Reader Views

Talent Management Technologies: A Buyer’s Guide to New, Innovative Solutions

One of the biggest challenges of any successful business today is the way of managing and supporting the available and potential workforce. This field is oftentimes confusing, particularly in view of fast changing, frequently baffling and perennially evolving tools and solutions available. The three authors of “Talent Management Technologies,” Allan Schweyer, Ed Newman and Peter DeVries, represent almost sixty years of combined experience in this field, and together they wrote a very comprehensive buyer’s and user’s guide to integrated solutions in Human Resources (HR).

The book opens with a chapter on identifying and understanding the trends shaping the future of HR and talent management. The four critical trends (demographics, diversity, globalization and global economic reconstruction as well as technology and innovation) are clearly presented and discussed in an engaging manner. The next two chapters deal with the present and future of technology and talent, the current state of affairs, understanding of influences shaping the market and how and why to move forward. The last numbered chapter helps the reader select an appropriate system for managing the talent; more specifically, it deals with assessment of internal needs, detailed vendor analysis and final selection of the vendor/system.

If those guidelines are not enough for the potential buyer, the next 385 pages present detailed company information and a functionality matrix for each of the twelve selected vendors, which represent the market’s “suite players,” offering integrated technology platforms with sets of tools and solutions allowing the users to manage all facets of HR with a single toolset. The information on those companies and the solutions they offer is ample, ranging from handy phone numbers, e-mail addresses and web pages to descriptions and history of each of those organizations as well as details on products/services/solutions they offer to the consumer. The corresponding functionality matrix allows the potential buyer to quickly cross-reference particular needs with available solutions and make an informed decision of which vendor would best suit the needs of any particular organization. The functionality matrix addresses numerable items in such diverse categories as are:

- Requisition Management & Posting,
- Candidate Experience,
- Sourcing/CRM,
- Assessment and Interview Management,
- Offer Management and Onboarding,
- Global Capabilities and Compliance, - Reporting & Integration,
- Performance Dashboard,
- Employee Information Review,
- Career Planning / Personal Development (Employee),
- Career Development (Manager),
- Individual Goal / Self-Assessment (Employee),
- Review Process (Employee and Manager),
- Workflow,
- System Admin,
- Search Functionality,
- Employee View / Navigation / Help / Other,
- Security,
- Reporting,
- Succession Planning,
- Succession Pooling,
- Content Management and Delivery,
- Testing and Tracking,
- Integration,
- Web 2.0 Features and
- User Communication.

I found “Talent Management Technologies” clearly written, thorough and to the point in spite of its size. In the ever expanding and oftentimes bewildering field of HR, this book is a welcome guide through the maze.

Talent Management Technologies: A Buyer’s Guide to New, Innovative Solutions
Allan Schweyer, Ed Newman and Peter DeVries
AuthorHouse (2009)
ISBN 9781449005405
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (10/09)

Black Road 2012

“Black Road 2012” is book one in a four-part book series called “Empire of the Gods: The God Conspiracy.”  After reading the first one, I cannot wait to get my hands on the rest when they become available.  Like a dangerous addictive substance, I was hooked immediately.

Jack Vane is an aging, injured, ex-private eye.  He is head over heels over his much younger, beautiful, pregnant wife.  When she and the twins that she is carrying are brutally murdered, his whole world appears to collapse. But in reality something in him has awakened.  As he discovers that there is much more to her death than meets the eye, he finds himself evolving into something more.  He learns that he is a key player in an ancient prophecy that involves a Sumerian relic.  He also discovers he now has a darkness within that at times threatens to overwhelm him.

As Jack continues to investigate who caused his wife’s death, he learns there are three potential groups involved.  Each one is seeking the mysteriously powerful relic for their groups’ own means.  Initially, Jack is not quite sure what is happening to him, he just knows that one of the three groups was involved with his wife’s murder. He is more interested in seeking revenge than anything else.  As time passes he realizes he could benefit from learning more about the prophecy and how it involves him.  He must do this to stay alive and possibly save the world.

“Black Road 2012” is an incredible book.  The characters are well developed and very interesting. The scenes are vividly detailed, so that you feel like you are watching what is happening instead of reading about it.  Friedberg has done an excellent job with creating a plot that has so many twists and turns, you will feel like you are on a rollercoaster ride -- a really intense one.  As a matter of fact, while I didn’t hold my hands up in the air and scream, I did find myself holding my breath, covered in goose bumps, wishing that I could shut my eyes, but of course since I needed to be able to read the print to move on with the story, I had to keep them open. I highly recommend “Black Road 2012” by Jeffrey A. Friedberg.

Black Road 2012
Jeffrey A. Friedberg
INDI Publishing Group (2009)
ISBN 9780978924720
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (10/09)

Sanctuary

Lea Kostovic has been abandoned by her family during the war in the early 1990s and is rescued by a staunch military man, Major Ed Russell. Realizing that there is no way Lea can care for herself, the Major offers her a job and to live with him. Lea is very skeptical about why the Major wants or is concerned about her, but accepts the offer but only till the spring.

Lea finds that she has a lot to learn about the American military, their slang and treacherous ways. She has become the Major’s whore in the eyes of all the soldiers, except for young Forbes who is the aide to the Major. Although she doesn’t understand all the jokes that are made about her, she does know when someone is treating her badly. That particular person is Captain Harper who feels he should be the Major’s executive officer and not a trifling woman.

Little does Major Russell know, but he will fall in love with Lea and it will cause some problems with his Commanding Officer. Colonel Sloane is a very good friend of the Major but he feels that the Major’s feelings are getting in the way of him being a good soldier.  He directly confronts Lea and her attentions and states he believes she is just in the relationship to get the Major to take her to the United States.

Eventually, the Major and Lea marry much to everyone’s chagrin. Life in the United States is even more difficult than in the Balkans. Lea is thrown into military life for which she is not prepared and doesn’t understand. Part of being married to an officer is to host social functions and be courteous to other military spouses. Lea has no desire to do this. She just wants to be left alone to paint and read.
From the very first page, this book has captured the reader. The author has done an excellent job of presenting the knowledge of the military, protocol and events that occur during the war time. Readers will feel sorry for Lea, but at the same time might get angry because she is so distrustful of a kind man who really loves her.  The events, conversations and military lifestyle is one that is easy to understand.  “Sanctuary” by N.E. Julian is a book that readers will not be able to put down, even though it is quite thick.

Sanctuary
N.E. Julian
iUniverse (2009)
ISBN 9781440133091
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (10/09)

Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting!: A Bridge From Addiction To Early Recovery

As a Psychologist and former substance abuse counselor, I have witnessed many attempting recovery from drugs and alcohol. Many succeed but many do not, which I feel comes from their viewpoint “If I just cut back or control it, I am okay.” Robert Bolch was one of the latter. His personal journey from using to attempting recovery and finally “getting it” was not an easy one as readers will find through his narratives and notes from his journaling.  Not only did he have problem with substances, his wife did as well. She chose to go to a rehabilitation program in California and Robert chose to do it on his own by going to Europe.

By traveling to Europe he thought he would be away from the distraction of substances, however, he took drugs with him. “Might as well use it all up, no sense letting it go to waste,” was his stance, a common thought for many addicted to substances.

The author takes us through his nightmare and successes by addressing honesty, resentment and humility just to name a few. He does state several times that he is not telling readers how to become recovered, but he is telling what worked for him. I liked his honesty and ability to admit weaknesses during this process and letting readers know that abstinence is not sobriety, regardless of drug of choice. Journaling is very therapeutic and it is very hard to read after you have written your thoughts.

This is a journey of change from the inside. Robert, as many of us, always needs to take a self-inventory frequently. It is not an easy thing to do, but is a necessity. “Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting!” by Robert Bolch certainly is a book that I will recommend to my college Psychology students as it gives an honest point of view on recovery.

Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting!: A Bridge From Addiction To Early Recovery
Robert Bolch
iUniverse (2009)
ISBN 9781440121074
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (10/09)

Behind Good & Evil: How to overcome the death-dealing character of morality

What is the difference between morality and ethics? To most of us, they may seem similar, but Scott Gustafson explains they are vastly different and that morality has negative, judgmental, and even deadly effects on human life while ethics affirms the value of life.

Gustafson begins by explaining that our view of morality is linked to the idea of Good and Evil. Something immoral is something evil. It’s an “us vs. them” mindset. More specifically, it’s a civilized view of the world, and civilization is, but should not be, synonymous with good. Gustafson draws on examples of the “civilized” world such as Christianity and various governments to show how morality has been used to build hierarchical systems that ultimately allow the moral destruction of uncivilized peoples who may not engage in moral structures but who are nevertheless ethical. For example, Christianity was used by civilized nations as a way to make Native Americans become civilized, while at the same time, civilized nations used the excuse of morality to deride the Native Americans as savages resulting in genocide. Similarly, Nazi Germany used the idea of morality to bring about the holocaust. Gustafson argues that Nazi Germany was not a crazy or immoral country, but rather the holocaust was the direct and logical, if not ultimate, result of a nation that believed in morality.

Gustafson also makes the point that Christianity as a moral system is not the same as Christ’s teachings. He illustrates, using numerous biblical passages, how Christ was ethical and affirmed life. He also makes a powerful argument for the history of ancient Israel being an ethical nation surrounded by moral nations, as evidenced by it having God as its leader for much of its history, while it only succumbed to being moral when it changed to being governed by a monarchy.

In addition, Gustafson clarifies that in the Bible the use of “good” does not always mean right or orthodox but suitable. If something is not suitable for a situation, it does not mean it is by default evil. While this part of the argument may seem like a fine line, Gustafson also provides a simple appendix to distinguish between morality and ethics to make the argument easy to follow.
Food is at the center of Gustafson’s argument. Gustafson argues that ethical societies became moral societies when people no longer had to exist as hunters and gatherers, but people became able to store food; this agricultural revolution resulted in food becoming a “commodity,” which allowed for decisions to be made regarding who did and did not deserve food by using a moral code that established hierarchies to determine the value of people and all life forms. This thinking ultimately

resulted in “dominator” societies that felt justified in conquering other peoples, taking their belongings—not property per se since ethical societies such as Native Americans did not understand or believe in property—and ultimately in genocide.

Life is not hierarchical. Gustafson argues that one group of people is not superior to another, and even one life form is not superior to another. Life is symbiotic, and what we regard as lower life forms are necessary for the survival of higher life forms as we know from studying bacteria.

“Behind Good & Evil” by Scott W. Gustafson is one of the most thoughtful and interesting books I have read. It may well be the most important book I read this year. I hope it leads to people thinking twice before they use the word “moral” and understanding what “moral” actually means. I know it has made me think twice and reevaluate several situations and issues already and catch myself when I hear other people use the word “moral” to understand they are coming from a “dominator” and hierarchical way of thinking. This book will open up understanding among and between people and hopefully change and save lives by making us rethink why we label things as good or evil from a moral standpoint.

Behind Good & Evil: How to overcome the death-dealing character of morality
Scott Gustafson
Infinity Publishing (2009)
ISBN 9780741454041
Reviewed by Tyler R. Tichelaar for Reader Views (10/09)

The Black Minute

It has been over a year and a half since Mr. Valen’s first published book, “White Tombs,” found its way into my hands, yet I remember it and its impact vividly. For me, it was love at first read, somewhat surprising in view of the fact that I am not a great lover of violence, evil and generally unpleasant situations. I fell in love with Mr. Valen’s writing, his clever use of contemporary issues, his heroes and his insights into the human mind. I also clearly remember wishing for a sequel, or better yet, sequels.

With the sequel in front of me, I hesitated for a moment.  Will it be as good as the first one or am I in for a disappointment? There was only one way to find out, so I opened it. And four hours later I sat back and finally exhaled. Just like the first one, “The Black Minute” grabbed me from the first page on, and pulled me into a complex world of evil, violence, deceit, bravery and search for justice.

The story opens with detective John Santana, Colombian-born and still haunted by his past, investigating a suspicious death of a young Hmong girl, Mai Yang. While investigating her death, Santana meets her “business associate,” another young prostitute going by the name of Jenna Jones, as well as Mai’s father and brother. While trying to discover what brought Mai to Harriet Island, where she met her death, Santana also questions a woman who discovered her body, Grace Chandler. Grace, daughter of a powerful politician, stirs something in Santana and he finds himself falling hard for her. Jenna is soon murdered herself, and so are several gang members with close ties to Mai Yang and her family. While most clues for those murders point straight to Mai's brother, Kou Yang, Santana is simply not convinced. Will he discover the true culprit before more innocent people die?
Once again I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of Mr. Valen’s writing and storytelling. While the plot is complex and anything but predictable, his storyline stays comprehensible and easy to follow. The characters are well developed, very believable and constantly evolving. The setting of the story is vivid, detailed and engaging.  While being thoroughly entertained, I also felt that I’ve learned a good few new facts, notably about the Hmong people and their fight, as well as details of police procedures and some other items I do not want to mention for fear of divulging too much of the story of “The Black Minute.” Suffice to say that Mr. Valen again wrote an incredibly relevant story, touching on a significant number of challenges facing us today. Although I learned more about Santana and his early life than in the first book, my curiosity is anything but sated, so once again I will - impatiently! - wait on the sequel.

The Black Minute
Christopher Valen
North Star Press of St. Cloud (2009)
ISBN 9780878393329
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (10/09)

In and Out of Madness

“In and Out of Madness” is one of the most disturbing, yet also one of the most powerful books I’ve read in a long time. Carrying an intriguing subtitle of “A fictionalized account of a true experience,” it left me wondering what is it that propels some people into madness while others seem to benefit from the harsh experiences life deals them and simply careen into growing stronger and more resilient.

The book’s protagonist, Lee Thames, is somebody who seems to attract violence, be it physical or emotional, throughout her life. Having grown up with an abusive grandmother and no less abusive mother, she briefly seems to find solace in the arms of her first husband. That happiness does not last and his actions - as well as his inactions - push Lee into a series of affairs, which, although endorsed by her husband, certainly contribute to the demise of her first marriage. Her second marriage becomes her true undoing. Cursed with an honest desire to please her husband, and almost unbearably willing to trust him, Lee gets entangled in an intricate web woven by her husband Joe, a slick talker who lies, cheats and exploits her in every possible way. The one bright spot of her existence, which luckily remains consistent, is her daughter Jolly.

The book begins with Lee escaping from a mental facility after an unsuccessful suicide attempt. She decides to take revenge on her husband, Joe. Planning a perfect murder, Lee revisits the events that lead to this powerful decision, thus familiarizing the reader with the way her mind works.

N. L. Snowden’s writing is sharp, precise and powerful. The story grabs you quickly and most certainly does not let go. I found it strangely fascinating, somewhat akin to picking on a dried scab on one’s knee when we were children. Yes, it hurts, but... Reading “In and Out of Madness” was much like that. Parts of me wanted to put it down, feeling like I was intruding on somebody’s most private thoughts. My always inquisitive mind was dead set on finding what happens next. And I was not disappointed. This is definitely a book that I would recommend to anybody who loves solid, tight writing and to anybody who’s curious about the ways people’s minds work, especially in case of multiple personalities disorder coupled with a bi-polar condition. Enlightening, powerful and strangely uplifting, this is one of those books that will haunt you for a long time.

In and Out of Madness
N. L. Snowden
Sneakaboard Press (2009)
ISBN 9780977476770
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (10/09)

Creative Blogging for Personal or Business Improvement “How You do Dat?”

Paul William Johnson’s ingenious thoughts are apparent in his work “Creative Blogging for Personal or Business Improvement ‘How You do Dat?’”  Taking the act of blogging to the next level, Johnson tries to build a case that blogging, which he describes as a growth tool, releases the power to solve problems or improve your business. When used collaboratively it can effectively provide enthusiasm, imagination, diversity, and accountability.

Collective consciousness comes in to play when participants identify the problem then brainstorm (or blog) their thoughts and ideas to come up with a solution. This team must focus on why something can work, not why it won’t work. This collective consciousness can create change. In simple terms the creative technique process consists of five parts:

    * Focusing on the question with intensity and passion
    * Demanding and expecting to find the answer to the question
    * Letting go of your thoughts to let the answer emerge
    * Engaging your mind in some other activity
    * At a later time, in a relaxed state, the answer will appear

We must think or break out of the box as the author implies when he quotes Albert Einstein’s words “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Einstein thought that the logical, rational mind was the servant and the intuitive mind was the sacred gift. Each of us has an intuitive mind just waiting to be unleashed and set free. This book attempts to show that creative techniques, or creative intuition, in which first thoughts create the simplest solution, are the means to solving the problem. It stresses how to think (“How you do dat?”) rather than what to think.

At times this book was confusing. The author includes background information about his interests and past careers to illustrate his points (such as a section on the stock market and financial cycles) while trying to explain how to use creative techniques as a means of gaining inner peace. He jumps around a lot and it was hard to follow his train of thought. I often had to reread the pages to keep on track. But the point he is trying to make is valid and the book offers the opportunity for the reader to try new approaches in everyday business practices. 

Many quotes from famous people and personal information about philosophers are included in “Creative Blogging for Personal or Business Improvement ‘How You do Dat?’” by Paul William Johnson. This was a nice addition. A section on how the use the book was also helpful in looking for specific information.

Creative Blogging for Personal or Business Improvement “How You do Dat?”
Paul William Johnson
AuthorHouse (2009)
ISBN 9781438949949
Reviewed by Kathleen Dowdell for Reader Views (9/09)

Lost American Principles: The Counter-Revolution

Steven Hall has written a very direct solution to keeping individual rights in our country. For too long we the people have let the government and those in authority control our daily living, from who we can love and marry, to mistreatment of minorities.

Our country was founded on basic principles that the government would be for the people and by the people to ensure that everyone was treated equally and had the basic rights to survival. Yet today we find that those people who are responsible to give us this are flawed in their own ways. Political extramarital affairs, extortion and power are just a few of the things we see in our government. Yet these same flawed individuals are the ones who are telling us what we can and can’t do. And we let them do this- many people just want to be left alone and live their life, others can’t afford the basics of survival and have no one to turn to.

Hall makes some very interesting points on the differences between little “g” governments and the big “G” governments.  Little “g” governments are those that are done voluntarily- such a churches and social organizations.  Individuals can either join or not and walk away anytime they want.  It also includes no criminal acts – like jails or prison.  Big “G” governments force people to participate their way.  Individuals are not given the freedom of choice - force is obtained through weapons, bribes, jail or prison.

I also appreciated the author’s thoughts on whether we as a country have the right to impose our beliefs on other countries.  Why are we always sticking our noses in other countries wars, poverty and destruction? We have enough people here in the US that are starving and living in poverty, including elderly that are being totally neglected. There are so many topics the author has addressed it would be difficult to capture it all here. However, if you are tired of what is going on in our country, this is a book you will want to read.

“Lost American Principles: The Counter-Revolution” by Steven L. Hall is a very thought-provoking read.“Mr. President, Senators, and Representatives, Take a deep breath and use some common sense. You have to think about what is best for America in the long run, not just for tomorrow’s press conference, not just for the next few months, not just for the next election.”

Lost American Principles: The Counter-Revolution
Steven L. Hall
Outskirts Press (2009)
ISBN 9781432744120
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (10/09)

Survive Downsizing: How to Keep Your Job and Become Indispensable to Your Company

Personally living in an area in which The New York Times dubbed it, “The Recession Capital” and The San Diego Tribune refers to as, “The Foreclosure Capital,” things are looking pretty grim.  Averaging over 25% unemployment creates some pretty desperate times.  Knowing that the rest of the country is also in dire straits, the timing could not be more perfect to read “Survive Downsizing."

As a result of companies downsizing and outsourcing their work, it is absolutely critical we do everything that we can to hang on to the jobs we have.  The author, a clinical psychologist and organizational consultant, Donald J. Minnick, Ph.D., was involved in collecting an extensive amount of survey data to explore what employers were looking for when they chose to retain employees.  The research findings show what survival qualities are needed to hang on to your job.

This book teaches you the strategies needed to create your own “Survival Tool Kit.”  In addition to in-depth discussions, there is also an extensive collection of applications, exercises, self-assessment surveys, worksheets and planning guides included to assist you with this process.  All of these aspects will be incredibly insightful in helping you learn about what the employers are looking for.  Completing the assessment tools will then help you to see what your weaknesses and strengths are so that you can figure out what to work on and what you can already apply to your strategy plan.
          
I found this book to be incredibly fascinating to read.  Not only did I see it as a tool to saving your job, but I also saw it as something you can use to become a better employee, for the sake of your own personal fulfillment.  If you are somebody that has already lost your job, there is a chapter on what you can do to help you find employment again.  There are some examples of interview questions that I found extremely enlightening. If you are an employer faced with having to cut jobs, the information presented here will help you to make the best choice of who to keep.

Overall, I would highly recommend “Surviving Downsizing” by Donald J. Minnick, Ph.D., to graduates just entering the job field, people who are employed, people who are unemployed, and employers.  The information contained in these pages will be extremely beneficial to all of these people involved.  Actually, the only group of people that I would not recommend it to are people who are hoping to retire, because if you follow these steps, no one will let you leave!

Survive Downsizing
Donald J. Minnick, Ph.D.
iUniverse (2009)
ISBN 9781440164101
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (10/09)