Customer Reviews

Beyond Price

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Having a company that is price reliant and schedule driven it was refreshing to read Beyond Price. It provides very clear answers to questions as to why we are chasing the pricing model. When you read the authors step by step analysis of how to move your company from this arena to one that creates a clear need for your customer to do business with you it makes the effort well worth the time. Thanks for writing this book. It needed to be done.

Steven High Chairman H J High Construction Co.

As the general manager of global business unit responsible for managing a portfolio of products, never has a book been more relevant and provided a healthy sense of discomfort. It is much more ambitious than its modest title may suggest. I'm not aware of a book that has ever laid out so clearly the role that GMs, their high-level product managers, and the rest of their leadership teams have a responsibility to fulfill, with a clear process for getting there. I read it with a growing sense of unease over how we delude ourselves into thinking that are acting strategically, when really we are operating at varying levels of the tactical. You can't read this book without pausing to think hard about what business you are really in, and, more important, how you create the culture and processes with your team where that question is systematically, relentlessly examined. This book is one of those rare cold slaps to the face, and for business unit leaders, not to be missed (except, hopefully, by my competitors!).

Just in time -- insightful and practical advice for surviving *and* succeeding despite the current economic downturn. This wonderful, clearly written book describes how to re-envision your business strategy to escape being caught in the downward spiral of competing solely over price. Most importantly, the authors have "walked the walk" and provide succinct, practical examples of their approach. They methodically lay out how to identify if your business is trapped in a cycle leading to nowhere and how to rise above "old school" thinking (old school = entirely consumer-driven instead of market-driven; marketing information in companies being individual-owned instead of company-owned). Broadly appealing and highly timely, the perfect antidote to paralysis due to fear of change, especially in businesses that need to evolve.

In a world where you can't be the best if you're only the same, Beyond Price shows readers how to differentiate and win with a business model versus a pricing model. The book provides a roadmap to doing this along with lots of practical tips and side bars that bring the concepts to life. Scott W. Cooper, Co- Author, The Successful Marketing Plan and Tips & Traps of Marketing Your Business and President, Marketing Engine Group.

There are lots of great strategy and execution books out there that provide powerful insights and examples of diferentiation. But, I'm always left with major questions about how to apply the books' ideas. Not only is Beyond Price full of rich insights into strategy and execution, the authors' step-by-step process gives me the guidance I've been looking for.

I am a consulting-educator and, therefore, I buy and skim a lot of books. However, I found myself reading this book cover-to-cover because of two things:
First, it is very practical. I can see someone following the eight steps presented in the book.
Second, maybe more importantly, it covers a missing piece of the business literature; the middle ground between high-level strategy and day-to-day execution. Some big-name authors have been talking about business model innovation; this book actually helps you design and build your business model.

Bill Welter
lead author of The Prepared Mind of a Leader: Eight Skills Leaders Use to Innovate, Make Decisions, and Solve Problems

All industries, and all companies within those industries" have a life cycle ending in commoditization of their products or services. At that point, unless urgent steps are taken, sales stagnate, profits decrease and prospects for the future diminish greatly. This book -"Beyond Price" - presents a very precise, orderly and comprehensive process designed to give top management the tools to avoid the commoditization trap. I recommend it to all CEO;s whether or not they feel the impending pressure of maturing markets on their company's future.

Overall the book makes complex information easy to read and understand. It includes an exceptional discussion of commodity markets. The introductory material on economic principles is very practical and useful for engaging middle-managers in strategic planning activities.

Beyond the introductory material, the strength of the book is that it provides a practical framework for how to grow a business. The book is about strategic planning and marketing, it is not a book that will help to fix an unstable operation or reduce costs.

Beyond Price is a more worthwhile resource than other similar books because it is grounded in a real-world approach that has actually been executed by the authors.

Kay Plantes succeeds in making a complex topic understandable with
practical approaches that anyone can understand and apply to advance
their organization. I have found many valuable ideas that can be
adapted to higher education where I work. All organizations need to
find ways to provide value to those they serve and distinguish themselves from the competition.

I finished the book earlier this month and have to say I really enjoyed it. I thought it had some very practical lessons and was very well organized. It provided useful frameworks for each step of the journey.