The Operations Advantage - by Nigel Slack (Paperback)

About the Book

Get guidance on how to set the agenda for developing operations capabilities; know what you should expect from your middle managers; and find new ways of facilitating operations improvement.

Book Synopsis

The study and practice of operations has shifted to reflect the new challenges and uncertainties of how to thrive in today's ever-changing world. The Operations Advantage identifies the most significant challenges to the practice of operations management and gives guidance on how businesses can respond. Leaders need to link the strategic objectives of the business clearly and logically to its operations performance objectives. The book presents a series of ten activities that will help them to do this and therefore make operations work better, such as designing and configuring internal processes and resourcing the operations appropriately.

Based on the global teaching, training and consultancy conducted by the author, The Operations Advantage looks at the application of operations management across a range of sectors, including finance, healthcare, professional services, oil and gas industries. Although these diverse sectors require operations practitioners to apply knowledge in different ways, they essentially deal with the same set of processes. The book is an indispensable and unique guide for anyone with an operational role in any organization, as well as operations management students and academics.

Review Quotes

"The Operations Advantage is essential reading, not just for established companies, but also for high-growth start-ups. Filled with practical, applicable advice, this book shows that operations thinking can be a road map for creating sustainable high-growth service companies seeking predictable revenue."-- "Dr. Ben Betts, CEO, HT2Labs"

"Fascinating case examples and highly relevant operations strategy concepts. Particularly relevant for senior leaders in strategic functions or business units who wish to operationalize strategies into even more effective execution."-- "Dr. Hans-Ulrich Mayer, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Icecream Strategic Business Unit, Nestle Corporate Headquarters, Vevey, Switzerland"

"Highly recommended for all operations leaders and practitioners. A practical and very applicable guide on the added value and competitive advantage operations can (and should) provide in driving growth."-- "Mike Carabok, VP Global Supply, Mars Chocolate"

"I've been a fan of Nigel Slack's work for over 30 years. He never fails to produce insightful, structured insights that help you understand the world of operations. If you read only one book on operations this year, make it The Operations Advantage."-- "Professor Andy Neely, Head of the Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge"

"This book fully lives up to its strap-line. It gives immensely practical insights and advice across the complex world of operations. Its power is in the clarity and strength of linkage made between strategy and operational action presented in highly practical and pragmatic language - the Holy Grail for senior operations managers."-- "Peter Norris, Head of Service Optimization, Royal Bank of Scotland"

About the Author

Nigel Slack is Emeritus Professor of Operations Management and Strategy at Warwick Business School, Coventry, UK and the former head of its Operations Management Group. He acts as a consultant in many sectors, including Financial Services, Utilities, Retail, Professional Services, General Services, Aerospace, FMCG, and Engineering Manufacturing.