Rating: 
Summary: Better than I expected !!
Review: After reading the previous reviews of this course text for my Ph.D., I was very concerned about HAVING to spend this kind of money for a "know-nothing" text. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The level of depth of this text is very good and I found the authors, while not necessarily that original, did an excellent job of creating relationship bridges between their various topics included in the book. Their level of coverage of specific topics in the case studies waxed and waned but for the most part added very well to the intent of the text.This is an excellent text for people stepping up to management levels within Information Systems or just beginning to get their feet wet in IS Strategic Planning. It even offers some insights that experienced IS Managers might not have reached in the past. Overall, a very good general treatment and introduction to the field.
Rating:
Summary: Better than I expected !!
Review: After reading the previous reviews of this course text for my Ph.D., I was very concerned about HAVING to spend this kind of money for a "know-nothing" text. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The level of depth of this text is very good and I found the authors, while not necessarily that original, did an excellent job of creating relationship bridges between their various topics included in the book. Their level of coverage of specific topics in the case studies waxed and waned but for the most part added very well to the intent of the text. This is an excellent text for people stepping up to management levels within Information Systems or just beginning to get their feet wet in IS Strategic Planning. It even offers some insights that experienced IS Managers might not have reached in the past. Overall, a very good general treatment and introduction to the field.
Rating: 
Summary: Ideal for learning about IS management
Review: I bought this book for my MSc in Analysis, Design and Management of Information Systems and I consider that it was extremely helpful. The chapter about the perspectives of IS and the role of the CIO are very interesting. In the chapter about Information Systems Planning, they included lots of concepts related to strategy, linking IS Planning with six different approaches/techniques: Stages of Growth, Critical Success Factors, Competitive Forces Model, Value Chain Analysis, Internet Value Matrix and Linkage Analysis Planning. The chapters about managing systems development are really instructive also. I strongly recommend the book for those IT practitioners whom are seeking a managerial position. It is very useful to managers and strategists as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Not very helpful...
Review: I found this book covering a very broad range of topics in IS and IT subjects. A good book for a beginer (suggestion: rename to "IS Management For Dummies"). A terrible book for experienced users searching for specifics. I found the discussion of IS management practices painfully boring and over simplified with too many definitions. It needs to cut to the chase. There are far better selections in this price range.
Rating: 
Summary: College book
Review: I had to buy the book for one of my class (information resource management) but as an MIS major I though we would get a little more into the 'management' part, and I was disappointed with the book as it doesn't go much indepth of the matter. It's a good theory book, let's say!!
Rating:
Summary: Nothing special
Review: I had to buy this book for Neck's class at Virginia Tech. I didn't bother to keep it after the class. I don't even think we used all of it in the class either. I've enjoyed other motivational books that provide more details.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!!! Manz and Neck score with Mastering Self-Leadership.
Review: I read Mastering Self-Leadership in my MGT 491 course at Ball State University. While enrolled in the Strategic Management course, we covered Self-Leadership and used Manz and Neck's book as our guide. I found the book to be extremely insightful, with many stories and exercises that allow the reader to evaluate their own behavior in becoming a self-leader. I decided to keep the book, so that I can track my progress in leading myself. A must read!!!
Rating:
Summary: From a network administrator's perspective
Review: I read this book as part of my first course in a Ph.D.-MIS program. I thought it was a great overview and history of MIS, and provided insight into alternative IS management styles and strategies. The case studies were relevent, current, well written and interesting. I recommend this book for all network and systems administrators. It gives insight into what thought processes should be occurring at the CIO and IS manager levels.
Rating:
Summary: a great book, but way over-priced
Review: I used this book for a graduate course during the summer semester. Overall, I enjoyed the broad-based approach adopted by the authors. The numerous case studies were extremely useful also, as they adequately illustrated what the authors were trying to say.
My only beef with the book is its price. I don't think it's fair to charge so much for the book. But for the cut-throat price, this book deserves five stars.
Rating:
Summary: This book will have an impact on the quality of your life!
Review: Mastering Self Leadership by Charles C. Manz and Christopher P. Neck is an outstanding book, which I highly recommend to anyone wanting to attain a higher quality of life in their personal and business affairs. I have used this book in the management courses I teach to undergraduate business students with great success. We encourage businesspeople to be more innovative and to be risk takers, and no book gives them more aid in accomplishing this goal than Manz and Neck's work. In fact, I have worked the book into sessions I call "Executive and Entrepreneurial Workshops." Students always thank me at the end of the semester for using the book because they implement the methods during the semester. For example, one student told me she used to doze off during school and church, but, after reading the book, she goes to bed earlier and wakes up more refreshed. As a result, she pinpointed her weakness, as the book suggests, and then developed a personal strategy that led to her receiving the highest grades she had ever attained in school. This is just one of many success stories I have heard from students who have read this book. What makes this book so successful and separates it from other "self help" books is that it is based on solid research from Dr. Manz and Dr. Neck, the two most respected figures on self leadership in the management field. Plus, the book is easy to follow, and also inspiring. The authors do an excellent job of summarizing the key ideas of the approach in later chapters and provide a very effective picture of the way one's thinking can lead to their own success or failure. I truly enjoyed reading the book and felt motivated to put the strategies into action. In fact, I am always sure to reread the book each time I teach my class, in order to motivate me to continue to improve in my own pursuits. I always advise my students to read three books, which I consider the keystones of success: Flow by Czikzentmihalyi, You Are the Message by Roger Ailes, and Mastering Self-Leadership by Manz and Neck.
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