BNET Book Brief: Small Giants

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  smalltimepro11/13/07 Report as spam
  1

  too many assumptions

  The author is making a large number of self created assumptions in trying to prove his point.
  For example the notion of quality being propotional to company size is a faulty one. There are many large organizations that maintain a high level of quality inspite of their very large size (Siemens, Nokia, Braun, Apple etc.)
  The other notion that large companies loose control over relationship building with customers, suppliers and distributors is again a circumstancial assumption. With modern enterprise systems, CRM applications and Analytical applications all of this can be acheived at a much larger scale.
  True that an organization might loose efficiency on a relative scale as it grows. However the benefits attached to the growth and large size are too overwhelming to consider otherwise.

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  sal.mcdonagh@...10/04/08 Report as spam
  2

  RE: BNET Book Brief: Small Giants

  Having worked for tiny (2 person business), small (100 employees in the same building in a small town) to giant (140000 employees global) and several in between sizes too, I agree with the sentiments expressed by Bo Burlingham. Small enables real relationships (not the same thing as using CRM, sorry smalltimepro - try CRM with your family and see what you get for Christmas). Real realtionships involve give and take, and more importantly, forgiveness. If a customer cannot pay, and you have a relationship with them and understand their business, you may overlook the bill, continue to provide service, and win in the long term once they are back on their feet, just as you would with a friend or your sibling (I hope!). Likewise with employees, you will understand and appreciate the value and contribution they make to your business, and bear with them when they might need some space to attend to something personal. Underachievement is not always reason for laying somebody off, but if you don't know each of your employees personally, how will you judge? Will they be honest with you, because you have a relationship, and a history of relationship that has grown trust and respect based on mutual values and a shared vision. What a lot of buzzwords I just spewed! Can't wait to get my hands on the book.

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  JBHall11/06/08 Report as spam
  3

  RE: BNET Book Brief: Small Giants

  I think it comes down to choices. What does the
  owner/leader want. Each choice involves pros and cons,
  pluses and minuses. We see so many books about
  growth, going for it all, driving sales and being the next
  BIG company.I enjoyed seeing something about choosing
  small. It's also a choice that can ultimately involve the
  owners lifestyle and relationship with their family. I think
  it is a good discussion for folks just starting out in
  business as they try to chart their course.