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This article has been withdrawn as it was published elsewhere and accidentally duplicated. The original article can be seen here: 10.1108/00251749010003224. When citing the article, please cite: Ken Matejka, (1990), “Unpublished? Perish the Thought”, Management Decision, Vol. 28 Iss: 6.

This light‐hearted piece suggests some new titles which might be found on tomorrow′s bookstalls.

How can one know if a whole chain of managers is weak? In practice, the chain of command seems to handle the logic of effective organisation and control adequately. Usually a single “weak link” manager (a manager whose controllable performance variables are substandard) is easily identified. But what happens when several “weak link” managers are functionally bound together. The multiple indications necessary to unmask multiple weak links are dealt with.

Surviving employees need to know why and how decisions are made about redundancy and personnel changes if their loyalty is to be preserved.

Presents a review of the factors that have inhibited the adoption of total quality management in the USA and recommends new ways of approaching it that require more personal involvement by top management.

Some ideas are expounded about how to get published in management or marketing publications. First, almost anyone with ideas can get published. Second, only a few people have all the necessary skills (creative ideas, writing skills, organisational capabilities, packaging prowess and artful matching of product and markets) to publish alone on a regular basis. What publishing can do for you is examined, the ways that we stop ourselves from publishing and hints for getting into print are given.

Gives ten pointers for enhancing your career advancement. These suggestions explore traditional areas of promotability but with new, current answers to what to do to get promoted in the 1990s! Topics covered include performance, presence, priorities, problem solving, persuasion, empowerment, participation, presentation, passion and people.

Suggests that writing a great mission statement can be perceived as a wonderful opportunity or a meaningless task – but it must be done well because the mission drives organizational goals, strategies and behaviour. Explores the problems of designing a scintillating mission and provides three real, superb examples of what a great mission can be.

Meetings are not a magic elixir! Some meetings are worthwhile. Some meetings are a waste of time. Some meetings should never have been held. Employs humour and wit to show how meetings often resemble a dramatic performing art with a predetermined cast of ten stereotypical characters. Finishes with an explanation of five common myths about meetings which often lead to using 100lb of energy to produce three ounces of results.

Steven Covey had tremendous success with his seven habits for success in business in particular and life in general. This article takes a light‐hearted, irreverent look at analyzing the habits of the people who do not have such great prosperity. Chronically less than successful people suffer from seven diseases (or habits) including: playing the victim, failure to see the bigger picture, a lack of priorities, destructive competition, blind spots, a lack of creativity and resistance to change. The article really explores how some people stop themselves from becoming all that they could be.