Book Description
Constantinos Markides contends that the essence of business strategy is to allow a company to create and exploit a unique strategic position in its industry. To do so, the company must make clear and explicit choices based on the answers to three difficult questions: Who should I target as customers? What products or services should I offer them? How should I do this in an efficient way? Any company engaged in strategy making must raise these questions, identify possible answers, and then choose what to do and what not to do. The objective should be to come up with ideas that differentiate the firm from its competitors-and thus stake out a unique strategic position. In
All the Right Moves, a highly practical handbook on the fundamentals of strategy, Markides helps managers zero in on the critical choices that lie at the heart of all innovative strategies.
More important, Markides argues that even the best of strategies have a limited life. It is not enough to develop a unique strategic position or to improve the existing one. Companies must continually create and colonize new strategic positions, a difficult if not impossible task for many established firms. Markides explains how to overcome the obstacles to innovation so that even well-established companies can innovate by breaking the rules of the game.
All the Right Moves reveals how creative thinking leads to strategic innovation-the "breakthroughs" that separate winning strategists from also-rans. Markides approaches strategic thinking as a creative process in which examining an issue from a variety of angles often proves more productive than merely gathering data, and experimenting with new ideas can be more effective than conducting much scientific analysis. He poses key questions for readers to ask as he guides them through a step-by-step framework for developing their strategic thinking skills.
In a refreshingly clear and practical approach,
All the Right Moves offers concrete advice for thinking through the tough choices that all business strategists must face. It distills the important elements of strategy into an easy-to-follow system for crafting today's-and tomorrow's-breakthrough business strategies.
Customer Reviews:
The inventor of WHO-WHAT-HOW strategic positioning.......2004-12-03
Markides is a professor at the London Business School. The basic idea in this excellent strategy book is as follows:
STRATEGIC POSITIONING is simply the sum of a company's answers to three questions:
> WHO should I target as customers?
> WHAT products or services should I offer them?
> HOW can I best deliver these products and services to these customers?
Strategy is all about making tough choices in these three dimensions (who, what, and how). Remember that deciding what NOT to do is just as important as deciding what to do...
The next issue is then to construct the appropriate organizational environment that will support the choices made. Also in this area, Markides contributes with a refreshingly clear and practical approach.
Markides argues that even the best of strategies will only have a limited life. Thus, companies must continually evaluate their performance and position in order to be able to quickly create and colonize new strategic positions. Strategy is a dynamic concept - not static. A very practical approach to innovate strategic thinking is to keep starting the process at different points: who/what/how, who/how/what, what/who/how, what/how/who, how/what/who, how/what/who, and finally how/who/what.
Thus, The marketing philosophy always starts externally at the customer (who?) and works backwards towards solutions (what?), and finally adapts the firm's delivery system (how?). But a strong trend during the last decade has been on the internal perspective on core competences, such as procurement or production. This method means that we start with own unique capabilities in the delivery system (how?), which then is translated into solutions (what?) and finally customers (who?). Radical innovation often is created this way, e.g. the "walkman". In practice of business development, we usually have to work in both directions.
This book is not a dry academic's dusty words. Markides uses a wealth of case stories on strategic positions. Being a Dane, I find it very nice indeed that the companies cited often are of European origin.
Nirmalya Kumar's brilliant book "Marketing as Strategy" (2004) expands on Markides' ideas in this book. They both are indebted to professor Derek Abell for the original concept presented in the landmark strategy book: "Defining the business" (1980).
Peter Leerskov,
MSc in International Business (Marketing & Management) and Graduate Diploma in E-business
Integrates Strategy, New Products and Organization Learning.......2001-04-28
This is the best strategy book that I have ever read (and I have read a few including Gary Hamel's books). This book clearly lays out the need for and process of developing a business innovation strategy. It does this without getting too preachy. Another reason that this book is so good is that it effectively builds on powerful concepts in organizational learning and new product development, thereby integrating some important concepts from these fields to build a strong, broad position for strategy and strategic thinking. If you are interested in innovation strategy, organizational learning and new product development, you need to read this book.
Exploration...Discovery...Conquest.......2000-08-07
All the Right Moves
Markides provides a cohesive and comprehensive guide to crafting breakthrough strategy for ANY organization. The basic premise of his book is that "superior strategy is all about finding and exploiting a unique strategy in the company's business while at the same time searching for new strategic positions on a continuing basis." He organizes his materials as follows:
Part I How to Create a Unique Strategic Position
* How to decide what your business is
* How to decide who your customers and what to offer to them
* How to "play the game"
* How to identity and secure strategic assets and capabilities
* How to create the right organization environment
* How to develop a superior strategic position
Part II How to Prepare for Strategic Innovation
* How strategic positions develop
* How to evaluate and respond to strategic innovation
* How to take a dynamic view of strategy
In the final chapter, Markides concedes that "designing a successful strategy is a never-ending quest. Even the most successful companies must continually question the basis of their business and the assumptions underlying their 'formula for success.' (In fact, in one way or another, this is what most successful companies have done to get where they are.). New who/what/how positions are constantly popping up around the mass market, and established companies must be on the lookout for them. Like a modern-day Christopher Columbus, each company must set out to explore its industry's evolving terrain, searching for new and unexploited strategic positions."
In this brilliant book, Markides explains HOW.
A valuable guide to the basics of strategy.......2000-06-08
Markides argues:
"The essence of strategy is to choose the one position that your company will claim as its own. A strategic position is simply the sum of a company's answers to these three questions: Who should I target as customers? What products or services should I offer them? How should I do this? ... Ultimately, strategy is all about making choices, [to achieve] a distinctive strategic position ... The most common source of strategic failure is the failure to make clear and explicit choices in each of these three dimensions."
In itself, the statement is simple, even obvious. But, as he points out, many companies fail to make these explicit choices.
The value of the book lies in how the author works through these propositions. The advice is good common sense, laced with valuable insights. The language is clear and simple. The approach is systemic - the author is as concerned with how all the elements fit together within a dynamic market as with the elements themselves. Each chapter ends with a good summary of the arguments.
Even highly complex and highly dynamic strategies rest on these simple foundations. The book therefore provides both an excellent guide for those new to wrestling with strategy and excellent 'mental furniture' with which to approach more complex formulations.
A thought provoking guide to What is Strategy?.......2000-03-15
All the Right Moves grapples with the issues which form the essence of the strategic management field. Professor Markides provides readers with a landscape for strategy which covers: 1) positioning, 2) business system interdependence, and 3) dynamics of competition. Positioning is recouched in an easy to understand and apply framework based on a new Who-What-How combination. An important message is that positioning is only part of the story. Once position is determined, management must coordinate a complex system of interrelated and interdependent activities which typically extend beyond our cognitive limits of bounded rationality. Further, once these activities are coordinated for one position, the firm cannot stand still. Competitive dynamics erode away any advantage over time, and therefore firms must continuously question their positioning . I whole-heartedly recommend this refreshing and thought provoking book to managers and academics alike.
Book Description
* Eight large reproduction blocks, plus 25 smaller blocks and border designs
* Six simple lessons for improving appliqué skills
* Author is an authority on the Baltimore Album
For anyone who's always wanted to create a beautiful Baltimore Album quilt...expert Elly Sienkiewicz offers more than two dozen simple blocks that build to timeless classics. In-depth how-tos and six skill-building lessons make it easy to make full-size or children's quilts, plus totes, aprons, pillows, even a block carrier. Great for classes or clubs, Baltimore Elegance is perfect for quilters everywhere.
Customer Reviews:
Love this book!.......2007-04-17
Elly has written many books on Baltimore album quilts, but this is one of my favorites. It has 8" block patterns, rather than the more traditional 12". It's full of instructions for applique, stitching, transferring designs, and lots of color pictures. Plenty of ideas to work from. The only applique method she doesn't explain is the Templar Starch method, which I think is a good way to do applique, but I won't mark down her score for this.
Classic Albums Simplified.......2007-03-23
Elly has done it again for all her fans and is sure to gain new ones with this simplified approach to a classic style. Her "voice" can be heard in every written line for those of us lucky enough to have attended her academy classes. Add this to your collection, or start a collection with this wonderful book. Keep them coming, Elly!
A great tutorial for a beginner in applique.......2007-03-08
As a seasoned quilter, I had always avoided applique. There were too many conflicting methods floating around, and none of them seemed to work for me. Elly's book clarified everything! She explains all of the methods in easy to understand steps. She explains the hows and the whys, and tells you what to look for to avoid problems down the road. The lessons are terrific, and presented in clear, concise steps with good illustrations. Her patterns advance in skill level as the lessons progress. My projects were a success, thanks to Elly, and I now feel comfortable with applique.
applique, quilting.......2007-02-18
Excellent reference book for Baltimore Album Quilts. Highly recommend all of Elly's books.
Applique' Plus.......2007-01-23
Baltimore Elegance approaches the technique of applique' through six lessons that offer the quilter experience at various techniques. Also included are embellishing techniques such as padded applique', ruching, embroidery and using beads. Projects included go from the simple to more complex designs. The patterns are for an 8" x 8" finished block so if you want to make something larger the patterns will need to be enlarged. Enlargement percentages are given. As a beginner, I was not intimidated. I'm glad to have this book in my reference library.
Book Description
Take a start-to-finish course on Baltimore Album quilts from a famed appliqué expert! Bestselling author Mimi Dietrich shares all of her best tricks—which she perfected while teaching hundreds of students—for creating these beloved quilts.
• Get a complete primer for every stage of the process, from selecting fabrics and appliquéing blocks to choosing the best quilting designs
• Follow 12 step-by-step lessons for appliquéing baskets, wreaths, leaves, berries, and more
• Includes a dozen blocks plus ideas for a variety of setting options
Customer Reviews:
Baltimore Beauties & Beyond.......2007-07-01
I have been looking to find this book for several years and was so happy to find it on your website! It is a great and gives good instruction on the construction of the Baltimore quilt. Also it gives a good history of this form of quiltmaking.
applique and quilting.......2007-01-21
Great book for learning the basics of a Baltimore Album Quilt in 12 lessons. Try the companion books of patterns by Elly also. This book begins slowly and continues to make you want to do more and more appliqueing.
Excellent Book with a great deal of information.......2006-07-05
This book is a real enjoyment and contains a world of knowledge regarding Baltimore Quilting. It covers all areas of information needed to take on a quilting task of this nature. Elly Sienkiewicz is a true star in her knowledge and ability to share it with the rest of the quilting world. I would highly recommend this and her other books gladly.
Hard to find Baltimore quilt book for experienced quilters........2002-04-19
This book takes you through the steps of Baltimore quilts by hand sewing. Elly is an expert and experienced historian of Baltimore quilts as well as an expert in hand piecing Baltimore quilts. At the end of the 10 lessons you become an experienced in piecing Baltimore quilts. The book includes over 50 pages of quilt patterns to piece. Have fun with this great book.
Recommended by the Accidental Quilter.......2001-04-08
My love of Hawaiian quilting attracted me to this book and Baltimore album quilting. The instructions and patterns are clear and the designs are awesome. I particularly like the simpler patterns like double hearts, fleur-de-lis, and you are perfect (a pineapple design). I think it may be possible to machine applique as well as hand applique these designs. Of course, there are many intricate designs too--many that require rouched flowers and curved stems and intricate applique that I can only imagine being quilted by the most devoted. The directions on how to cut out the patterns with paper folding are clear and helpful. You could spend a lifetime making the quilts in this book--and what a beautiful life you'd have!
Book Description
Ever-popular Baltimore Album quilts go a little bit country, in this marvelous new collection from well-known teacher, designer, and author Susan McKelvey. Twelve beautiful appliqu blocks are inspired by the simplest designs found in quilts made up and down the Eastern Seaboard in the early to mid-1800s. Susan has chosen bright, strong colors and traditional prints reminiscent of the famed album quilts, to create a new look for some old favorites. Then she adds four bonus blocks for mix and match elegance.Instructions are included for choosing fabrics and for making the appliqu blocks and border. For each block, the author provides information on color considerations and stitching sequence.The author also provides photos of Country Cousins Variations, showing how these sweet blocks can be used individually in small wall quilts, home decor, clothing, and accessories. A section on writing and stamping on quilts follows and includes embellishing the appliqu elements with ink.
Customer Reviews:
Baltimore's Country Cousins: Album Quilt Patterns .......2007-09-26
I can never find an applique' book I don't like. This is truely beautiful for country applique' quilts. Easy to follow and use. Highly recommended.
good beginner applique book.......2007-07-05
This book has some basic designs that are less intricate than the Elly Sienkiewicz type Baltimore Album quilt blocks. I liked the simplicty of design and the fresher look with modern fabrics. A good book to jump into applique.
new quilter.......2007-03-26
A faster way to do applique using your sewing machine. The result is beautiful and looks like turned applique. Saves time and looks amazing.
Customer Reviews:
The Making of a Baltimore Album Quilt (Hardcover) .......2007-09-26
More of a diary of interactions of a wonderful woman doing gorgeous applique' despite disabilities. She never let her body let her mind down. A remarkably encouraging book for those who feel they can no longer do this art. She shows true love and strength of character to continue under such circumstances. A true award quality quilt in the end. Bravo.
Disappointment.......2007-05-14
I actually thought this would be a real how to book on making Baltimore Album quilts instead of a chat session on the author's experiences doing the same.
The Making Of A Baltimore Album Quilt is especially recommended as a giftbook for quilting enthusiasts........2006-11-05
Written by Frances Benton, The Making Of A Baltimore Album Quilt is not a "how-to" book, but rather a celebration of a quiltmaking master's finest work. The Making Of A Baltimore Album Quilt consists of compiled letters of expert quilter Frances Benton, written during the year and a half that she dedicated to creating the twenty-five blocks of the Baltimore Album quilt despite her own severe physical pain, alongside full-color photographs of each of the quilt's blocks. The finished quilt celebrates life with the colorful symbols of flowers and birds, exquisitely handmade and balanced. A message of passion for the craft, from the "Everyquilter" to all quilters, The Making Of A Baltimore Album Quilt is especially recommended as a giftbook for quilting enthusiasts.
A Delightful Book.......2005-08-03
This is a delightful little book for the experienced person who is knowledgeable about Baltimore Album quilts. It Will NOT tell you how to make a quilt or the blocks shown in the book. There is background introduction by Elly Seinkiwicz and several letters from the quiltmaker to friend about her trials in making the quilt, since she was severely disabled. Each page has a quilt block in glorious color and large enough for to look at inorder to draft your own pattern, if you like. The entire quilt is on the back book cover, and not inside the book itself. What makes this book (it's a small sized book) outstanding is the fantastic workmanship, the very close up pictures of the varied appliqued quilt blocks, and the wonderful combinations of colors used that can act as a primer for a person wanting to start their own Blatimore Album Quilt.
Average customer rating:
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Ribbons & Threads: Baltimore Style
Bonnie Browning
Manufacturer: American Quilter's Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Embroidery
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ASIN: 0891458972 |
Book Description
Learn ten stitches, five flowers, and two knots to make a miniature Baltimore-style quilt in silk ribbon and thread. Instructions guide you through the stitching process for the stems, leaves, roses, and berries to make your own miniature quilt project. AUTHORBIO: Bonnie's mother taught her to sew as a child. She has been quilting since 1979, making her first quilt with blocks silk screened for an art class. Sharing her quilting knowledge, Bonnie conducts workshops for quilt groups and conferences across the country. She is a quilt judge, certified by NQA, and is qualified to judge master quilts. Her quilts, wallhangings, and clothing have been shown in galleries, museums, and quilt shows, winning numerous awards.
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