The Phoenix Effect: 9 Revitalizing Strategies No Business Can Do Without

Harlan Platt and Carter Pate have created an excellent work balancing the "real world" of corporate renewal and "academic analysis". Most works on the subject are either rehashed war stories providing little insight into the subject or long and dry academic works missing the nuances and human elements of fixing companies.The nine strategies focus on the issues that most turnaround consultants deal with one way or another during their work. While professionals may mentally go through these exercises and use these strategies, this is a solid summary for everyone else to learn from and follow. As a turnaround consultant, I have read almost all the books on the subject and found this one to be closer to the truth than any other.

I saw one of the authors on TV and was somewhat reluctant to buy the book because he was talking about fixing big businesses and mine is really pretty small. But boy was I wrong. I bought the book, read it and already have started to improve my company.The best chapter, in my opinion, is the one on ORIENTATION where they talk about establishing a reason why consumers want to come and buy from you. The (5) objective points are price level, quality, durability, attractiveness and convenience. The authors taught me that unless I can dominate one of these characteristics my business will flounder while my competitors draw away my customers.This is the best business book I have ever read ! It was easy to read and understand. I'm not surprised given how one author helps major corporations as a consultant and the other teaches at a major business school. I have bought extra copies for the two people who work for me and one for my brother-in-law.

Turnaround specialists Carter Pate and Harlan Platt outline nine strategies any organization can use to revitalize itself and rise from the ashes. The nine strategies also correspond to the chapter titles in their new book:1. Get to the Point of Pain -- overcome denial and deception and get started.2. Determine the Scope of your Business -- pick a market you can serve profitably.3. Orient the Business -- aim your products at the right customers.4. Manage Scale -- larger size can reduce cost but is no guarantee against failure.5. Handle Debt -- restructure, renegotiate, and/or merge to enhance value.6. Get the Most from Assets -- manage working capital to avoid cash crises.7. Get the Most from Employees -- people not products keep a business going. 8. Getting the Most from Products -- market strategy needs to change with markets.9. Produce the Product -- consider the options, better, faster, cheaper or outsourcing.10. Change the Process -- reengineer for better time, cost and quality.This book is a quick read and loaded with case examples that demonstrate the successes and failures of executing these strategies. Revitalization applies to both good companies and those that are currently troubled or distressed. I found it even appropriate for focusing or refocusing a startup or business plan. Tom Peters called it, "A damn good book." I strongly recommend it to any consultant or manager that is concerned with maintaining a profitable business. The Phoenix Effect: 9 Revitalizing Strategies, No Business can do Without" again demonstrates revitalization and renewal efforts require many different types of actions.

The authors are not only timely, but right on target. Loved the examples that make the book real and readable for both those that have knowledge in the area and the those that want to gain knowledge.

This is a book obviuously written by people who have been on the job at major corporations making them "whole again." The advice given is straight forward, easy to communicate to those that will need to get the work done, and practical in nature. No tricks or magic wands, just sound hard hitting business advice that combined with some courage and determination can save businesses and make them prosperous again.