Just a few of the kind words

professionals in the field have said about Helix

WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE BEST PRACTICES FOR BPI, May 25, 2004 - Richard D. Stinson, CPA, CBM, CISA (Madison, WI)

WOW! The book's subtitle says it all-these ARE the keys to creating efficiencies in business processes. Michael Wood extends the lessons learned in his first book, The Helix Factor, by providing a working manual, complete with templates and instructions. Using an actual case study, Mr. Wood shows you how to apply the Helix tools to business improvement. This is the only guide I have found that is useful as a field book to facilitating a process improvement project.

The Helix Factor II will definitely help you launch projects and ultimately bring them to a successful conclusion. This authoritative guidebook provides all the tools you need to your make business processes more efficient and create a positive impact to your bottom line.

The only thing missing is an electronic version of the templates used in the Helix approach. However, given the fact that they are relatively easy to construct and will provide a valuable learning experience from the reader, their omission does not detract from the importance of the material.

A "How-to" for Six Sigma, November 9, 2002 - "tvstuff" (Wexford, PA USA)

This may be the first "Six Sigma" friendly process improvement methodology HOW TO book on the market. The book walks you through a prescriptive STEP-BY-STEP approach for facilitating the discovery of measurable and mappable business process improvements.

You will never need to ask yourself, "What do I do next?"

Identifying defects, integrating real-time performance feedback functions, conducting cross-functional work sessions and more are all covered in this book. From Kick-Off to Completion, this book has it all. Everything you need to lead, manage and complete breakthrough BPI projects.

If you are using Six Sigma, or any other approach to Business Process Improvement, this book is a MUST READ! I recommend you start with the first book, The Helix Factor - The Key to Streamlining Your Business Processes, by the same author.

Clear and Informative, March 13, 2006 - George Jucan "George Jucan" (Toronto, ON, Canada)

Great book! Clear and concise, written with a no-nonsense, straight to the point approach, the book presents key ingredients to business processes analysis and reengineering. Even if you don't follow the method exactly as described, the concepts presented are useful in the real-life of a wide range of roles, from executive management to team members.
Very easy to read, you often wonder "why did I never thought of that?". As you read the book you start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and realize that business processes reengineering does not have to be a mysterious process conducted from the Ivory Tower.
Indeed, Michael Wood makes sense out of chaos and draws a path easy to follow, with clear guidelines and practical examples. The book provides enough theory to demonstrate the approach, but is more an "how-to" guide very useful on day to day activities.
Congratulations Michael on a very useful book!

Simple Measurable Attainable Realistic Timely, December 27, 2005 - Mark Brunner (Toronto Ontario Canada)

I received the Helix Factor as a gift, and read its back cover with skepticism. The back cover made claims that I couldn't expect to realize from reading one thin book. "You too can generate 500 to 1000 percent!"

I cracked the cover on my trek into work, and would have missed my bus stop if I wasn't with my lovely wife. The preface and dedication struck a chord, and the reasoning presented for writing the book inspired my curiosity. I dove into the first chapter "Helping people and Organizations Effect Positive Outcomes". I was pleasantly surprised how this chapter helped me to work through some issues that I was having difficulty with as a new Manager, introducing change management to an older company that had recently grown into an international organization through acquisition and merger.

The entire book was lacking fluff, and served up a good portion of not so common, common sense. As I got further and further into this book, I found myself shaking my head, laughing, and wondering why this book hadn't been written before! It is a collection of simple ideas, arranged in a logical fashion, and spelled out in easy to read, large type. It sits well with the SMART Objectives concept.

I applaud Michael Wood for taking the time to think his processes through, for clarifying many things about self and team improvement, and for contributing this knowledge to others. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that is starting out in process improvement or design, management, and team building.

Thank you Michael,
Mark Brunner

No pretensions of erudite scholarship, simple down to earth advice that works..., August 25, 2005 - Atul M. Kherde (New Delhi, India)

More than a book, I would like to call it a manual, for that is what it is! This book, though written by a scholar, does not have any 'scholarly' pretensions, which is what makes it very easy to read. The author has no agenda to 'showcase' his erudition, but simply does the job he has at hand.

The biggest impediment in bringing about any organizational change is to carry the opinion of all the people involved in the change process. I am sure that this book will go a long way in convincing the fence sitters about the feasibility of bringing about a change with a finite effort! It will surely help the change managers to get more buy-in from all concerned.
For large changes, it is not sufficient that the CXO be convinced about the change. His vision has to be shared by all the others down the line. This book will also help in getting people on board the change wagon!

THIS BOOK MAY BE HARMFUL TO YOUR COMPETITORS, May 25, 2004 - Richard D. Stinson, CPA, CBM, CISA (Madison, WI)

Once I started reading this book, I was so hooked on the Helix approach that I absolutely had to read Helix II--The Implementer's Guide (more about that later). Then, after reading the first chapter, I recall saying aloud, "Finally, someone can explain how to align business processes to strategies and strategies to stakeholders' wants and needs. This author understands what line-of-site is all about." Using a series of easy to understand common-sense principles and factors, Mr. Wood provides a high-level step-by-step approach to making business process improvement a reality.

If you are ready to change the way you do business, and want to get the edge on your competitors, this is a must read. To obtain a full appreciation for the Helix methodology, however, you must read the Helix Factor II-The Implementer's Guide. This definitive guide will give you all the tools you need to make your business processes more efficient and create a positive impact on your bottom line. It is an investment in your business' future.

Are You Ready for (Continuous) Continuous Improvement?, February 28, 2002 - Alan Thompson (Florida)

The title for this review is not a typo, nor is it redundant. Read "The Helix Factor". Internalize the principles.
Ask yourself and your organization the same questions that Michael Wood identifies in his book. Prepare your organization to benefit continuously by continuing to improve your business processes that tie directly to your business objectives.

If there is a missing link to Six Sigma, it is found in this book. This a "must read" for the business executive looking to take his company to the top. For those that feel they are at the top, you had best read this to stay there! And, more importantly, if your company faces serious business challenges, you may begin to map your renewal by adhering to the Helix Methodology.

Thank you Michael for a methodology that makes a difference!

A Seamless, Common Sense Approach, September 21, 2000 - STEVEN L PHINNEY (Seattle, WA USA - Six Sigma Blackbelt)
Finally, someone has taken common sense and applied it to business process improvement. Michael's methodology is very easy to follow and will allow those that don't want to dedicate their organization to Six Sigma or other complex programs, the ability to make tremendous impacts on the performance of their business. Excellent book, but would also recommend his second edition of the Helix factor, "The Implementation Guide," soon to be out in bookstores. This book takes The Helix Factor to a new level by providing a step-by-step guide to implementing this methodology, complete with all the documents as well as how to facilitate and analyze the information. This it the book most consultants are afraid of publishing, as it will allow one to execute a project on their own, without paying large consulting dollars for tremendous results.

A book so compelling to action I look forward for the II, August 5, 1999 - Mario Vizcaino (mvs@xview.com.mx) (Mexico)

I got the Helix Factor in a handful of BP books. I was looking for BP design ones: build them new AND right. Then I realized better. I liked it so much I am holding my breath until the implementer's handbook shows me how to do it. Not since reading Belasco's Teaching the Elephant to Dance have I read a book so compelling to action as this is. I strongly recommend it !!