Product Description

"We believe the results of this work deliver up some valuable lessons for any company thinking about ABM, about to start ABM, or recovering from a failure with ABM. . . . We hope our views on the pitfalls that impede successful implementation of ABM help the reader and that by book's end, you'll be as convinced as we are that ABM can be a key weapon in today's international business arena."—from the Preface

Now revised and expanded, Activity-Based Management covers the tools and techniques needed to implement ABM as smoothly as possible and use it to its maximum potential over the long-term. Along with revealing case studies from companies across industries, this comprehensive resource includes thirty lessons to be learned in three crucial areas: starting off right, developing the pilot, and moving from pilot to mainstream.

Instrumental in decreasing or eliminating misallocation and misinformation, activity-based management (ABM) is a discipline that focuses on the management of activities as the route to improving the value received by the customer and the profit achieved by providing this value. While a host of Fortune 500 and other growth companies are using ABM, not all are doing so with maximum results, demonstrating clearly that proper application requires certain tools and techniques. The fundamentals needed for the effective deployment of ABM are presented and explained in this comprehensive resource, now completely revised and updated.

Edited by Steve Player and David E. Keys, with cases written by members of Arthur Andersen's Advanced Cost Management Practice, Activity-Based Management defines what kind of organization should employ ABM, why it should be implemented, and how it can link with other improvement initiatives to enhance a company's management performance. Along with straightforward guidelines on ABM do's, Player and Keys offer important details on the don'ts, highlighting thirty lessons to be learned in three crucial areas: getting off to the right start, developing the pilot, and moving from pilot to mainstream. Covering potential pitfalls, as well as what to do to overcome them, the authors pinpoint such problems as unclear objectives, misallocation of costs, inadequate software, and poor project management.

For a frontline perspective, Activity-Based Management features revealing case studies from various corporations. Presenting their experiences with ABM and activity-based costing (ABC), these firsthand accounts examine a wide range of topics, including using storyboarding to develop ABM systems, how to use ABM for profitability, using ABM to support reengineering, and using ABC for target-costing, activity-based budgeting, and benchmarking.

In addition, the next wave of tools are examined. These include customer profitability, revenue profitability, performance management systems, target costing, and reporting ABC information.

Packed with proven strategies and practical tips, this accessible and exhaustive resource is indispensable reading for anyone looking to implement activity-based management smoothly and successfully.

Jacket Design: Andrew Liefer.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1013109 in Books
• Published on: 1999-04-19
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

From the Inside Flap
Instrumental in decreasing or eliminating misallocation and misinformation, activity-based management (ABM) is a discipline that focuses on the management of activities as the route to improving the value received by the customer and the profit achieved by providing this value. While a host of Fortune 500 and other growth companies are using ABM, not all are doing so with maximum results, demonstrating clearly that proper application requires certain tools and techniques. The fundamentals needed for the effective deployment of ABM are presented and explained in this comprehensive resource, now completely revised and updated. Edited by Steve Player and David E. Keys, with cases written by members of Arthur Andersen’s Advanced Cost Management Practice, Activity-Based Management defines what kind of organization should employ ABM, why it should be implemented, and how it can link with other improvement initiatives to enhance a company’s management performance. Along with straightforward guidelines on ABM do’s, Player and Keys offer important details on the don’ts, highlighting thirty lessons to be learned in three crucial areas: getting off to the right start, developing the pilot, and moving from pilot to mainstream. Covering potential pitfalls, as well as what to do to overcome them, the authors pinpoint such problems as unclear objectives, misallocation of costs, inadequate software, and poor project management. For a frontline perspective, Activity-Based Management features revealing case studies from various corporations. Presenting their experiences with ABM and activity-based costing (ABC), these firsthand accounts examine a wide range of topics, including using storyboarding to develop ABM systems, how to use ABM for profitability, using ABM to support reengineering, and using ABC for target-costing, activity-based budgeting, and benchmarking. In addition, the next wave of tools are examined. These include customer profitability, revenue profitability, performance management systems, target costing, and reporting ABC information. Packed with proven strategies and practical tips, this accessible and exhaustive resource is indispensable reading for anyone looking to implement activity-based management smoothly and successfully.

From the Back Cover
"We believe the results of this work deliver up some valuable lessons for any company thinking about ABM, about to start ABM, or recovering from a failure with ABM. . . . We hope our views on the pitfalls that impede successful implementation of ABM help the reader and that by book's end, you'll be as convinced as we are that ABM can be a key weapon in today's international business arena."—from the Preface

Now revised and expanded, Activity-Based Management covers the tools and techniques needed to implement ABM as smoothly as possible and use it to its maximum potential over the long-term. Along with revealing case studies from companies across industries, this comprehensive resource includes thirty lessons to be learned in three crucial areas: starting off right, developing the pilot, and moving from pilot to mainstream.

Instrumental in decreasing or eliminating misallocation and misinformation, activity-based management (ABM) is a discipline that focuses on the management of activities as the route to improving the value received by the customer and the profit achieved by providing this value. While a host of Fortune 500 and other growth companies are using ABM, not all are doing so with maximum results, demonstrating clearly that proper application requires certain tools and techniques. The fundamentals needed for the effective deployment of ABM are presented and explained in this comprehensive resource, now completely revised and updated.

Edited by Steve Player and David E. Keys, with cases written by members of Arthur Andersen's Advanced Cost Management Practice, Activity-Based Management defines what kind of organization should employ ABM, why it should be implemented, and how it can link with other improvement initiatives to enhance a company's management performance. Along with straightforward guidelines on ABM do's, Player and Keys offer important details on the don'ts, highlighting thirty lessons to be learned in three crucial areas: getting off to the right start, developing the pilot, and moving from pilot to mainstream. Covering potential pitfalls, as well as what to do to overcome them, the authors pinpoint such problems as unclear objectives, misallocation of costs, inadequate software, and poor project management.

For a frontline perspective, Activity-Based Management features revealing case studies from various corporations. Presenting their experiences with ABM and activity-based costing (ABC), these firsthand accounts examine a wide range of topics, including using storyboarding to develop ABM systems, how to use ABM for profitability, using ABM to support reengineering, and using ABC for target-costing, activity-based budgeting, and benchmarking.

In addition, the next wave of tools are examined. These include customer profitability, revenue profitability, performance management systems, target costing, and reporting ABC information.

Packed with proven strategies and practical tips, this accessible and exhaustive resource is indispensable reading for anyone looking to implement activity-based management smoothly and successfully.

Jacket Design: Andrew Liefer.

About the Author
DAVID E. KEYS, CMA, CPA, is Household International Professor of Accountancy at Northern Illinois University. He writes for publications including Management Accounting, Journal of Cost Management, and Accounting Review. He has received several awards for excellence in teaching and has consulted with numerous companies.

Jacket Design: Andrew Liefer."

Customer Reviews

Activity-Based Management: Life "In the Trenches"
There's a plethora of books and articles available to anyone who wants to learn about the principles behind activity-based management (ABM). What is somewhat harder to find are practical tips and proven strategies for implementing ABM. The recently published second edition of Activity-Based Management: Arthur Andersen's Lessons from the ABM Battlefield, edited by Steve Player and David E. Keys (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1999), offers advice from professionals who've seen action in the ABM trenches and lived to tell the tale.

Lessons from the ABM Battlefield identifies what kind of organization should employ ABM and why, and explains how to link ABM with other initiatives to further enhance management performance. The first secion offers details on how to overcome 30 pitfalls commonly encountered at three stages of ABM -- starting an ABM initiative, developing a pilot program, and moving from pilot to mainstream application. This section includes topics such as lack of clear objectives, poor communication, poor definition of activities, and lack of project management.

Section Two features twelve firsthand accounts by members of Arthur Andersen's cost management practice who have successfully implemented ABM initiatives at various corporations. These case studies cover a wide range of topics, including storyboarding customer profitability analysis, benchmarking and target costing. The last section of the book addresses the next wave of tools for use in ABM environments, designed to provide readers with a solid practical framework for deploying ABM. These techniques are on the cutting edge of cost management theory and practice.

Lessons from the ABM Battlefield is a clearly-written, accessible guide to the fundamentals of ABM, offering valuable advice and insights from individuals who have "been there, done that."

Activity-Based Management: Life "In the Trenches"
There's a plethora of books and articles available to anyone who wants to learn about the principles behind activity-based management (ABM). What is somewhat harder to find are practical tips and proven strategies for implementing ABM. The recently published second edition of Activity-Based Management: Arthur Andersen's Lessons from the ABM Battlefield, edited by Steve Player and David E. Keys (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1999), offers advice from professionals who've seen action in the ABM trenches and lived to tell the tale.

Lessons from the ABM Battlefield identifies what kind of organization should employ ABM and why, and explains how to link ABM with other initiatives to further enhance management performance. The first secion offers details on how to overcome 30 pitfalls commonly encountered at three stages of ABM -- starting an ABM initiative, developing a pilot program, and moving from pilot to mainstream application. This section includes topics such as lack of clear objectives, poor communication, poor definition of activities, and lack of project management.

Section Two features twelve firsthand accounts by members of Arthur Andersen's cost management practice who have successfully implemented ABM initiatives at various corporations. These case studies cover a wide range of topics, including storyboarding customer profitability analysis, benchmarking and target costing. The last section of the book addresses the next wave of tools for use in ABM environments, designed to provide readers with a solid practical framework for deploying ABM. These techniques are on the cutting edge of cost management theory and practice.

Lessons from the ABM Battlefield is a clearly-written, accessible guide to the fundamentals of ABM, offering valuable advice and insights from individuals who have "been there, done that."

Managers : Read this
New Managers and experienced managers alike can benefit from this book. Lots of good ideas to become a better balanced and "empowered" manager.