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Technology Research Corporation

Synopsis

It seems that every business leader has the same initial question: "What can you do for me today?" For all the talk about new management initiatives, such as reengineering, downsizing, work-flow analysis, process mapping, policy deployment, teamwork, and performance pay incentives, business leaders are still looking for the "quick fix". They often do not recognize that the most effective way to survive growing competitive pressures is by taking near-term proven action steps to turn their business around.

Many business leaders such as you believe that it takes too long to get things done -- to reduce the cost of production and service operations, to improve quality to assure customer satisfaction, and to bring new products and services to your customers faster, cheaper, and better to satisfy their needs. "The Survival Factors" describes the 10 fundamental steps you must do now to assure your business survival - today and tomorrow.

Reviews

This book is exactly what the title suggests - a business turnaround and survival guide. I know of no other book that synthesizes so much valuable material on what it takes for organizations to survive at the turn of this century. This is a must read for corporate managers.

Rick Mauer, President of Mauer and Associates, Author of Caught in the Middle

"The Survival Factor" is a no-holds-barred look at what it takes for your business to survive. Hunt offers a plan that provides short term gratification while providing an on-going continuous improvement plan for turnaround and business survival. The coverage of (the key survival factors) is thorough, unlike so many other "fix it" books that cover bits and pieces of the solutions.

Jon F. Tanner, President, Tanner & Associates, Management Consultants

An excellent, concise, practical viewpoint on business turnaround and survival for the 90's. CEO's and their staff will benefit substantially by reading this book.

C. Martin Antisdale, President, Antisdale Consulting

V. Daniel Hunt an internationally renowned consultant shows managers how to identify the best opportunities for quick and profitable results in almost every corner of their business. From implementing cutting edge technology and reengineering to benchmarking and cross-functional teams, Hunt offers a framework for applying the right combination of improvement initiatives by following a 10-step bottom line business improvement process.

The publisher, John Wiley & Sons:

Commentary

This book, like a home repair tool kit, is made up of a wide variety of proven managerial techniques. Why? Because there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all-situations managerial tool. To be effective—cost-wise and performance-wise—managerial tools must be tailored to your current competitive situation and your strategic goals for the future of your enterprise.

Just as your tie must match your shirt, this guide will make sure that your corporate action plan matches the needs of your organization. Why? Because your survival depends on it!

What to do? What to do? The "survival factor" will guide you through a three-stage renewal strategy...

Taking Stock Stage
Plot your existing situation—your starting point—and set targets for the future.

• Empower Your Survival Team — First things first. Build your own in-house first class change management team; a rock upon which all else will rest.
• Benchmarking — Establish a set of comparative business performance indicators that will help guide your competitive progress into the future.

Change-Filled Stage
Plan a step-by-step strategy to reach your goals.

• Process Mapping — Get the facts. Knowing your weaknesses is just as crucial to your survival as capitalizing on your strengths.
• Reengineer Your Business — Get rid of obsolete systems, procedures, and thinking. Streamline.
• Downsize, If You Must — But do so only when you must, and then do it the right way.
• Obliterate, Then Automate — Don't pave your corporate cow paths. Do it right in terms of your real business operations needs of today. Eliminate the negative: then boost productivity through systems integration.

Continual Change Stage
Your growth requires continuous change—successful enterprises don't depend on their past history for future gains.

• Quality Management — Learn why you need an organizational philosophy and action plan -- to nail down your gains and to make continuous process improvement and change a way of your corporate life.

Table of Contents

1. To Survive - Act Now!
2. Develop Your Own Survival Plan
3. The Ten Key Survival Factors
4. Benchmark Your Performance
5. Understand Your Business Processes
6. Don't Do It Again and Again
7. The Downsizing Trend
8. Reengineer Your Business
9. Obliterate, then Automate
10. Empower Your Team
11. Pay for Skills and Performance
12. An Action Guide for Survival
13. Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow

Notes
Suggested Reading
Index

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