Frank K. Lester's Books

The Renaissance of American Steel

Lessons for Managers in Competitive Industries

By: Roger S. Ahlbrandt,Richard J. Fruehan,Frank Giarratani

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

The Renaissance of American Steel

Lessons for Managers in Competitive Industries

By: Roger S. Ahlbrandt,Richard J. Fruehan,Frank Giarratani

By the end of the 1980s, the once mighty U.S. steel industry seemed on its last legs. More than a quarter of a million jobs had been lost, and communities like Pittsburgh and Bethlehem were devastated. Yet today, the industry again stands as a world-class competitor. In The Renaissance of American Steel, Roger Ahlbrandt, Richard Fruehan, and Frank Giarratani illuminate the forces behind this remarkable comeback, drawing valuable lessons for managers not only in the steel business but in any business now battling the global marketplace. Citing evidence from a wide range of companies in the U.S., the U.K., and Japan, and clearly explaining the basics of steel production, the authors show how the industry's rebirth resulted both from the downsizing of big companies and the rise of minimills capturing markets from the larger companies. They describe how large, traditional firms--including U.S. Steel, British Steel, and Nippon Steel--recognized that they had to reduce the scope of their operations and reorganize to become more competitive. U.S. Steel CEO Tom Graham, for instance, closed plants and refocused the firm's resources on the market for flat-rolled products. The book also examines how minimills--such as Nucor, Birmingham Steel, Oregon Steel, Tokyo Steel, and Co-Steel Sheerness--have redefined the industry's structure and competitive dynamics. Nucor, in particular, has emerged as the leader among the minimills--the largest electric furnace-based steel company in the U.S., with annual sales exceeding $3 billion. The reader learns how CEO Ken Iverson, recognizing the opportunities to be seized if Nucor moved beyond traditional products (such as steel joists and rebar), created the most innovative steel mill in the world, with a consistent record of investing in new technologies to lower operating costs and to move into sophisticated, value-added products. Throughout the book, the authors offer sharp insights into the steel industry in the U.S. and abroad--but more important, they highlight the lessons to be learned for managers in all industries. The authors conclude, for instance, that success for both large and small steel producers depends on a critical interplay of factors that touch on leadership, new technologies, and decentralized management. Effective leaders, the authors find, don't micromanage; they set a goal for the company and communicate it broadly to gain employees' commitment. High-performing companies aggressively seek technical know-how, even if it means purchasing it from foreign competitors or securing joint agreements. And finally, successful companies decentralize, empowering employees far down in the organization to handle daily decisionmaking. This in-depth analysis of a radically changed industry speaks volumes about the value of flexibility in business. It is an essential resource for any manager working in today's global economy.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

198

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0198026773

ISBN 13

9780198026778

Corporate Takeovers and Productivity

By: Frank R. Lichtenberg

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Corporate Takeovers and Productivity

By: Frank R. Lichtenberg

In this revealing study Frank Lichtenberg uses Census Bureau and other data on hundreds of business transactions during the 1970s and 1980s to examine the effects of changes in corporate control on productivity. The 1980s saw explosive activity in the arena of corporate takeovers. In this revealing study Frank Lichtenberg uses Census Bureau and other data on hundreds of business transactions during the 1970s and 1980s to examine the effects of changes in corporate control on productivity. He concludes that the restructuring of the U.S. economy during the past decade has contributed to higher productivity and increased international competitiveness. Corporate Takeovers and Productivity examines the effects of mergers and acquisitions, in general, and leveraged buyouts, in particular on a number of important, interrelated variables: on the productivity and market share of manufacturing plants, on fixed and R&D investment, on the employment and wages of both blue- and white-collar workers, and on corporate diversification. Among Lichtenberg's findings are that the least productive plants are most likely to change owners - a change that tends to raise productivity performance; that takeovers significantly reduce the employment and wages of white-collar workers (except R&D personnel) but not of blue-collar workers; that industrial consolidation is one source of the productivity gains from takeovers; and that the U.S. LBOs and foreign mergers and acquisitions do not have the same effects as U.S. mergers and acquisitions.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

180

Publisher

MIT Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0262121646

ISBN 13

9780262121644

Wind Band Activity In and Around New York ca. 1830-1950

By: Frank J. Cipolla,Donald Hunsberger

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Wind Band Activity In and Around New York ca. 1830-1950

By: Frank J. Cipolla,Donald Hunsberger

The rich history and tradition of the American wind band was heavily influenced by the influx of immigrants into the New York area during the 19th and 20th centuries. With their varied cultural backgrounds, building upon their diverse musical experiences and a wide variety of instruments and ensemble instrumentation, the seeds for the contemporary American wind band were planted. The story of the American wind band is revealed in this diverse collection of essays. Fascinating reading for band scholars everywhere!

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

148

Publisher

Alfred Music

ISBN 10

145742276X

ISBN 13

9781457422768

Book's by Frank K. Lester

The Renaissance of American Steel

The Renaissance of American Steel

Corporate Takeovers and Productivity

Corporate Takeovers and Productivity

Wind Band Activity In and Around New York ca. 1830-1950

Wind Band Activity In and Around New York ca. 1830-1950

Username

Password

Username

Password

Password again

Birthday

Email