The Breakthrough Strategy [Paperback]

Robert H. Schaffer (Author)

Book Description

Series: Business Strategist Series | Publication Date: February 13, 1990

A management expert demonstrates a strategy for performance improvement. Schaffer applies "the simple and direct approach of the successful entrepreneur" (D. A. Noble) to corporate America.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In sharp contrast to those who criticize today's businesses for sacrificing long-term planning to short-term profits, Schaffer, who heads his own management-consultancy firm, contends that companies may improve productivity through short-term, "breakthrough" projects. He demonstrates how top cor porations can call upon hidden reserves and untapped or misused capacities to achieve limited but almost miraculously rapid results in pursuing carefully selected short-term goals. Adopting a how-to approach, he gives detailed examples of the innovative strategies used in these projects, often inspired by emergencies or introduced by staff specialists. These projects, he says, frequently serve as first steps toward long-term gains and corporate progress, given the confidence, skills, management disciplines and momentum developed over the short run. Illustrations.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"The 'small, tangible steps' route to strategic breakthroughs is the only implementation strategy I know of that continually delivers dramatic results. Hats off to Bob Schaffer for a masterfuland practicalexposition of this vital process." -- Tom PetersA

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: HarperBusiness (February 13, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0887304044
• ISBN-13: 978-0887304040
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #988,473 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent guide to immediate performance improvements, October 6, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Breakthrough Strategy (Paperback)

Mr Schaffer, a management consultant and a frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review, lays out in this book a case for well focused short-term projects to dramatically increase the performance of organizations.

Citing examples of extraordinary output and service which organizations can produce in times of rare opportunity or crisis, he tries to apply learnings from these (infrequent) events to outline a way to bring about change without requiring the cost or time of massive, strategic "quality" plans. Basically, his message is: form a small group, using existing resources, which will focus on creating immediate, measurable results in some currently problematic process. Then, leverage the excitement and results of this early success as a stepping stone to greater goals.

It's a rousing, enthusiastic book with several important take-away messages. Like many management consulting books, however, it is often repetitive, with lenghty examples. An executive summary is called for! We're going to try to use it in my firm; the proof will be in the pudding.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful and practical methods for a turnaround, October 20, 2001

By 

Catherine (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Breakthrough Strategy (Paperback)

This book lays out some good, basic, and sound methods for turning around a problem organization. It should be called "The Breakthrough Tactics," because it is not written at a strategic level at all.

I work for an engineering/construction company. After reading the book, I have employed the author's method of identifying small areas for improvement to get momentum and build the confidence of a defeated organization. I have employed Schaffer's method to turn around a problem project, then restore a money-losing office to profitability.

I heartily endorse this book. I am told by a friend who works at Siemens that the book is required reading for management there.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There is real meat on the bone here..., August 5, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Breakthrough Strategy (Paperback)

Just as background, we have an organization with over 1,000 employees in multiple operating units, spread across many states. We needed some answers to some basic operating issues and went through dozens of books, seminars, consultants, etc., trying to glean a few good answers to current challenges.

This book by Shaffer has made a meaningful impact on my organization. It is mandatory reading for our senior management team. The book was written in 1988, so some of the stories are a bit dated, but the concepts are as valid as the day it was written.

It succinctly addresses many of the issues we face on a day-to day basis with amazing and acute insight. The book provides simple steps increase production without adding resources and the basic premise of the book is highly accurate, valid and rather simple to implement.

I have dozens of similar books in my library, many that made the same claims, but this book "performs". I recommend it to any management team that wants to break out of their normal routine and achieve daily results that are usually only seen during a crisis or emergency of some type.

"The Breakthrough Strategy" is making a real difference in our organization. Most books of this genre rarely have lasting results. This is not another "business philosophy du jour". It has stood the test of time, and more importantly, it withstands the test of the real world.

The return on investment for this book is high, to say the least. Do yourself and your organization a favor and get a copy. I think you will find yourself buying dozens of copies after you have read it and applied a few of the principles contained in it. I rated it five stars because it accomplished the one thing a good business book should accomplish - it increased revenue and cut costs.