Business Exit Planning. Options, Value Enhancement, and Transaction Management for Business Owners

Superior program management begins with superior information and strategy Program Management for Improved Business Results, Second Edition is a practical guide to real-world program management, written to align with the rigorous PMI® PgMP® certification standards. The book explains the benchmarks and best practices that help shape a superior program manager, and provides case studies that illustrate the real-world application of management concepts. Written by a team composed of both industry professionals and academics, the book strikes a balance between theory and practice that facilitates understanding and better prepares candidates for the PgMP. Managers at all levels will learn the insights and techniques that are shaping modern management expectations. The Project Management Institute and the Product Development and Management Association both agree that program management is a critical element in the successful integration of business strategy and project management. The certification process is difficult, and few complete it – but demand for competent professionals is high. Program Management for Improved Business Results addresses this disconnect, preparing readers to fill the gaps and help businesses achieve the level of program management integration required by professional organizations. Topics include: Aligning programs with business strategy Program planning, execution, and processes Management metrics and strategic and operational tools Roles, responsibilities, and core competencies The book focuses on both the macro and the micro levels, explaining the successful integration of business strategy with project portfolios as well as the managing of a single program. Case studies present both issue-oriented and comprehensive perspectives, and guidance includes real, actionable steps. For professionals seeking improved program outcomes, Program Management for Improved Business Results is a roadmap to exceptional management skills. (PMI and PgMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.)

Written by a team of consultants who combine modern business knowledge with decades of direct experience of working in the equine industry, this book bridges the gap between modern business theory and equine business practice. After providing overviews of the equestrian industry and the livery sector as a detailed example, Part I (Assessing a Business) sets out how to access the business environment, externally, competitively and with regard to its internal resources. Part 2 (Management) goes on to deal with resource management and how to go about strategic planning and marketing, concluding with an overall Business Plan. Part 3 sets out a series of case histories to illustrate the principles as discussed in Part 1 and 2. No other book applies a truly modern business approach to equine enterprise. The Authors Sharon Eastwood, Anne-Lise Riis Jensen and Anna Jordon work together at Dark Horse Consultancy, a team of equine business consultants offering a wide range of advice and services to the industry. Also available: Horse and Stable Management Fourth Edition Jeremy Houghton Brown, Sarah Pilliner and Zoe Davies 1 4051 0007 9 978 14051 0007 6 Teaching Jumping Jane Houghton Brown 0 632 04127 7 978 0632 04127 5 Horse Nutrition and Feeding Second Edition Sarah Pilliner 0 632 05016 0 978 0632 05016 1 Equine Science Second Edition Sarah Pilliner and Zoe Davies 1 4051 1944 6 978 14051 1944 3 Introduction to Horse Biology Zoe Davies 1 4051 2162 9 978 14051 2162 0 Horse Business Management Third Edition Jeremy Houghton Brown 0 632 05826 9 978 0632 05826 6

A comprehensive and accessible introduction to modern quantitative risk management. The business world is rife with risk and uncertainty, and risk management is a vitally important topic for managers. The best way to achieve a clear understanding of risk is to use quantitative tools and probability models. Written for students, this book has a quantitative emphasis but is accessible to those without a strong mathematical background. Business Risk Management: Models and Analysis Discusses novel modern approaches to risk management Introduces advanced topics in an accessible manner Includes motivating worked examples and exercises (including selected solutions) Is written with the student in mind, and does not assume advanced mathematics Is suitable for self-study by the manager who wishes to better understand this important field. Aimed at postgraduate students, this book is also suitable for senior undergraduates, MBA students, and all those who have a general interest in business risk.

The definitive guide to best practices for mastering techniques of the insider-led transition planning A must have book for business owners, key employees, and their advisors who need to be aware of the full spectrum of succession options, Buyouts provides objectives, advice, steps, and a host of examples on the full spectrum of insider-led buyouts. A road map for CPAs, it presents the parameters for many of the major industry segments, techniques for managing risk, providing retention and performance incentives for key personnel and insights into getting deals financed. Features advice and examples of insider led buyouts Essential guidance on succession options for business owners, key employees, and their advisors The 411 on selling your company for a fair price, maintaining control over the process, and realizing lifelong goals Transition planning is becoming a hot business topic as millions of business owners head into retirement. The fact is that only a limited number of privately held companies will be successfully sold to third parties. A road map for CPAs, Buyouts presents the parameters for many of the major industry segments, techniques for managing risk, providing retention and performance incentives for key personnel, as well as insights into getting deals financed.

Praise for Service-Oriented Architecture «This book provides a superb overview of the SOA topic. Marks and Bell provide practical guidance across the entire SOA life cycle-from business imperatives and motivations to the post-deployment business and technical metrics to consider. With this book, Marks and Bell demonstrate a unique ability to take the complex dynamics of SOA, and through an eloquent set of metaphors, models, and principles, provide an understandable and insightful how-to manual for both technical and business executives. This will become a required handbook for any organization implementing SOA.» —Dan Bertrand, Enterprise Technology Officer & EDS Fellow, EDS Corporation «A fundamental breakthrough in the business and technology perspectives of SOA-this book belongs in every software developer, architect, and IT executive library. Marks and Bell demonstrate a creative and practical approach to building complex, service-oriented systems. I especially liked the hands-on perspective brought to multiple aspects of SOA. A must-have guide in the technology turbulence of the future.» —Ariel Aloni, Chief Technology Officer, SunGard Data Management Solutions «This outstanding text gets straight to the heart of the matter, cutting through the hyperbole and discussing how to drive real business value through SOA. It will certainly impact my behavior, our governance models, and, subsequently, the successful business outcomes we derive as we continue to embrace SOA. A must-read for battle-scarred SOA veterans and fledgling architects alike.» —Christopher Crowhurst, Vice President and Chief Architect, Thomson Learning «Too often, SOA has been perceived as 'all about the technology'-standards, technology stacks, operational monitoring, and the like. In this book, Marks and Bell expand beyond the technology to provide a refreshing business-driven perspective to SOA, connecting the dots between business requirements, architecture, and development and operations, and overlaying these perspectives with tried-and-true governance techniques to keep SOA initiatives on track. A must-read for those leading the charge to adopt SOA within their enterprise.» —Brent Carlson, Chief Technology Officer, LogicLibrary and coauthor of San Francisco Design Patterns: Blueprints for Business Software «Marks and Bell have captured a wealth of practical experience and lessons learned in what has become the hottest topic in software development. In this book, they explain in detail what works and what does not, from procedural issues to technical challenges. This book is an invaluable reference for organizations seeking the benefits of SOAs.» —Dr. Jeffrey S. Poulin, System Architect, Lockheed Martin and author of Measuring Software Reuse: Principles, Practices, and Economic Models «One of the last things companies often consider when implementing a business solution such as SOA is the impact on people. Marks and Bell provide an in-depth look at 'what has to change' from a process standpoint to make any SOA implementation a success. A great read for those considering to embark on an enterprise SOA and looking for the right mix of people, process, and products.» —Alan Himler, Vice President of Product Management and Marketing, LogicLibrary SOA is a complex topic and a complex organizational goal Service-Oriented Architecture: A Planning and Implementation Guide for Business and Technology shows you how to plan, implement, and achieve SOA value through its prescriptive approach, joining the business and strategic perspective to the technical and architectural perspective. Applicable to all industries, technology platforms, and operating environments, this innovative book provides you with the essential strateg

Establish credibility as the new family business leader Myths & Mortals, Family Business Leadership and Succession Planning provides insights and strategies for successors of family businesses. Successors often find themselves in the shadow of their parents making it difficult to establish credibility in the family business and tap into their own strengths. The stress of emulating a parent begins to clash with who they are and who they want to be as a leader. Written by internationally known business strategist and succession planning expert Andrew Keyt, this guide shows you how to establish credibility, take your place at the head of the table, and run your business your way. In groundbreaking research, Keyt interviewed more than 25 successors of family business legends including Massimo Ferragamo, Bill Wrigley Jr., Christie Hefner, and John Tyson to find out how they overcame the challenges successors commonly face.The analysis from that study formed the basis for the strategies presented here—to help you win the loyalty of those stuck in the old way of doing business, and still focused on their former leader's vision. You'll learn how to take charge without sacrificing your own leadership style, and how to get everyone on board with your vision for the business. Growing up in the shadow of legendary family business leaders creates a unique challenge for successors to the leadership position. You cannot remove the emotional power of family dynamics from the business, but you can change how you choose to react to it. To be successful, you need to create a sense of identity and credibility, and step out of the shadows of your forbears. This guide provides strategies for doing just that, so you can take the reins and be the effective leader your business needs. Overcome the obstacles successors commonly face Win over those still loyal to their former leader Build your own credibility, separate from your parents Develop your own leadership style and do business your way Credibility is elemental to business leadership, but establishing that credibility is the successor's biggest challenge. Myths & Mortals, Family Business Leadership and Succession Planning helps you plan around the obstacles and avoid common missteps so you can lead more effectively right out of the gate.

Business rules management system (BRMS) is a software tools that work alongside enterprise IT applications. It enables enterprises to automate decision-making processes typically consisting of separate business rules authoring and rules execution applications. This proposed title brings together the following key ideas in modern enterprise system development best practice. The need for service-oriented architecture (SOA). How the former depends on component-based development (CBD). Database-centred approaches to business rules (inc. GUIDES). Knowledge-based approaches to business rules. Using patterns to design and develop business rules management systems Ian Graham is an industry consultant with over 20 years. He is recognized internationally as an authority on business modelling, object-oriented software development methods and expert systems. He has a significant public presence, being associated with both UK and international professional organizations, and is frequently quoted in the IT and financial press.

This book is going to challenge you and everything you think you know about succession planning. For independent advisors, succession planning is quickly becoming the cornerstone to a strategic growth strategy designed to perpetuate their business and their income streams beyond their own lifetime, while providing a multi-generational service platform that attracts and rewards younger advisors. This makes succession planning one of the most, if not the most, important practice management tools in this industry today. As an independent financial advisor, now is the time to address the question of what will happen to your practice and your clients after you “exit the building.” In most cases, the answers are right in front of you. Thankfully, Succession Planning for Financial Advisors: Building an Enduring Business has arrived to transform today’s practices into businesses designed to endure and prosper and serve generations of clients. Learn how to create a “Lifestyle Succession Plan” that can provide a lifetime of income and benefits to the founder even as he/she gradually retires on the job Unlock the power of equity management – the best planning and building tool an independent advisor owns Learn how to attract and retain the best of the next generation to help you build a great business and to support your succession plans and care for your clients and their families Determine precisely when to start a formal succession plan and related continuity plan so that your business can work for you when you need it most Understand why succession planning and selling your business are completely different strategies, but how they can complement each other when used correctly 95% of independent financial service professionals are one owner practices. To the positive, these practices are among the most valuable professional service models in America. But almost all advisors are assembling their practices using the wrong tools – tools borrowed from historically successful, but vastly different models including wirehouses, broker-dealers, and even OSJ’s and branch managers. Revenue sharing, commission splitting and other eat-what-you-kill compensation methods dominate the independent sector and virtually ensure that today’s independent practices, if left unchanged, will not survive the end of their founder’s career. It is time to change course and this book provides the map and the details to help you do just that. For independent practice owners and staff members, advisors who want to transition to independence, as well as accountants, attorneys, coaches and others involved in the financial services space, there are invaluable lessons to be learned from Succession Planning for Financial Advisors. Written by the leading succession planning expert in the financial services industry, former securities regulator, M&A specialist, and founder of the nationally recognized consulting and equity management firm, FP Transitions, David Grau Sr., JD, has created an unmatched resource that will have an enduring and resounding impact on an entire industry.

Discover the proven process for maximizing the potential value of any project. Showing readers how to apply value optimization techniques to project and performance management, dramatically increasing results and efficiency, Value Optimization for Project and Performance Management is written to compliment the Project Management Body of Knowledge, the guidance published by the Project Management Institute (PMI®), making it readily applicable for any project manager. Presents methodology applied with hundreds of clients across a range of industries Filled with practical facilitation and implementation tips Presents a cohesive theory, structured framework, and diverse toolset Walks you through the value optimization process, showing you how to transform the way a product or process is perceived Brimming with examples, Value Optimization for Project and Performance Management provides a link to a free software demo for you to get started in applying value optimization in your own organization. (PMI is a registered mark of Project Management Institute, Inc.)

The world of event planning can be alluring and dangerous at once-exotic locales, wining and dining, and people traveling without their spouses. In such situations the line between business and pleasure blurs and the nature of relationships gets cloudy. With a thoughtless act or a less-than-tactful word, long-lasting business relationships can be ruined forever. Beyond that, budgets are on the chopping block and competition for business is tight. In that environment, people often cut not just financial corners, but the ethical ones, too. There's a fine line between innocent perks and inappropriate gifts or kickbacks. Event planners today must navigate a minefield of potentially sticky situations that can easily blow up in their face. Without a professional code, lines of acceptable behavior are easily crossed. And what you do personally can hurt you professionally. Event Planning Ethics and Etiquette provides event planners with the companion they need to stay out of trouble, keep professional relationships healthy and profitable, avoid the riskier temptations of the lifestyle, and win business in a highly competitive market using ethical business practices. Explains how to establish policies and codes of behavior, in the office and onsite at events. Offers guidelines on when it is acceptable to accept a gift, what is acceptable, and what is inappropriate. Shows how to prepare yourself, as well as your staff, for what to expect, and how to handle the unexpected with business finesse. Covers business etiquette in event planning crisis management situations. Helps you to avoid putting yourself and your company at personal and professional risk. Features real-life examples and situations, and advice on how to handle them with poise and professionalism. Includes a list of «Event Planning Do's and Don'ts.» Event Planning Ethics and Etiquette will be of value to the professional event planner; to event planning suppliers and clients working with industry professionals; as well as to those in related fields, such as public relations, administrative professionals, communications; and anyone in the hospitality, culinary, and travel industry.