Strategic Analysis and Choice: A Structured Approach

Strategic Analysis and Choice: A Structured Approach

$21.99

Buzzwords that every manager and CEO use — Strategic Analysis. What exactly is strategic analysis? What are strategy and strategic planning? This outstanding new book provides details to help managers (often working at the firm level, somewhat untrained, and having poor use of tools) learn more about strategic analysis — how to plan and how to implement it.

This book will help any manager overcome any problem by developing a systematic approach to conducting a strategic analysis. From assessing the general industry environment to analyzing industry forces and firm resources, well-known models are introduced and explained. By the end of the book, the author helps you select a strategy that is consistent with industry and firm specific conditions.

Also inside, Warner tackles the underlying theory that any strategic process might seem fruitless, especially if it is treated as an episodic or occasional task. If the result of all that work is a document that gets put on a shelf or in a closet, what is the point? Warner details just how to develop the idea of strategic development, keeping it broad-based and as an ongoing process.

Strategy may ultimately be the responsibility of the CEO but it needs, and benefits from, the engagement of others. Done right, that engagement and development align the organization more effectively. In addition, the models connect to and reinforce each other. To use them well requires reflection and revision. This book can help. Understand today how analysis becomes a lens you constantly bring to bear on your firm and its environment.

Dynamic Strategies for Small Businesses

Dynamic Strategies for Small Businesses

$21.99

This book outlines a cost-effective process for dynamic strategic planning in the domain of the small entrepreneurial firm. The model presented in the book is simple and dynamic. The objective is to allow a focus on the strategic as well as the tactical implementations of the vision of the small business leader, owner, or entrepreneur. To do so in a manner that will be cost effective and produce a strategy that is brief, clear, concise, and understood at all levels of the organization.This book outlines a cost-effective process for dynamic strategic planning in the domain of the small entrepreneurial firm. The model presented in the book is simple and dynamic. The objective is to allow a focus on the strategic as well as the tactical implementations of the vision of the small business leader, owner, or entrepreneur. To do so in a manner that will be cost effective and produce a strategy that is brief, clear, concise, and understood at all levels of the organization. The objective is to serve as a precursor to ensuring that decision-making can take place at the lowest possible level in the organization in the rapidly changing, highly competitive, often international, operational environment we face today.

Understanding Japanese Management Practices

Understanding Japanese Management Practices

$21.99

This book outlines the particulars of Japanese management and how modern Japanese management employs many practices which are very successful and worth adopting. The main objective of this book is to illustrate the many teachings that Japanese management practice can offer the rest of the world. The book thus targets managers who deal with Japanese business partners, or work in Japan, students of Japanese Studies, Asian Studies or International Business.

Effective Sales Force Automation and Customer Relationship Management: A Focus on Selection and Implementation

Effective Sales Force Automation and Customer Relationship Management: A Focus on Selection and Implementation

$21.99

As we move deeper into the 21st century, Firms continue to struggle with the implementation of sales force technology tools and the role they play in sales representative performance. Foreseeing this changing environment, many sales organizations have begun to focus on technology-related strategies, business processes, and applications to adapt to these emerging issues. As we move deeper into the 21st century, firms continue to struggle with the implementation of sales force technology tools and the role they play in sales representative performance. Foreseeing a changing environment, many sales organizations have begun to focus on technology-related strategies, business processes, and applications to adapt to these emerging issues. With this in mind, sales force technology usage has changed the methods of selling. Salespeople are no longer selling just a “product”; instead, they are providing a valuable “solution” to customer problems. Salespeople now act as consultants or experts and provide customized solutions. This role requires salespeople to develop a technological orientation to access, analyze, and communicate information in order to establish a strong relationship with customers. Sales technology enables salespeople to answer the queries of customers and effectively provide competent solutions. The ability to answer queries and provide solutions leads to strong relationships between a salesperson and a customer. Thus, technology tools are not only used for smoothing the work process, but also have strategic utilizations. With the adoption of technological tools at exponential rates, many firms fell into pitfalls and witnessed failure of their technology initiatives. The purpose of this book is to outline the important steps that must be considered and adhered to when implementing sales force technology. Perhaps the most important aspect covered within this book is that technology usage is both a strategy and a tool; therefore, we outline both strategic considerations as well as implementation procedures throughout each chapter. It is important to consider all the steps and the necessary actions that will need to take place before the first penny is spent; then and only then will the technology have its intended effect.

Corporate Investment Decisions: Principles and Practice

Corporate Investment Decisions: Principles and Practice

$21.99

This book is intended for both practising managers who require a thorough knowledge of the principles of making investment decisions in the real world and for students undertaking financial courses whether at undergraduate, MBA or professional levels. The subject matter encompasses relevant aspects of the investment decision varying from a basic introduction to the appraisal techniques available to placing investment decisions within a strategic context and coverage of recent developments including real options, value at risk and environmental investments.

Operational Leadership

Operational Leadership

$21.99

Customers are increasingly demanding higher levels of speed and quality, yet leaders often focus mainly on reducing the costs of operations. This book outlines the needed evolution in leadership attitudes and behaviors in the key operational areas such as new product development, sales, operations, customer service, human resources, finance, and information technology.

Sales Technology: Making the Most of Your Investment

Sales Technology: Making the Most of Your Investment

$21.99

Contemporary sales organizations are spending billions of dollars or euros on sales technologies with the objective of streamlining the sales process, enhancing sales force productivity, and improving customer relationships. A variety of sales technologies exist such as customer relationship management (CRM) software, mobile sales force automation (SFA) applications, contact management software, and territory planning applications, to name just a few. In spite of the amount being invested in such technologies, however, few firms can claim to be enjoying performance improvements. In fact, the majority of companies are struggling to gain salesperson buy-ins and are failing to realize the intended return on investment (ROI). In addition, the introduction of such technological applications may cause stress to the sales force or disturb customer relationships. Against this backdrop, this textbook is concerned with how executives can effectively manage a complex and costly sales technology initiative in order to get the most out of it. In particular, the textbook begins by providing the reader with a detailed discussion on the various technologies that are being used by sales organizations. It then provides an exhaustive review of the factors that might lead to effective sales technology implementation and presents a managerially relevant conceptual framework, which illuminates the mediating pathways from using the system to salesperson productivity. Moreover, the textbook offers a wide array of key performance indicators (KPIs) that can be readily employed in order to monitor the progress and success of the implementation effort. Next, it offers a comprehensive method that executives can use to calculate the return on sales technology investment (ROSTI) in order to substantiate the business case for the technology. Finally, the textbook provides executives with a detailed three-stage process of sales technology implementation and discusses what essential work should be conducted in each stage.

Succeeding at the Top: A Self-Paced Workbook for Newly Appointed CEOs and Executives

Succeeding at the Top: A Self-Paced Workbook for Newly Appointed CEOs and Executives

$21.99

This workbook is designed for CEOs, Executives and Senior Managers who have been assigned to a new position with sufficient authority, if not a mandate, to enact change in the organization. Even in situations where there is no overt instruction to effect change, the New Executive is expected to improve the situation, which in fact means to change things. It is expected of him or her, wittingly or unwittingly. However, the high failure rate of New Executives can be explained either by a too-rapid rush to change, or, its opposite–waiting until it’s too late. New Executives lack a roadmap of how to proceed in a new position requiring change.
This workbook provides the roadmap from the beginning of the process to that point where the New Executive is safely ensconced in her position, with explanations and new ways of thinking about organizations and change, charts that illustrate subject matter and assignments that aid the transitions. The roadmap begins with the New Executive’s personal goals and expectations, as well as the expectations of the people hiring her. It proceeds to analyzing the situation and the organization, including its key players, and provides guidelines as to how to do so. Convincing others that he indeed knows what he is doing is based on the small changes he introduces. The roadmap then takes a bit of a detour and goes into some depth about key concepts in organizational behavior, concepts that if mastered can be very helpful for the New Executive in understanding what is the situation he faces.
Implementing a strategy and settling in brings the roadmap nearer to the end. The “end state”, however, is really what happens throughout her career as Executive and is as much a part of the roadmap as the various stages discussed in the book.

The Internationalists: Masters of the Global Game

The Internationalists: Masters of the Global Game

$21.99

For the first time, internationalists are identified for their critical capabilities. This book identifies the six key practices of successful internationalists and posits that recognizing them will have a profound effect on corporate mindset and how global companies plan and execute cross-border strategies.
Based on extensive research and interviews with international executives on four continents, The Internationalists identifies problems common to international business ventures and analyzes them for lessons learned. From there, Scherer outlines steps and strategies for creating thoughtful and sensible international projects using the talents of those most capable of carrying out cross-border ventures.
“I just finished reading Catherine Scherer’s new book, The Internationalists: Masters of the Global Game. [Scherer] focuses on the importance of people in organizations that have a unique set of skills and attributes (“internationalists”) that make them effective in operating in a global arena. I particularly like her metaphorical reference to internationalists as gaskets that help to make an effective seal between headquarters and field operations where the strategy gets implemented in a multitude of cultural environments, all with different norms, values, acceptable behaviors, and visions of reality. The challenge for organizations, and particularly for Human Resource departments or personnel, is to find better ways to identify “internationalists” or those that have the potential to fill those roles. These people must be identified, recruited, developed, placed, evaluated, rewarded, and perhaps most importantly, retained. This book provides specific suggestions for doing just that.” — David Hopkins, Associate Professor Emeritus, Daniels College of Business, University of Denver
“Scherer has captured the essence of the “internationalist” through interviews and analysis, then condensed the findings into usable information that isn’t found in any other book. This is a must-read for strategic human resources professionals, global business leaders and anyone considering international assignments.” — Carolyn H. Byram, Senior Human Resources Executive

International Social Entrepreneurship: Pathways to Personal and Corporate Impact

International Social Entrepreneurship: Pathways to Personal and Corporate Impact

$21.99

This book explores the topic of international social entrepreneurship. It will explore current definitions, concepts, as well as methodologies pertaining to social entrepreneurship. Furthermore, it will showcase real-life cases and stories of individuals and companies that have made a positive impact in various parts of the world.
The book is attractive to the target readers for the following reasons:
The book is attractive to the target readers for the following reasons : 1) there has been a growing interest in the topic of social entrepreneurship and yet there are limited academic materials, this book will offer a concise, straight-forward compilation of theories, concepts, and cases, 2) with globalization, students and executives have been empowered to make positive impact around the world; this book will identify and discuss viable strategies, 3) in today’s business environment, many students and executives have been responsive to global issues, this book will provide fresh insights on citizenship in a global environment.