From the Back Cover
With the accelerated rate of change brought on by globalisation and connectivity, we are witnessing the emergence of new forms of organisations. We are living in a period of rapid global innovation where the nature of work and rules of competition are changing.
Managing Business Performance offers a proven blueprint for achieving balanced organisational excellence through improved productivity, efficiency, engagement and morale. Written by Umit Bititci, an acclaimed academic, consultant and management professional, the text outlines a unique approach that combines the science and art of managing business performance to meet the demands of the ever-changing work environment. Umit outlines a framework for designing, configuring and managing performance improvement initiatives that will yield positive and sustainable results.
The theory of performance measurement has evolved from performance measurement to performance management. Umit includes a wealth of practical models, techniques and tools that go beyond management theory to offer advice and suggestions for using performance measurement results to manage the performance of an organisation. The practical models and techniques presented are designed to be flex-ible so that they can be customised to best suit the needs of an individual organisation.
In addition, Managing Business Performance is filled with illustrative international case studies that clearly demonstrate the performance management concepts in action. These studies provide an intimate look at how cultural differences impact management strategies and offer insight into how differences can be managed.
Organisational performance tools and techniques are well established, but many organisations will never realise their full benefit. Managing Business Performance shows how an organisation's complex social nature impacts real-world outcomes, and how it can be harnessed to drive better performance. Organisations that balance well-developed mature performance measurement systems with open, participative and democratic management tend to perform better. Umit shows how to create a humanistic organisation that puts the focus on teamwork, camaraderie and compassion.
Sustainable success requires a blended approach that utilises the most effective science within the art of people management, and Managing Business Performance offers managers, leaders and students a solid foundation for understanding and implementing better business performance strategies.
UMIT S. BITITCI is the Professor of Business Performance at Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland. Previously he was the Director of Strathclyde Institute for Operations Management and the Professor of Technology and Enterprise Management at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. He is also a member of the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Board.
