| | |  | Books | Home » » » Managing The Professional Service Firm | | | | | | | Description: | | For the first time in paperback, international expert and consultant David Maister offers a brilliant and accessible guide to every management issue at play in professional firms. Professional firms differ from other business enterprises in two distinct ways: first, they provide highly customized services and thus cannot apply many of the management principles developed for product-based industries. Second, professional services are highly personalized, involving the skills of individuals. Such firms must therefore compete not only for clients but also for talented professionals. Drawing on more than ten years of research and consulting to these unique and creative companies, David Maister explores issues ranging from marketing and business development to multinational strategies, human resources policies to profit improvement, strategic planning to effective leadership. While these issues can be complex. Maister simplifies them by recognizing that "every professional service firm in the world, regardless of size, specific profession, or country of operation, has the same mission statement: outstanding service to clients, satisfying careers for its people, and financial success for its owners." | | | Features: | |
• ISBN13: 9780684834313
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
| | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| David H. Maister | | Paperback:
| 384 pages | | Publisher:
| Free Press | | Publication Date:
| June 09, 1997 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 0684834316 | | Package Length:
| 9.2 inches | | Package Width:
| 6.1 inches | | Package Height:
| 1.1 inches | | Package Weight:
| 1.0 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 57 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
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Probably a ClassicMar 19, 2010
Right out of the gate I will admit that I am not an expert in this field. This book was recommended to me by an individual with over ten years experience working for large consulting organizations. My interest in the topic arose out of a career change I was considering that involved an association with a small consulting firm that was in its early formative stages. I found this book to be easy to read and very informative. My understanding is that Maister is pretty much considered the guru of the form and function of these types of firms. This book was published in 1993 and it is essentially a collection of earlier articles written by him for professional publications so some of the material goes back to the 1980's. As one would expect, some of the examples found in these chapters are obviously dated but the over-all concepts seem to have held up well. This book provides a great insight into the types of practices or engagements various professional service firms may have: brains, grey hair and procedural and how they relate to organizational structures and life cycles. This book would be a great value to anyone entering a field populated by professional service firms (law, accounting, management consulting, etc) - especially young people - as it provides an excellent prospective on the issues these organizations must face. It could also be of some value to management folks who must hire these firms from time to time.
Got to read if you are running a consulting businessSep 12, 2009
I'm a fan of David Maister's work...having read most of his books. This is a foundational text in building a consulting or advisory firm. Kenneth H Marks, Founder & Managing Partner, High Rock Partners, and lead author of The Handbook of Financing Growth: Strategies, Capital Structure, and M&A Transactions (Wiley Finance)
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Permanent reference book on management consultingAug 28, 2009
This is one of the best written books on professional services best practices, management and strategies. Author gives well written overview of what it is to be a part of the professional services firm, what are the best ways to create stratgy for the firm, pick and develop talent and still keep clients on board.
What I find amazing about the book is if anyone reads it more carefully, this book is valuable to professionals of all backgrounds because it outlines important rules of engagement wehn it comes to one's personal career development, appreciation of one's skills, diversification of the skills and professional success criteria.
I plan to have this book as a part of my profesisonal library that I can use as a reference manual and a refresher course on how to continue to be successful in what I do.
Bible of professional servicesAug 22, 2009
Even if you're not managing and just working in a services-based organization you *need* to get this book. It explains everything about professional services and more. Fantastic, fun read and all very good information.
Enduring and Reliable GuideJul 14, 2009
I first purchased this in 1994 while working as senior consultant at Price Waterhouse. It soon became a dog-eared copy as my partners and colleagues borrowed it and used it often as a reference. I, myself, have re-read it numerous times and drawn on specific content more frequently. From the basic business model of professional services to the need to focus relentlessly on clients to the challenges of marketing intangible advice, this book has remained unsurpassed.
Maister nailed one of the biggest issues in professional services years ago, that is, how to manage talent. Specifically, recognizing that people make the firm, how to motivate and manage stars, and how to make partnerships function when dysfunction can rule. It also introduced his notion of the "one-firm firm" which he revisited recently and I know personally has been adopted by many firms spanning the legal, accounting, consulting, architecture, and communications industries.
Now having spent 15 years branding and marketing professional services, I have appreciated and drawn on Maister's seminal work and been awed by how much remains absolutely relevant today.
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