The Trillion-Dollar Enterprise : How the Alliance Revolution Will Transform Global Business [Paperback]

Cyrus Freidheim (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1999

Beyond the multinational corporation—even beyond the mega-corporation built from aggressive mergers and acquisitions—a new form of global business is emerging, and it is changing the competitive landscape forever. In his visionary book, The Trillion-Dollar Enterprise, Cyrus Freidheim offers a front-row seat to this seismic shift, through which a few dominant enterprises will control two-thirds of the global market in their respective industries. But they won’t be corporations as we’ve known them. They will be vast networks of corporate alliances—global coalitions of independent firms acting in concert as single entities, and combining assets that exceed the entire output of many nations.Drawing from fifteen years of groundbreaking research at Booz-Allen & Hamilton, Freidheim convincingly demonstrates that the rise of networks of this magnitude is natural and inevitable, as companies forego traditional—and riskier—methods of expansion in favor of alliances, joint ventures, and other collaborative arrangements that capture the best capabilities of the participants while avoiding the bureaucratic disadvantages of size. Already, we are witnessing the convergence in industries as diverse as telecommunications, aerospace, and commercial aviation into alliance networks, clustered around a few dominant players. For example, the global airline industry is coalescing around networks, led by United and Lufthansa in the Star Alliance and by American Airlines and British Airways in another.From the global stage, Freidheim takes up deep into the heart of ”Trillion-Dollar Enterprises” in development, identifying the key elements of successful network formation, and outlining new roles and responsibilities for managers, executives, teams and boards. Freidheim ultimately calls for revolutionary changes in how business leaders should be educated and rewarded, as the skills of diplomacy and negotiation take priority over functional expertise.In his provocative conclusion, Freidheim takes us twenty-five years into the future to explore looming public issues as the forces of commercial globalization and political sovereignty collide, challenging existing paradigms of anti-trust, trade, and labor policies—and even national security.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A compelling picture of the corporate world of the next millennium, The Trillion-Dollar Enterprise offers a clear and convincing vision of how economic, social and political forces will shape tomorrow's dominant business entities. This book deserves to be widely read." -- Renato Ruggiero, Director General, World Trade Organization

"A truly exciting and deeply thoughtful book that will serve all readers as a wonderful learning tool." -- Jerre L. Stead, Chairman & CEO, Ingram Micor Inc.

"Cyrus Freidheim expertly analyzes the prospects for giant multinationals in the 21st century. In clear, no nonsense terms he demonstrates why it is in the best interest of all the world's citizens that these trillion dollar enterprises prevail in their remaking of the global economy. Then, in practical terms, he explains to the leaders of these emerging enterprises exactly what they need to do in order to insure success." -- James O'Toole, author, Leading Change

"Geopolitics and business are colliding. The Trillion-Dollar Enterprise shows leaders how to take advantage of the forces of nationalism and globalization that are shaping the business landscape. An important contribution in strategic thinking." -- Henry Kissinger, Former Secretary of State

"In challenging the traditional concept of the global organization, Cyrus Freidheim demonstrates that strategic partners can combine their core competencies to transform the very nature of the global enterprise. The results can indeed be greater than the sum of the parts!" -- Patrick G. Ryan, Chairman & CEO, Aon Corporation

"The Trillion-Dollar Enterprise confronts the megacorporations that are now being concocted in boardrooms around the world. Whether these actors will succeed in reconciling the diverse and conflicting interests of stakeholders, consumers, and governments around the world remains to be seen, but this book will certainly help them - and us - ponder that crucial task." -- Ethan B. Kapstein, Stassen Professor of International Peace, University of Minnesota

"With each generation, successful companies must re-invent themselves and change the rules of the game. The Trillion-Dollar Enterprise is a superb roadmap for the competitive world of the 21st century." -- Bob Galvin, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Motorola --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

Beyond the multinational corporation-even beyond the mega-corporation built from aggressive mergers and acquisitions-a new form of global business is emerging, and it is changing the competitive landscape forever. In his visionary book, The Trillion-Dollar Enterprise, Cyrus Freidheim offers a front-row seat to this seismic shift, through which a few dominant enterprises will control two-thirds of the global market in their respective industries. But they won't be corporations as we've known them. They will be vast networks of corporate alliances-global coalitions of independent firms acting in concert as single entities, and combining assets that exceed the entire output of many nations.

Drawing from fifteen years of groundbreaking research at Booz-Allen & Hamilton, Freidheim convincingly demonstrates that the rise of networks of this magnitude is natural and inevitable, as companies forgo traditional-and riskier-methods of expansion in favor of alliances, joint ventures, and other collaborative arrangements that capture the best capabilities of the participants while avoiding the bureaucratic disadvantages of size. Already, we are witnessing the convergence in industries as diverse as telecommunications, aerospace, and commercial aviation into alliance networks, clustered around a few dominant players. For example, the global airline industry is coalescing around networks, led by United and Lufthansa in the Star Alliance and by American Airlines and British Airways in another.

From the global stage, Freidheim takes us deep into the heart of "Trillion-Dollar Enterprises" in development, indentifying the key elements of successful network formation, and outlining new roles and responsibilities for managers executives, teams, and boards. Friedheim ultimately calls for revolutionary changes in how business leaders should be educated and rewarded, as the skills of diplomacy and negotiations take priority over functional expertise. In his provocative conclusion, Freidheim takes us twenty-five years into the future to explore looming public policy issues as the forces of commercial globalization and political sovereignty collide, challenging existing paradigms of anti-trust, trade, and labor policies-and even national security. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books; New edition edition (December 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738201545
• ISBN-13: 978-0738201542
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,867,707 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, September 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Trillion-dollar Enterprise: Harnessing The Power Of Worldwide Strategic Alliances (Hardcover)

This book was key helping me to structure my ideas to develop an e-commerce business based on strategic alliances.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good, September 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Trillion-dollar Enterprise: Harnessing The Power Of Worldwide Strategic Alliances (Hardcover)

Although it is a little dry, this book is clearly one of the few business books that I have found worth reading. Clearly, the author understands how complex organizations can succeed. His perception of the business future is very interesting.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing exploration of strategy in a networked world., March 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Trillion-dollar Enterprise: Harnessing The Power Of Worldwide Strategic Alliances (Hardcover)

The author addresses the central issue of how to deal with the emergence of networks of companies acting as a single, powerful, enterprise. One of this book's key deliverables is the detailing of HOW to build a relationship enterprise (alliance formation methodology). Another central point is the shift from episodic alliances to long-term relationships. The author also examines the new role of leadership in an alliance, lacking traditional managerial control, as well as the new role of the CEO and directors. Additionally, Freidheim delves into both pessimistic and optimistic scenarios for a 21st Century of relationship enterprises. An intriguing exploration of strategy and leadership in the emerging networked global economy.