Understanding the Dynamics of the Value Chain

William Presutti, John R. Mawhinney

ISBN 10: 1606494503 / ISBN 13: 9781606494509

Published by Business Expert Press, US, 2013

About this Item

In his book Competitive Advantage, published in 1985, Michael Porter introduced the concept of the value chain, "a systematic way of examining all activities a firm performs and how they interact, (necessary) for analyzing the sources of competitive advantage." Thinking of a firm as a series of horizontal and vertical linkages forced from out of the shadows the silo mentality within which firms operated and to which business schools subscribed. Unfortunately value chain thinking is still not as pervasive as it needs to be and a silo mentality continues to permeate much of contemporary business culture. Moreover there is a dearth of contemporary literature available on value chains to combat the "silo approach" to business management. The purpose of this book is to help fill that void. The book will include material drawn from the literature on change and systems thinking and organizational design. It will offer perspectives on the global economy, and address issues of sustainability, corporate social responsibility and the link between effective value chain management, competitiveness and profitability.

Seller Inventory # LU-9781606494509

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Understanding the Dynamics of the Value Chain
• Publisher: Business Expert Press, US
• Publication Date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1606494503
• ISBN 13: 9781606494509
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Weight: 220 grams

About this title

Synopsis

In his 1985 book, Competitive Advantage, Michael Porter introduced the concept of the value chain and described it as 'a systematic way of examining all activities a firm performs and how they interact, (necessary) for analyzing the sources of competitive advantage,' and introduced the idea of 'linkages,' which was the real breakthrough in management thinking. Thinking of a firm as a series of horizontal and vertical linkages put the spotlight on the silo mentality within which firms operated and how business schools structured curriculum. The silo mentality caused business students unable to see the firm as a holistic entity, an understanding of how all of its parts fit together to develop competitive advantage. Students graduating with a silo mentality perpetuated the silo mentality in business firms. This book draws together existing knowledge to help facilitate the shift of mind necessary to effectively manage the value chain, and introduces a new conception of the value chain, one that has been copyrighted (2006) and provides a new perspective of the value chain commensurate with the demands of the 21st-century global economy.

About the Author

Pittsburgh, PA; Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management in the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business; Duquesne University