The Alignment Premium

It is time for a new narrative on schools in Australia. The Alignment Premium proposes its major features. Analysis of approaches in 13 countries, including most of the world's top-performers, provides 15 benchmarks against which Australia's performance is assessed. Findings include:

How to align all organisational units to the organisational strategy. Amplifies the ideas in the Balanced Scorecord and Strategy Maps.

This book describes and analyses the organisation, functions and development of national educational authorities and agencies and the influence they have on local schools in 20 countries around the world. It examines the governing chain in the respective countries from both a theoretical and descriptive perspective. It does so against the background of the stability and rigour of the governing chains having been challenged, with some researchers considering the chain to be broken. However, the view that comes to the fore in this book is that the chain is still present and contains both vertical implementation structures and intervening spaces for policy interpretation. How schools become successful is important for the individual students as well as the local community and the national state. A vast quantity of research has looked at what happens in schools and classrooms. At the same time, national governance and politics as well as local prerequisites are known to exert influence on schools and their results to a high degree. Societal priorities, problems and traditions provide variety in how governance is executed. This book provides an international overview of the similarities and differences between educational agencies and how their work influences schools.

This groundbreaking study, cited in Business Week, explains how companies often pay too much--and never realize goals of increased performance and market strength--in their quests to acquire other companies. By examining such variables as method of payment and strategic relatedness, Sirower provides the first formal definitions for synergies. 10 illustrations.

"Every CEO and Corporate Director who has been in the path of the 'WOW! GRAB IT!' acquisition locomotive should read this book!" -- Charles R. Shoemate, Chairman and CEO, Bestfoods With global acquisition activity running into the trillions of dollars, the acquisition alternative continues to be the favorite corporate growth strategy of this generation's executives. Unfortunately, creating shareholder value remains the most elusive outcome of these corporate strategies. After decades of research and billions of dollars paid in advisory fees, why do these major decisions continue to destroy value? Building on his groundbreaking research first cited in Business Week, Mark L. Sirower explains how companies often pay too much -- and predictably never realize the promises of increased performance and competitiveness -- in their quest to acquire other companies. Armed with extensive evidence, Sirower destroys the popular notion that the acquisition premium represents potential value. He provides the first formal and functional definition for synergy -- the specific increases in performance beyond those already expected for companies to achieve independently. Sirower's refreshing nuts-and-bolts analysis of the fundamentals behind acquisition performance cuts sharply through the existing folklore surrounding failed acquisitions, such as lack of "strategic fit" or corporate culture problems, and gives managers the tools to avoid predictable losses in acquisition decisions. Using several detailed examples of recent major acquisitions and through his masterful integration and extension of techniques from finance and business strategy, Sirower reveals: The unique business gamble that acquisitions represent The managerial challenges already embedded in current stock prices The competitive conditions that must be met and the organizational cornerstones that must be in place for any possibility of synergy The precise Required Performance Improvements (RPIs) implicitly embedded in acquisition premiums and the reasons why these RPIs normally dwarf realistic performance gains The seductiveness and danger of sophisticated valuation models so often used by advisors The Synergy Trap is the first expose of its kind to prove that the tendency of managers to succumb to the "up the ante" philosophy in acquisitions often leads to disastrous ends for their shareholders. Sirower shows that companies must meticulously plan -- and account for huge uncertainties -- before deciding to enter the acquisition game. To date, Sirower's work is the most comprehensive and rigorous, yet practical, analysis of the drivers of acquisition performance. This definitive book will become required reading for managers, corporate directors, consultants, investors, bankers, and academics involved in the mergers and acquisitions arena.

Christian Baier empirically investigates the alignment-performance link in PSM. His findings provide clear guidance to practitioners on how to design their purchasing strategies and practices to achieve maximum alignment and thus effectively contribute to the firm’s competitive advantage.

A road map for the future of the world market "Bryan has emerged as an influential voice on regulatory issues. "--The New York Times The world is on the verge of the most sweeping economic changes since the Industrial Revolution. National economies are transforming from government-controlled market systems into an open international marketplace under no one's control. The consequences will be both exhilarating and terrifying. Market Unbound is the first compelling blueprint for adapting to this new global market. According to McKinsey and Company authors Lowell Bryan and Diana Farrell, this revolution will have a profound effect on all sectors of business and finance. The global economic scene has already undergone profound and irreversible changes, but most of the transformation still lies ahead of us. Those who learn to operate under the new system will have the opportunity for tremendous profit. Those who don't face the specter of catastrophic loss. Market Unbound outlines how the global market came into being and why it is so powerful, and why it is so rapidly accelerating the globalization of the world's entire economy. The authors explore the implications of this evolving market force and examine the consequences and the opportunities for governments, investors, corporations, and financial organizations. Market Unbound is a must read for anyone who hopes to thrive or even survive into the 21st century. * Based on extensive research conducted at McKinsey &Co--the world's premiere consulting firm * Case studies and relevant examples illustrate the patterns of market change currently taking place * Reveals how a government's ability to exercise control over its own financial system is being undermined by the global capital market LOWELL BRYAN and DIANA FARRELL (New York, New York) are consultants at McKinsey & Co. He is the author of three previous business books and a leading authority on financial regulatory issues and global capital markets. She led the research efforts underpinning the book's conclusions.

Build a more effective board with insight from the forefront of corporate governance The Handbook of Board Governance provides comprehensive, expert-led coverage of all aspects of corporate governance for public, nonprofit, and private boards. Written by collaboration among subject matter experts, this book combines academic rigor and practitioner experience to provide thorough guidance and deep insight. From diversity, effectiveness, and responsibilities, to compensation, succession planning, and financial literacy, the topics are at once broad-ranging and highly relevant to current and aspiring directors. The coverage applies to governance at public companies, private and small or medium companies, state-owned enterprises, family owned organizations, and more, to ensure complete and clear guidance on a diverse range of issues. An all-star contributor list including Ram Charan, Bob Monks, Nell Minow, and Mark Nadler, among others, gives you the insight of thought leaders in the areas relevant to your organization. A well-functioning board is essential to an organization’s achievement. Whether the goal is furthering a mission or dominating a market, the board’s composition, strategy, and practices are a determining factor in the organization’s ultimate success. This guide provides the information essential to building a board that works. Delve into the board’s strategic role in value creation Gain useful insight into compensation, risk, accountability, legal obligations Understand the many competencies required of an effective director Get up to speed on blind spots, trendspotting, and social media in the board room The board is responsible for a vast and varied collection of duties, but the singular mission is to push the organization forward. Poor organization, one-sided composition, inefficient practices, and ineffective oversight detract from that mission, but all can be avoided. The Handbook of Board Governance provides practical guidance and expert insight relevant to board members across the spectrum.