Business administration is an important subject. It is concerned with all the decisions in regards to the administration and performance of a business. Managers are part of the overall administration of a company and the decisions they make are crucial the success of the business. Given that this is such an important topic it is hardly surprising to find that there have been many books written on the topic. Some of these texts were written for people who are studying an MBA while others are more practical in nature. Here are just top five of the best business administration books reviewed.
Understanding Business by William Nickels, James McHugh and Susan McHugh (2006)
This book is commonly used as an MBA text as well as for other academic courses. All the important concepts are looked at in great detail. A nice touch with this book is that all the key facts are displayed in boxes at the side of the text. This is perfect for revision or when you just want to get a quick overview of a topic. There is also the offer of free online quizzes for those who wish to evaluate their own learning.
Modern Business Administration– 6th Edition- by Robert C. Appleby(1994)
This book has been around for a long time, but it remains a trusted textbook for anyone interested in business administration. As you would expect from such a revered book all the important topics are covered in great detail. This is something that will not only be good for students but it will also be handy to have as a reference resource. In fact this might be the only book on the subject you ever need.
The Best Business Books Ever: The Most Influential Management Books You’ll Never Have Time To Read by Basic Books (2011)
The title contains a bold claim, but this really is a good book for anyone interested in business administration or basic management. It not only looks at business thinking but also describes how it has evolved over the years. Learning the history of management is interesting and this makes the book hard to put down. The book examines 130 of the most influential books of all time and then takes the real pearls of wisdom to be found in these texts. Each chapter of this book contains some real nuggets and you will be glad you read it.
Z.B.A.: Zen of Business Administration – How Zen Practice Can Transform Your Work And Your Life by Marc Lesser (2005)
Don’t let the title fool you. There will be no need for you to put on the robes of a monk or become a Buddhist in order to benefit from the wisdom in these pages. The book uses stories of the Buddha and personal stories by the author to provide some insights into business administration. The book suggests that it is possible to mix business with spirituality and by doing so it can make people more effective managers. If you are looking for a bit of inspiration then this book by Marc Lesser might be a good place to start.
Small Business Management: An Entrepreneur’s Guidebook by Mary Jane Byrd and Leon Megginson (2008)
As the title suggests this book is about administration in a small business. This is a very easy to read text and is packed solid with practical advice. All the information given relies on the latest research. There are plenty of pictures and graphs to make the information even easier to grasp. This will be a good introduction for anyone interested in business administration for a small operation.