The Art of Profitability

by Adrian J. Slywotzky

Book Overview

Presented in 23 compact lessons, The Art of Profitability features an ongoing tutorial between two fictitious individuals: the old and wise teacher, David Shao, the business master, and his pupil, Steve Gardner, a young and ambitious manager. Along the way, Zhao goes through a number of business models and pushes his student to examine how a variety of businesses go about making money. Through Zhao's teachings, Steve begins to see how profits can...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446531502
• ISBN13: 9780446531504
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Business Plus
• Length: 254 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Slywotzky is a Genius

Simple profit models make it easy to apply to your own business. But Slywotzky also crunches the numbers to show how the models work--it's not just theory. Powerful stuff. Highly recommend for any business executive seeking to maximize the hidden pockets of profit within his or her company.

SIMPLE POWERFUL CONCEPTS TAUGHT IN INNOVATIVE WAY

This book is focused on explaining 23 different models of profitability that different firms have followed. The author uses the realtionship between a wise mentor and an eager mentee to take the reader through the process of understanding the different models. The book is aimed at describing and giving the reader some insight into each model; it is not an in depth analysis of profitability. Given its aim, it is well written.It is not a step by step process to apply at a business. This is a book to make a manager reflect, not follow. Each chapter is one story that describes a model; the style seems to follow the general outline of Harvard Business School cases, which, given the author's professorship there, is not so surprising.I highly recommend it to someone looking for an entertaining read that will make one reflect. However, disregard the recommendation that you go through one chapter per week. It is too little, I think I would probably lose the book by the 3rd week. It is, instead, a book to be read in 3 days, and be referred back for ideas.

Humorous yet pragmatic

Executing business strategy is always more challenging than formulating one; 'The Art of Profitability' provides good insights to guide readers to align formulation & execution of business strategy, & focus on generating & sustaining profitability. Slywotzky's humorous storytelling style has made the book a unique & higly enjoyable read. This is certainly one of the most humorous yet practical business strategy books in the market.

A Great Addition to My Business Library

As a recent MBA graduate, I found this book to be far more valuable than most strategy texts I had read in school. While the focus is on explaining different profitability models, the lessons learned are easily applied to new ways to think about your enterprise. The book encourages the reader to read a chapter a week and suggests other books to read and thought exercises to do. While I'm sure this would be the ideal way to go through the material, I found the book suitable and enjoyable to read quickly. The writing is clear and to the point. And while comparisons to "The Goal" are unavoidable, I found the balance of storytelling and teaching in "Art of Profitability" to be skewed toward teaching. As a result, Slywotzky provides the reader more bang (quality insights) per page without compromising the books readability. Highly recommended.

If you want to UNDERSTAND PROFITS look no further

this is one of the best books on strategy I have seen and read. QUite frankly it is comparable to Goldratts "The Goal". This should be a required reading for every executive, business owner and marketing strategist. I have purchased 10 copies of this book to distribute among my friends, BUY IT and READ IT and you will know why it can be ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS as you move from CHAOS TO CONFUSION in the world of how PROFITS CAN BE MADE