Customer Reviews

Enterprise Sales and Operations Planning: Synchronizing Demand, Supply and Resources for Peak Performance (Integrated Business Management)

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Never before has the subject of S&OP been presented in a novel-like style that highlights the people issues involved in a cross-funtional implementation. The authors did well to present real issues in bringing about what they refer to as "organized common sense" within the context of a hypothetical company with players comprising almost every function in an enterprise. This book provides insight into real challenges and issues in implementing S&OP. If you are looking for a 'How To' book, best you look at other literatures on the subject that deals with the details. This one gives you the 'whys' and 'why nots' of S&OP ... ideal primer for executive management.

This book does a good job of describing what S&OP is and how it should be implemented. The book does a great job of showing how the "people" component of implanting the process is very key. I have two issues with it:
1. The book is presented as a fictional novel, however it definitely could have used the services of someone who writes in that style for a living. Just not well written, even when compared with another business book written in that style, "The Goal" by Goldratt (a fantastic book, by the way)
2. More seriously, and maybe this was intentional, the consultant depicted in the story is extraordinarily arrogant, and I have worked with some real doosies before. I would have fired him early on ... One example is on pages 99-100 where he basically calls the business leader an idiot and tells him sorry, if he doesn't like it, go find someone else. This is never the way to treat a client, especially one who is really trying to do the right thing. Factual explanations or thoughtful, leading questions in a friendly tone are always more effective.
In all, a good book that tries to make a story format work. A better writer with a more thoughtful approach to the complex relationship between advisor and client and it would have been great.