Adapt or Die: Transforming Your Supply Chain into an Adaptive Business Network

By Bob Betts and Claus Heinrich

Cut costs and control inventory an adaptive business network This book introduces the adaptive business network, a new method of business interaction that offers the ability to respond swiftly to changing market conditions, increase revenue growth, and lower overall cost. In Adapt or Die , the experts from SAP provide a thought-provoking road map to a new business world in which companies are linked together by uniform business processes and standardized software (uniform business processes and standardized software leaves me the impression of being rigid and inflexible, which is contrary to what were trying to say in the book). An adaptive business network allows companies to more precisely control inventory, quickly add or drop trading partners, and produce products and services that mirror actual customer demand. Adapt or Die explores all the vital aspects of the adaptive business network, including: The benefits for your business Ways to prepare your company Implementing the adaptive business network in four steps Its application to specific industries The changes the adaptive business network will bring to the future of business

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471265438
• ISBN13: 9780471265436
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Wiley
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 0.9" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

If you don't read any other biz books this year... read this

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.

Real World Assessment of Business Today

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.

Adaptive supply chains are becoming alive

As a consultant and supply chain manager I have read a lot of theoretical stuff around supply chain management and how you can boost performance. This book is one the few that go down to the essential levers that drive supply chain improvements. At the same time the authors paint the picture of an adaptive business network and describe a step by step process how technology can help to transform a supply chain into an adaptive network. Supported with valuable company examples this book is very good to read and an inspiration for every decision maker who is not captured in his paradigms.

Great Supply Chain Vision

Adapt or Die is a must read for the visionary supply chain executive. The suppliers and customers of a company will change as the market demands different products and services. Without the ability to adapt, companies will risk losing market share to competitors. This book discusses how companies should prepare to for the future.

Adaptive Business Network prevails

This book explains why and how to transform a tradtional Supply Chain Network into an Adaptive Business Network. The book points out, in a rapid chaing economic situation, a SCN has to plan and anticipate demand and supply; execute plans efficiently and effectively; detect events (exceptions) and adjust its behaviors accordingly. Or in other words, we need to realize a new version of Supply Chain, Adaptive Business Network (ABN). Based on this book, the ABN consists of companies that remain autonomous called Software Agents. Each of this entity performs the functions on behalf of the company owners with pre-designed rules and protocols. It monitors local situation and interact with each other following potocol which mimics the one used in the daily business, e.g. bidding and auction protocols. Once the agent society builds up, the network is able to rapidly anticipate and/or respond to changing environemntal conditions in an instant time. In this way, the business can have better chance to survive in the industry with possible maximum profit margin.I found this book is very useful for business leaders as well as system designers. If SAP really implements the ideas listed in the book, it is no doublt that SAP can win the next round of competition in the Supply Chain area, even in a tough environment.