Effective Meetings: Improving Group Decision Making, Vol. 70

If group meetings seem inefficient, unproductive, and time consuming, then it's time to invest in a text that can assist in making the most of group decision-making meetings. Effective Meetings establishes the rules for effective group decision making, outlines the positions and roles for effective group decision making, and examines the different types of decision groups. Since the first edition, the context in which organizations exist and work has greatly changed, and this volume accounts for these changes by addressing issues such as the competitive environment, more resilient organizational structures, and emphasis on quality and evaluation. The second edition has been updated to include references to some of the critical issues facing agencies today such as family and community violence, health care, and homelessness. For illustrative purposes, this volume uses a variety of meetings including advisory groups, staff meetings, board meetings, intergroups, and intercultural meetings. Unlike the first edition that targeted a more general management, this edition is specifically written for human services. Effective Meetings, Second Edition is essential reading for students in social work, human services, management, and public administration. Practitioners in managerial and development positions will also find this edition extremely useful.

Booknews

Establishes rules for effective group decision making, outlines positions and roles for various group members, and explains strategies for different types of decision groups, including staff meetings, advisory groups, board meetings, intergroups, and intercultural meetings. Includes chapter exercises and humorous vignettes. This second edition addresses issues such as the competitive environment, organizational structures, and quality and evaluation, and is targeted toward human services. Paper edition (unseen), $16.95. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

John Tropman teaches at the University of Michigan in the School of Social Work, the Michigan Business School and in the Honors College. In Social Work his courses focus on Executive Leadership and Policy Development, while in the School of Business they focus on Organizational Design, Organizational Culture, Rewards Systems, and Organizational Change. He also teaches in the Executive Education Programs at Michigan and Carnegie Mellon Universities.  He has written over 20 books and many articles. John works with a number of organizations in a consultative capacity, including for profit, nonprofit and governmental entities. He assists them in strategic planning, developing effective decision systems, managing change, and providing executive training. He also works with individual executives asisting them in their own career development.