The E-Aligned Enterprise: How to Map and Measure Your Company's Course in the New Economy

by Jac Fitz-Enz

As the old iWorld (industrial) merges into the eWorld (electronic), many com-panies feel shaken to their roots, unsure of their current effectiveness or their ability to succeed in the future. Jac... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0814406254
• ISBN13: 9780814406250
• Release Date: July 2001
• Publisher: Amacom
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

His Latest and Most Important Contribution

In The 8 Practices of Exceptional Companies and The ROI of Human Capital, Fitz-enz initiated a rigorous inquiry which continues as he explains in this book "how to map and measure your company's course in the new economy." It is not necessary to read the earlier works first but I strongly suggest it because, together, the three books create a cohesive understanding of three interdependent forces in the contemporary business world: organizational excellence, individual peak performance, and (for lack of a better term) appropriate navigation during constant change. "The good news is that the connectivity of the World Wide Web links everyone at light speed. The other news is that it has imposed a pace of life that is almost intolerable." The material is organized within five Parts. * Enfolding the World Fitz-enz explains how and why today's marketplace is changing from the old, industrial world (i-world) to the new, electronic world (e-world). * Leadership Imperatives in E-WorldAccording to Fitz-enz, there are "ten imperatives of e-world leadership": provide a clear vision, and strategy for people to follow, communication is the first priority as well as the best tool, use stories to implant the message, champion information sharing and learning, commit to building an exciting culture, reward innovation and punish unreasonable resistance, focus on measurable results rather than processes, invest heavily in developing associates, develop a "can-do" attitude in the organization, and finally, listen to associates.* Strategy Drivers: Connectivity, Innovation, CustomersIn Chapter 7, Figure 7-2 enables the reader to assess her or his readiness for e-world; at one point in Chapter 8, Fitz-enz examines Davenport's "Seven Rules of Innovation"; and in Chapter 9, Figure 9-2 poses a series of questions which, once answered, enable the reader to learn how customers view his nor her brand.* Human Capital: The E-World LeverThis is one of the most important sections in the book. Fitz-enz suggests differences between and similarities of i-world and e-world associates; identifies what he considers to be, for supervisors, employees' most important needs and expectations; he lists (in Figure 11-1) those factors which affect employee productivity; he then identifies and discusses those factors which drive successful programs; and then in Chapter 13, Fitz-enz suggests how to integrate knowledge management and learning organization-wide. The Human Capital Scorecard (Figure 14-1) provided in Chapter 14 consists of ten attributes to be rated on a 1-5 scale* Aligning Your Enterprise for E-WorldI was surprised to learn in Chapter 15 that the results of a General Management Technologies research study (which asked executives about their general approach to e-business and the factors behind their e-business performance) reveals that "both the highest and lowest performers named the same factors as keys to success." Fitz-enz lists them. In the same chapter, Figure 15-3 illustrat

Best of the millennium

One of the CEOs who reviewed the book called it the best new book of the millennium and bought one for every manager in her company. Two major software companies are arranging a special printing to give to their customers. This may be the sleeping giant! It is the first book that cuts through the hype to point out what is enduring and what is new in e-world. More importantly it directly attacks the three most important mega issues: leadership, strategy and managing people. Fitz-enz draws on 40 years of managing and writing (7 books and 140 articles) to give us a platform on which to ride the hype waves of the new economy. Perhaps best of all he gives us score cards to identify the keys to successful implementation and assessing our progress. Fitz-enz wraps up with an astounding network model (and scorecard) for aligning our organizations with the forces of e-world. Typical of his advice: "The universal connectivity afforded by the worldwide web has profoundly changed the employer-employee-customer relationship. Get it right or get out of the way!? It's extraordinarily insightful while maintaining a light, humorous touch where needed. What a treat this one is!