A research-based approach to achieving long-term profitability
in business
What does it take to guarantee success and profitability over
time? Authors Christopher G. Worley, a senior research scientist,
Thomas D. Williams, an executive advisor, and Edward E. Lawler III,
one of the country’s leading management experts, set out to find
the answer. In The Agility Factor: Building Adaptable
Organizations for Superior Performance the authors reveal the
factors that drive long-term profitability based on the practices
of successful companies that have consistently outperformed their
peers. Of the 234 large companies across 18 industries that were
studied, there were few companies that delivered sustained
performance across the board. The authors found that across
industries, the most successful companies were not the ‘usual
suspects’ found in the media, but companies who possessed a quiet
agility that allowed them to quickly perceive and respond to
changes so that they could continue to grow. Agility gives
organizations the ability to adapt to fluctuations in the
environment, test possible responses, and implement changes
quickly. This book offers specific, research-based case studies to
help organizational leaders use agility to achieve sustained
profitability and performance while also becoming more adaptable to
a changing marketplace.
For executives, leaders, consultants, board members and all
those responsible for the long-term health of organizations, this
insightful guide outlines:
* The components of agility for business organizations
* How to successfully build agility within an organization
* How agility has its foundation in good management
practices
* How to use agility to gain a competitive advantage in the
marketplace
Table of Content
Foreword by James O’Toole ix
Preface xiii
Chapter 1 Searching for Sustained Performance 1
Chapter 2 Organizing for Agility 25
Chapter 3 Strategizing and Perceiving 53
Chapter 4 Testing and Implementing 83
Chapter 5 Transforming to Agility 111
Afterword: Some Reflections on Agility 139
Notes 147
About the Authors 157
Acknowledgments 159
Index 161
About the author
Christopher G. Worley is Senior Research Scientist at the University of Southern California’s Center for Effective Organizations. He is also professor of management at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management.
Thomas Williams is a Senior Executive Advisor at Strategy& (formerly Booz & Company) where he consults to large global companies on issues of strategy, organization, and management systems.
Edward E. Lawler III is Director of the Center for Effective Organizations at the University of Southern California and Distinguished Professor of Management and Organization in the USC Marshall School of Business.
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