e-Strategy, Pure and Simple: Connecting Your Internet Strategy to Your Business Strategy

Senior managers know that the Internet demands new business strategies. But for many of these executives, much about the Internet and e-commerce remains enigmatic. This important new book by strategy guru Michel Robert demystifies the Internet for executives and provides a comprehensive framework for developing Internet strategies that dovetail with an organization’s overall business strategy.Based on Robert’s two decades of research and international consulting experience at more than 400 companies, the e-strategy model described comprises 10 e-drivers, corresponding to 10 key business strategies. These include: demand aggregation for obtaining better prices; build-to-order services that allow customers to configure products to their specifications; customer self-service; direct customer access for manufacturers; dynamic pricing; and others. Using many real-life examples, Robert describes how each e-driver works and how to combine them in a coherent strategy for making optimal use of today’s most powerful strategic tool, the Internet.

The fact that the Internet has become today's most powerful strategic tool is old news to executives. What is new to many, however, is understanding the capabilities that the Internet brings and how they can best be utilized. And e-commerce is changing the rules every day­­assets may now be liabilities, brand loyalty is no longer an advantage­­making it even tougher for brick-and-mortar companies to assess the impact the Internet will have on their business and develop strategies for survival in the new economy.

e-Strategy Pure and Simple demystifies the Internet, providing a comprehensive framework for developing Internet strategies that dovetail with an organization's overall business strategy. Leading strategy experts Michel Robert and Bernard Racine show you how to break free of the constraints of the traditional business model and adopt e-commerce practices that will help you add value to your products and services, enhance your customer relationships, and keep pace with­­or step ahead of­­your competition in the Internet arena.

Based on two decades of research and international consulting experience at more than 400 companies, the e-strategy model comprises numerous e-nablers that correspond to key business strategies, including:

• Demand aggregation for obtaining better prices
• Customer self-service
• Direct customer access for manufacturers
• Build-to-order services that allow customers to configure products to their specifications
• Dynamic pricing

Using real-life examples and interviews with CEOs from a variety of industries, the authors describe how each e-nabler works and offer ways you can combine them to make optimal use of the Internet.

This important resource reveals how you can employ strategic thinking in order to integrate the business and Internet strategy processes. You'll get sure-fire tips and expert advice on ways to:

• Overcome "strategic fuzziness" to formulate and deploy a successful business strategy
• Stand toe-to-toe with the "killer.coms" that can put business models of dominant enterprises into jeopardy overnight
• Identify the critical issues you need to manage and resolve in order to make your strategy viable
• Change the rules of play to your favor with the e-Strategy process
• Envision the future for your organization and utilize your resources appropriately to get there

The e-Business revolution is here to stay­­will you be able to say the same about your company in the next five or ten years? Get e-Strategy Pure and Simple­­and secure your position in the marketplace before the competition clicks you out of existence.

Leverage the Internet as a strategic weapon!

To ensure longevity in the new economy, your company needs more than a successful business strategy­­it also needs a coherent Internet strategy. But many executives have yet to grasp the tremendous opportunities of the Internet and realize their company's necessary transformation into a true e-business.

Now, two leading strategy experts provide a blueprint to their new e-strategy business model­­designed to help you clarify your business strategy and develop an Internet strategy that supports it. Featuring real-life examples and advice from CEOs in various industries on how to adopt strategic thinking, e-Strategy Pure and Simple delivers the tools you need to:

• Determine what role the Internet should play in your business strategy
• Ascertain your company's strategy quotients and the work necessary to achieve your goals
• Identify the driving force of your business and build your e-strategy around it
• Connect with customers and meet their needs in Internet time
• Envision the future business arena and anticipate change