Avoiding the Corporate Death Spiral

Recognizing and Eliminating the Signs of Decline

Gregg Stocker

• Publisher: ASQ Quality Press
• Year: 2006
• Print ISBN: 9780873896849
• eBook ISBN: 9781636940700
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Management
• Index: Business

Nowhere is it written that a company, regardless of how large it is or how successful it might seem to be, will survive. There have been too many highly visible and painful reminders of this fact over the last several years. While many of these companies fall apart seemingly overnight, the reality is that the decline is a process that usually takes several years and results from a number of actions, decisions, and behaviors that contribute to the demise.The purpose of this book is to present the warning signs of organizational decline, and provide a method for leaders to identify and eliminate them before the organization enters a death spiral. It provides detailed explanations of each warning sign, including an explanation regarding how the sign contributes to the decline, and also an assessment tool to determine the existence and extent of the signs within an organization. The principles and concepts present are equally applicable to healthcare, manufacturing, or service organizations. "A compelling and revealing account of why businesses do and do not survive. I and many of my colleagues consider it mandatory reading." Jim Schroth President J.L. Schroth Company "It is hoped that corporate executives will take heed to the message of this book to avoid (or end) death spirals of their companies, but time is running out for many formerly great companies!" Gene PerkinsbrGroup Vice President – Retired Emerson Electric "Gregg Stocker's excellent new book captures the fundamental lessons all organizations must learn...This is a remarkable, must-read book for leaders and students of organizations everywhere!" Jeff Lickson President The Consortium"Gregg Stocker is a well-versed, lifetime advocate of quality and performance improvement. His book points the way." David Phillips Former CEO Sherex Chemical, Inc.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Full Title Page
• Copyright page
• Table of Contents
• Figures and Tables
• Foreword
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Chapter 1 The Corporate Death Spiral
• Chapter 2 Lost Purpose
• Chapter 3 Number Obsession
• Chapter 4 Supplier Squeezing
• Chapter 5 Undervalued Employees
• Chapter 6 Dirt, Clutter, and Damage
• Chapter 7 Operational Fragmentation
• Chapter 8 Improving the Organization’s Health
• Appendix A
• Appendix B
• Appendix C
• Appendix D
• Glossary
• Index