Ralf W. Seifert

Few would deny that small entrepreneurial firms play an important economic and social role. Not only do they generate a significant number of jobs but they also contribute a large proportion of gross national product (GNP). Not all small firms qualify as entrepreneurial entities, however. While “small” refers mostly to size, “entrepreneurial” refers to growth and a value-creation orientation. The vast - jority of small firms have no growth aspirations, nor do they have the means and skills to grow. As such, they may still provide employment and local value but would not embrace the high-potential aspirations of entrepreneurial ventures. This book clearly addresses those entrepreneurs who are interested in leading hi- growth-potential companies (Table 1). Table 1 Growth Typology of Small Firms [1] Type of venture Desired sales range Future employees Lifestyle 0 to $1 million 0 to 4 Smaller high potential $1 million to $20 million 5 to 50 High potential over $20 million Over 50 High-innovation technology-based startups assume a very special role in hi- growth entrepreneurship. Although these startups constitute a comparatively low number of small businesses, they produce proportionately far more jobs than their low- and medium-innovation counterparts. The aim of achieving rapid growth is typically referred to as high-expectation entrepreneurship. An area of major con- 1 cern to us is a fact revealed in the latest GEM report: The rate of European hi- expectation entrepreneurial activity is among the lowest in the world.

Few would deny that small entrepreneurial firms play an important economic and social role. Not only do they generate a significant number of jobs but they also contribute a large proportion of gross national product (GNP). Not all small firms qualify as entrepreneurial entities, however. While “small” refers mostly to size, “entrepreneurial” refers to growth and a value-creation orientation. The vast - jority of small firms have no growth aspirations, nor do they have the means and skills to grow. As such, they may still provide employment and local value but would not embrace the high-potential aspirations of entrepreneurial ventures. This book clearly addresses those entrepreneurs who are interested in leading hi- growth-potential companies (Table 1). Table 1 Growth Typology of Small Firms [1] Type of venture Desired sales range Future employees Lifestyle 0 to $1 million 0 to 4 Smaller high potential $1 million to $20 million 5 to 50 High potential over $20 million Over 50 High-innovation technology-based startups assume a very special role in hi- growth entrepreneurship. Although these startups constitute a comparatively low number of small businesses, they produce proportionately far more jobs than their low- and medium-innovation counterparts. The aim of achieving rapid growth is typically referred to as high-expectation entrepreneurship. An area of major con- 1 cern to us is a fact revealed in the latest GEM report: The rate of European hi- expectation entrepreneurial activity is among the lowest in the world.

The challenges facing supply chain professionals are changing rapidly. Today, far from focusing on capital expenditures and logistics such as warehousing and distribution, supply chain executives are expected to understand all aspects of the business, appreciate the constraints and expectations of upstream and downstream partners, and possess sufficient technological savvy to navigate the bewildering array of options presented by Industry 4.0 and supply chain digitalization (SCD). This book is for them.The Digital Supply Chain Challenge: Breaking Through is a distillation of the authors' 50+ years of combined supply chain experience, both at the coal face and in the classroom. Their insights and observations - captured in short articles and best-practice case studies - are brought together in one place for supply chain executives to consult at different times during their SCD voyage, to find benchmarks, relevant insights or even just to help formulate the right questions along the way. It is a sort of handbook to the essentials of digital supply chain transformation.

The supply chain is at the heart of every successful business organization's decision-making process. This textbook explains how to create a winning supply chain management strategy by spotlighting how senior executives in European and US companies have turned their supply chains into strategic weapons designed to convert threats, risks and outside pressures into competitive advantages.Strategic Supply Chain Management contains twenty real-world cases, all of which have been field researched by a top author team and tested out in the classroom. Each case adopts an executive leadership perspective to illuminate the real dilemmas faced by managers. The authors draw on their extensive classroom and industry experience to ensure that the writing style is geared towards an executive education readership.This elite case package will provide a complete teaching resource and authentic learning experience for MBA and executive education classes in Supply Chain Management throughout the world.

The supply chain is at the heart of every successful business organization's decision-making process. This textbook explains how to create a winning supply chain management strategy by spotlighting how senior executives in European and US companies have turned their supply chains into strategic weapons designed to convert threats, risks and outside pressures into competitive advantages.Strategic Supply Chain Management contains twenty real-world cases, all of which have been field researched by a top author team and tested out in the classroom. Each case adopts an executive leadership perspective to illuminate the real dilemmas faced by managers. The authors draw on their extensive classroom and industry experience to ensure that the writing style is geared towards an executive education readership.This elite case package will provide a complete teaching resource and authentic learning experience for MBA and executive education classes in Supply Chain Management throughout the world.