Flexibility
Flexible Companies for the Uncertain World
Published on 17. December 2009
192 pages
978-1-040-17969-7 (ISBN)
Description
We are in an era of high volatility and uncertain outcomes, driven by accelerating technologies, shortened product cycles, fast-changing information, an increasingly mobile workforce, more demanding customers, complex financial markets, ad-hoc public policies, and many other factors that add layers of uncertainty to all future possibilities. In an information- and knowledge-driven environment with high levels of uncertainty, most traditional ideas of structure, system, and strategy are ineffective. This book shows how to create, maintain, and accelerate an organization in a highly uncertain environment using flexibility. It analyzes the organization holistically and details its primary components independently. The author presents an economic framework of decision options to diagnose existing flexibility problems and provides guidance on how to improve flexibility and reduce risk. The text also describes how to design and maintain a high performance organization for the long run in an environment of high uncertainty.
Reviews / Votes
With Flexibility, Gill Eapen masters the application of smart business strategy to a world of unknown circumstances. For your company or your career, Flexibility is a worthwhile guide to problem solving and decisiveness amid the uncertainty.-Martin Mackay, President, PharmaTherapeutics Research and Development
In chess, control of the centerboard gains flexibility and advantage. Like the grandmaster chess player, Gill Eapen takes an instinctive notion and develops it logically and for purpose.
-Ronald W. Sellers, Chairman and CEO, Atlantic Asset Management, LLC
Gill has found a way to give everyone better decision-making insights to solve complex business and social challenges.
- George Bickerstaff, Chairman and CEO, GWB Capital LLC
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
File size
2,34 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-040-17969-7 (9781040179697)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
06/2017
1st Edition
CRC Press
€110.10
Shipment within 10-20 days
Book
12/2009
1st Edition
CRC Press
€99.03
Article not available at the moment
Person
Gill Eapen is the founder and managing principal of Decision Options, LLC a boutique advisory services company. Decision Options pioneered the practical application of options-based valuation of private assets to aid decision making in industries that show high levels of uncertainty and flexibility, such as life sciences, energy, technology, financial, and legal services. He conceived and led the development of a technology platform Decision Options Technology that allows modeling of complex decision problems and assets to improve decision making, risk management, and portfolio maximization. Prior to establishing Decision Options, he was group director at Pfizer, responsible for the financial analysis and planning of the research and development (R&D) portfolio. During his tenure at Pfizer, Mr. Eapen conceived and led the development of a forecasting and capital allocation methodology and system that incorporate uncertainty emanating from all aspects of pharmaceutical R&D. He also conceived methodologies to incorporate flexibility in the management of uncertainty and helped senior decision makers in R&D to allocate resources more optimally across the portfolio. Before that, he was manager at Deloitte Consulting Group, providing advisory services to a variety of clients in software, technology, commodities, consumer goods, logistics, and manufacturing. Previous employers also include Hewlett Packard Company and Asea Brown Boveri. Mr. Eapen holds graduate degrees from the University of Chicago and Northwestern University as well as an undergraduate degree from the Indian Institute of Technology. He is a CFA charter holder and a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society. His first book, Decision Options: The Art and Science of Making Decisions, details a formal treatment of economic valuation and decision making in companies. His blog, which focuses on market-based policy options, is titled "Ideas, Options, and Speculation
Content
Uncertainty and Flexibility. Components of an Enterprise - Structure, System and Strategy. History and Future of Organizational Structures. Changing Systems in an Enterprise. Dynamic Strategy. Diagnosis of an Enterprise - Tell Tale Symptoms. Surviving Today. Succeeding in the Future. Future Designs of Enterprises. Conclusions.
