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Synopsis
This revolutionary book argues that ingrained habits of organizations, which often masquerade as efficient procedures, actually obstruct true growth.

The author, Donald Mitchell, Carol Coles, and Robert Metz , May 23, 1999 Book Reviews
Our publisher posted some of the reviews in March (click for "more reviews" to see the DIRECTORS AND BOARDS, and UPDATE reviews). Here are some more: From COMPUTERWORLD (February 1, 1999) "The authors tackle 'stalled' thinking . . . Tradition, Disbelief, Misconception, Unattractiveness, Bureaucratic, Communication and Procrastination. Any information technology manager is likely to recognize all of these. Chapters 9 through 16 identify 'stallbusters' -- seven steps for overcoming these problems. Chapter 9 is an excellent source for overcoming one's own 'stalls.' The book is enlivened with brief vignettes incorporating historical examples." From THE WASHINGTON TIMES (March 29, 1999) " Are you procrastinating? . . . The authors . . . have a handle on the issue of complacency . . . [The authors] provide a clear and concise look at the many road blocks that good ideas must overcome in most companies. By identifying and offering other directions, they show how companies can avoid these blocks and find some other roads to travel." From BOOKNEWS "Argues that ingrained habits in organizations, often masquerading as efficient procedures, actually stall growth, and shows how to recognize typical stalls and overcome them. Uses unorthodox examples, ranging from the Titanic to da Vinci's bicycles, to examine common stalls, and gives direction for dealing with these causes of organizational inertia and inefficiency."

The author, The Co-Authors -- Donald Mitchell, Carol Coles and Robert Metz (mitchell@2000percentsolution.com) , May 21, 1999 Reader's Guide to The 2,000 Percent Solution
Thanks for taking time to learn more about The 2,000 Percent Solution. If you want to know what each of the three co-authors has to say about the book, you will find that each of us has commented earlier in this section). Robert Metz also tells you in that section about some fascinating research done by the American Management Association with over 1,000 companies to investigate the ideas in The 2,000 Percent Solution. We realized that the information from the jacket copy and the table of contents were not available to you here at Amazon.com so here they are. Jacket Copy "Organizations, like people, are creatures of habit. They tend to approach problems and practices in predictable ways. "This revolutionary book argues that such ingrained habits, which often masquerade as efficient procedures, actually obstruct growth. And while it's no small task to unblock 'stalled' thinking (we resist at every turn), the payoff is immense. Forget 100 percent improvement; the achievable goal is expanded to breakthrough 2,000 percent progress. "The 2,000 Percent Solution introduces 'stallbusting' a process that shows you how to recognize typical stalls and overcome them.

The book also helps you understand why companies habitually 'think small' in order to feel comfortable and in control. And it explains that only by learning to break certain patterns can we stride rapidly forward, solve seemingly impossible problems, and arrive sooner and more easily at the future. "Through unorthodox examples ranging from the Titanic to Leonardo da Vinci's bicycle, The 2,000 Percent Solution redirects our knee-jerk reactions, or stalls, and gets readers on the road to sustainable change. "The book examines such ubiquitous dodges as the Psychology-of-Disbelief Stall, the Tradition Stall, and the Bureaucratic Stall -- each from the stallbusters' point of attack. You'll find concise directions for overcoming these causes of organizational inertia and inefficiency.

In addition, you'll learn about a new set of thought processes for designing and implementing solutions that will reap benefits 20 times greater or faster than the same tired 'normal' solutions. "Packed with specific advice on process improvement for going beyond today's best practices through better measurement and performance management, The 2,000 Percent Solution is an outside-the-box guide to removing the blinders at every level of business in order to focus on different areas, set higher standards, and pursue them in new, more effective ways. "Donald Mitchell is chairman and CEO of Mitchell and Company, a corporate strategy and finance consulting firm. Carol Coles is president and COO of Mitchell and Company. Both have been quoted in Business Week, Forbes, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and other publications. Robert Metz is a former Market Place columnist of The New York Times and author of CBS: Reflections in a Bloodshot Eye."

Table of Contents
Foreward
Acknowledgments
Introduction

Part One: Free Your Organization From Mind-Forged Manacles

• Chapter 1: Like a Mosquito in Amber, Suspended in Time -- The Stall Mind-Set
• Chapter 2: Knucklebusters and Sawdust -- The Tradition Stall
• Chapter 3: You've Got to Be Kidding! -- The Disbelief Stall
• Chapter 4: Misused Cliches -- The Misconception Stall
• Chapter 5: Ugly Ducklings -- The Unattractiveness Stall
• Chapter 6: Words Fail Me -- The Communications Stall
• Chapter 7: Molasses in the Words -- The Bureaucratic Stall
• Chapter 8: Manana -- The Procrastination Stall

• Chapter 9: Measuring Caverns Measureless to Man -- Step One: Understand the Importance of Measuring Performance
• Chapter 10: Too Many Trees -- Step Two: Decide What to Measure
• Chapter 11: Where Many Cooks Improve the Broth -- Step Three: Identify the Future Best Practice and Measure It
• Chapter 12: All Aboard for Best-Practice City -- Step Four: Implement Beyond the Future Best Practice
• Chapter 13: Perfection as Only You Can Imagine It -- Step Five: Identify the Ideal Best Practice
• Chapter 14: On the Trail of the Holy Grail -- Step Six: Pursue the Ideal Best Practice
• Chapter 15: The Square Peg-in-the-Square-Hole Opportunity -- Step Seven: Identify the Right People and Provide the Right Motivation
• Chapter 16: Mustard Repeats! -- Step Eight: Repeat the First Seven Steps

Here is Advance Praise for The 2,000 Percent Solution from the book's jacket.

"An exciting book that rightly focuses on the enormous benefits that can stem from truly radical thinking about any business. Its greatest strength is the hundreds of engaging, real-life stories that illustrate the authors' principles." -- C. Michael Armstrong, Chairman and CEO, AT&T Corporation

"In calling attention to the basic breakdowns or 'stalls' that can, and have, afflicted so many organizations, The 2,000 Percent Solution offers a visionary yet commonsense way to be a victor rather than a victim in today's rapidly evolving world." -- Norman R. Augustine, Former Chairman and CEO, Lockheed Martin Corporation

"Organizations fall behind when they stand still. Many achieve perpetual motion only to find that they've been running in circles. The 2,000 Percent Solution is a blueprint for managers seeking to harness the energy of the organization and transform it into forward progress with growth momentum. It offers clear thinking that can help make your organization a bigger winner." -- James M. Kilts, President and CEO, Nabisco

"Drawing on a wealth of examples from history, business, sports, and entertainment, The 2,000 Percent Solution applies rigorous thinking to important issues that impede the growth and progress of organizations. The result is a series of practical recommendations of ways leaders can accomplish much more and improve the sucess of their organizations dramatically." -- Robert C. Clark, Dean, Harvard Law School

"A much-needed paradigm for unlocking hidden potential. The organization that demonstrates an unswerving commitment to the 2,000 percent solution will be well-positioned to consistently deliver exponential success rather than small, insignificant change." -- Charles A. Phillips, President and CEO, United Distillers & Vintners, North America