Agile Strategies For The 21st Century

Designing agile organizations fit for a dynamic, volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world has become a necessary skill for successful 21st century leaders. This book provides a summary of many classical strategic management techniques, before introducing the reader to emergent concepts that are more in tune with the VUCA environment. It explains how the culture defines an environment that either enables or inhibits the creation of new knowledge which translates into innovation and fast, effective decision-making. The name of the game here is speed. As such, this book provides a practical framework for leaders or managers to build agile organizations designed to accelerate innovation and adaptability. Successful executives must rapidly identify many â oeunseen, and rarely discussedâ interferences that creep into the culture of an organization that disrupt the flow of critical knowledge. Executives worldwide must quickly identify those unseen viruses within their organizations so they can take targeted action to fix the root problem rather than just try a â oeflavor of the monthâ approach. They need a way to diagnose underlying root causes of cultural infections, and the diagnostic mentoring methodology described here provides a practical way for executives to do just that.

Designing agile organizations fit for a dynamic, volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world has become a necessary skill for successful 21st century leaders. This book provides a summary of many classical strategic management techniques, before introducing the reader to emergent concepts that are more in tune with the VUCA environment. It explains how the culture defines an environment that either enables or inhibits the creation of new knowledge which translates into innovation and fast, effective decision-making. The name of the game here is speed. As such, this book provides a practical framework for leaders or managers to build agile organizations designed to accelerate innovation and adaptability. Successful executives must rapidly identify many “unseen, and rarely discussed” interferences that creep into the culture of an organization that disrupt the flow of critical knowledge. Executives worldwide must quickly identify those unseen viruses within their organizations so they can take targeted action to fix the root problem rather than just try a “flavor of the month” approach. They need a way to diagnose underlying root causes of cultural infections, and the diagnostic mentoring methodology described here provides a practical way for executives to do just that.

Agile manufacturing is defined as the capability of surviving and prospering in a competitive environment of continuous and unpredictable change by reacting quickly and effectively to changing markets, driven by customer-designed products and services. Critical to successfully accomplishing AM are a few enabling technologies such as the standard for the exchange of products (STEP), concurrent engineering, virtual manufacturing, component-based hierarchical shop floor control system, information and communication infrastructure, etc. The scope of the book is to present the undergraduate and graduate students, senior managers and researchers in manufacturing systems design and management, industrial engineering and information technology with the conceptual and theoretical basis for the design and implementation of AMS. Also, the book focuses on broad policy directives and plans of agile manufacturing that guide the monitoring and evaluating the manufacturing strategies and their performance. A problem solving approach is taken throughout the book, emphasizing the context of agile manufacturing and the complexities to be addressed.

A select group of analysts, practitioners and scholars assembled in 1997 and 1999 at the University of Oklahoma to lay the groundwork for a new foreign policy. This carefully edited collection includes those major policy statements and discussions by the best minds of our time. Index.

Praise from business leaders for Agile Competitors and Virtual Organizations "This book is right on target! It clearly and concisely depicts the dramatic changes that are taking place in the marketplace. I recommend this book to every company that wants to remain competitive in an agile world." --Jerry Junkins Chairman, President and CEO, Texas Instruments "For managers plunging into the wilds of manufacturing to seek the source of future competitiveness, this is an indispensable handbook. Don't expect to find ordinance surveys that will take you straight to the Fountain of Agility, though. It's too soon for that kind of detail--but too late to wait around for it. What's here is a treasure map. All the main landmarks are pointed out, leaving plenty of elbow room for exercising your imagination and creativity." --Otis Port "This book provides insightful perspectives on the important elements of this emerging production paradigm. It's must read." --Donald L. Runkle Vice President and General Manager, Saginaw Division, General Motors "It is a critically important book for everyone who is concerned with how we succeed in the face of changes, challenges and opportunities presented by the global economy." --Lynn R. Williams Past President, Steel Workers Union "This magnificent work will inspire a new generation of business leaders to anticipate customer requirements, create new markets and balance the people, process, and technology resources of the enterprise to delight customers and enrich not only customers but also members of the agile virtual enterprise." --Aris Melissaratos Vice President, Science Technology and Quality, Westinghouse Electric Corporation "This book is an outstanding and important look at the most important requirements for directing a company toward the goal of maximizing opportunities with today's customers. Each element is covered in a direct and well-organized manner and can be used to help identify positive change. It will help you rethink the strategic direction of your company." --Marc I. Balmuth President, Caldor, Inc. "Agile Competitors is a very valuable tool for anyone involved in today's competitive race. It is essential reading for anyone involved i#

This is Volume 1 of a report addressing the future of American industry. It has been written in response to the transformation of manufacturing practices that is currently in progress. Volume 1 of a two-volume report on the global competitive environment U.S. manufacturing will face, and the infrastructure it will require, in order to compete as it moves over the next 15 years into the 21st century. The developments described in the report present a unique opportunity to capitalize on distinctive U.S. strengths; failure to seize this opportunity will put the standard of living of the American people at profound risk.