Fire Service Personnel Management (2nd Edition)

Rating:
Summary: A fire service managers guidebook for success.
Review: Fire Service Personnel Management is a timely an effective tool in dealing with personnel issues in the 21st century. Specific fire service scenarios throughtout the book highlight the challenges associated with a changing fire service. The book exposes the manager to the reality of a new workforce comprised of more and more minorities and females. It concisely explains the legal issues that a supervisor needs to be familiar with as well as guidelines for the selection of recruits and developing promotable employees. The chapter on labor relations and collective bargaining provides unique insights into collaborating with labor to achieve the goals of both Union and Management. Every manager will glean new techniques in effectively dealing with labor issues. My only regret is that this book was not available when I was studying for promotions as it is an extremely user friendly and comprehensive resource. I use it now in my capacity as Deputy Chief to doublecheck myself when handling any personnel matter.

Rating:
Summary: A fire service managers guidebook for success.
Review: Fire Service Personnel Management is a timely an effective tool in dealing with personnel issues in the 21st century. Specific fire service scenarios throughtout the book highlight the challenges associated with a changing fire service. The book exposes the manager to the reality of a new workforce comprised of more and more minorities and females. It concisely explains the legal issues that a supervisor needs to be familiar with as well as guidelines for the selection of recruits and developing promotable employees. The chapter on labor relations and collective bargaining provides unique insights into collaborating with labor to achieve the goals of both Union and Management. Every manager will glean new techniques in effectively dealing with labor issues. My only regret is that this book was not available when I was studying for promotions as it is an extremely user friendly and comprehensive resource. I use it now in my capacity as Deputy Chief to doublecheck myself when handling any personnel matter.

Rating:
Summary: Read like a cookbook.
Review: I bought this book as a text book for a college course. I was extremely dissappointed because the style in which Mr. Edwards writes is an excellent example of what a text book should not be. I wondered if I had bought the clif note version. I felt this book was written like a cookbook. It left a bad taste in my mouth, and I wanted to throw the recipe away. I felt that Mr. Edwards book was an excellent example of "easy way out" management. He limited the examples in the text to only the those he used, and left an impression that all of his decisions were correct. I would like to ask Mr. Edwards if he felt he was successful in running the PG County Fire Dept. using the discussed methods. I would also ask if he felt the Dept. was in better shape after his tenure as Chief. If you are interested in learning to manage fire service personnel you may want to read this book, because of the limited information on the topic. But if you set it down after the first ten pages dont be suprised, I have seen toast that wasnt as dry as this book.

Rating:
Summary: Read like a cookbook.
Review: I bought this book as a text book for a college course. I was extremely dissappointed because the style in which Mr. Edwards writes is an excellent example of what a text book should not be. I wondered if I had bought the clif note version. I felt this book was written like a cookbook. It left a bad taste in my mouth, and I wanted to throw the recipe away. I felt that Mr. Edwards book was an excellent example of "easy way out" management. He limited the examples in the text to only the those he used, and left an impression that all of his decisions were correct. I would like to ask Mr. Edwards if he felt he was successful in running the PG County Fire Dept. using the discussed methods. I would also ask if he felt the Dept. was in better shape after his tenure as Chief. If you are interested in learning to manage fire service personnel you may want to read this book, because of the limited information on the topic. But if you set it down after the first ten pages dont be suprised, I have seen toast that wasnt as dry as this book.