How do you choose which books to include?
Every book has information value (quality of writing is another issue). Business books fit into 3 categories: investing, financing and operating decisions. The third category is by far the largest since authors often write about the causes of their business (operating) success or failure. We include a book, film or link after evaluation of its author, publisher and content. Themes include: industry, company and product/service histories, executive memoirs, scandals/fraud, fiction, film and management disciplines. The collection is the largest and most varied available anywhere.
What are you qualifications to choose?
Graduate degrees in business (MBA) and information science (MLS), published author
of business books, very well read in business matters, well schooled in the theories and practices surrounding the cash-generating effects of management's decisions, familiarity with business issues, business persons and management results.
How accurate are the "Interesting Dates" in the industry timelines?
As accurate as possible. Each date, especially for patents, trademarks and company origins, has been checked and verified to insure accuracy, authority and currency.
How should I use Business History?
Colleges and Universities use it
as a reference tool for their students (from College of Charleston to University of Pennsylvania).
Schools of Business Administration use it as a learning tool - to give business students an opportunity to explore a variety of businesses and management disciplines. Yale School of Management uses it for a course in Financial Fraud.
Lawyers use it for company background prior to entering litigation in an unfamiliar industry.
Salespeople use it for information on existing customers or competitors.
Investors in the U.S. and abroad use it for historic stock market data and insight into investing strategies and styles.
Human resources professionals use it for training new recruits.
Organizational training firms use it for bibliographic handouts at the conclusion of training seminars.
Job-seekers use it for industry or company background - it is a great source of questions in interviews.
And people use it to give gifts to friends or co-workers.
You can use it any way you wish.
Have you actually read any of these books?
Yes - many but certainly not all. The key issues are awareness of the topical nature of a business history book, the relevance of the author to the topic and the credibility of the author and publisher.
What do I do with a Business History bibliography?
You can buy any book directly from Amazon. You can keep the list for future reference and add to it as you go.
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