The Optimization Edge: Reinventing Decision Making to Maximize All Your Company's Assets

by Steve Sashihara

Why downsize when you can OPTIMIZE?

"At McDonald’s our focus has always been on providing maximum value to customers through ‘optimal’ quality and tight cost management, which is why Optimization has become such a pivotal concept for us. Steve Sashihara’s book brings the concept to life.”
—Kenneth M. Koziol, Corp. Senior Vice President, Innovation and Design, McDonald’s Corp.

“Steve Sashihara convincingly demonstrates how the application of advanced quantitative techniques can significantly improve day-to-day decision making, which is what we have done at Quad/Graphics.”
—Dave Blais, Executive Vice President, Quad/Graphics

“The Optimization Edge is a powerful book that will change the way organizations make decisions and manage their assets.”


—Frances Hesselbein, President and CEO, Leader to Leader Institute; Recipient, Presidential Medal of Freedom

“At UPS, the ‘optimization edge’ has given us a competitive advantage. It enables us to solve problems of great complexity seamlessly and with increased velocity, resulting in smarter decisions and ultimately bringing greater value to our customers.”
—Chuck Holland, Vice President of Industrial Engineering, UPS

About the Book:

In these challenging economic times, more and more companies have turned to “cut-back management” to ensure their survival. But how do some manage to outshine their competitors—and even grow—during downturns? How does Google outsearch the other search engines? How does McDonald’s McClobber the competition? More important, how can you increase your company’s profits without downsizing?

The answer is Asset Optimization.

This groundbreaking approach to decision making utilizes the latest advances in mathematics and computer software. Optimization expert Steve Sashihara shows you how to squeeze every ounce of value from your company, even under “perfect storm” conditions. You’ll learn how to:

Drive up your company’s value—even in a downturn

Re-allocate your resources—for maximum performance

Streamline your company—and stay ahead of the competition

Optimize your assets—for long-term growth

A proven, practical, and workable alternative to “corporate anorexia,” Optimization is your best option for dealing head-on with marketplace volatility and resource scarcity.

This step-by-step guide offers concrete, ready-to- use tools drawn from decades of superior business practices—the best-kept secrets of global successes such as Amazon, Google, Marriott, McDonald’s, Intel, SAS, and UPS. You’ll learn what Optimization is, what best practices you can immediately put to use, how to use Optimization to speed up and improve decision making, and how to integrate Optimization into your organization’s culture.

If you want to thrive in any economy—and grow your company in the future—forget about downsizing.

Genres: Business

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 25, 2011

Reviews

[Gabo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basado en las experiencias del autor este libro se convierte en una guía para para la correcta implementación de los proyectos de optimización y a su vez nos advierte sobre los grandes desafíos que podemos encontrar para poder llevarlos a la práctica.

Resalta la importancia en la definición del problema y alcance del mismo, la relevancia del marco de trabajo para llevarlos acabo y el comenzar a mostrar valor desde temprano para lo cual es necesario tener los objetivos claros que nos permitan ir validando las hipótesis planteadas.

Los proyectos de optimización muchas veces se pierden en la búsqueda de la perfección matemática y se nos olvida la ágilidad requerida por las organizaciones para crear valor en el corto plazo, por lo que el autor hace una analogía de como los entregables son comparables con la píramide de Maslow y nos orienta a como debemos de ir respodiendo a las necesidades primarias del negocio de forma gradual y asertiva sin perdernos en la perfección.

Una vez desarrollado nos sugiere como realizar el paso de escalamiento para manejar ese despegue inicial, administrar la expansión e institucionalizar el cambio.

Lectura recomendada para todos aquellos que hayan tenido el desafío de llevar a cabo proyectos de optimización y el reto de llevarlos a la práctica.

[Miguel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, full of examples. It compels to embrace the optimization as a way of thinking in the corporate world.

[Horia · Rating 4 out of 5]

An overall nice read.
Sometimes long winded, but the content is clearly separated into the 3 sections. (intro to optimization and how it is applied; how to implement an optimization project and what the future looks like).
The sections don't overlap so you can actually read them independently (based on your needs).