University of Minnesota - UMN Executive Leadership Insights
Execution
Book

Execution

Create the Vision. Implement the Plan. Get the Job Done.

Tom Gorman
Adams Media, 2007
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Editorial Rating

6

Qualities

  • Well Structured
  • Overview
  • For Beginners

Recommendation

Pocket-sized books on business topics can be helpful refreshers and can give readers concise overviews. However, in most of them you cannot actually learn enough about the topics treated to act on them in depth. Here Tom Gorman emphasizes what you need to know to execute a business plan. He discusses how to take action, and how to deal with success or difficulty. While his material is clear and organized, he can say only so much about this broad subject in so few pages. Basically, he hits the high points and raises awareness of major business execution issues. If you’re in a hurry or you need a quick rundown on the basics, getAbstract thinks you will find this very handy.

Summary

Preparing to Execute

Going to meetings, jockeying through corporate politics, doing lunch and handling lots of other time-filling activities may be part of management life in a big company, but it doesn’t help get the work done. Your business can’t afford to waste time, money or anything else. The pressure is on to get things accomplished. That means you have to act efficiently and effectively. To do your job, you have to know what it is and how it should be done; then you have to go do it.

Before you can execute, you must become clear on what needs to be done and what resources you will need. No executive has infinite amounts of time or money, so prioritize your tasks according to their importance, their urgency and the resources they will require. Consider the effect of each step you take, so that you balance your corporate and individual risks and rewards. Reach for the kind of success that meets your business objectives and gives you a fulfilling personal life.

As you build your business, you must be able to get things done by delegating, that is, by channeling work through the hands of other people. Hire the right people within the context of how you will...

About the Author

Tom Gorman, the author or co-author of more than 15 books on business, holds an M.B.A. from the Stern School of Business and is a former middle manager for two Fortune 500 companies.

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