Movies •Books •Music •Food •Tv Shows •Technology •Politics •Video Games •Parenting •Fashion •Green Living •more >

Lunch » Tags » Books » Reviews » The Breakthrough Imperative: How the Best Managers Get Outstanding Results

The Breakthrough Imperative: How the Best Managers Get Outstanding Results

1 rating: 5.0

A book by Mark Gottfredson

Consulting firm Bain prides itself on—and profits from—its unique intellectual capital. Yet rarely do such firms build on the expertise and knowledge contributed by previous partners. The exception is Gottfredson and Schaubert relying on … see full wiki

Tags: Books, Business Success, Business Leadership, Management Books, Organizational Effectiveness

Author: Mark Gottfredson

Publisher: Collins Business

1 review about The Breakthrough Imperative: How the Best...

Showing 1-1 of 1

Sort by:

Invaluable knowledge and counsel that you and your organization need to achieve outstanding results

Jul 29, 2010

by Robert1936
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More

Rating:

According to Gottfredson and Schaubert, there are two "keys" to achieving breakthrough results: "One is that [successful managers] have a deep understanding of the fundamental laws of business. Because of that, they see things others don't, do things others won't even consider, and avoid the mistakes that can trap even the best leaders. The other key is that they identify and follow a clear oath to performance improvement, based on an assessment of their organization's full potential. They know how to use the fundamentals to diagnose their starting point accurately, craft a realistic and compelling set of objectives, and map out a trajectory from one to the other. Neither one - understanding the fundamentals nor following the path - is enough by itself. It is the combination that enables strong execution and leads to success."

Fortunately for Gottfredson and Schaubert, who wrote this book with John Case and Kath Tsakalakis, they were able to supplement their combined 50+ years of consulting experience and their own research with several other studies conducted by colleagues at Bain & Company, notably Chris Zook (author of several brilliant books, most recently Profit from the Core: A Return to Growth in Turbulent Times that was published earlier this year) who compiled a database of 1,804 public companies in the G8 economies throughout a period of ten years. The insights that were revealed and the lessons learned serve as the framework for Gottfredson and Saenz's book. Among their conclusions was their shared belief that four laws "provide most of the fundamental knowledge necessary to guide a successful manager's initial diagnosis and oath to success." Here they are.

1. Costs and prices always decline: "Great managers apply the experience curve correctly."

2. Competitive position determines your options: ""Great managers know where they fall on the chart and what it implies for their performance-improvement options."

3. Customers and profit pools don't stand still: "Great managers anticipate profit pool shifts and plan their strategies and tactics accordingly."

4. Simplicity gets results: "Great managers keep it simple."

As Gottfredson and Steve Schaubert explain, "These laws depend on, and reflect, a fundamental fact of business, which is that [as Peter Drucker asserted decades ago] if you don't have any customers you don't have any business. The laws are powerful precisely because each one describes how to meet your customers' needs in ways that are superior to your competition."

They devote a separate chapter to each of the four Laws and throughout their narrative anchor their observations, insights, and recommendations in real-world situations. I especially appreciate their skillful use of reader-friendly devices such as Figures, Tables, and at the conclusion of each chapter an "Implications for the General Manager" checklist that identifies specific action steps to implement what is appropriate in the chapter's material. I strongly recommend that these "Implications" checklists be frequently reviewed to ensure that initiatives are on course and progressing well. Presumably Gottfredson and Schaubert share my own high regard for the wisdom of what Thomas Edison observed long ago: "Vision without execution is hallucination."

The "imperative" to which the book's title refers is for managers to achieve "outstanding" results, of course, but also meanwhile to extend and enrich their knowledge of "the fundamental laws of business." Reading and then re-reading this book will make a substantial contribution to the achievement of that objective. However, knowledge in and of itself is insufficient, even knowledge of how to use knowledge effectively. Hence the importance of the material provided in Chapters Six ("Where You're Starting From"), Seven ("Where You're Going: Mapping Your Point of Arrival"), and Eight ("The Road to Results"). Readers will also appreciate the material provided in three appendices in which, once again, Gottfredson and Schaubert make skillful use of Figures and Tables.

I view this as a "must read and then re-read at least once more" book. Its narrative is research and evidence driven. Its observations, insights, and recommendations are relevant to almost any organization, whatever its size and nature may be. And finally, Mark Gottfredson and Steve Schaubert establish and then sustain a direct and collegial rapport with their reader.

This is a brilliant achievement. Bravo!

What did you think of this review?

Helpful

Thought-Provoking

Fun to Read

Well-Organized