|
|
Financial Intelligence: A Manager's Guide to Knowing What the Numbers Really Mean (Hardcover)
by Karen Berman , Joe Knight , John Case
| Category:
Finance for non-financial decision-makers |
| Market price: ¥ 268.00
MSL price:
¥ 248.00
[ Shop incentives ]
|
| Stock:
Pre-order item, lead time 3-7 weeks upon payment [ COD term does not apply to pre-order items ] |
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
This great book tells managers how to use financial data to make decisions, and how to select and apply the right analytical tools and resources for the decision-making process. |
| If you want us to help you with the right titles you're looking for, or to make reading recommendations based on your needs, please contact our consultants. |
Detail |
Author |
Description |
Excerpt |
Reviews |
|
|
|
Author: Karen Berman , Joe Knight , John Case
Publisher: Harvard Business School Press
Pub. in: January, 2006
ISBN: 1591397642
Pages: 288
Measurements: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
Origin of product: USA
Order code: BA00852
Other information: ISBN-13: 978-1591397649
|
|
Rate this product:
|
|
- MSL Picks -
This book is more than a concise, highly readable, jargon-free introduction to the fundamentals of finance for non-financial managers. Beyond the basics, the authors enable readers to gain a solid understanding of financial intelligence which, in essence, consists of four skill sets that help the reader understand:
1) The basics of financial measurement
2) The art and science of finance
3) How to analyze the numbers in greater depth
4) How to view financial results in context
The authors also aim to enable non-financial managers to:
1) speak the language
2) ask questions to figure out the what, why and how of the numbers
3) use the information in doing their jobs and see their connection with financial performance
The book's eight major sections are:
1) the art of finance and why it matters
2) the (many) peculiarities of the income statement
3) the balance sheet reveals the most
4) cash is king
5) ratios: learning what the numbers are really telling you
6) how to calculate (and really understand) return on investment
7) applied financial intelligence: working capital management
8) creating a financially intelligent department (and organization).
Excellent illustrative stories are skillfully woven into the text. The writing is superb, making the book a pleasure to read. This is, fundamentally, a first-rate course in finance. To create a stronger company, CEOs would be well-advised to have every non-financial decision-maker read this book.
(From quoting Borcia and Gerry Stern)
Target readers:
Non-financial executives, managers, entrepreneurs, and MBAs.
|
|
- Better with -
Better with
Finance for Non-Financial Managers (Briefcase Books Series)
:
|
|
Customers who bought this product also bought:
|
|
Karen Berman and Joe Knight are the owners of the Los Angeles - based Business Literacy Institute and have trained tens of thousands of managers at many leading organizations. Coauthor John Case has written several popular books on management.
|
|
From the publisher
Companies expect managers to use financial data to allocate resources and run their departments. But many managers can't read a balance sheet, wouldn't recognize a liquidity ratio, and don't know how to calculate return on investment. Worse, they don't have any idea where the numbers come from or how reliable they really are.
In Financial Intelligence, Karen Berman and Joe Knight teach the basics of finance - but with a twist. Financial reporting, they argue, is as much art as science. Since nobody can quantify everything, accountants always rely on estimates, assumptions, and judgment calls. Savvy managers need to know how those sources of possible bias can affect the financials - and they need to know that sometimes the numbers can be challenged.
While providing the foundation for a deep understanding of the financial side of business, the book also arms managers with practical strategies for improving their companies' performance - strategies such as "managing the balance sheet" that are well understood by financial professionals but rarely shared with their nonfinancial colleagues.
Accessible, jargon-free, and filled with entertaining stories of real companies, Financial Intelligence will help nonfinancial managers be smarter and more confident in their everyday work.
|
| View all 8 comments |
Corn (MSL quote), USA
<2007-06-18 00:00>
What I particularly liked about this book was how the author revealed that knowing the basics of finance is just a start. What is often not covered is how to deal with the areas that can't be so easily quanitifed -and, when push comes to shove, have to be estimated and/or assumed.
In short, there is a certain amount of judgment that goes into many income statements and balance sheets. Author Joe Knight gives valuable tips on recognizing and understanding potential biases in financial information and advises readers how to correct for them... or even challenge them.
Those who know the basics will find a lot they've read before but knowing the basics is not the same as having true financial literacy, the kind that makes the difference between knowing what is on paper and being able to "read between the lines."
Nonfinancial managers will gain a new understanding of how to build their company's success, with solid financials.
What I particularly liked were the real stories from actual companies, proving that this book is not mere theory but actual, tested information. It is also written in a very, very accessible style. You won't need a distionary to get through it. |
Scott (MSL quote), USA
<2007-06-18 00:00>
I've worked within the organizational structure of large corporations for years as a middle manager and reviewed reams of financial reports. Since my educational background leans more towards liberal arts than mathematical, I've always relied upon the expertise of financial professionals to make sense of the various ways the corporation has sliced and diced its financial data. As the conclusions drawn from the financial reports were generally used to evaluate my performance--or the performance of my staff--I was often left arguing with the accountants over assumptions used in the financial methodology. Unfortunately, the playing field was not level and it generally ended in frustration on my part. Now I have leveled the playing field.
After reading this book, I have a deeper understanding of the assumptions underlying the financial reports used in my company. I also have a greater knowledge base to draw from when suggesting revisions to the data analysis or spreadsheet methodology promoted by the accounting department. I have read a few financial books throughout my career and they generally have served as a great nonpharmaceutical sleep aid. This book is different. It is written in a clear, concise style that uses common examples to provide context to the financial statements and principles being explained. It makes sense to someone like me and I found it an easy read. Kudos to the authors and now I'd like to learn more about their concept of a money map. |
Myer (MSL quote), USA
<2007-06-18 00:00>
As the COO of a medium sized company I have been looking for an effective way to help my non-financial department managers to more fully participate in the budgeting and planning process. I like the way that "Financial Intelligence" explains advanced financial concepts in an easy to understand way using real business examples, without "talking down" to the reader.
This book covers all of the basics of financial management but it breaks new ground by putting real financial analysis tools into the hands of every manager. We will be using this book as part of our yearly budgeting and strategy process with our entire management team. |
Miller (MSL quote), USA
<2007-06-18 00:00>
As an entrepreneur, I've found that it's just as important to understand the numbers as it is to understand my business' products and services. Yet, as a person with limited financial training, grasping the intricacies of money management has often seemed daunting.
"Financial Intelligence" is a first of its kind. It provides real clarity to the mysteries of finance in a practical, readable format. Thanks to this book, I not only "get it," but I now have the tools I need to translate knowledge into positive financial results.
For any business person committed to making his or her operations successful, this book is a must have and a must read. |
View all 8 comments |
|
|
|
|
