NF

I've always enjoyed these books by Allen, but I think this one in particular stretched the stories a little too much to illustrate points. Nevertheless, it's a good primer...just not great. ( )

The author rather unsuccessfully uses various characters from Winnie the Pooh to explore the six functions which managers must perform to do a good job in any field of endeavor: establishing objectives; organizing; communicating; developing people; motivating; and measurement and analysis. Repetitious. Not for a reader interested in Winnie the Pooh. ( )

The basic principles of management are presented in a very simple and compact form. The reader is convinced that some qualities of good leaders are useful to non-leaders as well. The examples of management in the Pooh stories range from slightly embarrassing to OK-ish, but the concepts discussed could perhaps use more elaborate examples; now the whole thing seems a bit childish.

Allen's lines for the Pooh characters are trivial chit-chat and there's too much of it. I would've liked more management issues and less Pooh. Well perhaps I'll read it somewhere else. ( )

"Management. That is a very long word," Pooh reflected. "It is the kind of long word that Owl uses. Does it stand for something good like -- ah -- ummm -- honey?"
Enough of Japanese management techniques. Enough of zero-base budgeting. Enough of all the big names on all the thick tomes on all the MBA reading lists. Enough even of everything you learned in kindergarten.
If you want to climb to the upper rung of the executive ladder (in other words, if you want to reach the honey), go with Pooh.
Using the characters and stories of A A Milne to illustrate such principles as setting clear objectives, strong leadership, the need for accurate information, good communication, and other neglected basics of prudent management, Roger. E. Allen offers sensible, time-honoured advice in a captivating style. His consulting experience has taught him that it is the fundamentals of management -- not a failure to grasp sophisticated approaches -- that trip up most companies.
Winnie-the-Pooh on Management is a Very Important Book for a Very Important You.