The World on Time

Describes the management principles used by the express mail company, including "The first rule is to change the rules"

Perhaps because he is the first "Federal Express Professor of Excellence" at the University of Memphis, author Wetherbe has written a paean to FedEx founder Fred Smith rather than an analytical evaluation of the history and development of the company. The management "principles" he cites include such home-spun ideas as "everybody pitches in" and "problems have silver linings, too." Wetherbe is convinced that FedEx is a terrific company and that the success it has achieved since its founding over 20 years ago is due to the company's culture. Only for the most comprehensive collections.?Andrea C. Dragon, Coll. of St. Elizabeth, Convent Station, N.J.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

That FedEx is one of the extraordinary companies in the history of U.S. business is the conclusion of Wetherbe, who is the Federal Express Professor of Excellence at the University of Memphis and a consultant to the company. He explains that in starting the company, its founder and CEO, Fred Smith, created the next-day package delivery industry. We learn why the company has attracted so much attention from the business community and what have been its successes and failures and the 11 abiding principles that guide the company. The author's theory is that following these principles can help managers in any company and in any industry. The review of each management principle and how it has contributed to the company's success concludes with a checklist of questions designed to help managers judge how their companies stack up against the FedEx standards. Mary Whaley