Product Description
Review of previous editions

‘Such a text — and this is the only one of this type I know of — should be the basis of all instruction in Mathematical Programming. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society

‘An excellent introduction … for students of business administration and people who want to see the utility of operations research. European Journal of Operational Research

‘It will be appreciated very much by practitioners who already have knowledge in the field of mathematical programming. Mathematical Programming Society Newsletter Model Building in Mathematical Programming Fourth Edition H. Paul Williams Faculty of Mathematical Studies, University of Southampton, UK

This extensively revised fourth edition of this well-known and much praised book contains a great deal of new material. In particular sections and new problems have been added covering Revenue Management. Hydro Electric Generation, Date Envelopment (efficiency) Analysis, Milk Distribution and Collection and Constraint Programming. The book discusses the general principles of model building in mathematical programming and shows how they can be applied by using simplified but practical problems from widely different contexts. Suggested formulations and solutions are given in the latter part of the book together with computational experience to give the reader a feel for the computation difficulty of solving that particular type of model. Aimed at undergraduates, postgraduates, research students and managers, this book illustrates the scope and limitations of mathematical programming, and shows how it can be applied to real situations. By emphasizing the importance of the building and interpretation of models rather than the solution process, the author attempts to fill a gap left by the many works which concentrate on the algorithmic side of the subject. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

The best book on *practical* model building
That's it.It's the best book for learning modeling in a practical fashion.The learning from this book is practical and you'll learn to build practical and useful models.

Great OR book
This is an excellent book if you want to go deep understanding the true meaning of basic math programs.

Excellent
If there is anything that I would hold against my favorite Operations Research books - it would be the lack of emphasis on model and structure. Williams' book fills in that gap and is an essential companion to every Math Prog book. It is not a cookbook where one can look up a particular problem and the possible ways to model it. Instead, it takes a systematic and very sensible approach to modeling.
The three chapters on Integer Programming Models are amazingly easy to understand and were a real help during a graduate course in the subject. The huge number of practical examples in Parts 2, 3 and 4 of the book is the real value of the book. I would be hard-pressed for space to describe the range of problems that are modeled in Part 2... Part 3 covers a good deal of discussion on these formulations and Part 4 follows it up with solutions. Though solutions are not discussed in detail, they are a great help for someone who has worked hard through the problems and needs a verification of the solutions.
Another useful section in the book is a chapter on the interpretation of Linear Programming solutions. For a person without a Math Prog background (say, a manager), this kind of material is very useful. In fact, it once served as a good refresher for me in a hurry... and an excellent one at that.
The only sore point is a very limited discussion on nonlinear models.

The Best Book of Its Kind
This is one of the only books I have ever encountered that focuses on the practical aspects of model formulation.This is a frequently overlooked aspect of optimization, but models that are well formulated will often result in superior performance.It is particularly strong in the formulation of mixed-integer problems, with a variety of tips for linearizing variable products and for incorporation of logical constructs.It also shows how to model SOS1 and SOS2 variable types.One other area that I found to be particularly useful was a section covering convexity analysis.This was the only book that I've read that did a good job of explaining the concepts and ramifications of problem convexity.Finally, the examples in the book cover a wide range of practical problems.Most are fairly simple, but do a good job of illustrating important techniques.

I highly recommend this book for linear and mixed-integer modelers.However, if you don't use these types of solvers in your work, the book is less likely to be valuable.

Good book for every one
Some books are good for mathematicians, some books are good for managers. This book is different. Williams did a good job to combine both mathematic and application perfective in a single book. Even you have only high school background, this book is readable. For senior researchers or grad students or strong math background person, this book is still enjoyable to recall your fundamental of math modeling. The references are not quite updated, however.Also, this book should added some current optimization tools.Even though the title is model building, not solving, it won't be harmful to have the metaheuristics (only introduction) or KKT. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Very Useful Theory-Building Book
This book is by far the best research method book I have ever purchased.
I strongly recommend this book for anyone who is seriously interested in
research. ... Read more

Product Description
Follow the construction of a model railroad layout from start to finish! Over the course of three years, Model Railroader Senior Editor David Popp offered readers a monthly ?Step by Step? glimpse into his N scale Naugatuck River Valley layout as he built the layout from the ground up. Now he tells the complete construction story using techniques any model railroader can use! More than 30 short projects take modelers through the process, from building benchwork to operating realistically. Step-by-step photos and illustrations let modelers see every phase of construction and apply the techniques to their own projects. Project topics include getting the layout started, building benchwork, completing trackwork and wiring, constructing scenery, adding structures, detailing, and running the railroad. Includes new material on choosing a scale, working in the available space, and installing DCC decoders. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

GOT ME STARTED
This book got me to select N scale and get started. Great read even if another scale is your choice.

Model RailRoading for Dummies
I'm "MiMi" to a five year old railroading afficiando.This book told me everything I needed to know to make my grandson's eyes pop and the word "Awesome" fly from his mouth.Hands down a great guide for the beginner.

Really nice!
I really enjoy this book, I am an HO modeler and all this is in N scale, but it still was a very excellent book.

building a model railroad step by step
A great book for anyone who's ever said "how'd they make it look like that?" It shows everything just as it says, step by step. A lot of great pictures and tips for everything from benchwork to scenery. A definate must for anyone looking to get into the hobby. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent
This book describes how to use game-theoretical ideas to"construct" models of (i.e. mathematical structures satisfying) aconsistent set of axioms. The language of first-order logic is emphasizedthroughout.

Personally, I think the subject itself is fascinating, andthat the writing does full justice to the beauty of the ideas. All in all,this is a book that every mathematical logician should at least browsethrough. The prerequisites are modest: some naive set theory, someelementary logic and some willingness to use your brain... ... Read more

Product Description
Whether you intend to add flair to your office presentation or charm to your model train set, this book will give you professional insight into designing and producing architectural models--with truly spectacular results. This book is a primer for the design, construction, and presentation of the three-dimensional model from conceptual drawings. Ideal for use inside or outside the classroom, the process begins with the construction of a cube and tetrahedron, and moves on to encompass manufactured modules, a commercial building, a single-story house, and a city rowhouse. Landscaping and presentation details are also provided to make your creations look their absolute best. Beautiful photography illustrates the step-by-step instructions for the beginning projects, as well as a colorful gallery of more complex designs that will excite and inspire you. These projects are a wonderful combination of the precision of model-building and the limitlessness of your creativity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Building models of scale buildings
The book is well illustrated and is a good, generalized treatment of the subject matter -- building architectural models.Good enough for the beginner and perhaps for those completing more advanced models, it had enough specifics to allow construction of reasonably accurate and attractive models for general use.Covered as materials were foam board, wood lathe and uses of acrylic for windows.Cautionary material was included too in the uses of various finishes for the product -- what works, and what doesn't.All in all, the book is a good introductory allowing the average person to develop skills to produce small models for proposed building projects that they may desire to build/have built on their property.

Content
If your looking for scratch built modeling techniques this is not the book for you.There are good ideas for detailing plastic models.

Assembling plastic kits
If you want some tips on gluing together plastic kits for a toy railroad, this is the book for you, especially if you are not too particular about the looks of the finished product.Not for experienced modelers, this book is geared toward grade schoolers and their teachers.

Architectural my rear-end
This book is the worst depiction of model-making I have yet seen.I lost money sending it back but I'd be embarrassed to have it in my library.Should carry a warning label: `written by authors having only a passing interest in the subject'.

WOW What a let down!!
I agree one star is way to gracious. I wished I had read the reviews rather than be exciting about finding a new "building structures" book and just ordering.
The books starts out saying its for high school and college architectural modelers. It should say it's for no more than 5th graders. They use foam core for many of the models. I was ready to see the authors use milk cartons! Its that bad. They try to pass off a stone facade with aquarium gravel!?! Are you kidding me! Plus some of the structures shown in the book are falling apart! Pul-eaze!
There is better info on scratch building structures for free online at some model railroad websites and forums such as http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=25
So don't waste your money. Or if your insistent, send me the $15 and I'll send you my copy. I only looked thru it once. ... Read more

Product Description
Menhaden steamers were double framed, heavily built offshore fishing boats in use during much of the 20th century. As the name implies, they were used to catch menhaden, a member of the herring family used for bait, oil, and fertilizer. Powered by diesel or steam hundreds of these boats fished the waters of the eastern United States, from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico. It was a huge industry employing thousands of people working. During the World Wars many menhaden steamers were pressed into service for the U.S. Navy, searching for submarines among other duties. Today these boats are gone, the plants mostly closed or torn down, and the men retired, but this new book, by boat modeler Steve Rogers, captures the memory of the boat, and allows the reader to recreate it in 1/2-inch scale, resulting in a 56-inch model. With clear drawings, plans, and step-by-step illustrated instructions, the reader moves from carving the hull master, through the authentic steps of construction, to the final painting and rigging of the boat. The result is a model that commemorates a bygone period of maritime history and reflects traditional craftmanship by the proud builder. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Model Boat Building: The Lobster Boat
Great book!Complete and concise instructions and plenty of clear photos.This book takes you through building your own boat from scratch, no kits!It's great, just as my great grandfather did many years ago.Anyone with the right tools and access to the proper lumber can do this!

Great for model railroaders, too!
I only got into ship-building because my model railroad will be built around a fishing harbor, thus requiring a plethora of small craft of various types. Upon discovering that the range of fishing boat models is both very limited and very pricey (especially if you envision needing a dozen or so!), and figuring (erroneously, as it turns out) that crafting one model type is pretty much like crafting any other, I decided to try my hand at building one or more.

After going through half a dozen fairly useless, and ponderous, tomes on the subject of building model ships, I stumbled across this one. I wish I'd found this book first. It's pretty basic, but it carefully explains (with beautiful photos and good illustrations) each step. Not only that, but many of the techniques shown herein can be directly transferred to my modeling of other subjects.

For me, the book is excellent with the exception of one issue specific to my situation and one shortcoming. My issue is that the book shows how to construct a full hull and my models will have to be waterline. While I should be able to puzzle out a revised construction, it would have been nice to have seen that addressed.

The book's only shortcoming, which I have noted in most other ship modeling books, is that there is a dearth of information on both painting and detailing (a subject dear to this hobbyist's heart). As an aside to ship modelers, it seems very odd to me that so many books on this subject seem to skip over something so obvious. Maybe I'm just reading the wrong books!

In any case, for anybody looking to build a cool little purse seiner for whatever reason, I recommend this book as a great starting point! Happy building!

Lobster Boat
As far as I know I have all the books written by this couple, and I have built all the models.I made three of the Menhaden Steamer and four of the Lobster Boat, one each of the two sail boats, and an uncountable number of the rowboats.Although there are places in all the books that aren't as clear as I would have liked, I had no problems in eventually overcoming them.The text and photos are as clear as one could expect, understanding that the authors can't be aware of the skills of every user.I would buy any future books by these authors.I spoke with Steve a couple years ago asking when the next book would be out, and unfortunately, he said the time requirement was too great and he was going to put his time to building models for museums.I see this as a great loss to those of us that enjoyed all five of his books.One can always hope he will someday change his mind and another boat building book will be available.

A Good Place to Start
This book is one of the two that I ordered by Steve Rodgers, the other being Model Boat Building Made Simple. The latter was my first attempt at building a simple model boat and I was impressed with the results. The pictures and instructions are pretty clear, descriptive and simple.
The lobster boat book is a little more difficult and involves "lofting" the plans to achieve the results you're after. This could have been explained a little better and the photography of the master (the mold on which you will build the boat) in progress also looks to have been taken by an amature with lot of picture cut-offs. The actual steps of building the model are a bit clearer and photographed better. With a little woodworking skills, access to scale lumber and an understanding of sea going vessels one should be able to produce a fairly decent model. (I recently started working on mine and seem to be off to a good start)

Nice Book
Great photos, and a nice overview of how a scale modeler attacks a project.I like the format, not a lot of wasted space describing how to use a hammer or what sandpaper is, they spend the money on great graphics and photos.If you want to get into scale modeling, this is a good view of what is involved in building from scratch out of wood, using some bought fittings.If you want to build this particular boat, all the information for that is here as well. ... Read more

Product Description

The ability to effectively create and interpret financial models is one of the most valued skills in corporate finance--from Wall Street to Main Street. Now, the acclaimed guide to designing, building, and implementing valuation projection models is fully revised and expanded to keep finance and accounting professionals competitive in today's marketplace.

This second edition of Building Financial Models continues the tradition of its predecessor by providing a hands-on approach to creating a core model that is supported by broad coverage of cornerstone accounting and finance principles. Additionally, this updated volume features:

• Entirely new coverage of discounted cash flow (DCF) modeling
• Excel formulas for making powerful calculations within the spreadsheet
• In-depth explanations of both the principles and mechanics of projection models

Building Financial Models helps readers practice good thinking and apply sound knowledge of their tools--two key attributes to producing robust and easy-to-use models. This practical guide takes you step by step through the entire process of developing a projection model, with a full chapter dedicated to each phase. By the end, you will have a working, dynamic spreadsheet financial model for making projections for industrial and manufacturing companies.

Furthermore, this Second Edition provides the vocabulary and syntax of model building so you can tailor core models to fit any size company and allow for quick input changes to test sensitivity. The companion website www.buildingfinancialmodel.com offering example spreadsheets will give you a head start on developing your own models.

A flexible and successful financial projection model does more than just add numbers--it explains the complex relationships between those numbers and illuminates ways to use those associations to add value to an enterprise. Building Financial Models is the only book you need to create and implement a fluid financial projection model that is both state of the art and user friendly.

Customer Reviews (14)

Excellent Primer on Financial Modelling
I picked up the second edition at the local bookstore and I found myself surprisingly impressed by this book. The author was a banker and does a good job at explaining the concepts and tricks used in financial models.

The third edition should include M&A, LBO and models for different industries besides Commercial & Industrial

Must Have Book
The second edition is an outstanding primer on building models. The book is both for college students and senior finance professionals with or without excel experience. The book does a great job of explaining excel functions and how to use excel. The book guides you through buildinga model which can balance through both the balance sheet and or the statement of cash flow, which is fantastic and no other modeling book does. The photo shots of the excell sheets and the formulas used is a huge help in seeing the big picture. The author does a superb job of explaining the cash and debt sweep scenarios ( a most complicated excel topic) and lays it out in a manner that is easy to understand. This is a must have book for every person that is learning to build models.

Building financial models - McGraw Hill
The Amzon service is good and fast delivery I expected.
The material is practical but lack of template with CD for follow-to-learn. Quite inconvient

Not impressed
This book is full of typos in the spreadsheet examples. Just keep it in mind when you begin using it. Other than that, the models themselves are ok, but the structures are sometimes redundant and unnecessarily crowded.

The Real Deal
This book demystifies the black box of financial forecasting.With over twenty fives on Wall Street, and now in a position to teach my son the tricks of the trade, this work is an invaluable tool. No gimmicks. What you see is what you get. Lots of experience behind this text.Step by step instructions, which is the only way to learn -- especially for the generation that still reads the instruction manual !

Next book should be about modeling typical Wall Street transactions, like public to private transactions, or sponsor to sponsor LBOs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great PhotosSo So Info
The photos in this book are awsome , just wish they were in color. Nothing covering electronics, some good info on how too's just not enough. If you are looking for a book with lots of black & white photos of museum quality models this is it.

Inspiration for warship modelers.
It is said that the best type of entertainment is that which leaves you wanting more.Building Warship Models, by P.C. Coker, makes you wish the author has written a sequel.

For the person interested in building orcollecting detailed models of warships, this is a very useful book. Covering all aspects of naval modeling, from research to final painting,the construction tips alone would be worth the price of admission. Illustrations from a rare Japanese book by Kozo Izumi help the reader tounderstand the step by step process of creating a model from scratch.Butthere is more to this book than just instruction.

Inserted at the end ofeach chapter is a photo section with dozens of crisp, useful pictures ofcompleted ship models.From collections in museums to models built byprivate individual, they provide a collective inspiration for the aspiringship modeler.

When I have my fellow modelers over to visit, this is onebook that invariably gets pulled from the bookshelf and passed around. Whether you are a beginner or longtime modeler, Building Model Warshipswill provide a wealth of useful, and indeed, inspirational material. ... Read more

Product Description
This book features detailed instructions on building four different, fully functional steam engine models. Designs and methods of construction are clearly detailed, with instructions that even a beginner will be able to follow. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A good book
This book gives fairly good instuction on how to build a few types of small model stationary steam engines. But it could use some
more detail and better illistations.
A steam engine is a pretty simple device, but keep in mind that you are not going to build one on your kitchen counter. The author
assumes that you have basic machining workshop skills and know how a steam engine operates. You will need to be able to use a
lathe (also a mill would make it easier, but not required) and be able to do a little brasing and grinding.
This isn`t rocket science, but you will need the tools and know how to use them.

This is not a book for beginner
As Author indicated, this book is for beginners. What he failed to mentioned is what is beginner
If you're beginner in a way of having a good knowledge of steam engine and read about it before and have a set of tools and experience with lathe and understand poor explanation of component of steam engine (which he failed to explain any of it at all) then yes this is for you.
However, if you're a beginner that doesn't know much about steam engine then don't even waste your time with this book. To just give you a very brief example, on his first engine he has a section call "spring". Instead of explaining what is spring is used for he mentioned where he looked to find the spring. Again, he has another section call "Steam Chest" again he failed to explain the mechanism of the steam chest. Instead he mentioned make a whole here and there without any explanation as what is steam chest is use for and how it works.
Again if you're really a beginner without any previous knowledge of steam engine, them THIS IS NOT A BOOK FOR YOU

This is not a book for beginner
As Author indicated, this book is for beginners. What he failed to mentioned is what is beginner
If you're beginner in a way of having a good knowledge of steam engine and read about it before and have a set of tools and experience with lathe and understand poor explanation of component of steam engine (which he failed to explain any of it at all) then yes this is for you.
However, if you're a beginner that doesn't know much about steam engine then don't even waste your time with this book. To just give you a very brief example, on his first engine he has a section call "spring". Instead of explaining what is spring is used for he mentioned where he looked to find the spring. Again, he has another section call "Steam Chest" again he failed to explain the mechanism of the steam chest. Instead he mentioned make a whole here and there without any explanation as what is steam chest is use for and how it works.
Again if you're really a beginner without any previous knowledge of steam engine, them THIS IS NOT A BOOK FOR YOU

Good projects
This book is excellent reading because of its suttle and charminghumoristic style. It also has some good projects with very thoroughinstructions. Being from mainland Europe I'm not used to the Impericalmeasurements used and this can be a bit confusing. If you like model steamengines this book should be on your shelf.

A perfect book for the beginning model engineer.
It has been two months since I received this book and I have already built two of the engines shown!(they run perfectly). The author guides you through the building process as if he were beside you all the time, eventhough, a little machining experience is needed. ... Read more

Product Description
Great Buildings Model Kit, by Steve Chapman. Each of these four models is an exact replica of the original building, perfectly scaled and in scale to each one of the other buildings in the kit. They are already precut (no scissors!) and come with clear and simple instructions so that architecture enthusiasts of all ages can put them together.

Great Buildings of the World, by Julian Bicknell. With 30 photographs and illustrations of the actual buildings and their architects and owners, and a lively history by a world-renowned architect, this instant introduction to architecture tells you all you need to know about the models you have built. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Arcitecture book
This is a very elaborate book about arcitecture and how it relates to todays society.The models are great! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Superb book on model making
The models here are evocative of an earlier era in model making. Porter's models, buildings, vehicles and figures are extremely well made, very neat and precise, and have a certain charm to them which perfectly captures the period of England, especially around WWII.
The book gives great wealth of details on English/some European buildings and here are some great ideas for creating dioramas, especially the bombed out suburban house with fantastic details.
Highly recommended.

Diorama Builders... BUY THIS BOOK!
This is a wonderful work by an Englishman who not only lived through and participated in WWIIl, but also became a master at modeling that world.Roy shows you all his tricks, such as creating your own molds, buildingruins, detailing and weathering, and subject selection.The book ischocked full of great color photos, and includes many step-by-step guideson the various projects.You will get a lot of great ideas in this book,and even an experienced old pro like me will find many new useable tips. The books is handsome, well written, and highly informative... overall,quite enjoyable, and certainly the best diorama building book in my largelibrary! ... Read more

Product Description
HMS Thunderer was the third Orion class battleship, one of the Super Dreadnoughts built to counter German naval expansion in April 1910. At 22,200 tons she was the largest ship ever built on the Thames and bankrupted her builders. The author s 1/96-scale museum-quality model reflects the massive engineering of the prototype and brings to life the power and potency of the Super Dreadnoughts. Also covered is the battleship USS Texas, the only
remaining ship of that class from the same era. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The art and motivation of ship modeling
Thunderer: Building A Model Dreadnought documents the contstrution, by author William Mowll, of a 1/96 scale display model of the World War I Orion class British Battleship.Based on Mowll's earlier works - he wrote two similar books covering models of the SS Great Britain and HMS Warrior - I was eagerly anticipating this latest volume. Once it arrived, I read it in two sittings.

This is a truly outstanding work.The model is very good - there are one or two areas where different choices could have been made, but this falls with the artistic scope of ship modeling.Even better, Mowll generously documents the construction with photos that illustrate many of the processes.Although this is not a step by step narrative, which would result in a book many times larger, but it does help understand most of the processes involved in the creation of such a large model.

Many techniques are covered, including hull making, planking, brass work, casting and painting; all useful skills for the advanced model shipbuilder.In particular, the metal work stands out and most modelers will learn a lot by reviewing the author's techniques.I have been building models for over 30 years, yet there were many "ah ha" moments when I read tips that I will shamelessly use on my future projects; these alone are worth the price of admission.A ship of this size and complexity will have many assemblies that would be rightly considered models in their own accord, such as the ship's boat, scout aircraft, even the mast, and these are comprehensively covered.It is a virtual master class on creating these details in a crisp, delicate, and lifelike manner.

The model of the Thunderer could be best described as static, but with enhancements.Mowll did not choose to make it an operational, radio control model, which was the only disappointment to me - it would have been grand to see her on the water, in her natural element, like his two earlier efforts. He did incorporate rotating turrets (via radio control) and a lighting scheme to add some life to the display, an interesting choice.

Following a series of photos showing the completed model very thoroughly, there is a chapter about the authors visit to the USS Texas, a very similar ship preserved in the United States.Here he discovered a connection to both ship and era, and his enthusiasm leaps off the page.

In all, this is a very well written, charming book on a very nice model.I highly recommend it to those interested in models of steel age battleships, or simply curious about why people spend so much time creating a work of art in miniature.
... Read more

Product Description
Richly illustrated manual introduces beginners to basic aerodynamic principles and all aspects of model-building—from paint and tissue covering to the secrets of selecting the best engine, fuel and radio-control rig for each plane.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Terrible book
The book is like a general introduction to Model Airplanes. It does not focus on anything, I found it of no use at all. The pictures inside are worth seeing: the R/C equipment shown is so old that it's a real fun to see.

Not a very good book on model R/C airplanes
I do not recommend this book to anyone who is trying to learn to build or fly R/C airplanes.While the information on the basics of flying is pretty good, but all of the equipment shown is very dated, and the information onavailable equipment isn't very good either.

Ok model airplane book
The book is very informative and can provide the rank beginner in the hobby with some good start up information.Although the book overall is really outdated it shows the basics of flying really well.The book doesshow alot of dated equipment one model shown in the book and recomended bythe author has been out of production for over ten years and the radioequipment shown is also of the same vintage.I recomend this book to someone getting started or to someone interested in the history of the hobby. It is a ok book overall. ... Read more

Product Description

A proven guide to building financial models from scratch

The Second Edition of Building Financial Models with Microsoft Excel + CD-ROM provides beginning and intermediate level computer users with step-by-step instructions on building financial models using Microsoft Excel 2007-the most popular spreadsheet program available. The accompanying CD-ROM contains Excel worksheets that track the course of the book and allow you to build your own financial models. This comprehensive resource also covers important topics such as the concepts of valuation, sensitivity analysis, and contribution margin.

• Offers accessible guidance on building financial models using Excel 2007
• Illustrates how to integrate financial statements such as the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows
• Covers the basics of building and using a Capitalization Table
• Discusses how to best present a financial model

Incorporating financial models into business decisions has become an essential element of good business practice, and this book will show you how to excel at this endeavor. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

huh wow!!!
You need to be programmer to understand this, if you are computer savy, this would be good, if not ....

Good practice for error checking
If this book is of any value to anyone,it would new banking associates/management consultants who will be reviewing the work of others. Amazingly, the book contains numerous errors and inconsistencies among the various figures presented in each chapter.Tracking down the source of the differences brought back (not so) fond memories of my tenure as an investment banker. Stick with the 2004 edition as the new release will probably correct most of these errors.

A good choice for Beginners
The book is very well structured. Following the steps proposed it's possible to understand the whole process of developing a good budget and the main financial statements.
The book is more suitable for beginners, new entrepreuners and people who wants to get an overview on how to develop a budget and good financial statements using Excel.

goes somewhat beyond introductory Excel
The book has some merit to a reader new to Excel, and who wants something a bit more indepth than the Idiots or Dummy's books on Excel. Proctor gives examples that do more with the spreadsheets, and you get to appreciate what Excel can provide.

But, as other reviewers have cogently pointed out, the book really is not for business professionals, despite what the title says. An accountant or businessperson should already have more background on financial modelling with spreadsheets that the level provided here.

WAY too Basic for Most
This work lacks substance for anyone remotely likely to have to do any real financial analysis. The examples are too simplistic to be of much practical value. If you have virtually no training or experience in Excel or accounting or finance then this book might be worth borrowing from a library to get you up to speed.If you have more than a week of experience in this area then it will sit on the shelf. ... Read more

Product Description
Many old workboats still exist today, though in this age of fiberglass they are an endangered species. To many, the skill and craftsmanship of the builders who made them will never be forgotten. There is a talent that borders on art in creating a wooden hull from straight pieces of lumber. Steve Rogers keeps the art alive in miniature, with his beautiful models of these old wood boats. Through his work he demonstrates an appreciation for the design and construction of these boats, plus a gentle nostalgia for the times that they represent. In Model Boat Building Made Simple, Steve shares his techniques with the reader. A professional artist, Steve uses drawings and step-by-step color photographs and captions to make the process easily understood and followed. The materials needed can be bought at hobby shops, lumber yards, and hardware stores, and the tools are basic. Steve passes his years of experience on to the reader in a way that allows even the novice model builder to complete a fine modela simple, yet elegant skiffincorporating many of the original construction techniques. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fun little book , beautiful pictures & illustrations
This is a great book for the model boat builder. Step by step instructions with great color pictures at each step. The model is built just as the full sized version. I have built several of these skiffs. Each one came out very nicely. They are easy to modify to the individual modelers needs. All you need is some good clear white pine or white cedar and a small table saw to make your "lumber" for the boat. Most of it is simply 3/32" by 1/2" strips. You glue them together with Titebond or Elmers, clamp them with clothes pins then wipe all the excess away. Next the author gives some great painting tips! Easy and fun!

Excellent how-to for the beginner or moderately experienced
Excellent how-to book documents the construction of this elegant work boat model.Liberal use of photographs in addition to clearly and handsomly drawn plans, provide insight into how the work should look as it progresses - very important for the less experienced reader.Careful explanation of the finishing work allows the builder to reproduce therealistic 'dirty' look of this elegant old-time work boat.The reviewer was so pleased with the result that he multiplied everything by 12 and built the same boat again full size.Experienced or green you will enjoy this book.Buy two - one for the shop and one for the shelf. ... Read more

Product Description

This text helps business students develop competitive advantages for use in their future careers as decision makers. Students learn to build models using logic and experience, produce statistics using Excel 2007 with shortcuts, and translate results into implications for decision makers. The author emphasizes communicating results effectively in plain English and with compelling graphics in the form of memos and PowerPoints.

Statistics, from basics to sophisticated models, are illustrated with examples using real data such as students will encounter in their roles as managers. A number of examples focus on business in emerging global markets with particular emphasis on China and India. Results are linked to implications for decision making with sensitivity analyses to illustrate how alternate scenarios can be compared. Condensing and distilling results makes results more usable. Chapters include screenshots to make it easy to conduct analyses in Excel 2007 with time-saving shortcuts expected in the business world.

PivotTables and PivotCharts, used frequently in businesses, are introduced from the start. Monte Carlo simulation is introduced early, as a tool to illustrate the range of possible outcomes from decision makers’ assumptions and underlying uncertainties. Model building with regression is presented as a process, adding levels of sophistication, with chapters on multicollinearity and remedies, forecasting and model validation, autocorrelation and remedies, indicator variables to represent segment differences, and seasonality, structural shifts or shocks in time series models. Special applications in market segmentation and portfolio analysis are offered, and an introduction to conjoint analysis is included. Nonlinear models are motivated with arguments of diminishing or increasing marginal response, and a chapter on logit regression models market share or proportions.

Customer Reviews (6)

I was waiting for more
My expectations with this book were higher, there is no doubt Ms Frazer has a very solid knowledge of quantitative analysis but this books lacks a lot of teaching methodology: there are reference of files and I don't know whether those files are delivered together with the book or not, the printing is blurry and examples are too small graphs, I need to figure out the numbers.If this is a teaching book it must be clearly stated where to locate all resources and it must be prioritized that readers must have a clear picture on examples and specially on printed excell examples for a better understanding.I've been a business teacher for 8 years now and I would not use this book as a reference.

Business Statistics for Competitive Advantage with Excel 2007: Basics, Model Building and Cases
Save your money. There are many better books out there describing Excel 2007 and Business.
The reproduction quality is poor.
The datasets are not readily available on the publishers site.

the right book for practictioners
If you have any background or experience in creating multivariate models you will find these book and easy read. It gives you all of the steps to do multivariate modeling and forecasting right. Best book I have read on the subject.

How to access the Excel files
Hello---

To access the Excel files, please go to Springer's website for instructions and their online location.

Prof Fraser

Where are the sample files?
I find it fairly difficult to study the book without sample files.
Is there a way to download the samples? ... Read more

Product Description
Well-known author/boatbuilder, Dynamite Payson applies his ``instant approach'' to building replicas of small rowing and sailing craft. He starts with a simple lobsterboat that anyone can build in an hour and progresses through dories, skiffs, catboats, peapods, a sloop and a sardine carrier. Dynamite's friendly, no-nonsense instructions and step-by-step photos guide the reader easily through each boat's construction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An excellent book
I havnt had a chance to begin building a model as yet but this is the book i chose to take my plans from.A wide choice of models to chose from well and truely detailed instructions and photos.Absolutely marvelous step by step to completion.Most model boat books offer one boat plan , maybe two or three.
This epic will keep me busy for years to come i can already see.I doubt if youll find a better book and ive bought a few here on Amazon.

A little and precious book about boats modelling
Like your other practice books, "Dynamite" Pason apply your building technics in the small models and bring to modeler wonderful results. The technics are very simple, the projects are fast and playable,and the sequence of pictures of the projects, excelent. I recommend thisbook for the begginer modeler and for the people who likes nautical models.The results are very beautiful. ... Read more

Product Description
Introduces the philosophy of experimentation and the part that statistics play in experimentation. Emphasizes the need to develop a capability for ``statistical thinking'' by using examples drawn from actual case studies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Excellant book
This is a very good reference book with a large number of practical real-life examples.

Starts with the Basics
Starting with simple examples this book progresses to more complex statistical theory.It emphasizes the importance of having subject matter knowledge.If the experiment is not well designed no amount of statistics can get valid results so there is a lot of information of experiment design.

Confidence Bound Estimates
This book is a terrific asset to any experimentalist.The authors provide methods for estimation of the confidence of mean values.For example, when fitting a least square line to a set of data, confidence bounds can be graphed as well as the least square line.

It Requires Only Elementary Mathematics
"This fresh approach to statistics focuses on applications in the physical, engineering, biological, and social sciences.

From the beginning its source of ideas is the scientific method itself and the need of the investigator to make his research as effective as possible through proper choice and conduct of experiments and appropriate analysis of data.

While the book is unusual in the attention given to scientific philosophy, IT REQUIRES ONLY ELEMENTARY MATHEMATICS....."
[from the book of the front flap]

Additional Praise
I can't really add anything the other reviews haven't already covered.I just wanted to add my praise of this classic.This book is very relevant in a lab setting.I would recommend it to everyone to start with, but especially those with experimental problems to solve in an objective way. ... Read more