Rapid Results!: How 100-Day Projects Build the Capacity for Large-Scale Change (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Ron Ashkenas (Author) "Like a broken record, business authors, journalists, government leaders, and economists continue to warn that the pace of change is accelerating, and that managers need..." (more)
Key Phrases: rapid results projects, rapid results teams, zest factors, Avery Dennison, United Aluminum, Key Points (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

In the business world, it's all about rapid results. Schaffer and Ashkenas are here to make sure your company is maintaining the pace.
In the lightning-fast business landscape of the 21st century, managers are expected to produce solid results, quickly. According to the authors, the key to creating widespread, lasting progress begins with achieving rapid results at the micro level—as you engineer small victories, your company will build a solid foundation for future, more global success. With their 100-day projects, the authors lay the groundwork for organizations to experience marked success at the micro level, which will eventually lead to increased productivity and the ability to implement necessary reorganization on the larger management level. Some of key points include the necessity of mobilizing large groups of people to initiate change, the importance of creating a unique transformation plan for your company and the significance of applying these principles in developing countries. Both authors bring a record of proven success coaching CEOs and other upper-level management, and they provide copious examples of rapid results successes, including Georgia-Pacific, Citigroup, U.S. Borax and United Aluminum.
In an arena where quick success is paramount, learn the tools of Rapid Results or get left behind. (Kirkus Reports Business Newsletter, October 2005)

"In an arena where quick success is paramount, learn the tools of Rapid Results or get left behind." (Kirkus Reports)

"Ownership of the idea doesn’t matter. What does matter is that the approach works." (CIO Insight Magazine Review by Paul B. Brown, October 2005)

Review

"The 100-day deadline drives an incredible amount of creativity. Because we were getting closer to our customers and partnering with them on the rapid results projects, we found new ideas for what they needed that we could supply."
--Dean A. Scarborough, president and chief executive officer, Avery Dennison

"The rapid results projects described in this book provide a structured way to get people to contribute and be successful. That, and the tight time pressure, keeps people moving ahead instead of wallowing in complex processes."
--A. D. “Pete” Correll, chairman and chief executive officer, Georgia-Pacific

"We have found that this approach energizes teams and provides an intense focus on getting results. At the same time, it is helping to build the capacity of our organization to drive transformational change."
--Martha Marsh, president and CEO, Stanford Hospital and Clinics, Palo Alto, California

"Just do it! Do it now! These simple words reflect the mantra of Rapid Results! And they work. The book offers hope for those who really want to change. It shows that even large, complex transformations can be accomplished with 100-day rapid results projects. It provides sound principles that can be adapted and applied by any leader who faces the challenge of getting things done. It’s not only a good read, but a good toolkit for action."
--Dave Ulrich, professor, University of Michigan, RBL partner, and coauthor, The HR Value Proposition

"For leaders in search of the secret to success for their organization, this is the one book they should read. Rapid Results! will help them unlock extraordinary levels of performance—now and with each passing quarter."
--Patrick O’Sullivan, group CFO, Zurich Financial Services

"This is an approach that can be taken to accelerate progress on almost any goal. It has helped us make significant progress."
--Lynne Fisher, managing director, head of diversity and talent, Citigroup EMEA

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass (October 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787977349
• ISBN-13: 978-0787977344
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #165,582 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How to make projects work, in 100 day increments, June 19, 2006

By	Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract.com" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Authors and consultants Robert H. Schaffer and Ronald N. Ashkenas address their book to leaders who face the challenge of making rapid changes in their organizations - especially to those who know they need to move performance to a higher level, yet are too impatient to execute large-scale change. Schaffer and Ashkenas flatly deny that you need to make any trade-off between short-term gains and long-range organizational capabilities. They offer advice about such changes as new information systems, research and development, product innovation, mergers and acquisitions, and even the use of rapid-results projects in developing countries. Essentially, they take a step-by-step approach to building your organization's ability to achieve short-term change with long-term impact. Despite the authors' occasional self-promotional moments, we find that they offer solid, worthwhile information for CEOs, project managers and other executives.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CAN SMALL BE BETTER ?, August 6, 2007

By	Drew B - See all my reviews

Robert Schaffer forever changed management consulting for the better, with his first book Break-Through Strategy Breakthrough Strategytwo decades ago. Now with his colleague Ron Ashkenas he continues teaching the next generation of 21st century consultants how to best engineer Large-Scale Change. Consultants who have earned their spurs in one of the big buzz-word bee-hive consulting firms Das Boston Consulting Group Strategie-Buch. Die wichtigsten Managementkonzepte für den Praktiker. may be surprised to learn that 'small is better' when it comes to getting rapid results in a flow of low-risk '100-Day Projects', without becoming submerged in a swamp of super-size, spreadsheet Sigma-Six Stats.

If the truth be told, '100-Day Action Projects' are taught by Blanckenberg & Blanckenberg at One Big Idea Consulting Limited NZ for managers to apply at home Break 100 Now: From Hacker to Golfer in Just 90 Days as well as in the office The New Leaders 100-Day Action Plan: How to Take Charge, Build Your Team, and Get Immediate Results .... more as a way of life and not just an on-the-job management tool.

However, no other consultant teaches it better than Robert Schaffer in RHS&A Consulting Master Classes and in this state-of-the-art book.

The more you believe you know about '100-Day Action Projects' you more you learn from a Magister Ludi Magister Ludi like Schaffer and his colleagues.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!, January 21, 2006

By	M (Connecticut) - See all my reviews

The folks at RHS&A have done a great job outlining the power of rapid results -- and how this approach can make a major impact on any organization. Filled with good examples as well as with helpful approaches to different challenges (mergers, turnarounds, growth, performance improvement).