Small Business Solutions

Small Business Solutions

Authors: Robert Hisrich

Published: January 2004

eISBN: 9780071436137 0071436138 | ISBN: 9780071414357

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Contents

Preface

Part I Management Problems

1 Staying Focused

Profile—Jenny Maxwell and Lynn Deregowski

The Entrepreneurial Process

Identifying the Opportunity

Creating the Business Model and Business

Focus, Focus, Focus

2 Establishing the Best Organizational Form

Profile—Wilson Alers

Organizational Form

Filing and Establishing the Organization

Establishing the Best Organizational Design

Role of the Board of Directors

Use of a Board of Advisors

Maximizing the Board’s Effectiveness

3 Giving Up Control

Profile—Ewing Marion Kauffman

Establishing an Intrapreneurial Culture

Climate for Intrapreneurship

Intrapreneurial Leaders

Establishing Intrapreneurship in the Organization

Formula for Intrapreneurship

Criteria for Evaluating Proposals

Indicators of an Intrapreneurial Climate

4 Attracting and Retaining Employees

Profile—Brian Farrell—THQ

Compensation

Money and Motivation

Equity-Based Compensation

Hiring Process

5 Choosing the Right Partner

Profile—Maria Ramos-Stewart and Jeff Stewart

Strategic Alliances

Joint Ventures

Mergers and Acquisitions

Franchising

Licensing

Partner Selection

6 Being Flexible and Creative

Profile—Denver Hopkins

Company Flexibility

Creativity

Innovation

The Product Planning and Development Process

Sources of New Product Ideas

Methods of Generating Ideas

Evaluating New Ideas

Creativity Metrics

7 Building a Strong Company

Profile—Truett Cathy

Maintaining Core Values

Building Strong Brands

Developing Competence

Corporate Ethics

Developing Your Leadership Style

Succession Planning

Part II Marketing Problems

8 Focusing on a Market Niche and Customer

Profile—Stanley Marcus

Market Niching

Market Segmentation Techniques

Market Gridding

Customer Value and Satisfaction

9 Going International

Profile—Steve Lamond

International Versus Domestic Entrepreneurship

Doing International Business

Marketing Strategies

Barriers to International Entrepreneurship

10 Growing Your Business

Profile—Irving Sparage

Life Cycle Of A Venture

Growth Problems

Entrepreneurial Skills for Growth

Financial Strategies for Growth

Information Planning and Control

Key Decisions for Growth

Characteristics Of Growing Ventures

Part III Finance Problems

11 Raising Capital

Profile—Rick Sarmiento

Debt Versus Equity Financing

Use Of Internal or External Funds

Types of External Funds

Investing Criteria and Financing Stages

Bootstrap Financing

12 Managing the Cash

Profile—Sharon Thomas-Ray

Basic Concept of the Cash Flow Statement

Activities in a Cash-Flow Statement

The Cash Cycle

Accounts Receivable Management

Inventory Management

13 Valuing a Business

Profile—John Osher

Valuation Methods

Ratio Analysis

Determining the Price for an Acquisition

Formulating and Doing the Deal

Index