Corporate Value Creation: An Operations Framework for Nonfinancial Managers

Preface

DURING MY CAREER I have been involved in numerous businesses in various industries: some doing well and others in need of drastic attention. At an early stage in my career, I realized that all businesses could improve their performance if shown how. So I began to develop presentations addressing all of the aspects of creating value in a business. I then systematically presented my thoughts to the various management teams I was involved with. The outcome was dramatic in many cases. Performing businesses did better. Turnarounds became profitable. The first codification of this material was documented in a series of VHS tapes I did in 1990 titled “A Smile Is Not Enough,” which have been used as training material for several firms.

When I stepped down as executive chairman of Spectra Physics I was no longer responsible for any day-to-day operations. While I had many board opportunities to keep me busy I still had “time on my hands” so to speak. Given this state of affairs I decided to write a book that addressed what I perceived to be a need to combine the essence of sound business practices with an analytical treatment of the skills managers and executives who don't have an MBA could use to make better decisions and advance their careers.

I would like to thank all of the organizations and people I have worked with who have made this work possible. In particular I must give credit to my dear friend and editor, Patrick Edsell. Pat is a very capable executive and was my business ...