Book Description

As often reported in Business Week and Fortune, most large companies today concede that their cost systems are desperately obsolete. In this eagerly awaited book, John Shank and Vijay Govindarajan, nationally known experts on the strategic use of cost information, address head-on the fundamental concepts of management accounting that are in desperate need of change. The authors demonstrate how strategic cost management, the first analytic framework to relate meaningful accounting information to a firm's business strategy, is revolutionizing accounting—and overall business practices in leading firms. With numerous extended examples including Ciba-Geigy, Ford, Texas Instruments, and many more, the authors show how the three key tools of strategic cost management—value chain analysis, strategic positioning analysis, and cost driver analysis—provide a sustainable competitive advantage over firms whose cost systems are in disarray.

With persuasive evidence, Shank and Govindarajan demonstrate the strategic power of value chain analysis, i.e., linking external value creating activities all the way from basic raw materials, to component suppliers, and through to the ultimate end-use product delivered to the consumers. Next, they examine how cost management and cost control must be differentiated depending on the strategic positioning chosen by the firm, be it cost leadership or product differentiation. Finally, the authors offer penetrating in-sights on cost driver analysis using such examples as Champion International and Motorola to describe the uses and limitations of activity-based costing, quality costing, and technology costing.

Traditional cost analysis, the authors show, is limited to assessing the financial impact of managerial decision alternatives, with no consideration for strategic business objectives. In this indispensable guide, Shank and Govindarajan show how Strategic Cost Management (SCM) relates to a broader context, where strategic elements become far more conscious, explicit, and formal, and cost data is used to develop superior strategies en route to gaining sustainable competitive advantage. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Adding the insights of Corp Strategy to Cost Accounting
If you, like me, are interested in Cost Management and think that most companies would do better if they invested more care in this topic, you might be interested in this book. The core idea of the book is to marry cost management (management accounting) with the insights that have been developed in Corporate Strategy over the past 20 years. What we get is a richer and more informative use of management accounting, but one that is more difficult to apply because it relies less on simple formulas and rules.

I like the way the book uses cases to show the additional insights you get by using their approach by comparing it to the results you would get from the case with the traditional approaches. The authors are honest about the complications and difficulties and that helps us better assess the trade-offs.

This is a book that requires some background in traditional cost accounting and then after this book you will want to do more reading study and real-world analysis. It isn't a panacea nor does it try to be. But it sure is interesting and helpful if you care about the subject.

Important Work, Great Fundamentals
I have taken John Shank's required first year class at Babson College (MBA program, first year) and bought this for more background since he requires no textbook for the class. It takes much of Michael Porter's work and merges it with a cost accounting angle. The book was exactly the mix of Michael Porter and John Shank that Shank preaches in the classroom and is critical to a responsible understanding of any manufacturing-based operation. From my perspective, it is probably most useful to business operators/managers -- far more so than consultants. The sample cases are a good mix in their simplicity and relevance -- I will refer to the book for years to come.

I bought it used through Amazon and paid about $10.00 -- it was promptly delivered in perfect condition.

SCM is really a New Tool
The analysis of the Siemens Electric Motor Works case is excellent. Though the case is presented in Cooper and Kaplan's "Design of Cost Management Systems", the analysis here is outstanding. It provides an excellent platform to demonstrate how the "ABC View of Costs" - as distinct from the "Traditional View of Costs" provides useful insights into potential starting points for starting a Kaizen exercise ; and measuring progress on such an exercise once it gets started. The Baldwin Bicycle case is another excellent case where the contrast of results using conventional analytical tools like BCG matrix and NPV on the one hand, and SCM on the other lead to different results and clearly establishes the superiority of the SCM methodology.

Gerencia Estrategica
Me encuentro desarrollando un proyecto respecto a la gerencia estrategica de costos, quisiera compartir informacion actualizada sobre este tem ... Read more

Book Description

"Mohan has brought ABC/M and activity-based systems into focus. Activity-Based Information Systems acknowledges that it takes people, process, and technology leadership to make any change initiative successful, but this book tells you how."—John V. Harker President and CEO InFocus Systems, Inc.

"Much has been written on ABC/M, but it is rare to find implementation secrets put together in such an approachable format."—Ashok Vadgama Manager, Configuration Management and ABM Motorola

Whether you are looking to improve your business's bottom line or streamlining your company's financial decisions, Activity-Based Information Systems provides you with the know-how and expert information you need to get started on the road to success. This is the first book of its kind that examines the complex choices and opportunities available to corporations and individuals embarking on the ABC/M journey. Rather than focusing on the pitfalls of establishing this information system, Mohan Nair outlines—in plain English—the seven keys to establishing the proper conditions for a successful ABC/M implementation. In this unique and groundbreaking book, you'll also learn about:

• The history and framework behind activity-based information systems
• The three factors of technology, people, and processes used in implementation
• How to make the critical move from implementation start-up to education, and on through the production phases
• Four cases of actual implementation and the unique contribution which ABC/M makes in the pursuit of financially endorsed and IT-maintained operational information
• The proper checklist to have for basic evaluations of specific information systems

Even the latest high-speed technology and desktop applications now routinely used by corporations around the world, the most essential business information that operating managers and CFOs can use today, is still unreachable. It doesn't have to be. The field of activity-based cost/management (ABC/M) is not simply a cost exercise for technically savvy cost managers; it is a process which can be utilized by nearly any type of business. Implementing an ABC/M project involves focusing on the management of activities as a means to improve the value received by customers, and the subsequent profit achieved by providing this value to customers on a continual basis.

The information obtained from ABC and activity-based management (ABM) is quickly becoming vital for operating managers who rely on a high-quality ABC information system to meet their demands. Now, the president of Oregon's ABC Technologies, author Mohan Nair, meets those demands with Activity-Based Information Systems. Providing a framework for implementing activity-based information systems (ABIS), Mr. Nair, using nontechnical language, examines the strategies for technology evaluation and design, their organizational and financial implications, and technology's limitations. Executives will appreciate the success-ful implementation strategies contained in this book—strategies that are not focused on avoiding pitfalls, but utilized to create the conditions for success.

With proven insights backed by experience, not doctrines, Mr. Nair explains how most implementations have generally focused on the process and people views of an ABC/M endeavor—yet all three views, including a technological view, must be understood and coexist routinely in order to have a truly successful and continuous implementation of ABC/M. However, the book does not simply demonstrate ABC/M and ABIS concepts. Business managers and consultants alike will value Mohan Nair's perspectives on time-based management, business process reengineering, thruput maximization, budget justification, strategic cost management, and profitability management, as well as how these initiatives relate to ABM.

In today's computer-enabled business world, it pays to have an in-depth knowledge of costing, along with an appreciation for capitalizing on the use of systems and software. There is no simple "recipe" for overnight implementation; however, by following Mohan Nair's sevenfold steps to successful ABC/M implementation, your company can create the best conditions for success and meet the future head-on with an activity-based information system that is operationally used, financially endorsed, and IT-maintained. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A must read for Implementing ABC/M: Do it yourself
An amazingly simple ,yet comprehensive and well articulated book, which holds your hand in a seven step approach in building and designing a fairly substantial model for a fully integrated business enterprice. Not only this will provide you a fairly robust cost system but will lead you to implementable schmes that will control contain and manage costs esposing the hidden treasures.

With suitable adaptations one can find windows of opportunities in finding revnues for growth with profitabiltiy. More you reread, you will have enrichment not only for your mind but to the business as a whoole.

A comprehensive and complete compendium for cost management. ... Read more

Book Description

The 2003 Cumulative Supplement thoroughly updates Mergers and Acquisitions: Business Strategies for Accountants, Second Edition. ... Read more

Book Description

Combines financial and managerial/cost accounting, focusing on the concepts underlying accounting systems, statements and reports most commonly encountered in industry today along with the analysis of those reports and statements. As procedures and analytical techniques are introduced, the role of compromises, estimates, assumptions and omissions is emphasized. Contains a large number and diversity of end-of-chapter problems plus discussion questions and four case studies. ... Read more

Book Description

Everyone jokes about the 20/20 hindsight of cost management. In Life-Cycle Costing, Jan Emblemsvag proposes to do something about it.

Here's a new approach to life cycle costing that brings activity-based costing, risk, and uncertainty into the forefront. You'll focus on future costs and learn how you can perform any type of cost management activity better than before by introducing uncertainty into models and exploiting them to the max.

Order your copy today! ... Read more

Book Description

Get the financial tools you need to make sound business decisions for your nonprofit organization

Nonprofit managers, let this book show you how to become a better consumer of financial information. To get the most out of the information your bookkeepers and accountants provide, you need to understand and interpret it correctly. Written by Thomas McLaughlin, a nonprofit management expert, it cuts through technical jargon and complex mathematical contortions to give you the nuts and bolts of nonprofit financial management—as it happens in the real world. In a friendly, informal style, McLaughlin schools you in all the important terms and concepts, explains how to read and interpret financial reports, shows you how to analyze and control costs, provides practical tips for budgeting, and much more.

Clear, easy-to-follow explanations of financial management essentials, from balance sheets and cost analyses to budgeting and internal cost control

• More than 50 easy-to-read charts, tables, checklists, and instructive sidebars
• Lots of real-world examples based on the author's experience as a manager, consultant, and instructor
• Discussions centering around IRS Form 990—the government form which drives virtually all nonprofit accounting and financial reporting in the United States
• An IBM-compatible disk containing templates for financial reports, checklists, sample documents and other handy tools that you can copy, modify, and use

Reviews (1)

Excellent intro to accounting/finance for the novice.
As a new manager of a small/medium-sized nonprofit organization (20 staff), I needed to get up to speed quickly on accounting and finance principles, but didn't have time to take a course. This book was a great help. It's written in a conversation style, not in dry "accountant-speak," and gives the reader a good overview, with examples of all major accounting and finance concepts you are likely to run across. It even had a floppy disk with a variety of simple spreadsheets for you to learn from as you walked through each chapter. My only complaint was the spreadsheets on the disk are in an early form of Lotus 1-2-3, so those of us with Microsoft Excel have a hard time printing out these older documents cleanly (some of the formatting doesn't translate well). ... Read more

Book Description

This comprehensive two-volume set provides all the necessary concepts of capital investment evaluation, capital budgeting, and decision analysis.Volume 2 is specifically designed to present the concepts of decision analysis, incorporating risk and uncertainty as applied to capital investments.Mian takes the reader step-by-step through the decision-making process, providing comprehensive coverage of all decision analysis tools currently available while outlining how investment decisions are made under different stages of risk.Further, he focuses on practical application, using a straightforward approach with solved "real-life" examples and solutions, end-of-chapter problems, and illustrations throughout the book.Ideal for Accountants, Financial Analysts, Stock Brokers, Lawyers, Engineers, Investors, Geologists, Geophysicists, Managers, and Bankers. ... Read more

Book Description

"With this clear and comprehensive guide, the reader has an excellent basis on which to build up an advanced credit risk management system. Ramaswamy provides clear answers to important questions such as tail dependence and relative credit risk measures while keeping the right balance between practical relevance and technical sophistication."
–Dr. Yue Sung, Head of Risk Control, Deutsche Bundesbank

"This book bridges the gap between theory and practice in the quantitative management of corporate bond portfolios. Different distributional assumptions are utilized and discussed in the context of practical portfolio management examples. I recommend this book to practitioners as a useful introduction to the quantitative issues of corporate bond portfolio management."
–Lev Dynkin, Managing Director
Lehman Brothers, Quantitative Portfolio Strategies

In Managing Credit Risk in Corporate Bond Portfolios: A Practitioner’s Guide, investment expert Srichander Ramaswamy skillfully explains how you can begin to measure and manage the relative credit risk of a co rporate bond portfolio against its benchmark. By combining risk management concepts with portfolio construction techniques, and examining the role that quantitative methods play in the integration process, this comprehensive guide provides much-needed answers to numerous corporate bond portfolio management questions. Filled with practical advice and challenging end-of-chapter questions, this book can help you become a better-informed and more efficient player in the financial system–whether you’re an institutional investor in need of important risk guidelines or a portfolio manager looking to rebalance positions. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Must Read for all 'Traditional' Fixed Income Managers
This book does indeed fill an important gap in the literature - in bridging the quant and the strategist.
Simply put, the author has assembled a very readable set of ingredients from which one could 'proficiently' manage a corporate bond mandate.
The chapters on credit portfolio risk measurement and optimization are very informative and leave the right questions open to interpretation and future research.
The collection of analytical and simulation based approaches and empirical results is excellent and useful for everyone - no matter what the level of experience or expertise of the reader.
The reason for 4 stars is that I feel too much time was spent on discussing the KMV approach (which although well-known, has a number of weaknesses), not quite enough time was spent on the development of simulation-based approaches, and the author does not attempt to integrate market and credit risks directly.
This being said - there is enough detail in this book to lead the inquisitive reader into these subjects in more detail with a great background.
Excellent book ... Read more

Book Description

Gleim's Cost/Managerial Accounting Exam Questions & Explanations is a study manual for students and professionals to renew basic concepts of cost and managerial accounting and obtain CPE credit.The book provides a competitive advantage by improving the effectiveness of study time through learning and understanding.It will help you to improve test scores, learn and understand more in less time, earn higher grades, and practice professional exam questions with over 1,400 objective questions.Each question has a correct answer discussion plus explanations of why each incorrect answer is wrong. ... Read more

Book Description

A concise introduction to financial risk management strategies, policies, and techniques
This ideal guide for business professionals focuses on strategic and management issues associated with financial risk. Essentials of Financial Risk Management identifies risk-mitigation policies and strategies; suggestions for determining an organization's risk tolerance; and sources of risk associated with currency exchange rates, interest rates, credit exposure, commodity prices, and other related events. Examples illustrate risk scenarios and offer tips on an array of management alternatives, including changes in the way business is conducted and hedging strategies involving derivatives. ... Read more

Book Description

Praise for QUEST FOR BALANCE

"André de Waal has produced a rigorous study of the behavioral and organizational factors that influence implementation success for new performance management systems. It is an important addition to the literature for its focus on recognizing and overcoming the barriers to introducing new management systems."
–Robert S. Kaplan
Harvard Business School

"When management is about getting things done through people, performance management is about monitoring the results of these actions. André de Waal clearly demonstrates that, with respect to the design and use of performance management systems, human behavior and organization culture are as important as the framework itself."
–Arend R. de Jong
Executive Vice President and Corporate Controller
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

"This book provides excellent insight into the behavioral aspects involved in applying performance management. Through in-depth research André de Waal has uncovered those human elements that, when focused on by organizations, will help them improve the use of their performance management system."
–David C. M. Hamill
President and CEO ofPhilips Lighting Holding BV
Member of the Group Management Committee of Royal Philips Electronics

"André de Waal’s book–Quest for Balance–makes fascinating reading. He tackles one of the crucial issues facing many organizations today–how to make measurement work–and offers some valuable insights."
–Professor Andy Neely
Director of the Center for Business Performance at Cranfield School of Management

"Dramatic improvements can be made through linking activity-based costing to performance management. But reaping this harvest requires the human element to change. De Waal’s Quest for Balance provides real company insights on what it takes to be successful. It should be a key part of your implementation efforts."
–Steve Player
Managing Director
The Player Group ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Scorecard also balanced for people
Many organizations struggle with the implementation of the balanced scorecard. It is rumoured that about 70% of these projects fail. There are many reasons given for this, like wrong timing, no commitment of the organization, inadequate IT etc. These failures are a shame because, as the book Quest for Balance shows, the use of a good PMS helps organizations obtain better results! So we should concentrate more on the reasons for PMS-failure and the things we can do to make these successful. This book concentrates on the human factors which influence this success. These factors are still too often ignored, probably because humans are so hard to deal with. Based on case study research the author has discovered which factors are the most important, like visible commitment of top management and a firm belief in performance management. Also management styles are discusses. With this book the failure rate of BSC-implementations surely must go down.

Scorecard balanced for people
Many organizations struggle with the implementation of the balanced scorecard. It is rumoured that about 70% of these projects fail. There are many reasons given for this, like wrong timing, no commitment of the organization, inadequate IT etc. These failures are a shame because, as the book Quest for Balance shows, the use of a good PMS helps organizations obtain better results! So we should concentrate more on the reasons for PMS-failure and the things we can do to make these successful. This book concentrates on the human factors which influence this success. These factors are still too often ignored, probably because humans are so hard to deal with. Based on case study research the author has discovered which factors are the most important, like visible commitment of top management and a firm belief in performance management. Also management styles are discusses. With this book the failure rate of BSC-implementations surely must go down.

Finally human factor recognised in performance management!
Andre de Waal manages to prove the importance of the human element as a critical success factor for using performance management systems (PMS). In this book he gives a clear overview which factors are important and how managers can use them. He uses very interesting case material to support his views. This book is not only for managers that want to set up a new PMS but also for managers that already use a PMS and struggle with it. A book that every manager needs to read and use in practice!

The human element matters most
In every implementation project the most difficult part is dealing with the human factor. It isn't so difficult to technicaly implement a balanced scorecard but getting people to actually use it always turns out to be the most difficult part. This book researches which elements we have to take into account to make sure that managers will use the balanced scorecard. Seeing that the scorecard is one of the most popular management tools of the last decade this is very important. The book provides useful advice as well as proof that using the scorecard indeed helps a company get better results. This is good news for everybody.

The missing link in the performance management literature!
On the backcover Robert Kaplan calls this book an important addition to the literature and I fully agree. The mechanisms of how to implement a balanced scorecard (BSC) are well know by now, but how to get people to actually use it is a whole other matter. This excellent book focuses on identifying the behavioral factors to which you have to pay attention to make sure that not only the implementation of the BSC will be a success, but also to make sure the BSC is really used by the people in the organization. Increasing our knowledge about the human element is very important to increase our use of such important management techniques as performance managemnt and the BSC, and this book does a great job of educating us! ... Read more

Book Description

The Price Waterhouse Guide to Activity-Based Costing for Financial Institutions show how firms can use the breakthrough concept of activity-based costing (ABC) in the same way that other companies have--to increase profits by managing all activities from the top down, more efficiently. This book explains the methods and technologies of this profit-enhancing technique, with detailed guidelines that help firms plan for costs before they occur, rather than simply monitoring them. Readers will find: An explanation of why costs are incurred; Practical Steps for putting ABC to work in a financial instituion; Dozens of practical cases that illustrate the situations in which the concepts can be applied. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Its a great book to use it as reference
This book it's an excellent reference when you're implementing an ABC/M project in a Bank. It has a complete list of cost drivers that are also used as performance metrics.

It's an excellent example of how can ABC/M be used also with services not just in manufacturing ... Read more

Book Description

This book is about the design and working of management accounting and control systems from an organizational sociology perspective. It does not deal with the application of quantitative techniques; instead the focus is on the organizational and people side of accounting and control systems—how they are used to influence, motivate and control what people do in organizations. The author’s highly successful first book on this topic, The Social Software of Accounting and Information Systems (Wiley, 1985) was much acclaimed for its lucid style and careful analysis of the application of theory in practice. This new book offers that same clarity and accessibility in a study which focuses on new developments in organizational sociology at the macro level. The book outlines nearly twenty frameworks for investigating and understanding management accounting and control systems. These frameworks illustrate five distinctive paradigms of organizations and the social world. Case studies are used to bring these frameworks to life and to show how they can be used to analyze, diagnose and resolve real world management accounting and control systems problems and issues. Norman B. Macintosh is a professor at Queen’s University, Canada where he teaches in accounting and control.

"If you want to know what has been happening at the frontiers of management control research then you could not do better than starting with this book. The exposition is not only of value to scholars on upper level courses grappling with current theory and research but also to the thinking creative executive involved in control system design in today’s changing and turbulent business environment. The book is an essential addition to the bookshelf of any management control specialist seeking intellectual stimulation through ideas coupled to practical implementation." Professor Trevor Hopper University of Manchester, UK

"This book is required reading for any practitioner or student who desires a sophisticated and intellectually challenging understanding of management accounting." Richard J Boland, Jr Case Western Reserve University, USA

"In these days of globalisation and intensified interaction between management cultures the interest in the behavioural and social side of management accounting and control is growing. This is a timely and exciting addition to that literature. The book is recommended as required reading in advanced courses and for professional management accounting programs. A fine volume." Sten Jonsson University of Gothenburg, Sweden ... Read more

Book Description

Presents important analytical tools to decision making.
* Strong real world application.
* Emphasis on critical thinking and managerial decision-making. ... Read more

Book Description

"If each individual in your organization became Shareholder Value-focused and made all of their decisions accordingly, you would have an almost incomprehensible competitive advantage." -Lawrence B. M. Serven.
For some time now, the conviction has been growing that traditional business planning methods are flawed and inefficient. At many companies, attempts have been made to address the problem with new budgeting systems, complete benchmarking studies, and reorganizations of finance functions. Unfortunately, while such initiatives may help reduce planning time, fundamentally they do little or nothing to make the planning process more effective. In this groundbreaking book, Lawrence Serven exposes the real reasons why planning so often fails to get results, and shows you how to transform the planning process from an "exercise in minimization" into a potent, results-driven management system that consistently creates shareholder value.
While most books on the subject discuss value creation in terms of grand strategic moves made by upper management, Value Planning takes a bottom-up approach. Lawrence Serven demonstrates how it is the cumulative effect of all of the little decisions made by individuals throughout an organization, every day, that makes or breaks shareholder value. More importantly, he shows you how to capitalize on that fact, and use business planning as a strategic management tool for aligning all levels of an organization-from the executive suite to the mail room-behind the common goal of increasing shareholder value.
Short on theory and long on step-by-step practical guidance, Value Planning gives you a complete blueprint for implementing a comprehensive value planning management system in your enterprise. Each chapter isolates a key aspect of value-driven business planning and contrasts it with traditional business planning models. Within each chapter you will also find valuable, easy-to-perform self-diagnostics that help you to assess your company's current status in the area under discussion, and a set of "Improve-ment Steps" that can easily be tailored to fit the realities of your organization.
Value Planning is an indispensable working resource for controllers, CFOs, finance directors, and budget directors, as well as for all upper-level managers involved in the planning process.
His work has been profiled in CFO magazine and Controller's Magazine, and he is the author of several articles that have appeared in Chief Information Officer and Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities. An award-winning public speaker, he has been the featured speaker at the AICPA and chaired a World Research Group international conference on reengineering the planning process.
Praise for Value Planning
"Serven demystifies shareholder value creation and provides a pragmatic, actionable guidebook for executives. Value Planning's step-by-step management system focuses business planning on delivering, not just predicting results. The book's self-diagnostic measures should prove especially useful in charting and assessing organizational progress." -Henry A. McKinnell President, Pfizer Inc.
"Value Planning addresses today's number one management issue - building a value management system-and provides a systematic approach with clear guidance that will be helpful to any company in creating shareholder value. I really enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it."- John B. Menzer Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
"Mr. Serven's approach is insightful and uncomplicated. Rather than simply focusing on theory, he has offered compelling real-life examples of how well-known leaders and their companies have built value for their shareholders." -Keith Rauschenbach Second Vice President, TIAA-CREF. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Good step by step guidelines
I am in the process of implementing some of what this suggested, and the step by step approach makes it a lot easier.

Finally, something PRACTICAL on shareholder value
Every book I have read about shareholder value has been long on theory and short on application, but Value Planning is different. It provides a hands on blueprint for creating a value management system to grow shareholdervalue. It's about time!

A blueprint for creating a value management system!
A lot has been written about shareholder value, but there has been little written about how to put theory into practice, which is what this book does. I highly recommend it.

One of the best management books ever written
I am sure any number of businesses will benefit greatly from his book.Mr.Servens keen insight into the corporate world has proven invaluable.I especially recommend this book to budding entreprenuers, social climbersand misanthropes. ... Read more

Book Description

Using regulatory compliance to improve processes and enhance the bottom line

Once you establish compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, what’s next? Beyond Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance guides corporate financial officers and accountants through requirements and value-added activities in enterprise risk management in the post-Sarbanes environment. It demonstrates how to monitor and maintain strong internal control systems within finance and accounting operations. Next, it reveals how to leverage the knowledge harvested through regulatory compliance to improve financial management and make the organization more profitable. Bristling with new ideas on how to identify and mitigate threats to enterprise objectives, this innovative guide shows readers how to build on initial compliance activities to improve financial management processes and profitability. ... Read more

Book Description

"Jack Fox literally wrote the book on building your own accounting practice. No one is better qualified to guide accountants into developing an accounting practice in the digital age. Building a Profitable Online Accounting Practice is a road map for trailblazing accountants."–Rick Telberg, Senior Editorial Director, Pro2Net.com

The Internet provides accountants with exciting new opportunities for expanding their practices by affording unprecedented access to the huge small-business market. Now, the first comprehensive book on the subject describes highly effective, proven strategies for creating a thriving virtual accounting practice. Written by accounting practice development expert Jack Fox, Building a Profitable Online Accounting Practice presents:

• Successful techniques for identifying potential clients and packaging and marketing services
• In-depth coverage of the services accountants can offer to small-business owners via the Internet
• Complete marketing profiles of the leading virtual accounting service providers
• Detailed business plans

. . . and much more, including tables, forms, checklists, and illustrations to help you enter today’s lucrative online accounting arena. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Junk! see my review for the 3rd Ed & save your $$$
Please see my review for the 3rd Edition ISBN 0471351601 and save yourself some money. My review has my initials scg on it; It currently is the second one down.

Profit!
The way our profession will service our clients in the future is taking a dramatic turn for the better. Jack Fox understands this new paradigm of service and, like a coach, takes you step-by-step through how to prepare your firm to profit in this new age of online services.

Accountants' Guide
Jack Fox literally wrote the book on building your own accounting practice. No one is better qualified to guide accountants into developing an accounting practice in the digital age. This book is a roadmap for trail-blazing accountants.

The New Paradigm of Service
The way our profession will service our clients in the future is taking a dramatic turn for the better. Jack Fox understands this new paradigm of service and, like a coach, takes you step-by-step through how to prepare your firm to profit in this new age of on-line services.

A Message from the Author
There can be no business without clients. One of the key things I have learned in my more than twenty year accounting business journey is that the type of clients you attract and serve, and the caliber of associates with whom you partner,determine the kind of accounting or consulting business you build.

With the success of my first edition of Starting and Building Your Own Accounting Business, I sold my then six-year-old accounting practice to concentrate on providing accounting practice development services. After conducting more than a thousand seminars and workshops, I continued to search for ways to share my extensive practical knowledge utilizing the personalized, in-depth attention so beneficial to new and experienced accountants, alike. Each and every accounting and consulting professional has specific skills, interests, personality traits, hopes, and dreams that no seminar, boot camp or book, no matter how good, can completely address.

This latest book shares the current developments of Internet-based, application software providers and what and what does not work in relation to the threshhold of opportunity and prosperity that had never been imagined in the past and now within our grasp.

I appreciate your readership. For just as there can be no business without clients, there can be no purpose for books without readers. I wish you Godspeed on your exciting journey. ... Read more

Book Description

Praise for CRM Unplugged

"The authors supply countless examples of companies that have successfully implemented CRM, and show us the way to do the same."
–Philip Kotler
author of Marketing Insights from A to Z

"CRM is no silver bullet, but it is a golden opportunity for companies that take the time to integrate CRM tools with their own source of competitive advantage. This book outlines the steps that need to be taken to achieve success. I highly recommend it."
–Al Ries
coauthor of The Origin of Brands

"Turk and Bligh understand that Customer Relationship Management is not a software category; it’s about supporting competitive advantage, enforcing demand-driven business processes, and applying continuous customer information and analytics to create long-term ROI. This no-nonsense guide describes the larger scope and context of CRM beyond sales, marketing, and customer service, and provides real-world examples and methodologies for making sense of the real goals of customer relationship management."
–Laura Preslan
Research Director, AMR Research

"CRM Unplugged is an excellent summary of how to approach a customer strategy within a company. I wish the book had been in print before we embarked on a major technology initiative in 2003. It would have been very useful for our executive team, and some of the mistakes we made could have been prevented."
–Jim McKnight
CEO, AutoTrader.com ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Quick, practical, innovative approach to CRM
This book provides thought-provoking and practical advice about how to drive sustainable business impact from customer-facing initiatives. The advice is based on a careful blend of well know frameworks from leaders like Professor Michael Porter and years of experience from the authors and leading corporations. The descriptions of how to use CRM to increase competitive advantage and improve profitability are particularly intriguing, as they elevate CRM from a business initiatve to a business imperative.

The authors have included plenty of examples of real world successes and failures, and hence keep the book rooted in practical and actionable guidelines. I highly recommend this book for CRM novices and experts and for technical and business professionals, as there is important advice in here for everyone.

Customer Strategy "How To"
Don't let the title scare you, this is book is all about customer strategy--a "how to" book on effectively implementing customer relationship management. Relying on their experience, Bligh and Turk demonstrate how CRM SHOULD be executed--using a customer demand-driven approach. They include some amazing real-world examples from Fortune 500 companies including Dell, Wal-Mart and Pepsi to deliver this point--CRM initives implemented the right way are essential to the success of a business. Failures are covered too as learning opportunities. Chapter 2 has a case study about how Halloween 1999 was Hershey's scariest ever, a fantastic example. Each chapter ends with a "Key Points" summary to make reading easier and quickly review the material. If you think CRM is just software, pick up "CRM Unplugged", it should help change your perception. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Follow the Money!
This book will help anyone who desires to learn how their box office ticket dollars are spent. The authors take you step by step through a standard profit participation agreement. I feel the authors are not as aggressive as they should be hollywood's unethical "creative accounting". The distributors and the audit firms would like artists to believe that the lack of knowledge is why many artist are "cheated" out of their net profits or as Eddie Murphy stated "monkey profits". All net profit participants should read this before they listen to their lawyers and auditors. Many auditors and attorneys are willing participants in the "net profit scam"! ... Read more