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Introduction to the Transformation Pathways: Taking the Right Transformation Path
by Bart Victor Andrew C. BoyntonFirms that succeed in the long run create market value by continuously transforming their capabilities, and by making the transformation process part of the daily activities, decisions, and learning of managers and workers. This chapter introduces a series of four steps for transforming present capabilities into ones that will allow you to succeed in the future.
Introduction to the UK Hospitality Industry: A Comparative Approach
by Bob Brotherton'An Introduction to the UK Hospitality Industry: a comparative approach' is a core text for introductory hospitality modules and courses. Unique in its structure; this text looks at key aspects and compares them with each sector of the industry to give students a broader and comprehensive view of the topic. Key aspects of the industry are discussed, including the following areas:* Management practices* Work patterns and employment practices* Industry and financial structures* IT applications* Customers and marketsWritten in a user friendly style, the following features have been incorporated:* Chapter objectives* Case studies* Review questions* Chapter conclusions* Further reading and bibliography.Contributors to this text are amongst the most highly acclaimed in the hospitality field and bring with them a wealth of knowledge.
Introduction to the World Economy
by A J BrownWell constructed and thoroughly competent" - The Economist "It is refreshingly differentThe new-comer to economics who studies this book should find it an interesting and invigorating task" - Economic Journal This book introduces readers to some of the salient features and problems of the world economy and gives some indication of the main ways in which economists set about the task of analyzing them. After a general account of what economies are and how they work, the book's discussion develops with reference to broad statistical facts in relation to the following issues: why the world economy is as we find it; why productivity varies from one community to another; how prices are formed; how national economies have grown; what determines an economy's occupational structure; how local specialization comes about; how the pattern of international trade has grown and changed and what the main sources of insecurity in economic life are.
Introduction: Beyond Customer and Employee Satisfaction-The Ownership Quotient
by James L. Heskett Joe Wheeler W. Earl Sasser Jr.A customer owner is one who tries a product or service, is so satisfied that she returns to buy more, states a willingness to tell others of her experiences, actually convinces others to buy, provides constructive criticism of existing offerings, and even suggests or helps test new products or ideas. A customer who behaves like an owner is worth more than a hundred typical price-sensitive customers over the customer owner's lifetime with your organization. Similarly, the lifetime value of an employee who can promote customer ownership is priceless, and an organization that learns how to cultivate an ownership attitude creates a self-reinforcing relationship between customers and frontline employees. This chapter introduces the service profit chain, which will help you develop the preconditions for ownership in your organization, and describes how to measure the ownership quotient of your customers and employees.
Introduction: Data Are Business Assets--The Time is Now to Put Them to Work in Your Organization
by Thomas C. RedmanData and information have many properties that, collectively, present unparalleled opportunities and daunting challenges. Unfortunately, in today's organizations, data and information remain essentially unmanaged assets. Organizations must develop deep understanding of their eclectic properties, where they come from, how they move around, and the myriad ways in which they help create - and destroy - value.
Introduction: Embracing Psychological Impasse
by Timothy ButlerEven if you have the "perfect job," it is still possible to feel miserable and unfulfilled. The first step to fixing psychological impasse is realizing that you have a choice; you don't have to stay in a place that makes you unhappy. For those who choose to fully experience impasse life will prove more challenging and, at the same time, more authentic.
Introduction: Gen Y's in the Workplace
by Tamara EricksonChances are good that you, as a member of Generation Y, will not find today's workplace immediately well matched to your preferences and style. Much of that stems from generational gaps - the different ways that you and your Boomer or Gen X coworkers view the world. Your success will depend on understanding how other generations think and work, and how you can plug in to work effectively with them.
Introduction: Green Recovery--Why Going Green is the Key to Reviving Your Business
by Andrew WinstonAccording to Andrew Winston--expert on green business and coauthor of the best-selling book "Green to Gold"--greening your business is more important now than ever. While it may be hard to imagine focusing on sustainability in the midst of a recession, Winston argues that the smartest companies are recommitting to sustainability, and using environmental thinking not only to stay profitable, but also to drive innovation and help customers through these tough economic times. This introduction provides an overview of how greening your business can save you money quickly and help you build a stronger more resilient company--one ready to take the lead from slower-moving competitors. This chapter was originally published as the introduction to "Green Recovery: Get Lean, Get Smart, and Emerge from the Downturn On Top."
Introduction: How to Succeed When Professionals Drive Results
by Jay W. Lorsch Thomas J. TierneyOutstanding professional service firms are consistently able to identify, attract, and retain star performers. This chapter outlines some of the book's key concepts and introduces the central question of why some professional service firms succeed through the ups and downs of the business cycle while others fall behind.
Introduction: Innovation Tournaments Help to Identify Exceptional Opportunities
by Christian Terwiesch Karl T. UlrichIn the game of innovation, no bet comes with a guarantee--there will always be risk involved. But that doesn't mean you can't become a better player by shifting the odds in your favor. Although some individual innovations can have fantastic returns, simply spending more on innovation overall won't necessarily lead to increased profits. A tool called the "return curve" will help you see the differences between marginal innovation opportunities and exceptional innovation opportunities that drive exceptional value. In this chapter, the authors describe how innovation tournaments--competitions between opportunities designed to eliminate all but the most promising opportunities--can help you shift the return curve in your favor. This chapter was originally published as the introduction to "Innovation Tournaments: Creating and Selecting Exceptional Opportunities."
Introduction: Leadership in a New Context
by Michael MaccobyChanges in social character and the knowledge-creating workplace make it essential to raise our understanding of personality, not just intellectually, but also experientially, to develop what the author calls "Personality Intelligence." To avoid being seduced by Pied Pipers, our grasp of personality needs a lot of improvement. You can't lead in ways that worked in the past, especially in the advanced industrial democracies. Here the author explains why.
Introduction: Leading Organizational Change
by Dan S. CohenChange is a crucial challenge for organizations in the twenty-first century, and the pace, amount, and complexity of change are increasing with no sign of letting up. This chapter outlines the eight-step process for leading successful change originally introduced by John Kotter in his book, "Leading Change," and further developed by Kotter and co-author Dan Cohen in "The Heart of Change."
Introduction: Leading Quietly
by Joseph L. Badaracco Jr.This chapter describes a new approach to leadership, quiet leadership, which, despite its slow pace, often turns out to be the quickest way to make an organization--and the world--a better place.
Introduction: Linking Strategy to Operations for Competitive Advantage
by Robert S. Kaplan David P. NortonIn spite of increased adoption of strategy execution systems in recent years, strategy development and the links between strategy and operations remain ad hoc, varied, and fragmented. Having a comprehensive and integrated management system-with the Balanced Scorecard at its core-can help companies overcome the difficulties and frustration that most of them experience when attempting to implement their strategies.
Introduction: Marketing and Democracy--How They Can Work Together
by John A. Quelch Katherine A. JoczMarketing performs an essential societal function - and does so democratically. People would benefit if the political and public realms were guided by the best of marketing, and vice versa. By assessing marketing's accomplishments, its shortcomings, and its achievements, it's possible to shed light on ways marketing can support strong, vibrant, democratic societies and contribute to the greater good.
Introduction: Mastering the Dynamics of Innovation
by James M. UtterbackToday, when competitiveness hinges on the ability to develop or adapt new technologies, understanding the dynamics of innovation and change is essential for survival and success. This chapter introduces a framework for thinking about issues of technology, innovation, and industrial change.
Introduction: Mastering the Merger
by David Harding Sam RovitThere is a right way and a wrong way to go about managing the deal-making process. The authors assert that it is possible to master the merger by responding effectively to four critical questions. This chapter introduces those questions and lays out the intent and structure of the book.
Introduction: New Career Opportunities for the Boomer Generation
by Tamara EricksonThe Boomer generation will be the first to enjoy a significant period of healthy, active non-childrearing adult life, and demographic shifts in the talent pool present mid-career workers with an important opportunity to rethink their relationship to work. This chapter offers Boomers the chance to step back and take a fresh look at life and career, and to consider the opportunities afforded them by the new world of work.
Introduction: Process Development as a Competitive Weapon
by Gary P. PisanoHow quickly and effectively a company can develop and implement novel process technologies increasingly shapes the overall cost, timeliness, and results of new product introductions, and the overall competitive success of the company. This chapter examines the strategic role of process development capabilities and discusses the significant influence of these capabilities on the company's competitive fortunes.
Introduction: Redefining Global Strategy
by Pankaj GhemawatThis chapter outlines an approach to global strategy that focuses on the differences across countries, and describes the book's central goal: to help businesses cross borders profitably by seeing the world as it really is, rather than in idealized terms. This chapter was originally published as the introduction to "Redefining Global Strategy: Crossing Borders in a World Where Differences Still Matter."
Introduction: Skillful Decision Making
by Clinton D. Korver Ronald A. HowardHow does a person systematically analyze situations to make clear and correct ethical decisions? We must master ethical distinctions to enable clear ethical thinking. We must commit in advance to ethical principles. And we must exercise disciplined decision-making skills to choose wisely. By learning a new way of thinking, in other words, we can all become skillful ethical decision makers.
Introduction: Strategy, Organizations, and Control
by Robert L. SimonsUnderstanding how to control empowered organizations in highly competitive markets is important for both theorists and practicing managers. In this chapter, the author introduces a new, comprehensive theory for controlling business strategy, illustrating how managers gain control of strategy using four basic levers.
Introduction: The Failure of Competition in the U.S. Health Care System
by Michael E. Porter Elizabeth Olmsted TeisbergThe fundamental problem in the U.S. health care system is that the structure of health care delivery is broken. This is what all the data about rising costs and alarming quality tell us. And the structure of health care delivery is broken because competition is broken. All of the well-intended reform movements have failed because they did not address the underlying nature of competition. This chapter outlines the issues at the core of the health care crisis in America, suggesting that the way to transform health care is to realign competition with value for patients.
Introduction: The New CMO--Why?
by David AakerMost organizations are rightly proud of the decentralized structures that keep managers close to customers and markets, ahead of competitors, and accountable for results. However, relying on unfettered decentralized organizations with highly autonomous silo units is no longer competitively viable. The world has changed. There is too much at stake to allow silo interests to inhibit or prevent the effort toward achieving strong brands and effective marketing. This chapter outlines the specific problems or missed opportunities that are created or worsened by the silo structure and the new role that the CMO must play in conquering these problems.
Introduction: What Does a World-Class Negotiating Organization Look Like?
by Lawrence Susskind Hallam MoviusSuccessful negotiations can make or break companies, and many companies have heavily invested in the training of their negotiators. However, until now, most negotiation training has failed to distinguish between individual negotiating skill and organizational negotiating capacity. In this chapter, the authors argue that understanding this difference and using it to create a solid negotiating structure is essential to an organization's negotiating success. This chapter was originally published as chapter 1 of "Built to Win: Creating a World-Class Negotiating Organization."