples of how they would speak around their peers, parents, and elders to drill down appropriateness and context.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"Each chapter is effectively mapped out with subheadings so you could easily find the topic that you need.  Because of this attention to detail, I can envision this book being an excellent resource for an entry level junior manager or a refresher for a seasoned professional as their communications needs evolve throughout their career. \n\nThe concepts that text introduces are consistent within each chapter and throughout the book as a whole. Other than expanding on email/text and internet communications and including social media, I did not see any gaps in knowledge. This book was written in 2010 and focused more on written and verbal communication.  Social media is not addressed but text, email, and netiquette were briefly touched upon. The information is still current and accurate but clearly lends itself to frequent updates. Since the bulk of business communication is online now, I would like to see at least full chapter dedicated to texting, email and internet communication. The way the book is laid out, this could be can easy addition. \n\nSocial Media is now an integral part of business communication internally and externally but it is STILL treated as an afterthought or footnote in academia. While not every platform is mainstream, the ones that are increasingly used in professional settings certainly need to be taught at the collegiate level in a comprehensive manner. LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and to some extent Pinterest have proven their marketing prowess and are structured enough to teach the basic business applications. \n\nSince readers will most likely reference this book from a laptop/phone or tablet, the assumption is that they would be able to seamlessly go from reading the material to answering the discussions via BlackBoard or whatever learning software their school adopts. \n\nIn general, I felt that the author did a pretty balanced job of avoiding stereotypes and clichés. He used a variety of quotes from people with origins in all parts of the world and historical periods. \n\nI was disappointed with the slang used in Chapter 2's introductory exercises. The words used were outdated at the least and mildly offensive. All 10 examples of page 35, appeared to be derived from African American slang...certainly not inclusive. The population that attends NOVACC are very diverse culturally and linguistically so this would not go over well. Since slang and pop culture are moving targets, I would have eliminated that exercise completely and let the students self-direct this exercise by sharing slang words in their own language with the class.  I would further reinforce the exercise by letting students that speak the same language but are from different countries share words that differ within their culture.  I would also have them give examples of how they would speak around their peers, parents, and elders to drill down appropriateness and context.","created_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":2158,"first_name":"Shannon","last_name":"Breske","position":"Assistant Teaching Professor","institution_name":"University of Missouri","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Business Communication for Success provides an overview of the main areas of communication and highlights additional resources at the end of each chapter. When reviewing other texts, this text is consistent with topic areas covered. The text is organized well and can be navigated seamlessly with how each section is labeled. Students found this text easy to use, comprehend, and then able to apply knowledge to their assignments and in-class work.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Content is accurate. Consistent topics covered in Business Communication in Success text compared to other Business Communication texts. Some references, activities, and examples could be updated to provide a more inclusive tone.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The text is up to date but could include more details on how to communicate using social media platforms as well as customer relationship management (CRM) software. Could add the importance of how to successfully develop a communication plan using CRM.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Easy to read, understand, and apply. Students found it easy to read the chapters and comprehend.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is consistent with other texts and current literature. Liked how the earlier concepts are built upon in later chapters.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text covers a lot of information however it is easily divided into subsections and does a nice job highlighting the important pieces in each area. Organized extremely well and easy to navigate through the online text.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Great job on the organization of the text. Found it clear and logical.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The interface is basic but functional and meets the needs of the user.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Well written. I did not find any grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Some references, activities, and examples could be updated to provide a more inclusive tone.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"Great text! I use for 400+ students in an introductory course, and it is a great option. I supplemented additional information for class materials but overall extremely satisfied with text.","created_at":"2018-06-19T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-06-19T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":2222,"first_name":"Margarette","last_name":"Connor","position":"Adjunct Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Lehman College/CUNY","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This text covers all the areas I would want to cover in my 300-level business writing class, including non-verbal communications and international communications, two topics I find are often underrepresented in many texts. Very clear and comprehensive table of contents facilitates use.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I've read a good portion of the book and find it accurate and error-free. Excellent quality.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"I have been teaching business writing for over 20 years, and while the methods of communication have changed, how we write hasn't really. This book is certainly up to date, but not so much so that it will be obsolete within the next few years. \n\nI would have liked to have seen a little more on online writing--blogs, websites, digital white papers--because while we can always upload a PDF of a traditional report to a website, many Millenials read differently and have different expectations of what they will read on the internet. This might be my personal soapbox, though, and the materials here can be easily adapted.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"I very much like the writing in this book as I find it clear and to the point, much more so than the text I had been previously using. I think my students will find this more accessible. My students are mostly junior or senior business majors, and while there is jargon in the text, by this point, this is part of my students' professional vocabulary, so nothing that I find alienating for students. \n\nMany of my students like pared down yet comprehensive texts, and I think they'd like this. They don't like to \"waste\" time with \"unnecessary\" material.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Very good job with consistency.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The modularity of the text is very well done. As I was reading it, I had the feeling that my students would find this easier to access than our current text. I can already see the course syllabus falling into place. Although I see myself changing the order of the text, I think jumping through the book will be quite easy.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The flow of the chapters is clear and logical, and while I'd change things, isn't that what we do as professors? I've never used a text book as if it were a novel.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Clear, easy to use. I've used other online texts, and I found this one to be very user friendly.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I am a stickler for grammar, and I found no errors in my reading. That's sadly rare!","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"There was nothing culturally insensitive or offensive in the parts of the text I read, which was much.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I am definitely adopting this book for my business writing course next term. It has everything my students need from a text at a price they can afford. That has been a problem for many. I actually like this text better as I think it's clearer and easier to follow. Excellent choice for an upper level business writing course.","created_at":"2018-06-19T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-06-19T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":2376,"first_name":"Jason","last_name":"Harper","position":"Senior Lecturer and International Coordinator","institution_name":"Fort Hays State University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The contents do offer instructors a comprehensive list of key writing areas that should be covered in a college writing class. For example, it includes\r\ntopics like writing styles, active reading, writing a summary, and assessing writing situations to more practical areas like conventions, revision, and checklists. It also includes discussions on common challenges for multilingual and ESL writers from diverse backgrounds. Perhaps an instructor might see these as good guideposts, yet this reviewer believes that supplemental materials will be needed for a more in-depth and detailed coverage of these areas. Overall, the text is useful as a starting point for teaching to her/his strengths and contexts.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"One of the outstanding strengths that this textbook offers is its lack of bias. The coverage given to the writing process and its practices is also particularly good -- something not often included in business communication-related texts. ","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Coverage of text messages, E-mail, and how social customs influence the ways we interact with each other in the online environment will not be difficult to update, as these norms and mores are changing by the minute. As these change, this textbook can still apply as strong beginning points for discussion in class.\r\n","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"Overall, a detailed process of business communication is shown in readable and clear style. Vocabulary and terminology is covered and there are avenues for instructors to add on.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Business Communication for Success is a consistent collection of significant skill sets accented by \"Key Takeaways\" that correlate well with the topic at hand. The book’s use of multiple sub-chapters helps to make the textbook much more detailed. While at times the bland blocks of content may render the page a bore, the instructor can breathe life into what is considered by many to be a dull subject. The creators' knowledge of the topic is obvious throughout the book. The credibility of the content is strengthened by the consistency.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The orderliness of the book conforms to an academic curriculum. While the chapters create neat packages, some skills to be taught can be better covered by the instructor creating additions to the chapter or by adding additional sections. Overall, the textbook provides well-organized material and content, which is held well by clear chapter numbers. ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The organization of the book lends itself well to the study of business communication. Each chapter is broken down into sections, which typically fit logically into the topic of the chapter. All chapters are composed of several defining parts that maintain a sense of continuity throughout the volume. The Key Takeaways\" sections leads refers well back to the introduction and the chapter goals. ","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"With so few graphics in the book overall, display features are subsequently not so much of an issue. Within the text of the chapter, there are at times photo boxes that assist the learner in understanding particular points. Unfortunately, the open-sourced photos may also confuse readers when they are not as well-paired as a paid photo might have been. Navigation is not at all difficult, as the chapters are clearly segmented and there is a drop-down \"Contents\" bar for finding other sections fast. However, the textbook's overall appearance is quite bland.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"It's refreshing to see a textbook so carefully edited. Once a textbook is provided to students, a certain expectation of correctness and clarity is expected, and cleanly\r\nedited chapters must be in place when teaching the units and individual lessons. This does not mean that the opportunity for learning about errors is lost -- even\r\nthe cleanest of texts might still contain a hiccup here or there. Yet, with the goal being teaching toward the learning needs of the students in our classrooms, we\r\neducators need to set good examples for those educational needs and show, not tell, good grammar, without losing sight of the end goal.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Chapter 18 is pretty in-depth about the intercultural/international aspect. While certainly not comprehensive, variety of races, ethnicity, and backgrounds is addressed in general terms in Chapter 18 as strong beginning points for discussion in class. As stated as a Key Takeaway in 18.3, \"All cultures have characteristics such as initiations, traditions, history, values and principles, purpose, symbols, and boundaries,\" and the instructor could certainly work with the class to develop how this applies or cold apply in different contexts.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2018-11-12T16:03:29.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-11-12T16:03:29.000-06:00"},{"id":2380,"first_name":"George","last_name":"Boone","position":"Visiting Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Augustana College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Overall, the book covers a wide range of topics. However, it offers breadth over depth, which is fine for an introductory business communication course. It lacks an index section, however, so unless your students know how to search a PDF for information, they might run into trouble searching for specific information.\r\n","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The book provided very accurate overviews of different theories and positions on communication.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The book had multiple examples, although some of the references might feel a bit dated for our students (ie. the Bush examples, for instance). However, the author could easily update the examples with more recent events.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book was very clear and easy to understand.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The book has the strong ability to present multiple ideas relevant to business communication (and its underlying communication research) without getting lost in the theoretical differences that might go along with these different perspectives. Ultimately, those looking for a deeper theoretical look at the book will need to look elsewhere. More pragmatically oriented classes, however, will benefit from this instructional approach.\r\n","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The book has nice chapter and section breakdowns with clear headings and effective demarcations.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The book needs a bit more explicit logic to chapter order. As a reader, I do not have a clear sense as to why chapters appear in a particular order. Perhaps overall chapter groups or headings might help resolve this issue.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The interface for the book has no issues that I noticed.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not notice any grammar issues.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I did not notice any particularly offensive texts or ideas.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"Overall, the book provides a strong and pragmatic approach to communication in business and workplace contexts. I would gladly adopt it as a general text for a low-level 100 or 200 level course. Teachers looking for more in depth analysis of studies or more theory-driven analysis, however, might find the book lacking.","created_at":"2018-11-13T14:35:30.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-11-13T14:35:30.000-06:00"},{"id":2381,"first_name":"Kara","last_name":"Wicklund","position":"Instructor, Lead Instructional Designer","institution_name":"Bethel University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book covers almost of all the topics I need to cover in my Business Communication course. The index is clear and easy to navigate, and the chapters are clearly labeled. ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"This textbook is error-free and accurate. It handles informative text with clarity and analyzes communication problems by applying concepts, without leaning too much on a specific bias.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The content in this text is specific and clear, and it it up-to-date. It is general enough, however, that it should remain generally relevant for several years. Some sections discuss the use of written and/or electronic communication, noting the prevalence (in percentages) of these communication forms in certain settings. These details may change or become outdated over time, but the general topic will likely remain relevant.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The clarity of this text is one of its strongest features. New vocabulary works are typed in bold and defined as well as supported with examples and/or cases to illustrate their context. Paragraphs are well-structured and easy to read, and sentence flow is easy for readers.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text adheres to the same structure throughout each chapter. Concepts are referred to and applied in consistent ways throughout the text.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Modularity is another great strength of this text. It is easy to assign chapters and sections out of order, avoid a section, or substitute a section for another resource due to the self-sufficiency of the sections. Sections generally begin, develop, and wrap up concepts clearly within each section so students don't need to rely on other chapters/sections in the text to further explain the topic.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"While I did not utilize the sections in this book the way the chapters are organized, they do seem organized overall in a logical fashion. Within the chapters, the information is laid out in a clear manner. Typically the chapters begin with basic concepts and vocabulary and then proceed to application. In some chapters, there are cases for students to read about, as well. This progression seems very effective for readers.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"This book is very easy to navigate. The chapters are easy to locate and the images and text display well on screens.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"There were no grammatical errors in this text.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"This text has a strong focus toward the end of the book on culture and communication. In addition to handing interpersonal communication dynamics, the book includes a chapter regarding Intercultural and International Business Communication. This chapter explores cultural characteristics of communication and how these characteristics impact communication, both personally and in the workplace.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2018-11-13T16:03:05.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-11-13T16:03:05.000-06:00"},{"id":2562,"first_name":"Cara","last_name":"Chang","position":"Instructor","institution_name":"Leeward Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"This textbook was comprehensive in the sense that it covers broad concepts in communication and then narrows down specifically to business writing and oral communication.  This semester, when I used part of this textbook for my business writing class, I had to find and create more examples for my students to view and analyze.  Though the content in this text is good, I wish more examples were given in this textbook.  \r\n\r\nFurthermore, though this textbook does explain how to write a resume, memo, letter, business proposal, and report, it does not include any information on how to improve writing style or mechanics.  If my students needed help with grammar, they would need to consult other resources for this.\r\n\r\nThere wasn’t an index or glossary, but there was a Table of Contents, which made it easy to navigate.\r\n","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"This text was unbiased and free from error.  It covered a range of topics in a consistent manner.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"I do think the information in this text is relevant.  However, I did wish there were sections on other types of business writing.  In my classes, I had my students create a website and blog, which to me, are important parts of business writing.  Chapter 9, which shows Business Writing in Action covers other parts of business writing, which I taught and assigned to my students, but I also told students that blogging and creating a website are also important parts of maintaining a business.  In this digital age, more topics related to online writing is necessary.  It would be an easy addition.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is written in lucid, accessible prose.  It would be appropriate for many different audiences: a business writing class, an oral communication class, etc.  ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"This text was consistent in terminology and framework.  ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"When teaching with this text, I had an easy time breaking up information and chunking it into sections that made it easy for my students to digest.  I was also able to breakup information and organize in a way that best fit the flow and schedule of my teaching. The Table of Contents/headings made it easy to see how the text is organized, so anyone who wants to jump around and customize their teaching is able to.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The structure of the text is presented in a logical and clear fashion.  It begins by explaining what effective business communication is and then moves to identifying what effective business writing looks like.  Next, the text explains how to write different forms of business writing, clarifies different presentation strategies, and explores group communication.  ","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"This book is easy to navigate with clear headings.  There was no problems accessing the text and viewing the images.  ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not notice any grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":3,"cultural_review":"The book is not insensitive or offensive to any cultures, but it does not have many references to various races, cultures, etc.  Incorporating different examples could be especially important in the International and Intercultural Business Communication chapter.  ","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"The main page states that the textbook is available in multiple formats, but I was only able to access it as a Pressbook and as a PDF.  I do feel that more images and media can be added.  ","created_at":"2019-02-10T19:05:19.000-06:00","updated_at":"2019-02-10T19:05:19.000-06:00"},{"id":2703,"first_name":"Bonnie","last_name":"Buchanan","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"OhioLink","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"From A to Z, the main communication topics and concepts are covered in this text. From the basics of the communications model to group work effectiveness, this book has the components to teach students important skills they will need in the business environment.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"I was not able to find inaccurate information, based upon my background and ares of expertise. Information was accurate, supported and relevant to the subject.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Business communications, different speeches with different areas of focus and team work skills will always be relevant. Didn't see enough information on distance/telecommuting and communicating via video.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text was written in a very straight-forward fashion and should be easily understood by most college students.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The activities and assignments found in each chapter are great and easy for students to quickly find. They are consistent among each chapter and offer relevant activities to reinforce learning.\r\nThe text chapters were consistent in their layout, form and function.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Well-organized, easy to navigate and aligned with chapter objectives in a consistent fashion.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Topics are well-presented and done so in a logical format/layout. The topics/chapters flow nicely from one to the next.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I found all links working properly and all images used supported the subject and topics in the text.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Well-written, concise and succinct text. Free of major grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I did not find the text offensive or insensitive and found it to include a variety of examples so that no one group might feel excluded or offended.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I really enjoyed reviewing this text and think that countless students can benefit from the information and concepts it contains. From the basics, to targeted speech formats, all areas vital to good business communication skills are covered.\r\nI would have liked to have seen a formal proposal chapter, but overall, I would recommend this book for business programs and courses that want to engage students and teach them important skills vital to their success.","created_at":"2019-03-28T13:33:33.000-05:00","updated_at":"2019-03-28T13:33:33.000-05:00"},{"id":2904,"first_name":"Shawn","last_name":"Gilmore","position":"Senior Lecturer","institution_name":"University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text descriptively covers nearly all the requisite topics and subtopics under the banner \"business communication,\" as well as a number of related rhetorical and conceptual approaches that are fairly typical in the field. The text is divided into fairly compartmentalized chapters, which could be selectively assigned, but this leads to some issues of repetition across the full book, as well as some difficulty finding specific material. The text does not contain an index, though the table of contents is good, and the full text is searchable.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Most of the descriptive material is quite good, succinct, and explanatory, making it pretty easy to follow. The prose is fairly conversational, which makes some of it dated (slang from the mid-2000s, for example), but allows for the conceptual and practical material to shine. Most of the content appears clear and accurate, if sometimes selective.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Some aspects of the text are dated by their cultural and technological references--this is a perennial issue for texts that describe how to use specific software, document types and methods, etc. None of these passages seemed debilitating, and could likely be avoided by assigning chapters or sections selectively across the text.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is clearly written throughout, relying on a few pages of prose per section, which are well-segmented, and followed by \"key takeaway\" boxes and exercises. Jargon is used selectively and well-explained.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The text is presented in a consistent fashion, but varies in terms of depth and type. The sections on business communication and approaches are clearest and most consistent. Those on rhetorical approaches and issues vary from rhetorical theory to interpersonal analysis and considerations, which makes them feel a bit more scattered.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text is quite modular, and selections or chapters could easily be grouped for different teaching purposes/approaches.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The text takes nearly a hundred pages to really get to writing and communication specifics, and it is not entirely clear why some (of the 19) chapters appear where they do. This might be to allow individual instructors a good deal of flexibility, but it also might leave some a bit at sea.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"This might be the text's weakest point. The text is well-formatted and presented, but it is a lot of repetitive-looking material, with little breaking up the few formatting and interface choices that have been made. This is alleviated in other texts by the inclusion of example documents--which are very rare here--or by varying page layouts. Students and instructors alike might find it hard to parse some of the more visually-similar passages, though there are some tables and images periodically that help.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"There were no significant or glaring grammatical issues.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Efforts seem to have been made to include a variety of cultural inclusion as appropriate. However, this text might need more framing for students for whom English is not their primary language, or who have been educated in other systems/backgrounds.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"This is an easy text to recommend for more experienced instructors, as they may have assignments, exercises, and example documents already at hand. However, glaringly, this textbook doesn't quite have enough material to be as comprehensive as I would have liked, though it does include exercises after each section. This may depend on the other course materials already in play, and the text would serve very well in most business writing courses, given the right conditions.","created_at":"2019-05-14T13:04:32.000-05:00","updated_at":"2019-05-14T13:04:32.000-05:00"},{"id":2976,"first_name":"Miriam","last_name":"Gershow","position":"Senior Instructor II","institution_name":"University of Oregon","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Covers a broad array of business communication topics, from foundations of language, audience and rhetoric to common types of written and verbal business communications.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Does an accurate job describing norms and responsibilities for different types of business communication tasks.  ","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The real challenge is to stay up to date with technology. References to MySpace and parenthetical explanations of terms such as LOL date the information.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The prose is accessible and clear.  Many of the Learning Objectives and Key Takeaways suggest an introductory-level rather than upper-level course.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The framework is clear and consistent throughout.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"In considering this text for a Business Writing course, there are clearly chapters and sections that can be parted out for that purpose alone.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"As with the consistency, the organization of material is intuitive, clear, and a strength of this text.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I read this book on two different devices, and the interface was clear on both.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No notable errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I was glad to see that inter- and intra-cultural communication was addressed throughout the book, not relegated only to the second-to-last chapter.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2019-06-06T10:47:02.000-05:00","updated_at":"2019-06-06T10:47:02.000-05:00"},{"id":3697,"first_name":"Amanda","last_name":"Carpenter","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"John Tyler Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This text was exceptionally well written and very comprehensive. The author was very eloquent in the way that they explained the content. The text covered critical topics for business communication. The book includes learning resources and activities included. An index or glossary would have been beneficial to the reader.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The text was timely and accurately overviewed of jobs in communication as well as an overview of business norms.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The content of the text is still relevant today. The text could benefit from a section related to social media usage for businesses. The digital age requires this for those in business communications.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book was well-written and concise. I was unable to get the search option to work on my Kindle.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"I found no inconsistencies in the textbook.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"This text is easy to sort into modules for course instruction. I could use the groupings of this text in my course.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Overall, the text was well organized and flowed well.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I had issues using the search option within Kindle with this text. It would be great if that function could be enabled.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"The text was well written, and I found no grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The text is culturally relevant and would be very useful in business communication courses.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"This text is an excellent resource for communications instructors.","created_at":"2020-03-30T15:33:54.000-05:00","updated_at":"2020-03-30T15:33:54.000-05:00"},{"id":3748,"first_name":"Megan","last_name":"Fitzmaurice","position":"Adjunct Assistant Professor","institution_name":"University of Texas at Arlington","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This textbook address written, oral, nonverbal and interpersonal communication at large. Many business communication textbooks focus solely on written and oral communication, so including these other dimensions brings an important nuance to this subject. It also includes the foundational chapters for some of the most common business communication assignments: writing preparation, composition, and revision, business, delivering negative news, team communication, business presentations, etc.  \r\n\r\nNote: no index or glossary is provided.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Overall, I found no major inaccuracies in the book’s content. Chapter 2’s discussion about the parts of a message though is quite confusing – it is hard to discern what type of messages it is referring to. At some points in the section it seems like they are discussing formal written communication and speeches, while at other times any general kind of message. It isn’t well connected to the rest of the chapter and the explanation is not thorough enough. In general, I think this chapter could better connect fundamental theories about language to the business sphere specifically.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Like any textbook, incorporating technological advancements is a double-edged sword.  Ignoring it is foolish, but discussion surrounding specific technologies is often obsolete by the time the book is published. I thought they did a great job not making and part of the text centered on specific technologies, but focused on timeless business communication principles. This should keep the book up to date for sometime.  \r\n\r\nSome of the included discussion questions are a little outdated. While the content in this textbook is really strong, the included learning exercises and discussion prompts are less helpful. For example, chapter 2 begins with a vocab-matching exercise that includes words such as “phat,” “ player,” “hooptie,” etc.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The language used in this textbook is very accessible for undergraduate students from a wide range of academic backgrounds. It does not assume a student has taken a communication course before, so I think it would work for a general education course. It also ties in theories and vocabulary from many subsets of communication (rhetoric, organizational communication, interpersonal communication, etc.) so it could also be a good choice for classes directed at communication majors.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The chapters are all organized in parallel structure and engage the same terminology. Specifically, chapters 4-7 build on each other and provide a consistent vocabulary and framework through which to teach writing as a process, not a product.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"Chapters 1-15 could easily be grouped into three modules: Introduction to Communication, Writing in Business Settings, and Speaking in Business Settings. Chapters 16-19 are a little bit of a grab-bag with regard to their topics. I would think Chapter 17: Negative News and Crisis Communication would be better placed after Chapter 14: Presentations to Persuade. I think having overarching modules would help learners better understand the skills and objectives to be learned through the textbook.  Within each chapter though are very distinct sub-sections that do help with modularity, allowing you to easily break up a chapter's reading over the course of a week.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Chapters are well structured. Each one begins with a brief introduction, and then is followed by several subsections. Each subsection starts with clear learning objectives, followed by the main content, key takeaways, and then learning exercises.  While acquiring images is a challenge for all open-source textbooks, this one seems particularly text heavy. More charts and diagrams would help with readability.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"I read through the book using both a PDF on a computer screen. The text was clear and easy to read. One thing that would be helpful would be including page numbers with the internal hyperlinks – the PDF did not allow me to just click on the blue links that would take the reader to other parts of the textbook (i.e., “Note 2.1 “Introductory Exercises”).  \r\n\r\nSome charts and graphs are fuzzy, while others could be adjusted for better formatting. For example, the chart on pg. 60 has the last 1-2 letters of the word listed on the subsequent line for several entries. This same issue was not apparent when I looked through the chapter on UMN’s website, so it may be an issue limited to the PDF version of the book.  \r\n\r\nI was impressed that the hyperlinks to additional resources at the end of each chapter were still active. The book does provide a good number of articles and websites at the end of each chapter for review.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Very small issue, but the references at the end of the chapters need to be reformatted with a hanging indent and consistent margins. Otherwise, I found no glaring grammatical errors or typos.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The book does do a really good job of incorporating a diverse range of experiences and perspectives. The authors have successfully worked to provide a global perspective on business communication. Rather than just incorporating snippets or vignettes in a couple chapters, they actually have a whole chapter dedicated to intercultural and international communication. Moreover, diversity is not just conceived of in racial or ethnic terms, but the authors make sure to incorporate identity topics related to gender, sexuality, age, and disability as well.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"Overall, I would definitely consider using this textbook in my Professional and Technical Communication course. The textbook covers all major aspects of business communication – writing, speaking, and team communication, in addition to other important elements like interpersonal communication and nonverbal communication. The book is accessible for an undergraduate audience and uses engaging and relatable examples throughout the text. Each chapter is well organized with distinct subsections which would give the instructor flexibility in how they wanted to assign the text. The drawbacks to using this text include a lack of supplemental teaching resources, minimal graphics in the text, and lackluster chapter exercises. Given students’ preference to learn through group interaction and discussion anyways, these are drawbacks easily made up for in the classroom.","created_at":"2020-04-22T09:30:33.000-05:00","updated_at":"2020-04-22T09:30:33.000-05:00"},{"id":3764,"first_name":"Adam","last_name":"Falik","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"SUNO","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The greatest asset of this book (and occasionally its weakness) is its attempt to be all encompassing.  It definitely seeks comprehensiveness, to introduce a complete spectrum of business communication methodology.  This is often effective.  The book begins linguistically, introducing concepts of language and communication, shifts to audience and tone before touching upon actual writing.  The move to presentation and group dynamics is in keeping with the wide-spectrum the book covers.  Sometimes, though, this attempt at comprehensiveness results in the book being dilettantish.  I am interested in this book as a textbook for a class in Professional and Technical Writing.  My review should be seen through that lens.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Content is accurate enough, though sometimes thin.  In Chapter 9: Business Writing in Action, for instance: What is provided is accurate, just somewhat inadequate.  9.2 covers Memos and Letters, but there are many types of business memos/letters.  A more thorough exploration per section (instead of, for example, Section 6.3 Making an Argument then much later Section 17.2 Delivering a Negative News Message) would have been welcome.  Again, the content is accurate, but it is necessary to hop, skip and jump around to make use of this book.  Also, there is a serious lack of examples in this book.  Show us some actual business letters, reports, etc.  This is a serious deficiency.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"This book needs updating to more thoroughly address evolutions in technologies.  Business communications are (obviously) more digital than ever.  It would be a service for this book to reflect more current communications, including how social media plays in the contemporary cultural and business landscape.  As I write this review from the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, Zoom and Skype meetings reign.  Let’s see an exploration of these types of presentation environments.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The writing of this book is clear and accessible.  There are, in fact, gems of writing to be found throughout.  Section 4.4 Style in Written Communication, for instance.  Here concepts of communication are clearly articulated enough to additionally demonstrate how writing inaccuracies leads to business miscommunications.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The book is consistent in its style, framework, and the rhythms of its language.  It does, occasionally, repeat itself.  Section 6.3 Making an Argument repeats itself (not just in ideas, but in complete pages) in Chapter 14.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"There is a dependable structural modularity.  A student can expect not only a clear, steady framework of Objectives, Takeaways and Exercises, but, most valuably, thorough chapter Reference sections.","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"This is one of my chief issues with this book (besides the lack of practical workplace examples).  The book is big and exploratory, but will require (for my purposes) a great deal of jumping around to make use of.   I do not love its organization.  Though it does build logically, many of its integral concepts are scattered throughout the book’s many chapters.  The lack of index also weighs heavily.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"Because this book requires a great deal of jumping around, I wish the interface was a little friendlier, more convenient.  Internal, conceptual links would have been welcome.  As certain ideas are linked (to inform, to persuade), internal links would have been appreciated.  I often find myself having to scroll back to Contents.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"This is a well-written and clear book without major grammatical issues.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Much like its technological relevancy, our culture shifts too quickly to give this book the highest marks.  Though Chapter 18: Intercultural and International Business Communications is welcome, it does not address the truly identity-charged workplace atmosphere.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I will give this book a try for a Professional Writing class.  I am curious to see what students make of it.  I find it too expansive, its attempt to be all-encompassing creating qualitative and theoretical deficiencies, and its lack of actual workplace examples a serious deficit, but it does make easy access to core principles in accessible language.  A final (negative) comment: The Exercises are often laughable.  Their vagueness is connected to the book’s overall lack of practical workplace examples.  If the student cannot see an example of how an actual business letter (for instance) is written, how can the book offer practical exercises that can be visualized?  Though the book covers a great deal, an instructor had better be prepared to provide their own examples.","created_at":"2020-04-27T10:53:47.000-05:00","updated_at":"2020-04-27T10:53:47.000-05:00"},{"id":3917,"first_name":"Alison","last_name":"Schirone","position":"Adjunct Faculty","institution_name":"Roxbury Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"I used this book for a recently business communications course.  Generally speaking, the book had all the requisite basics of business communications.  I added a few modules to address today's social mediums in more detail.  A great free text, would have loved to have some supporting materials; test modules, ppt slides.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Highly accurate, may be due for an update soon, just to bring things more current to how today's business communicators operate.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"I studied business communications many moons ago.  Some aspects of it have not changed since then; but we do have more social business communications mediums.  The book can easily adapt to incorporation of more social communications mediums.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Appropriate for first year and beyond college students and community college students and/or management trainees.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Loved the questions prior to the start of the chapters; I often used them for class discussions and prompts.  Good review of important aspects of each chapter.  Good homework assignment ideas.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"I mostly covered the chapters in order.  Some I put more emphasis on; others I slid through speedily.  For example, I did not spend as much time on International Business Communications.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Foundation chapters first; easy to apply those concepts to all other chapters that follow.  I integrated some of the more current business communications tools like Linked In, resume building, and more in the writing sections.  I had students who were preparing for the workplace so it was a practical diversion from the text.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"There were some useful bits that I wanted to use as handouts but the copying of those items were a bit fussy.  Perhaps consider a collection of handouts/electronic worksheets?","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not notice grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Ethnicity/race neutral.  We had a great collection of people from diverse backgrounds in my course when I used this book, so we were able to apply some of the cultural communications ideas into discussion and assignment.  I do think that perhaps some of the aspects of diversity could be updated to better reflect today's issues and people.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I did enjoy using it.  I would have liked to see more updated business communications methods in use today, especially social mediums.   I would have liked to see a workbook or case to be worked throughout the term.  Slides would have been a plus!  Overall, I enjoyed using it and it was my first OER text.","created_at":"2020-06-04T19:19:23.000-05:00","updated_at":"2020-06-04T19:19:23.000-05:00"},{"id":4059,"first_name":"Kathleen","last_name":"Berry","position":"Adjunct Professor","institution_name":"Massasoit Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text covers all areas of the subject appropriately.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"I found very few typos.  The information was clearly unbiased.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"Although the book was updated last year, I think it could use a little updating in both photos and information.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Any jargon that may have been used was explained thoroughly.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The information is consistent.  However, it is duplicated in many chapters.","modularity_rating":2,"modularity_review":"Most of the book is strictly text with limited images.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The book is organized in a clear fashion. However, when I used it, I did teach out of order.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The text does not indicate any interface issues.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not find any grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I did not find any culturally offensive material.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I would have liked to see more information about diversity and inclusion in the textbook. \r\nThe pre- and post- exercises in each chapter were beneficial.\r\nStudents would have preferred a way to annotate the textbook when reading it.","created_at":"2020-06-23T17:07:57.000-05:00","updated_at":"2020-06-23T17:07:57.000-05:00"},{"id":4101,"first_name":"Katherine","last_name":"Hatzis","position":"Senior Lecturer II","institution_name":"University of Massachusetts Boston","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book covers everything that one would want to teach in a business communication course.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"As far as I could tell the book is accurate and free of error and biases.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The book is up to date and it can be easily updated in the future.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The writing is clear and it does not use difficult language so this text would be appropriate for ESL or International business students as well.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"I enjoyed the fact that the book used the same format throughout. It started with learning objectives and ended with takeaways and exercises.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text was well divided into smaller sections which can help when assigning reading homework.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The book was well organized and straightforward. I like that it has a table of contents which helps with reading through the material.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The book's interface was fine. I just wished it was linked at the bottom of the page rather than having to constantly to go back to the main menu to go be able to move and read the next section or chapter. I had to keep going back to the main menu when I wanted to go to the next section of the same chapter. I think it would have been easier if it had a link at the end of the section that connected the next section.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not notice any grammar errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The book appears to be culturally neutral.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"Overall it is a good general Business Communication textbook and it has a lot to offer. This is a textbook that I am going to incorporate into my courses.  The only thing that I didn't like was navigating through the textbook.","created_at":"2020-06-27T06:41:54.000-05:00","updated_at":"2020-06-27T06:41:54.000-05:00"},{"id":4516,"first_name":"Dee","last_name":"Fretwell","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Southern Oregon University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The subject is well covered for the introduction to Business Communication, with a gap in addressing very specific etiquette around professional communication via digital formats, such as emails, project management software, etc. until mid-way through the book.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Quite on point! I was impressed with the direct nature of the content and the broad audience types the curriculum was trying to reach.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Nicely written for readers of all ages from many backgrounds.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Clean, concise and grammatically on point.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"I noted no inconsistencies.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"Chapters were broken up nicely with graphics and such, allowing the reader to not fatigue as quickly as they might otherwise.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Pretty well done, with a request to begin examples of proper business writings earlier in the chapters.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Easy, clean and totally relevant.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Great!","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Seemed appropriate to me!","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"Well done! Will likely use next term!!","created_at":"2021-01-05T11:36:42.000-06:00","updated_at":"2021-01-05T11:36:42.000-06:00"},{"id":4697,"first_name":"Sharon","last_name":"McDermot","position":"Business Adjunct","institution_name":"Northern Essex Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book is very comprehensive but I wish there were more coverage of business writing in different modalities.  They do touch on texting and email but I think there needs to be more information on those subjects.  The book does discuss business presentations and audiences which is great.  I would also like to see more real life exercises to use with students.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I did not see any inaccuracy.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"This book was written in 2015.  Many things have changed in business communication.  I would like to see it updated to include the use of social media in business and how important that can be to the success of a business.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The book had good clarity.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text was consistent with terminology and framework.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text is easily broken up into smaller assignments and chapters.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The book can easily be arranged to prepare for a class using progression.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I did not see any interface issues nor did I have any problems with it.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not see any grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The book does have chapters on intercultural communication which is great.  I have been looking for that in an OER textbook.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"If this book were revised to a more current date and included the social media aspect of business communication, I think it would be very useful.  It does contain a lot of good information.","created_at":"2021-03-18T10:30:42.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-03-18T10:30:42.000-05:00"},{"id":4806,"first_name":"Terianne","last_name":"Brown","position":"Lecturer","institution_name":"Hawaii Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This is a thorough book but could benefit from certain chapters being expanded and others being condensed.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"There are no issues with bias and no errors are evident.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"There are a few references to outdated social media platforms, however, the text can be easily updated without taking away from the message of the contents.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book uses appropriate language suitable for all readers.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The book has a consistent format. Headings and subheadings are standardized, as well as key terms being bolded.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"The book can benefit by expanding the sections in Chapter 9 into individual chapters.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The book is well-organized and is easily followed.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Multiple interfaces are available and no immediate issues are evident. It was easy to Zoom into images in the online and digital pdf versions of the book.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"There are no evident grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"There are no direct references to specific races. The text does refer to race as something to consider in business communication but contains nothing culturally insensitive or offensive.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"This is a well-written text that is well-suited for an Introductory to Business Communication course. The book could be improved by including more images and/or infographics to make it more interesting and less text-heavy.","created_at":"2021-04-20T14:38:02.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-04-20T14:38:02.000-05:00"},{"id":4897,"first_name":"Karen","last_name":"Gaines","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Kansas City Kansas Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book is pretty thorough with the topics that are covered. In fact, there are topics in the presentation sections that are not normally covered in the business communications textbooks that I currently use. The order in which the subjects are presented is different than what I have been used to, and wanted to know if there was a particular reason for some of the ordering of subject matter.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Information is accurate and free of errors and bias.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The information is relevant and timely. However, there should be more focus on virtual meetings, etiquette, how to productively run them, etc. and how to better engage others as there is less in-person interaction.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"It was written in a clear and concise manner. The narrative was conversational and engaging.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Found the writing to be consistent throughout the book.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"This book was easy to get to the specific information within each chapter with the use of subsections. Though there were some sections where they were text heavy, the use of the headings helped to break up the information into more visually appealing and practical hunks of information.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"It is easy to follow, but I am more used to having examples of writing styles (routine, persuasive, negative) grouped together earlier in the book.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"This was an easy to navigate the book.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not see any grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text is inclusive in its depiction of different groups of people.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"Are there instructor resources available such as PowerPoints, more in-depth assignments, videos, and tests?","created_at":"2021-05-07T15:55:21.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-05-07T15:55:21.000-05:00"},{"id":5140,"first_name":"Steven","last_name":"Bookman","position":"Adjunct Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Pace University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text covers all areas in addition to topics (e.g., ) not always covered. However, I wish some topics have more coverage (i.e., business modalities) while others have less. Overall, the this text is good for an introductory business writing course.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Content is accurate, error-free and unbiased.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The content is up-to-date.  However, I wish the book was updated, so that it includes social media. Having said this, necessary updates would relatively easy and straightforward to implement. I had to bring in my own examples and case studies from other sources to supplement the text.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The author writes this text in a lucid, accessible prose, and provides adequate context for any jargon/technical terminology used.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is internally consistent in terms of terminology and framework.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text is easily and readily divisible into smaller reading sections that can be assigned at different points within the course (i.e., enormous blocks of text without subheadings should be avoided).","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The topics in the text are presented in a logical, clear fashion.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The text is free of significant interface issues, including navigation problems, distortion of images/charts, and any other display features that may distract or confuse the reader. There are a few options to read the book as well.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text contains no grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way although there could be some text with diversity, as this is a big issue these days. In the book's defense, it can easily be updated since it was written in 2015.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2021-06-23T15:46:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-06-23T15:46:00.000-05:00"},{"id":33645,"first_name":"Christina","last_name":"Wooten","position":"Business Technology Faculty","institution_name":"Rogue Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"The material covered in the text is comprehensive as expected from a Business Communications text. Basics of Communication, Message, Audience, Writing, Types of Delivery, as well as three sections on different styles of presentation are included. \r\nThis text does not have an index or glossary. \r\nThe table of contents is thorough with chapter and section headings linked for easy navigation.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The text accurately portrays the topics covered. It appears to be overall an unbiased text. \r\nThe content is, overall, error-free.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Overall, the text is up-to-date with technical information. \r\nThere are some cultural points that may become outdated quickly (or could feel alienating to some students). For example, in \"Demographic Traits\" on page 86, there is a heavy focus on male/female as an example of a demographic trait. \r\nHowever, later in the same chapter, a lengthy discussion on \"mutuality and non-judgmental-ism\" ensues. \r\nChapter 9 covers \"up-to-date\" communication methods used in the business arena very well. These include text, email, netiquette, memos, letters, proposals, reports, resume, and sales messages. \r\nChapter 18 covers Intercultural Communication. My concern with this section is the references used are from 1958 and 2005. I feel strongly that there are more recent examples of references that could be used.","clarity_rating":3,"clarity_review":"The text is written clearly with many bold faced words. There is no glossary or side-bar definitions, so the student would need to be informed to look the words up in a different dictionary.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The book is consistent in terminology, ideology, and framework throughout. The flow would be easy for a student to follow through a course.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"The text is laid out in such a way that reading assignments could easily be created. Also, the text is broken up with exercises and images (most of which are relevant, clear, and correctly cited.)\r\nWhile some sections of the text do not have images, the blocks of text are broken up into nice sized sections with headings.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"One change I would make if I were to use this text would be as follows: \r\nChapter 18: Intercultural and International Business Communication is the next to last chapter in the book. I would place this far earlier (around the section where Sender/Receiver and Audience are discussed). \r\nThis was the only place in the text where the material appeared (or felt) \"out of order\" for overall flow.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The links provided in the chapters and in the additional resources all work accurately. \r\nImages are clear and mostly related to text. \r\nThere are two images that could be changed to a better image (one is the iceberg in Figure 3.4 the second is a clip art type image in Figure 9.6 which looks strangely out of place.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not notice any glaring grammar issues or errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I did not notice any examples that could be exclusive other than the gender example previously mentioned. \r\nThere are several images which appear culturally inclusive.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"The exercises though out the book (questions) are excellent starter questions for online discussion forums. \r\nThe \"Additional Resources\" links at the conclusion of each chapter are excellent and offer the student (and instructor) many additional resources for class. \r\nThere is no glossary or index for this text.","created_at":"2022-01-03T15:01:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2022-01-03T15:01:00.000-06:00"},{"id":33808,"first_name":"Susan","last_name":"Lantz","position":"Teaching Associate Professor","institution_name":"West Virginia University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book is comprehensive. It definitely covers the basics.   It covers areas of writing that I might not use for more advanced college writers, but would be absolutely vital for beginning college writers.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The content was accurate.  (Except for the page about web-search engines. . . which was outdated.)","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"For the most part, the authors/editors did a good job of avoiding language or references that were dated.  They might want to revisit the page that lists \"Some Examples of Internet Search Sites.\"  They listed \"Alta Vista\" for example. . . which has since been taken over by Yahoo.  They also list sites like dogpile, webcrawler, and The Encyclopedia Britannica.  This information was pretty cutting edge in 2002, but times have changed.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The material was well-written, clear, and concise.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text was internally consistent and easy to navigate. (This might change, though, according to formatting. I found the PDF easy to use, though.)","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"I was pleasantly pleased at how easy to the text was to read, divide, and excerpt.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The text was organized quite nicely.  It was easy for me to find what I was looking for, and it followed a logical progression.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Navigation was no problem.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Grammar was fine.  It was not (thankfully) overwritten.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I was very pleased to note that the text chose to discuss sensitive cultural issues in a very elegant manner.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"Here's the thing about communication: The rules don't change much.  Business Communication is all about getting the right information to the right person at the right time.  What does change, is the technology we use to make it happen.  It is nearly impossible to publish anything current that covers everything one needs to to about current methods of communicating using technology.  The information is too \"bleeding edge\" and changes so quickly, that it would be out-dated almost immediately.  The thing that this book does (and does very well) is stick to the basic rules of communication that don't change (with the exception of the search engine page.) Nearly every other section of the book sticks very firmly to  the information that students need to know that does not change on a regular basis.  The information about social media/videos/tiktok/instagram/facebook/YouTube/thenextbigthing is easily imporable from the web. This division makes it almost the perfect open educational resource.","created_at":"2022-04-25T15:22:51.000-05:00","updated_at":"2022-04-25T15:22:51.000-05:00"},{"id":33872,"first_name":"Jessica","last_name":"Rick","position":"Assistant Professor of Communication Studies","institution_name":"University of Southern Indiana","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book is a comprehensive look at business and professional communication. It covers almost everything I would cover in my business and professional communication class. I really like the chapter on intercultural and international business practices as those are two areas often not included in other books.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"This book is accurate.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"I didn't find many errors, but the definitions and models of communication are outdated. I believe the author could have found more recent definitions, models, and conceptions of communication. I also would have liked to see more of a discussion of organizational communication concepts in business communication.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Students were able to read and understand the book and its contents.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The book uses consistent terms and structure throughout. Previous chapters provide a good scaffolding for later chapters.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"This book is almost too comprehensive that it is hard to navigate. But I do like that I can mix and match different parts of the book to fit my schedule and class content.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Students were able to follow the organization of the book. The numbering system makes it easy for students to find what to read for each class period.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"No issues with the interface of the textbook.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No issues with the grammar.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Some of the examples could be updated to reflect a more nuanced understanding of a variety of perspectives. But overall, I was pleased with the cultural contexts discussed.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2022-05-20T14:53:38.000-05:00","updated_at":"2022-05-20T14:53:38.000-05:00"},{"id":33888,"first_name":"Heather Leigh","last_name":"Maher","position":"Adjunct Professor","institution_name":"City Colleges of Chicago","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"While the book covers many essential topics in detail, others are less updated than is optimal and yet others are intermingled with other chapter headings, making them harder to find than I am used to in this type of textbook (such as more basic but important principles, such as audience analysis, which is scattered throughout several other chapters beyond the one titled as containing such information). Some ideas are basic, which is great to cover survey and more advanced courses, but I have a feeling I'd be having students read selections from several chapters for several topics I'm used to having more consolidated. While the table of contents is hyperlinked in the online and PDF versions, there is no index, which makes it tedious to identify every location relevant to a topic without extreme front-loading in course planning. Despite this, if it had more information on electronic elements that have changed the business landscape in the past 10 years or so, it might be worth doing the work--and maybe even supplementing missing items.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"It is accurate, but missing definitions for some jargon that may be hard for brand new business students, while including others when they probably aren't necessary. It seems to be biased only in that it seems to have a very specific student audience in mind, but I cannot for the life of me imagine actually meeting a student with that exact blend of needed and unneeded knowledge in one of my classes. Again, good if you like to customize your reading selections a great deal, but not as great if you're looking for a single text to fill the majority of your course content with only a smaller percentage of supplements from other sources.","relevance_rating":2,"relevance_review":"The book is already missing any significant content on how technology has massively changed business communication in the past 10 years, and while it mentions it indirectly (basically saying \"it's affecting things\") in several places, without at least one chapter dedicated to those changes, it seems both incomplete and very hard to update and revise.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"Some jargon isn't given enough context to be clear for the range of learning levels the book attempts to cover (by my assessment), but the prose, while very heavy (minimal application of actual business writing principles in terms of white space and using visuals), is clear and well-edited.","consistency_rating":2,"consistency_review":"The writing is consistent, but the level of assumed pre-existing knowledge is not consistent from chapter section to chapter section, or across chapters (some are much more consistent than others). The organizational structure is the weakest element of the book, as I mentioned with overlapping concepts discussed in multiple chapters that are not labeled in ways that would lead a reader--much less a student--to expect to find certain pieces of information in them.","modularity_rating":2,"modularity_review":"As mentioned, there's overlap across chapters on topics, but not information, so you really need the whole thing. It's loosely organized into \"Business Communication\", \"Business Writing\", \"Business Presentations\", a bit on rhetoric, and then what feels like the author felt was \"left over\" in that they are important topics that didn't fit into the original outline? Maybe in a revision? I can only speculate. It also is quite prose-heavy without bread for illustrative graphics, which are always better received at the undergraduate level.","organization_rating":1,"organization_review":"One of my comments on \"Modularity\" is really the core commentary for me on this category, as the structure and organization looked excellent in the chapter titles, but the content proved they were a bit unfocused and, in some cases, misleading as relevant ideas were discussed in completely different sections:\r\n\"...there's overlap across chapters on topics, but not information, so you really need the whole thing. It's loosely organized into \"Business Communication\", \"Business Writing\", \"Business Presentations\", a bit on rhetoric, and then what feels like the author felt was \"left over\" in that they are important topics that didn't fit into the original outline? Maybe in a revision? I can only speculate.\"","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The table of contents for the electronic PDF and the online version is all hyperlinked, which is great. The drop-down menus listing sub-sections in the chapters in the online version, is a bit clunky and unintuitive.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Well-edited.","cultural_rating":2,"cultural_review":"All inter- and intra-cultural information in smushed into one of the chapters that feels like an afterthought or revision chapter added later. There is no integration of global business communication in any regular manner throughout the text, and exercises (which are weak in general) are very monocultural. It reads like a textbook for upper-middle class white students, written by one just a generation older. This is definitely an area where you'd need to go find another, *much* more detailed and specific source, especially for examples and possible homework exercises or group activities to put into action.","overall_rating":6,"overall_review":"In general, I feel that this book is dated--not as much in content (but technology and non-American business knowledge and potential issues absolutely need a major addition with details and specific information), but in what it appears to emphasize. Perhaps the author was teaching several levels of skill across various classes and wanted one book that they could pick appropriate sections for all of them, or even just to save students even more money, but it reads as poorly organized and needing a major editorial structural overhaul (although I don't think modern editors even do that much work with authors any more). If you are willing to read the entire book, pretty much make your own index for how you want to organize your class, and don't mind supplementing close to half of your readings with outside sources, it could be extremely useful. However, you will definitely need to find the cultural and technological information elsewhere. I have survey-level students who have offered more specific and detailed information on both areas, but I do teach at an extremely diverse college system with many 1st, 1.5, and 2nd generation immigrants, as well as international students, which are excellent resources themselves in these areas.","created_at":"2022-05-31T00:01:11.000-05:00","updated_at":"2022-05-31T00:01:11.000-05:00"},{"id":33951,"first_name":"April","last_name":"Schofield","position":"Senior Lecturer and Director","institution_name":"Metropolitan State University of Denver","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This is a very comprehensive textbook and includes over 600 pages of content. It includes the necessary components to help students communicate effectively in business environments.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The included content is very accurate. There are some areas that need updating to reflect the current business environment.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"Since the book was published in 2015, newer concepts are not addressed. For example, how to communicate effectively in virtual meetings or via social channels. The nature of how we communicate has significantly changed since 2015 so any business communication textbook that is older will have similar shortfalls. I do believe this content could be added in standalone sections or chapters.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book is conversational and engaging. It is appropriate for an introductory level class and for students from various majors. I think all students could benefit from the communication concepts outlined in this book, not strictly business students.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The format and writing style are consistent throughout the entire book.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The book is easily broken up into smaller reading sections. I appreciated the questions to start each chapter, the reviews of important concepts, and the exercises at the end of each chapter. These could be used as classroom conversations, homework assignments, etc.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The early chapters are foundational (why communication is important, the science of language and communication), followed by \"how to\" chapters. The table of contents provides a robust overview of topics, beyond chapter titles.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"There are multiple formats available, including PDF, ebook, online, XML, and ODF. I reviewed both the PDF and ebook versions. The various sections in the table of contents are hyperlinked. I found both formats easy to navigate and did not experience any issues.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The book is well-written and I did not notice grammatical errors. This is very important for a book focused on communication!","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Intercultural and international communication is addressed throughout the book and an entire chapter is devoted to the topic.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2022-07-15T14:52:30.000-05:00","updated_at":"2022-07-15T14:52:30.000-05:00"},{"id":35532,"first_name":"Linda","last_name":"Mallen","position":"Adjunct Faculty","institution_name":"Northern Essex Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"I found the content to be very comprehensive,  from implementation of idea, through research, writing and revision, and then onto presentation. Also, each stage was well detailed to help create that thorough and effective business document. In the classroom, I expect as is often the case that not every bit of detail can be discussed because of time limitations, but it is good to know that so much information remains there for the student to explore.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"My review to date does show that the instruction is accurate and appropriate for student success.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The business student can be well served by the organization and direction here. Points made are relevant to business needs and demands. Writing and presentation instruction is delivered in a manner that speaks to business responsibilities and effectiveness. The focus on strong organization, logic and productive content is all well delivered.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Good business writing is clear, direct and concise. The content here is reflective of those qualities. Fundamentals of writing and speaking communication are distinct and direct and effective.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Professional wording and tone are consistent, and what you would expect in a higher education textbook.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"As I consider open resource textbooks for communication and professional communication courses, I appreciate the set up here. It was essentially what I was looking for as I work with students of varied skill sets. An instructor can direct students to specific modules, and/or students can easily locate and identify modules that would benefit them the most, go to that section, and still find content that was clear and comprehensive and relevant to their business needs.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"This element of organization I have mentioned several times in this review.  It happens for good reason. The layout of instruction and content is logical, progressive and productive. Students can begin at first chapter and progress forward, or move to the section that would benefit them the best. All here is very manageable.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"Effective, though with time passing and with application some charts or interactions or activities or exercises might be updated or replaced ... but that is true of any textbook.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"There will always be discussion in the field about how to say something the best or deliver something differently or varying stylistically, but for the instruction here so far I have found no significant errors of grammar or any phrasings that were problematic.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Entire sections deal with this matter of culture and cultural sensitivity. It appears to me so far that attention to that is presented throughout.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I was in search of an open resource in communications and business communications. This appears to be a good and comprehensive fit.  Much of the professional experience I bring to the higher education classroom is in business management and communications. This textbook appears to me to be a good partner.","created_at":"2025-06-18T11:53:17.000-05:00","updated_at":"2025-06-18T11:53:17.000-05:00"}],"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/business-communication-for-success","updated_at":"2025-12-15T02:31:41.000-06:00"},{"id":14,"title":"eMarketing: The Essential Guide to Marketing in a Digital World","edition_statement":"7th Edition","volume":null,"copyright_year":2022,"isbn10":null,"isbn13":null,"license":"Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike","language":"eng","accessibility_statement":null,"accessibility_features":["unknown"],"description":"Since our 10th Anniversary Edition of eMarketing: The Essential Guide to Marketing in a Digital World, we have witnessed a global wave of change that has had an undeniable impact on how we live, connect, and communicate worldwide. There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has, and will continue to have, a lasting effect on human reality. With this in mind, we are incredibly proud to present the 7th Edition of our textbook.","contributors":[{"id":2228,"contribution":"Author","primary":false,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Dionne","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Solomons","location":null,"background_text":""},{"id":6838,"contribution":"Author","primary":false,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Tania","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Kliphuis","location":null,"background_text":""},{"id":6839,"contribution":"Author","primary":false,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Michelle","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Wadley","location":null,"background_text":""}],"subjects":[{"id":2,"name":"Business","parent_subject_id":null,"call_number":"HF5001","visible_textbooks_count":144,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/business"},{"id":22,"name":"Marketing","parent_subject_id":2,"call_number":"HF5415","visible_textbooks_count":22,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/marketing"}],"publishers":[{"id":500,"url":"https://www.redandyellow.co.za/textbook/","year":2022,"created_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:40.000-05:00","updated_at":"2024-01-14T15:07:24.000-06:00","name":"Red \u0026 Yellow"}],"formats":[{"id":762,"type":"PDF","url":"https://www.redandyellow.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/RY_eMarketing_ed7.pdf","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":3192,"type":"Online","url":"https://biz.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Marketing/Book:_eMarketing__The_Essential_Guide_to_Marketing_in_a_Digital_World_(Stokes)","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null}],"rating":"4.5","textbook_reviews_count":16,"reviews":[{"id":228,"first_name":"Dave","last_name":"Seng","position":"Adjunct Professor","institution_name":"University of Arizona","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text covers all areas of emarketing.  Very thorough, complete, and comprehensive.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I found no errors,  seems to be unbiased and accurate.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The author uses a lot of political data that will lose relevancy.  Also, some material regarding web sites and marketing issues are dated.  Other than that, the big overall concepts are still relevant and valid.  Still, a very good text for undergraduates.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book is free of complex jargon.  Perfect for undergraduates.  The writing is clear, thoughtful, and articulate.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The internal coherence of the book is very good.  Consistent and clear.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"I only use parts of this text for my class.  I just use it to augment what we already have in place.  One of the reasons I use this text is for the modularity.  It is easy to use just the chapters you need.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The scaffolding is perfect for undergraduates.  Key concepts are always defined and clarified.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"There are no problems with the books interface.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I found no grammar, syntax, spelling or mechanical issues.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The book is free of race, class, gender insensitivities.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I use this text to augment my digital commerce class.  It works well when we come to discuss emarketing.  It falls short of a stand alone text for my class because in addition to emarketing, we cover the creation and distribution of information and the social and political ramifications of the information economy.  That said, this text is a fantastic book on emarketing and all the basics are covered and should make a very nice textbook of an undergrad emarketing class.  The parts I've used are precise, clear, and concise.  I have no problems with this text.","created_at":"2015-06-10T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2015-06-10T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":845,"first_name":"Barb","last_name":"Dodd","position":"Adjunct Professor","institution_name":"Virginia Commonwealth University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book offers an overall perspective of e-marketing. Although app development and current technology has impacted e-marketing the text provides perspective.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Although many of the links need updating (due to rapid change in the industry) there were no typos. ","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The text could be updated with current links and new techniques, yet for undergraduates (especially digital natives) it is key to understand basic strategies. There are excellent charts and takeaways that are relevant. Picking and choosing what you need for a specific area (such as pay-per-click) make it useful.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Well written and easy to understand.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Terminology is consistent throughout the text; index, references and table of contents are all clear.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Using smaller parts of this book is feasible to supplement more current information online. It provides breadth not readily available in most blog/social media size snippets of information.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Flows well; good continuity. Major concepts are easy to understand and tie together in a logical order.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"PDF version worked well.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammar, spelling or errors in the writing.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Examples are broad and varied.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"This book provides clear information regarding tactics, techniques and strategies used in electronic marketing. The examples are somewhat dated because the industry changes quickly--however, the concepts are the same. I would recommend this text.","created_at":"2016-12-05T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2016-12-05T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":913,"first_name":"Laura","last_name":"Lott Valenti","position":"Instructor of Marketing","institution_name":"Nicholls State University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text adequately addresses the major and minor details of e-marketing and in some cases provide a “how-to” section, allowing practitioners to use it as a reference.  One area missing for the classroom is an international comparison of e-marketing use and success, which is helpful for both students in today’s marketplace and practitioners who may work in global organizations.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The examples used, case studies featured, screen shots illustrated, and figures presented are all seemingly accurate.  The content is spot-on, and thoroughly presents a plethora of relevant information that comprise e-marketing.  I am not sure the timeline in Chapter 1 reviews all key dates, though.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"There are good, relevant examples and content included here.  The information ties marketing research concepts to e-marketing platforms nicely, and easily connects the intricacies of e-marketing to a bigger, holistic picture.  There is relevancy for students and practitioners.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"While some industry-specific terms and acronyms are used, they are clearly defined and written for both the eye and ear of a novice versus an expert.  The conciseness of the concepts and their relevancy does not create shortcomings in clarity.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is clearly written with one voice, made obvious by the consistency in sentence structure, word choice, concept definition and application, and overall framework of the content.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"With well-placed lists throughout the text, the reader can quickly find relevant points without being bogged down with unnecessary word-heavy paragraphs, making it easy for the text content to be used wholly or in parts.  Key content is made obvious by sentence structure and overall layout.  On the flip side, there are a lot of lists (though helpful).  ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The short chapters are an easy read, with some key features that add value for the reader.  The paragraphs flow well, and the use of figures helps with visualization of content while also breaking the monotony of text.  There could be more figures, and some of the present figures need dates or timeframes as a reference point.  The “key takeaways” sections serve as a nice review (easy to incorporate into the classroom).  The exercises are relevant, they stimulate critical thinking, and are practitioner-based. ","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The text is easy to navigate and nicely labeled.  Placing the references at the end of each chapter allows modularity of the content, but does require extra space before beginning the next chapter.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"There were no grammatical errors in the text.","cultural_rating":3,"cultural_review":"I did not find there to be any level of cultural insensitiveness in the text.  As an additional chapter, it would be neat to compare e-marketing as it is known and used in America to other countries.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"This book would be great for an intro to e-marketing class because of its thoroughness, or as a supplemental book for advertising or social media courses because the concise content can serve as a reference tool.  Detailed and robust, it is an easy read with good “chunks” of up-to-date knowledge. ","created_at":"2017-02-08T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2017-02-08T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":926,"first_name":"Michael","last_name":"Adams","position":"Instructor","institution_name":"Chemeketa Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text is very comprehensive, compared to two other emarketing texts that I have used.  Emarketing is a fast moving subject area, so it is challenging to cover all of the emerging aspects of this topic.  The author manages to do this in a way that allows the instructor to build on the author's conceptual framework as needed.  The text is organized in a way that allows the instructor and students to self-determine how deep they wish to go into each topical chapter.  There was no index in the PDF version of the text, which would have helped to demonstrate how comprehensive the text is.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I found no inaccuracies or biases in the text.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The fundamental concepts have long term relevance. The terminology and examples could use some updating. The text would benefit from an accompanying website that provides supplementary content to each chapter with newer material, e.g. the new expanded domain extensions such as .tech, .vin, etc. This could even be user-provided content, organized by the same chapter framework as the text.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The writing is clear, and provides extensive definitions and examples of any technical terms that were used.  There was no glossary in the PDF version, which would have made it even clearer to understand.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"All of the chapters are organized in the same, logical framework, so the student will find it easy to navigate from one chapter to another and within each chapter. The chapters and sub-chapter sections are all numbered in a logical sequence.  However, there was no table of contents in the PDF version, with that same numbering scheme.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The modular structure was one of the best features of this text.  Most of the chapters are written in a way that permits them to be used as stand-alone lessons, and taken in any order.  It would be simple for the instructor (or students) to supplement the text with their own material or chapters.  It would be interesting for the students to search for relevant videos, for example, to illustrate some of the concepts in the text. ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The organizational structure in each chapter moves from the general to the specific.  I really like the sub-chapters with a single Learning Objective, each, and then Key Learnings at the end of the chapters.  This reinforces the modular organization.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The diagrams and images are all laid out in a professional manner, and all of the links that I tested worked fine.  The colors, fonts and layout are also consistent from chapter to chapter.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I found no grammatical errors in the text.  It is very well edited.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text culturally inclusive, and has no observable biases.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"The author has a deep understanding of the subject matter, as well as clever approaches to explain it to students in bite-size portions.  It is lengthy (almost 500 pages); but the modular structure makes it easy for the instructor to use just the chapters of interest.  The PDF version really needs a \"book cover\" illustration, table of contents, including sub-chapter numbered headings; a glossary and an index.  The promotion for the text indicates that these all exist; but I was unable to find them.\nI highly recommend this text for courses in eMarketing. It is also a useful reference book for professionals working in this field.","created_at":"2017-02-08T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2017-02-08T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":1175,"first_name":"Susan E.","last_name":"Bouchard","position":"Adjunct Faculty","institution_name":"Rhode Island College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This is a good base text for an introductory digital marketing course. It could be supplemented with current social media concepts and practices for third and fourth year students. It offers an overview of the structure of essential marketing concepts, with enough information to provide the context students need to have a thorough understanding of online marketing.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content was accurate, but the many of the references are dated.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Due to the rapid changes in digital marketing, I often turn to non-traditional books that are very current. One thing that those books lack is the structural overview that traditional textbooks provide. This textbook helps fill in those gaps and while many of the references are dated, such as examples from the 2008 presidential campaign, the overall concepts discussed add another dimension to a course.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"This book introduces a lot of industry terminology that marketing students need to know. In a field filled with industry jargon, the author does an excellent job of explaining each term in very clear, concise language. This overview of terms and in-depth explanations is easily understood by students.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"This textbook is well-written, clear and consistent.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Each chapter of the book has an introduction, content and references. This structure makes it easy to use the entire book or incorporate only the pieces that fit into a specific course.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Each section flows logically from one to the next.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"Several of the links in the book no longer function, but overall most work and were both relevant and useful.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"This reviewer observed no grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"This reviewer observed no culturally insensitive or offensive content.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I began incorporating sections of this textbook into my digital marketing courses this year. It is a very useful book and I recommend it. This text is a helpful addition to what we already have in place because it offers very concise explanations of a wide range of concepts. In this rapidly changing field, I think this text strikes a good balance by offering some theory along with relevant examples that are fairly up-to-date. This book is an excellent base text to work with while adding up-to-the moment content in the classroom.","created_at":"2017-04-11T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2017-04-11T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":1222,"first_name":"Minh","last_name":"Huynh","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Southeastern Louisiana University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This textbook has an excellent coverage of the subject matter.  It includes almost all aspects in e-marketing ranging from emarketing tactics to strategy as well as Web design, writing for the web, marketing research.  It is good for giving students a broad introduction of emarketing.  The index and glossary are good.\n\nUnfortunately, the comprehensiveness makes it difficult to focus on certain areas where students seem to be more interested in.  For instance, the social media and the mobile advertising are today's hot areas, but the textbook could not elevate these areas over others.  Also, a lot of content in the book are aging.  Given the comprehensive nature of this book, it will take author(s) much time and effort to remove the obsolete content, update the existing content, and include the new content.","accuracy_rating":2,"accuracy_review":"Although the content was accurate at the time of writing, it has been less accurate in the passage of time.  The problem is that the subject of emarketing is like fast moving target.  It is constantly changing.  Things get old quickly and new things keep coming out.  Therefore, what used to be accurate could become quickly obsolete or less accurate.  For instance, statistics used were not longer accurate and tools/software mentioned no longer were used or did not exist in the present context.   Looking at the references at the end of each chapter, most were around 2008.  A lot of changes have taken place even in one year, let alone a decade.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"This is related to the comment #1 and #2.  The relevance/longevity of this particular edition of the textbook is low.  This is not the fault of the author(s).  The content just need to be updated to bring relevance to the present context.  The subject of emarketing tends to have short longevity.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The book did a good job in explaining and illustrating the concept, tactics, and real-world examples.  The jagon/terminology was explained.   There was no need for any technical or business background to understand the content.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The consistency is high.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"Although the text already has some degree of modularity.  In the later edition, the modularity is much better.  For instance in the 4th edition published in 2011, the book was divided into four key modules: Think, Create, Engage, and Optimize.  All the chapters fit well under each of the modules.  Sections inside the chapters are well organized to support the chapters and the modules.  With a high level of modularity, the text provides instructors leeway to pick and choose areas to cover and to emphasize.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Overall, the organization/structure/flow of this textbook is fair.  However, the later edition has improved even more.  The organization flows in a logical fashion and the content is linked by the key modules: Think, Create, Engage, and Optimize.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"The book is easy to read and follow.  All the illustrations are well crafted. The use of color is quite good.  However, to print the e-book is little more challenging.  Due to the light color of some texts, while they look OK on the screen, some texts did not print out well on the paper.  Also, there is NO mobile friendly version.  PDF format lacks the responsiveness when it is read from a mobile device.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text contains no grammatical errors, but one needs to be aware that it was written in British English.","cultural_rating":3,"cultural_review":"The text tries to reach out to the global audience.  It used examples and cases from different countries including Europe, S. Africa, and the U.S.  Although this is a good attempt, in practice trying to reach global audience makes the text less cultural relevance to a specific country.  For instance, when the text was adopted and used in the U.S., students seemed not to be able to appreciate or relate to tools/services/software from other countries.  They never heard of companies or organizations that might be familiar to others.  Perhaps, it could be the same case for students in other countries to appreciate when things related to U.S. were presented in the textbook.  In this subject of emarketing, it is more difficult to be cultural relevance.  I think therefore it might be better just to include country specific information rather than trying to reaching to many different countries.","overall_rating":7,"overall_review":"Overall, the text is a good text for emarketing at the time of its writing (about 10 years ago).  However, things have changed much since then.  In order to be accurate, relevant, consistent, and informative, the text needs to be updated.  Obsolete content needs to be removed.  Old content needs to be updated.  New content needs to be added.  \n\nMy recommendation is not to adopt the existing edition of the text currently posted in the Open Textbook Library.  If anyone likes the text, he/she should look for the newer edition of the same text.  It has all the strengths of this text but with up-to-date information.  More recent references, update links, relevant materials, and current and future trends are among the features in the newer edition of the text.  I adopted and used the 4th Edition (published in 2011).  Even this one is already aged.  Unfortunately, the more recent edition is no longer free and open as the older edition.","created_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":1833,"first_name":"Sayed ","last_name":"Gilani","position":"PhD researcher","institution_name":"Glasgow Caledonian University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"I was very impressed with how comprehensive the book was in relation to small business management. Additionally, there is a big appendix in Chapter 16 which reviews ideas within the book.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"There were some minor mistakes in the book but overall the content was accurate. I would recommend a better approach towards proof reading in future editions.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"I do not believe there is an expiration date for the content within the book as small businesses will always exist and this book is a guide to small business management. The authors have written the book with the approach that small business management is a practical human activity rather than a theoretical concept.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"I believe the book has been written for all types of readers where all the concepts are straight forward to grasp. Additionally, the appendix at the end of the book aids the reader further through a mini-dictionary, especially, in the case of any jargon or technical terminology.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"I believe the book keeps a consistent tone, writing style along with consistency in framework and terminology discussed in the book where there are no contradictions.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"In terms of modularity, the text within the book is easily and readily divisible into smaller reading sub-sections which can then be assigned to different points. There is an element of flexibility in the case of re-arranging the text to represent any other points.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"I found the book's organisation, structure and flow very user friendly. There are plenty of paragraphs, smaller sentences along with logical arrangement of related topics.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"In terms of interface, I have had minimal to absolutely no issues.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"there were some errors within the text which can be addressed for future editions through maybe adding a bigger proof reading team to the pre-launch activity associated with the future editions.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"I believe the book is very relevant in terms of culture where although the book is set in the USA, most concepts and ideas can be transferred over to the British society.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I found the book a comfortable read where I liked the author's approach in writing key words in bold within their discussion in order to highlight their points to the reader. This allowed me to remain on the same wavelength as the authors while reading the book.","created_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":1968,"first_name":"Catherine","last_name":"Jai","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Texas Tech University ","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book provides a nice 4-step strategical framework (think, create, engage and optimize) to introduce digital marketing. Under each section, there are a list of closely related subtopics covered. It is comprehensive in the way that covers many basic concepts/terminologies that students need to know before they start to do digital marketing. In the 5th edition, a comprehensive glossary and index section are provided in section Viii and iX.     ","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The author explained the concepts well and accurately. However, since the textbook was published in year 2013, many references or hyperlinks provided in the text may not be applicable.  Instructors who plan to adopt the textbook may need to let students be aware of this issue or may need to modify/delete some expired hyperlinks from the book.   ","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Digital marketing is a rapid changing field and it’s extremely difficult to keep up the pace with the industry. The content is highly relevant to the fundamental concepts about digital marketing. What I would suggest to an instructor who is considering adopting the book is using the concept framework and supplement with more recent e-commerce stats and case studies. ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The author did explain the jargon and technical terminology fairly well. Even if students forget a certain word, with searchable pdf file format, it’s easy to locate the definitions. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is very consistent in terms of terminology and framework.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The 4-step strategical framework and the corresponding subtitles make it easy to break the content into smaller modules. Instructors who adopt this textbook can easily pick and choose what topics they would like to include in their courses. ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The organization/structure of this textbook is so far the best I have seen. The Think, Create, Engage and Optimize steps lead the students go through the necessary thought process of someone who wants to do digital marketing.  ","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The text doesn’t have much problem with image distortion, however, as mentioned earlier, many reference URL and interactive interface (e.g. p.472, the QR code for the GottaQuirk blog) were broken. The broken information may cause students lack of interest in the textbook or lose their trust towards the textbook. I was also hoping that the URL links would work too.  Right now, in the 5th edition, you can only copy and paste the hyperlinks into a browser to see the content.  ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text is easy to understand and no obvious grammar errors. ","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Overall, the content is culturally neutral. The text was written in British English and some of the hyperlinks provided in the textbook were South African versions. The instructor may need to remove unnecessary URLs to reduce confusion.  ","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2018-03-27T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-03-27T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":2087,"first_name":"Rick","last_name":"Olsen","position":"Professor and Chair","institution_name":"University of North Carolina Wilmington","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Very comprehensive and their shift from digital marketing to marketing in a digital world makes for a positive shift in framing the challenges the book addresses.  There is a good blend of “tried and true” such as SWOT and updates such as adding “people” as a 5th P to the four Ps of marketing. Appendices that include the history of the internet are ideal as they do not clutter the text and distract from primary focus but can provide context, especially for younger students.  ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I was impressed with the thoroughness of the update and the details of each chapter.  The sources cited are recent and that is important in this topic.  I did not see a bias in any negative way, especially with regards to methodologies which can often be a source of bias.  ","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The topic provides significant challenges for staying relevant.  But, the focus on fundamental principles (think, create, engage, optimize) helps keep the shelf life long. In addition, they seem committed to updates.  The examples were current but also significant enough and clear enough in the principles they were illustrating that they would have sufficient shelf life.  ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The writing is for the most part clear and crisp.  The conceptual clarity was also strong.  The only thing I see as potential for improvement is the discussion questions at the end of the chapter.  They could do more to foster clarity for the reader.  They are a bit uneven and overly general in a few of the chapters.  The tables of key terms are wonderful for students new to the topic.  ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The overall model helps here and they are very consistent with tense and pulling through definitions and issues throughout.  Concepts are used consistently throughout as well.  For example, SMART goals is mentioned in the introductory chapter and then used in more detail in chapter 15.  The formatting is also consistent.  ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The fact that they have an overarching model (think, create, engage, optimize) helps a lot here.  There was not a lot of sophisticated engagement with digital media or required link outs to activities, etc. so in that sense the bar was low here, but it works well for what it is.  ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Some of the sections do feel a bit short.  But, the breakouts for key quotes, statistics, diagrams, etc. work well.  They break it up without feeling choppy or “busy.” Color coding of each segment of the model was a nice touch.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The link outs to free resources in section 3.7 and throughout was a real plus.  Index was comprehensive and accurate as far as I could tell.  ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Writing was very good.  Clean, clear.  No issues other than the occasional blip on my end from British spelling.  But that of course is me as a US reader.  I do not see it as an obstacle and overall it is a very well written text.  ","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Use of Nike and other examples kept it relevant.  I would have actually enjoyed a bit wider range of examples and some NPO examples and controversy a bit more.  I know that is risky but it also an inherent risk with marketing in a digital world. ","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"For me the main strength of the text is the ability to go from zero to state of the market in one textbook.  Very rare to cover that much ground that efficiently.  On the (very minor) downside for me the two column format.  On screen it required frequent toggling up and down as I got the bottom of the left column and then had to go up to the top of the right column.  Small inconvenience though given the overall strength of the text.  ","created_at":"2018-05-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-05-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":2336,"first_name":"Ye","last_name":"Wang","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"University of Missouri - Kansas City","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The introduction does a great job of summarizing all aspects of digital advertising into four words (Think, Create, Engage, Optimize), and points out the key challenges (niche communities, influential media personalities, and fragmented attention).\r\nI really appreciate that the book makes two things clear early on: 1) research always goes first, and 2) optimization (measuring) is required.\r\nThis book does not assume that all students have the basic knowledge of marketing/advertising. Thus, it includes not only all essentials of digital advertising, but also content about marketing planning in general. Thus, it helps students to see a bigger picture of marketing and where digital advertising fits in.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content is accurate. For example, SEO is a highly technical component of digital advertising. Chapter 9 does a great job of including all terms, aspects, and steps of doing SEO. This chapter also has a healthy amount of SEO in source codes, not too much, nor too little. \r\nChapter 18 and Chapter 19 about measurement reflect the current practices and future directions of optimizing and measuring website performance. Chapter 19 addresses A/B testing, and optimizing landing pages.  All content is current and accurate.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"This book is highly relevant to digital advertising. It covers digital advertising planning, various strategies, pricing models, optimization and measuring. Content marketing is an important topic that the book could emphasize a little bit more. For example, the book could address issues like internal and external communication based upon a publishing calendar, or other practices in the industry.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Each chapter has a case study that helps student to understand concepts. The writing is easy to understand. In particular, it does a great job of explaining some of the technical terms in analytics. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The book is consistent in terms of the depth of knowledge in each chapter. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"I have been teaching this course for 5 years without a textbook, but I can easily adapt the book to fit my syllabus.\r\nEach chapter deals with a component. While there are inner connections, it is quite ease to modify the chapters to fit various teaching needs. For example, Chapter 2 is a great resource for writing situation analysis, and Chapter 3 is where one can find every important aspect of marketing research. As these chapters are comparatively independent to each other, I can easily direct my students to Chapter 2 for situation analysis as an assignment and point them to Chapter 3 if I want them to do marketing research.\r\n","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The organization of this book is outstanding. It is the best of its kind. It starts with basics of marketing/advertising planning, and gradually ease students in. This feature is particularly beneficial to accommodating students with various levels of knowledge. \r\nThe organization of the book also reflects insightful understanding of the process of digital advertising. Websites should be the base for other forms of digital communication. It is where transaction-oriented communication occurs, and it is the most important component of online presence. The book addresses not only content issues of websites but also navigation issues. SEO is briefly addressed in Chapter 7, and extensively explained in Chapter 9.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"High quality images and layout. ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical errors","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Includes a wide variety of cases.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2018-10-22T14:17:52.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-10-22T14:17:52.000-05:00"},{"id":2494,"first_name":"Erica","last_name":"Elliott","position":"Instructor of Digital Marketing","institution_name":"Grace College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Overall, a majority of the digital marketing fundamentals the text covers are still relevant today, and it includes an applicable Table of Contents, Glossary and Index. The text does do a good job of introducing the digital marketing concepts and tying their relationship to marketing principles and the importance of how they should integrate into a comprehensive marketing plan, and not stand in isolation. \r\n\r\nHowever, since the last update to the text was done, there have been many changes in the digital space, which are either not covered or minimally discussed, such as Artificial Intelligence and its use in Programmatic Advertising and Chabot technology, social media advertising, visual search, and the growth of interactive “smart” devices like Siri, Google and Alexa.\r\n\r\nInstructors will want to supplement this text with additional books, articles or guides to ensure updated information is presented to the students. While terminology and an examples are provided within the book, instructors should also be prepared to use other tools or assignments for students to get a better understanding through application of the material.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"From a fundamentals perspective, the main concepts covered in the text are still applicable and accurate, but as mentioned before, since it has been several years since the text has been updated, many of the supporting links, data points and examples are no longer valid or out of date.\r\n \r\nWhen the material is covered in the classroom, it’s advised to make the students aware of the out of date information and be provided updated links or data to substantiate a concept or point. ","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"For the most part, the primary digital marketing concepts and marketing principles are relevant, and most of the terms are still used today. There are a few exceptions:\r\n1.\ttechnology has advanced causing many additional opportunities and changes in the digital space\r\n2.\tthe authors of the e-textbook, Rob Stokes and the minds at Quirk, originate from South Africa, which could cause some of the content such as links and statistics to be irrelevant depending on which country the e-textbook is being used. \r\n\r\nThe text is written in such a way that it could be easily updated. ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is written in such a way that someone that’s never had any experience in digital marketing could understand it on a fundamental level.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Terms and concepts used throughout the text are consistently used and reinforced. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The book does a nice job of grouping the main content ideas into individual chapters or sections. The structure of the book is easy to follow with the use of sections, sub-sections, type formatting (bold, font size), colors, reference boxes and callout boxes.\r\n\r\nSidebar callouts are used to cross-reference to other sections of the book that contain relevant, applicable material.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The flow of the content is logical. Each chapter includes an introduction and key terms and concept section at the beginning. This helps provide an overview of the content being presented in the chapter and summary of the terminology that’ll used. It provides a good reference for when going through the text. The case studies and supporting material at the end of each chapter provide a summary of the information presented in the chapter. ","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"The text was only available in PDF format. The pages are grouped to be a spread (two pages at time). The pages could not be viewed individually. The experience could vary depending on what type of device and software used to view the text. If reading it on a large monitor, it was easy to navigate and view each spread and read without limitations. However, when trying to read it on a smartphone or tablet, it made it much more difficult to read.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No major grammatical errors were found.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text was not offensive in any manner.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"NOTE: In 2016, Quirk  was purchased by WPP and was changed to Mirum South Africa. The 6th edition of eMarketing - The Essential Guide To Marketing In A Digital World was released in 2018 written by Rob Stokes under Red \u0026 Yellow Creative School of Business (https://www.redandyellow.co.za/textbook/). ","created_at":"2019-01-06T12:24:18.000-06:00","updated_at":"2019-01-06T12:24:18.000-06:00"},{"id":4143,"first_name":"Klara","last_name":"Karol","position":"Instructor of Business Administration","institution_name":"Holyoke Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The content of the book is relevant and covers most marketing principles. One area I find missing is Global Marketing. Especially from e-marketing perspective it's important to cover the ever flattening global environment and its benefits and challenges. I like the structure Think, Create, Engage, Retain, Optimise. The Glossary is helpful too.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The content is accurate, however not absolutely up to date. E-Marketing is difficult to cover in a textbook with the speed of industry changes. There are almost daily changes and new features to social media accounts, changes to SEO and technology used in eficient e-marketing. So by it's nature at the time book is published information needs updates.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"As described in the point above, the relevance of this topic is very short lived, because of the very fast changes in e-marketing. Some topics like The Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Voice Marketing ( Apple’s Siri, Microsoft’s Cortana and Amazon’s Alexa) could be covered with more emphases, since that is the are of future growth and concentration.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book is very well organized and clear. All used terms are well described on beginning of the chapter they are most relevant for and later reinforced throughout the text.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"All the concepts explained and used throughout the book are consistently reinforced with relevant examples.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"As mentioned above, I like the structure of the text:  Think, Create, Engage, Retain, Optimise. Also the color coding for each chapter and clear numbering and font change for subchapters helps the reader to navigate around.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The book's organization, structure and flow are very logical and are easy to follow. Each chapter defines the learning outcomes first, has introduction and continues with the definition of key concepts. Practical examples and case studies help reinforce the learning and comprehension. Most chapters end with summary, chapter questions and further reading. This is well organized text.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"The only modality I see is a PDF version, which isn't the most reader friendly. It can make it difficult to read on some smart devices. The links in the text are hyperlinked well and bring you to additional resources. All images and charts are displayed without problems, however can't be open as an independent object, that could be enlarged, copied or used in other way.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I didn't find any grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way, however I would like to see more global marketing examples.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"No","created_at":"2020-06-29T15:47:03.000-05:00","updated_at":"2020-06-29T15:47:03.000-05:00"},{"id":33340,"first_name":"Kashef","last_name":"Majid","position":"Associate Professor of Marketing","institution_name":"University of Mary Washington","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book does a great job covering topics such as search engine optimization and analytics. I found that the section on advertising was quite good but would have liked to see a discussion of the ad server waterfall as well as header bidding. The concept and creation of header bidding has disrupted the traditional ad server waterfall and I felt that needed more inclusion.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"It was quite good except header bidding relating to online advertising was omitted.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Very practical and relevant. The inclusion of case studies as helpful as well as the images to walk you through some of the steps of advertising on Facebook and Google Analytics.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Very clear with additional links to further information and images that showed you how to do things step-by-step.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"I could see no inconsistencies here.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Absolutely, the book does a great job dividing into relevant sections. It was very easy to follow.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Similar to modularity, very easy to follow. Progressed logically.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"No distortions that I could see.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I could not find any errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I'm not quite sure this section is relevant to this book.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2021-07-10T12:01:26.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-07-10T12:01:26.000-05:00"},{"id":33483,"first_name":"Reto","last_name":"Felix","position":"Associate Professor of Marketing","institution_name":"University of Texas Rio Grande Valley","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text is quite comprehensive and embraces important topics in eMarketing, including eCommerce, digital copywriting, digital advertising (search, online, social media), content marketing, social media platforms and strategies, video marketing, data analytics/KPIs, and SEO. In addition, the first six chapters of the book address more generic marketing and user experience (UX) topics, such as strategy (including SWOT and the marketing mix), customer behavior, market research, UX, and web development. \r\nThere are two topics that are currently missing and that I would have liked to see in the book: 1) A chapter on social media ethics (or “digital” ethics in general), and 2) an outline and sample for a social media marketing plan. However, I feel that instructors should be able to include these topics based on additional external sources.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Accuracy is high and the book provides rich detail without overwhelming the reader with technical jargon. Some textbooks tend to remain at times a bit superficial or generic, and this is certainly not the case for the current book. Overall, the author does a great job in presenting somewhat more complex issues in user-friendly ways.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"I would argue that it lies in the nature of the topic that some of the more specific parts of a textbook on eMarketing/Social Media Marketing become outdated very quickly. This is indeed particularly visible for, e.g., search engine algorithms and social media platforms, which are in a constant flux. For example, the book does embrace the most important social media platforms in chapter 16 (including Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Pinterest) and also comments on blogging and podcasts, but given that the last edition of the book was published in 2018, TikTok is indeed completely missing. Nevertheless, I would argue that the book is quite successful in presenting content that remains relevant for the reader and that integrating newer developments in eMarketing and social media into the course should be relatively easy for instructors, given the modular structure of the chapters and the sub-sections within each chapter.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"In my assessment, the language used in this book is clear and concise, and it introduces important technical expressions without drifting towards overusing jargon.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"I found the text to be very consistent and I did not see any contradictions within or between the different chapters in the book. In addition, the 21 chapters of the book are well balanced when it comes to word count/length, and they have a similar structure throughout.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Modularity between the chapters is very good (i.e., individual chapters can be easily used as independent building blocks in a course). Within each chapter, modularity is possibly a little bit more limited because it may be difficult to identify larger themes within each chapter. However, because the individual chapters are relatively short, I don’t feel that this is an issue for those instructors who only want to use parts of the book. I also feel that the current chapter structure allows instructors to rearrange them easily. For example, an instructor who would like to address SEO (currently chapter 8) more towards the end of a course or video marketing (currently chapter 19) more towards the beginning of a course should easily be able to do so.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"I very much liked the organization of the text. The individual chapters are relatively short, and it is easy to navigate through them without getting lost. Sub-sections and individual paragraphs are also relatively short, which increases user-friendliness. Each chapter contains a decent number of figures (sometimes also photos), which enhances the reading experience. Each chapter contains at the beginning a table with key terms and concepts (including definitions), which is very helpful. There are some minor redundancies here and there between the different chapters, but nothing that would be problematic or disturbing.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"As indicated by other reviewers, the book comes as a pdf file with two pages of the book grouped on one landscape page of the pdf. This makes navigation even on larger screens not very user-friendly, and users trying to read the text on a smaller screen will most probably not have a satisfying user experience. It might be better in my opinion to use traditional portrait pages in the pdf, and (if possible) in addition offer a web-based version that could dynamically adjust the width of the text to the reader’s screen.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Similar to other reviewers, I did not see any grammar or spelling issues (however, I am not a native English speaker). I found the text to be concise and relatively easy to read.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"As indicated by other reviewers, the author of the book is from South Africa and at times some of the provided links refer back to a South African context. However, I would argue that the book is overall culturally neutral and should be meaningful in any cultural context. I did not see anything in the book that I would flag as culturally insensitive or offensive.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"Contrary to “established” topics such as marketing management or services marketing, my perception is that it is still not easy to find high-quality textbooks on eMarketing and social media. The current book is in my opinion better than many commercially available textbooks from publishers such as Pearson, McGraw-Hill, or Cengage, and I am impressed by the work the author put into this content-rich and detailed book. Regarding the continuity of the textbook (which may be an important factor for instructors when deciding about adopting a textbook), personal email communication with the author/publisher (Red\u0026Yellow) confirmed that the 7th edition is planned to be released in or about April of 2022.","created_at":"2021-11-25T18:01:36.000-06:00","updated_at":"2021-11-25T18:01:36.000-06:00"},{"id":34240,"first_name":"Kathleen","last_name":"Ferris-Costa","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Bridgewater State University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Very well set up and easy to follow.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Content was unbiased.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Content was up to date for a 2018 revision.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Content was clear and consistent with industry terminology.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Content was consistent with its use of terminology and setup.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The different sections were easy to follow and useful in setting up student reading assignments.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Conent was well organized.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"I suggest putting the references at the back of the book by chapter as opposed to the end of each section.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Would have like to have seen more information from a global perspective.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"The book covers most of the relevant marketing principles. It was last updated in 2018 and is probably due for an update since the field of digital marketing is always evolving. I would suggest the addition of referencing current examples in class to provide relevant updates to students. As with other reviewers, I did find it lacking in the area of global marketing.  I would also like to have seen a chapter on digital marketing ethics. Overall, a very good resource for a digital marketing course.","created_at":"2022-12-06T09:42:57.000-06:00","updated_at":"2022-12-06T09:42:57.000-06:00"},{"id":35494,"first_name":"Matt","last_name":"Vollrath","position":"Associate Professor of Business Administration","institution_name":"Ohio Wesleyan University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This text is a great tactical resource. It goes into helpful detail regarding process and the \"how-tos\" of digital marketing. It is not however, a \"big picture\" book, and does not offer a cohesive strategic framework for approaching the work of digital marketing.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Extensive citations of scholarly and trade sources, listed clearly by chapter and section. Spot-checks reveal current definitions and approaches.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The book helpfully includes many case examples and relevant data. Published in 2022, it may feel already feel a bit outdated to many students as digital marketing is a field that evolves especially quickly.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Plain-language style, definitions in shaded tables (see “Key Terms \u0026 Concepts” section openers) and plentiful real-world examples support novices.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Concepts and terms introduced in early chapters of the book are referred to and applied in later chapters. The glossary in the back of the book is especially helpful in keeping track of key words and ideas.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"Chapters and sub-sections have clear themes and associated terms/concepts that facilitate ease of remix around whatever topic is being studied and when. Case studies are boxed and self-contained. The PDF format makes jumping around a bit cumbersome.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Very well organized, both in terms of chapter sequencing, and themed sections which logically build on one another. Chapters themselves follow a helpful patter (Objectives → Content → Case Study → Questions).","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"PDF is the only option. Although the text is well organized (even color-coded), moving easily through a PDF is a chore, and doesn't facilitate usage of multimedia resources. Images and charts render well in the PDF.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text is well-edited and appears to be error-free","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The book's many examples will interest students, but there is little consideration to topics beyond the tactical aspects of digital marketing. In particular, the text lacks a discussion of ethical issues in marketing.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2025-05-28T15:12:55.000-05:00","updated_at":"2025-05-28T15:12:55.000-05:00"}],"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/emarketing-the-essential-guide-to-marketing-in-a-digital-world","updated_at":"2025-12-15T02:10:30.000-06:00"},{"id":15,"title":"Exploring Business","edition_statement":null,"volume":null,"copyright_year":2016,"isbn10":null,"isbn13":null,"license":"Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike","language":"eng","accessibility_statement":null,"accessibility_features":["unknown"],"description":"The author's goals in writing Exploring Business Version 2.0 was simple: introduce students to business in an exciting way. Exploring Business is adapted from a work produced by a publisher who has requested that they and the original author not receive attribution. This adapted edition is produced by the University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing through the eLearning Support Initiative. Though the publisher has requested that they and the original author not receive attribution, this adapted edition reproduces all original text and sections of the book, except for publisher and author name attribution. This textbook has been used in classes at: College of Alameda, Columbia Basin College, Flagler College, Johnson County Community College, Pasadena City College, Penn State University, Renton Technical College, San Diego Mesa College, Sierra College, Yuba College.","contributors":[],"subjects":[{"id":2,"name":"Business","parent_subject_id":null,"call_number":"HF5001","visible_textbooks_count":144,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/business"},{"id":21,"name":"Management","parent_subject_id":2,"call_number":"HD30.4","visible_textbooks_count":60,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/management"}],"publishers":[{"id":187,"url":"https://www.lib.umn.edu/publishing","year":null,"created_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:37.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:37.000-05:00","name":"University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing"}],"formats":[{"id":354,"type":"Online","url":"https://biz.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Business/Introductory_Business/Book%3A_Exploring_Business","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":1639,"type":"PDF","url":"https://biz.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Business/Introductory_Business/Book%3A_Exploring_Business","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":1640,"type":"eBook","url":"http://open.lib.umn.edu/exploringbusiness/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":2247,"type":"XML","url":"https://open.lib.umn.edu/exploringbusiness/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":2248,"type":"ODF","url":"https://open.lib.umn.edu/exploringbusiness/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null}],"rating":"4.5","textbook_reviews_count":13,"reviews":[{"id":220,"first_name":"Daniel","last_name":"Gore","position":"Adjunct Instructor \u0026 Teaching Specialist","institution_name":"University of Minnesota School of Journalism \u0026 Mass Communication","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The breadth of the content covered exceeded my expectations.  The textbook allows discussions and in-class conversations which help students understand the may externalities affecting a business.  There are some introductory conversations about economics, international influences, staffing, regulatory considerations, governance, and ethical concerns to name a few.  The book integrates exercises to prompt classroom activity and discussion, along with sufficient graphic support to make the textbook easily consumable.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Dr. Collins took care in writing the book to ensure that the language and examples used are fair and without agenda.  While it is written for the mixed economic structure of the U.S., there are some primary discussions about alternative economies--sufficient enough to spark dialogue for critical thinking by students. ","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The content is current and relatable, as it uses topics, companies and organizations which are still relevant.  As with any text which cites actual cases, they will not remain evergreen.  There are some references to WorldCom and other businesses which are no longer top-of-mind, but they are still within the readers' generation to be useful.  The references are as current as any can reasonably expect.  Dr. Collins takes those case studies and helps elevate the examples beyond the current year, and inspires readers to consider the topics irrespective of their chronology.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is written in a very comfortable lexicon which will be accessible to the college-level student.  The book provides sufficient supporting information and references to issues which may be more complex.  It was thankfully void of useless business jargon.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The flow of the book allows the instructor and reader to take a logical walk through the aspects of business which are in scope of the book.  The language was consistent throughout the textbook and allowed for a methodical understanding of the content which built on itself chapter after chapter.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"At almost 1,000 pages it's a large textbook for a semester course, if it's use was to complement other aspects of a lesson plan.  As such, I think the text could be used out of sequence, or modularly.  This adds to the book's utility, as I could easily see how portions of the book could be filled in with independent writings, assignments or in-class speakers on a given topic.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The flow of the book builds well upon itself, each chapter leading, or preparing for successive chapters' discussions.  However, I find  that the elegance in the structure is that you could pick up in the middle of the book, without having been required to have read a previous chapter. (In most instances, though this is not universally applicable to the book).  I appreciated that the book examined the topic of business at a much broader level than just an operational level. The explorations of the economy, social responsibility, governmental pressures, stakeholder influences and human resource components were a rich teaching for students.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The digital format of the book worked fine in the default .pdf viewer I used on my laptop.  The links I tried worked successfully. The images, graphs and graphics all appeared as I expected them.  It is not particularly stimulating in its layout and design, which can influence a reader's attention span; however it was not distracting nor unappealing as some textbooks can be.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"I found the book to be structurally written well, adhering to commonly accepted writing styles. I did not read it with a red pen in hand, but the words, spelling and punctuation did not cause me any concern.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I felt that the book was very inclusive in its examples and illustrations of issues.  In particular, the book discussed globalization considerations of business, and went well beyond simply translating materials into another language.  Dr. Collins really opens the opportunity to have lengthy discussions about social inclusiveness--how even in a single country, social issues affect how businesses relate to their marketplace.  It was among the first examples of this level of dialogue I've seen in a textbook targeted at introductory business.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I would consider adopting this text for a course.  It is useful because it does not have a strong philosophical agenda toward or away from the politics of business.  While it does describe situations which may seem to favor the worker, or protecting the worker; the text does not castigate business or big-business.","created_at":"2015-06-10T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2015-06-10T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":586,"first_name":"Dr. Randall","last_name":"Wade","position":"Instructor and Chair, Business Technology","institution_name":"Rogue Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"This text covers all of the major topics taught in an introductory business class. Students are provided with a good foundation of business, including coverage of business ethics, social responsibility, international aspects of business, and a discussion of economics. The basic functions of business (management, marketing, accounting, and finance) are thoroughly covered, while additional chapters on personal finance and business law are also included. The drawback is that the various digital formats (other than reading the book on-line) were missing a Table of Contents. In addition, students do not have access to an end-of-chapter (or even end-of-text) glossary or an index. This is a major flaw to this text.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"I did not find any glaring errors in regard to accuracy. Much care has been taken to ensure that the pictures and writing are unbiased, as well as gender and culturally diverse. Many of the chapters start out discussing the opening vignette which is missing, so the reader comes in with no idea of what the author is talking about.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"While I am not a fan of publishers updating texts on a two-year cycle with minimal changes to warrant a new edition, the reality is that this text was published in 2010. That means that the currency of the book is at least a decade old. While the author has added some additional current topics (sustainability and social media), the references are still over a decade old (accessing them on the Internet in 2012 does not make them current).\n\nThe companies referenced in many chapters could clearly be updated. Using former Senator George McGovern as an example in Chapter 16 is not relevant to today’s students. He was current news in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, but the majority of students today would not know who he even was (he passed away in 2012). Discussion of new digital currency (Bitcoins) would be a nice addition to the text. Overall, I have not seen that Exploring Business 2.0 is that much different from the original version.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is well written, with many pictures, graphs, and figures interspersed to make it easy to follow. I like the conversational writing style and succinct definitions of key words. I would have preferred to have a glossary of terms (either at the end of the chapter or end of book), instead of the highlighted links. By clicking on the highlighted word, the same definition comes up that is already on the same page.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"Terminology was easy to understand (although the hyperlinks were redundant). In many cases, the Key Takeaway boxes were also redundant. For example, Chapter 4 spends one page covering questions to ask in selecting a form of business ownership, and then the Key Takeaway box virtually repeats the same material on the next page – redundant! Otherwise, the reader is able to build on key terms as they progress through the course.","modularity_rating":3,"modularity_review":"While each chapter was segmented into logical modules, overall, the book was not. Typically, an introductory text would be divided into units (foundation, business ownership, management, marketing, accounting, finance). This text does not have that division (unless provided by the instructor) and the student just moves from one chapter into the next.\n\nSixteen chapters provides ample material for a semester course, but for a school on a quarter system, the adopter would have to eliminate some chapters from coverage. Personally, I would leave out Chapter 8 (writing e-mails and memos is covered in a business communications class – not introduction to business); Chapter 14 (nice material but it does not fit with the rest of the subject matter); Chapter 15 (again, nice material but one that can be covered in both a marketing class and/or an introductory computer class) and Chapter 16 (Business Law is a standalone class – contract law can be covered in more depth in a separate class and the legislation needs to be updated).  \n\nChapters 9 and 10 could easily have been divided into 4 separate chapters covering the four P’s of the marketing mix.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"As mentioned previously, the text covers the primary topics one would expect to find in an introductory business book. Each chapter builds on the previous one with the recurrent theme of building a business plan. While I would not have included the last three chapters (they really were written as more stand-alone chapters and did not relate well to the previous material), some instructors may find them useful. I would have liked more elaboration on the history of labor unions and their evolving role in the service sector as the manufacturing sector has diminished.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"I was able to access the definitions of the hyperlinked terminology in each chapter using the on-line reader, but they would not work in the .pdf version on my tablet. Many of the reference links were also inaccessible on my tablet. However, the .pdf file worked well on my PC and I was able to access all terminology and hyperlinked references without any trouble. The charts and images came up successfully (both on a PC and a tablet). I found the graphics did a good job in breaking up the writing, while supplementing the material in the text.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Grammatical and spelling errors are a pet peeve of mine, especially in textbooks. I found the text to be very well written and easy to read, without any grammatical or spelling errors to distract the reader.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The illustrations and examples in the text have included a variety of races, ethnicities, gender, and other culturally diverse backgrounds. The writing style was neither left-, nor right-focused, but rather inclusive and considerate of all cultures appropriately.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"Because of the lack of an index and glossary, I would most likely not consider this text for an introductory business course. The exercises at the end of each chapter were thought provoking and required the student to do actual research and formulate some logical responses to the questions, rather than just reciting verbatim from the chapter. \n\nWhile the author has over a decade of using the business plan project successfully, after 40 years of teaching graduate, university, and community college students, I’m not convinced that the first business course a student is exposed to should tackle such a project. Students do not have the foundation in business to create an effective plan, nor do they have the expertise to prepare the financial section of the plan (even with a simple to use Excel component). Exposing students to the basic components of a business plan as outlined in Chapter 5 is a positive step in giving them the skills to prepare a business plan later on in their business studies. \n\nThe author-written instructor manual is a big plus in adopting this book. No one knows the book better than the author and well-structured teaching materials are key to success in the classroom. I would hope that these materials, as well as the test bank, are compatible with the major Course Learning Systems (such as Blackboard).","created_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":745,"first_name":"Steve","last_name":"Skripak","position":"Professor of Practice","institution_name":"Virginia Tech","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text covers a multitude of areas of business. Even instructors that do not want to use every chapter can find applicability to their introductory business courses. However, the version of the book that I was able to access did not have an effective index or glossary, making it hard to pinpoint specific content without thumbing through entire chapters.","accuracy_rating":3,"accuracy_review":"Most chapters of the book are accurate, although some of the examples have gotten very dated and others, like using Caesar's Palace for the technology chapter, were probably outdated when the book was first released. In several places, most notably economic systems, the book seems very biased - a graphic in that chapter positioned socialism as the middle ground. In order to use this book, I had to do a major rewrite of that chapter to remove what I considered to be a sociallistic bias.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"As with any business textbook, some examples are rather outdated. This book is neither better nor worse than other texts, with the exception of the material on Caesar's previously mentioned. Business changes and updates are needed; it's just a fact of life.","clarity_rating":3,"clarity_review":"The book is clearly written and conversational in tone, which will likely appeal to many undergraduate students. Its main shortcoming is a sometimes verbose and repetitive writing style. It often employs a series of rhetorical questions to get students thinking, but some of those series contain so many questions that it is easy to envision students becoming irritated by the repetition and skipping on to the end of the section. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"No issues with respect to consistency were noted in my review.","modularity_rating":2,"modularity_review":"The text is divided into logical chapters, though some of them are so long as to merit further division considering the reading attention span of an undergraduate student (as well as this reviewer). However, there are numerous self-references within the book, both within and between chapters, which would create challenges in using a subset of the book. ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The book follows the flow of topics that is typical of an introductory business textbook.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"No navigation or display issues were noted, though a fair number of graphics were extremely basic and did not add great value for the reader.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"Grammatical errors were infrequent, though writing clarity could be improved in many instances.","cultural_rating":3,"cultural_review":"In editing the book for my course, I did remove a very small number of examples that I was concerned could be a bit offensive. I found the economics chapter and the union chapter to be rather biased to the left and edited them to be what I view as more balanced.","overall_rating":7,"overall_review":"Many of the Key Takeaways boxes, intended to be a short recap of key points, were practically verbatim repeats of the previously mentioned content. These sections often added unnecessary length to the chapters without being of any additional value. In the interest of brevity (my objective being a book targeted enough that students would actually read it), I also removed the case studies since this kind of material is the most difficult to keep current.","created_at":"2016-12-05T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2016-12-05T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":766,"first_name":"Amanda","last_name":"Everhart","position":"Academic Advisor/Lecturer","institution_name":"University of North Carolina, Greensboro","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This is a total teaching package that breaks down all of the basic areas of Business and then presents them in a fun and interesting way.  Materials are up to date and provide flexibility in their use as a whole or individually.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content covered is accurate and up to date with no obvious errors or biased opinions given.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Business as a whole  is constantly growing and changing with technology but is based on firm foundations that have withstood the test of time. This book does a great job of laying the ground work of these foundations and then covers the changes that have taken place over the years as well as leaves room for future changes.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is very clear and concise with great visuals added to enhance the clarity. It is written in a way that can be understood by many different levels of student.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The format of the book is very consistent and uses terminology that is easy to understand throughout its entirety.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The breakdown of the books sections is very easily divisible and each section has multiple sub sections that can be used in the same lesson or as a stand alone class topic.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Each topic within the book is laid out in a logical structure with key takeaway points for each section as well as an exercise that incorporates all of the key points at the very end.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The book is broken into sections using bold color coding to make finding a particular component easy and all of the graphics are clear and visually appealing.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I do not see any grammatical errors within the text.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The book primarily focuses on business practices within the US but a large chapter of the book is devoted to the global business environment. The information that is given is not in any way offensive or biased. ","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I feel that this is a really good resource for a basic Business Studies class. It supplies everything that the student and instructor need for a course.","created_at":"2016-12-05T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2016-12-05T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":1016,"first_name":"Shayne","last_name":"Narjes","position":"Marketing Faculty","institution_name":"South Central College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Exploring Business is being used as the textbook for the Introduction to Business course I am teaching this term at South Central College. Overall, the book provides good coverage of the topics that would be expected from a survey course for business as a discipline.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The only issues with accuracy that I have noted so far are due to timeliness of the examples since the book was originally published in 2010. That said, the examples seem correct in terms of facts at the time of publication. ","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Although some of the examples have evolved since the book was published the examples are relevant. For example, the Tylenol case study from 1982 occurred before many of the students in my class were born but it is still a relevant example. ","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The book contains the business terminology required to impart the concepts relevant to an introduction to business course. The writing style is easy to follow and in an informal survey of my students they suggested the book presented information in a way they could understand. One minor issue involves the use of figures in which the figure is on one page of the PDF while the figure caption is on the previous page. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is consistent in they way terminology and concepts are presented. Each of the chapter subsections includes learning objectives at the start of the section and the end of each section includes: \"Key Takeaways\", exercises or activities and a references section. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Each of the chapters is divided into smaller sections of 3-7 pages and this is a particularly effective approach given the format is a PDF file. This allows my learners to easily move between different parts of the chapter using the PDF bookmarks. ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"There is a clear and logical structure to Exploring Business which comes primarily from the consistency mentioned earlier in this review.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The main issue with the interface involves the book page numbers and the page numbers of the PDF document being different. This cannot really be helped but it does require some explanation when directing students to page 428 of the book which is actually page 444 of the PDF. ","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"There seem to be few grammar errors. The prolific use of dashes and colons may present a slightly different way of reading information for some learners but the use of the different grammatical devices appeared to be correct. ","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Overall, the book seems to be from an inclusive perspective and the chapter on The Global Business Environment encourages students to \"learn about the habits and traits of other cultures.\"","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"Some of my students have mentioned that they miss having physical book and I reminded them they can print the book if they wish. ","created_at":"2017-02-08T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2017-02-08T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":1097,"first_name":"Robert","last_name":"Eliason","position":"Lecturer","institution_name":"James Madison University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"With 16 chapters, this Foundations of Business text provides a wide view of the field. Additional chapters that expand the content include: starting a business, the role of accounting, personal finances, and legal aspects of business.\n\nAreas missing in this book but are found in many current textbooks include a growing interest in analytics and big data, decision-making, or project management. Social media is not featured. The in-depth chapter on teams does not cover how to run meetings.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"No content errors were found.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"The core theories and business structures that are the basis for the textbook will remain the same for future years. With the last major update being in 2012 and many examples from the previous decade, some examples that seem current and relevant at the time are now no longer in the popular business news.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The reading level is appropriate for college-level readers. Business terms are highlighted but no glossary is provided.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Each chapter is divided into sections. Each section has learning objectives, clear division of content with headings, a Key Takeaways summary, and exercise or brief case, and references. Each chapter ends with expanded problems and a short case.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"Constructed with concise, stand-alone chapters, the text can be easily modified by removing unwanted chapters, sections, or individual content while allowing additional information or features, such as videos, to be added. Missing in the digital text reviewed are the Instructor’s Manual, an integrated business plan exercise and supporting finance spreadsheet, and a major case on Nike.","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"The overall order of the chapters matches similar textbooks. It does order some chapters similar to what would be needed to start a new business. The construct of the chapters does allow picking and choosing chapters or to teach the content out of the presented order.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The text is available in PDF, Kindle, e-pub, WordPress, OpenDocument text, and .mobi formats. The digital text formats do create hanging titles and widowed lines.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text is free of spelling, grammatical, and formatting errors. Links to videos correctly connect to YouTube video pages outside of the text.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text considers cultural barriers, diverse employees and customers, communication issues, and international business.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"Exploring Business, Version 2.0, provides a solid introduction to the principals of business. It reflects a refined content developed over years of development and classroom experience. Both theoretical and practical content is provided. With over 2000 pages, this text provides a wide range of topics that exceeds those found in most introductory or principals of business textbooks.","created_at":"2017-04-11T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2017-04-11T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":1309,"first_name":"Kim","last_name":"Gravelle","position":"Business Management Instructor","institution_name":"Century College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This text introduces students to the many facets of business, including business ethics and social responsibility, operating in  global business environment, marketing, accounting, and finance.  The topics covered are in close alignment with the textbook I am currently using.  There are many figures and tables sprinkled throughout each chapter to support the text and to add interest.  I have a printed copy of this textbook, and key words are defined in the margins.  These are missing from the PDF version.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content is accurate, error-free, and unbiased. The examples used appear to be carefully prepared, although some of them are outdated.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"the content is relevant, although some examples are a bit outdated as stated earlier.  Some of these could easily be refreshed.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is very clearly written, and the author has an easy to follow writing style.  Definitions of key terms are clearly and concisely presented.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The textbook is consistent.  Each chapter starts with an interesting opening vignette; each chapter is broken down into several sections with clearly articulated learning objectives.  The subsections contain key takeways and relevant exercises.  All chapters end with a Cases and Problems section.  This includes an \"Ethics Angle\" and \"Team-Building Skills.\"","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text is readily divisible into smaller reading sections.  There are several subheadings in each chapter to facilitate this.   It appears that the chapters could be used out of sequence to a large extent.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The topics are presented in a logical, clear manner.  The book is well organized, with the key takeaways boxes and section exercises breaking up the lesson.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I did not experience interface issues.  The book was easy to navigate, and the links that I followed worked as expected.  Images and charts were colorful and did not appear distracting or confusing.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not see spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors.  The book is well written.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The textbook does present examples that are inclusive of varying race, ethnicities, and backgrounds.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":1389,"first_name":"Linda","last_name":"Davenport","position":"Program Lead, Business Administration","institution_name":"Klamath Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This textbook appears to cover the subjects typically taught in an Intro to Business course in good depth.  The marketing chapters are a bit condensed, but the most significant components are clearly defined. The textbooks that I typically use have more charts and graphs to present, for example, a comprehensive list of HR laws, but there are many other ways to access those resources (and since they are frequently updated, it probably makes more sense to use an outside reference for items like that).","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I spot reviewed throughout numerous sections and found no errors.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Please see my reference on #1. This book appears to provide a tremendous foundation, but outside resources will need to be included as laws change, businesses shift their leadership, etc.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"This book is extremely comfortable to read.  Technical terms are explained and used, and supporting examples are provided in numerous chapter sections.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"This book has a very consistent flow and \"pattern\" of delivery....it appears to be easy to follow as each chapter has a common framework.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The chapters in this book are broken down in understandable \"chunks\" which certainly make for easier reading and more comprehension.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The flow of the topics makes sense.  I have used and/or reviewed at least 10 similar textbooks over the past 13 years for my Intro to Business course and there is a common approach to organizing the topics.  This book follows that and even adds in additional components that are often missing from other texts.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"This book's interface is high quality.  I had no problems accessing any of the resources that were included throughout the chapters. If there are issues, I did not encounter them.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The grammar seems very appropriate.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I looked at particular sections that could potentially raise a concern and found that they were carefully and tactfully worded.  Good examples to support the topics!","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I am delighted and surprised that this author has offered this text for use as an OER....the textbook is high quality, comparable in content to many other \"highly recommended\" texts that I have used in previous years, and I look forward to seeing the instructor resources. Aside from the lack of an author name, this textbook seems to be a superior choice for an Intro to Business course!","created_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":1508,"first_name":"Louis","last_name":"Bruneau","position":"Part Time Faculty","institution_name":"Portland Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book covers everything normally covered in an text introducing business. There was no index or glossary with the review edition I had.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I did not find anything to be concerned about with respect to accuracy, errors or biases.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The world is moving rapidly and textbooks thus have a limited life. This book seems to be current/up-to-date and likely to be stay so for a reasonable time (about three years). \n\nIt should be easy to revise/update given its modular format. Instructors may want and should be able to update easily.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book is very readable; ideas are well supported with explanations and illustrations.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"I found the book to be consistent within chapters and mostly consistent chapter-to-chapter. The few little things I found were not a problem , but an opportunity for class discussion.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"This is the feature that I most appreciated. With each chapter having six to ten modules it allows an Instructor great flexibility in class presentation. I also liked the modularity which allows for substitution with Instructor selected modules or additions/deletions to customize the material.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The structure of the book is logical and clear. I lays the groundwork and builds nicely upon it.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"There were no interface issues noted in my reading of the book.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I noted no grammar, capitalization, punctuation or mechanical errors with the book.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The book is not insensitive or offensive in any way.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"Clearly, I like the book. Were I able to use it I would.\n\nThe length of the book, 737 pages-without appendix or glossary, might put some students and/or Instructors off, but the modular format more than compensates.","created_at":"2017-08-15T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2017-08-15T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":5022,"first_name":"Dhruba","last_name":"Banjade","position":"Lecturer","institution_name":"University of Texas at Arlington","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book covers must of the relevant topics in Finance. However, I suggest to include more on Time value of Money, Risk and Return concept.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Yes. The book is excellent in terms of accuracy.","relevance_rating":2,"relevance_review":"The authors discuss most of the events based on old data. For example, Unemployment and workplace deaths. Authors use the data from 1970 to 2010 only. Unemployment and workplace deaths must be explained based on the recent data.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The text is written clearly.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"Yes. The text is consistent.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"There are 16 chapters in the book. Each chapter is sub-divided into small sections. It helps to readers to understand clearly.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The topics are presented in the logical manner.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The test is clearly written. The readers will not confuse.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"There are no grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text is not culturally insensitive.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"Yes. The book briefly discusses the time value of money part. Most of the finance courses (introductory courses) discuss the time value of money (present value, future value, annuity, annuity due, perpetuity) and risk and return concepts. Thus, I suggest authors include one or two more chapters and incorporate these concepts also.","created_at":"2021-06-01T14:27:35.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-06-01T14:27:35.000-05:00"},{"id":33523,"first_name":"Carole","last_name":"Splendore","position":"Director of Assessment and Accreditation","institution_name":"University of Saint Francis","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book has good comprehensiveness overall in that it it begins with a theoretical foundation in economics, ethics and social responsibility, and global trade. Then the book pivots into the knowledge one must have for the decisions which must be made upon starting a business such as business type and developing a business plan. Finally it moves into managerial aspects. I think the book would be benefitted with a section on emerging trends (other than globalization and ethics and CSR, there is the speed of information, the rate of change, the knowledge worker, democratization and the flattening of the hierarchy). Leadership styles is lacking. There needs to be examples of charts and forms for planning and accounting.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I think leadership styles was oversimplified to the point of being somewhat inaccurate. Otherwise, the book is ok.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The consumer price index chart only goes to 2002. The data for wages are from 2010. Same with other charts. But I think it will  be easy to update the charts. In strategic planning, it lays out the elements of a plan without showing what a plan looks like, so has limited utility. Also, TQM is discounted today in leadership studies.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"It is clear. It goes over a lot of topics quickly, but not in depth. This leaves me a bit concerned that students will not understand the complexities of what they are reading.  For example, it describes how to be a good team member but does not disclose how to handle difficult conversations which is what is underneath much of the advice given.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The book was mostly consistent. Ethics and global issues came into the assignments in later chapters. Finance included personal finance. The book seems to have a directive perspective in leadership but then a collaborative perspective in followership which is inconsistent.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The book is well segmented, and the flow of the chapters is well-considered.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The structure is very good from theoretical grounding in the first three chapters to decisions points in the next two chapters to managerial aspects in the eleven. It is lacking a section on innovation and a final chapter on emerging trends and future considerations. It leaves the student with no tools to imagine how they could excel in business. The learning objectives, diagrams, takeaways, and exercises which bracket each section are helpful for memory. Assignments bring in concepts from earlier chapters.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The interface looks fine. It is not confusing. After engaging in an interface though, the reader gets brought back to the beginning of the book.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The grammar was fine.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"To begin with Apple in a book with a chapter on ethics is tone deaf. Why discuss Adam Smith but not Marx? Why was Foucault necessary? The ethical case studies were good.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"It would be helpful if the business plan and accounting forms were presented in a way so  they could be filled out.","created_at":"2021-12-11T07:41:05.000-06:00","updated_at":"2021-12-11T07:41:05.000-06:00"},{"id":33827,"first_name":"Karen","last_name":"Gaines","position":"Adjunct Professor","institution_name":"Johnson County Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book covers all the basic information that should be in an introductory business book. However, there is no index/glossary for the reader.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The information presented is accurate and presented in a straightforward fashion.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"As this is an introductory text, the foundation of relevant information is there. However, some of the narrative and visuals are out dated. In some cases it is purely informative but in other cases the information is 15-20 years old and having that outdated information for the specific topics that are discussed may not engage the reader. Suggest a review of the text and update where it is most relevant with narrative and visuals.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The material was written in a clear and concise manner.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The format and design is consistent throughout the book.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The chapters were broken down into smaller subsections, which is a benefit to the reader and to the instructor, should they choose to not include or rearrange the order of the reading materials.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The material was presented in an orderly manner. The subsections under each chapter helped enable the reader to choose which section(s) to read.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"There were no interface issues.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Did not find grammatical issues.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Cultural relevance might be better addressed in a review and update of the text.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2022-05-04T12:08:38.000-05:00","updated_at":"2022-05-04T12:08:38.000-05:00"},{"id":35024,"first_name":"Benton","last_name":"Jones","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Anderson University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Exploring Business contains all of the usual topics covered in an introductory business course and goes into sufficient detail in each area that it might be used for mid-level business courses, as well.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The text is accurate to its year of publication.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Most basic business concepts and terms have a long life, but any textbook will contain information that is no longer correct and thus should be supplemented with contemporary sources for studying the current state of the field.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Exploring business is written a level that is accurate but easy to understand.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"It does seem like some sections were written by different people.  That is probably a good thing considering the breadth of the text and the depth of some topics.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Instructors could easily teach these lessons in a different order or choose to exclude some topics and still use the remaining topics in the order they choose.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Well-organized.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Lots of links to external sources referenced.  Images are in sufficient resolution.  Pages are designed for reading, with text wrapped around images.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Free from serious grammar issues.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Consistent with most books on these subjects, the text remains culturally neutral where appropriate.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"It may have too much information for an Intro to Business class, so if I were teaching from it, I would decide which sections to assign for students to read.","created_at":"2024-04-30T10:30:29.000-05:00","updated_at":"2024-04-30T10:30:29.000-05:00"}],"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/exploring-business","updated_at":"2025-12-15T02:21:40.000-06:00"},{"id":23,"title":"Launch! Advertising and Promotion in Real Time","edition_statement":null,"volume":null,"copyright_year":2009,"isbn10":null,"isbn13":null,"license":"Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike","language":"eng","accessibility_statement":null,"accessibility_features":["unknown"],"description":"Launch! Advertising and Promotion is written for advertising and promotion courses taught to students in the business school and journalism \u0026 mass communication students. This textbook is the first of its kind to teach advertising concepts by reverse engineering a real advertising campaign from beginning to end. In April 2007, SS+K, an innovative New York City communications agency, launched the first ever branding campaign for msnbc.com with the tag \"A Fuller Spectrum of News.\" Launch! follows that campaign from initial agency pitch through roll-out of print and media assets to post-campaign analysis. Throughout, it exposes readers to the theory and concepts of advertising and promotion, and the personalities and decisions that drove this campaign. The book takes a rare look ”behind the curtain“ — even letting you see some of the paths not chosen by the agency and client. Students get a realistic sense of how theory plays out in practice, and get a flavor for the exciting field of advertising and promotion. And, they consistently learn the perspectives of both the advertising agency (where many journalism and communications students will work) and the client (where many marketing majors will work). This is a unique book, with a unique perspective, by a unique author team, and you won't find this kind of insight in any other text on the market. We think you're going to love it! This textbook has been used in classes at: Ball State University, Emerson College, Florida Institute of Technology, Grand Valley State University, Johnson County Community College, Manchester Business School, McLennan Community College, Michigan State University, North Hennepin Community College, Pierce College, Rochester Institute of Technology, Saint Louis University, Salem State College, South Dakota State University, Texas State University, Texas Tech University, University of New Hampshire, University of North Carolina, University of Notre Dame, University of South Florida, Virginia Tech, Western Kentucky University.","contributors":[{"id":3766,"contribution":"Author","primary":true,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Michael","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Solomon","location":"St. Joseph’s University","background_text":"Michael R. Solomon, PhD, is Professor of Marketing and Director of the Center for Consumer Research in the Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph’s University. Previously, he served as the Human Sciences Professor of Consumer Behavior at Auburn University and as Chairman of the Department of Marketing in the School of Business at Rutgers University. He began his academic career in the Graduate School of Business Administration at New York University. Dr. Solomon earned a Ph.D. in Social Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was awarded the Fulbright/FLAD Chair in Market Globalization."},{"id":3767,"contribution":"Author","primary":false,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Lisa","middle_name":"Duke","last_name":"Cornell","location":"University of Florida","background_text":"Lisa Duke Cornell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Advertising at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. Dr. Duke Cornell joined the advertising department after ten years as an award-winning copywriter and creative supervisor at Long Haymes Carr/Lintas, working on major accounts like Hanes, Planters/Lifesavers, Jefferson-Pilot Insurance, Rich Foods, Wachovia Bank, and Tyson/Holly Farms. She has won numerous industry awards, including “Best of Show” Addys for print and television, as well as recognition by the New York Art Directors Club and the International Film and Television Festival. Her creative work was also featured as one of Advertising Age’s best commercials of the year. Dr. Duke Cornell received her Ph.D. from the University of Georgia, where she also earned her master’s degree."},{"id":3768,"contribution":"Author","primary":false,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Amit","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Nizan","location":"Advertising Age","background_text":"Amit Nizan earned her B.S. in Advertising from the University of Florida. She then went on to work in account management at TBWA\\Chiat\\Day and SS+K, both in New York City. Among her clients were local, international, and competitive brands such as A\u0026E Television Networks, Boots Retail International, Nextel, NASCAR, BlueCross and BlueShield Association, The Massachusetts Teacher’s Association, and msnbc.com. Ms. Nizan led the msnbc.com account team, responsible for overseeing the “Fuller Spectrum of News” campaign that would receive a host of accolades including the 2008 Webby for Integrated Campaign and 2008 Effie Gold for Small Budgets. In 2008, Ms. Nizan joined the editorial team at Advertising Age where she curated the content of the leading industry publications’ events. She organized experts from leading brands such as Nike, Verizon, Facebook, Unilever, and Procter \u0026 Gamble and agencies such as BBDO, Barbarian Group, and Martin Agency."}],"subjects":[{"id":2,"name":"Business","parent_subject_id":null,"call_number":"HF5001","visible_textbooks_count":144,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/business"},{"id":22,"name":"Marketing","parent_subject_id":2,"call_number":"HF5415","visible_textbooks_count":22,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/marketing"},{"id":16,"name":"Journalism, Media Studies \u0026 Communications","parent_subject_id":null,"call_number":"P91.3","visible_textbooks_count":57,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/journalism-media-studies-communications"}],"publishers":[{"id":108,"url":"http://www.saylor.org/site/textbooks/Launch!%20Advertising%20and%20Promotion%20in%20Real%20Time.pdf","year":null,"created_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:37.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:37.000-05:00","name":"Saylor Foundation"}],"formats":[{"id":276,"type":"PDF","url":"http://www.saylor.org/site/textbooks/Launch!%20Advertising%20and%20Promotion%20in%20Real%20Time.pdf","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":277,"type":"Online","url":"https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_launch-advertising-and-promotion-in-real-time/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null}],"rating":"4","textbook_reviews_count":6,"reviews":[{"id":157,"first_name":"Kathleen","last_name":"Stansberry","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Cleveland State University","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"This text tackles a broad array of topics related to the evolving strategic communication industry. Because the range of topics addressed throughout the book is so extensive, the authors often provide only imprecise references to major concepts and theories relevant to professionals in professional communication fields. This book would benefit from more nuanced discussion of the foundations of strategic communication theory and practice.\r\n\r\nAt more than 400 pages this is a hefty read. I would also like to see a glossary of key terms and index to assist in navigation of the book.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"This book is well-researched and the information provided is accurate. That said, the references to media theory are vague and provide only basic information about the application of major theories in the practice of strategic communication.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"This book is written from an industry perspective with a strong focus on the use of case studies to illustrate key concepts. The reliance on industry examples and case studies does tend to date much of the material in the book. This book should be updated to include references to more recent technologies and current information regarding social media tools. The segmented nature of the book chapters, with separate sections that expand on examples or provide mini-case studies, make it easy to update. However, it does not appear that the authors have addressed outdated content at this time.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The authors of this text avoid the all too common practice of lapsing into convoluted academic speak. Industry terms are clearly explained and references to professional practices that may be unfamiliar to readers are elaborated on appropriately. I appreciated the straightforward prose of this text and believe students would find if an easy read.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The consistent structure of each chapter makes this text easy to navigate. The inclusion of learning objectives, key takeaways, and hands on exercises build a clear framework that is maintained throughout the book. The use of graphic elements, although a welcome addition to the text, vary substantially in design and would benefit from a more uniform style.","modularity_rating":3,"modularity_review":"The book is divided into a coherent chapter structure, each of which is further subdivided into content areas. However, the use of a single case study throughout the text would make it difficult for an instructor to realign readings. The text is clearly meant to be read from beginning to end in a linear manner.","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"In an interesting departure from typical strategic communication textbooks, Launch! Is organized around the process an advertising agency would engage in during the course of a campaign. The book chapters cover such topics as the client pitch, research, audience identification, tactic development, and assessment. This promising method of presenting information appropriate for a survey course in strategic communication campaign development falls short of expectations. The overarching case study related to the msnbc.com campaign appears intermittently but does not coherently tie the vast range of material presented in this book together.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The text is well designed and no significant interface issues are evident.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text is well-written and no grammatical errors were identified.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"This text is not culturally insensitive or offensive, but it also does not use examples that are inclusive of a variety of races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, classes, or backgrounds. The book was written by representatives from both academia and industry. Many of the examples and case studies in the text appear to be from accounts that SS+K, the agency partner that participated in the development of the text, worked on. The book focused on for-profit clients and business campaigns. It would benefit from the inclusion of other types of strategic communication case studies such as from nonprofit, advocacy, political, and healthcare industries.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"The links to sources, which were included both within the text and in the works cited sections at the end of each chapter, represent a wealth of great resources for students in strategic communication. This is obviously a well-researched text and the authors should be commended for their efforts.","created_at":"2015-01-12T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2015-01-12T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":1554,"first_name":"Katryna ","last_name":"Johnson","position":"Professor of Marketing","institution_name":"Metropolitan State University","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text provides a survey of advertising and promotion concepts.  The authors provide good links to external resources at the end of each chapter.  The discussions on ROI and measurement are well written and provide students with a good illustration of the concept and how to measure it. \nThis text is over 400 pages and gives a cursory look at promotions. The text lacks depth as it does not go into detail on many important concepts.  The text focuses on advertising which is only one aspect of promotions.  While the text does mention Integrated Marketing Communications, little detail is provided on topics outside of advertising.  Direct Marketing, Public Relations, Sales Promotions Broadcast, Event Marketing, Sponsorships receive a brief discussion. IMC is defined to the extent that students will know it stands for Integrated Marketing Communications, but there is little discussion on what it actually entails (producing a consistent message) or on how this should be done. \nThe chapter on research provides a good summary table of qualitative versus quantitative research, but the chapter lacks a discussion on content analysis. While the table lists different methods, there is no or limited discussion on what each of these methods entails.  For instance, projective techniques are listed, but no definition is given. \n","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The writing is focused on industry practices with very limited explanation of theoretical concepts.  The industry information is accurate and interesting, but since there are limited attempts to discuss theory and provide definitions, students may be confused as to what the concepts are that are being illustrated. ","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The examples in the text are good illustrations of practice in the verbal descriptions, but should be updated especially in the area of online social media such as including a more complete discussion on search engine optimization, types of paid searches (organic vs nonorganic), contextual advertising and using social media sites such as Instagram or Pinterest.  Illustrations of how these are used should also be included.  \nAdditionally, more examples (illustrations – not just text descriptions) of all types of promotions should be included such as out of home advertising, support media, product placement, green marketing, etc.\n","clarity_rating":3,"clarity_review":"The writing is easy for students to understand, but concepts are usually not defined. This would make it difficult for a student to apply concepts at a later time.  The authors frequently mention concepts and then give an example without providing a definition leaving it up to the student to figure out what the concept actually is. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Each chapter is structured in a similar format providing learning objectives, text, key takeaways and exercises. Some portions of the book also have a section entitled “Tie it all Together” and “Use What you Learned”.  It would be helpful if there were an introduction to the book explain to students the purpose of each section.","modularity_rating":3,"modularity_review":"An instructor would be able to extract some components of the text for discussion (ones that are not reliant on the case). However, there is a case that ties the book together so moving some of the sections could be confusing. ","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"There is no table of contents to the text in the pdf version.  While the broad topics are illustrated in a figure, there is no way to view how the ideas connect.  A glossary and table of contents would greatly aid in this.  Additionally, if the authors added in an upfront section explaining the sections in each chapter it would facilitate learning (such as explaining what the “Dig Deeper” section is intended to accomplish). The online version does have a table of contents.\nThe 4 Ps are presented after discussion on promotion.  Students need to understand the 4 Ps first to see the broad picture and then ensue in a discussion on promotion. It needs to be made clear that advertising is only one of many components of promotion.  \nConcepts are often discussed before they are defined. For instance, segments and branding are discussed without first providing a definition for clear understanding. \n","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Overall, the text is easy to access in Pdf format (although there are gaps leaving big white spaces and returns sometimes occur at the wrong time breaking up a sentence). The online format is much easier to read and as it has a table of contents making it is easier to maneuver in the interface.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text contains no grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The text writing is generally not culturally insensitive, but the illustrations need to include people of different ages and include people with disabilities.  Having no illustrations of ads with seniors is not current with work being done today in advertising. ","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"Any instructor using this resource must be prepared to supplement it. ","created_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":4604,"first_name":"William","last_name":"Hanff","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"The University of the District of Columbia","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book functions very well as second year undergraduate text.  Almost all of the necessary information is explained in reasonable detail in the early chapters of the book.  Chapters 2, 3 and 4 provide a compelling and clear explanation of the Advertising and Integrated Marketing industries with a reasonably balanced approach to the \"good\" and \"bad\" in terms of culture and economics of advertising.  Chapter 5 provides a complete discussion of audience metrics and data and types of research.  Chapter 6 introduces segmenting, targeting, and positioning along with branding strategies.  Chapters 11, 12 and 13 detail the case study while touching on industry standards and best practices.  Chapter 14 recaps measurement, return on investment and the structure and style of a client-agency relationship that was introduced in Chapter 1.  The 'Ethical Dilemma', 'Digital Natives', and 'Use What You've Learned' sections at the end of each chapter reinforce the information and knowledge of each chapter's content.  Additional information on Social Media Metrics, Neuromarketing, Search Engine Algorithms, and other trending topics will need to be added -- either in a new edition or by the Instructor.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The background history, key players, and design of the practices and theory of advertising remain accurate.  The current edition of this textbook was published in 2012, and several of the examples are now dated, many of the systems for measuring impact have evolved and changed.  Many of the ideas on 'New Media' in Chapter 10 are missing Social Media Metrics and SEO analytics.   However most of the information on SOV and ROI from Chapter 7 and Chapter 14 remain accurate and relevant.  Links to trusted publishers, educational partners and industry trade groups reinforce the accuracy of the content of many chapters.  The authors worked to address several of the biases implicit in the advertising industry.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Initially published in 2012, several of the examples are now dated.  The main case study on the launch of msnbc.com is still somewhat relevant -- but many of the events described are from 2006-2008.  Many students will likely recognize msnbc.com as a very different brand than the one described in the text.  Much of the other material remains relevant and an update to the text should be relatively easy.  An industrious faculty member could insert a customized case study in place of the SS+K example.  Many of the examples from the 'Ad-Vice' sections at the end of each chapter remain relevant and compelling for discussion and further research.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The case-study model allows for both broad concepts to be introduced and for specific details to be explained in light of the SS+K and msnbc.com launch process.  Chapter 8 provides a simple-yet-powerful approach to finding a brand's Noble Purpose (a combination of Brand Truth and Consumer Truth) and then uses this information to craft a Creative Brief around the Brand Insight, 'Big Idea' and Asymmetric Avenues.   Using both the SS+K case study and other real-world examples this text makes the theory of advertising relevant to students by exploring practical deployments.  The language is accessible at the undergraduate level.  Occasional complicated ideas may require extra explanation or student research.  Quotes and explanations from working professionals and their clients are both engaging and clever additions.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The framework, language and internal organization is consistent.  There is occasional repetition of background ideas when they are relevant to a new idea in a later chapter.  Main themes, examples and assertions are valid and references and links are provided.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Although this textbook is structured around the single case study of SS+K's work on the msnbc.com launch, most the of content of the individual chapters is broad and deep enough to be used (or remixed) in several different patterns.  The end-of-chapter questions and exercises can be rearranged depending on the needs, length, and skill sets of the students.  In its current format (i.e. the PDF version) the text is well-suited to a traditional 14-16 week undergraduate course.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Utilizing the narrative structure of the main case study, the book is well organized in a chronological pattern.  Specific background information and industry-specific content is located at natural points along the multi-chapter description of the SS+K and msnbc.com case study.  Connections between early chapter information and later examples are made clear.  Navigation within and between chapters is simple and predictable.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The PDF version of the textbook is well designed and laid out, with a few long stretches of white space and occasional crowding in the 'Key Takeaway' and 'Exercises' sections at the end of each chapter.  The hypertext Online version of the textbook has a clear and concise lay out with indented chapter subheadings and further indented bullet points.  All headings, subheadings and sub-subheadings are hyperlinked.  Infographics, illustrations, diagrams and other graphics are frequent and relevant.  Some text and font sizes within examples and illustrations can be very small.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The spelling, grammar and syntax are all Standard American English and at roughly a 12th to 14th grade reading level.  Jargon is minimal, with new terms defined when encountered in the text.  Citations and references are correct.  Some of the example advertising copy uses idiomatic phrases and patterns, but all of these are marked as either quotes or in visual examples.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The text is generally culturally sensitive.  While it is certainly focused on milieu of New York City in the early 20th century, it does provide several examples from international marketing campaigns.  The text links to videos that provide a reasonably broad diversity of ideas and people, but there could be more focus on multi-lingual and multi-cultural approaches to advertising and marketing.  Women and people of color are included, however the main focus is on the corporate culture of commercial advertising and by extension the overall dominant culture(s) in a global society. Chapter 3 highlights some of the long-standing problems within the advertising industry.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"With the right instructor, the right syllabus and motivated students \"Launch! Advertising in Real Time\" can be an engaging, educational and fun experience for traditional 16-week courses as well as modular, hybrid or accelerated classes.  The authors worked together with the SS+K agency to balance the must-cover content in an undergraduate advertising course with several compelling snapshots of pitching, winning, planning, researching, collaborating, media buying and evaluating a real-world advertising campaign.  Other engaging examples make technical or abstract ideas relevant and approachable without oversimplification or self-aggrandizement.  A few dated examples (online banner ads, ambush marketing, direct-response TV) but most of the main case study and other industry applications are both unique and relevant.  Students will enjoy the interviews and example advertisements (video, web, print).  Instructors will enjoy a clear organization, layout and ample prompts for discussions or extended student research and projects.","created_at":"2021-01-31T18:57:38.000-06:00","updated_at":"2021-01-31T18:57:38.000-06:00"},{"id":4791,"first_name":"Colleen","last_name":"Fitzpatrick","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Saint Mary's College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Given the publication date of the text (2009), it is quite comprehensive with coverage of integrated marketing communication (IMC).  IMC is a hefty field, drawing from three large areas of professional communication, and the authors do solid work in covering all of the vital elements.  As one would expect, the  information on social/digital/streaming media is limited, but the text covers the basics so well that instructors could supplement it with details on these media and current examples.  Unfortunately, the text does not have an index or glossary; these are generally standard in texts of this nature and provide terms as well as mentioned brands.  Additionally, the table of contents is only really functional in the online version (as opposed to the pdf).","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The focus on the SS+K agency and the MSNBC launch provides a unique way to explore the concepts of IMC.  In general, the authors do a good job of including multiple examples from across a range of brands, but the emphasis on SS+K does sometimes limit the variety of viewpoints expressed.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"It's really quite remarkable how well the content of the text has held up given the dynamic nature of the IMC field and the explosion of social/digital media.  While I would absolutely love to see an update of this text, there are numerous resources that instructors could use to provide detail on the missing areas.  It also could be a fascinating exercise to provide updates to the various examples given as well as explore the impact of \"cancel culture\" on branding when considering the examples of personalities such as Michael Jackson, Chris Brown, Michael Phelps, and Chris Brown (all of whom were covered in a positive fashion in the text).","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"One of the best qualities of Launch! is the conversational tone.  Even the jokes held up well, and humor is extremely difficult to use in an academic approach.   It's very readable but not condescending.  The language of Launch! is appropriate for all levels.\r\n A glossary would have enhanced the text as the authors do tend to jump into concepts (such as push and pull marketing) without much background information, especially in early chapters.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Launch! flows very well from start to finish.  The approach is solid and the use of a running example provides a natural organization to the text.  While some chapters seem a bit abbreviated compared to others, the book is a good, comprehensive text.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text can easily be broken down by chapter and section.  Each section of the chapter is clearly labeled with specific learning outcomes.  The chapters conclude with exercises and activities.  Instructors can easily assign chapters in a different order if need be.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"One of my favorite features of the text is the use of the flow diagram of the chapters, which replicates the steps of a campaign.  Initially, I thought this would be too limiting, but I quickly found that the authors encompassed all major concepts of IMC.  Even topics such as IMC ethics, which can be difficult to insert \"naturally\" into a campaign approach, were integrated seamlessly.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"Overall, the online version is more easily navigated than the pdf version, which has some spacing flaws and always bumps back to the beginning of the text if links are followed.  Not surprisingly, not all links are still active, but many are and still provide a useful reference.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"There weren't any distracting errors I caught.","cultural_rating":3,"cultural_review":"This is where Launch! shows its age.  While it certainly was never offensive, there was little effort to address diversity in IMC, either within the industry or the branding.  Sensitive issues such as targeting diverse populations weren't really covered.  This is likely the area that instructors will want to supplement the most.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"When I first \"opened\" Launch!, I wasn't overly optimistic.  I thought - surely this text will be outdated and at best, I might be able to use a reference or two.  I am delighted to be proven wrong and now intend to use this text for my Marketing Communication text.  I would be even more delighted with an updated version :)","created_at":"2021-04-19T12:56:55.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-04-19T12:56:55.000-05:00"},{"id":4966,"first_name":"Nicole","last_name":"Hall","position":"Instructor of Business","institution_name":"Bristol Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book covers all areas and ideas of the subject appropriately, but does not provide an effective index or glossary.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content is accurate, error-free and unbiased.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The book is relevant and the majority of content is up-to-date. However, companies are making changes constantly. Instructors should be mindful that in the digital age, technology is changing at a rapid speed. Thus, instructors should provide additional resources such as YouTube videos and current articles if a company has made any updates and or changed previous advertising campaigns. At the same time, instructors should remind students, \"history always repeats itself\". Therefore, past examples should not be discounted or not seen as irrelevant. The text is straightforward and written in an easy to follow format.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"Overall, the text is accessible and written with clarity. However some terms are not clearly defined. This may cause some students to look to outside resources to help better define and understand certain terms.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is internally consistent in terms of terminology and framework. Each chapter is consistent, making it easy for students to follow and advance throughout their readings.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text is easily readily divisible into smaller reading sections that can be assigned at different points within the course.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"In the PDF version of The book \r\n\r\nThere is no table of contents to the text in the pdf version. While the broad topics are illustrated in a figure, there is no way to view how the ideas connect. A glossary and table of contents would greatly aid in this. Additionally, if the authors added in an upfront section explaining the sections in each chapter it would facilitate learning (such as explaining what the “Dig Deeper” section is intended to accomplish). The online version does have a table of contents. The 4 Ps are presented after discussion on promotion. Students need to understand the 4 Ps first to see the broad picture and then ensue in a discussion on promotion. It needs to be made clear that advertising is only one of many components of promotion. Concepts are often discussed before they are defined. For instance, segments and branding are discussed without first providing a definition for clear understanding.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The text is well designed and no significant interface issues are evident.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text is well-written and no grammatical errors were identified.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The book discusses culture in a many ways and is inclusive to a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds.\r\nIn Chapter 3 on page 76, multicultural advertising is addressed. Stating: \"The Advertising Research Foundation, for \r\nexample, sponsors a Multicultural Research Council to promote a better understanding of relevant \r\nissues. [14] We still have a way to go to overcome stereotypes—not all African Americans are into hip-hop \r\nand not all Asian Americans are studious—but many agencies are working hard to address these issues, \r\nespecially as they aggressively try to add diversity to their organizations. \r\n\r\nHere are a few example you can find throughout the book: \r\n1. Dig Deeper, a provocative advertising campaign by Dove features underwear-clad women with imperfect bodies to call \r\nattention to the unrealistic messages about our bodies that some marketing messages communicate. \r\n2. Frito-Lay, responded to protests by the Hispanic community and stopped using the Frito Bandito character in 1971. \r\n3. Quaker Foods gave Aunt Jemima a makeover in 1989.\r\nRecently, in 2020 the breakfast brand Aunt Jemima has removed its logo and has been renamed the Pearl Milling Company.\r\nThis example is a great lesson to show how branding perpetuated a racist stereotype. Similarly, a recent campaign gives a radical makeover to the black Uncle Ben character who appeared on rice packages for more than sixty years dressed as a servant.\r\n\r\nThe book gives you the foundation and examples. Instructors should provide additional visuals of the examples with YouTube videos and elaborate through group discussion to foster open dialogue about the importance of inclusive marketing. \r\n\r\nA recommendation would be to add a chapter called Culture or Diversity in Advertising. There are only 14 chapters in this book, so adding one more chapter does not seem unreasonable. In the Management OpenStax OER book, there is a chapter called Diversity in Organizations. At Bristol Community College we are committed to diversity. Thus, we find value in OER providing diversity, as it is an important part of our curriculum. A suggestion for instructors teaching advertising and using this resource is to incorporate a project / paper that focuses on Diversity in Advertising.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I have used this book to teach my advertising class and it is a great alternative to a traditional textbook. I just wish a Table of Contents and Glossary were provided in the PDF version. A recommendation would be to add a chapter titled \"Diversity in Advertising\" so readers can learn the importance diversity in advertising and inclusive marketing. In addition to the book, it would be nice if PowerPoint slides were provided like OpenStax offers. OpenStax does not currently offer an advertising textbook. Therefore, I use this book as the foundation for my advertising class and supplement visuals with YouTube videos and have created my own PowerPoint presentations. I recommend using this book and have found students appreciate the consistency, as it is similar to a traditional textbook without the expense.","created_at":"2021-05-24T08:23:29.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-05-24T08:23:29.000-05:00"},{"id":35518,"first_name":"Lisa","last_name":"Bergson","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Bridgewater State University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book was comprehensive and would be of interest to advertising students.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The book does a great job of citing sources and including accurate, unbiased data.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Real-world examples in this book are current and enhance learning.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Easy to read and avoids jargon.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"This book is written in a consistent format.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The setup of the text is effective and easy to read.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"This book is well organized and easy to navigate.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"There are no interface issues with this text.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical errors noted in this text.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"This textbook is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2025-06-09T12:14:58.000-05:00","updated_at":"2025-06-09T12:14:58.000-05:00"}],"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/launch-advertising-and-promotion-in-real-time","updated_at":"2025-12-15T02:01:54.000-06:00"},{"id":30,"title":"Organizational Behavior","edition_statement":null,"volume":null,"copyright_year":2017,"isbn10":null,"isbn13":null,"license":"Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike","language":"eng","accessibility_statement":null,"accessibility_features":["unknown"],"description":"Organizational Behavior bridges the gap between theory and practice with a distinct \"experiential\" approach. On average, a worker in the USA will change jobs 10 times in 20 years. In order to succeed in this type of career situation, individuals need to be armed with the tools necessary to be life-long learners. To that end, this book is not be about giving students all the answers to every situation they may encounter when they start their first job or as they continue up the career ladder. Instead, this book gives students the vocabulary, framework, and critical thinking skills necessary to diagnose situations, ask tough questions, evaluate the answers received, and to act in an effective and ethical manner regardless of situational characteristics. Often, students taking OB either do not understand how important knowledge of OB can be to their professional careers, or they DO understand and they want to put that knowledge into practice. Organizational Behavior takes a more experiential angle to the material to meet both of those needs. The experiential approach can be incorporated in the classroom primarily through the \"OB Toolbox.\" This feature brings life to the concepts and allows students to not only see how the OB theories unfold, but to practice them, as well.","contributors":[],"subjects":[{"id":2,"name":"Business","parent_subject_id":null,"call_number":"HF5001","visible_textbooks_count":144,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/business"},{"id":20,"name":"Human Resources","parent_subject_id":2,"call_number":"HF5549","visible_textbooks_count":13,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/human-resources"}],"publishers":[{"id":335,"url":"http://open.lib.umn.edu/organizationalbehavior/","year":null,"created_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:39.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:39.000-05:00","name":"University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing"}],"formats":[{"id":538,"type":"Online","url":"https://biz.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Management/Organizational_Behavior","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":537,"type":"PDF","url":"https://biz.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Management/Organizational_Behavior","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":1708,"type":"eBook","url":"http://open.lib.umn.edu/organizationalbehavior/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":2281,"type":"XML","url":"https://open.lib.umn.edu/organizationalbehavior/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":2282,"type":"ODF","url":"https://open.lib.umn.edu/organizationalbehavior/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null}],"rating":"4.5","textbook_reviews_count":18,"reviews":[{"id":467,"first_name":"Marcia","last_name":"Hagen","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Metropolitan State","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Has chapters on the major themes such as diversity, decision making, motivation, ethics, and leadership to name a few; goes over the major theories.  It does not go particularly deeply into any one area, but provides a solid look at a wide variety of topics, concepts, and theories.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"In terms of editing and proofing, this book does quite well.  Writing is unbiased and reports materials that are accurate.","relevance_rating":1,"relevance_review":"This is an area in which the text needs improvement.  Few if any examples are from 2009 or later.  The book is a good one, but cases need updating.  Updating may be difficult for instructors to implemenet, due to the imbedding of cases into so many areas of the text.  In addition, nearly half of the links provided in the text no longer work.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"Text is very clear.  I am impressed with the writing.  In particular they did a good job of describing relatively complex theories with simple and understandable language.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The books is highly consistent in terms of formatting and style--as soon as Chapter 1 is complete, students should have a clear vision of what to expect for upcoming chapters.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"This text is highly modular.  In particular, the use of objectives for each section of each chapter allows for picking and choosing by instructors.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"This book is well-organized and clear.  Because OB is generally a set of very inter-related concepts, organization/flow is not perfect, but this book is as good as others I have seen in this area.","interface_rating":2,"interface_review":"This is an area of improvement for this text.  In particular links to outside web sites are out of date and many link to dead web sites.  In addition, of the few images that are included in the text, several flow over 2 pages making them difficult to read.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Good grammar used throughout the text--few issues detected.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"This text includes a good deal of discussion related to diversity, ethnicity, gender, and other issues culture in this text.  I found the discussion in these areas to be both relevant and thoughtful.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"There are several things about this text that I like.  In particular, I think this would be a great book to use within an introductory OB course; it is well-written and thorough in terms of the breadth and depth of topics covered.  The \"OB Toolbox\" sections give students many tips on getting, keeping, and succeeding their first professional job--that is great.   However, there are a few areas of concern, as well.  In particular, many links do not work and the cases are somewhat out of date (which poses a particular challenge due to the major economic changes that have taken place for several companies referred to in the text and cases).  Before implementing this text, I would take time to review any potential overlap with other courses.  But overall, this is a solid intro OB text.","created_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":883,"first_name":"Rae ","last_name":"Casey","position":"Associate Professor ","institution_name":"George Fox University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text was comprehensive, covering areas that are important when teaching organizational behavior.  Some of the topic areas, such as diversity and ethics, are more comprehensive than others, but all topics are covered well enough for entry-level students.  The text included a comprehensive table of contents, but no index or glossary.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The textbook was accurate and covered a number of important topics in an interesting manner.  I thought the advertised experiential approach was evident and well done.","relevance_rating":2,"relevance_review":"The concepts described in the text can survive over time, but the cases quickly date the contents.  Since the concepts in the cases are integrated into the text, updating could be time consuming.  I tried the text in both the .pdf and online formats, and found difficulties with the links in both. I had the best luck with the online format, although many of the links were no longer valid.  When I copied and pasted the links from the .pdf version, I got many errors, some indicating I needed login information to access the site.  ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"I liked this text.  The information was presented in way that made it easy to understand and apply.  Jargon and terms were well explained.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"This text was well written and consistent throughout.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"This text is well organized.  The subheadings in the chapters create appropriate modules to support teachers as they create assignments, and students as they complete them.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The text is well organized and structured.  The content flow is great, but, as previously mentioned, there are a number of links, some of which no longer lead anywhere.    ","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"Navigating the text by using the online Table of Contents was straightforward, although I did want to simply scroll to the next page instead of having to use a \"next section\" link, but that was minor.  The .pdf format of the text was convenient if one wants to print the pages, but navigation of the .pdf format online required scrolling through the text.  It would have been helpful to have a \"bookmark\" or similar feature to easily highlight important concepts or see where I stopped reading.  ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I noted no errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I especially appreciated the way this text discussed sensitive topics associated with gender, race, ethnicity, perception, etc.  ","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I liked this textbook.  I thought the exercises were generally good, as were the \"Key Takeaway\" and \"OB Toolbox\" sections.  The text was dated, which tends to be noted by students and can lead to lost credibility.  I appreciate the work that went into writing this text and could use portions of it, but would need to check the links before each course, or provide others for my students.  Overall, this is a great text, but I recommend checking the details before adoption.","created_at":"2017-02-08T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2017-02-08T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":995,"first_name":"Christopher","last_name":"Reina","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Virginia Commonwealth University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The major areas of OB are covered comprehensively. The textbook goes into an appropriate amount of depth for each of the expected topics. It discusses each of the topics through both an ethics and national culture lens at the end of each chapter which represents a major strength of the textbook. The PDF version did not include a table of contents, index, or glossary which would further add to the comprehensiveness of the textbook.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content was accurate and unbiased. The information was presented in a straight-forward way and cited published work from a wide variety of sources.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"The topics covered are relevant and timely-- however, many of the citations are a bit dated. The case studies still are largely relevant even though there may exist better, more recent examples to discuss. I really appreciate the extent to which the authors integrate real-life examples of companies/leaders but the downside of this is that it limits the time the textbook can remain highly relevant without being updated. Additionally, there were several broken weblinks that need to be updated.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The writing is clear, easy to understand, and flows well. The authors do a good job of making concepts and ideas accessible for students. Authors avoided use of jargon without first defining it well and establishing the context. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The structure is easy to follow, straight-forward, and consistent. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The textbook does a good job of re-introducing ideas later in the text hat may have been covered earlier in the text which adds to the modularity of the textbook. I would not hesitate to assign specific chapters and/or assign chapters out of order for this reason.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The topic order makes logical sense and the topics build well off of each other. In the first chapter, the authors discuss levels of analysis (individual, team, and organizational) and they could perhaps return to this framework more frequently in order to guide the reader.  ","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"For the most part, the figures and tables are clear and easy to understand. There are some figures that appear a bit distorted and/or difficult to read due to color choices. Bolding concepts or words that are defined in the text and adding a definition of the word in the margin would aid students in studying and easily identifying new concepts/concepts to study. In the PDF, there were several instances in which chapters did not start on a new page (and instead started mid-page) which was distracting. ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Grammar was strong throughout the text.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"This text's chapter on diversity as well as the reference to diversity issues throughout the text is a major strength. Ending each chapter with a discussion of how national culture and ethics is relevant to the topic was a powerful way to discuss diversity and continually challenge students to consider the topics from diverse perspectives.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"This textbook is well-written, comprehensive, and is an excellent resource for students and faculty. The material is presented in an effective, accessible way and the integration of the \"OB Toolbox\" is especially useful for students to understand how to practically apply the concepts they are learning. I especially appreciated the attention to detail and comprehensiveness of the diversity chapter as well as the discussion of diversity topics throughout each chapter. The questions at the end of each chapter for reflection could push students a bit further in engaging with the material, and I would like to see some updates to the textbook when it comes to topics that should be covered (such as mindfulness and presenteeism) as well as case studies and examples from the last 3-5 years. A glossary, works cited, table of contents, and index would all be useful additions to the PDF version of the textbook, and it would be helpful if concept words defined in the text were also defined in the margins of the text in order to facilitate student recognition of topics they need understand and be able to define. Overall, this textbook is solid and I would not hesitate to use it for an undergraduate class in Organizational Behavior (although I would supplement it with readings and material from other sources as I would with any other textbook).","created_at":"2017-02-08T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2017-02-08T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":1039,"first_name":"Atul","last_name":"Mitra","position":"Professor","institution_name":"University of Northern Iowa","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"This OB textbook covers all major as well as supporting topics related the OB field. The last two chapters are devoted to macro topics (Chapter 14: Organizational Structure and Change and Chapter 15: Organizational Culture); thus, implying authors’ intent to provide comprehensive coverage. The textbook, though, is dated both in terms of scholarly references and the case studies used to inform the reader about the relevance of OB topics. Also, the textbook is more reliant on applied sources to support concepts. The pdf version of the textbook does not have a list of scholarly references. The HTML version does have these references, but they are included in within the text and, thus, negatively impact the flow and readability. I could not find a subject index or “glossary of terms” at the end of the textbook. Finally, the book lacks instructor’s resource material. ","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The book reads well and provides good examples to clarify basic concepts. The authors provide unbiased and thoughtful insights from scholarly sources in a very relatable fashion.","relevance_rating":1,"relevance_review":"This is one of the significant weakness of this textbook. The scholarly sources are dated. Case studies are also old, though still useful. Some of the in-text online links do not work. In short, this textbook is due for a major revision and would require the authors to revise all aspects of the textbook considerably. This revision would be a major undertaking and a challenge for the authors.","clarity_rating":3,"clarity_review":"Each chapter is divided into several sub-sections. Each sub-section covers a major OB topic. The authors have done an excellent job of providing a logical and clear description of topics within each chapter. However, there is no overall framework that can easily connect topics across all 15 chapters. This may explain a somewhat random sequence of topics of 15 chapters. For example, “emotions,” “communication” or “decision-making” topics are useful in the understanding of concepts of motivation and teamwork. However, these topics are not covered prior to the coverage of motivation.","consistency_rating":3,"consistency_review":"The coverage of each topic within a chapter by the authors is consistent. The formatting and style are also highly consistent throughout the textbook. An addition of an overall framework and an integrative case study would help provide consistency of topics across chapters.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"The textbook is very modular. Specifically, the HTML format of this textbook allows each sub-section to act as a module. Any instructor, interested in adopting this textbook should look into HTML format based modules (sub-sections) as a way to customize the textbook. This may be this textbook’s significant strength.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Organization/structure of this textbook is clear within a chapter. As I have stated in my review in another section, the textbook can be improved by connecting topics across chapters using a broad framework as well as by incorporating an integrated case study.","interface_rating":2,"interface_review":"The pdf version of the textbook is difficult to navigate. Even though I found the HTML version to be more user-friendly, this format did have some weaknesses as well. The scholarly references in the HTML version are included within the text and negatively impact readability. I could not find a subject-index or “glossary of terms” at the end of the textbook. Many online links do not work anymore. Since the textbook does not include a subject index or glossary of key terms, it would make it difficult for students to find definitions easily. Overall, the textbook can significantly benefit from a much-improved interface.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The textbook is free of any grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Chapter 2 of the textbook offers a comprehensive coverage about the relevance and importance of demographic and cultural diversity. In addition, each chapter contains a sub-section “The Role of Ethics and National Culture” to ensure that students understand cultural relevance of OB concepts. This issue is clearly a strength of this textbook.","overall_rating":7,"overall_review":"Overall, this textbook is a good option for those instructors that already have a good portfolio of instructional resources. The textbook does not appear to provide PowerPoint slides or a Test Bank. However, if an instructor is looking for a good OB textbook for an introductory OB course; s/he might wish to take a look at this textbook as a possible option because it is well-written and provides a comprehensive coverage of major OB topics. It also provides students with several useful applied examples, though these examples are somewhat dated. This textbook may not work for those instructors that wish to use an OB textbook based on current examples or an OB textbook that cites current scholarly references. To conclude, with significant interface improvements and a major revision, this could become an excellent option for both students and instructors.","created_at":"2017-02-15T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2017-02-15T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":1481,"first_name":"Stacey","last_name":"Young","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Northern Virginia Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book does a good job in covering relevant topics related to organizational behavior.  The format is user friendly, along with providing discussion questions, case studies, exercises, and takeaways.  There are appropriate graphics/pictures that quickly support and reinforce key concepts.  Moreover, I love that there are ongoing references to the importance of ethics with an activity related to an ethical dilemma.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The book overall is accurate.  There weren't any major issues identified.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The content is relevant and covers normal organizational behavior topics address in any text.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The writing in this book is rather clear.  However, there are opportunities to improve the grammar and sentence structure.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"This text is consistent with other text's terminology, structure, and data to support he position offered.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"This text is ready to be separated into unique, standalone learning packages.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"I like the book's flow.  It's logically organized in a way that each chapter builds on the previous one.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"No interface issues identified.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"There aren't any noticeable grammar issues, but the sentence structure should be reviewed for better clarity","cultural_rating":1,"cultural_review":"There are opportunities to select pictures that are reflective of a diverse population.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"This is the first open textbook I've reviewed.  Previously, I had considerations that open source material might not be that good; however, with this book, I was amazingly surprised.  I will seriously consider using this text for my organizational behavior class.","created_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":1662,"first_name":"Meredith","last_name":"Burnett","position":"Professorial Lecturer","institution_name":"American University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text covers all areas and Ideas of organizational behavior including aspects of both demographic and cultural diversity, individual differences and perception, individual attitudes and behaviors, and theories of motivation. This text also includes a table of contents.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content includes accurate, error-free, and unbiased information. For instance, the section on diversity refers to the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws prohibiting discrimination.   ","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The content is up-to-date and can be easily updated with more recent information. There is a photo of Ursula Burns, who became president of Xerox Corporation in 2007. Her photo can be replaced, for instance, by a photo of another black female who becomes president of a corporation. ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"In general, the text is free from jargon and US colloquialisms. However, the text defines and expatriate as as someone who is temporarily assigned to a position in a foreign country. Some readers may be sensitive to the use of the term \"foreign\" to describe a country. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is consistent is in terms of terminology and framework. The terms culture and society are used interchangeably to describe national culture and some readers may be confused by the use of both terms.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text is easy to read and divided into sections with headings and subheadings to make it easier for readers to navigate the text. ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The topics in the text are presented in a logical, clear fashion. However, organizational culture and organizational structure are near the end of the text and student might benefit from learning about those topics before being asked to understand the design of work environments and individual attitudes and behaviors.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The text is free of interface issues.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"There are no obvious grammatical errors in the text.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text includes examples of successful individuals from a variety of ethnic backgrounds including Guy Kawasaki.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"The book includes exercises following each chapter. However, may of the exercises such as those in Section 2.4 are, in fact, discussion questions rather than exercises.","created_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":2024,"first_name":"Stephanie","last_name":"McWilliams","position":"ClinicInstructor","institution_name":"West Virginia University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book includes many topics that others in this area do not, such as interpersonal interaction tactics and diversity considerations.  \nSegments that are boxed that include applied ideas are especially pertinent for my internship students.  \n","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The text is relatively error free that appears to be all-inclusive from my perspective.  ","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"In the area of professionalism, the dynamics are always changing, especially with the influence of technology.  As a result, I imagine that this book may need updates every 5 years or so to stay relevant.  ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"This text is easy to read and follow.  Terms are used correctly, and defined if not commonly understood.  ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"There is a definite framework to this text.  Information interlaces with cases and applied examples will allow students to connect ideas to real-life scenarios.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"With just 15 chapters, each is well divided in a predictable fashion.  This also aligns well with a typical semester of 16 weeks.   ","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The flow of this text makes it easy to follow and to break up into what may be presented in a lecture format and what students can work through on their own.  \n\nThe flow of topics builds in a logical manner for students learning about working in a professional setting.  ","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"There do not appear to be any major distortions what would cause confusion.  The clarity of some of the graphics or photos are a bit grainy, but not so much so that it is difficult to read or see.  ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The grammar appears correct throughout.  ","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"With a large section devoted to multicultural diversity, I would rate this text highly for cultural relevance.  ","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"It is a challenge to find a text for an internship course, but this text fits the bill nicely.  I will likely supplement with a chapter or two from other text or some articles, but plan to use this book in the very near future.  ","created_at":"2018-05-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-05-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":2353,"first_name":"Justin","last_name":"Greenleaf","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Fort Hays State University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book does an excellent job of providing an overview of the major topics associated with organizational behavior. Given the comprehensive nature of the book, it could potentially be a relevant resource in a variety of classes/topics related to communication, group dynamics, organizational leadership, and others. ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content included in this book is both accurate and well supported. It does a good job of connecting important theories and concepts with helpful practical examples. ","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"Many of the theories and concepts in this book are up-to-date and will not be obsolete anytime soon. However, many of the examples will fail to be relevant in the near future. The book could be improved by providing permanent links to some of the external resources. ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is easy to read and flows in a way that is engaging. The presentation of the content is free from technical jargon. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is consistent in the way the chapters are presented. As the reader moves from section to section, it is clear that the chapters have a unifying theme and format throughout. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text is chunked into logical and easily readable sections. The various chapters are accompanied by tools and resources to help the reader think critically about the content in the chapter. ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"I was impressed with the way the book was organized. When thinking about the topic of Organizational Behavior, it can be challenging to decide where to start and how to organize the content. This book does a nice job organizing the various topics by themes and providing appropriate sub-headings to help the reader make sense of the overarching concepts of the book. ","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The website interface seems to be the easiest to use and navigate. When I downloaded the pdf, there were some issues with the formatting of the content. Some of the pictures were not there anymore and some of the formatting was a little off. I feel like the impact these issues had on the usefulness of the book was minimal, but they were noticeable.  ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not notice any grammatical errors, which was nice.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"There was nothing in this book that I found to be culturally insensitive or offensive. If anything the book content provided insights into how to be more culturally competent. ","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I appreciate the time and effort that was put into creating this resource. One of the challenges of using open educational resources is finding a one that is high-quality, and I believe the content in this book to be high-quality. ","created_at":"2018-11-01T16:28:13.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-11-01T16:28:13.000-05:00"},{"id":2412,"first_name":"Rose","last_name":"Helens-Hart","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Fort Hays State University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Text covers the major topics one would expect to see in a 200-300 level OB course. Would have liked to see more on vocational/workplace socialization. ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Did not notice errors. ","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Uses relevant business cases, which will need to be updated in a few years. ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Very readable but still sounds like a textbook. Formatting of bold words and summary/break out boxes makes the book conventional but also easy to access. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Terminology seemed to be used consistently. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Chapters are divided into short subsections making it easy to assign only portions of chapter reading. ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Logical progression. I like that the chapter on managing demographic and cultural diversity is at the beginning. If you are following the order of information in the text, your class would begin with these important concepts. ","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Clear table of contents. Easy to navigate. ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical errors noticed. ","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Text discusses \"The Role of Ethics and National Culture\"  in each chapter, which is nice. More elements of diversity and intersectionality, however, could be considered in examples.  \"Managing\" diversity is a very traditional way to look at difference. ","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"Using sections of it for a professional business communication class. Many topics covered such as managing conflict and teams, are relevant to professional, business, and organizational communication classes. ","created_at":"2018-11-28T12:13:19.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-11-28T12:13:19.000-06:00"},{"id":2445,"first_name":"Yefim","last_name":"Khaydatov","position":"Lecturer","institution_name":"LAGCC","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Textbook covers the appropriate range of topics in the course.  ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Organizational Behavior - 2017 accurately ","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The content is up-to-date, consists of recent research and literature.  The textbook reflects the most recent information and arranged in a manner that makes necessary updates easy to implement.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The textbook is written in a clear, appropriate and accessible language.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is consistent in terminology and framework within and throughout the chapters.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The textbook has easily divided sections to quickly navigate through the various chapters and sections of the textbook.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The textbook follows the sequence of topics as expected in the industry when compared with other textbooks written on the same subject of organizational behavior.  ","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"No issues have been encountered and use of the online version is user friendly. ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical errors were noted.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text reflects appropriate and inclusive language.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"The textbook provides a wonderful resource in each chapter for discussion through the case scenarios, short vignettes, questions, group activities and a wide range of exercises.  A rich selection of video clips to complement the Ethical Dilemma exercises in the chapters would be a wonderful addition to see added in the next publication or version of the textbook.  Thank you.","created_at":"2018-12-05T13:16:48.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-12-12T09:20:00.000-06:00"},{"id":3633,"first_name":"Leslie","last_name":"Bleskachek","position":"Adjunct professor, Minnesota State College Southeast","institution_name":"Minnesota State University System","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The textbook includes some valuable topics that are often not discussed in other texts, namely the study of power and politics. The first chapter also includes an introduction of why this study is important, which is an interesting inclusion. At the start of each section, the learning objectives are listed. The toolbox and exercises are great additions that allow students to quickly apply new learning in their environment. This is a sort of embedded workbook that assists instructors in developing activities related to the text.  This work is more than a narrative or relevant facts; there are a lot of activities and case studies included to aid student understanding.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The work is accurate. There are in text citations as well as bibliographies to provide opportunities for further research.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Much of the research and information included is very recent and citations are included if readers wish to read the original work.  Section 1.5 on Trends and Changes could easily be updated as needed, allowing the work to remain up to date in future iterations.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The language is clear, has little jargon, and is easy to read and interpret. The key takeaways aid student understanding and ensure the main objective is understood for each section.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"There is consistency throughout the document with similar formatting in each section to aid navigation and understanding.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"With the learning objectives clearly outlined, it would be easy to break this work into smaller modules or recombine sections into lessons. Also, with exercises, case studies and other tools provided, this work could easily be utilized in various ways.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"It was an unusual choice to include the learning style inventory in this text and unclear why it was placed after the introduction to this specific material. It might be more appropriately placed in a preface.   While the information was organized clearly within sections and was well labeled, it is not clear why the authors decided to start with specifics first rather than an overview of organizational behavior first and then following with specifics. It might be more logical to begin with the content that is in sections 14 and 15.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The exercises, key takeaways, etc. are well organized and help focus learning. The use of graphics and visual representation of data was well deployed throughout to help break up long sections of text. The inclusion of case studies in each section was a great way to aid understanding and demonstrate the concepts on real world situations. The interface worked smoothly and consistently with no difficulties noted. The organization was easy to navigate for the end user.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"There were no grammatical errors identified","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The work uses appropriate language and displays cultural sensitivity. Although it is also addressed in other sections, there is a section that specifically addresses various concerns related to multiculturalism and the diverse nature of organizations today.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"This is a comprehensive work that includes engaging, current organizational situations to illustrate concepts. This is more than just a narrative or literature review of the subject. The textbook also includes numerous current case studies, exercises, ways to apply the learning and challenge thinking. Combined with the learning objectives outlined at the start of each section, this work provides a great deal of easy to understand content and is user friendly for both students and teachers alike.","created_at":"2020-03-07T20:40:31.000-06:00","updated_at":"2020-03-07T20:40:31.000-06:00"},{"id":3835,"first_name":"Ken","last_name":"Grunes","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Framingham State University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The layout of the textbook follows a logical progression which is both complete and the proper depth.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The authors have allowed multiple perspectives and theories are supported by empirical evidence.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The most relatable topics are covered proportional to students' interest levels.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"Most of the material could be enhanced by a terminology glossary at the beginning of each chapter.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Terms and concepts carry the same explanation and context from one chapter to the next.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"Chapters and subject matter are clearly delineated and can be appreciated as a stand alone module.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The text is presented in a logical progression from \"Individual\", \"Groups\", and finally \"Organizations\".","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"Information is presented in a straight forward manner with few distraction.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"the text appears to be free from grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Good sensitivity to multi-cultural class composition.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"The textbook appears to be complete.","created_at":"2020-05-27T08:57:16.000-05:00","updated_at":"2020-05-27T08:57:16.000-05:00"},{"id":4411,"first_name":"Tracey","last_name":"Sigler","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"The Citadel","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Covers all the traditional topics","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"High quality","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The book is a few years old but it is easy to supplement with new concepts and current examples.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"very clear","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"good","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"the online format makes it easy to read find and small sections of the chapters.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Well organized - make sense to the reaer","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"good","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"high quality","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"appropriate","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I have used this book for a couple of years for an MBA OB class. It provides good coverage of the basic concepts and some cases and activities that have been useful.  I supplement the class with my own links to videos and articles.  I am thinking of using this in my undergrad class as well.  The author is disguised but is well-known and respected in the field. Students appreciate being to use an open resource.","created_at":"2020-11-30T11:18:46.000-06:00","updated_at":"2020-11-30T11:18:46.000-06:00"},{"id":4569,"first_name":"Laura","last_name":"Boehme","position":"Chief Information/Human Resources Officer; Faculty","institution_name":"Central Oregon Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book is extremely comprehensive and covers a the broad variety of organizational behavior topics. Each chapter is clearly titled, provides an outline, key terms, and summary of learning outcomes. Additionally, it includes critical thinking cases and assessments to expand and practice learning concepts. One additional feature is a link to a collaborative group area to further engage in the topics.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The book content are accurate and rooted in current organizational practices. The topics are also relevant to existing issues in organizations such as cultural awareness, diversity, ethics, stress/well-being, and power and politics. No significant errors or bias were found in the contents. The book also includes numerous authors with a variety of expertise, further enhancing the accuracy and relevance of topics.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The book was written in 2019 and includes current and relevant topics facing organizations. Each chapter is comprised of concepts, strategies, questions, and practical applications, allowing the learner to gain an in-depth exposure to the organizational behavior content. The text is written in a way that will allow easy updates in the future and the content has staying power.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The textbook and chapters are clearly outlined with key terms, learning outcomes, and high levels of structure and consistency. The text is written in understandable terms, with appropriate introductions for the learner, relevant examples to demonstrate concepts, and opportunities to practice to further gain clarity.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The structure of the book is internally consistent for each chapter, giving the learner an opportunity to understand the layout and approach of the book and its chapters. This structure enhances the learner's ability to absorb and practice the materials, cases, and assessments.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"The text is very modular and could be assigned and/or used as structured or can be utilized out of order. Chapter 1 appears to be a foundational chapter so it would be best to start there as it gives a nice overview of organizational behavior. The lower rating on this aspect of the textbook is primarily because there are so many chapters (19 total), that it might be challenging to cover all of the content in a typical term or semester. So the instructor and student would need to prioritize the most important concepts.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The organization, structure, and flow of the textbook, the chapters, and the information within the chapters is highly structured. It is consistent for both the learner and the instructor, offering predictability and ease of planning. The table of contents is well-organized with clear chapter titles, sub-sections, and additional resources. The flow of topics makes sense, but also allows for modularity and flexibility.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The interface is user-friendly, easy to find information, and intuitive. Navigation is straight-forward and there are helpful guides and prompts to ensure the reader knows how to progress through the content. The images and data within the chapters is laid out and organized in a professional manner. This is a very mature-looking OER textbook.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No obvious grammatical or spelling errors were found in the text. It appears to have been well-edited and prepared for use. There are multiple author contributors which helps ensure content validity and accuracy.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The textbook appears to be culturally aware. There are multiple chapters on diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness. The pictures include people of color and also address diversity of approaches and perspectives in organizational behavior.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"This OER textbook book is ready to go for both the instructor and student. The topic is interesting and relevant. The content is well-organized. There are additional chapter resources to enhance learning and teaching. Overall I highly recommend this textbook. The instructor would have a relatively easy time developing a syllabus and course activities that are based on the identified learning outcomes.","created_at":"2021-01-12T18:52:25.000-06:00","updated_at":"2021-01-12T18:52:25.000-06:00"},{"id":4693,"first_name":"Jim","last_name":"Hickel","position":"Adjunct Instructor","institution_name":"American University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book covers all the relevant topics for organizational behavior.  No index or glossary, but the search function is effective for that purpose.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"No errors or biases were uncovered in my use of this book.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The book was current as of its 2017 publication date, which is about as high as most expectations would go for a free online textbook.  Instructors will have to provide class updates, particularly in the rapidly-changing field of diversity.  For example:  I didn't find any reference to \"inclusion\" in the diversity chapter (or anywhere else in the book, if the search function was accurate), which is an important concept and should be stressed by the instructor.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is very clear, and written to be understood at the undergraduate level.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"No inconsistences were uncovered in my use of the book.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Each chapter works effectively as a stand-alone discussion of the topic.  They can readily be realigned.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The book is generally well organized.  The organization could be enhanced if there were an up-front \"umbrella\" model for organizational behavior that tied together all the subjects covered in the textbook.  The Organization-Group-Individual model introduced in Chapter 1 doesn't easily relate to the concepts discussed in each chapter.  An instructor may find it useful to present a different OB model (for example, Inputs-Processes-Outputs) that to show how all the chapter topics fit together into one overall concept, so students can track where they are in the model.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The interface worked out very well for my class.  I was able to set up links to each chapter in the relevant sections of the learning management system (in this case, Blackboard).  Students appreciated the ability to have direct links to the relevant textbook readings for each class -- and also appreciated that it was available at no additional cost to them.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical or language errors were uncovered in my reading and use of the book.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Generally sensitive to cultural issues.  Instructors may want to point out to their class that the \"Masculinity-Femininity\" dimension of Hofstede's Cultural Framework (Section 2.3 of the book), which draws upon stereotypes that were used in Hofstede's time, has largely evolved into the \"Aggressive-Nurturing\" dimension.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"Very useful book, as good as any fundamental Organizational Behavior textbook I've ever read from any publisher.  However, because of its age and the rapid evolution of organizational behavior, instructors will have to be careful to provide in-class updates.","created_at":"2021-03-15T22:29:12.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-03-15T22:29:12.000-05:00"},{"id":4763,"first_name":"Amanda","last_name":"Hinojosa","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Howard University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book covers all of the topics one might expect from an Organizational Behavior course. Where it seems to differ from other Organizational Behavior books is the level of attention devoted to topics (some might for example focus less on negotiation, while this book has a chapter on it; other books might have a chapter devoted just to individual differences, while this one focuses on individual differences and perception within one chapter).","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The book contains accurate discussion of concepts, theories, and application.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The book has several case studies (usually one at the beginning and end of each chapter). These are great, but over time they may be a bit dated, for example if they reference a CEO of a company who is no longer the CEO of that company. However, users could create their own follow-up questions that account for what has happened since the case was written. Alternatively. if any future updates were made to this content, readers could benefit from a standard set of questions to add to the end of each case that would encourage the instructor and students to find out more to see if the implications of that case still apply based on the newer information on the company/CEO/manager described. For example, they use the case of Indra Nooyi as CEO of Pepsi and talk about her as though she is currently the CEO, but her tenure as CEO ended in 2018.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book is easy to read and all terms are appropriately explained and defined.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"There is not much of an underlying framework that requires terms to be used from one chapter to the next (e.g. there are not many cases where something is defined early on and then revisited later in the book). In other words, the chapter numbers don't imply sequence so there is enough consistency across chapters to allow for users to skip around the book and still have the relevant information within that chapter without having to consult other sections to understand.\r\nThere is consistency in the way each chapter is presented and the supplementary points in each. I describe more about this consistency in organization in the modularity and organization sections.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The content is very modular and can easily be referred to in larger or smaller parts. The chapters are each broken into sub-sections, which can be linked directly (e.g. https://open.lib.umn.edu/organizationalbehavior/chapter/3-2-the-interactionist-perspective-the-role-of-fit/) or the chapter as a whole could be linked https://open.lib.umn.edu/organizationalbehavior/part/chapter-3-understanding-people-at-work-individual-differences-and-perception/) Each page is dedicated to a sub-section, and the links are embedded to the sidebar table of contents which would allow users to further click through to the area that they are looking for if they know the number and/or title of the sub-section they are interested in.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The topics are presented clearly and in a logical fashion. The book does not require much sequential introduction of content, so users could easily find only chapters they want to teach in the order they wish to teach them and assign them in a way that differs from the numerical sequence in the book.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Images are displayed clearly. Content navigation is easy with the clickable sub-section links, but users might also be able to use the pdf version if they are unable to access the internet. Users of the pdf version would need information on section titles, as there are no page numbers in the web-based interface for the version. However, if they have the information for chapter and/or sub-section number and title, they would be able to sufficiently navigate the pdf to find the content needed.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I have not found any grammatical errors in my use of this book.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The book  designates a chapter to demographic diversity and cultural diversity and includes one sub-section at the end of each chapter that briefly describes cultural differences in relation to the content from that chapter. It could be more comprehensive in its discussion of cultural diversity, but I have not found evidence to suggest that it is insensitive or offensive in its coverage of topics.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I have used this book in my course for three years now, and overall I really like it. The links are really easy to integrate into my LMS (BlackBoard) to guide discussions and assign specific parts of the reading. There are some places where the book makes reference to \"your instructor has this information\" as though there are accompanying Instructor Resources but I am unaware of how to access those if they do exist. It tends to be on active learning possibilities (e.g. the negotiation chapter references roles that the instructor would distribute). It doesn't affect the use too much, it just means that I end up choosing a different activity that doesn't reference other resources which I don't have access to.","created_at":"2021-04-13T11:22:36.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-04-13T11:22:36.000-05:00"},{"id":4779,"first_name":"Brittni","last_name":"Heiden","position":"Senior Director of Graduate Programs","institution_name":"Trine University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text, Organizational Behavior provides a comprehensive overview of several topics, including: motivation, communication, managing groups and teams, conflict resolution, power and politics, making decisions, etc. Within each chapter, the author provides key takeaways and exercises that allow the students to apply their knowledge of the topic.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Each topic is presented in an accurate manner, supported by current practices, and relevant examples.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"For the most part, the content with the book  is supported by current practices and many relevant examples. However, some of the examples, particularly those within the case studies can be outdated. Being that the book was written in 2019, it is likely missing vital examples and case studies from 2020 and 2021.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book flows well and is written in a manner that is easily understood by undergraduate students.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Each chapter is set up in a similar fashion, making it easy for the reader to navigate the material. Along with this, each chapter has appropriate examples and exercises that correspond with the covered material.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"The book is extensive, but each chapter is easily navigated by students. It would be very doable for instructors to piece together important information, or prioritize chapters without disrupting the students. The textbook is very lengthy, as are many Organizational Behavior texts, so it may be difficult for each chapter to be covered during a semester. However, due to the fact that each chapter is easily and readily divisible into smaller sections, or subsections, instructors can prioritize the information they would like to cover.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The organization of the textbook is clear and logical. There are proper transitions so the students are aware regarding what they should expect next.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Navigation is very easy for students to use. There are very few, if any, distractions throughout the text.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical errors were found throughout the text.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Great examples are used throughout the text to highlight cultural diversity within the workplace.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"Overall, this is a great text for undergraduate Organizational Behavior courses. It is well written, offers many opportunities for students to apply their knowledge, and also covers a diverse range of topics.","created_at":"2021-04-16T11:23:32.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-04-16T11:23:32.000-05:00"},{"id":33490,"first_name":"Jalal","last_name":"Maqableh","position":"Instructor - Ph.D. Candidate","institution_name":"James Madison University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book is comprehensive in two ways: \r\n(1) The organizational behavior topics it covers. The most important topics that new employees (fresh graduates) would need to know are included in this book.\r\n(2) The learning methodology includes the topics' content, discussion questions, key takeaways, and exercises.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"This book is accurate and provides relevant content. In general, no key mistakes were identified.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The book is relatively new (2019). It talks about current practices in today's organizations. Some topics in organizational behavior are stable while others are changing very fast. Therefore, it will be important to look to the places where there will be a need for updates.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book is clear and helps the reader to move through sections smoothly.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The structure of the chapters is very consistent. This facilitates the learning process.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Although the size of the book is large and not logical to be used all in one semester. The design of the book separates the learning topics into small learning packages that can be selected based on the need.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The flow of the book makes it logical to build each chapter based on the previous one. This is good for educational purposes because it helps the instructor during the transition from one topic to another.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Easy to use and to move through different parts.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammar issues were found.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The book clearly highlights cultural diversity within the organizational context.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"This is a very well-written book for university students. It gives the opportunity for readers to comprehend organizational behavior in an interesting way.","created_at":"2021-11-29T20:33:59.000-06:00","updated_at":"2021-11-29T20:33:59.000-06:00"}],"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/organizational-behavior","updated_at":"2025-12-15T02:04:28.000-06:00"},{"id":34,"title":"Principles of Management","edition_statement":null,"volume":null,"copyright_year":2015,"isbn10":null,"isbn13":null,"license":"Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike","language":"eng","accessibility_statement":null,"accessibility_features":["unknown"],"description":"Principles of Management teaches management principles to tomorrow's business leaders by weaving three threads through every chapter: strategy, entrepreneurship and active leadership. Strategic — All business school teachings have some orientation toward performance and strategy and are concerned with making choices that lead to high performance. Principles of Management will frame performance using the notion of the triple bottom-line — the idea that economic performance allows individuals and organizations to perform positively in social and environmental ways as well. The triple bottom line is financial, social, and environmental performance. It is important for all students to understand the interdependence of these three facets of organizational performance. The Entrepreneurial Manager — While the \"General Management\" course at Harvard Business School was historically one of its most popular and impactful courses (pioneered in the 1960s by Joe Bower), recent Harvard MBAs did not see themselves as \"general managers.\" This course was relabeled \"The Entrepreneurial Manager\" in 2006, and has regained its title as one of the most popular courses. This reflects and underlying and growing trend that students, including the undergraduates this book targets, can see themselves as entrepreneurs and active change agents, but not just as managers. By starting fresh with an entrepreneurial/change management orientation, this text provides an exciting perspective on the art of management that students can relate to. At the same time, this perspective is as relevant to existing for-profit organizations (in the form intrapreneurship) as it is to not-for-profits and new entrepreneurial ventures. Active Leadership — Starting with the opening chapter, Principles of Management shows students how leaders and leadership are essential to personal and organizational effectiveness and effective organizational change. Students are increasingly active as leaders at an early age, and are sometimes painfully aware of the leadership failings they see in public and private organizations. It is the leader and leadership that combine the principles of management (the artist's palette, tools, and techniques) to create the art of management. This book's modular format easily maps to a POLC (Planning, Organizing, Leading, and Controlling) course organization, which was created by Henri Fayol (General and industrial management (1949). London: Pitman Publishing company), and suits the needs of both undergraduate and graduate course in Principles of Management. This textbook has been used in classes at: College of Alameda, Columbia Basin College, Flagler College, Johnson County Community College, Pasadena City College, Penn State University, Renton Technical College, San Diego Mesa College, Sierra College, Yuba College.","contributors":[],"subjects":[{"id":2,"name":"Business","parent_subject_id":null,"call_number":"HF5001","visible_textbooks_count":144,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/business"},{"id":21,"name":"Management","parent_subject_id":2,"call_number":"HD30.4","visible_textbooks_count":60,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/management"}],"publishers":[{"id":193,"url":"https://www.lib.umn.edu/publishing","year":null,"created_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:37.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:37.000-05:00","name":"University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing"}],"formats":[{"id":359,"type":"Online","url":"https://biz.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Management/Principles_of_Management","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":1716,"type":"PDF","url":"https://biz.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Management/Principles_of_Management","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":1717,"type":"eBook","url":"https://open.lib.umn.edu/principlesmanagement/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":2258,"type":"XML","url":"http://open.lib.umn.edu/principlesmanagement/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":2259,"type":"ODF","url":"http://open.lib.umn.edu/principlesmanagement/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null}],"rating":"4","textbook_reviews_count":18,"reviews":[{"id":482,"first_name":"David","last_name":"Bess","position":"Professor","institution_name":"University of Hawaii","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text covers the major topics taught in a typical introduction to management course quite thoroughly.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"It read well and seemed to be quite accurate in terms of the theories/concepts and their applications.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"It is up to date...other than maybe some cases.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"It is easy to read; has nice summary sections; flows well./","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"It is consistent.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"It is easy to read and has nice short sections with summaries.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The topics are presented in a logical fashion.  They are offered in the rough order found in many principles texts.  It is not the order in which I teach them...but it is logical and clear.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The interface is sound.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The grammar is sound.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I believe it is ;culturally relevant for most cultures.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I wish it had page numbers....it is a bit difficult to navigate.","created_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":488,"first_name":"Brian","last_name":"Richardson","position":"Adjunct Faculty","institution_name":"University of Hawaii at Manoa","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"In the introduction to Principles of Management, the authors state that there are three themes in the book: strategic thinking, entrepreneurial thinking, and active management. The entrepreneurial theme is not as prevalent as their introduction would suggest. There is some discussion of creativity, although references to writers and books beyond the single book by Edward De Bono would have enhanced the section.\n\tSections that stand out as useful include the discussions of fairness, groupthink, employee performance review, and predictors of job performance. Some sub-sections and minor topics should have been separate sections with more details, such as the discussion of meetings, of interviewing, and of HR rules and policies. Finally, sections that would have useful additions to the textbook include how to write a good survey, how to deal with very difficult employees, and how to improve morale, which was referenced superficially but not focused on.\n\tThe selection of management writers and level of detail provided for their positions is uneven. Maslow's hierarchy of needs is given three pages while Collins' discussion of changing good companies into great ones has two passing references and a short summary of the idea of a BAHG (big, hairy, audacious goal).  Some thinkers were left out or not considered. Senge is not mentioned, even in the short section on \"Learning Organizations\". Likewise, academic writers and many historical thinkers, such as Max Weber, are not mentioned at all.\n\tAlso lacking was a sense of how these different thinkers or ideas might disagree with each other or people outside of the management field. Instead, the text offers a series of disconnected concepts and models, which likely improved the modularity of the overall book, but at the cost of limiting the interactions between the topics and positions. As a result, there was little logical or conceptual analysis and the book relied on exposition.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Much of the textbook is made up of summaries of different concepts and models connected to management, with an emphasis on contemporary writers and psychosocial theories. There were no obvious inaccuracies in the summaries of the concepts and thinkers, although some sections could be criticized as limited, vague, superficial, or uncritical.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"A textbook on management principles will become less relevant over time as updated information becomes available and new thinkers offer different concepts and models. One reference that stood out was the quote that \"According to one source, there will be 11.5 million more jobs than workers in the United States by 2010.\"  Given that this is a book last updated in 2015, the data should have been updated as well, especially given how wrong it turned out to be. Interestingly, this source is a Wired magazine article from 2007, published just before the economic crash.\n\tThe examples and illustrations may become dated fairly quickly. References to specific CEOs and other leaders, for instance, will become less relevant over time. In this edition, there is a reference to and picture of Condoleeza Rice but no mention of Obama, for instance. Obama only occurs as a marginal participant in a group shot of world leaders","clarity_rating":3,"clarity_review":"The clarity of the discussion is generally good, although there is some room for improvement. The photographs, for instance, do not support the text very well. A glossary would have been useful for clarifying all of terms used while an index would have helped readers access specific sections more effectively.\n\tThe choice of examples is sometimes not clear. For instance, the examples used to illustrate organizations dealing with uncertain conditions, and thus needing flexible strategies were \"a gang of car thieves or a construction company located in the Gaza Strip\" (page 182). Both of these examples are strange and much better examples taken from businesses could have been provided and then discussed in some detail. Likewise, the example that they give of resistance to change was that people have been unwilling to adopt Dvorak keyboard and have stuck with the QWERT keyboard, despite the obvious efficiency of the Dvorak system (page 281). This is a great example of resistance to change, but one wonders why the authors could not find an example from business, such as how the railroads ignored the rise of the airplane.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"While the book is generally consistent overall, it book sometimes strays from a discussion of the \"principles\" of management and does not adopt a consistent idea of what kinds of businesses are being talked about. The book would have been clearer if the authors had started with a classification of types of business that they are talking about (manufacturing, marketing, services, non-profits, perhaps) and be clear about what they were not covering (like government bureaucracies). For instance, I was thinking of using this textbook to support a course in Library management, and while some of it was useful, much of it would have been irrelevant or confusing. Had the book been clearer on how the different topics connected to different types of organizations, it would have been clearer which topics were relevant to specific readers or situations","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"The textbook is very modular, although there are times when this modularity breaks down. For instance, the discussion of data in the early part of the book was useful, but it would have been more appropriately connected to the discussion of budgeting, which occurs much later in the section on control. Another example is the discussion of globalization and intercultural issues, which occurs sporadically throughout the book and is never really brought into focus.","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"The overall structure of the textbook follows Fayol's POLC model of management (Planning, Organizing, Leading, and Controlling) with the overall narrative following the different stages in the process.\n\tEach section includes learning objectives, key takeaways, and discussion questions. These parts are very good at focusing the conversation in the larger sections. However, these additional parts are sometimes longer than the main text for that section and seem unnecessarily repetitive.\n\tThe shift between institutional management and personal management is a bit strained at times, making it unclear whether the focus of the book is management or the personal growth of the manager.\n\tEach section included a list of references. In one section, there is simply a reference to the Columbia Encyclopedia, which was not helpful. Typically, however, there are a lot of references in each section. In fact, there are too many references that have minimal value. With some exceptions, the references are to short articles that could easily be retrieved by a Google search. Given that this is an introductory textbook, it would have been better to have an annotated \"Further Reading\" section that could lead readers to important writings and videos that expend on the different modules.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"The layout of the textbook follows standard page layout formatting. There are some things that could be improved. First, some of the text, such as some paragraph headers and keywords, are blue, which suggests that it is hyperlinked (as are the captions for pictures), but this is not the case. The full URLs in the text, also blue, are the only hyperlinks in the textbook. Another feature that could be improved is the way that the text, at least in the PDF version, has line breaks at the end of each line, which means that copying text leads to broken paragraphs that require additional editing if they are copied to another document or web page.\n\tThe greatest issue with the interface, however, is the amount of white space that is included in the text. Given how short the different sections are and the way that the layout is organized, there is likely 100 pages worth of unnecessary white space in the text, which turns a 500-odd page book into over 600 pages.  Added to this that the pictures and list of references are not that relevant, and the book appears to be laid out very inefficiently.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"Beyond a few minor typos, the book was clearly written. The prose was a straightforward expository style, although at times it could have been more concise. The writers would often begin their paragraphs with rhetorical questions and then answer them right away, which did not help clarify the prose and typically made the writing more verbose.\n\tOn page 279, the caption and the picture do not match.","cultural_rating":3,"cultural_review":"The book is focused on ideas and problems connected to American private-sector management. As a result, it is largely uncritical of large-scale organizations. Non-profits are discussed on a single page in the context of internal controls. Bureaucracy, as a term with negative connotations, is only mentioned in passing as an example of mechanistic structures, which are seen as an exception. Discrimination, likewise, is mentioned in passing three times, once in terms of how issues of discrimination have become a broader concern for \"diversity management\". Finally, unions are mentioned a few times in a long list of stakeholders (pages 150 and 151), even though the sample table for tracking stakeholders (page 148) does not mention them. Unions are seen as a punishment for businesses that appear to be unjust (page 529). At-will employment, on the other hand, is discussed in a focused paragraph in a way that does not consider the debate between union and at-will employment. For a textbook on industrial-focused management, the relative silence to the contrast between union and at-will employment conditions is unfortunate.\n\tWhen the book discusses global trends, it tends to be simplistic, taking trends such as \"becoming more connected\" as more important than such things as economic inequality, resource depletion, surveillance, war and terrorism, or social instability. In that sense, the book would not be very useful to people outside of the United States or to those who were actively engaged in intercultural management. At best, the book points to some of the problems that could be faced.","overall_rating":7,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":608,"first_name":"Kim","last_name":"bishop","position":"Adjunct Faculty","institution_name":"Portland Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Yes, the subjects match up with what our school has for Course content and outcome Guides, for this course. It covers all subjects adequately.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I did not find any errors and I did not see it as biased in any way. I guess it would depend on what you call accuracy and unbiased. For my needs, from what I have been taught and from what I have learned in the working world, I found it adequate.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The only things that would need updating would be case studies that could be more current since it was written in 2010. Having more current up to date case studies would be more interesting to the students and more engaging since it would be current or within the last couple of years at least.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"very easy to read and understand. There were a couple of acronyms that were new to me, but the way they were laid out in the objectives and then addressed were helpful.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"I love the way it is laid out. each chapter was easy to navigate and set up. It is the same for each objective and chapter giving you lots of options for discussion and for assigning work.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"It is organized excellently. as mentioned before I like how it is laid out with learning objectives, content, key take away and exercises for each section. I like the What's in it for Me, at the beginning of the chapter so it shows students what they will get out of the chapter and then it ties in with each section. I really like how this book is laid out.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Yes, very logical and easy to read as mentioned before. Student gets to see what they will learn and how they can apply it, then each section is broken down to address the learning objectives.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"There was not a lot of graphics or pictures, but the links do work that are embedded for external work.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I could not find any glaring grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I did not find any examples of cultural insentitivity","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I really like this book and I am going to use for my course in the fall as a resource. I really like how it is laid out and the case studies the exercises, discussion points as well as the external resources like finding out what your learning style is. I like that it does not have a bunch of fluff and pictures and graphics as I will use this as a resource. It is intuitive and as current as it can be. Management concepts do not change much over time, but how they are implemented and communicated do and I feel this addresses that need for change. it was an easy read and did not feel like you were reading a textbook but interesting information about management. There are enough outside links to other information that you do not really need the textbook and the online content they have extra that you have to pay for. I would recommend the book, with some updates periodically to the case studies.","created_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":1167,"first_name":"Paul","last_name":"Jacques","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Rhode Island College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Each of the concepts that are typically covered in a Principles of Management course are included in this manuscript. The table of contents, chapter index, are helpful. Glossary of key terms is embedded within each chapter and could perhaps be broken out in a separate chapter section (end of chapter?) to aid comprehension. There was no index included in this reviewer’s copy of the text.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The concepts included are presented accurately.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"To be sure, each of the topics covered in this text are within the scope of the body of knowledge that an Introduction to Management student would be expected to master. The references are quite dated, however, with the bulk of the most recent references being from 2008. That said, and perhaps in the interest of providing the most updated references possible, citations from seminal work (example: NEO-PI, Costa and McCrae, 1985) are largely ignored in lieu of more recent, but relatively lightweight, work s. While major concepts are explained, the impact of these concepts on the world of work/management are given much less emphasis. To the reader, this approach can be perceived as being presented with a stream of facts, one after the other, with little attempt at anchoring the concepts to applications.","clarity_rating":3,"clarity_review":"What’s here is good with my main concern being that there’s large sections of pure, unbroken text. I would think that the “Key takeaway” segments could be more numerous throughout the chapter.  The Moreover, these takeaways would seem to benefit from several “key implications for managers” summaries throughout the chapter. As it stands now, it appears to be left to the student to pull out the relevance of the various concepts explained.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"It seems apparent that there was a great deal of work involved in the preparation of the book manuscript. Each chapter’s flow and appearance are similar to that in each of the other chapters.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Each chapter appears to be designed to stand alone.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The “What’s in it for me?” chapter introductions are a useful and clever way of avoiding the more sterile term “chapter learning objectives.” The significant challenge to the student, however, is to internalize the chapter readings so that he/she sees the applicability.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"Not sure if it’s a browser/printer issue, but some of the images were inordinately small (ex: figure 2.11, p. 63). Moreover, several of the figures are orphaned in the text – no reference/support afforded by surrounding paragraphs.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"This reviewer observed no instances of grammatical errors which, in a work of this size (over 600 pages) is compelling evidence of polished, thoughtful preparation.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"There were no examples of cultural insensitivity. To the contrary, the authors added to the reader’s understanding of the topic by presentation of findings related to the GLOBE study. Perhaps a more comprehensive treatment of the topic would have resulted had the authors presented the idea of diversity from a “levels of analysis” perspective – individual, dyad, group/collective. This approach would seem to result in a more efficient presentation of the topic and one that is applicable to all levels of management.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"Overall, it seems that a strength of this text is that it encompasses a full gamut of topics that are typically included in a Principles of Management course at the undergraduate level. This reviewer found the content to be quite strong, but the interface between content and learner to be the main opportunity that exists with this title. Specifically, cases are interspersed throughout the text/chapters, but there are no questions related to any of the cases and so the cases come across more as stories than they do point of convergence/learning. In addition, the segments that are labelled “Exercises” at the end of each chapter’s segments would be more aptly referred to as simply “chapter segment questions.” The reality that there is no real deep thought required to answer the questions nor are they reflective of any experiential/active learning. The word that this reviewer keeps coming back to is “Application.” The text boasts truly excellent content, but the application portion is largely missing.","created_at":"2017-04-11T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2017-04-11T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":1385,"first_name":"Holly Jean","last_name":"Greene","position":"Lecturer","institution_name":"University of Tennessee, Knoxville","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The textbook covers subject matter found in most management texts such as the four foundations of management - planning, organizing, leading and controlling ( P-O-L-C).  In fact, each chapter links back to P-O-L-C very well.  \n\nThe textbook covers organizational structure \u0026amp; culture, planning \u0026amp; goal setting, strategy \u0026amp; decision making, teams, leadership \u0026amp; motivation too. A few additional topics covered are social media and communication.  One of the text\nstrengths is in it's brevity: It covers a swath of terrain succinctly and would work well in course where an instructor wants to add additional learning tools such as videos and case studies.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I didn't find any areas of obvious inaccuracy or bias.  In fact, I find the text is written without the opinion of the authors.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Each chapter includes a \"case in point\" story that's current or at least covers an event that's occurred within the last ten years.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"I like the style in which the text is written - simple, easy to read prose.  There are instances where I felt as if the text was written for an 8th grader, yet, if an instructor's goal is to use a text that simply introduces students to the foundations of management and they plan on adding additional learning tools, this is a great text to use.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"I didn't see any obvious areas of inconsistency.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Using this text modularity and assigning just the sections students need is one of the text strengths.  Each chapter stands on its own.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Organization of the text is clear and logical.  In some instances, the text is not in the order I would assign but structuring the subject matter to an instructor's discretion is one of the advantages of using this text.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"A few of the images seem small and I believe more images could have been used.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I didn't find any glaring grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Another one of the text strengths is its focus on helping students understand their own behavior.  Each chapter contains an activity for students to complete that allows them the opportunity to learn more about their own behavior and biases.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"This text in combination with additional learning materials - videos, case studies, self-assessment assignment - is a solid choice to use.","created_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":1451,"first_name":"Irene","last_name":"Seto","position":"Faculty","institution_name":"Portland Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"I was involved with modifying an existing course to utilizes Open Education Resources in our introduction to Management Supervisory course. This text book is one that we selected a few chapters from for our course. I found this book covers all the major fundamental concepts required in a typical introduction Management course.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I did not encounter any biased or inaccurate information in the textbook.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The principles of Business be the same, but the business world and our technology is constantly changing. I would imagine minor updates of examples and case studies would be needed every 2-3 years.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"I found the chapters easy to read and follow. Key terminologies were highlighted and explained well.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"Each chapter's layout is consistent and created an easy to follow framework.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The chapters are well organized, similar to many introductory Management textbook. The learning objective and summary for each chapter is good.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The flow of the chapters are fine. But we did not use all of the chapters for our course. Personally, I would put Globalization and Valued Based Leadership (Chapter 3) toward the end.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The  embedded links that I came across to and tested were fine. There were not many graphics.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not found grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Nothing really stood out that seem to be culturally insensitive.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"Page numbers would be helpful!","created_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":1456,"first_name":"Mindy","last_name":"Bean","position":"Faculty","institution_name":"Linn-Benton Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The Principles of Management heavily relies of the POLC method of Planning, Organizing, Leading, and Controlling. The text was unique in covering the basics of each area within each context while tying it in with many factors that managers deal with. It had many concepts of most Principles of Management resources for assisting students in learning.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The books content was very accurate to the date that the sources were presented. A lot of resources were during the recession or before the recession. I feel like an OER that was adapted from 2010 should have included a few more updated examples.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"The books concepts will keep for a while, when it comes to management theories there are always more being presented (fades) and there are those that keep the core concepts. I believe this book covers on the hard fundamentals of management while expressing the common trends of management in certain business industries. With technological advances and competitive nature of business, this book's relevance and longevity is based more on the subject matter.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The writing is adequate for the topics being presented. The many examples of firm situations and how they applied the concepts were well placed and had a good consistency until the end of the text. The jargon was appropriate for the subject matter.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The book carried consistent terminology and framework. The rhythm in which the reader gets used to is consistent except for two chapters toward the end in which it extended on my laptop to being about 25 pages. The way in which terms are presented are not in bold but mainly italic or overly emphasized. I believe it to be an easier read then most materials I have came across.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The book was easy and readily divisible into smaller reading sections besides the two chapters I previously mentioned towards the end. I personally would use the OER in that way due to its design to prevent good amounts of information without disruption.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The organization of the text was presented well. It was different from other materials that focus on the POLC and cover each section individually in order. I was impressed by the clear fashion that information was laid out by relating each topic outside of POLC that managers have to deal with and correlating to how it works with POLC when necessary.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The interface worked well. I pulled the book up on three different forms and systems. It was consistent, the visual aids/charts were presented well and I was able to see them all clearly. The only thing I personally didn't like was downloaded on iBooks you had to swipe versus clicking to turn the page.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not see any grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The cultural relevance was accurate. I did not see any insensitive or offensive material.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I did have problems trying to get this on my Kindle.","created_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":1873,"first_name":"Debby","last_name":"Thomas","position":"Assistant Professor of Management","institution_name":"George Fox University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text covers the basics that other Principles of Management texts do. ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I have found this textbook to be clear and accurate. The case studies are a bit dated, but relevant. ","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The content of this book is organized around management concepts and principles that will not quickly go out of date. The case studies are concise, practical and relevant and should be fairly easy for the publishers to update occasionally. ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"This book is written in a way that the concepts are covered thoroughly without being verbose or difficult to understand. The concepts are presented in a way that is easy to comprehend and encourages application. ","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The terminology and framework of the text are consistent. One minor improvement would be to have a comprehensive table of contents at the beginning of the book (presently there is a table of contents of each chapter at the beginning of the chapter). This would help students follow the overall flow of the text more easily. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"This text provides numbered sections for each chapter. I find this helpful and I don't always assign the whole chapter as reading for one class. I can be precise about exactly which parts of which chapters I want the students to read. The text has pictures and charts or graphs to break up the text, and the sections are generally short enough to hold a student's attention. ","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The topics are presented in a logical fashion. As with most Principles of Management textbooks its impossible to get through all of the content in one semester, but the set up works well to emphasize certain chapters more than others. ","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The book comes in multiple formats for the convenience of the reader. The PDF is usable only with the use of the built in table of contents (no clickable links to chapters in the PDF). ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text does not contain grammatical errors. ","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The pictures in the text include people of a variety of ethnicities. I have not found anything in the book that is insensitive or offensive in any way. It also introduces the concepts of unconscious bias early in the text. ","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":1937,"first_name":"K Doreen ","last_name":"MacAulay","position":"Instructor II","institution_name":"University of South Florida ","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The material covers all the basic requirements for a principles of management course. The concepts and applications are on par with what is being taught. I feel the examples are a little dated, but that is something that could easily be augmented through classroom. \n","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content of this book is very accurate and I did not find any errors in the delivery of the information. \n","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"The concepts are up to date with what is important and covered in a principles of management course. The examples, although relevant to the material, could be a little more up to date. As note, however, this is something that could easily be addressed through classwork. ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The concepts, theories and general knowledge delivered in this book as exactly what one would expect to find in a good Principles of Management book. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"There are no consistency issues that I found throughout the reading of this book. ","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"The segments within each of the chapters of the book made for an easy and logical flow to the material. Each segment lends itself easily to the learning process for the reader. ","organization_rating":2,"organization_review":"The actually order of the book chapters, however, did not seem to fit a traditional model. I would not teach the chapters in the order that they are provided, however, I would use all the material provided. Example: I would have motivating after leading; the structure chapter near the end and make chapter 13 - chapter 14 and chapter 14 be chapter 13. \n\nTo me a logical concept flow goes from a general introduction, strategy and the go micro level to macro level. This book's order of chapters does not seem to have a clear path. ","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"Some of the pictures seemed out of place because they were small. As well, there was not a uniformed look to the pictures which took away a little from the appearance, but overall the material was easy to read and that is the main point. ","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"Easy to read and understand. ","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Clearly based in a American capitalist approach to knowledge, this book is on par with most American textbooks in this area. ","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"I look forward to incorporating this textbook into my class. I believe for a survey course like this, this work is the ideal foundation to help the students learn. ","created_at":"2018-03-27T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-03-27T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":2205,"first_name":"Valerie","last_name":"Wallingford","position":"Professor","institution_name":"Bemidji State University","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"There should be a chapter devoted to the 4 functions of management (planning, leading, organizing \u0026amp; controlling) versus just one chapter covering all four primary functions of management so that is why I have ranked it a 3.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Text is accurate, case studies are outdated.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Textbook is up-to-date except cases.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book's clarity is good as provides adequate context for terminology utilized. Easy to understand and comprehend.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Yes, the text is consistent throughout.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Yes, the text is easily readable and chapters are easily divisible into smaller reading sections which makes it nice if the professor doesn't want to cover the entire chapter just sections. There are pictures, charts, etc. that also break up the reading.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The organization/flow/structure are similar to many principles of management texts with possibly moving mission/vision chapter earlier but professor can assign chapters in the order they prefer.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The interface is good, as I had no issues with navigation, distortion, or display features.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical errors were found.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text was not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. It was inclusive of a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2018-06-19T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-06-19T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":2438,"first_name":"Jeanine","last_name":"Parolini","position":"Teaching Partner","institution_name":"Bethel University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Principles of Management provides a comprehensive overview of key management and leadership principles for my professional adult undergraduate students. In our program, it is vital that we offer students a progressive big picture overview of the areas they need to consider in leading and managing others, and Principles of Management is that resource for our students. It is easy to access the information in this resource. ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Our professional adult students need a resource that they are able to connect with and apply directly to their professional lives. Principles of Management addresses current topics that my students are dealing with in their workplaces, and it offers insights into the personal and professional management and leadership issues that pertain to most organizations today. ","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"My adult professional undergraduate students are able to engage with the content and apply it to their personal and professional lives. The cases and examples in this resources are also relevant to students' experiences and contexts. At the same time, please keep the book up to date with considering a future revision in 2 to 5 years so that the information, examples and cases remain current. ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The information is presented to my professional adult undergraduate students in a way that is engaging, practical, and accessible. The books connects well with business students and business issues. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"When I engage the students in using the terminology and frameworks from Principles of Management in their papers and presentations, I am finding that students are digesting and utilizing the information properly and insightfully. They are applying it to their personal and professional lives. As I interact with students in both face to face and online venues, my experience is that students are remembering and practically using the terms and frameworks in real life applications. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Presently, I am using most of the book in my professional adult undergraduate business management course. I am able to offer several chapters in Principles of Management each week as I integrate in other articles and videos to support the week's topics. Students have commented in their evaluations that the reading is accessible, practical, interconnected with the week's topic, and a fair amount of reading for the course. ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The chapters are well organized in Principles of Management and the topics in each chapter build upon each other throughout the chapter. The  progression of the information in each chapter flows well and supports the practical outcomes such as discussion forums, presentations or writing assignments in my course.  ","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"For the most part the text is free from navigation issues. The one area for development is to make sure it is clear when it is a chapter subheading and when it is a figure subheading. Perhaps using a different size font or bolding or italicizing the font for one of those titles may be helpful. I have been confused at times when a figure title falls on the previous page of the actual figure, yet the chapter subheading is at the top of the figure. I have also experienced students' questions on this as well when they are being asked to assess a certain figure in the reading material and want to be sure they have the correct figure. I'd appreciate clearing this up in the next version to avoid confusion. ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text appears to be free from mechanical issues and grammatical errors. I am proud of the way the text presents itself to our professional adult undergrad students. ","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Cultural inclusion is important to me so I am sensitive to inclusivity of races, ethnicities and backgrounds in my approach to resources and the classroom environment. Principles of Management provides support to cultural inclusion in it's discussion of globalization and global trends, values-based leadership, and to some level related to ethics and culture. At the same time, this is a key area to keep up to date on and to realize that the globe is in our workplaces everyday with our diversity. In future revisions, I suggest taking this area to another level in helping readers to manage an innovative and diverse workplace to a greater level by being aware of cultural bias and learning through differences. I supplement the books information with additional material related to bias, insecurity and personal/cultural maturity. ","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"Principles of Management is an engaging resource for my professional adult undergrad business students because it provides a general overview of key management and leadership topics with the opportunity for practical application through examples, cases, questions, and relevant frameworks that I can then incorporate into my weekly assignments. ","created_at":"2018-12-03T13:48:33.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-12-03T13:48:33.000-06:00"},{"id":2664,"first_name":"Linda","last_name":"Williamson","position":"Program Lead, Business Administration","institution_name":"Klamath Community College ","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"I have reviewed numerous books related to management over the past 15 years and this text includes several components that I often need to add to the textbooks I am using.  For example, there is wonderful language related to the \"balanced scorecard\" included in this text. I also like the depth of content related to innovation and strategic thinking that is referenced across several chapters.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I thoroughly read most chapters and carefully scanned the others; accuracy across words, figures, and exhibits appears to be strong. I did not detect any bias on the part of the authors, and in fact appreciated the wide array of business examples used to support their concepts.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The overall content in this textbook appears to be extremely relevant.  Current and appropriate businesses are profiled throughout and related discussion questions seem to focus on real-world issues related to management. Chapter 2 in this text focuses on the individual student and includes substantial self-assessment; this is exactly how I teach my current Management Fundamentals course as I believe effective managers need to be aware of how they communicate with others before they can implement management tools and strategies.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"This book does seem to be written in clear, concise prose, with good support and definition for new terms (and for jargon).  References are provided throughout the content (including the business cases) with additional explanation for new or \"involved\" topics.  I see consistency throughout the chapters in flow and tone, which is not always true when there are multiple authors.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"This textbook appear to be consistent in the use of terminology and also in the overall framework of the content.  For example, consistency in starting each chapter (\"What's in it for me?\"), the \"Key Takeaways\" at the end of each section, and the consistent reference to POLC (Planning, Organizing, Leading, Controlling) figure to consistently remind the reader how/where the new chapter content fits in to the overall role of management.  Very effective!","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"I love the \"chunks\"  and short chapter sections in this textbook!  Each chapter has clearly defined sections (which a student can navigate directly to by using the tabs on the left of the page as soon as a \"chapter\" is selected) and yet the conclusion of each section and chapter still ties everything in to place.  Very well designed.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The text is well organized in content, though I tend to like the \"POLC\" sections to be more clearly defined as \"sections\" of the textbook (again, the POLC figure at the start of each chapter does clear show which element the new content attaches to). There is logical flow to the content within the chapters and throughout the text overall.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I like the navigation of this textbook.  Like any electronic resource, it takes a bit of getting familiar with, but it appears to be very user-friendly. When I facilitate a class using an OER, I like to have the entire textbook available in the very first module of my course in addition to having each assigned chapter available for access directly within the module that includes that specific chapter.  I did not experiment to see if that would be an option with this resource.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"None that I could find!","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I found several examples that supported very respectful references to different cultures/people.  My favorite actually involves a story of Goodwill...rather than do the traditional focus on who Goodwill serves, the authors instead focus on how the company is innovative in their strategic planning.  In my opinion, that reference not only shows a different light on this company but also reminds the reader of the need for nonprofit organizations to be focused on innovation.  A win-win!","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I will likely select this textbook next year for my Management Fundamentals course.  The authors stress upfront the necessity of determining competitive advantage and continue that theme throughout the book, which is incredibly relevant for management.  The cases, discussion questions, and indepth content related to assessments (for personal growth and also for company performance such as the balanced scorecard) add a great array of materials to incorporate into this course.  I really like this textbook!","created_at":"2019-03-13T15:10:39.000-05:00","updated_at":"2019-03-13T15:10:39.000-05:00"},{"id":4340,"first_name":"Jose-Luis (Joe)","last_name":"Iglesias","position":"Assistant professor of Management","institution_name":"USC-Beaufort","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"I believe that the examples and cases are appropriate to demonstrate the applicability of management concepts. However, I wish that the authors could be able to update the examples and cases to a more recent world reality. Overall, the index and organization works for junior students in business or someone interested in learning more about management.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"I believe the content is appropriate for an introductory text in management.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The text provides the authors with the opportunity for updates.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The textbook uses an easy to understand verbatim and accessible concepts for non-business major students.","consistency_rating":3,"consistency_review":"Terminology and frameworks are acceptable for an introduction to management. However, I would advise the authors to provide detailed information on the theories that support managerial functions.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"I believe that modularity is an option. However, the instructor will need to add extra readings and complementary contents such as videos.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The sequence of managerial functions is well organized and explored in the text.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"No interface issues noticed.","grammatical_rating":1,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical mistakes noticed.","cultural_rating":1,"cultural_review":"I believe that the diversity of examples and in the pictures represents a good example of inclusion.","overall_rating":7,"overall_review":"I would consider the adoption of this textbook to an elective class in management, or management 101.","created_at":"2020-08-25T16:28:22.000-05:00","updated_at":"2020-08-25T16:28:22.000-05:00"},{"id":4533,"first_name":"B'Ann","last_name":"Dittmar","position":"Instructor","institution_name":"Clarke University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Like most Principles of Management textbooks, this book has a wide breadth of topics that are covered that are relevant to the subject area.  Consistent with a principles course, it does not go into great depth in most areas, as those deeper dives are saved for more advanced courses. I currently use McGraw Hill's \"Management:  Leading \u0026 Collaborating in a Competitive World\" 14th edition by authors, Thomas S. Bateman and Scott A. Snell, which is very comprehensive, and this text covers similar subject areas.  The OpenStax text appears more succinct in the length of the chapters but provides adequate coverage without a lot of fluff / filler.\r\nThe OpenStax text uses a couple of photo images per chapter, as well as several colorful graphics and illustrations, with adequate white space, to make it easy to read and to digest, as well as to maintain interest.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I did not see any inaccuracies within the OpenStax Principles of Management text.  The text appears to remain updated with relevant examples for discussion purposes and for students to relate to.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The content provided is relevant and the examples / references to today's world provided seemed to span from 2016-2018, from what I saw.  Example companies included Starbucks and Amazon, which are both relevant organizations that college students would know and have an interest in learning about. It is a contemporary text and does not feel dated. I would love to see some direct links within the text to the real-world topics that are being discussed, so students could click on them to get more information and an in-depth view, versus just a brief mention of a topic or issue. The student’s study guide contains some links like these, but it would be great to have some within the chapter, itself.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"This text is easy to read, clear, and to the point.  There are definitions provided for clarification, in the chapters, as well as in a list at the end of each chapter.  A recommendation would be to put the chapter title and subject area on both the first page of the chapter, as well as listing it as a running head on the main window with the chapter readings.  This information is currently listed along the left-hand side of the page in the table of contents, only and each chapter begins with an image and the learning outcomes on the page, but no mention of the chapter number or subject.  I think this addition would provide more clarity.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Each chapter has consistency in layout and design.  After each of the chapter concepts are covered, the chapter concludes with the following: \r\n•\tKey Terms\r\n•\tSummary of Learning Outcomes\r\n•\tChapter Review Questions\r\n•\tManagement Skills Application Exercises\r\n•\tManagerial Decision Exercises\r\n•\tCritical Thinking Case\r\nThese resources provide a good review, as well as offering opportunities for students to synthesize / apply what they have learned.  It also offers instructors the opportunity to use some of these tools for discussion.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"This textbook would allow you to set up your course in a variety of modalities, as you can decide how many and which chapters you would like to use, depending on how many weeks long your course will be.  It can certainly be used in a synchronous or asynchronous course, with online, hybrid, or in-person delivery.  The Instructor Pack also includes several resources to take your course online and offers “cartridges” to integrate into several learning management systems, including Blackboard, Moodle, D2L Course, and Canvas.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The text appears to be well organized, overall.  One chapter that could possibly be moved is the “History of Management” chapter, which is the third chapter.  My current textbook addresses the history of management as an appendix to Chapter 1, which seems to make sense to me.  The OpenStax text places it after Chapter 1, Managing and Performing, and after Chapter 2, Managerial Decision-Making. It may be appropriate to have Chapter 1 first, so students understand what management is, and then go into what happened in the history of management, as past events can be predictors for the future.  The placement of the history chapter is not a real concern, but it just made me pause and wonder why it was placed where it was.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The interface appeared clear and functioned well.  I tried it on both a laptop as well as on my iPhone. One thing I noticed as far as navigation is that when I wanted to jump to another chapter, I would click on the chapter link in the list on the left-hand tool bar, but it would not change the screen to take me there.  Rather, it would open a list of drop downs for options of topics to select within that chapter.  I think most people want to start at the beginning of a chapter and a click could be saved if they were taken to the beginning of the chapter when they click on the chapter title.  That click could still also open the chapter options, and if they wanted to go somewhere else, they could do that.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not see any grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I appreciated that this text offered diverse images and examples that included a variety of demographics and cultural aspects.  Further, you feel their commitment to diversity when you read their six-page Diversity and Representation Guidelines, which details their commitment to improving representation and diversity in OER materials.  This is something that I appreciate and look for when reviewing textbook materials for use in my courses.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"Overall, I believe this text is a great option for instructors and for students. I currently use the McGraw-Hill Connect access for online quizzes and exams, which include a built-in proctoring system to eliminate cheating in an online environment and would like an option for doing something similar with this open textbook.  I appreciate that there are a variety of options for accessing this textbook, from an app, to a download, to viewing online, or even ordering a printed copy- all provide plenty of options for students.  I also like that students can highlight within the chapters when viewing online.  \r\nWhen I am looking to adopt a text, I am very interested in the Instructor Resources.  This text offers guided lecture notes and PowerPoints as well as a test bank in Word format.  Unfortunately, I found the PowerPoints to be lacking.  I happen to teach Business Communications, which includes how to put together an effective PowerPoint, and typically \"less is more.\"  The PowerPoints that accompany this textbook have a plain white background with black text and no real template, so they don't look very interesting and they are inconsistent from slide to slide in their look.  They also contain WAY too much text, often including full paragraphs.  They should just have bullet points and save the \"extra content\" as lecture notes outside of the presentation slides. I did appreciate that some of the PowerPoint slides included embedded links to TED Talks and other example videos, including scenes from Apollo 13, as well as including discussion questions regarding those videos.\r\nIf OpenStax:  1.  Offered pre-made quiz and exam options vs. downloading a Word document with all the quiz questions and 2. They partnered with a low-cost proctoring service as an add-on solution, and 3. Updated the PowerPoint slide deck, I would be very interested in adopting this text.  It offers a lot of value for an open resource.","created_at":"2021-01-07T11:18:46.000-06:00","updated_at":"2021-01-07T11:18:46.000-06:00"},{"id":4739,"first_name":"JOE","last_name":"MESSER","position":"Professor of Entrepreneurship","institution_name":"Manchester University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"I have been a business owner for 30 years and taught business management for the last 12 years.  I found this text to cover all the important areas of management.  Plan, Organize, Lead, and Control, were introduced early on (page 19) and each covered in detail in their own sections in the text.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"This book is well suited for an entry level course in management.  Students do not need a business background before reading this text.  I appreciated the current examples that were used.  This will keep students engaged.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Management basics were covered very well.  Examples were recent and relevant.  The companies that were used as examples (SAS, Xerox, Toyota, Nucor, Google, etc. are companies that should be relevant businesses years from now.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text was easy to read and the vocabulary was appropriate for an introductory course.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The flow and layout of the book stayed the same throughout all 16 chapters.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"I found some of the sections within the chapters to be too verbose.  I will cut out some of the sections (modules) in order to have time to go more in detail in other areas.  For that reason the modularity is good.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The organization of the book made sense to me.","interface_rating":2,"interface_review":"I am still struggling trying to get access to any educational resources that go along with the book.  Slides, exams, etc.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not run into any grammatical issues.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text was culturally appropriate with no biases.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I intend to use this text assuming a can locate the teaching resources that go along with it.  I look forward to saving my students money by using this text.","created_at":"2021-04-02T15:18:34.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-04-02T15:18:34.000-05:00"},{"id":4816,"first_name":"John","last_name":"Strifler","position":"Associate Adjunct","institution_name":"University of Indianapolis","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text is appears to be an excellent text to introduce the P-O-L-C management principles, and promote the key elements of strategy, entrepreneurship, and leadership development in students.\r\n\r\nHighlights: Chapter 1 introduces the concepts thoroughly and sets the approach the rest of the book utilizes.  A concise history of management thought is found in chapter 3. The summary element at end of each section ( Key Takeaway) is excellent reference for learner. With the references at the end of each section, one can pull a section out for use in a teaching setting and retain the references.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The authors are clear in the beginning that they focus performance on the triple bottom line - financial, social, and environmental - and appear faithful in maintaining this approach throughout.  There are no obvious errors in examples used to illustrate principles.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Examples remain accurate and relevant in explaining the concepts, however, I would utilize additional, more recent examples - noting that the text is substantially the same as its 2010 original publication.  \r\n\r\nFor example, the section 3.4 addresses contemporary principles of management addressing social movements has the latest citation in 2007.  Social networks have seen a significant shift.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Level of writing is suited for early college or even college prep use.  A Key term summary at the end of each section or chapter would add to its usefulness.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The textbook follows a consistent formatting, allowing for scanning through thumbnails to find illustrations or desired summaries","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The way the chapters are sectioned and summarized, makes for ease of modular use.  Consistently starts each new section on new page, which allows for ease of sub-dividing the material.  Again, the practice of placing citations at the end of each section further adds to the modularity.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The text follows logical approach in the order of topics, similar to other management texts.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I viewed the text in its PDF format, and found it clean to view and all images were displayed properly.  Searching and navigation had no issues.  Having a full feature PDF viewer will simplify the process of accessing and using sections separately.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No obvious grammatical issues","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"A variety of images used with a diversity of individuals.  The examples used appear to be \"globally\" recognized.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"Will utilize sections of this text as supplemental material to provide students additional information.","created_at":"2021-04-22T12:53:13.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-04-22T12:53:13.000-05:00"},{"id":34089,"first_name":"Anjali","last_name":"Chaudhry","position":"Professor","institution_name":"Dominican University","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"This open text covers all pertinent areas related to principles of management. Any core business class on management focuses on the four functions of management- planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. This material does a good job going over key concepts as well as terminology relevant in this area. Some of the examples may be outdated but that is understandable considering that this book was published in 2015 and the fact that the world of business has been experiencing a number of transitions. I am not too happy with the leadership chapter. Then again, in my opinion, most textbooks do a poor job with this topic.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The content is error-free, unbiased, and for the most part accurate. I specially appreciate the links for research and other sources from which the text draws support.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Content is mostly up-to-date and therefore, I am not too concerned about the lack of editions that such a format does not offer. My recommendation is to use the book as a basic text and then use other sources such as news articles, cases, and simulations to incorporate the role of current workplace context into the study of management. What aspects of management are relevant in the modern workplace (e.g., traditional organizational designs) or how new developments such as the gig economy can be understood using the management lens can easily be taught with a few additional resources that bolster this open source book material. \r\nIf and when updates are needed, I am fairly certain that these can be done in a relatively easy and straightforward manner.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is written in a clear and easy to understand style. It introduces most of the key terms and accepted jargon from the field.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The text is internally consistent in terms of terminology and framework.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"The text has been divided in chapters and sub-sections each with its own hyperlink that makes it easy to move from one section to the next.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The logical organization and simple structure of the textbook is one of its strengths.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The text uses relevant graphs and images that I frequently use to review key points from a section. The illustrations are meaningful and well-placed.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not notice any glaring grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The text has been written to be relevant for students in the US. I am not sure whether the examples will be too applicable for those studying management in other countries. I did not find any instances where the text could be perceived as culturally insensitive or offensive to any demographics.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"I have adopted this book for my core management course, and I plan to continue to use it.","created_at":"2022-10-27T13:18:06.000-05:00","updated_at":"2022-10-27T13:18:06.000-05:00"},{"id":35035,"first_name":"Nicole","last_name":"Englitsch","position":"Lecturer","institution_name":"University of Texas Rio Grande Valley","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The material covers relevant topics that you would expect to see in a principles of management book. It is a good basic introduction to management principles. Even though it is organized well, the structure of the resource could be improved by adapting an easier to follow structure and refer back to the big picture of POLC. Given that it was published in 2015, some cases are outdated, and instructors definitely need to add current examples and exercises.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Text is accurate and no errors were detected. The business world has changed quite a bit from 2015, so some chapters may benefit from updating so it reflects a more accurate view.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Basics were covered well. Content could benefit from some updates but overall concepts are still relevant and will be for a long time.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The resource is written in a clear and concise manner. It is suited for early career college students. Some of the images/graphics could be updated to make it more visually pleasing. Some images are not extremely relevant to the text and could be omitted or replaced.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"It follows a consistent formatting. It is consistent when it comes to terminology and the framework it uses.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"It is easy to navigate and has a clear structure. it can easily be divided into sections and assigned accordingly.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Even though it is organized well, the structure of the resource could be improved by adapting an easier to follow structure and refer back to the big picture of POLC. The key points at the end of each chapter were helpful and so were the references for each section (sometimes too many references and not all of great quality but students may prefer the easier to understand and quick reads). As an instructor, I would have preferred more quality references.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"No navigation problems and no interface issues. Some of the images/graphics could be updated to make it more visually appealing. Some images are not extremely relevant to the text and could be omitted or replaced. Lots of empty/white space. It is not an extremely visually appealing resource. It is not possible to easily copy \u0026 paste text from (line breaks).","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No glaring grammatical errors were noticed.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"So much is happening in the DEIB space and the text would benefit from some updates. Overall it seems relevant for mostly students in the US. The text was culturally appropriate without any bias but also did not invite for much discussion around current DEIB issues around the country and world.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"This text can be a good resource and basis for a principles of management course, but instructors need to be mindful to combine it with more recent cases and discussions around current trends, best practices, and issues.","created_at":"2024-05-08T15:35:49.000-05:00","updated_at":"2024-05-08T15:35:49.000-05:00"}],"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/principles-of-management","updated_at":"2025-12-15T02:25:47.000-06:00"},{"id":36,"title":"Project Management from Simple to Complex","edition_statement":null,"volume":null,"copyright_year":2016,"isbn10":null,"isbn13":null,"license":"Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike","language":"eng","accessibility_statement":null,"accessibility_features":["unknown"],"description":"In a world that is becoming more virtual, more global, and more complex, the project manager's ability to function in this environment becomes critical to the success of the project. Project Management from Simple to Complex explores project management within this complex, virtual, and global environment. This is not a standard textbook that was adapted to the new publishing paradigm; it was designed from the beginning to utilize its capabilities. The book is written in collaboration by an expert in Project Management and an expert in writing instructional textbooks and using technology for communicating online to create a unique learning environment that prepares students to manage projects in a global, multicultural, and online environment. Project Management from Simple to Complex features a new model for managing projects, as well as, exploration into the personal dynamics of project management and the role those dynamics play in project outcomes.","contributors":[],"subjects":[{"id":2,"name":"Business","parent_subject_id":null,"call_number":"HF5001","visible_textbooks_count":144,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/business"},{"id":21,"name":"Management","parent_subject_id":2,"call_number":"HD30.4","visible_textbooks_count":60,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/management"}],"publishers":[{"id":334,"url":"http://open.lib.umn.edu/projectmanagement/","year":null,"created_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:39.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:39.000-05:00","name":"University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing"}],"formats":[{"id":536,"type":"Online","url":"https://biz.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Management/Project_Management_from_Simple_to_Complex","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":1725,"type":"eBook","url":"http://open.lib.umn.edu/projectmanagement/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":2278,"type":"PDF","url":"https://biz.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Management/Project_Management_from_Simple_to_Complex","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":2279,"type":"XML","url":"https://open.lib.umn.edu/projectmanagement/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":2280,"type":"ODF","url":"https://open.lib.umn.edu/projectmanagement/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null}],"rating":"4","textbook_reviews_count":7,"reviews":[{"id":118,"first_name":"Lizabeth","last_name":"Schlemer","position":"Professor","institution_name":"California Polytechnic State University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text covers a broad range of topics including some that seem peripherally related to Project management (like Quality and Statistics 10.1). It doesn't occur to me that including these extra topics are a drawback, as each section can be included or not. As in all course design, the scope of the course is the determinate of topics. These authors do introduce the concept of complexity and there is a good discussion of complexity in project management. They also introduce a method of rating a project's complexity as a guide for planning. This is a novel approach and is interesting in the context of project management. The discussion of complexity adds to the topic greatly. There is no Table of Contents and no Index, which makes the document a bit hard to navigate.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"In my opinion, accuracy isn't a concern in Project management. Because this topic is an art more than a science, the communication is most effective in the context of what tools work in different circumstances. This text uses examples extensively and this is very effective to illustrate the variety of forms. There is enough variety of topics to communicate the breadth of the subject","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Because project management is not a new topic, relevancy is not a hugely important characteristic. The only place where there may be concerns about topic's currency is in the discussions about software. Some of their examples use Word 2007 which is already out of date. I have been discussing Agile Project Management in my courses (Scrums, Sprints, Etc.), but this topic is not addressed in the text. I will have to supplement my course with this material if I use this textbook. I very much like their reference to Open Project as an open source software for Project management.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The writing is clear and concise. The extensive use of examples is very helpful to ground the topic. In addition each section has learning objective sand exercises. The book would benefit from more illustrations and graphics. As it is the layout is not aesthetically pleasing.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The book is written with a consistent style throughout. It is clear the authors reviewed and edited the text completely.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The chapters and sections can be used independently except for the fact that the concept of complexity is introduced early and referred to often. This section (2.3) should be include in any selection from the book or the reader may not understand some references.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The book begins with addressing complexity and specifically complexity in human systems and then moves onto the more traditional topics found in a project management text. This organization in clear due to the introduction, but a Table on Contents would help immensely. I do believe there could be more in the way of traditional Project management tools like those used in PMBOK (Project management Book of Knowledge) published by PMI.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"Because there is no Table on Contents, navigation in the text is difficult. In addition the minimum number of illustration and graphics makes the text hard to use. Much could be done in this area to improve the text.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I found no grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The text has basic information regarding cultural awareness and diversity, but it would benefit from a more robust discussion of both Social and environmental concerns in project management.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I will use this book in my Sophomore level project management class in Industrial Engineering. I may need to supplement the book with online content, but it will be a good reference for students and it covers topics of current importance.","created_at":"2014-07-15T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2014-07-15T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":455,"first_name":"Valarie","last_name":"Griep","position":"Senior Lecturer and PMP","institution_name":"University of Minnesota","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book starts in chapter one, paragraph one citing the Project Management Institute's Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) definition of a project.  It continues to include all process groups and knowledge areas. However, the authors have used the 4th edition of the PMBOK,--not the latest available.  So the Stakeholders knowledge area is not specifically included except within chapter 5 \"Working with People on Projects\".\nThe book has no TOC or index so sequentially scrolling through the PDF I downloaded, was cumbersome to say the least.\nThere is a lot of time spent on the author's tool to assess project complexity and it is referred to throughout the text.  Its a useful concept to frame the degree of rigor to apply to a project.\nThere were some topics that should've been left out.  Chapter 6 on communication technologies is significantly out of date, referring to Word 2003 and 2007.  References to technologies is a no-win since they change so fast.\nThe text as a whole seemed to value breadth of coverage over depth.  So there was mention of DISC, MBTI, EQ and others but the authors didn't pick one to really delve into. Same with brief mentions of quality tools even though there was a very long discussion of the history of quality management.","accuracy_rating":3,"accuracy_review":"I found no inaccuracies in terms of formulas or calculations but I did not do a comprehensive check. There were tables and graphs on the Earned Value (chapter 9) that were very difficult to read, even magnified, so they couldn't be checked.\nThe treatment of work breakdown structures was not so much about deliverables as about outlining activities to estimate.  I find this is a common problem in project management textbooks.\nThe chapter on risk did not address opportunities at all.\nVery good discussion of contract types in chapter 12.","relevance_rating":2,"relevance_review":"The text used an old version of the Project Management Body of Knowledge which limits its usefulness.  The essential project management concepts are still valid but the latest research and trends aren't evident here.  When it gets into .time management in chapter 8 it cites the PMI processes associated with time management but since its coming from an old version of the PMBOK, it is not correct any longer.  This is a serious reason that would prevent me from using this book.\nIt also cites very old technology tools extensively.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"Easy to read and understand with numerous examples and stories to highlight the points being made.  The stories engage the reader and drive home the concepts in a tangible and memorable way.  Often the examples are used multiple times to show how various aspect of an issue impacted the same project.  That was well done.\nThe terminology is defined when used and typically relates back to the PMBOK.  The style of writing is very simple and accessible to high school or college students in general studies.\nThe examples were predominately about construction projects or small example of an individual moving to a new home.  This could be off-putting to students who know little about construction of chemical and steel plants, or mines.  I believe the exercises are somewhat simplistic for a college course.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The terminology is defined when used and typically relates back to the PMBOK. So by the definition of being \"internally consistent in terms of terminology and framework\", the textbook was good on terminology but the framework was difficult to determine without some study.  The PMBOK knowledge areas were all present in chapters 4-12 but without titles/introductions and a clear and consistent mapping to the PMBOK, it wasn't always apparent.  That detracts from reinforcing the linkage with the student reader.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The chapters and sections were of reasonable size.  A concept or premise was usually introduced, then broken down into its component parts to be discussed.  These lowest level sections had descriptive headings as you'd expect but seemed to be fairly short.  This relates back to my comment that the authors favored breadth of topic coverage over depth.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"There was a definite top-down approach to the topics which I tend to appreciate.  The first chapter is a great overview of project management, people and challenges.  The logic of the remaining chapter order was not obvious to me.  It was made less obvious by the lack of a table of contents.  The chapter order is:\n1-Introduction to project management\n2-NO TITLE but about the project profiling tool\n3- Project phases and organization\n4-Understanding and meeting client expectations\n5-Working with people\n6-Communication technologies\n7-Starting a project\n8-Project time management\n9-Estimating and managing cost\n10-NO TITLE but about quality\n11-Managing risk\n12-Project procurement and closure","interface_rating":2,"interface_review":"I reviewed the PDF of the text and noticed occasional formatting oddities such as a line break in the middle of a line on the page and mid-sentence.  I was surprised that there were chapters without headings, titles or introductions, and that simply started in the middle of a page in a couple cases (see chapter 2 as an example).  I didn't like that section or figure headings would be positioned at the very bottom of a page with the remainder of the section at the top of the next page. There were occasional gaps of white space around figures.  It seemed that formatting was not adjusted in any way.  This was distracting to me.\nThe resolution of the diagrams, tables and figures was quite low so even if I magnified them, many were unreadable or very difficult to read at best.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I saw no grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":2,"cultural_review":"Several mentions of different cultures and how they impacted the project metrics, team interactions and outcomes.  This was well integrated into the material throughout, as well as specific in the communications sections.  I saw no stereotypes of other cultures and their habits/methods.  Examples from Argentina and India stand out in my mind as frequent mentions.","overall_rating":7,"overall_review":"I wanted to like this book and there were many things about it to appreciate: the focus on the PMI framework; the great overview in chapter 1; the simple, readable writing; the focus on dealing with projects differently depending on their complexity; the cultural awareness; and others.  It didn't go into much depth but the breadth was good for an introductory project management class at the college level, which I regularly teach.  I could supplement from my own materials and library resources where I wanted to emphasize select topics.  \nThe biggest drawbacks for me were:\n1. not being updated to the latest version of the PMBOK\n2. the poor formatting of the text with missing chapter titles and introductions, and poor quality graphics\n3. the lack of robust exercises\n4. the out of date technology reference and examples","created_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":470,"first_name":"Kimberlee","last_name":"Snyder","position":"Professor","institution_name":"Winona State University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The textbook covers the basis of project management but there are some surprising chapters and sections that other textbooks on project management does not cover; training for example.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The textbook is good on accuracy.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"The textbook covers relevance issues on project management but includes screen shots of software that is outdated in that respect, mainly MS Word screen shots.  It is also a bit weak on mention of software and Applications out on the market.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The clarity of the topics covered is easy to read and not confusing.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"Textbook is very consistency on topics to be covered compared to other textbooks.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"This textbook has learning objectives at the start of each chapter and Key Takeaway sections at the end of the chapters that I find very easy for students to understand what is important and to remember.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The textbook follows flow like other project management text books I have used in the past: starting with what is project management to ending with Earned Value analysis.  As mentioned before, each chapter has learning objectives listed and end of the chapters have Key take away sections before Discussion and Exercises section.  It has plenty of examples of usage of project management skills and covers various industry type of projects.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"Images and charts are ok except I find the image of network diagram examples could be confusing for students who have not had a lecture on network diagrams, forward and backward passes and calculations.  There is a good example with good images of building a Workdown Breakdown Structure, though.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not see any grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"It is not insensitive or offensive in any way.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"It is weak on Earned value analysis since it does not show where you get the numbers to calculate BSWS, PV, etc. Example shows numbers for those already given.  Also screen shots of software are outdated.  Most of the end of chapter exercises and discussion are more writing (qualitative) versus having more problems for assignments.","created_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":1202,"first_name":"Carol","last_name":"Lamb","position":"Assoicate Professor","institution_name":"Youngstown State University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Text was very comprehensive, it covered all topics that are entailed in project management. While being broad in covering the topics, the text was not an in depth discussion of specific topics.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The text was accurate and unbiased. However there are some aspects that need updating such as, computer equipment and discussion of various uses of technology.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"The information is relevant and is up to date with industry and practice. Again some sections/areas need some updating to meet with current technology.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is written with clarity for a beginning project management student to be able to read and understand.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The terms used throughout the text were consistent.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text is broken down into easy, small section to read. While I do not prefer to read in such small sections I understand that it would be easy for students to read in small snip-its of time.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Overall the flow of the information is good. There is one area, project phases, that is not discussed until the last chapter of the text. I found this odd that this would not be introduced at the beginning.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I found no interface issues with the text","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I found not grammatical errors in the text","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text included discussion of international projects and concerns and issues that need to be considered with projects in different countries/cultures.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":1568,"first_name":"James","last_name":"Hickel","position":"Adjunct Professor","institution_name":"American University, Kogod School of Business","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"I used this online book when I taught an undergraduate course in Consulting and Project Management.  The book effectively deals with all phases of project management.  There was virtually no overall subject area that wasn't touched in some way.  Although it does deal with client relationship management and team management, the bulk of the book deals with the more technical areas such as cost, schedule, cost and risk management.  Frankly, I've seen as many projects fail because of poor people management as I have because of poor schedule or time management, so I would have liked to have seen a little more on how to build effective client relationships and how to handle team issues.  But there's enough on those subjects that, combined with the professor's and students' own experience, should stimulate robust student discussion of these areas.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The content is generally accurate and error-free, but may be a little biased in the direction of some tools that I've never seen or heard of before.  For example, I've never heard of the \"Darnall-Preston Complexity Index\" discussed in Section 2.3, and in reading about it I wasn't clear on the value, or where I would ever apply it in my independent consulting career, so this was one of the sections that I skipped in teaching the course. But the overall accuracy was fine. ","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The book is reasonably up-to-date and relevant.  Section 1.5, Introduction to the Project Management Knowledge Areas, aligns generally (if not specifically) to the Project Management Institute's (PMI's) Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK).  Project management isn't really a rapidly-moving, speed-of-light field, and the basic principles have been in place and largely unchanged since PMI created PMBOK in 1996, so it should be easy to make updates as required.  In the meantime, I'd recommend supplementing this book with a specific classroom discussion of the PMBOK process groups and knowledge areas.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The book was written clearly enough that it could be understood by undergraduates (although I sometimes skipped some of the more complex material), and I also think it would be a useful companion for any professional who is beginning to get involved in actual project management assignments.  That's quite an impressive range. However, the prose is a little dense, as are many of the tables.  It could use a few more summary graphs to break things up a little.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"There were no inconsistencies, I'll say that.  But the book is pretty effectively silo'ed into separate components (time, cost, schedule, quality, etc.) with little cross-chapter interaction.  There was an opportunity to discuss the links between them in a little greater detail -- perhaps in a graphic format.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"One of the great strengths of this book is its modularity.  You can use this book to teach the fundamentals of project management as defined by the Project Management Institute, or you can focus on the specific parts that deal with client and team management.  I taught an undergraduate course, and found it easy to focus on the overall construct of concepts such as schedule and cost management, without drilling into a lot of the detail that I would likely have gotten into on a graduate level.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The overall organization was good if a bit disjointed.  To me, there's the \"technical\" side of project management (project management, time management, cost management, schedule management, quality and risk management) and the \"people\" side of project management (client relationship management, team management, communications processes).  The book starts with the technical side of project profiling and phases, then goes to the people side, then back to the technical side.  There may be a very good reason, but the book could use an overarching graphic or description of how the chapters all fit together.  But this is a bit of a nit; overall the organization was fine and was no impediment to using this book. ","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"This book is divided up section-by-section.  This made it possible for me, on my class site, to provide direct links for each week's readings on the class site, based on what sections we were covering in each class.  The students found this very convenient, and I did pretty well on the student evaluations, so you may want to consider doing this too.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"I saw no grammatical errors.  The book was clearly written.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"I saw no culturally insensitive material, and none of my students raised any issues of this sort with the book.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"It is my intention to use this book the next time I teach this class. Like any textbook, it requires some supplementation from the professor in terms of reading materials and classroom discussion.  But it's a tremendous value, compared to some of the $60-$140 textbooks on this subject.","created_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":2363,"first_name":"Mohammad","last_name":"Moin Uddin","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"East Tennessee State University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book mainly focuses on cost, schedule, quality, and risk management, however, it covers all the phases of project management. PMBOK 4th edition’s knowledge area were used, even though current version is 6th edition which includes agile management. Learning points at the beginning of each section added focus and value. Some of the technology references are outdated. Book’s project complexity section is detail and interesting. Some of the images were blurry. ","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Overall accuracy of the book is great. Information related to software and technology need to be updated.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The basic concept of project management and knowledge areas that were described in the book are relevant and it will continue to be relevant in near future. However, since many knowledge areas were written in shadow of older version PMBOK, it limits its value and currency.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The writing of the book is clear and concise. Short cases keep reader engaged and focused.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The style and terminology used in the book are fairly consistence and made it easy to follow.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"The book has twelve chapters focusing on all areas of project management. However, there are lot of front loaded information which could be shortened.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The book went a great deal in detail describing many issues related to project management that are hard to find in many project management books. It is well structured and flows well.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"There are no interface issues. The book was easy to navigate.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I could not file any grammatical issue in the book.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The book discusses cultural issues in several instances. A broader discussion on this issue may enrich the book as more and more projects are done with international stakeholders.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"For undergraduate programs, this can be a good free textbook to adopt.","created_at":"2018-11-05T20:13:47.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-11-05T20:13:47.000-06:00"},{"id":3326,"first_name":" Brian","last_name":" Gurney","position":"Adjunct Assistant Professor","institution_name":"TRAILS","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The 12 chapters cover most of the main topic areas, however I would consider \"Managing Project Risk\" as an earlier topic. Risk(s) can be exposed as early as the crafting of the WBS which is part of the planning phase. ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The reviewer was unable discover any errors that would detract from the accuracy of the content. ","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The topic area is totally relevant for today's work environment. An introductory text such as this is enough to awake any curiosity that may exist for further research education. As the field begins to mature, there are methods and processes that are being applied with varying degrees of success. Two of these would be Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) and Agile PM).","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The screenshot of the 9.3 Exercises using the old style language (BCWP, ACWP, etc.) but asks questions in the newer terminology (Earned Value (EV), Actual Cost (AC)), etc. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is fairly consistent on its layout. Each chapter contains 2-5 subheadings and close with Exercises, Software \u0026 Technology Exercises or Web Exercises. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text can be readily reconfigured to fit any targeted area. It would be a straightforward exercise to interject some OB topics into the Working with People area or Communications area. It may also be acceptable concepts/topics in Estimating \u0026 Managing Costs.  ","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Please note the comment in Comprehensiveness. The book has 12 chapters. Starting a Project is at Chapter 7?","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The reviewer appreciates the option to Increase Font Size. Since this text is all electronic, special care has to be taken in regard to the size and sharpness of each character. ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The reviewer did not note any grammatical errors at this time.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The textbook appears to be culturally neutral and does not contain any content that a reader would find offensive.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"It would be nice to see more screenshots on microcomputer-based PM software integrated in multiple locations within the body of the text, where appropriate. It must be emphasized that managing a project of any scale (i.e. \u003e 5 tasks) and any duration (i.e. \u003e 1 week) must be done in a structured way, and the beat way to do this is software. The student will quickly become familiar with the logic whether its MS Project, Primavira, OpenProj, etc. A good PM will leverage technology to achieve superior outcomes.","created_at":"2019-11-27T16:05:57.000-06:00","updated_at":"2019-11-27T16:05:57.000-06:00"}],"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/project-management-from-simple-to-complex","updated_at":"2025-12-15T02:31:41.000-06:00"},{"id":37,"title":"Risk Management for Enterprises and Individuals","edition_statement":null,"volume":null,"copyright_year":2009,"isbn10":null,"isbn13":null,"license":"Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike","language":"eng","accessibility_statement":null,"accessibility_features":["unknown"],"description":"This book is intended for the Risk Management and Insurance course where Risk Management is emphasized. When we think of large risks, we often think in terms of natural hazards such as hurricanes, earthquakes or tornados. Perhaps man-made disasters come to mind such as the terrorist attacks in the U.S. on September 11, 2001. Typically we have overlooked financial crises, such as the credit crisis of 2008. However, these types of man-made disasters have the potential to devastate the global marketplace. Losses in multiple trillions of dollars and in much human suffering and insecurity are already being totaled, and the global financial markets are collapsing as never before seen. We can attribute the 2008 collapse to financially risky behavior of a magnitude never before experienced. The 2008 U.S. credit markets were a financial house of cards. A basic lack of risk management (and regulators' inattention or inability to control these overt failures) lay at the heart of the global credit crisis. This crisis started with lack of improperly underwritten mortgages and excessive debt. Companies depend on loans and lines of credit to conduct their routine business. If such credit lines dry up, production slows down and brings the global economy to the brink of deep recession—or even depression. The snowballing effect of this failure to manage the risk associated with providing mortgage loans to unqualified home buyers have been profound, indeed. When the mortgages failed because of greater risk- taking on the Street, the entire house of cards collapsed. Probably no other risk-related event has had, and will continue to have, as profound an impact world wide as this risk management failure. How was risk in this situation so badly managed? What could firms and individuals have done to protect themselves? How can government measure such risks (beforehand) to regulate and control them? These and other questions come to mind when we contemplate the consequences of this risk management fiasco. Standard risk management practice would have identified sub-prime mortgages and their bundling into mortgage-backed-securities as high risk. People would have avoided these investments or would have put enough money into reserve to be able to withstand defaults. This did not happen. Accordingly, this book may represent one of the most critical topics of study that the student of the 21st century could ever undertake. Risk management will be a major focal point of business and societal decision—making in the 21st century. A separate focused field of study, it draws on core knowledge bases from law, engineering, finance, economics, medicine, psychology, accounting, mathematics, statistics and other fields to create a holistic decision-making framework that is sustainable and value- enhancing. This is the subject of this book.","contributors":[{"id":3556,"contribution":"Author","primary":true,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Etti","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Baranoff","location":"Virginia Commonwealth University","background_text":"Etti Baranoff is an associate professor of risk management, insurance, and finance at the School of Business at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Virginia, where she has taught since 1995. She has been in the insurance field for over thirty years. Prior to entering academia, she worked in the insurance industry and as a Texas insurance regulator. She began her insurance career as a pension administrator and market and product research analyst at American Founder’s Life Insurance Company in Austin, Texas, in 1978. In 1982 she began a twelve-year career as a Texas insurance regulator, beginning with actuarial work for the rate promulgation of property/casualty lines of insurance, following with legislative research work on all topics. Dr. Baranoff has authored or co-authored more than fifty papers relating to risk management and insurance. Her work, which considers issues such as capital structure, detection of potential insolvencies, asset allocation and performance, and market discipline, is all within the context of enterprise risk and enterprise risk management. She has received various honors and recognitions during her career, including five awards given by the International Insurance Society (2008, 2006, 2004, 1996, and 1995). She was recognized as the 2005 Distinguished Scholar by the VCU School of Business and was a seven-time winner of research awards given by the business school. She was also the recipient of the 1990 Spencer Scholarship Award (RIMS) and the 1989 Vestal Lemmon Presidential Scholarship at the University of Texas at Austin. In addition to her PhD in finance with minors in insurance and statistics from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993 and her BA in economics and statistics from the University of Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1971, Dr. Baranoff also holds the fellow of Life Management Institute designation with distinction."},{"id":3557,"contribution":"Author","primary":false,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Patrick","middle_name":"Lee","last_name":"Brockett","location":"University of Texas, Austin","background_text":"Patrick L. Brockett holds the Gus S. Wortham Memorial Chair in Risk Management and Insurance in the Department of Information, Risk, and Operations Management at the University of Texas at Austin. He is the director of the risk management program and the director of the Center for Risk Management and Insurance Research and holds a joint appointment as a full professor in the departments of Information, Risk, and Operations Management; Finance; and Mathematics. Prior to becoming the director of the risk management program, he served as the director of the actuarial science program at the University of Texas at Austin. He is the former director of the Center for Cybernetic Studies and is a fellow of the Institute of Risk Management, a fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, a fellow of the American Statistical Association, a fellow of the Royal Statistical Society, and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Brockett has taught and done research in the fields of risk, insurance, and actuarial science for almost thirty years. His research articles have won awards from the American Risk and Insurance Association, the American Statistical Association, the Society of Actuaries, the International Insurance Society, and the Casualty Actuarial Society, as well as from the Faculty of Actuaries of Scotland and Institute of Actuaries in England. He is listed as one of the top ten most published researchers in the world in the seventy-five-year history of the Journal of Risk and Insurance (the premier academic journal in risk management and insurance in the world) in terms of the number of pages published. He was presented with the American Risk and Insurance Association Outstanding Achievement Award, won the Robert I. Mehr Award given by the American Risk and Insurance Association “for that journal article making a ten-year lasting contribution to risk management” and having “withstood the test of time,” and won the Halmsted Prize for the Most Outstanding English Language Publication in Actuarial Science in the World, presented by the Society of Actuaries. He served as editor of the Journal of Risk and Insurance for nine years and in this capacity also became familiar with multiple aspects of insurance, including institutional details, market performance, agent behavior and responsibilities, and standard practice in the insurance industry. Dr. Brockett has published four books or monographs and over 130 scientific research papers. He regularly teaches classes involving insurance and risk management. He received his PhD in mathematics in 1975 from the University of California at Irvine, California."},{"id":3558,"contribution":"Author","primary":false,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Yehuda","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Kahane","location":"Tel Aviv University","background_text":"Yehuda Kahane is active in both the academic and business areas. He is a professor of insurance and finance, Faculty of Management, Tel Aviv University, and head of the Akirov Institute for Business and the Environment. He founded and served as the dean of the first academic school of insurance in Israel (now a part of Netanya Academic College). At Tel Aviv University he directed the Erhard Insurance Center and the actuarial studies program and coordinated the executive development program. He is a life and nonlife actuary. Over more than forty years, Dr. Kahane has taught at universities around the globe, including the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Texas at Austin, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the University of Florida, and the University of Toronto, among others. He founded and has directed the Israel CLU program. He has also organized and lectured in hundreds of seminars and conferences. Dr. Kahane earned a BA in economics and statistics in 1965, an MA in business administration, cum laude, in 1967, and a PhD in finance in 1973, all from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He has served as an associate editor of the leading journals on risk and insurance. He has taught courses in technological forecasting (the first teacher of this subject in Israel), finance, insurance, risk management, and actuarial topics. His research focus is on the portfolio implications for insurance, rate making, automobile insurance, natural hazards, pension and life insurance, reserving, and environmental risks."}],"subjects":[{"id":2,"name":"Business","parent_subject_id":null,"call_number":"HF5001","visible_textbooks_count":144,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/business"},{"id":21,"name":"Management","parent_subject_id":2,"call_number":"HD30.4","visible_textbooks_count":60,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/management"}],"publishers":[{"id":38,"url":"http://www.saylor.org/site/textbooks/Risk%20Management%20for%20Enterprises%20and%20Individuals.pdf","year":null,"created_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:36.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:36.000-05:00","name":"Saylor Foundation"}],"formats":[{"id":294,"type":"PDF","url":"http://www.saylor.org/site/textbooks/Risk%20Management%20for%20Enterprises%20and%20Individuals.pdf","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":295,"type":"Online","url":"https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_risk-management-for-enterprises-and-individuals/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null}],"rating":"4.5","textbook_reviews_count":6,"reviews":[{"id":466,"first_name":"Sang-Phil","last_name":"Kim","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Winona State University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text covers a broad range of areas, especially insurance industries even though it has a weak theoretical foundation part. It would be a good textbook for undergraduate business students.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Content is accurate.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Content seems up-to-date. And it will not require a significant effort to update.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The text is written in legible and accessible prose.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is written in consistent style and with contemporary terminology.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text consists 23 chapters. Definitely some chapters are impossible to stand alone. However, it would be easy to find a group of chapters that can stand alone as a group and can be a prat of a reorganized textbook. Each chapter starts with its own introduction. It is also helpful for modularity.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Organization of chapters looks great. All the related chapters stick together. And I don't see any problem in structure and flow inside  a chapter, either.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"I don't see any serious problem in interface.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I don't find any grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":2,"cultural_review":"The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. I am rating this text 'low', not because it does a bad job, but because it isn't related. I don't think Cultural issue can be a big problem in this context, because Risk management and insurance are mainly not about interaction between persons. And also it is not easy to include cultural variety in the context.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"As I mentioned above, it does't provide a enough theoretical/mathematical foundation of risk, but, it covers pretty wide range of topics in risk management and insurance. Therefore, it can serve for undergraduate business students, without requiring a high quantitative ability.","created_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":1986,"first_name":"Eric","last_name":"Griffin","position":"Part-time Graduate Faculty","institution_name":"University of North Carolina Wilmington","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text is very comprehensive as far as information is concerned. Most, if not all, key vocabulary and methodologies of risk management are covered in depth and written to a level easily understandable at the undergraduate level. However, the text lacks an index or glossary which would be extremely welcomed. The table of contents and chapter layout support the information contained therein and are organized in a logical format.","accuracy_rating":3,"accuracy_review":"The content is very accurate in terminology and concepts. The description of the varieties and concepts of risk are well defined. However, several of the links for attribution and additional readings are broken.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The content is not likely to change very much and has not since the publish date. A couple concepts have changed and could be expanded upon such as terrorism insurance and cybersecurity insurance which became more prevalent since the publication date. The instructor for the course should read this text closely to ensure that this information is covered in additional readings or lecture. The greatest difficulty with timeliness of the text is the inclusion of web links which frequently change and have not been updated. ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book is very clear and easy to read. The text is written to the undergraduate level with vernacular that is appropriate. The terminology is well defined and explanations for key concepts are done through graphics. These graphics are appropriate for the text and explanations and well developed and descriptive.  ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The book is very consistent in layout and is broken into appropriate chapters with relevant information contained therein. Terminology is well explained, with key words being in bold. The book uses key words as forming the basis for the framework of the text providing some examples, but again through tables and graphics. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The chapters are self contained and could be read individually but still need to be read in a sequential order. Few are self contained that could be extrapolated during lecture. However, with appropriate introductions, the chapters could be assigned individually. The chapters are not lengthy and are appropriate for an undergraduate course.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The book is well organized and flows logically from topic to topic. The key concepts also flow well leading from one to another without my having concern. ","interface_rating":2,"interface_review":"I found several interface issues. The PDF version has chapter names in a blue text making it appear these are hyperlinks. If they were intended to be hyperlinks, then they are non functional. As mentioned before, numerous web links are dead.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I found no grammatical errors but my caveat is that I have little concern over grammar in my courses. However, I found nothing glaring.   ","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Nothing struck me as being culturally insensitive, however the text concepts are written to support knowledge of persons with sufficient wealth to afford insurance. It does little to cover risk reduction for persons with limited financial means.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I would use the text in my course with sufficient course development time to identify appropriate links and better descriptions into new insurance products. As I focus on emergency and disaster management, additional information on the use of insurance and limitations after emergencies could be helpful. ","created_at":"2018-05-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-05-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":33437,"first_name":"Todd","last_name":"Hutcheson","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Mount Mercy University","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book covers primarily the financial side of risk management. The first five chapters would be very useful to a traditional Business Continuity and Risk Management course, covering definitions of risk management, the nature of risk, risk measurement, attitudes and tools, but it really doesn't touch on Business Continuity planning beyond insurance recovery ... supplemental materials would be necessary. There sections of the material beyond Chapter 5 that could also be incorporated on a limited basis ... Chapter 11 on Property Risk Management, Chapter 15 on Multirisk Management Contracts: Business, and small sections of Chapters 20-22 which discuss employment and employee health risk management (could be combined with supplemental materials on succession planning, employ safety and security, etc.).","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"In the sections that I would find useful, basically chapters 1-5, I found the information very accurate. There are a few things that I might present a little differently or in a little different order, but nothing that is inaccurate.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"I think the content purely based on the risk management process and techniques is current and up-to-date. It's difficult to speak to the accuracy of the financial sections on insurance, social security and workers compensation since the material was written in December of 2009 and there have been so many changes to financial markets, instruments and the health industry since that time.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"I found the writing to be easy to understand and the diagrams that were provided were relevant, useful and clear to read, with explanations that tied them in well with the surrounding text. As an example, Figure 1.1, a \"Complete Picture of the Holistic Risk Puzzle\" does a great job outlining the potential areas of risk that must be considered by an organization, and the preview explanation was quite simple. I also think the use of footnotes helps with the clarity, allowing students to quickly reference additional materials that helps to explain the content in more detail.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The book uses very common risk management terminology in the first five chapters that are most related to traditional risk management. Very consistent to industry standard terminology. Risk identification, risk analysis/assessment, risk evaluation, risk prioritization, risk treatment and risk monitoring are all featured ... normally the standard six steps to risk management","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"What is in the text is modular by chapter, very easy to split into sections and assign. There will need to be additional materials assigned to complete the course in a business continuity and detailed risk management setup, but the text available from this resource is useful in modules.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Very ordered, very sequential, easy to follow through the process of risk management. The 23 chapters flow into each other nicely. There are useful case studies at the end of each chapter, as well as key takeaways listed and discussion questions useful for in-class or assigned discussions. I also liked the \"Review and Practice\" sections by chapter ... they provide great potential open-ended test questions.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I found no interface issues in the entire text.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I found no gramar issues in the entire text.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text is definitely NOT culturally insensitive or offensive. I do believe there is room in today's environment for a greater discussion of diversity and its impact in risk areas and on risk probability and impact calculation, but I have not seen this in ANY risk text that I have reviewed or evaluated.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I think that this is an excellent start for the OER materials needed to develop my \"Business Continuity and Risk Planning\" course. Being new to OER, it feels to me like the process of developing a course (and the materials supporting it) change slightly from traditional textbook methods. Traditionally, we found a text and developed our courses primarily around that text with just a few supplemental materials. With OER, the open field of content and the sheer number of materials available have caused me to think more precisely and exactly about what I want in the course outline prior to searching for supporting materials. Perhaps this is a maturing step for me as a professor. I would credit OER with providing me with methods to do exactly that.","created_at":"2021-10-29T14:59:53.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-10-29T14:59:53.000-05:00"},{"id":34183,"first_name":"Doug","last_name":"Bujakowski","position":"Assistant Professor of Actuarial Science and Risk Management","institution_name":"Drake University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text provides a nice overview of the risk measurement and the nature of risk in various situations (e.g., legal liability, workers compensation, auto and property ownership, etc.). It focuses heavily on \"risk financing\" (usually via insurance), while at times neglecting \"risk reduction.\" The discussion is often confined to pure risks - those that are insurable. It does not address the connection between organizational goals and risk management decisions.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I did not find any inaccuracies in my review of the text. The concepts are consistent with other risk management textbooks.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The text was written in 2009 and is relevant enough to service most modern risk management courses. The text (understandably) does not cover recent topics in insurance such as rise of insurtechs, the advent of big data in insurance pricing, and the expansion of microinsurance in developing economies. These topics are quite important, such that a supplemental text may be necessary for a more up-to-date understanding of insurance markets.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The concepts are clearly explained and understandable to those learning about risk management and insurance for the first time.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The terminology in the text is both internally consistent and consistent with that of most other risk management texts.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"Modularity could be improved by organizing the chapters into units. For instance, the first unit could be titled \"introduction to risk and risk management\" and include chapters 1-5. Instructors could then utilize specific units that are relevant to their course.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The organization of ideas is sensible. The text begins with an introduction to risk and risk management and then proceeds to discuss general risk financing techniques. The last several chapters discuss specific real-world situations involving risk. I present my course material in a similar manner.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I did not encounter any interface issues in my review of the text.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not encounter any grammatical issues in my review of the text.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive, but could be even more inclusive if the author were to pay particular attention to this point. For instance, they could discuss the disparate impact of risk on various subgroups or the use of racial proxies in insurance pricing.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"The book is incredibly well written and a great (free) resource for students and faculty alike.","created_at":"2022-11-22T16:19:01.000-06:00","updated_at":"2022-11-22T16:19:01.000-06:00"},{"id":35252,"first_name":"Steve","last_name":"Custer","position":"Professor","institution_name":"Oakland City University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The Risk Management for Enterprises and Individuals text offers an excellent overview of the aforementioned topics.  Financial risk issues predominate the contents which is to be expected.  However, this reviewer appreciates the value of the subject matter for human resource professionals and managers alike.  SHRM has recognized how critically important risk management is in leadership as it occupies a pivotal area in the workplace domain on SHRM's Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge.  Therefore, in a business sense, the realm needs to be covered in sufficient detail in business classes and the Baranoff text captures the essential of many if not most key areas.  The takeaways, discussion questions, cases and other additional materials can provide a much needed supplementation to existing risk management content which all too often only scratches the surface.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Upon inspection, no errors were observed by this reviewer.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"A plethora of relevant topics were presented here including the role of terrorism, financial failures and scandals and other high profile areas inherent to the marketplace and to current day society.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"This text was presented in a logical fashion and was easy to read and comprehend.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"This reviewer found the subject matter to be very consistent in addressing many pertinent issues of risk management.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The content was well assembled and addressed ethical issues as part of its presentation.  Several areas such as the social security section could be accessed in a stand alone manner to supplement a discussion of compensation and benefits in either a general business or HR specific course.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The content was well organized and was accessible in multiple formats - online and in PDF form.  The links provided were quite useful as well.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"No interface issues were experienced by this reviewer on multiple occasions on a variety of devices - tablet, laptop, and smartphone.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"This reviewer did not observe any grammatical issues.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"This reviewer did not notice any offensive or insensitive material.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"This reviewer plans to incorporate this text in one of my spring courses and would recommend the text as a worthy adoption or inclusion into multiple aspects of several specific business courses.","created_at":"2024-09-17T13:22:57.000-05:00","updated_at":"2024-09-17T13:22:57.000-05:00"},{"id":35591,"first_name":"Brandon","last_name":"Podgorski","position":"Adjunct Professor","institution_name":"Trine University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This text offers a strong and detailed treatment of insurance concepts and risk-transfer mechanisms. It also addresses elements of risk assessment and response, including the identification, evaluation, and treatment of risks through avoidance, reduction, retention, and transfer, as well as approaches such as qualitative and quantitative analysis and cost–benefit considerations. When considering a broader, enterprise-wide view of risk management, however, its a bit limited. While tactical responses are well covered, the text could go deeper on the development of long-term, organization-wide risk strategies, the influence of risk culture on decision-making, or the role of formal governance structures and board oversight in risk management. In addition, there is minimal coverage of risk assurance activities such as monitoring, auditing, and evaluation of the effectiveness of risk management practices. Overall, the book is highly effective as an insurance-focused risk management text but requires supplemental material to deliver a fully holistic approach.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content appears to be accurate, error-free, and unbiased within the context of the time it was written (2008). The explanations of risk concepts, classifications, insurance products, and risk management approaches are consistent with accepted definitions and practices in the field, and the book’s case examples and historical references are factually correct for that period. The writing avoids overt bias, presenting information objectively and with multiple perspectives where appropriate. ","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"Overall, the book's covering of foundational risk concepts, insurance mechanisms, and general risk management approaches are still applicable today. However, the rapid evolution of risk management since 2008 - particularly in cyber risk, global supply chain vulnerability, ESG-related risks, enterprise risk governance, and the integration of risk culture into strategy - means that without updates, the text’s relevance to modern practice is diminished. Core principles are still valid, but current examples and recent frameworks are needed to make it aligned with today’s needs. The foundational content, however, is strong. ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book is written in clear and accessible to non-risk management professionals, making complex risk management and insurance concepts understandable to a broad audience, including students with little prior exposure to the subject. Technical terms are typically defined in context, and the inclusion of examples, tables, and case studies helps clarify abstract ideas. The glossary further supports comprehension by providing concise definitions of key terms. While some sections are dense due to the breadth of topics covered, the overall organization and explanations make the material approachable without oversimplifying important concepts.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The book is internally consistent in both terminology and framework. Key concepts such as risk, exposure, perils, and hazards are defined early and used consistently throughout the text, and the book maintains a coherent structure that links chapters together through its “links” sections and recurring emphasis on a holistic risk management perspective. The framework for discussing risk - identification, assessment, response, and treatment - is applied uniformly, and terminology does not shift unexpectedly between sections. While a common definition of these terms may vary from industry to industry, the terms in this book are consistent with risk management professionals. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The modularity is strong. Chapters are divided into clearly labeled sections and subsections, often with learning objectives, key takeaways, and discussion questions that make it easy to assign smaller reading units. The inclusion of cases, tables, and boxed features allows instructors to pull out specific examples without requiring students to read an entire chapter for context. The book is not overly self-referential; while it occasionally points back to earlier concepts, these references are generally helpful rather than disruptive. Its structure also allows for relatively easy reorganization. For example, chapters can be taught in a different order without losing coherence.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The book is well organized, with topics presented in a logical progression from foundational concepts to specific applications and then to specialized areas. Each chapter builds on the prior material, and the recurring “links” sections at the start of chapters help connect new content to earlier discussions, reinforcing a coherent flow. The logical sequencing makes it easy for readers to follow the development of ideas from basic principles to more complex applications. While its organization is effective, the heavy emphasis on insurance in the middle chapters can make the book feel slightly imbalanced for readers expecting equal treatment of all aspects of enterprise risk management.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The book has a clean and functional interface. The text is free of major navigation problems, with chapters, sections, and subsections clearly labeled, and internal headings making it easy to locate content. Figures, tables, and charts are generally clear and properly labeled, without noticeable distortion or formatting issues. The layout is straightforward, with consistent typography and spacing that support readability. There are no distracting visual elements or design flaws that would confuse the reader. The pack of charts, graphs, and pictures may prove to make this a bit more difficult read for learners who are more visual, however. ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text is well-edited and free from noticeable grammatical errors. Sentences are clear, properly constructed, and adhere to standard grammar and punctuation rules. The writing flows smoothly, and there are no distracting mistakes that could hinder comprehension. ","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text is culturally neutral and free from insensitive or offensive content. Its examples and case studies are focused primarily on business, economic, and environmental contexts rather than personal or cultural identifiers, which helps avoid exclusionary or biased portrayals. While the text does not make a deliberate effort to highlight diverse cultural perspectives, it does include global examples that provide a broad, inclusive context. ","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2025-08-11T14:33:51.000-05:00","updated_at":"2025-08-11T14:33:51.000-05:00"}],"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/risk-management-for-enterprises-and-individuals","updated_at":"2025-12-15T02:01:55.000-06:00"},{"id":39,"title":"Sustainability, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship","edition_statement":null,"volume":null,"copyright_year":2011,"isbn10":null,"isbn13":null,"license":"Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike","language":"eng","accessibility_statement":null,"accessibility_features":["unknown"],"description":"This book is suited for the Entrepreneurship or Innovation course with an emphasis on Sustainability or for a course devoted entirely to Sustainability. What are the trends and forces underlying the changing character of the business-environment relationship? How they are creating significant entrepreneurial opportunities for individuals and companies? Around the world, the movement toward ”sustainable development“ has caused many firms to adopt policies and practices that reflect what is sometimes called a ”sustainable business“ or ”triple bottom line“ approach. ”Triple bottom line“ refers to the demonstration of strong performance across economic, social, and environmental indicators. Those measures serve as indicators of fiduciary responsibility to a growing set of concerned investors and therefore can help ensure access to capital. They also enable innovators to lower costs, create strategic differentiation, reduce risk, and position themselves for competitive advantage over rivals less attuned to trends. The deep roots of sustainability thinking are now evident in widespread and increasingly visible activities worldwide, and Sustainability, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship explores this evolution; its necessity, its implications and its progression.","contributors":[{"id":2001,"contribution":"Author","primary":true,"corporate":false,"title":"Dr","first_name":"Andrea","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Larson","location":"University of Virginia","background_text":"Andrea Larson, PhD, is an associate professor of business administration. She has served for more than twenty years on the faculty of the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia teaching in the MBA program and in executive education in the areas of entrepreneurship, strategy, ethics, innovation, and sustainable business. She currently teaches the required MBA elective for students concentrating in sustainability. Professor Larson has taught about entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability innovation by invitation at Stanford Graduate School of Business (2007 and 2010) and the Bainbridge Institute (MBA in sustainable business). Larson’s Flat World Knowledge book, Sustainability, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, examines the wave of innovation spreading across the world today as entrepreneurial individuals and organizations incorporate concern for ecological, human health, social equity, and community prosperity into product design, operations, strategy, and supply chain management. Building on earlier research on economic development, entrepreneurial innovation, alliances, and network organizations, her current research, teaching, and curriculum development focus on innovation by companies engaged in sustainable business as a strategic and competitive advantage. Her research publications have appeared in journals including Administrative Science Quarterly, Journal of Business Venturing, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Business Strategy and the Environment, and Interfaces. Her work has also appeared as chapters in edited volumes on sustainability and innovation, green chemistry, ethics, and entrepreneurship. She has produced more than fifty teaching materials (cases and background notes) on entrepreneurship and sustainability topics. Larson was cofounder in 2002 of The Ingenuity Project, a multifaceted program to integrate theory and practice on entrepreneurship and innovation together with sustainable business practices and to encourage their use in management education, as well as corporations. Entrepreneurship theory and practice, green chemistry and engineering design, industrial ecology, and cradle-to-cradle design were illustrative of the core approaches. She has testified before Congress on green innovation as a national strategy and contributed to a National Research Council study of sustainability innovation in the chemical industry. Among her current projects are collaboration on an National Science Foundation green building technology innovation study, an interdisciplinary study of sustainable development in Panama, and collaborative work with the Reynolds Program on Social Entrepreneurship at New York University. Prior to starting her academic career, Professor Larson was active in political work and nongovernmental organization research and lobbying, and she served in federal and state government environmental and product safety agencies, thus bringing a rich diversity of sector experience to her current work on private sector innovation. She holds a PhD from Harvard University."}],"subjects":[{"id":2,"name":"Business","parent_subject_id":null,"call_number":"HF5001","visible_textbooks_count":144,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/business"},{"id":21,"name":"Management","parent_subject_id":2,"call_number":"HD30.4","visible_textbooks_count":60,"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/management"}],"publishers":[{"id":40,"url":"http://www.saylor.org/site/textbooks/Sustainability,%20Innovation,%20and%20Entrepreneurship.pdf","year":null,"created_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:36.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:36.000-05:00","name":"Saylor Foundation"}],"formats":[{"id":300,"type":"PDF","url":"http://www.saylor.org/site/textbooks/Sustainability,%20Innovation,%20and%20Entrepreneurship.pdf","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":301,"type":"Online","url":"https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_sustainability-innovation-and-entrepreneurship/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null}],"rating":"4.5","textbook_reviews_count":9,"reviews":[{"id":218,"first_name":"Blaine","last_name":"Brownell","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"University of Minnesota","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Sustainability, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship provides a satisfactorily comprehensive summary of information pertaining to the shared topic areas of environmental sustainability and business development. The book presents a thorough, if appropriately concise, review of important milestones in environmental sustainability with emphasis on developments in the United States and Europe. Notably, the author includes both well-known events (such as the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring) as well as less widely remembered, yet still important, milestones—like the Get Oil Out (GOO) movement during Nixon’s presidency. The 564-page book also includes a thorough and comprehensively researched set of case studies in sustainable business innovation, including the invention of carbon negative concrete and the attainment of systemic net zero manufacturing. An insightful collection of methods ranging from molecular thinking to radical incrementalism make for a very informative resource.\r\n\r\nKey omissions include both a table of contents and index or glossary, which would be helpful—if not necessary—in guiding readers to various topic areas in the book. In its current format, readers launch immediately into the preface, without even so much as a title page or any indication of the book’s organization. If the text were structured predominantly around a timeline or an alphabetical list of topics, for example, this would be somewhat forgivable. However, the author arranges topics in a somewhat unpredictable (if justifiable) fashion, thus necessitating these guides for the reader.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"As far as I can perceive, the content is accurate, free of errors, and written in an objective manner.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"This book is up to date and will likely remain quite relevant for several years. However, given the profound changes surrounding approaches to sustainable design and economic development, I anticipate this book will require frequent updating in the future.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book is written very clearly and should be accessible to a wide audience.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The text is internally consistent. However, there are redundancies when particular topics are repeated. Although the information addressed in these topics remains consistent, the flow of the text seems disjointed in such cases.\r\n\r\nThe graphic language of the diagrams is inconsistent—which may be an outcome of a limited budget for illustrations.","modularity_rating":3,"modularity_review":"The book is organized in a modular format, and I could imagine the content of individual readings being easily shared with students. However, the formatting does no justice to the book, which reads like a single, run-on Word document with few logical section or page breaks. Such a layout will greatly impede modularity.","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"The organization of the book seems logical enough, but the lack of a table of contents makes it difficult to understand without reading the whole book through. Chapters addressing important concerns like pollutants, materials, and energy seem clear. However, the organization of some subsections seems strange and interrupts flow. (For example, one section provides an in-depth case study of Calera’s business model, followed by a brief overview on biomimicry, which does not appear to relate strongly to this case study.) However, because the text is highly modular, such circumstances would be easily remedied with a small reorganization.","interface_rating":1,"interface_review":"The book’s interface is its greatest weakness. It is the most expedient form of PDF document produced directly from a word processing program, and the only elements that appear to make it a book are page numbers and publisher’s name in the footer. Otherwise, navigation is quite difficult, and many section breaks, subsection breaks, image sizes and locations, and table references are awkward and inconsistent. Frequently, complex tables straddle multiple pages without repeated headers, and illustrations are sometimes poorly formatted, with awkwardly narrow columns of wrapping text with large amounts of blank space. It is indeed a shame that the publisher could not contribute even the smallest budget to a graphic designer for the purposes of developing a clear and legible layout. An ePub format would certainly be better, although I do hope that such an important book will also receive a graphic overhaul in PDF format.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text contains no grammatical errors that I was able to detect.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I did not detect any culturally insensitive or offensive text in my reading, and the examples appear to be respectful of a diverse audience.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2015-06-10T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2015-06-10T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":515,"first_name":"Sue","last_name":"Meyer","position":"Adjunct Professor","institution_name":"Central Oregon Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book is very thorough, has great resources, references, case studies,fresh, recent examples and indices.  I do think it needs a little better title or tagline, because I wasn't expecting a book about the environmental revolution.  I was expecting a business text with models and case studies about business and less of an environmental angle.\n\nMy comment with respect to the rating of the book's comprehensiveness is related to a book about environmental sustainably and not with respect to a business book about innovation and entrepreneurial efforts.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"To the best of my knowledge, this is very well researched and resourced, accurate and unbiased.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Content is up-to-date and contains excellent examples and links. I believe those links and the resources cited will be easily updated and lead the reader to other up-to-date sources. Well done!","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The first two chapters (history and sustainability) are a bit formal but well written and understandable with lots of links \"backwards and forward\" on the issues.Chapters 3 and 4 are very well written.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"A big strength! The consistency of this book is one of the best features.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Excellent! I can see lots of opportunity to take the information from this and put it into \"bite sized pieces\" or put it into Blackboard or Softchalk platforms for interactive teaching, for example.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Yes. Again, I think the titles and chapters/subchapters could be titled to better reflect the content, however it's all there and in logical flow.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"Nothing to report here.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Formal but I saw no errors or questionable language.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The book is very inclusive, relevant and up to date.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"It's a solid book. It's not what I expected to review, so I do think the title should be changed or a subtitle included to specifically communicate that this is a book about environmental sustainability.","created_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":805,"first_name":"Channelle","last_name":"James","position":"Lecturer","institution_name":"University of North Carolina at Greensboro","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"The author does cover many of the important topics in entrepreneurship, sustainability, and innovation but the way that the topics are organized seem limiting. Sustainability works because it is pliable. Entrepreneurship, Sustainability and Innovation need to be taught in a way that students can see a very bricologe approach to solving problems. This  book covers well limited topics in what is perceived to be most important in sustainability. The centering on the environment is against the balance promoted in sustainable entrepreneurship. I would use this a supplement to other readings but not as the main reading. Also I do not see a index and glossary in the book. There are more topics is sustainability besides the environment and health care. The organization limits to the thinking of entrepreneurship students who need to think more broadly about the problems related to sustainability that will impact their own communities.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Yes for the topics covered the book was accurate and well cited.  There are a few assumptions made about how some experts like economist feel that should be better cited but outside of that the book seems accurate. There is a little bias in the topics chosen and the advocacy of chosen words but you sometimes to see that in environmentally positioned readings.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The information is limited but relevant and the principles are presented in a way where updates will not be needed in the near future, and required updates will be easy to make although I believe that the topics covered will have the potential date the materials but this is for the reason listed in response one.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book was written with clarity and in the cases where jargon was used  the author explains with in paragraph definitions. I would have liked those definitions to have been summed up at the end of the book and index for easy searching but with in the chapters the author writes in a way that is easily understood by the readers.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"Yes, there are no obvious indications that the book is internally inconsistent in terms of terns used and framework,","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Yes the text is written in a modular format which is why even though I would not assign as a primary text I could use a supplemental reading. So the modular nature of the book is every helpful.","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"The topics could have been organized better by not going into limited areas of sustainability, entrepreneurship and innovation.  I like the discussion on Innovation but I do not like the final chapters where the limited specific areas where pulled out and focused on. The book should have been written more from the level of the entrepreneurship process and how entrepreneurship and innovation addresses multiple sustainability topics.\n","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Interface was really not an issue for the book.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"The grammar is fine.","cultural_rating":1,"cultural_review":"The book is neutral in terms of cultural relevance. There is no concerns about its offensiveness but the text lacks a clearly worldwide view. There is so much on multicultural/ multi-country work in sustainable entrepreneurship and environmental entrepreneurship I had hope to see more diversity in the examples and analysis.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"Overall the book would be good as a supplemental reading on a topic where the professor wanted good reading on the environmental part of sustainability. I believe the text is limiting in terms teaching more broadly about sustainable entrepreneurship topics.","created_at":"2016-12-05T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2016-12-05T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":879,"first_name":"Garreth","last_name":"Blackwell","position":"Instructor","institution_name":"Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"A very comprehensive book on the subject of sustainability and entrepreneurship. The content is organized well toward this end and is displayed well within the table of contents, but there is no glossary or index to help students and teachers identify areas of correlation within the text. This is perhaps the largest flaw of the book. ","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Very accurate book and well researched. The content shows a detailed eye for content, but at times can be sterile in its writing, lacking a warmth and connection to the topic that students identify more strongly with. ","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"This book has the potential to live for a long time. Its organization makes it very easy for changes and additions to be added without jeopardizing the flow and structure of the book. There is no reason to believe this book could not be around for many editions. ","clarity_rating":3,"clarity_review":"The writing is clear, but it is not a highly readable text. While the content is strong and well-organized, the style of writing lends itself more to upper level classes or electives that are highly focused. Entry level courses or surveys may find the prose a bit unaccessible for quick reads of background knowledge. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"A highly consistent text, the tone and framework is cohesive and lends itself to a clarity through framework. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The structure of the book allows for multiple uses and reconfigurations within a class solely devoted to the specificity of this topic, but also in less focused classes on creative economy and entrepreneurship. Each section outlines what is to be learned so it also is much easier for an instructor to quickly find applicable areas of text for class use. ","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The organization is logical and easily understood. Each sections flows easily together with the previous and following sections. The book works well as a comprehensive textbook, but also as sections that can be pulled apart and incorporated into larger and deeper discussions of entrepreneurship. ","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The interface is highly user-friendly and digestible. There is a lack in the area of images or charts. With some of the topics, a visual representation of ideas would be an added value, but it does not detract from the function or information of the overall text. ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"There are no grammatical errors and is well written throughout. ","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"This is a highly relevant text for today's discussions of creative economy, entrepreneurship and social design. Concerns with sustainability loom large within these fields and the historical backing of this text help place them in a solid framework of understanding. ","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"A solid textbook with good focus. ","created_at":"2017-02-08T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2017-02-08T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":2749,"first_name":"Michelle","last_name":"Todd","position":"Adjunct Professor","institution_name":"New York City College of Technology","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The textbook gives a good overall understanding of the historical context of the the topic of sustainability. It discusses in the beginning the historical periods in time of events that occurred, which therefore created the organizations and laws to handle it. This was really good to know the backstory. The text continues to discuss the ideas that came about from addressing this issue. Discusses in detail the innovative concepts and businesses to address the topic  with the use of various examples and engages the reader to think about them as well as his/her own ideas about the topic. ","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The content of the book is very accurate in its supportive material to back it up through historical data and links to reports, websites, businesses and conferences.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Even though the book was created in 2011, the information within it is still very important and can be modified to address our current situation easily.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The text in the book is fluid and easy to comprehend. Really like the fact that it defines in detail some terms used in the discussion of sustainability There are some terms one has to look up to understand better, however that is what makes it a good read in which one learns new words one might otherwise would not come across if they did not pick up this text to read. ","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"Commendable organization of a summary at the end of each chapter that breaks down what one just read and gives the reader exercises to continue to think about means one can incorporate the topic in one's own life.","modularity_rating":3,"modularity_review":"The text was not consistent in breaking down into equal sections, some parts were longer then others and some of the chapters had more pictures and charts then others. Really would like to see a balance therefore breaking down the sections into smaller parts and having a chart and diagram within each to support and maintain consistency throughout the text. ","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The overall 3 major topics into the text was broken down clearly, in each chapter. ","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"There was no interface problems with the images and charts however some charts can be enlarged to see the information more clearly.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Good grammar and no grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Based on the topic discussed this text is great for all cultures as well social classes to read and engage in a conversation about this topic.  ","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2019-04-08T15:09:19.000-05:00","updated_at":"2019-04-08T15:09:19.000-05:00"},{"id":4611,"first_name":"Stephanie","last_name":"Hubert","position":"Instructor","institution_name":"University of Arkansas","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text provides a comprehensive look at the history of sustainability, the current development of sustainable business practices, how collaborative exchanges increase sustainability, and practical information to guide the learner.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The author relies on well cited information to develop a fact-based text that provides information about sustainability.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"By providing information about the entrepreneurial process and systems thinking, although sustainability and its application in business is ever-changing, the author allows for change within a system that remains relevant for future students.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"This is a well-written, easy to read text that quickly engages the reader. Complicated issues are explained at a level where even those unfamiliar with the topic can easily grasp the ideas. At the end of each chapter, Key Takeaways and Exercises. provide a review of important points covered in each chapter.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The layout of the text is consistent throughout.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Subheadings within each chapter make it easily divided into smaller parts. Reference to outside examples increase credibility, engagement, and relevance to the materials provided.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Although the material is provided in a logical matter, personally I would have preferred to have the information on Energy and Climate organized just after the history of sustainability so that the reader, unfamiliar with the topic, has the background necessary to apply the innovative and entrepreneurial ideas.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Easily navigated test and chapters and subheadings make material easy to review.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Material is free of grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text does not appear to be insensitive or offensive in any way. Examples given are of major corporations with high engagement in the sustainability efforts. One of the examples given is about Frito-Lay, a company dedicated to diversity at all levels of employment.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2021-02-03T11:23:18.000-06:00","updated_at":"2021-02-03T11:23:18.000-06:00"},{"id":34300,"first_name":"Dalya","last_name":"Is.","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Old Dominion University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The textbook offers a thorough and historical analysis of the development of sustainable business practices, how cooperative exchanges improve sustainability, and useful information to help learners. It begins by discussing the historical periods in time when events occurred, which resulted in the establishment of organizations and laws to deal with them. The text goes on to discuss the ideas that arose as a result of addressing this issue. Discusses in detail the innovative concepts and businesses used to address the topic using various examples, and engages the reader in thinking about them as well as his/her own thoughts on the subject.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Sustainability is mentioned in various contents, with structural references to several authors. The author accurately presents the information, and the chapters are organized in order of importance and progression to the concept. The book's content is very accurate in its supporting material, which includes examples, reports, websites, businesses, and conferences.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Considering entrepreneurship in the context of sustainability is a trending topic because it focuses on cultivating a pipeline of inventors, innovators, and entrepreneurs who are driven to solve the world's most pressing challenges, such as climate change. Although sustainability and its application in business are ever-changing, the author allows for change within a system that remains relevant for future students by providing information about the entrepreneurial process and systems thinking.","clarity_rating":3,"clarity_review":"This textbook quickly captivates the reader. Language is appropriate for the basic level, and there is enough here to pique people's interest. Complicated issues are explained at a level that even those unfamiliar with the subject can understand. I like how the book defines some terms used in the discussion of sustainability. There are some terms that must be looked up to better understand, but that is what makes it a good read in which one learns new words that they would not have encountered if they had not picked up this text to read. The terminology is explained, but more examples, particularly recent examples, could be provided.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The book follows a fairly consistent pattern. Some chapters are more quantitative in nature, while others are more descriptive. It would be wonderful to see quantitative data throughout the book rather than just in a few chapters. It would be ideal if case studies were used throughout the book. The text layout is consistent throughout. The summaries throughout break down what was just read and gives the reader exercises to think about means that the topic can be applied in one's own life.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The sequence of the chapters is consistent and follows more or less a natural order although some might like to re-arrange some chapters without affecting overall flow of the book, particularly since chapters are modular. While presented as a whole, I believe the textbook exhibits excellent modularity. I could see using one of the chapters in one of my courses because they are self-contained. Subheadings within each chapter allow it to be easily divided into smaller sections. External examples boost credibility, engagement, and relevance of the materials provided.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The textbook is well-organized, with the chapters following a logical order. However, it would have been ideal to have more examples of what innovative and entrepreneurial ideas for sustainability could be. Those ideas are popular these days, and from personal experience, students need guidance on how to implement them. The text's topics were clearly divided into chapters. The structure of the book is adequate. Again, sustainability covers such a broad range of issues.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"With its current interface, the book was simple to follow. With the help of the subheadings and paragraph organization throughout, I was able to easily identify the areas in which I am most interested. The cover page is appealing, and I intend to use it in my classroom. Overall, I had no issues interacting with the images and charts.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"There were no grammatical errors in the textbook that I noticed.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Overall, the book was enjoyable to read. The examples of how businesses engage in sustainability were eye-opening. As previously stated, more examples at the student level would be beneficial to the younger generation. Through those examples, diversity was incorporated into the book, and as a woman from a different culture, I felt included and related. Based on the discussion, this text is appropriate for people of all cultures and social classes to read, including those who are new to this topic This book can be used for classes that encourages enterpreurship.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2022-12-16T09:50:58.000-06:00","updated_at":"2022-12-16T09:50:58.000-06:00"},{"id":34391,"first_name":"Mohammad","last_name":"Valipour","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Metropolitan State University of Denver","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"I found this book very interesting and thorough. I could find a review of important milestones in sustainable development and environmental sustainability with an emphasis on the US and Europe. Having 564 pages could be long but I can find many examples and case studies in terms of sustainable business innovation, including the attainment of systemic net-zero manufacturing and the invention of carbon-negative concrete. I also found a variety of approaches ranging from molecular thinking to radical incrementalism make for an informative resource. However, I believe adding more recent references will help the book looks updated and useful in the future. Having an index/glossary is also helpful. In addition, I think adding more materials to the life cycle and systems engineering will bring a broader range of audiences to this book.","accuracy_rating":3,"accuracy_review":"In the current format, the book looks accurate however, I would prefer to see more journal articles cited in the book rather than conference proceedings or websites. In addition, the references should be updated based on new investigations/references.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"What I like about the book is that there is some information on the entrepreneurial process/systems thinking which the readers would be beneficial and it is relevant to the scope of the book.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"I found the book easy to comprehend. However, I think graduate students might have more connections with the book than undergraduate students particularly in Chapters 1-3. Also, some more discussion is necessary for some technical phrases.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"This is my favorite part of this book. Very consistent and readable like a story.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The author has done a nice job by putting sections and subsections in the right place. Different parts of the text are useable to be presented to students in different topics which might not be even the same topics in the book.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"I think the material is provided and put together in a realistic matter. The organization of this book is logical. The sections and even subsections flow easily together with the previous and following sections/subsections. However, I think the author could stop sometimes and explain some materials more to help the readers better understand the topic. In addition, some case studies are not relevant and could be removed or moved to a better section/subsection.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"An advantage of this book is having a user-friendly interface which makes it much easier for students to follow up with the materials discussed in the book. However, the PDF version does not look like a regular book which I understand is because of the OER format. Personally, I prefer to see a better border and design for the PDF version.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I could not find any grammatical errors in the book.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I did not find the book offensive/insensitive in any way. It would be better to cover more examples from different parts of the world to be fairer for international readers/students.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2023-02-05T13:02:16.000-06:00","updated_at":"2023-02-05T13:02:16.000-06:00"},{"id":35544,"first_name":"Erin","last_name":"Hopkins","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Virginia Tech","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book starts off with providing a historical context of sustainability and how it relates to the business world. While it provides frameworks for sustainability innovation and entrepreneurship, it also provides practical applications of the concepts including case studies which help the reader apply the concepts introduced throughout the chapters.  These case studies are across industries which helps appeal to multiple disciplines.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"No errors were found in the book and challenges of sustainability are discussed throughout the text which provides a more even-handedness to the topic.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"While this text is over a decade old, much of the content remains relevant to sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship topics of today.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"This text provided definitions and context for terminology which may be unfamiliar to the reader.  Additionally, links were provided for many topics so the reader could learn more should they be interested in that particular topic.  This text also provided many practical applications to help readers understand concepts in a real-world scenario.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"This text is internally consistent in terms of terminology and framework throughout the chapters and sections.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"This text is easily and readily divisible into smaller reading sections including case studies covering a variety of industries such as buildings, cleaning products, carpets, etc.  There is also a section on practical frameworks and tools which could be a nice standalone for a sustainability course across disciplines.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The chapters and sections flow logically and also provide learning objectives at the beginning of the chapter and key takeaways and exercises at the end of the chapter.  The visual aids also are organized in a logical, clear fashion.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"While minimal, there were a few display features that seemed missing in the .pdf version such as a gray box but no picture or a page where the text was cut off at the margins.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical errors were found during this review.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"During this review, the text was not found to be culturally insensitive or offensive.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2025-06-23T20:18:37.000-05:00","updated_at":"2025-06-23T20:18:37.000-05:00"}],"url":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/sustainability-innovation-and-entrepreneurship","updated_at":"2025-12-15T02:01:55.000-06:00"}],"links":{"self":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/business.json?page=1","total_pages":17,"total_count":164,"next":"https://staging.open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/business.json?page=2"}}