Beyond Reengineering: How the Process-Centered Organization is Changing Our Work and Our Lives [Paperback]

Michael Hammer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2, 1997

Reengineering has captured the imagination of managers and shareholders alike, sending corporations on journeys of radical business redesign that have already begun to transfigure global industry. Yet aside from earning them improvements in their business performance, the shift into more-process-centered organizations is causing fundamental changes in the corporate world, changes that business leaders are only now beginning to understand. What will the revolutions final legacy be? Beyond Reengineering addresses this question, exploring reengineering's effects on such areas as:

Jobs: What does process-centering do to the nature of jobs? What does a process-centered workplace feel like?

Managers: What is the new role of the manager in a process-centered company?

Education: What skills are vital in the process-centered working world, and how can young or inexperienced workers prepare?

Society: What are the implications of process-centering for employment and the economy as a whole?

Investment: What are the characteristics of a successful 21st-century corporation?

An informed look at one of the most profound changes to ever sweep the corporate world, Beyond Reengineering is the business manual for the 21st century.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The coauthor of Reengineering the Corporation offers insights into the consequences of today's process-centered reengineering that marks the end of the Industrial Revolution. This book is required reading for executives and front-line workers, for students and investors, for everyone who wants to be prepared for the new world that is at our doorstep. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Reengineering guru Hammer transcends his earlier blockbuster (with James Champy, Reengineering the Corporation, HarperBusiness, 1993) with a work explaining how a shift to process, as a means of reengineering, will profoundly transform an organization. As companies attempt to reengineer their operations, subtle but powerful forces must be dealt with, and Hammer takes us through them?the impact on the individual, the massive role change of leaders, the new skills necessary to work successfully in this new environment, the interconnectedness with suppliers, the changing nature of long-term careers, and the means by which a company can reassess their key processes. Hammer explains how best to deal with these complexities. But he offers little on applying process in organized companies, which presents peculiar difficulties. In addition, he inappropriately uses the term reengineering when referring to purposefully downsizing a company, and the chapter that relates this idea to a sports team is out of place. Still, titled with the reengineering moniker, this is powerful stuff that will stimulate sales. Suitable for larger public libraries and all academic libraries.?Dale F. Farris, Groves, Tex.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: HarperBusiness; 1 edition (August 2, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0887308805
• ISBN-13: 978-0887308802
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #671,456 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Heresy, March 13, 2002

By 

Crawfish Eating Father of 4 "My goal is to pr... (Hillsborough, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Beyond Reengineering: How the Process-Centered Organization Is Changing Our Work and Our Lives (Hardcover)

Sorry, but I'm not as impressed by Hammer as he is of himself. I work for a large Fortune 100 company as a Director of Business Process Reengineering, and I'm NOT convinced after reading this that Hammer has rolled up his sleeves and gotten dirty (we all think it but no one will admit to it out loud). Just read the chapter about process owners and his theory about managing the employee and it is clear he has littler or no experience working with front-line $20K/year employees that are found in our operations. Sure, if you're working with professionals making $50K+ his theories are more plausible.

My boss swears by Hammer but when it comes to planning and performing the Redesign work she calls on my team to get it done. We aren't disciples of Hammer, but everyone on my team has read this book and in order to understand the terminology. Using the methodology found in this book will be of minimal use for planning and completing your BPR.

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone interested in how organizations work, April 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Beyond Reengineering: How the Process-Centered Organization Is Changing Our Work and Our Lives (Hardcover)

I recently had the privilige of attending a Dr. Hammer seminar in Boston and can tell you that this book tracks closely with his seminar which was the best I have ever attended. The book however goes into much greater detail and depth than a one day high level seminar can go to. The portions that described the first principles of business (chapter 6)and the dramatic impact that process centered organizations will have on employees (the entire book)were standouts. I have already used information contained here in my work as a consultant for a major federal systems integrator. I am also going to try and get my children who are attending college and high school to read at least chapter 14 (What I Tell My Children)so that they can take advantage of Dr Hammer's guidance with respect to the selection of fulfilling educational and career choices. I think it is the best book on business that I have ever read.

I also understand the book was written for a general audience but it would have been nice to have some footnotes and research to underpin some of the pronouncements of business benefits. I tried to track the performance of American Standard, Texas Instruments, and GTE to see if I could confirm Hammer's assertions but it would have taken too much time. Maybe he can publish an addendum for those of us interested in such matters.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just more reengineering., March 17, 2008

By 

P. V. de Metter "Software Entrepreneur" (Amsterdam, Netherlands) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beyond Reengineering: How the Process-Centered Organization is Changing Our Work and Our Lives (Paperback)

This book is heavily tied to its bestselling predecessor and therefore offers little excitement. Ofcourse, some new elements are added and forgotten subjects are drawn upon, but this book offers just more reengineering and doesn't go beyond the first book.

Is this book not worth reading then? Absolutely not, you should actually read it. But not before completing the first book. Still thirsty after that one? Then get a refill with this one.