Creating Value: Shaping Tomorrow's Business

By Shiv Sahai Mathur

Book Overview

Presents a new approach to strategy-making which puts markets at the forefront of the competitive arena, and links the goal of achieving financial value with the need to target the most profitable... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0750639547
• ISBN13: 9780750639545
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann
• Length: 468 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.3" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

An oasis of clarity and fresh ideas

This is one of the most rigorously produced management books I have ever read. The authors are meticulous in their approach, taking the reader carefully along with them as they build their argument in a series of logical steps. Each step is rigorously built: words are given precise meanings, no unqualified assumptions are made and there is no room at all for loose opinion. Inevitably their strictly logic approach leads the reader into some potentially difficult areas. For example, if you really want to understand how to create value, then you will need to know what this term actually means. Other books prefer to avoid the hassle of nailing down the meaning behind such fuzzy concepts (anyway, that's accounting not strategy, right?). This book takes these topics on because to do otherwise would be to fail to deliver the promise in the book's title. On top of that, the book challenges current strategic thinking. It takes a (logically-reasoned) resource-based approach to business strategy and by doing so comes up with some very useful new frameworks that will help companies reveal market segments that may previously have been hidden to them. If it sounds like the book may be too heavy and scientific, then think again. The authors strive all the way through to use clear language and explanation. The book adds the rigour that is missing from the 'airport business book' genre without going too far into an academic style, which often tends to lose touch with readers' ability, or even reality itself. The irony is that I bought it at an airport.

Strategic thinking for the New E.conomy

Very thought provoking and insightful, this captivating book forces you to re-think the rules of corporate and competitive strategy. It is becoming more essential for organisations to differentiate their offerings, everything from long distance telephone calls to soft drinks are turning into a commodity. The authors present various methods that organisations can use to differentiate their offerings, the very simple but powerful service/merchandise matrix is a good way to start thinking about product, service and brand positioning. I would thoroughly recommend this, sometimes controversial yet challenging customer focused book, it helps you to look beyond the constraints of conventional wisdom.

Clinical language and a real framework

Unlike most strategy books, Creating Value does not simply fill the pages with what often appears to inconclusive discussion supported by case studies. This formula popular with what might be the 'Airport bookshop school of management is the antithesis of Creating Value. Mathur and Kenyon seek first to carlify terminology, and subsequently, establish a workable framework. Their views are quickly seductive and clear. The final impression is a well researched and and thoughtful book, that aims to address the real problems of strategy rather than simply debate them. I would heartily recommend it.

ORIGINAL THINKING

The concepts described in this book are extremely thought provoking. The words used carry the original messages to the manager who hears these concepts "nth hand".