Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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

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.

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.

While this book is targeted primarily to CEO's, it provides with highly valuable insights for business school students. It is easy to read, clear and provocative. An interesting and visionary book.

The author has regurgitated a series of minor economic observations collected at meetings and gatherings which border more on the social than intellectual. A classic example of the adage that those who can, lead, and those who can't, lecture about it.

Beyond the multinational corporation - even beyond the mega-corporation built from aggresive mergers and acquisitions - a new form of global business is emerging, and it is changing the competitve landscape forever. In his visionary book, The Trillion Dollar Enterprisee, Cyrus Freidheim redraws the global business map in which a few dominant enterprises will control two-thirds of the global market in their repective industries. But they won't be corporations as we have known them. They will be vast networked corporate alliances - global coalitions of indepenent firms acting as one and combining assets that exceed the entire output of many nations.

Drawing on fifteen years of groundbreaking research at Booz Allen & Hamilton, Freidheim convincingly demonstrates that the rise of networks of this magnitude is natural and inevitable. Companies will forego traditional - and riskier - methods of expansion in favour of alliances, joint ventures and other collaborations that capture the best capabilities of the participants while avoiding the bureaucratic disadvantages of size. Already, we are witnessing the convergence in industries such as telecommunication, 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, 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 provacative conclusion, Freidheim takes us 25 years into the future to explore looming public policy issues as the forces of commercial globalization and political sovereignty collide, challenging the existing shape of regulation, trade and employment - and even national security.

A compelling and incisive guide to the future, Thre Trillion Dollar Enterprise offers indispensible insights to anyone - from entrepeneurs to CEOs - who plan to win in the coming age of collaboration.

--- from book's dustjacket

As a trader of corporate securities around the world, understanding the tools that companies are using to dominate their industries globally is essential. This book explains alliances, thier use, and how they are likely to reshape the corporate landscape. Fascinating stuff!

Terrific new thinking on approaches to conquering the world - clearly, innovative business thinking levels the playing field. Fun to read business book - which is a first. While it may be targeted for CEOs, it's a great idea generation tool for anyone in the services industry. This should be a prerequisite for anyone in business school.

To a trader, this book offers a perspective on business that is real, but is not yet fully factored in the market. The trillion dollar enterprise will reshape many industries, and the book offers insights into the possible outcome. Understanding how these "beasts" are created and managed is the first step toward being able to profit (and avoid loss) in trading key affected industries, such as airlines, steel, telecommunications, and automotives.