Book Description
Authors Donald Mitchell and Carol Coles conducted a ten-year study of companies that had grown the fastest over a three-year period. Their research reveals that while unsuccessful companies doggedly apply outdated business models, the successful ones improve their models every two to four years.
The Ultimate Competitive Advantage provides a straightforward, systematic method any company can use to review and improve its business model and each of its key components: pricing, costs of doing business, and benefits added. Dozens of concrete examples from companies of all sizes and types are provided.
Customer Reviews:
...the perennial gale of creative destruction.......2006-07-22
Mitchell and Coles have done businesses a tremendous service in writing this excellent book. They have done so by providing a practical toolbox of ideas with which to stimulate entrepreneurs, business leaders and managers to enhance and improve their business prospects in today's very competitive marketplaces.
I must admit to having struggled with this book for a long time. Not because of difficulty in reading and understanding. To be sure this is a very lucid and comprehensible book and is accessible to all levels from a twelve year old bringing out his lemonade stall for the third year in a row and adding iced tea to his product range to the CEO of a major corporation.
My struggle was with trying to make overarching sense of what lessons the authors were trying to encourage readers to learn. It became clear to me after several periods of reflection upon completion of the text. The crucial significance of this book in a practical way lies in understanding how deep into national economic systems the process of globalisation has seeped. We see the reults in our everyday lives, how quickly new or improved products come into the marketplace. We see how quickly established businesses change or die, we see cheaper and better products come from remote parts of the world leaving us a greater part of our disposable income to spend on the things we would prefer to spend on them.
It is clear that in life and not just in business the process of change has quickened and that as individuals we must be more adaptable and more attune to the world around us to the opportunities that exist. It is as if we need to become our own business in ourselves.
Mitchell and Coles focus on but one part of this continuous change and that is on the business model. Their strong focus on this area has great strength but we must also learn the broader lesson from their well researched work. To survive in today's world we must not only accept change but we must embrace it as people, as workers, as entrepreneurs. It is as Schumpeter pointed out inherent in the nature of capitalism. But, to be sure it is inherent in the nature of all life, as Hayek observed. We must change or die.
I would heartily recommend this book to everyone, for there is much to be gained from within it's pages. Mitchell and Coles have produced an excellent book which far and away exceeds it's remit as a business book.
opened my mind.......2006-02-03
This book will open your mind on how to launch a bew business or innovative product or server. However the authors could write this book in a more simple way and not with a hard to read english text.
Business Model Innovation Workbook.......2005-12-15
The Ultimate Competitive Advantage is a gold mine with a rich vein of unusual ideas from Mitchell and Coles' nimble minds. Its stated purpose is to help readers develop and implement a superior management process for continuous business model improvement. The book goes ahead to do just that.
The authors' approach make deliberate what used to be an accidental, hapazard, uncertain and hard to repeat process.
This book, like Mitchell and Coles' others, is best used as a workbook. After each chapter, several questions are posed to stimulate your thinking, and 95% of the value of the book will be unlocked for you when you take the time to think through them rigorously. Serious entrepreneurs looking for fresh ideas for getting out of the rut and improving their businesses will.
THIS I S A PRACTICAL BOOK.......2005-12-08
This is a practical book, but it is not a "how-to-book" instead, it deals with the what, when and why; with such tangibles as pricing, cost of doing business and benefits to stakeholders. The authors- Donald Mitchell and Carol Coles researched and found out that unsuccessful companies doggedly apply outdated business models while the successful ones improve their models every 2 to 4 years. The book provides a straightforwad and a systematic method which any company can use to review and improve its business model basing on its key components: pricing, cost of doing business and benefits to its shareholders.
Pragmatic and functional!.......2005-11-02
Before reading the book, “The Ultimate Competitive Advantage” it seemed to me that most management books were written for “big” business problems. Most authors quote one case after the other to make their own case. A collection of postmortem reports of different companies to tell you how they failed.
This is the first book that has taught me however small a business may be, its success depends on competitive edge it creates with its own resources. There are numerous ways that even limited resources can create an added benefit for the customers and increase my business. The example of “free cold water” on an off beat road is one such method in the book to remember as a simple but brilliant solution to attract customers and add value for the customers. The authors give a set of tools to help one think in a different manner. I recommend this book especially to young person trying to get their business started and also those seeking to break out of dead end situations. A great work!
Product Description
On-the-go Instrction Because your time is valuable... All Audio All on the go! Beginning level instruction is presented in an all-audio format on 4 digitally-recorded CDs. You have the opportunity to learn on the go, taking advantage of time normally wasted. Study in your car, while exercising, doing yard work anywhere you can safely listen to a CD player. No accompanying books are needed to help you complete the lesson activities. Why can t learning be fun? It can! Linguaphone has chosen to present the allTalk series in an entertaining, soap-opera format. No dry old teacher with a monotone voice putting you to sleep, you follow the adventures of a visitor to a Spanish-speaking country as she interacts with individuals in a variety of interesting situations, learning the language and beginning to understand the culture. Actually learn the language Tired of spending money on language courses that don t work? Did you ever think the problem could be with the course and not you? With Linguaphone s unique learning sequence: Listen, Understand, Speak, you will find yourself actually using the language in no time at all! You are presented with a unit of the language, it is then broken down and explained to you, then you put it back together with greater understanding than just repeating what you may not have understood in the first place. . . . and learn it well! The all Talk methodology not only teaches well, but will have you speaking and understanding basic spoken Spanish in no time at all. Other popular all-audio courses require four times the cds, four times the money and four times the time to do what Linguaphone s allTalk Basic does with 4-one hour CDs.
Book Description
Offers an integrated overview of just how an organization must be designed to realize the full potential of high-involvement management. Details the types of management and reward systems, leadership behaviors, job design, and training programs that make high-involvement organizations really work at such thriving companies as Hewlett-Packard, General Electric, and Xerox. Shows how to implement such specific practices as work teams, skill-based pay, gainsharing, and improvement groups.
Customer Reviews:
On high involvement organizations and their designs..........2000-01-05
Edward E. Lawler III, expone en su libro The Ultimate Advantage: Creating the High Involvement Organization, el siguiente dilema organizacional: ¿Cómo la organización puede competir exitosamente en el ambiente actual de cambios, complejidad, competencia global y diversidad cultural? En otras palabras, ¿Cómo pueden desarrollar y retener ventaja competitiva las organizaciones? La clave segun el autor, para contestar estas interrogantes gira alrededor del aspecto del diseño de la organización (gente, estructura, estilos gerenciales y otros elementos).
Cabe señalar, que sobre este tema varios conocedores han realizado diferentes investigaciones. A saber, David Nadler define el diseño organizacional como "aquel que envolucra decisiones acerca de la configuración de los arreglos de la orgtanización formal, incluyendo estructuras formales, procesos sistemas que conforman una organización. La Meta de los diseñadores, es, por lo tanto, desarrollar e implantar una serie de arreglos o ajustes organizacionales formales los cuales, deben a través del tiempo llevar a congruecias de armonia (fit) entre todas las partes o componentes de la organización: estrategia, trabajo, gente, organizadción formal e informal. (Nadler 1992)
Henry Lucas, Jr. expone que la organización del siglo XXI tendrá que ser mucho más sensible y flexible que la estructura jerárquica. Las organizaciones tendrán que rediseñarse por si mismas o se arriesgarán a desaparecer. Lucas nos presenta el concepto de tecnología para diseñar o rediseñar las organizaciones de este nuevo milenio.(lucas 1996).
Edward E. Lawler III, nos expone el trasfondo histórico del siglo que acaba de terminar, en el cual se desempeñaron las organizaciones que tuvieron éxito a partir de la segunda guerra mundial. NOs presenta a su vez, las fuentes o recursos que le dieron sus puntos fuertes o ventaja competitiva. Los factores que permitieron ganar esta ventaja fueron: un sistema de educación superior, acceso a capital o poder adquisitivo como consecuencia del alto nivel de riqueza, excelentes infraestructuras y medios de comunicación, ayudas gubernamentales y gerentes muy bien preparados en términos educacionales. Muchas de estas ventajas desaparecieron durante la década del 1970 al 1980 con la llegada de los mercados globales, la competencia de otros países/los acuerdos económicos entre países, y el surgimiento de mayores riquezas que permitieron la adquicisión capital, mayores poderes adquisitivos, así como la adquisición de mejor e innovadora tecnología.
En este libro, Lawler presenta como una "útima ventaja competitiva" para las organizaciones, un nuevo modelo o enfoque gerencial, diseñado hacia el compromiso e involucrazión del empleado. A modo de comparar este nuevo enfoque con el tradicional, Lawler ïndica que la mayoría de las empresas utilizan el enfoque orientado hacia el control. Este modelo tradicional, es burocrático, mecánico y jerárquico. Se caracteriza por la simplicación de la tarea, la estandarización del trabajo y el alto grado de especialización. Este modelo, se basa en el supuesto de que la jerarquía y la relación vertical son las formas de asegurar que el trabajo se realice de manera productiva y de alta calidad.
La diferencia relevante de ambos enfoques recae en cómo está organizado y administrado el trabajo en las esferas bajas de la organización. En el modelo orientado al control, el poder, la información, el conocimiento y la recompensa estan centrados en la alta gerencia (en los niveles altos de la organización). la alta gerencia es la que planifica, dirige, coordina y controla). El rol del empleado es pasivo. En el modelo/enfoque de orientación al alto grado de involucrazión o alto compromiso, el poder, la información, el conocimiento y las recompensas se extienden a los niveles bajos. El rol de los individuos, es por lo tanto mas proactivo. Pueden ejercer auto-control, auto-dirección, y añadir valor a los productos y servicios utilizando no solo sus manos, sino tambien sus mentes, sus destrezas intelectuales (su creatividad y el sentido de innovación y espirítu emprendedor).
Recomiendo el libro altamente. Lawler cree que su enfoque puede proveerle una ventaja competitiva a muchas organizaciones, más allá de las que están disponibles en el enfoque piramidal, orientado al control, calidad total y otros parecidos que han sido expuestos en este "review", citamos a Lawler, 1992.
Este enfoque a mi mejor entender, proveera ventajas competitivas a las organizaciones como las nuestras, que se caracterizan por la diversidad cultural, democracia, comportamiento hacia el emprendedurismo, y enfocadas a la filosofía ética de responsabilidad social, y el respeto a la dignidad humana.
En conclusión, Lawler--indica que el estilo gerencial y el enfoque que las organizaciones utilicen para organizarce puede ser su clave al éxito o al fracaso. El reto de toda organización estará, concluimos, en encontrar un estilo gerencial que les ayude a atraer y retener los mejores y mas aptos recursos humanos que armonicen con los valores culturales de los paises donde operan y sus respectivas circumstancias.
Esto, será, segun Lawler a través de la armonía entre los elementos principales de una organización: su gente, la tarea/tecnología, procesos de información, recompensas y la estructura organizacional.
Average customer rating:
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Winning in Biz: The Ultimate Business Guide - Gain the Unfair Advantage
Ron Santini
Manufacturer: Win In Biz, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Entrepreneurship
| Small Business & Entrepreneurship
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Small Business & Entrepreneurship
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
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ASIN: 0975909215
Release Date: 2006-05-30 |
Product Description
This book and its companion website, www.wininbiz.com, give you the step-by-step hand holding of the things to do and how to do them right-the first time- to make your business successful and profitable. It is the most concise, informative, understandable guide EVER!! Wouldn t be nice to know which strategies really work before you apply them and waste your money? Wouldn t be wonderful to have an expert on your side to guide you against potential pitfalls? This is possible!! ... In this book you will discover it.
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The Manager's Guide to Total Quality: Action Plans for Achieving the Ultimate Competitive Advantage
Tom Terez
Manufacturer: Arrow Assoc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Business & Investing
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Management & Leadership
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
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| Business Ethics
| Consolidation & Merger
| Decision-Making & Problem Solving
| Distribution & Warehouse Management
| Industrial
| Information Management
| Leadership
| Management
| Management Science
| Motivational
| Negotiating
| Operations Research
| Planning & Forecasting
| Pricing
| Production & Operations
| Project Management
| Quality Control
| Risk Assessment
| Statistics
| Strategy & Competition
| Systems & Planning
| Systems Analysis
| Teams
| Total Quality Management
| Training
ASIN: 0962646342 |
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Managerial Marketing: The Ultimate Advantage
Charles Ames
Manufacturer: Managerial Marketing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
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Management & Leadership
| Business & Investing
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| Business Ethics
| Consolidation & Merger
| Decision-Making & Problem Solving
| Distribution & Warehouse Management
| Industrial
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| Leadership
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| Management Science
| Motivational
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| Operations Research
| Planning & Forecasting
| Pricing
| Production & Operations
| Project Management
| Quality Control
| Risk Assessment
| Statistics
| Strategy & Competition
| Systems & Planning
| Systems Analysis
| Teams
| Total Quality Management
| Training
ASIN: 0930239008 |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from JOPERD--The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, published by Thomson Gale on November 1, 2006. The length of the article is 4476 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: "Got disc?" The "Ultimate" experience in physical education: using discs for a throwing-and-catching game offers some advantages over traditional ball games.
Author: Tyler G. Johnson
Publication:
JOPERD--The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (Magazine/Journal)
Date: November 1, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 77
Issue: 9
Page: 27(7)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Human Resource Planning, published by Human Resource Planning Society on September 1, 1992. The length of the article is 1256 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: The Ultimate Advantage: Creating the High-Involvement Organization. (book reviews)
Author: Scott A. Bolman
Publication:
Human Resource Planning (Refereed)
Date: September 1, 1992
Publisher: Human Resource Planning Society
Volume: v15
Issue: n3
Page: p95(3)
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
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Essential Guide to the Internet for Health Professionals
Sydney Chellen
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Research
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Look Inside Computer Books
| Trip
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All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
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ASIN: 0415305578 |
Book Description
The new edition of of The Essential Guide to the Internet for Health Professionals enables students and professionals to understand how the Internet works and how to navigate it with ease, so that they may access online health information purposefully and skillfully. Included in this new edition are a list of key websites, new and revised worksheets and activities as well as additional information on search strategies. It also shows students how to access free health and medical resources, publish on the web, search for jobs and use health databases like CINAHL, MEDLINE, and CANCERLIT.
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- what do you think is the best way to use the Internet?
- A superb resource for mental health providers
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The Essential Internet: A Guide for Psychotherapists and Other Mental Health Professionals (Developments in Clinical Psychiatry)
Anthony L., M.D. Labruzza
Manufacturer: Jason Aronson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Psychology & Counseling
| Health, Mind & Body
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Psychoanalysis
| Psychology & Counseling
| Health, Mind & Body
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Psychotherapy, TA & NLP
| Psychology & Counseling
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Reference
| Psychology & Counseling
| Health, Mind & Body
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Internet
| Home Computing
| Computers & Internet
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| Internet & Education
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Internal Medicine
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ASIN: 0765701057 |
Customer Reviews:
what do you think is the best way to use the Internet?.......2000-10-11
the more time subjects spent online, the more depressed and lonely they tended to be. The report concluded that one hour a week of Internet use led to an average increase of 1% on the depression scale and 0.04% on the loneliness scale. Researchers think time spent on the Internet may be deducted from contact with real people. Participants in a study reported a decline in interaction with family members and a reduction in numbers of friends. No matter how heartfelt, e-mail, chat rooms, and newsgroups have an ephemeral quality compared to real human relationships. How does Internet communication affect mental health? Why? In terms of mental health, what do you think is the best way to use the Internet?
A superb resource for mental health providers.......1998-07-22
This in clearly the best book available about the Internet for mental health professionals. The author explains the workings of cyberspace in clear and accessible English that even the most computer-illiterate will be able to understand. He also provides an invaluable list of resources specifically tailored to mental health. Excellent job! Bravo!
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Organizations and Strategies in Astronomy III (Astrophysics and Space Science Library)
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Astronomy
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Environmental Science
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All Amazon Upgrade
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ASIN: 1402008120 |
Book Description
This book is the third volume under the title
Organizations and Strategies in Astronomy (OSA). These OSA books are intended to cover a large range of fields and themes. In practice, all aspects of astronomy-related life and environment are considered in the spirit of sharing specific expertise and lessons learned.
This book offers a unique collection of chapters dealing with socio-dynamical aspects of the astronomy (and related space sciences) community: characteristics of organizations, strategies for development, operational techniques, observing practicalities, educational policies, public outreach, journal and magazine profiles, publication studies, sociology of large collaborations, research communication, evaluation procedures, quality assurance, research indicators, national specificities, contemporary history, and so on.
Books:
- Streetwise Retirement Planning: Savvy Strategies and Practical Advice for a Secure Financial Future (Adams Streetwise Series)
- Study Guide, Volume 1, Chapters 1-14 for use with Financial & Managerial Accounting: A Basis for Business Decisions
- Survey of Accounting
- Systematic Analysis of University Libraries: Application of Cost-Benefit Analysis to the MIT Libraries
- Tax-Aware Investment Management: The Essential Guide
- The Alchemy of Finance: Reading the Mind of the Market
- The Investor's Guide to Understanding Accounts: 10 Crunch Questions to Ask Before Investing in a Company
- Timeslips III Made Easy
- Triple-Entry Bookkeeping and Income Momentum (Studies in Accounting Research)
- U.S. Regulation of the International Securities and Derivatives Markets
Books Index
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