Financial Strategies In Competitive Markets

As globalization continues to rapidly evolve, economic borders between countries have practically disappeared. One effect is that nowadays companies can access new markets by investing in other countries. This offers an important advantage especially for international and large-scale companies. However, one result is the increased market competition. Small-scale local firms and SMEs have to compete with international firms and corporations that have significantly more resources. This competitive environment jeopardizes the sustainability of the smaller companies, which often are driven out of business by the more powerful global players. This book discusses financial strategies for small and middle size companies to increase their competitiveness in the global markets.

As globalization continues to rapidly evolve, economic borders between countries have practically disappeared. One effect is that nowadays companies can access new markets by investing in other countries. This offers an important advantage especially for international and large-scale companies. However, one result is the increased market competition. Small-scale local firms and SMEs have to compete with international firms and corporations that have significantly more resources. This competitive environment jeopardizes the sustainability of the smaller companies, which often are driven out of business by the more powerful global players. This book discusses financial strategies for small and middle size companies to increase their competitiveness in the global markets. .

The theme of this book "New strategies for financial services providers" is an equally relevant and important topic in science and practice. In the (post) informa tion age economy, the German financial services market and many big financial services providers are in a deep crisis. Increasing competition due to deregulation and improved transparency through new means of communication on the one hand, and empowered customers demanding individualized solutions for their fi nancial problems e. g. because of new working circumstances, increase the pres sure on the market participants to alter their strategies according to these new challenges. Many firms have reacted defensively either by merging in the hopes of realizing scale effects - a high-risk venture considering the last few years - or by adapting "me-too-strategies" (also known as "lemming-banking") that do not provide for a sustainable competitive advantage. Based on a profound analysis of developing mega-trends in the years ahead, es pecially in information and IT-intense market, Dr. Kundisch develops a new anti cyclical strategy that aims at using IT as an enabler to strengthen customer rela tionships and focus on individualized solutions wherever it seems economically sound to do so. However, he does not stop after the development of the strategy, but provides two important concepts that may help turn this vision and strategy into reality. Thus, he favorably and refreshingly differentiates against many contributions that stop at the fairly abstract strategic level.

Break down the walls that stand in the way of business growth with the effective middle market strategies found in Middle Market Strategies The middle market represents about 1% of all U.S. businesses but produces about 40% of the gross domestic product. Winning the middle market is critical to business owners, and vital to the U.S. economy. Providing a comprehensive framework for understanding the market for private mid-sized businesses, Middle Market Strategies helps owners avoid unnecessary risks and enjoy some well-deserved returns by sharing the lessons learned from hundreds of featured business owners. Using ninety real-world case studies, Middle Market Strategies helps inform better business decisions by providing answers to the most pressing questions, including: How do the markets work? How can they be used to improve business value? Which strategies work best? What are the rules and how do you work with them? How are middle market businesses different from larger and smaller businesses? What separates successful businesses from others? Author Richard Trottier's reader-friendly anecdotes depict owners caught in the daily struggle to survive and the choices they made to break down the walls that stood in the way of their growth. Their stories, and the market rules that grew out of them, help to provide CEOs and presidents of mid-market companies, business appraisers, and capital providers with a solid understanding of the market to help them make better business decisions.

Covering all aspects of competition, uncertainty and managerial responses in new and emerging business environments, this title includes a combination of cases and readings that are ideal for teaching.

This text provides constructive guidelines to readers to open their minds to the challenges of creating value. This second edition updates the reasons for the choice of the individual offering as the strategy unit, and extends the challenges to standard approaches and conventional thinking.

A work on strategic planning for managers at all levels which, in a step-by-step manner, offers guidance on how to determine which activities to focus on and on how to develop a strong competitive position in the activities selected. It is relevant to the UK, the US and Europe.