Arthur Andersen's Global Lessons in Activity-Based Management (Wiley Cost Management Series)

Penetrating case studies from around the globe.

Arthur Andersen's Global Lessons in Activity-Based Management uses a wealth of case studies from around the world to illustrate how ABM is a global tool that works. Drawn from the experiences of fourteen different organizations in seven different countries, these studies illustrate how companies understand the work performed in their organizations and how this understanding can make any company more profitable. Each case study describes the conversion strategy selected by the implementation team, recounts the successes and challenges of the strategy, and explains how problems were avoided or overcome.

These case studies, written by actual members of the implementation teams involved, reveal how ABM was used to:
* Identify the cost of services and determine customer profitability in a Brazilian bank
* Improve profitability through better decision making at a Canadian service-distribution firm
* Turn a Portuguese telephone monopoly into a market competitor
* Help a French manufacturing firm boost its profitability
* Uncover new opportunities for improvement in a U.S. utility
* And much more

Loaded with important insights, practical tips, and a large portion of hard-won wisdom, this book is a must have for anyone who wants to use activity-based management to build a stronger, more profitable, more effective organization.

STEVE PLAYER, CPA, a partner and firm-wide director of cost management for Arthur Andersen, develops activity-based management systems, and provides leadership for industry and professional groups. His clients include the Covey Leadership Center, Hewlett-Packard, Texas Instruments, NordicTrack, American Express, Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Chemical Leaman, and Tyson Foods. An author of three books, Steve serves on the board of directors and as treasurer for the Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing-International (CAM-I). In addition, Steve serves as a resource for publications, including Investor's Business Daily, Forbes, Business Finance Magazine, Financial World, Global Finance, and International Journal of Strategic Cost Management.

ROBERTO LACERDA, CPA, a partner and cost management coordinator for Arthur Andersen in Latin America, develops activity-based management systems and serves as the Latin American director for the products industry. His clients include Acesita, Cosipa, Multibrás, Johnson & Johnson, Gerdau Group, and Banco Real. He has also written many articles for various Brazilian business publications and is coauthor of the Brazilian edition of Arthur Andersen's Activity-Based Management: Lessons from the ABM Battlefield.