Management-buying

I owned this book back when it was first published and the new version is just as good with more updated info such as choosing tack, illness in horses, photos and drawings of what these things look like and detailed info on every aspect of horses and their care. Very good book for a beginner because once read your overall knowledge of horses and their care will be quite good and the type of info you can apply. Also gives you tons of references to organizations,clubs,etc. Great book for horse enthusiasts to own.

This is the most comprehensive horse care book I own. I just love this new updated version. I also owned the 1985 edition and this new one has not only updated information, but more information. I highly recommend it to any horse owner or anyone interested in owning a horse (especially good for a first horse owner or lessee).

If there was an introductory level class for horse owners, The Whole Horse Catalog would be the perfect accompanying textbook. The book surveys all aspects of horse ownership from selecting the horse, stabling the horse, what to feed it, horse health, and so on. It is excellent in explaining horse terms, tack, apparel and events. It describes what all those products you see in the tack store are for. There are lots of diagrams and sidebar-type articles. The coverage is comprehensive. For example, the book even shows and explains the different types of snaps! Other examples: it lists all of the contact information for veterinary colleges. It tells you how to make a muckheap. It shows you different styles of creases on cowboy hats. It explains what TTeam is. It charts the advantages and disadvantages of different material for fences. It tells how to best photograph yor horse. You get the idea? It's like a concise encyclopedia on horses and horse-y things. This book will tell you everything about the horse world you should know, but don't know enough to know to ask.

Peter Bendor-Samuel has a gift for articulating the essence of a business process that all too often is misunderstood. When the process is misunderstood a potential extended enterprise instead becomes a tangled mess, lacking dicipline and focus. In his book, Bendor-Samuel reveals in laymen's terms the fundamental principles that will make for a successful relationship. Turning Lead into Gold is Bendor-Samuel at his best. The author never loses sight of the fundamentals (market-principles, well defined contracts and diciplined management) and provides effective metaphors for describing tactics that often undermine these principles. There are many practitioners in the industry who understand and demonstrate the keys to outsourcing excellence, but few who commmunicate them as elegantly. Whether you are considering outsourcing or are simply staying abreast of business trends, this book will serve as a worthwhile read.

As the founder of probably the smallest corporation in America, (Meltdown International Inc.), I don't have the resources, time or knowledge to do everything well. The only way companies of any size can survive and thrive in today's changing business world is to outsource acitivities that don't pay the light bill or distinguish themselves in the global marketplace.

But how do you do this? Giving away important processes like finance and accounting to an outsourcing provider is scary. This book gave me the courage and the confidence to outsource. It told me what to do, what NOT to do, and what to watch out for. It gave me clear guidelines on pricing going into a relationship and how to police performance during the life of the contract. It also gave me a blueprint for handling disputes because they do come up.

I now outsource my finance and accounting to a provider 10 minutes from my office. (I want face to face chats about my money!)I also outsource my Web development and hosting to a company in the Philippines that does terrific work at a remarkably reasonable rate. I would never have even considered an offshore supplier if I hadn't read this book. It helped me understand the whole planet is now a source of suppliers.

The author's premise is that companies today have no option but to outsource. I have found in my own experience that is certainly true. I had no idea of how to go about it. If in doubt, read! This book was the perfect primer for a newcomer like me.

Turning Lead into Gold is a valuable piece of work for buyers as well as sellers of outsourcing. It clearly presents how this modern form of business alchemy turns operations that drain resources from companies into generators of value.

The hard statistics are accompanied by easy to understand case studies and explanations. I highly recommend it as a 'must read" for both parties to an outsourcing relationship as "pre-marital" counseling manual that will promote more successful and profitable alliances.

Thank you Peter Bendor-Samuel.

The pursuit of knowledge that gives us an understanding of factors that determine success in the market place has always considered "the firm" as the unit of analysis. This has been the case with microeconomics, game theory, competitive strategy and many such specialized areas of research. Cartels that manipulate supply and prices are perhaps an exception to this rule. If, instead of considering the firm as the unit, we consider a group of firms teaming together to collectively provide value to the customer and succeed as a unique identity as a unit of analysis, the methodology to understand competition would undergo a paradigm shift. This book is precisely about this concept as applicable to the automobile industry.

In the early half of the last century it was possible to go to the countryside for a picnic in a Ford Model T car, disassemble and reassemble it with a simple wrench and drive back home in the evening. Today we need computers to diagnose even a simple problem under the hood of cars tailor made to suit individual needs. Given the increase in complexity, explosion of technology and customer preferences, it is impossible for a single firm to ever think of manufacturing even half the components. (River Rouge will be remembered in history as the most ambitious plan of an automotive giant to make all parts of the automobile - including steel and timber from within the company. At best a fairy tale for kids of the twenty first century!).

This book is the summary of an excellent research study of the automobile industry in the 1990's with focus on Toyota and Chrysler. These companies have significantly different "governance structure" (the proportion of parts made in-house, procured from partner firms, and from arms'-length suppliers) from their competitors- GM and Ford. The firms that have a higher proportion of parts that are bought from partner suppliers have a clear edge over competitors that use arm's-length suppliers for the same parts. Extensive data has been collected, analyzed and tested to substantiate the statements made in the text.

Three characteristics that distinguish between partner suppliers from arm's length suppliers- Dedicated asset investments, Knowledge sharing routines and Inter-firm trust form the virtuous triangle that make these partnerships succeed. The results of such partnerships show clearly in tangible terms - Higher profitability per vehicle, better quality, faster time to market, and more new models for customers; the key parameters that enable Toyota and Chrysler to drive at top speed. "It 's not the big that eat the small but it's the fast that eat the slow".

Taking lessons from Toyota, Chrysler adopts concrete programs to consolidate its suppliers, integrate and partner with them to deliver higher value at lower cost to the customer.

Though this research is restricted to the automobile industry, the fundamental principles of "extended enterprise" can be extended across industries.

Highly recommended for all managers and a must read for those working in procurement processes. Next time your supplier drops in, think of this book and start a new relationship.

Having followed Dyer's other research, I think that this is a theoretically elegant piece of work. He builds further on his pieces in SMJ (with Singh from Wharton) and AMR and illustrates the concepts of relationship-based assets in firm networks. The running exemplar has he uses (Toyota) illustrates his theoretical arguments quite elonquently. The book also highlights the limitations of his concept of collaborative advantage, and his closing chapter illustrates how cultural differences (here with Benz) can keep this strategy from becoming reality. This book is not for folks looking for cut-out recipies. This book is a MUST for researchers and managers who like to think instead of searching for cookbooks! The concluding chapter is a gem because it highlights our gaps in knowledge. This is an excellent book, and having read Dyer's other works, it's high quality comes as very little surprise. Buy, own, read, reread, and profusely highlight your own copy! VERY highly recommended.

Jeffrey Dyer, an accomplished scholar and management teacher, has developed a cogent and sophisticated theory of extended enterprise management based on a wealth of empirical data from the history of Toyota in Japan and from his six-year study of Chrysler Corp. before its merger with Daimler-Benz. Beyond being a detailed and rigorous case study of the automobile manufacturing industry, Dyer's book presents an extremely valuable model for vertical integration. His model can be applied to other complex product industries, though he is honest about the limits of its applicability. This book provides a clear, effective blueprint for achieving value-chain collaboration. We [...] recommend it to consultants, executives in complex product industries and leaders in firms that supply components or materials. If you always suspected you were part of a greater whole, now you can be sure.

I have been searching for a description of manufacturing collaboration to understand the concepts. This book has given me a very definitive understanding of a range of possibilities and shows how various industries are applying collaboration ideas. The book is well researched and provides excellent reference information for anyone desiring to understand the underpinnings of collaboration in its various forms.

The author has done a marvelous job in defining the Collaborative Manufacturing environment, describing the best practices of what companies are doing today, and "painting the picture" of what Collaborative Manufacturing may be in the future. This is a must read book for those who are looking for practical methods to improve the overall customer order fulfillment process.

Collaborative Manufacturing is a solid over view of the important issues facing today's manufactures. The book covers the entire manufacturing spectrum, batch, continuous, discrete, as well as real world examples in the automotive, life sciences, electronics and process industry. It also provides definitions and context for the various acronyms used in the different industry segments. This book should be required reading for anyone wishing to work for or sell to manufacturing companies.

We are in the process of starting a small tools company. We believe a collaborative demand activated manufacturing strategy is the best path to success. We believe the book will be of great assistance in helping build a company that takes advantage of technology and collaborative strategies.

I bought this book this weekend and started reading it. It was in a nice display of "recommended" reading at the airport book store in Singapore. Having been in both IBM and E2open (Supply Chain software) and now Agere Systems.... no doubt in my mind - the value is clear. Implementation is complex with competing solutions and agendas. Issue is even in the same industry you have too many competing solutions. I noticed CAPS has been pushing the same themes. I liked the way you put it together and got it published.

I am currently focused on building a Supply Chain which is geographically located with the supply base. This is a huge advantage as Value Chains can not overcome the timezone - same day impact. The core advantages of key supplier relationship management are also local and can not be overcome by distance. If we can automate human behavior in these management sytstems the value chain will really gain speed.
Chief Procurement Officer
Global Procurement
Agere Systems

The title is a bit misleading: the book is about a lot more than redesign. Specifically it looks at the many processes and technologies associated with supply chain management. The subject matters covered run the gamut from the basics of supply chain management to supplier relationships to the fast-changing B2B landscape. The premise of educators Handfield and Nichols is that the more effectively you integrate these activities the more value you create across the supply chain. . . . The bottom line is that the pluses far outweight the minuses. The authors have a knack for explaining a range of supply chain concepts and techniques clearly. Just as important, they reinforce the discussion with real-life examples. Every major topic is introduced by a case study that sets the context for the discussion to follow. One final observation: From a cost-benefit standpoint, Supply Chain Redesign represents a good value in today's market. Very few books these days present this much worthwhile supply chain information for such a relatively low price.

Review published in the Supply Chain Management Review, November-December 2002, p. 59.

I bought this book this weekend and started reading it. It was in a nice display of "recommended" reading at the airport book store in Singapore. Having been in both IBM and E2open (Supply Chain software) and now Agere Systems.... no doubt in my mind - the value is clear. Implementation is complex with competing solutions and agendas. Issue is even in the same industry you have too many competing solutions. I noticed CAPS has been pushing the same themes. I liked the way you put it together and got it published.

I am currently focused on building a Supply Chain which is geographically located with the supply base. This is a huge advantage as Value Chains can not overcome the timezone - same day impact. The core advantages of key supplier relationship management are also local and can not be overcome by distance. If we can automate human behavior in these management sytstems the value chain will really gain speed.
Chief Procurement Officer
Global Procurement
Agere Systems

As a reseller of Business Software, I was skeptical when a friend recommended this book. However, after I read and studied it, I realized that this is a valuable tool not only for a company beginning their software search, but a tool for resellers as well.

The most common reason for failure during the selection of new business software is not sharing with the reseller the current needs of your company and the small details that make a difference in how your company operates. These often-overlooked details can make the difference between failure and success in an installation.

I highly recommend this book not only for a company seeking new software, but also for the sales staff for a software reseller.

Give this book as a gift to a prospect. Go through the steps with them. Not only will you and the potential end user benefit, you can be assured that once the sale is made; you will have a complete and documented plan for the installation project.

Having spent many years buying, writing, installing, designing and consulting in the business management software world, I feel that this book should be required reading for any executive considering the purchase of software with which they intend to operate their business.

The purchase of software is one of the most important decisions a company can make. This process is usually not something a company does very often so typically this process can be very intimidating. The purchase of business software is much different and further reaching than buying a machine for the factory floor. This is why it is so important to know how "the game is played" before diving in headfirst.

In my over 20 years in the business, I have not seen anyone provide this type of information to companies outside the software industry. Not only is the purchasing process described in detail but tips on how to manage your company search process are provided as well. Sample forms for RFP's and their analysis are some of the samples provided. Interview questions for the vendors are also provided. A discussion on whether to keep and re-invest in the current system or to acquire a new system is included.

This book paints a very accurate picture as told by an industry insider and is well worth the read.

hi dad. loved the book. it was very interesting and informative. keep up the good work!

There are a lot of books out there that say they can supply you with the "Know-how" of supply chain management, but the Handbook of Supply Chain Management truly describes the supply chain as a "System". It views all critical material as elements, which are efficient in building an essential strong company. This handbook lays a foundation for others to follow.

This manual is a valuable reference, which helps the reader to grasp an understanding of supply chain strategies using a how-to guide. The instructive chapters walk you through all the important aspects of successful management. Contains actual studies, which can be viewed as educational tools and how to apply them to achieve the best possible results.

Overall, I highly recommend this book and I have already applied it in the optimization of our processes.

Christopher Kutyla
Manager, Technical Operations Planning

My company is a contract manufacturer operating at multiple sites internationally producing consumer products for many different Customers. As a supply chain improvement team leader I found the Handbook extremely useful as a comprehensive resource for the latest techniques in supply chain management, particularly, the sections on strategy and how to use supply chains to improve a competitive position. This is a great book and I would highly recommend it to anyone undertaking a similar effort.

Very informative and interesting on the Franchising Business

I started off with no knowledge of the franchising industry..until this book. Tips and Traps takes you through the whole franchise process. After devouring this book ( I am already on my fourth reading!), I have become a franchisee in an expanding food franchise! I would like to find Mary E Tomazack and shake her hand...she changed my life!

The ABC's of franchising are all in Mary Tomzack's book Tips and Traps When Buying a Franchise. Clearly covered and simply explained are everything you want to and need to know about franchising. This book should be a must read for business majors and anyone interested in franchising. This book is worth the price of the book.

Rickertsen presents a comprehensive overview of a management buyout. Before you buy the book, you should know that he is talking about larger companies, and he is talking about fairly senior executives buying them. (One of his examples of a successful buyout manager is Roger Ballou who ran the travel part of American Express.)If you are looking for a company with $5 million in revenues, you may find valuable information here, but you will likely find other books, targeting a smaller company, more appropriate.

BUYOUT will become the 'bible' of buyouts for managers and investment bankers/advisors. One of the first good books on buyouts. The book covers all aspects of the buyout considerations/process/tactics/contracts etc, is an easy read, but above all the joy of which it is clearly written with(and the convincing arguments) must inspire managers to pursue a buyout. I think no manager will be imune to this great book. BUYOUT is a guide, a motivator, a sales pitch and fun book to read at the same time. Also a recommended read to sellers of businesses to show that a buyout is nothing to be scared of. A must read for everyone unknown and known with the buyout business. Just read the book and find out why I am so enthusiastic about it.

Rickertsen succinctly sums up everything you need to know about leading a buyout. This book gives you confidence and guidance - like a personal counselor. The stories are particularly interesting. The appendices are an added bonus and the book's web site offers additional resources to help you move forward with a management buyout.

Conceptually the book is at its best in analyzing the dynamics of futuristic Supply Chains. It introduces the concept of Adaptive Business Networks that consist of several firms collaborating with each other as a virtual entity, facilitated by a coordinating partner. Each firm adjusts itself in real time to the market information, thereby winning together as a team of collaborating partners as opposed to achieving sub-optimal individual goals. The information flows from the Customer in a pre-determined manner, triggering business decisions based on uniform business processes and common technological platforms. The lead firm also retains the ability to add and drop partners depending on market forces and performance of the partners. There is no limit to the size of the network either. The partners also enjoy synergies by sharing common services - financial, consulting, legal for example. This is undoubtedly a dream of all supply chain managers. But then reality and dreams need to be bridged. This is where is book is lacking.

The issues that are not very convincingly answered are:

- How do participating firms, so diverse on their current technology platforms and business processes achieve the near standardization that is essential for such networks? Even in large multinational corporations running standard ERP software across several continents this is not yet achieved.

- Firms may have to participate in several networks simultaneously, and at times where the coordinating partners are fierce competitors in the same market. There would be conflicting interests where information sharing is not easy.

- Legal restrictions and protectionist walls across countries continue to prevail despite the rhetoric of globalization. An ideal network should first ensure a level playing ground for all players across this planet.

- CEO's today are afflicted by "Quarteritis". Missing numbers this quarter in the "larger interest" of their network may not appeal to most of them in the absence of substantial benefits accruing in the immediate future.

- Framework for collaboration between major software vendors to provide building blocks necessary for such a network.

Recommended reading to understand some interesting concepts that may be of help in designing supply chain solutions.

This book fills the great gap between too much theory/no real-life examples and detailed case studies on a specific company.

It really gets to grips with what it means to adapt, to make your whole business operation flexible enough to meet all challenges of todays environment. More than anything, it highlights why companies MUST adapt, why the old rules of business don't apply anymore.

Also real interesting that this is written by an exec of a software firm without plugging that company's products - it is objective and focused, detailed without being techie.

An all round excellent book.

There are a lot of business books out there espousing the latest management fads and panceas. Having spent 15 years consulting with many US and multi-national manufacturers, this book does a great job of clearly depicting today's problems.

I think this book spoke plainly about those problems and solutions in way that many executives don't want to hear. There was no sugar coating in this book; either companies must come to grips with their antequated operating and management structures or they'll cease to exist. Pretty simple. And when you consider it for a moment, the are lot of companies that seem to be taking the latter path not the former (think United Airlines; Kmart; Ford; GM).

I think the adaptive business network is a great concept that deserves further consideration. It is interesting that the writer comes from a software/technology company, especially since this isn't a techie book. Maybe SAP is on to something big if they have the technology to help an adaptive business network run.