[.ca] The Ropes to Skip and the Ropes to Know: Studies in ... (ISBN 0471736465)

You'll like it:
It's a great management book with lots of tips. But way too centred on the American point of view. Here in Europe, there are things that just shouldn't be done the way Ritti puts them.

Organizational Revelation:
"Ropes" is the only book that I read as part of my MBA course work from which I actually learned something useful. I apply its lessons at work everday. It reveals how organizations truly work. The various scenes played out in the book have been duplicated in my own career experience many times over. It is incredible. It was as if the author had studied the firm that I worked for and then wrote this book. I consider this book crucial in helping me in my career. Not only in advancement but in alleviating the frustration of not understanding why things happen the way they do in organizations. For example, "Ropes" helps answer the question, why does the idiot get put in charge of a project and not the person who is the most capable. It is also an excellent reference. I often turn back to it to see how a situation that I am experiencing now played out in the book. Not only is it instructive but it is also extremely entertaining. I could not put this book down and finished reading it in a day and a half. Since then I have read it several more times. This is the only edition that I have read, but since the different editions are significantly changed, I am sure that the earlier editions are just as worthwhile. I would highly recomend "ropes" to anyone who works in any type of organization and wants to understand what is going on in that organization.

Excellent view of corporate culture:
Ritti writes an excellent view of corporate culture explaining the "why" decisions are made and "why" people act as they do in corporate America. It really helps to put the discipline of change management into perspective. I strongly recommend this book for anyone interested in organizational behavior (American companies only). My only criticism is that there is no short and simple explanation for each of the behaviors. The reader is forced to read the entire chapter and all of the short stories in order to get an idea as to what behavior is being described.

Excellent view of coporate culture:
Ritti writes an excellent view of corporate culture explaining the "why" decisions are made and "why" people act as they do in corporate America. It really helps to put the discipline of change management into perspective. I strongly recommend this book for anyone interested in organizational behavior (American companies only). My only criticism is that there is no short and simple explanation for each of the behaviors. The reader is forced to read the entire chapter and all of the short stories in order to get an idea as to what behavior is being described.

Adventures in the Company:
This book is often touted as a great book for students, or for new workers just beginning their career. While I agree with that prescription, I think as well that this could be an important book for everyone, no matter what their age is or where they are placed in the corporate environment. Particularly in these difficult economic times, it's never a bad idea to remind yourself how organizations work, or how others may perceive you without your awareness. Updated with new stories for the 5th edition. Very useful bibliography of further reading.