Reviews (7)

How To Frame Corporate Strategy Methodically
Jay B. Barney has written an enduring, understandable user's guide to corporate strategy that is a must read for any business student. Barney helps would-be business leaders frame their strategic decision-making process. Barney first explains to his audience the concepts of strategy and performance, and their relevance to the corporate organization both internally and externally. Barney then explores the different strategies that the corporation can adopt in dealing with its competitive environment: Cost leadership, product differentiation, tacit collusion, and alliances. The author does a very good job in demonstrating to his readers that the four strategies are not mutually exclusive but occasionally complementary. Finally, Barney explores how a company can structure itself across markets over time. He successively addresses the issues of integration, diversification, mergers and acquisitions, and globalization. Gaining and Sustaining Competitive Advantage has been one of the most influential business textbooks that I have ever been asked to read.

PERSPECTIVE IS EVERYTHING
This is a great book - more for what it organises than what it adds as new ideas.

Barney sets a model for Competitive Advantage (VIRO) and them compares strategic models as potential sources. It places many of the modern attempts in perspective. Without this starting understanding, the modern gurus (Hamel) are almost impossible to apply as their ideas lack the perspective on the role of strategy within an organisation and within all of the other management tools.

It places Michael Porter within a framework where his work can be better used.

For managers and post graduates, this book sets out the fundamentals of strategy and where it can take you.

Not cheap (by a long way) but a fair price for the knowledge.

Strategy is not that difficult!
This is a very concise and interesting book on competitive and corporate strategies. It compiles all the main issues regarding studies on competitive advantage withouth losing focus on the specifics of each different kind of strategy.

I would recommend using the book only after a review of microeconomic concepts. This will allow graduate business students coming from other areas (like engineering) to grasp the strategy concepts more easily.

One suggestion: it would be nice if the authors included cases at the end of each chapter. Since the book presents the theory from a basic up to a more advanced level, this would let students to quickly fix the concepts by applying them in real world situations.

Required @ Chicago GSM
A very good introduction to both business-level and corporate-level strategy, approached from the perspective of the resource-based firm.  Written at a slightly lower level than Sharon Oster's book, but contains a more extensive discussion of corporate strategy issues.

It is a good book.
I am using it for my class at the University. My professor recommended the students to read. I bought two of this book. One for myself and another for my friend. ... Read more

Book Description

The Six Rules Jack Welch Lives By:

Control your destiny or someone else will.

Face reality as it is, not as it was or as you wish it were.

Be candid with everyone.

Don't manage, lead.

Change before you have to.

If you don't have a competitive advantage, don't compete. ... Read more

Book Description

Surfing the Edge of Chaos is a brilliant, powerful, and practical book about the parallels between business and nature—two fields that feature nonstop battles between the forces of tradition and the forces of transformation. It offers a bold new way of thinking about and responding to the personal and strategic challenges everyone in business faces these days. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Shoddy science research
"Businesses...can learn a great deal from nature (p 3)". I wholeheartedly agree, but unfortunately this book does not deliver.

The business research appears well done, but the science reserach that is supposedly it backing up is abysmal. The impression this book has left me is that the writers started with their theories and then handpicked some scientific anecdotes and (sometimes erroneous) generalities to support some of their claims, while other claims (like the Law of Requisite Variety) have no substantiation from the life sciences attempted. This is a backwards approach; I would have liked to see the authors examine the scientific research and then see what the business implications are.

Three examples of erroneous generalities:

1. Endemic island organisms just "tweaking the status quo" (in reality, this is where the greatest diversity happens; its the 'weedy' organisms like starlings and dandelions that adapt by just 'tweaking'). (And I will try to ignore the goof about the dodo being from the South Pacific).

2. The idea that cooperation and altruism are major forces that organisms "seek" (in reality, these have been discovered to be incidental effects).

3. Equating the idea that 'every molecule in the human body replaces itself via genetic instructions' with the idea that 'human and corporate bodies are rejuvenated by fresh and varied genetic material'. Those are two very opposed statements.

There is so much biological research that has major implications for organizational research that is lacking here: Memetics and primate social systems are two in particular.

To conclude: The authors apparently have a poor grasp of the biological sciences, so that means their attempts at backing up their claims with biological reserach is suspect at best.

Read this or be left in the dust!
Its funny. I was reading the review following this one and the person was saying how he could NOT find anything worthwhile to apply to his business. He must not have even picked up the book!

I think there are plenty of great lessons within the book. Its not only a book about strategy, but a new framework to think in terms of. The world has changed greatly in the last 20 years and a lot of the old management frameworks have less significance. Complexity science is the new way to think and this book does a fantastic job of relating the "complex" topic to business. And the rules apply to all areas of the organization: strategy, organizational design, etc. If you want to be prepared to lead the complex globlal organizations of tomorrow, then this is a must read.

What's the use?
My criticism can be boiled down to a single line, this one. I read this kind of books hoping to find useful ideas for my business. Here I can't find any.

Maybe I should look for the purely intellectual interest, I don't know. My best advice is this: if you read to find recipes, read something else. Read this only out of curiosity.

And yet again, I was just curious about the US Army chapter but got little out of it - gruelling experience, after-action review, and all that - we did it in volleyball and basket training twenty years ago ... what's the big deal?

A Must Read
Surfing the Edge of Chaos does a marvelous job of taking many of the ideas being developed in complexity theory and applying them to the business world. In contrast say to Garrett Ralls who tried to do much the same thing, this book succeeds. I found myself continually thinking about not only the examples they provide, but also on my own work experiences and other companies that I have analyzed.

The authors do an excellent job of contrasting their approach (adaptive leadership) with more traditional reorganization (operational leadership). But refreshingly, they also acknowledge that in some cases, the more traditional approach might be more appropriate. There are many interesting concepts being developed by complexity theorists and this book manages to capture many, if not most, of them.

They show repeatedly the need to increase the stress on an organization in order to break past patterns of behavior. Their use of fitness landscapes (the idea that a successful company rests on a peak, and that in order to reach a new higher peak, often you must go down into the valley) is very powerful and at least partially explains why so many successful companies subsequently struggle, or fail, to adapt. Importantly though, the authors also spend a great deal of time talking about the unintended (or second and third order) effects of change. The point is not that you will be able to predict all of them (which is what chaos theory explicity says you cannot do), but rather that you must be flexible enough to roll with those unanticipated consequences.

Does that mean that every idea in this book is new? Of course not, but to be successful, a new theory often must combine the old with the new. And this book does a masterful of applying the ideas of Chaos/Complexity theory to business, of providing a new framework to think about both old and new problems. You may not agree with everything that appears in this book, but you will certainly come away with much food for thought.

Belongs on your list of books on chaos
In the process of reading a number of related books on chaos and complex adaptive systems, Surfing in the Edge is one on my current list. It compliments well other readings, and in many cases quotes meaningfully from them (e.g., Haeckel's - Adaptive Enterprises; Kelly - New Rules for the New Economy; McMaster - Intelligence Advantage).

I found this book an easy read, constantly underlining sentences and putting the book down to reflect on what was said and my own past experiences. I could see why my past approaches to management and motivation (especially reward systems which the book discusses in depth), described here as being used even by management considered open and progressive, was not successful, or if successful, not sustainable.

Anyone looking for specific answers on what organizational approaches should be used to take advantage of the concepts behind chaos should perhaps focus on this book's emphasis of things being messy, emerging in ways we cannot predict, and the experience of generating change not being straight forward (Herding Butterflies). If one can have faith that in the designed sloppiness, good things can be emerging, that faith could help one and other true believers stay the course without returning to command-and-control methods. It takes a whole new mindset to create the kind of change described in this book, and it takes a degree of critical mass in gaining converts who will in good faith implement the precepts over what could be a long period of time. The need for patience is well explained in the book.

The book is clearly not into the biology view of allowing just anything to emerge on its own. Boundaries and interventions are clearly proscribed here as needing to be taken, something very difficult to judge what they should be in a particular situation, but the guiding principles should generate dialogue and reflection from those attempting to design organizations for emergence.

This book does an outstanding job of continually discussing our tendencies to go for optimization as the end goal. In many cases, as described in this book, what we focus on to optimize eventually causes the problem because there are so many ways the efforts can be sabotaged. Those who tend to continually optimize tend to take the traditional approach of assuming predictability of future events (thus assuming few changes will take place as plans are implemented), and as managers having the answers to be imposed on an organization waiting for guidance. This book gives wonderful advice on just what management can and cannot do without the eyes and ears of the masses on the front line where the real change is taking place; it is truly humbling but exhilarating to think of the potential that can be unleashed in organizations if managers will see themselves as designers for emergence.

Wonderful case studies. Normally I tend to gloss over case studies, but those in this book are important, in part because assumed successes later deteriorated and returned to poor results of the past. This awareness alone makes the book worth reading; no organization can assume whatever it is doing right is sustainable. Gains can be reversed much faster than the time it took to get the initial gains.

On page 202, a diagram/framework is proposed, and then described. Harnessing Complexity, by Axelrod, has its own framework. I think the importance is to read these books, take what inspires, and let them all merge into your way of thinking about organizations and motivating people to change how they work together. For those who agree, this book clearly belongs on the list of references where the author has does the homework, and is attempting to clarify a subject that is highly abstract, and one where most organizations will not willingly allocate time to consider or apply its principles. Some organizations have no chance of applying these concepts; some organization only need a worthy sponsor. Sponsors need meaty material to study so they can speak within their organization with credibility, and have references that can direct others to read.

In my view, this book reflects a whole new paradigm gaining momentum of how to best create organizations capable of adapting to the fast changing new economy. It make take a number of years before the wisdom becomes commonplace in practice, and then we move on to the next level of sophistication. One day we will likely be looking back and marveling how, as we do today with Fredrick Taylor, we could have for generations tapped human talent by deploying the command-and-control techniques that still dominate the corporate landscape. I cannot imagine the concepts in these books being one day written as another fad that died. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Semler's model uniquely respects human emotional needs
As a management consultant I found this book very useful indeed - much of it is directly applicable to shop-floor and pressure-politics situations - the 20-page cartoon "rulebook" at the end is more than worth the price of the book itself - buy it! And if you have the guts, apply what it says, too: It's been known for some time that organizations are designed according to "command and control" principles that very poorly match how humans are really built to behave. More complex self-ordering behavior is always observed when any lack of hierarchy exists, and the hierarchies that do emerge tend to be more effective than those that were designed by managers with experience in previous eras. Semler just chose to trust it more than, say, Tom Peters. Prof. Nicholson, head of London Business School recently wrote (in the Harvard Business Review) that Semler's model was the only one to really respect "stone age nature" of human behavior (the many insights from evolutionary psychology that tell us that we're far more often feeling our way through decisions than thinking our way through).

Workplace democracy is not an "experiment" nor a threat to productivity, it's a working fact in a hundred mature industries in a dozen countries - we have applied Semler's principles to systems integration, software development, finance, etc., and his experience is well worth spending a few hours on.

Chapter 21, alone, justifies the purchase, and then some...
This book leads where few 'management" books dare not follow; it is a cold, hard truth that most management is mismanagement, and all too many organizational shortfalls derive from organizational "friction" - "friction," as in "We aren't going to do anything until the Great Leader of our team/section/group/division says so."

Guess what?

The Great Leader doesn't know, either; what the Great Leader DOES know is how to make the employment future of those who show initiative without fawning obesiance nasty, brutish, and short.

Chapter 21, essentially, does away with Middle Management, and the slew of Great Leaders who feather their own nest, in an elegant and simple way.

The rest of the book is also inspiring - certain ideas, such as Open Books, have taken root and flowered as a body of knowledge and practice.

Many "consultants" - using THAT term loosely - help establish "Change Management Programs," and "Empowerment Programs," all delivered from "On High," with paeans of fulsome praise for a trivial tweaking of the current, obsolete, business processes.

Save all of the money and time these people cost - give your people a copy of "Maverick," and let them loose!

Maverick - Ricardo Semler
From 1992 to 1994, I suffered much to work under a rigid framework of Japanese multinationl. It is this book that change my life. End September 1994, I found out Semler's book in a book store in Tokyo, and I am intuitively sure that it should work. Then,I was assigned to work in Ivory Coast in West Africa. I decided to experiment his model in Africa to see whether his method works. Result. It really works! I delegated all the power to decision making to the staffs who is closest to the environment. Thus, the problem of alignment was easily solved. Not only the organization start working effectively without my hard efforts, but also the motivation of all the staffs skyrocketed. Even some of the staffs who could not read and write, decided to go to school to learn read and write (it is a history in Africa). These staffs also became a proactive staffs by talking on behalf of the language of the organization. The key message of Semler is to freeing everybody from the traditional management by rigid control associated with extrinsic reward system to self control with self ethical value associated with intrinsic reward. In this way he succeeded to skyrocket the motivation of staffs and let them work to search the right direction. Thus, the company could encourage the staffs to continously adapt to the perpertually changing environment. It is an excellent fieldbook to transform a mechanistic organization to an organic and learning organization, which is the key of the success in today's business environment.

wonderful humanistic approach to business...
I have only reached half-way through this book but am writing this in case I forget later. I have read a few business books and few have touched me as much as Semler's open and somewhat naive style. I am building/managing multiple businesses and this book gives me the guidance to handle people in the right way for effective results. Read the other reviews - nuff said.

Great Visionary and Great Ideas
If you are familiar with Daniel Quinn's books, mainly Ishmael, The Story of B, and My Ishmael, this is clearly a good example of an organization with a new vision. A corporation really doing something different, not the classic rhetoric or programs of the day (decade) or just a greened up version of the classical hierarchy. The new vision is not maximum profits at ALL cost, it is about making a living and maximizing employees happiness - he admits they have a long way to go, but he has many, many great examples of what works and adds ... there is no one right way. ... Read more

Book Description

Ex•cel•lence (n.) 1. The clearly false and destructive theory that a company ought to be great at everything it does. 2. A mistaken goal in which the predictable outcome is that the company ends up world-class at nothing—not well-differentiated and therefore not thought of by consumers at the moment of need.

Based on exhaustive research, The Myth of Excellence provides conclusive evidence of the futility of trying to be excellent in all aspects of a commercial transaction—price, product, access, experience, and service. Instead, the strategy for your products and services should be to dominate on one element, differentiate on a second, and be at industry par (i.e., average) on the rest. Yes, it is okay to be average as long as your customers know specifically where and how you are superior and world-class. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Myths Of Conquering Markets
No matter how simple the author's theory and logic is, many highly paid intellilgent business executives still have no comprehension of the themes covered in this book. So many companies are so out of tune to what their customers really want.

This book revolves around the theme of "Consumer Relevancy", which described by the authors as the process of aligning business operations and offering to new and targeted markets and moves them forward over time. In my own words it means actually asking the client what they really want and expect from a company in order to retain the consumer over a long period of time.

The book has many real case studies taken from a wide spectrum of companies in the Anglo-Saxon world but felt they could have used more non-US case studies. Actually understanding how these select businesses have come to seek out and really understand their customer base to improve the process and profits gives one inspiration to think about their own business or company.

Fred Crawford and Ryan Mathews evalute a company on a scale of 1-5 (5 is the highest)in five select catagories:access,experience, price, product and service. An enterprise should strive to have a rating of "5" in just one catagory, while trying for "4" in another and not letting the rest of the go below a "3". This study has shown that it is a waste of energy and resources trying to have a "5" in every catagory.

Toward the end of the book they discuss the future and predicting future trends, which they conceed is almost impossible but it is a necessary process to dream and imagine how you think this could be or should be to concieve new ideas.

This is a great book for any business person to read, regardless of their department or rank.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PROFITABILITY
As a counsellor and teacher in business management for thirty years, and having completed diagnostic assessments on large and small businesses, locally, nationally and internationally, my opinion of "The Myth of Excellence" comes from first-hand knowledge and experience.

The authors have broken down the key areas of marketing into five basic components: access, experience, price, product and service. For the reasons the book identifies, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to "be the best" in all these areas. Based on case studies and interviews with over 10,000 consumers, it has become evident that the consumer is no longer impressed by a company's catching promotional messages or "world class performance." Today's consumer places little value in cliches that say little and promise nothing. What they do want, and have every right to expect in addition to value for their dollar, is efficient service, honesty, trust, recognition and fairness. From customer service reps through the ranks to CEO's, consumers want someone to listen to them and follow through with prompt, efficient action.

One huge mistake often make by companies, both large and small, is the complacent attitude of managers/owner who believe, "since doors of my business are open, the customer will come." As the authors point out, many businesses are run by inept management who do not listen to Mr. or Ms. Public's concerns or messages, nor, quite frankly, do they care what they have to say. Successful companies who make it to the top in the corporate world, and continue to grow, have already learned an important lesson: if they want to increase sales, minimize costs and increase bottom-line profitability, they better pay very close attention to what the customer is telling them. While many businesses believe they are "successful" for no other reason than the doors remain open and the financials indicate a slight profit, a vast majority of businesses lack sufficient management skills (which includes marketing)to make the business grow to the point where it achieves maximum profitability. Very simply put, they learn to make all the mistakes in the book on their own money - profit goes out the door...along with the customer!

The authors of this book have certainly done their homework on this book. It is well-written, clearly understood, and based on sound, reliable research. "The Myth of Excellence" is highly recommended reading to any and every individual in the world of business today.

Myths Of Conquering Markets!
Crawford (executive vice president, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young) and Mathews (futurist, FirstMatter) suggest that companies that strive for excellence in everything they do often fail to achieve success in anything that is important to their market success. Instead, based on their study of more than 10,000 consumers and interviews with major international executives, they argue that organizations should rank their goals and select one transaction component (price, product, service, access, experience) in which to excel and one in which to differentiate; in the remaining three they should strive to meet the industry standard. The authors also discuss the importance of respect, trust, fairness, and honesty to business success. They illustrate their consumer relevancy model in discussing the success of various companies, e.g., McDonald's, Best Buy, Krispy Kreme, and Southwest Airlines. The following chapter titles reflect coverage: "The New Model for Consumer Relevancy;" "Would I Lie to You?: The Overrated Importance of Lowest Price;" and "Why Good is Good Enough: Choice and the Issue of Product Bandwidth." A succinct writing style and excellent contemporary examples enhance the presentation. Although written for business practitioners, the book should be required reading for upper-division undergraduate business majors. An excellent Internet site supplements the volume. Recommended for academic and professional collections

Genuine Marketing pays off
The success of any company always depend on the discipline of marketing, breaking off the malpractice adopted by and large by many companies. Respect, service, trust, genuine quality are the values to strengthen from the grass root levels. Fred Crawford and Ryan Mathews with a in-depth research of many companies reveals that customer service is the key to success and the customer experience is the prime dedicating factor consideration in time to come. The book is an insight to the companies to offer the best by examining their products and executing them with par excellence to stand by the competitive edge. Myth of Excellence is way of the wizard to gain the confidence of the customers. The idea to give a commission and link to something 'free' is a common notion. The rates pulled up to a 20% and than the discount offered only stems out indecent bargain ethics. Brand name and quality are in demand and customers often resort to the quality and service of the consumer products. Catching promotions do attract but the consumer stays unimpressed if quality, service & trust is not offered.Trust is the key of a merchant's scale to shoot up the success chart. This book is a read for CEOs and Company marketing Dept executives to play their roles and create a brand offering the best of the best to keep the customer list hooked to their line of products. Appreciation of the customers motivates the team for a success. This book is a good read for CEO's of Companies whofall below standards and it stands a handy resource guide to marketers who wish to excel and stand a 'class apart' wading the competition to be on top. I recommend this book as it has the value guidance for Companies who want to reach the 'winning edge'- Whatever be the product!

Enjoyable, Insiteful, and Highly Relevant
A very good book, not only easy to read but enjoyable and motivating as well. I believe these guys are right on the money with their research and analysis. I agree with the interrpretations of the research data and found myself saying "Yes, that's just how I feel." in response to many of the stories of customer interactions.

I believe that this book addresses the most important areas of business today and identifies what consumers are "screaming" for - SERVICE, RESPECT, etc. Most of this book is common sence - it's amazing how uncommon it is that these principles are put into practice. We are at a transition in the business world where product quality is easily duplicated by many competitors. Customer service and the customer "experience" will be the deciding factor in the decades to come. I would hope that all businesses would buy this book and work towards being the kind of companies used in the case studies here. What a pleasure it would be if all of our day to day dealings were with companies of this caliber!

The authors recognition of the end of the Information age and movement into a new age where "appreciation and reverence for life" become the motivating factors for those who wish to succeed, shows just how in-tune they are with the world around us. This recognition will be invaluable to all businesses as time goes on - now, who will take advantage of it and use it wisely?

I highly reccommend this book for everyone from the CEO to the consumer. People are asking (demanding) for RESPECT, as they should, and the businesses that understand this and embrace this will be the future winners. ... Read more

Book Description

Praise For On Target

"A retailing dynasty, spanning a century and four generations, and still a hot-shot winner: that makes fascinating reading. Throw in legendary names, bare-knuckle business battles, and the discount wars, and you have a textbook that reads like a novel. On Target is a winner itself."
–—Stuart Varney, Contributor, FOX News Network

"An enlightening look at the history and culture of the Target Corporation, with compelling management lessons for all retailers."
–—Kevin Kelleher, Chief Financial Officer, Sony Music Entertainment

"On Target is the perfect book to read for inspiration on how to connect with the American consumer. It is an insightful study of a successful corporation and what made it that way. The book will become the ‘bible’ for a generation that wants to understand their own spending habits or tap into the culture of American retailing. Rowley artfully gets behind the business decisions that keep Target’s products ahead of the curve and connecting emotionally with its customers. For anyone who considers themselves a creative, marketing, or innovative thinker, this is a rich read indeed."
–—Lucy Danziger, Editor in Chief, Self magazine ... Read more

Book Description

Drawing on his 20 years of pioneering research and work with some 400 top companies, Robert offers today's executives guidance in strategy formulation, implementation, and deployment. Filled with examples drawn from the experiences of today's commercial leaders and interviews with CEOs of companies in a variety of industries, this updated edition of a revolutionary and inspiring best seller offers a sure-fire process of strategic thinking that's been tested and refined in the "war rooms" of America's most successful corporations. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Gets the job done
I first read "Strategy Pure & Simple (I)" back in the early '90s, just before embarking on my first strategic planning job. Since then, I have managed strategic planning and implementation processes at a total of six different operational subsidiaries of two very large financial services groups.
As a financial controller and later a CFO, I have read a great many other books and articles about strategy and planning. Most of those were actually quite interesting, but when it came down to setting up and managing a actual, real-life planning process, I always turned back to Strategy Pure and Simple, because it is just GOOD ENOUGH.
- It includes all important issues that must be addressed during planning;
- more importantly, it reminds you of staying focused on those issues that happen to be key to your company (given its market, own caracteristics, timing, resources, etc.);
- still more importantly, it insists on interaction between the planning team and the management team, and helps with examples of visual aids and cues;
- it really helps a lot in communicating with line and senior managers during the planning process, getting them involved, assuring buy-in, and finally ensuring that the plan, when finished and approved, actually is implemented by those in charge. And, in the end, that is certainly what matters most.
I have now joined a new company in another industry, and have to manage yet another strategic planning process. Well, the best I can say about Strategy Pure & Simple is, I have fished out my 1993-vintage copy, and look forward to using it once again.

Are you so stupid that you need this book?
This book is like any other drivel about corporate strategy - figure out what you do well, do more of it and cut the rest. Sounds great when you grossly oversimplify your business. Know what really works? Fire anyone who is stupid, lazy, or unproductive.

PS- If Michel Robert is so smart, why can't he learn English?

Another clone
Unfortunately I bought this book after "The Power of Strategic Thinking" that I found full of very interesting ideas, insightful and thought provoking.
If I only knew that it has almost no differences with "Strategy Pure and Simple" I would've never done it. The book is written by copy-and-paste method. There are whole pages and chapters there that were not even worded differently - direct citations from the previous book. The only enhancement - pictures in "The Power of Strategic Thinking" look more silly but are actually the same.
There are probably some fans of Mr.Robert who buy all his books as collectible items but to me it seems like cheating - the same product under new cover. Total disappointment. It also brings doubts about all 'true stories' Mr.Robert tells about his successes with 300 companies.

Highly Recommended!
Michael Robert presents a well-organized plan to enable you to produce a distinctive strategy. He emphasizes the need for strategic thinking, which sets out a vision of where your company is going. Use this as your basis for making the appropriate choices and plans. Clarify what your company is, and is not, to avoid becoming scattered and overextended. Robert uses the metaphor of playing a game as his framework. Every CEO must carefully choose what game to play, and how to craft a strategy to make and shape the rules. To illustrate these principles, Robert draws on actual examples from client companies, alternating a step-by-step guide to strategic planning with brief case studies that demonstrate strategic thinking. We [...] recommend this book to top executives and managers in large companies.

Mike Robert, King of Strategic Thinking, does it again!
When it comes to understanding and explaining why some companies develop and launch new products better than their competitors, Mike Robert truely has no equal. In preparing to help overhaul the strategic planning process at a major publishing firm, we read countless books on strategic planning before choosing Mike's "Strategy, Pure and Simple" as our guide. We couldn't have made a better choice. Mike's tell-it-like-it-is style and clearly defined process served as a guide through numerous planning sessions. This is Mike Robert's third book on the subject, and it is every bit as powerful as the first two. Whenever a client asks me to assist them on their strategic thinking journey, Mike's principles are a guiding force and his books are must reading. Adam Lefton ... Read more

Book Description

The Exclusive Story behind Intuit's Hard-Won Success

It's a modern-day David and Goliath story for the business world: a company dreamed up at a kitchen table, built on explosive PC growth, and forced to battle a giant in the race to revolutionize an industry. This is the story of Intuit, creator of renowned software products like Quicken, QuickBooks, and TurboTax-the company that beat mighty Microsoft and changed the way 25 million people manage their finances.

Written by Intuit veteran Suzanne Taylor and seasoned business manager Kathy Schroeder-who were granted exclusive interviews with founder Scott Cook and other key figures- Inside Intuit tells this company's original and fascinating tale for the first time. The book vividly recounts each dramatic stage of Intuit's development: from initial conception to "bet the company" investments; from strokes of marketing genius to disastrous product launches; and from battles for survival to successive victories against arch-rival Microsoft-the company no one else could beat.

Evident throughout this account is the power of Intuit's relentless customer focus, which guided the company from tiny start-up to a 6,000-employee, $1.4 billion business. Instructive and inspiring, Inside Intuit chronicles an enduring company's extraordinary success against overwhelming odds.

"This important book doesn't take any shortcuts in analyzing the building blocks of success. Taylor and Schroeder have written a fascinating blow-by-blow account of the thousand and one decisions that have made Intuit what it is. Highly readable, thorough, and extremely well researched Inside Intuit is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand success in Silicon Valley."

-Emanuel Rosen, author, The Anatomy of Buzz

"Inside Intuit is more than the history of a start-up that grew to dominate a major software category. It is a blueprint of success for entrepreneurs and investors who want to build great businesses in difficult environments."

-Roger McNamee, cofounder, Silver Lake Partners and Integral Capital Partners

"Inside Intuit is a very entertaining book. Any entrepreneur at heart will enjoy and learn from the story of how Scott Cook and Tom Proulx faced so much adversity and came back from the brink of disaster to build a very successful, highly admired Silicon Valley company. Readers can learn many lessons from both Intuit's successes and mistakes. In the end, good ideas, hard work, determination, and strong values really do pay off!"

-Dan Rudolph, Senior Associate Dean/Chief Operating Officer, Stanford Graduate School of Business

"I was thrilled to read the inside story of how Intuit was born and raised. I've always admired Intuit's strict attention to customer needs and feedback. Now I have a much better idea of how that culture was created."

-Stewart Alsop, General Partner, New Enterprise Associates

"Inside Intuit offers readers the secrets behind that company's extraordinary success. The authors' insights into how Intuit trounced Microsoft alone are worth the price of the book!"

-Andrea Butter, coauthor, Piloting Palm: The Inside Story of Palm, Handspring and the Birth of the Billion Dollar Handheld Industry ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great Case History of a Continuing Business Model Innovator!
How many companies have survived direct battles with Microsoft? Not very many. How many lived to win over direct battles with Microsoft? Even fewer. Intuit is in that elite company. That experience alone would make the book worth considering.

The authors have done an outstanding job of building on that potentially fascinating subject matter by successfully capturing the key elements of how Intuit has continued to succeed as a business model innovator through four CEOs. I was especially pleased to see that the book captures the values that led to this innovation, the organizational and process methods used to stimulate and pursue the innovation, and the motivations of the key innovators.

In addition, the book moves down into the organization to capture the thoughts and emotions of many of the Intuit employees as it moved from its P&G style focus on customer needs to a broad-based expansion through acquisitions to a GE-style disciplined approach to achieve performance in key areas.

In fact, this book was so fine that I had to ask myself what was missing before I could spot any flaws. The only area where the book is a little light is in describing the details of how Intuit's software development changed over time, and what the lessons were. Now, don't mistake my point. There's plenty on that subject (especially when Intuit was a start-up), but there could have been more . . . if this book were to become a case history source on software engineering.

But no book can be everything to everyone, and currently there are few books that explain continuing business model innovation through generations of senior management. So Inside Intuit becomes a must read for those who want to master this critical leadership and management task.

By the way, Inside Intuit is a very apt title. The authors seem to have had unrestrained access to company insiders. The book comes away much richer as a result than any other Silicon Valley saga that I can remember reading. Most of those books focus on one to three people in the company, and leave it at that.

As I finished the book, I wondered what improvements in its continuing business model innovation Intuit will make next. I can hardly wait to find out!

Wonderful!
When Inside Intuit arrived in the mail, along with four other books I'd ordered, it was the first one I picked up to browse. Seven hours later, I finished the book! Reliving the experiences, placing myself in the events (I worked for Intuit for over fourteen years - by way of ChipSoft), was an overwhelming experience for me.

I remember the first time I met Scott Cook. Leo Redmond, at the time managing the Intuit Supplies Group, and I had just finished lunch in Palo Alto. As we drove back to his office, we talked about Quicken and how it was the second product I bought for my first computer in early 1989 (the first was Sim City). Leo said that he'd like me to tell Scott about it. Scott was excited - "You have five years of Quicken data?" He told me to install the latest Quicken beta as soon as I got home - he wanted to know how it handled large data files (mine was over two megabytes at the time). That was nearly ten years ago.

What an experience! Having been hired by Evy Chipman in late 1988 and working closely with every top-echelon executive on the ChipSoft side (Gaylord, Harris, Gleicher, Lane), I never thought I'd be so intimidated - stammering - as I chatted briefly with Scott in his office.

Reading Inside Intuit brings you into Scott's (and many others) office - you are in the presence of greatness when you read this book.

Interesting read on innovative company
Interesting corporate biography on Intuit, which arguably is the most successful consumer software company in the world.
The authors focus on Intuit's core values
1. Integrity
2. Do right by the customers
3. It's the people

It provides entertaining examples where the company did right by customers and did right by its employees. In particular, the authors focus on Intuit's strong customer oriented culture and its extensive user testing to make their software easy to use.
The Intuit story is told chronologically covering Intuit's conception to the present . Probably since the authors have a marketing background, there is a lot of coverage on marketing roll-outs, pricing strategies, and branding. I would have liked to read more on their engineering strategies. This really is limited to stories of engineers pulling all-nighters and a focus on usability testing. Not much insight is given on how they actually develop award winning software. There is interesting management insight to current CEO Bennett, and how he brought more discipline and metric focus to the organization. The authors had access to all of the key Intuit players , and Intuit's vision, mission and operating values statement makes for an insightful read in the appendix.

This Book Wows
I have read a number of corporate biographies and this one has to rank near the top. The authors describe many of the company's failures and successes in a forthright manner. Also, their technique of discussing the company in terms of its several regimes is a very useful way of thinking about the company's evolution.

My one complaint is that I don't think the book adequately describes the company's present and future; for instance, there is no mention of the Siebel implementation that is a huge deal internally, the efforts in leveraging the accountants as a channel, or the impending battle with MSFT in the Small Biz arena. There is a lack of description of the daily life at Intuit- the Friday beer fests (Karl Strauss beer!), employee bonding at the foosball tables, the yearly golf tournament, the one office per employee policy, opportunities to pick Steve Bennett's brain at quarterly web broadcasts anonymously.. the list goes on- that makes Intuit a Great Place to Work.

Intuit: From a Vision to a Reality
Inside Intuit is an accurate story of the evolution
of Intuit. From the time that Scott Cook came up
with the vision that Quicken would change the way
people did their finances through today, Inside
Intuit captures the essential details of how Intuit
went from a small Silicon Valley start-up and grew
into a multi-billion dollar company. As a former
Intuit employee for nine years, it was exciting to
relive the experience. Taylor and Schroeder did a
wonderful job putting the pieces together to make
Inside Intuit a great read. ... Read more

Book Description

"Filled with profiles of women entrepreneurs.the book is certainly blissful to look at.inspirational.it is full of lush, soft-focus photographs of women running businesses as hat designers, pottery makers, and other enterprises..the book has drawn strong interest."--Wall Street Journal. "Entrepreneurs who daydream about converting a hobby into a career should consult The Business of Bliss."--USA Today. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

INSPIRATIONAL! A MUST FOR ALL!
I love this book! It is so inspirational! If you just want to enjoy a book with a cup of tea, I recommend the Business of Bliss. If you are serious about starting up a small business, I recommend the Business of Bliss. Hearst Publishing truly is the number one source for empowing the smallest of business women and bringing them to the reader. If they can do it, so can I. BUT, I couldn't have done it without being inspired by the women featured in the Business of Bliss such as Debby DuBay. (Who by the way, credits her huge success to Nancy Lindemeyer, Victoria Magazine and Hearst Pub.) The Business of Bliss is a Must.

I love this book! Recommend by Oprah!!
Wonderful, inspirational book. The women are incredible and their stories are wonderful. I love the section on retired Air Force Officer, Debby DuBay, owner of Limoges Antiques Shop, Andover, MA and author of LIVING WITH LIMOGES and ANTIQUE LIMOGES AT HOME

Truly an inspirational book!
I was a very successful corporate business woman who recently retired and turned my passion into my current new business. I tracked down Ret, USAF Caption, Debby DuBay who is featured in The Business of Bliss and I was captivated and motivated by her inspirational true life story! She made me proud to be an American and proud of her accomplishments. In addition, she helped me with invaluable ideas and information that has helped make my business a success. I love Hearst Publications and the women they highlight. Recommend this book if you want to be inspired!

A inspirational book for all!
I had the opportunity to met one of the highlighted women in this book, Retired Air Force Officer, Debby DuBay who credits her sucess to her passion for porcelain. She is a dynamic speaker with a message for all. This book is an inspiration and if you are interested in turning a passion into a profession this book is a must!

Victoria Magazine...I miss you!
I loved Victoria Magazine and I was sad to see it go...but these wonderful books keep the spirit alive. Women doing what they love in true victoria magazine style...I love it! www.thereddragonfly.com ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Guilty of errors its authors accuses businesses of makingn
The collection of articles from 1991 to 1996 primarily focuses on differently seeing in manufacturing. They have missed a major discontinuity, and used the fatal strategy in a time of change - listening to the HRB customer's needs, the Hardware industries, with no prescience of E-commerce or Web as vehicles for innovation. Harvard B School, like Sears, had missed the change

Great anthology of important ideas in strategy
John Seely Brown has done us a big favor: he weeded through the business literature, picked a few authors that really help us "see differently," found works that describe their ideas in tight little packages, and put it all in one book. JSB's own framing comments are also valuable.

Selected highlights: Brian Arthur on increasing returns, Gary Hamel's Strategy as Revolution, Morris and Ferguson on the power of platforms, Brandenburger and Nalebuff on Game Theory for strategy, sections on competitive advantage and managing innovation.

I'm having my interaction design students read this, to add to their palette of points of view. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A roadmap for process innovation and improvement
Davenport presents a practical roadmap for process improvement and process innovation which I have found very useful as a practitioner. Although not prescriptive, the text provides practitioners with useful very insights which can form the basis of an organisation's business process innovation/improvement methodology.

Must read
This is a well-written book on the subject of process or business reengineering. It is written in a non-technical language, wastes few words, and covers the entire spectrum of topics that are essential to a successful reengineering effort. The discussions place a significant emphasis on the role that information or computer technology play today in the reengineering effort, particularly how this technology can facilitate the overall effort. I found the book largely sticking to the overall thread however at times it did become a wee bit academic to flip through the sections. All in all, a very good read. ... Read more

Book Description

Through their official corporate statements, companies large and small, public and private, set forth their objectives and vision for future growth. Entrepreneurs find the stated goals of established companies valuable in forming their own businesses; students and prospective employees use the statements to gain useful background information on a company's culture. Each of the over 900 alphabetically arranged entries includes the company's name, address, phone number, and Internet address. These data are followed by a brief description of the company and the actual mission statement. Frequently there are two or three written presentations by one company. ... Read more

Book Description

This book presents a new way of seeing the business value of information, people and IT as well as a way of measuring and managing these capabilities in order to improve business performance. Packed with real-world examples, the book presents the best and worst practices companies have implemented to address these issues. Case studies from more than thirty international companies are strategically used throughout the book, including Banco Bilbao Vizcayo, Philips Business Electronics, Amazon, Dell Europe, Ernst Young, General Electric, IKEA, Ritz Carlton Hotels, and Wal Mart. This fascinating guide offers a diagnostic tool that senior managers can use to evaluate the three information capabilities of their company. Plus, the book provides hands-on management prescriptions on how to improve a company s information capabilities and how to use these capabilities in achieving business strategies and in the implementating change.
We are all experiencing an information overload, be it internal to the organization or due to external influences of our own information intensive society. Much has been written on how companies should "tame the beast of information" and make it work in the organization's favour. What has not yet been covered is how an organization can actually comprehensively measure whether or not they are using information effectively to achieve better business performance, or in other words, how senior managers within an organization can measure "Information Orientation".
Following a major 2 year global research project in conjunction with Andersen Consulting, the authors of this book have been able to demonstrate that when a company is high on IO it will be high on business performance. However, beyond just using IO as a diagnostic tool or a benchmark for the effective use of an organization's information, it can also predict the organization's business performance. Invariably, a company does not make the best use of available information. Having assessed why and where the failings are, this book will provide ways in which senior managers can actively manage the different elements of their Information Capabilities to improve the usage of information.
Information Capabilities are defined in three ways: 1. Information Behaviours/Values 2. Information Management Practices 3. Information Technology practices. It is the total interaction of these three elements and the effective management of them that permits superior business performance. IO Maturity can be gained, but the authors illustrate that it is an iterative process that grows and changes in line with a turbulent environment. Managers of a high IO company realize the need to continually refine and improve their information use and to keep learning more about their business. IO begins at the top. It takes more than authorizing an IT investment and training staff to use information. It calls for different behaviours, values and practices by senior managers. This book provides the means to move towards IO maturity. It is the step beyond Information Technology to actually managing information.
The aim of this book is to make a previously invisible dimension of business management visible. A manager, after reading this book, will be able to see, measure and manage the information resources, people and IT in the company and improve business performance. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Breakthrough thinking
An important work that takes the technology areas so necessary to information management, and places them exactly where industry needs to view them right now!Based on solid examples of solutions pioneeers, this book offers a view toward integration and application in an area that now generates real winners.

Highly Recommended!
Donald A. Marchand, William J. Kettinger and John D. Rollins, professors and consultants on information technology and management, explain how your company can improve its business performance using information orientation (IO). The authors present ways to improve corporate capabilities in information management, information technology and employee use of information. The authors draw from interviews with about 1,000 senior managers from more than 100 companies, representing two dozen countries and two dozen industries. The book uses case histories and examples from these interviews to support its central model, which is based on building, using and measuring these three information capabilities. The authors present innovative answers to the perpetual question of how to quantify subjective measures. The one shortcoming, beyond explanatory repetition, is the problem of sorting out programs with initials instead of names. Yet, we [...] found this book quite solid, albeit academically written, and suggest it to all managers and executives involved with IT initiatives at large companies.

The Missing Link
This is a book that I consider to be one of the most refreshing business texts that I've had the pleasure to read in a long time. It was something of an epiphany for me as concepts I had always instinctively known to exist and to be right were suddenly being detailed and consolidated in a way I have never had the vision to do, and in a way I have never read before.

Time will tell, but the methodology presented here may just provide the hitherto missing link between what we pay for information and what we get from it. Remember that by the end of 2001, the US alone will have spent the lion's share of a trillion dollars on Information Technology, and though we may not like to admit it, much of that money will disappear down a black hole of failed projects and mis-used systems.

If the case studies are anything to go by, the company that has the foresight to apply the principles of "Information Orientation" will not only offer itself the best chance of avoiding the IT gravity well, but will also be putting itself on track to derive the maximum possible value from its expenditure on information systems, in a way that will be measurable in the real business terms of growth, margin and bottom line.

That's a claim I find pretty exciting and I'm looking forward to applying it in my own environment. The authors say it's no fad, and my gut feeling is to agree. I recommend you get a copy of this book before your competitors do! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

to be as good as the best in the world
If it ain't broke,don't fix it.....that seems to be the culture in many organisations. Left to themselves, people will ignore warnings of danger and scorn opportunities to change early and with minimum of pain. This book relates how the cultural phenomenon was changed in General Electric (GE), one of America's largest and highly successful blue-chip corporation. This transformation or change revolution was brought about by the never-ending energy of its CEO, Jack Welch. The book successfully highlights some of Welch's thoughts and key considerations as he went about revolutionising GE. The book contains some valuable lessons for all managers who are attempting to drive change in their respective organisations. ... Read more

Book Description

It's come to this.

All the confusion and chaos and change and turmoil in our working lives have finally tipped the balance. We now need a new way of doing business.

Most of us view change as a threat, and survival as the goal. Yet we work too hard to consider just getting by as our primary goal. In Survival Is Not Enough, bestselling author Seth Godin provides a groundbreaking new way to organize companies to thrive during times of change. It contains a simple yet revolutionary idea: we can evolve our companies the same way nature evolves a species.

Darwin was right. Evolution is a fundamental force of nature, and Godin demonstrates how this force can be unleashed in any organization. The first step is to eliminate the anti-change reflex that's genetically coded into all of us. Once a company learns to "zoom" (embrace change without pain), it is much more likely to evolve. And a company that evolves can become ever more profitable.

Whether the market is up or down, whether technology is hot or not, in all industries, from retail to tech to restaurants, the organic approach to organizations described in this book will always outperform the competition. As long as our world isunstable, evolving businesses will win. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Godin does it again!
In his follow-up to the popular e-book Unleashing the Ideavirus, marketing guru Seth Godin uses Darwin's theory of evolution as an extended metaphor for how companies have to constantly change in order to adapt to unstable economic environments. Survival Is Not Enough: Zooming Evolution, and the Future of Your Company maintains that in these uncertain times, business owners have to constantly tinker with their marketing, products, and personnel, even if they've already discovered some successful strategies. While he lays the metaphors on a little thick, Godin's otherwise clear, crackling prose and real-life examples make the book an engaging read.

Thoroughly enjoyable...
I really enjoyed Seth Godin's Permission Marketing so I had high expectations of Survival is Not Enough and I must say that my expectations were easily met.

I read the book cover to cover in one day and found that Seth's insights were not only meaningful but inspirational.
Any person managing people or thinking of starting a company should invest in reading this book. It will definitely change the way you see the role of people in your company and how companies hold on to survival for dear life rather then embracing change to continue and succeed and as we're shown time and time again "Survival is Not Enough"

Has some interesting ideas..
Has some interesting ideas. I don't know how much of it can actually be implemented, however. Just because there's chaos around you doesn't mean you have to live/work in chaos. Remember the hare and the turtouise fable?

Science and Business Hand in Hand
Europeans, especially the British, see science as separate from business, and scientists and businessmen as separate species. This book categorically refutes this folly. Science and business are the same. What he is trying to say about the outliers being successful in a changing world is not new. The germans always practiced this principle. Try to do the best job you can and keep improving it technically no end. Provided you are not doing something completely silly, you will find that your only competitor will be, perhaps, another West German company (this is what happened in textiles in Germany). The problem is that we always focus on making that dollar, on the "average" behaviour or achieving some margin. Money is EMERGENT, i.e. just do what you love and at some threshold of excellence the money will follow you. The hidden message of evolution is seeing change as an agent of opportunity rather than a threat. Therefore, governments should encourage and support education, long degrees of 6 years or so, as used to be the norm in France and Germany we require again today even more so than before. Only when the population acquires the hunger for knowledge can they become the flexible individuals able to survive is a dynamic world.

Left me flat
Seth Godin is becoming the new Tom Peters. I found very little of substance here, which surprised because I enjoy his Fast Company column. This was just a lot of high minded columnist talk from someone who will never have to do any of it.

I prefer more down to earth authors who offer practical advice, not a lot of evangelist sounding advice. ... Read more

Book Description

In the wake of business scandals at Enron, Arthur Andersen, Global Crossing, Tyco—the list grows daily—there is an increasing sense among employees, executives, investors, and the public that the “anything goes” culture of the New Economy is over. Today, businesses must act responsibly, transparently, and with integrity.

Using in-depth case studies and examples from over 50 companies that range from Starbucks to Citigroup, General Motors to General Electric, DuPont to Dell, Ira A. Jackson, former director of the Center for Business and Government at Harvard’s Kennedy School, shows the quantifiable and enduring business advantage to “doing the right thing.” Companies that give back to their employees and society—focusing on values and purpose as well as profitability—often gain commpetitive advantage and improve their brand image, consumer loyalty, and employee satisfaction.

Identifying seven principles of making values integral to business processes and practices, PROFITS WITH PRINCIPLES opens the door to a new kind of capitalism, providing a wealth of practical recommendations companies of all sizes can model their own efforts after.

Book Description

An exciting follow-up to the bestselling Forbes Greatest Business Stories of All Time
In the tradition of the bestselling Forbes(r) Greatest Business Stories of All Time, Forbes(r) Greatest Investing Stories focuses on profiles of fascinating people who have achieved success in a range of investing arenas. This volume chronicles old-time innovators like Benjamin Graham, the father of value investing; Hetty Green, the Street's first female stock picker; T. Rowe Price, founder of one of the largest mutual fund families; and Georges F. Doriot, the driving force behind the first publicly owned venture firm in the United States. Others featured include such modern-day legends as Tom Bailey, founder of Janus Funds; Marty Whitman, value investor supreme and manager of the Third Avenue Value Fund; and Muriel F. Siebert, the first woman admitted to the New York Stock Exchange. Packed with investing lessons, wisdom and even the story of the swindle of the century, Forbes(r) Greatest Investing Stories makes an engrossing read and a great gift for any investor or market mogul.

Richard Phalon (New York, NY) has been a contributing editor at Forbes since 1980. He covered personal finance, Wall Street, urban affairs, and politics at the New York Times for sixteen years before joining Forbes. He is the author of The Takeover Barons of Wall Street and Your Money: How to Make It Work Harder Than You Do. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great lessons, lacking in style
This book tracks the stories of some of the most successful investors in the history of Wall Street. It contains fundamental lessons and the anecdotes it contains are being repeated throughout the world today. Scandals, overly aggressive accounting, generous executive options, corporate greed, folly all have been well documented in this book and all are manifesting themselves today in the form of Anderson, Enron, Worldcom and so forth.

I like this book because it focuses on fundamentals. The most successful investors invariably focus on value stocks and long term growth. They look for basics such as earnings and cash flows. They look behind the accounting numbers and are not bamboozled by glossy brochures or big name executives. A wise investor would not have been sucked up by the dot com hype. They would have seen the companies for what they were, overpriced flash-in-the-pans.

Whilst this book contains many valuable lessons, the style was dry and at times difficult to get through. So, whilst the book is not an entertaining read, anyone interested in purchasing quality stocks should definitely have a look at this book.

Inspiring and Relevant
Reading this reminded me that bad ecomonic news can create terrific opportunities in the market-- the moral of the story of the very first story, which talks about Benjamin Graham and his protoge Warren Buffett! It was eerie how similar the "Investors Beware" chapter about the CUC/HFS International debacle is to what's currently going on with Enron:"If the 'story' behind the stock seems too good to be true, it probably is." A great read -- the author truly seems to love and relish what he's talking about and I learned a ton that heartened my sagging investing confidence (and hopefully my sagging portfolio as well). ...