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Dec 21, 2008

Barky rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Oct 16, 2011

Glenn rated it:

Many leaders are questioning how traditional workplaces are changing, and how old paradigms are being challenged. Best Buy (a huge retail chain in the US) radically altered its workplace environment, and by doing, increased their productivity, retained their talent and reduced their overhead. They introduced what is fast becoming a movement called, 'ROWE' (Results-Only Work Environment.

Simply, it challenges the myth that Time + Physical Presence = Results, and that many organisations p More...

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May 04, 2011

Kelly rated it:

gap brand is moving to ROWE (my kick-off mtg is today!!!)!!! ROWE: results-ONLY work environment, where you set your own schedule, work where you want, as long as you're delivering the results. the company provided this book to us to read before our kick-off mtgs to help all of us understand the ROWE culture, and what it means, as well as help with the transition period. the book is definitely eye-opening...questioning and challenging "antiquated" and "out-dated" practice More...

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Jul 22, 2008

Barbara rated it:

After reading this, it's so hard to go to work every day and spend energy trying to fill up time when I'm not working on anything specific. The premise of the book is that we are adults, and our employers should treat us as such. As long as the work is getting done, it doesn't matter where or when it happens. It's revolutionary, and everyone who has a job or has people that work for them should read it.

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Jun 03, 2009

Megan rated it:

This book explains the working model that was developed at the Best Buy headquarters in the Twin Cities - ROWE: Results Only Work Environment. In this model, the only thing that matters in the workplace is results. You can work anywhere, anytime, any way you want as long as your work gets done. The book explains the 13 Guideposts, such as

Employees have the freedom to work any way they want.
People have an unlimited amount of "paid time off" as long as the work gets More...

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Dec 02, 2011

Kim rated it:

I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, contains real life testimonials, and I think would make most readers wonder why so many Americans work in an environment that treats them like children. Many people complain that the book is too repetitive. I'm not going to argue against this, but I would challenge you to think about why. Common psychology tells us (it is evident all the time in advertising) that it takes repetitve messages for the information to sink in. The whole idea of ROWE is a majo More...

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May 18, 2009

Jon rated it:

I'm really conflicted on this one. On one hand, I think ROWE is a completely revolutionary concept and this book is the best thing you can read to get up to speed on it. However, I think this book also takes an overly simplistic approach. The constant phrase throughout the book was "as long as work gets done" with very little attention given to the quality of the work or whether the "work getting done" is truly the optimal outcome. I also question how well ROWE works in b More...

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Mar 08, 2009

Pamela rated it:

Didn't particularly like the title of this book, since I've never felt like "work sucks." But I was drawn to the subject matter -- a case study of the Results Only Work Environment (ROWE) that's been established over the last several years at Best Buy corporate offices. People work when and where they choose, all meetings are optional, and the only metrics by which employees are judged are the results they deliver, based on clearly established goals and expectations. The book turns the More...

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Nov 10, 2011

Joshua rated it:

From a technical standpoint perhaps this book could be written better, and it would be nice if it wasn't so focused on experiences at Best Buy headquarters. But those faults aside, the principles in the book are some of the most transformative to hit the business world in the past 100 years. There are some workplaces that already employ something approximating a results-only work environment (ROWE), but there are far too many that come nowhere close.

What is inevitable is that eventuall More...

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Jan 21, 2012

Clare rated it:

I liked this book, but ended up wanting a bit more from it...

The book provides a very compelling argument as to why the current system of work/performance (largely based on time) is broken and the advantages of ROWE (Results-Only Work Environment). But for me, this was really preaching to the converted... I first read about ROWE on Tim Ferris' blog (I think) and was attracted to the concept right away. I completely agree that work (and associated remuneration and performance measure More...

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Sep 17, 2008

Alexander rated it:

Introduces the concepts of ROWE (Results Only Work Environment). This book is an interesting read in tandem with Four Hour Work Week.

The book covers many topics of interest if a work environment could sustain a 'results-only' concept. What's surprising is that this type of environment gave a 35% BOOST in productivity at Best Buy corporate.

A lot of doubters should read this book to answer a lot of good questions about the topic of freedom of time for a standard workday. More...

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Aug 13, 2008

Emil rated it:

I gave the book four stars, but the concept the book explores, the Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE), gets a full five stars. The authors are the HR professionals responsible for the development and implementation of ROWE at Best Buy Corporate HQ, and their creation is truly revolutionary.

In Why Work Sucks, Ressler and Thompson outline a cultural transformation away from time-based labor in the Information Economy. Making the very cogent argument that "working hours" o More...

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Sep 06, 2011

Wendy rated it:

Parts of my company are switching to "Results Oriented Work Environment" (ROWE) and it's been the talk for awhile so I borrowed my coworker's copy to see what all the hubbub is about. The ideas in the book are maybe 3 stars but it is SOOOO BADLY WRITTEN! It's like the script for an infomercial (even has testimonials), but like, not drunk at 3AM, with Doritos in your lap and no zany Australian hosts. Skip the book, read a pamphlet.

Book dish: Doritos, 3am.

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Dec 16, 2009

Paco rated it:

Brilliant approach to refactoring the entire workplace environment. The case studies covered (Best Buy, etc.) produced radical changes in office costs, health insurance, employee turnover rates, etc.

I've been in one firm which used this approach quite well. I've worked in oh so many firms which used opposites approaches quite poorly.

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Sep 24, 2008

Val rated it:

When I first read this book, I thought, "Well, that's a great idea, but I don't think it would work in my field (architecture). But the more I thought about it afterwards, the more sense it made and the more it really COULD work in just about any field. The first few chapters made me angry, as I read about why indeed work sucks. But then, the authors provide the reader with the 13 Guideposts of ROWE to help them envision how work can be better. Funny, I just realized today that ROWE is More...

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Sep 29, 2010

Trish rated it:

Some very good ideas in this book based around the Results Only Work Environment. This is something that those companies with intelligent, confident leadership should be taking on board and implementing as soon as possible. Those companies without intelligent, confident leaders have bigger issues to address!

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May 06, 2009

Joe rated it:

I didn't get anything out of this book. The ROWE (results oriented work environment) is beyond most employees' control. This book may be ahead of its time, but there really is no way to proactively pursue the prescribed approach without gifting the book to the CEO and hoping he/she reads it.

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Sep 15, 2011

Eric rated it:

The concepts are really what makes this book important. Pretty much: Treat employees like people instead of machines and they'll be way more happy and productive. Unfortunately, they titled it in a way that will make it hard to be taken seriously.

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May 08, 2011

Jacqui rated it:

This is an amazing, if not ferociously optimistic, book. It promotes a nothing short of radical redo of the typical work place--changing environments into places where employees can work whenever they want, for however long they want, as long as they get the work done. This "results only work place" relies on employees acting as adults, not taking advantage of a new paradigm. I'm skeptical. While I think some people could handle it, I have had enough work experience to know that others More...

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Jan 29, 2009

Hisao rated it:

This book is about BestBuy transforming their work style. This breaks your stereotypes on the concept of "working hour." Good for the person like me who needs to balance between personal and professional life.

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Apr 16, 2009

Serina rated it:

Excellent book about results ONLY work environments. I never thought such a thing existed before reading this book. Best Buy is certainly a company worthy of benchmarking against in terms of corporate culture.

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Feb 10, 2011

Michelle rated it:

I read the first page and was instantly hooked. Your view on how you spend your day will be transformed. Don't accept the drudgery of work, there is a better way! This book will make you question everything.

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Jun 21, 2009

Rhea rated it:

This book is absolutely great and I wish we could implement this type of structure in my work environment. The idea provides so much flexibilty to allow us to ENJOY work and life.

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Jan 12, 2009

Kristin rated it:

The concept of a results-only work environment is the stuff of dreams and if Best Buy corporate hadn't already applied it, I'd think it was just that.

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Sep 02, 2008

Eric rated it:

It absolutely sucks to go back to work after reading this book. The book promotes the concept of creating a work environment where employees can easily achieve balance between work and everything else in life, fosters professional respect amongst employees, and seems to eliminate most stress not related to one's professional responsibilities. The book is an eye opener to how antiquated the typical office modus operandi is, and at the same time provides a real world solution for fixing it. At More...

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May 02, 2010

Gillian added it

great concept, eye opener to Best Buy wonder if it's for HQ employees or across the board
We've all had enough, go ROWE

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Apr 29, 2010

Eric added it

An amazing idea that really transforms how one thinks about work. We are trying this out at my company and here's to hoping it works out well and is embraced as the future.

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Feb 13, 2012

Jeff rated it:

I am ready for ROWE!! It was a good book and it gets you pumped up for ROWE. However, the book probably could have been about 100 pages or less even. It has A LOT of repetition. You pretty much get the concept after 2 chapters.

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Sep 29, 2008

Ruthe rated it:

I loved this book. Take everything you've ever been taught about management and climbing the corporate ladder and throw it out the window -- but keep your common sense. Cali and Jody open your minds to the possiblity of a Results Only Work Environment with proven results (Best Buy uses it) and you find yourself doing little things in your every day life to get closer to a ROWE. The idea behind it is so simple that you wonder why it isn't instantly embraced by all but it does go against almost More...

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Sep 22, 2011

Clayton rated it:

Read this if you're interested in moving beyond the traditional workplace.

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