January 24, 2016

Planning and Execution - Theory and Practice



Based on Making Strategy Work: Leading Effective Execution and Change By Lawrence G. Hrebiniak
Google Book Preview of the title


Making strategy work is more difficult than the task of strategy making

Execution is critical to success. Execution represents a disciplined process or a logical set of connected activities that enables an organization to take a strategy and make it work. Without a careful, planned approach to execution, strategic goals cannot be attained.

Execution represents a formidable challenge to management. Execution function of the management has to take into account a host of factors, including politics, inertia, and resistance to change.


Managers still don't know a great deal about the execution of strategy. Management literature has focused over the years primarily on planning and strategy formulation and neglected execution.

The execution of strategy is not nearly as clear and understood as the formulation of strategy. Much more is known about planning than doing, about strategy making than making strategy work. There is lack of education and training in execution. Some of  the problems or hurdles affecting implementation or execution are:


Managers Are Trained to Plan, Not Execute


One basic problem is that managers know more about strategy formulation than implementation. They are trained to plan, not execute plans.

In most MBA programs, students learn a great deal about strategy formulation and functional planning. There are courses on competitive strategy, marketing strategy, financial strategy, and so on. Courses dealing  execution or implementation are absent. Execution is  certainly touched in some integrated courses in management, but not in a dedicated, elaborate, purposeful way. Emphasis clearly is on conceptual work, primarily planning, and not on doing. At Wharton, there is at least an elective on strategy implementation, but this is not typical of many other MBA programs.


Most MBA programs emphasize developing strategies, not executing them. In the real world, e many managers have rich conceptual backgrounds and training in planning but not in "doing." The lack of formal attention to strategy execution in the classroom obviously must carry over to a lack of attention and consequent underachievement in the area of execution in the real world.  Therefore execution has to be  learned in the "school of hard knocks," and its results in more failures. .




Attitude Problem: Let the "Grunts" Handle Execution


Another problem is that many managers actually believe that strategy execution or implementation is "below them," something best left to lower-level employees. The prevailing view  is that one group of managers does innovative, challenging work (planning) and then "hands off the ball" to lower levels for execution.

Every organization, of course, has some separation of planning and doing, of formulation and execution. However, when such a separation becomes dysfunctional—when planners see themselves as the smart people and treat the doers as lower level —there clearly will be execution problems. When the "elite" plan and see execution as something below them, detracting from their dignity as top managers, the successful implementation of strategy obviously is in jeopardy.

From the CEO on down, sound execution demands that managers roll up their sleeves and pitch in to make a difference. The content and focus of what they do may vary between top and middle management. Nonetheless, execution demands commitment to and a passion for results, regardless of management level.

Another way of saying this is that execution demands ownership at all levels of management. From C-level managers on down, people must commit to and own the processes and actions central to effective execution. Ownership of execution and the change processes vital to execution are necessary for success. Change is impossible without commitment to the decisions and actions that define strategy execution.

The execution of strategy is not a trivial part of managerial work; it defines the essence of that work. Execution is a key responsibility of all managers, not something that "others" do or worry about.

Planning and Execution Are Interdependent


Planning and execution tasks are highly interdependent. Planning affects execution. The execution of strategy, provides inputs to future planning.  This relationship between planning and doing suggests two critical points to keep in mind.

Successful strategic outcomes are best achieved when those responsible for execution are also part of the planning or formulation process. The greater the interaction between "doers" and "planners" or the greater the overlap of the two processes or tasks, the higher the probability of execution success.

A related point is that strategic success demands a "simultaneous" view of planning and doing. Managers must be thinking about execution feasibility and ease even as they are formulating plans. Execution is not something to "worry about later." While all execution decisions and actions cannot be taken at once along with the plan, execution issues or problem areas must be anticipated, however, as part of a "big picture" during  planning. Formulating and executing are parts of an integrated, strategic management approach. This dual or simultaneous view is important.


Execution Takes Longer than Formulation


The execution of strategy usually takes longer than the formulation of strategy. Whereas planning may take weeks or months, the implementation of strategy is usually played out over a much longer period of time. The longer time frame can make it harder for managers to focus on and control the execution process, as many things, some unforeseen, can materialize and challenge managers' attention.

Steps taken to execute a strategy take place over time, and many factors, including some unanticipated, come into play. Interest rates may change, competitors don't behave the way they're supposed to, customers' needs change, and key personnel leave the company. The outcomes of changes in strategy and execution methods cannot always be easily determined because of "noise" or uncontrolled events. This obviously increases the difficulty of execution efforts.

Long-term needs must be translated into short-term objectives. Controls must be set up to provide feedback and keep management abreast of external "shocks" and changes. The process of execution must be dynamic and adaptive, responding to and compensating for unanticipated events. This presents a real challenge to managers and increases the difficulty of strategy execution.


Execution always takes time and places pressure on management for results. But the longer time needed for execution also increases the likelihood of additional unforeseen problems or challenges cropping up, which further increases the pressure on managers responsible for execution results. The process of execution is always difficult and sometimes quarrelsome, with problems only exacerbated by the longer time frame usually associated with execution.

Execution Is a Process, Not an Action or Step


Execution is a process. It is not the result of a single decision or action. It is the result of a series of integrated decisions or actions over time. Execution is a process that demands a great deal of attention to make it work. Execution is not a single decision or action.

Execution Involves More People than Strategy Formulation Does

In addition to being played out over longer periods of time, strategy implementation always involves more people than strategy formulation.  Communication down the organization or across different functions is a challenge. Making sure that incentives throughout the organization support strategy execution efforts becomes a necessity and, potentially, a problem. Linking strategic objectives with the day-to-day objectives and concerns of personnel at different organizational levels and locations becomes a legitimate but challenging task. The larger the number of people involved, the greater the challenge of effective strategy execution.


Obstacles to Strategy Execution - Survey Results


Wharton-Gartner Survey (n = 243) and  Wharton-Executive Education Survey (n = 200)



1. Inability to manage change effectively or to overcome internal resistance to change
2. Trying to execute a strategy that conflicts with the existing power structure
3. Poor or inadequate information sharing between individuals or business units responsible for strategy execution
4. Unclear communication of responsibility and/or accountability for execution decisions or actions
5. Poor or vague strategy
6. Lack of feelings of "ownership" of a strategy or execution plans among key employees
7. Not having guidelines or a model to guide strategy- execution efforts
8. Lack of understanding of the role of organizational structure and design in the execution process
9. Inability to generate "buy-in" or agreement on critical execution steps or actions
10. Lack of incentives or inappropriate incentives to support execution objectives
11. Insufficient financial resources to execute the strategy
12. Lack of upper-management support of strategy execution



Based on the discussion of survey results, the author provided the following steps for achieving the success of execution.

1. Developing a model to guide execution decisions or actions

2. Understanding how the creation of strategy affects the execution of strategy

3. Managing change effectively, including culture change

4. Understanding power or influence and using it for execution success

5. Developing organizational structures that foster information sharing, coordination, and clear accountability

6. Developing effective controls and feedback mechanisms

7. Knowing how to create an execution-supportive culture

8. Exercising execution-biased leadership



References

Full article
http://www.ftpress.com/articles/article.aspx?p=360437


Seven Strategy Questions: A Simple Approach for Better Execution

Robert Simons, Professor, HBS
2010
https://books.google.co.in/books?id=tIYrly9QjTIC



Revision/Review article on Strategic Management


Crafting and Executing Strategy - Book Information and Chapter Summaries




“many people regard execution as detail work that is beneath the dignity of a
business leader. That’s wrong— it’s a leader’s most important job.”



CEOs and their leadership teams say excellence in execution and consistent execution are their top two
challenges, according to a recent Conference Board study (2008)
https://www.pwc.com/us/en/people-management/assets/execution-focused-leadership.pdf
.



Updated 24 Jan 2016,    16 Sep 2015, 12 Sep 2015

January 21, 2016

Control of Variation in Inputs and Outputs - Management Insights from Statistics



Like many other professionals of various subjects, Statisticians also contributed to theory and practice.

Decision making under risk uses expected values based on the probability distributions of the variables involved.

Planning requires forecasts and statistics provides forecasts based on past using techniques like time series analysis and regression models.

Walter Shewart came out with idea that a process is under control as long as measurements of output units are falling within 3 sigma (standard deviation) limits. If the output measurement falls outside the limits, the setup needs investigation and correction. This guideline provided for economical process control and is considered valid even now.

Motorola executives came out with a different perspective. Reduction of variance or standard deviation of a process.  It is possible to design a process with minimum variance by experimenting on the process with various levels of variables involved. Six sigma, the technique that helps in variance reduction is proving billions in benefits to the companies producing goods as well as services by reducing defects drastically. Consumers are getting more consistent quality products.

We are going to revise basics of statistics and application in management practice in our one year revision schedule.


Related  Articles

Total Quality Management: Focus on Six Sigma

Second Article for Revision on the Day:  Systems Approach in Management


January Month Management Knowledge Revision Plan


MBA Core Management Knowledge - One Year Revision Schedule


Updated 21 Jan 2016, 30 Dec 2014

January 20, 2016

Alternative Economic Systems - Review Notes

The system described in detail by Samuelson is Mixed Capitalist Economy.

This is the economic system of advanced democracies of world today. It accounts for 60 percent of world income.

Marxism and socialism are important alternative economic systems.

Development or Evolution of Economic Thought

Aristotle wrote on economic issues also.

First systematic thinkers were mercantilists of the 17th and 18th centuries. They advocated the accumulation of gold and silver to improve the military and economic power of a state.

David Hume (1711-1776) showed how gold inflow would eventually end up raising prices rather than output. Physiocrats put forward arguments against mercantile thought excesses and argued that agriculture is the only source of economic surplus.

Modern economic claims its roots to 'The Wealth of Nations' by Adam Smith published in 1776.

T.R. Malthus (1766-1834) enuniciate the iron law of wages.

David Ricardo (1772-1823) believed that there were basic errors in Smith's analysis and attempted to provide alternative ideas. He wrote Principles of Political Economy and Taxation in 1817.

One of his major achievements was to analyze the laws of income distribution in a capitalist economy.

John Stuart Mill wrote his classic 'Principles of Political Economy'.

Economics developed a branch with the writings of Marx, Capital (1867, 1885, 1894). But the tradition of Adam Smith and David Ricardo was continued by W.Stanley Jevons, Carl Menger, and John Maynard Keynes.

The Keynesian Revolution

The great depression made Keynes to come out with General theory of Employment, Interest, and Money (Macmillan,1936). Economists were inspired to understand why wages and prices tend to be sticky, why nominal variables like money have real impacts, and how government fiscal and monetary policies affect the macroeconomy.


Criticism of Capitalistic System by Some Economists  (Characterised as Dissent from Left by Samuelson)

John Kenneth Galbraith: Wrote American Capitalismm, The Affluent Society, and the New Industrial State.

Todays economies are directed by large bureaucracies and perfectly competitive markets do not exist.
Consumers are not masters of their own minds. Advertising shapes preferences.
Public sector is starving and private sector is flourishing. Parks, roads, and bridges etc. are not built adequately and maintained properly.

MIT's Lester Thurow, Harvard's Robert Reich, and others argued for redesigning the work place on cooperative rather than competitive lines.

One important suggestion of this group of economists is introduction of profit sharing in place of fixed wages. MIT's Martin Weitzman has analyzed this type of system According to him profit sharing system,will result in lower marginal cost of labor.

Marxism

Marx's advocated labor theory of value. what gives value to a product is the amount of direct labor and indirect labor embodied in it. In the capitalist system, profit is earned by paying only part of the labor value to the workers. As capital goes on accumulating, profits fall and capitalist pay less and less to workers and make them live a subsistence life.

Socialism

Socialists believed that the role of private property should be reduced and key industries should be run by government.





References

Paul Samuelson and William D. Nordhaus, Economics, 13th Edition, McGraw-Hill, 1989

Originally posted in
http://knol.google.com/k/narayana-rao/alternative-economic-systems/2utb2lsm2k7a/241




Updated 20 January 2016, 11 Dec 2011



INVITATION FOR SEMINAR ON   “EKATMA MANAV DARSHAN AS A PRACTICAL ALTERNATIVE”

In view of the birth centenary year of Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya, (Propounder of Ekatma Manav-vad), Deendayal Prerana Kendra and Ekatma Prabodh Mandal have organized a seminar on Ekatma Manav Darshan as per details below:

Theme: EKATMA MANAV DARSHAN AS A PRACTICAL ALTERNATIVE

Place: SHRIRAM VYAYAMSHALA HALL, OPP.GADAKARI RANGAYATAN, THANE WEST

Time: WEDNESDAY, 10TH FEBRUARY 2016, 4.30 TO 7.45 PM

Session 1: Ekatma Manav Darshan & Capitalism by Dr. KVSS Narayana Rao
Session 2: Ekatma Manav Darshan & Globalization by Dr. Varadraj Bapat
Session 3: Ekatma Manav Darshan – In Practice by Dilip Kelkar
Session 4: Samarop: DR. SATISH MODH,  Director, Vivekanand Institute of Mgt, Chembur

DEENDAYAL PRERANA KENDRA 2/27 Kalpana Sahaniwas, Sahyog Mandir Path, Naupada, Thane (W)

EKATMA PRABODH MANDAL (Activity of Ekatma Vikas Samiti, Public Trust) B105 Vatsalyadeep, Krantiveer Phadke Marg, Mulund East, Mumbai 400081 Tel: 25639654, Email: ekatmaprabodh at the rate gmail.com

Mathematical Models and Optimization of Production and Distribution Systems



There are management theorists who see management problem solving  as development of a system of mathematical models and solving them for a solution. The most widely known of this thinking are the operations researchers, or operations analysts who are also referred to as management scientists.

There group of scholars have made substantial contribution to orderly thinking in management practice. They have forced on people in management the means and desirability of seeing many problems more clearly; they have pressed on both students and managers the need for establishing goals and ways of measuring effectiveness; they have been extremly helpful in promoting the concept of management as a logical system of relationships; and they have caused people in management to review and occasionally reorganize information sources and systems so that mathematics can be given sensible quantitative meaning.


Important OR Models and Techniques

Linear Programming, Integer Programming, Non Linear Programming, Geometric Programming

Transportation and Transshipment Problems

Assignment Problem

Inventory Problem

Sequencing

Queueing - Design of Service Stations and Waiting Lines

Game Theory



January Month Management Knowledge Revision Plan


MBA Core Management Knowledge - One Year Revision Schedule


Updated 20 Jan 2016, 30 Dec 2014

January 14, 2016

Evolution of Strategic Management Options - Concepts

Strategic Management Revision Articles - Chapter Summaries of Strickland and Thompson's Book

1. 1958  Ansoff Matrix
2. 1959 Industrial Organization
3. 1962 Diffusion of Innovations
4. 1962 Scenario Planning
5. 1962 Strategy and Structure
6. 1965 Gap Analysis
7. 1965 Product Life cycle
8. 1967 PEST
9. 1968 Experience Curve
10. 1969 SWOT Analysis
11. 1970 BCG Portfolio Matrix
12. 1971 Andrews's Strategy Framework
13. 1973 Red Queen Effect
14. 1974 PIMS
15. 1976 Real Options
16. 1976 Rule of Three and Four
17. 1978 Deliberate and Emergent Strategies
18. 1979 5 Forces
19. 1980 Four phases of strategy
20. 1980 Logical Incrementalism
21. 1981 BCG Advantage Matrix   https://www.bcgperspectives.com/content/classics/strategy_strategy_in_the_1980s/
22. 1982 3Cs  - Customer, Competition, Corporation (Ohmae)
23. 1982 7S
24. 1982 Diversification Strategy and Profitability
25. 1982 Niche Strategy
26. 1982 Technological paradigms and Technological Trajectories
27. 1982 TQM
28. 1984 Resource Based View
29. 1986 Fish Bone Diagram
30. 1986 S Curve
31. 1986 Six Sigma
32. 1987 Mintzberg's 5Ps
33. 1988 First Mover Advantage
34. 1988 Time Based Competition
35. 1989 Benchmarking
36. 1989 Core Competencies
37. 1990 Diamond Model
38. 1990 Reengineering
39. 1991 Commitment
40. 1991 Transformational Change
41. 1992 Capabilities Competition
42. 1992 Mass Customization
43. 1993 Ecosystem Strategy
44. 1994 Competing for the future
45. 1994 Hypercompetition
46. 1995 Disruptive Innovation
47. 1995. Return on Quality
48. 1995 Value Migration
49. 1996 Bowman's Strategy Clock
50. 1996 Co-opetition
51. 1996 Leading Change
52. 1996 Paranoid Company
53. 1997 Dynamic Capabilities
54. 1997 Triple Bottom Line
55. 1998 3 Generic Strategies
56. 1998 Value Chain
57. 1998 Value Chain Deconstruction
58. 1999 Continuous Strategy Process
59. 1999 Delta Model
60. 1999 Digital Strategy
61. 1999 Dynamic Strategies
62. 1999 Profit Patterns
63. 1999 Temporary Advantage
64. 2000 Tipping point
65. 2001 Strategy as Simple Rule
66. 2002 Bottom of the Pyramid
67. 2002 Serial Temporal Advantage
68. 2003 Open Innovation
69. 2004 Hardball
70. 2004 Strategy Maps
71. 2004 Value Innovation
72. 2005 Blue Ocean Strategy
73. 2005 Strategic intent
74. 2006 Shared Value
75. 2008 Distinctive Capabilities
76. 2009 Business Model Innovation
77. 2009 Strategy without Design
78. 2010 Adaptive Advantage
79. 2011 Competitive Strategy: Options and Games
80. 2013 Algorithmic Strategy
81. 2013 Transient Competitive Advantage




Figure to be removed after checking once more
______________










Source of the picture:  https://hbr.org/2015/12/charts-2015
______________

January 13, 2016

Interesting Quotations by Adam Smith - From The Wealth of Nations



In the progress of society, philosophy or speculation becomes, like every other employment, the principal or sole trade and occupation of a particular class of citizens. Like every other employment too, it is subdivided into a great number of different branches, each of which affords occupation to a peculiar tribe or class of philosophers; and this subdivision of employment in philosophy, as well as in every other business, improves dexterity, and saves time. Each individual becomes more expert in his own peculiar branch, more work is done upon the whole, and the quantity of science is considerably increased by it.  (I.1.9)

The improvements in agriculture and manufactures seem likewise to have been of very great antiquity in the provinces of Bengal in the East Indies, and in some of the eastern provinces of China; though the great extent of this antiquity is not authenticated by any histories of whose authority we, in this part of the world, are well assured. In Bengal the Ganges and several other great rivers form a great number of navigable canals*56 in the same manner as the Nile does in Egypt. In the Eastern provinces of China too, several great rivers form, by their different branches, a multitude of canals, and by communicating with one another afford an inland navigation much more extensive than that either of the Nile or the Ganges, or perhaps than both of them put together. It is remarkable that neither the antient Egyptians, nor the Indians, nor the Chinese, encouraged foreign commerce, but seem all to have derived their great opulence from this inland navigation. (I.3.7)


Every prudent man in every period of society, after the first establishment of the division of labour, must naturally have endeavoured to manage his affairs in such a manner, as to have at all times by him, besides the peculiar produce of his own industry, a certain quantity of some one commodity or other, such as he imagined few people would be likely to refuse in exchange for the produce of their industry. (I.4.2)

Many different commodities, it is probable, were successively both thought of and employed for this purpose. In the rude ages of society, cattle are said to have been the common instrument of commerce; and, though they must have been a most inconvenient one, yet in old times we find things were frequently valued according to the number of cattle which had been given in exchange for them. (I.4.3)

In all countries, however, men seem at last to have been determined by irresistible reasons to give the preference, for this employment, to metals above every other commodity. (I.4.4)

Different metals have been made use of by different nations for this purpose. Iron was the common instrument of commerce among the antient Spartans; copper among the antient Romans; and gold and silver among all rich and commercial nations. (I.4.5)



As soon as stock has accumulated in the hands of particular persons, some of them will naturally employ it in setting to work industrious people, whom they will supply with materials and subsistence, in order to make a profit by the sale of their work, or by what their labour adds to the value of the materials. In exchanging the complete manufacture either for money, for labour, or for other goods, over and above what may be sufficient to pay the price of the materials, and the wages of the workmen, something must be given for the profits of the undertaker of the work who hazards his stock in this adventure. The value which the workmen add to the materials, therefore, resolves itself in this case into two parts, of which the one pays their wages, the other the profits of their employer upon the whole stock of materials and wages which he advanced. He could have no interest to employ them, unless he expected from the sale of their work something more than what was sufficient to replace his stock to him; and he could have no interest to employ a great stock rather than a small one, unless his profits were to bear some proportion to the extent of his stock. (I.6.5)

The profits of stock, it may perhaps be thought, are only a different name for the wages of a particular sort of labour, the labour of inspection and direction. They are, however, altogether different, are regulated by quite different principles, and bear no proportion to the quantity, the hardship, or the ingenuity of this supposed labour of inspection and direction. They are regulated altogether by the value of the stock employed, and are greater or smaller in proportion to the extent of this stock. (I.6.6)

The market price of any particular commodity, though it may continue long above, can seldom continue long below, its natural price. Whatever part of it was paid below the natural rate, the persons whose interest it affected would immediately feel the loss, and would immediately withdraw either so much land, or so much labour, or so much stock, from being employed about it, that the quantity brought to market would soon be no more than sufficient to supply the effectual demand. (I.7.30)


In that original state of things, which precedes both the appropriation of land and the accumulation of stock, the whole produce of labour belongs to the labourer. He has neither landlord nor master to share with him. (I.8.2)



Book I, Chapter IX
Of the Profits of Stock

It may be laid down as a maxim, that wherever a great deal can be made by the use of money, a great deal will commonly be given for the use of it; and that wherever little can be made by it, less will commonly be given for it.*51 According, therefore, as the usual market rate of interest varies in any country, we may be assured that the ordinary profits of stock must vary with it, must sink as it sinks, and rise as it rises. The progress of interest, therefore, may lead us to form some notion of the progress of profit. (I.9.4)

Book I, Chapter X
Of Wages and Profit in the Different Employments of Labour and Stock


Book I, Chapter XI
Of the Rent of Land


I shall conclude this very long chapter with observing*217 that every improvement in the circumstances of the society tends either directly or indirectly to raise the real rent of land, to increase the real wealth of the landlord, his power of purchasing the labour, or the produce of the labour of other people. (I.11.255)



Book II
Of the Nature, Accumulation, and Employment of Stock




II.1.3
There are two different ways in which a capital may be employed so as to yield a revenue or profit to its employer.

II.1.4
First, it may be employed in raising, manufacturing, or purchasing goods, and selling them again with a profit. The capital employed in this manner yields no revenue or profit to its employer, while it either remains in his possession, or continues in the same shape. The goods of the merchant yield him no revenue or profit till he sells them for money, and the money yields him as little till it is again exchanged for goods. His capital is continually going from him in one shape, and returning to him in another, and it is only by means of such circulation, or successive exchanges, that it can yield him any profit. Such capitals, therefore, may very properly be called circulating capitals.

II.1.5
Secondly, it may be employed in the improvement of land, in the purchase of useful machines and instruments of trade, or in suchlike things as yield a revenue or profit without changing masters, or circulating any further. Such capitals, therefore, may very properly be called fixed capitals.


Book II, Chapter II
Of Money Considered as a particular Branch of the General Stock of the Society, or of the Expence of Maintaining the National Capital


Book II, Chapter III
Of the Accumulation of Capital, or of Productive and Unproductive Labour



Book IV

IV.9.3
Mr. Colbert, the famous minister of Lewis XIV. was a man of probity, of great industry and knowledge of detail, of great experience and acuteness in the examination of public accounts, and of abilities, in short, every way fitted for introducing method and good order into the collection and expenditure of the public revenue. That minister had unfortunately embraced all the prejudices of the mercantile system, in its nature and essence a system of restraint and regulation, and such as could scarce fail to be agreeable to a laborious and plodding man of business, who had been accustomed to regulate the different departments of public offices, and to establish the necessary checks and controls for confining each to its proper sphere.

The industry and commerce of a great country he endeavoured to regulate upon the same model as the departments of a public office; and instead of allowing every man to pursue his own interest in his own way, upon the liberal plan of equality, liberty, and justice, he bestowed upon certain branches of industry extraordinary privileges, while he laid others under as extraordinary restraints.


Mr. Quesnai, who was himself a physician, and a very speculative physician, seems to have entertained a notion of the same kind concerning the political body, and to have imagined that it would thrive and prosper only under a certain precise regimen, the exact regimen of perfect liberty and perfect justice. He seems not to have considered that, in the political body, the natural effort which every man is continually making to better his own condition is a principle of preservation capable of preventing and correcting, in many respects, the bad effects of a political Å“conomy, in some degree, both partial and oppressive. Such a political Å“conomy, though it no doubt retards more or less, is not always capable of stopping altogether the natural progress of a nation towards wealth and prosperity, and still less of making it go backwards. If a nation could not prosper without the enjoyment of perfect liberty and perfect justice, there is not in the world a nation which could ever have prospered. In the political body, however, the wisdom of nature has fortunately made ample provision for remedying many of the bad effects of the folly and injustice of man, in the same manner as it has done in the natural body for remedying those of his sloth and intemperance. (IV.9.28)




Online copy of the book
http://www.econlib.org/library/Smith/smWN19.html#firstpage-bar





January 7, 2016

Zuckerberg - Narayana Rao Reading Challenge

Every Year Reading Challenge for MBA Graduates

Management Articles Reading Challenge for all Management Professionals and Graduates

http://nraomtr.blogspot.com/2015/01/mba-core-management-knowledge-one-year.html




2016 Reading Challenge by Narayana Rao K.V.S.S.


January 2016

1. Managing Research and De4velopment by John E. Gibson, A wiley interscience publication, 1981.



Zuckerberg Practicing Stephen Covey's 7th Habit for Effectiveness


Sharpen the Saw




Zuckerberg announced his reading challenge for the year 2015. It is good. It will give good advertisement to reading books. These days it was forgotten. Independent of it I started my reading challenge of management books for the year 2015. I hope to read many books to update this blog this year in a serious manner.  I started a facebook to post my reading of management books.

https://www.facebook.com/nraomtr

It will have information regarding Zuckerberg's reading activity also. Hope Facebook retains the page.

Books I am reading or read in 2015 (Narayana Rao K.V.S.S.)

I also do Revision of Core MBA Management Knowledge according to one Year Plan



1. Principles of Management by Koontz and O'Donnell - 4th Edtion and 13 Edition

2. Marketing Management by Kotler and Keller, (12,13and 14 Editions, 9th Edition by Kotler)

3. Started Reading Big Data Big Analytics - Michael Minelli, Michele Chambers and Ambiga Dhiraj 30 January 2015

4. Operations and Supply Management by Richard B. Chase, F. Robert Jacobs, and Nicholas J. Acquilano

5. Product Development and Design by Karl T. Ulrich and Steven D. Eppinger

6. Zero Defects: A New Dimension in Quality Assurance by James Halpin (Studied for delivering talk on National Productivity Week 2015 - Theme: Zero Defect - Zero Effect)

7. Quality Without Tears by Philip B. Crosby, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1984

8. The Certified Six Sigma Black Belt Handbook, Donald W. Benbow and T.M. Kubiak, ASQ, 2005

9. CAD CAM

10. Principle-Centered Leadership, Stephen Covey, 1990
To post summary of 31 chapters in
Stephen Covey's Principle-Centered Leadership Model - Summary

11. Supply Chain Management - April 2015

12. Yajurved

13. Vedic Management by Kannan Srinivasan

14. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge by PMI

15. Qualitative Research Design  by Joseph A. Maxwell, 2013, Sage Publications


Output of Reading Challenge
New Blogging Project from Narayana Rao
30 Day MBA Self Study Course - Free Notes - Recommended Texts


Koontz - 14 Edition - Principles of Management - Brief Notes
Kotler and Keller 14 Edition - Marketing Management - Issues and Topics Explained in Brief - 20 Feb, 21 Feb



April 2015

17 April - Yajurved - Chapters 39 and 40.

9 April - Transportation in the Supply Chain - Chopra and Meindl

Reading Plan up to 13 March 2015


Management by Weihrich, Cannice and Koontz - 13 and 14 editions
Browsed the Book and Made Slides for all chapters.
Management - 14th Edition by Koontz, Weihrich, Cannice - Chapter-wise Presentation Slides

Product Development and Design by Karl T. Ulrich and Steven D. Eppinger
Marketing Management by Kotler and Keller
CAD CAM
Principle-Centered Leadership, Stephen Covey, 1990
Stephen Covey's Principle-Centered Leadership Model - Summary



1 March 2015 - Sharpen the Saw -  Chapter of Stephen Covey's Book - Wrote a blog post also.
28 Feb - Full Day Spent in Listening to the Budget Commentary. Made a blog post on Budget.

The Certified Six Sigma Black Belt Handbook, Donald W. Benbow and T.M. Kubiak

Improve
Analyze
Measure
Define
Project Management
2
1. Enterprise-wide Deployment 19 Feb 2015

Quality Without Tears by Philip B. Crosby


13. Team Execution 16.2.2015
12 Team Actions 15.2.2015
11. Implementation 15.2.2015
10
9
8
7.
6. The First Absolute: The Definition of Quality 14.2.2015
5. Determination 13.2.2015
3. Demotivation 13.2.2015
2. The Quality Vaccine 12.2.2015
1. The Profile of a Problem Organization  12.2.2015

Zero Defects: A New Dimension in Quality Assurance by James Halpin


16. The Future of Zero Defects 18.2.2015
15. Directing a Continuing Program 17.2.2015
10. Program Kickoff 11.2.2015
9. Kickoff Readiness 11.2.2015
8. Techniques of Product and Quality Awareness 11.2.2015
2. The Evolution of Zero Defects 10.2.2015
1. Zero Defects: A Search for Perfection 9.2.2015

Product Development and Design

16 chapters studied


16. Managing Projects 14 March 2015
15. Product Development Economics 14 March
14. Patents and Intellectual Property
13. Robust Design 14 March
12. Prototyping
11. Design for Manufacturing
10. Industrial Design
9. Product Architecture  14 March
8. Concept Testing 14 March
7. Concept Selection  - 27 Feb 2015
6. Concept Generation - 26 Feb
5. Product Specifications 8.2.2015
4. Identifying Customer Needs 7.2.2015
3. Product Planning  6.2.2015
2. Development Processes and Organizations
1. Introduction  6.2.2015


Operations and Supply Chain Management

Ch 17. Inventory Control  27 March
Ch. 16 Aggregate Sales and Operations Planning 27 March
Product and Service Design - Ch.5 - 5 Feb 2015
Project Management - 4 Feb 2015
Using Solver
Operations Strategy - 3 Feb 2015
Introduction to the Field - 2 Feb 2015
-----------------------------

Marketing Management by Kotler and Keller


Managing Holistic Marketing Organization - 1 Feb
Global Marketing - 31 January
Marketing New Products - 30 January
Managing Personal Communications    29 Jan
         Sales Force Management - Kotler and Keller Book Chapter Summary
Managing Mass Communications: Advertising, Sales Promotions, Events and Public Relations 28 Jan 2015
Designing and Managing Integrated Marketing Communications
Managing Retailing, Wholesaling and Logistics
Designing and Managing Retail and Distribution Channels
Developing Pricing Strategies and Programs 24 Jan
Setting Product Strategy 23 Jan
Dealing with Competition 22 January
Crafting Brand Positioning 21.1.2015
Creating the Brand Equity 20.1.2015
Identifying Market Segments and Targets - 19.1.2015
Analyzing Business Markets  - 18.1.2015
Analyzing Consumer Markets
Scanning the Marketing Macroenvironment - Philip Kotler's Book Chapter 
Managing Marketing Information and Measuring  Market Demand
Marketing Strategy - Marketing Process - Kotler's Description


Zuckerberg's Reading


Picture source: Facebook photos of Zuckerberg https://www.facebook.com/zuck


1. The End of Power by Moises Naim

2. The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker.
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4. On Immunity Eula Biss

5. The Creativity Inc. by Emma Catull (Founder of Pixar along with Steve Jobs)



Alejandro Melo Florian's Reading


https://librarymedical.wordpress.com/2015/01/14/on-readed-books/


Management Articles Reading Challenge for all Management Professionals and Graduates

http://nraomtr.blogspot.com/2015/01/mba-core-management-knowledge-one-year.html