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Six Disciplines® Execution Revolution: Solving the One Business Problem That Makes Solving All Other Problems Easier
THE NEW YORK TIMES AND WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER With all of the pressures successful business leaders have today, none is more urgent or challenging than learning the ability to execute strategy. While larger businesses have the luxury of budgets and resources to meet this challenge, it's the small and midsized businesses that now have a tremendous opportunity to level the playing field, leapfrog the expensive, outdated approaches of the past, and attack the challenge of execution in a revolutionary way. The key insights Based on breakthrough research, field testing and proven best-practices, the thought-leading vision described by Gary Harpst in Six Disciplines® Execution Revolution sets a new course for how small and midsized businesses can finally confront the never-ending challenge of executing strategy. As a follow-up to the success of Six Disciplines for Excellence , Harpst's new book, Six Disciplines® Execution Revolution , details the elements of a complete strategy execution program, clarifies how it could only have happened now, and explains why such a program will soon become a mainstream requirement for your business.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2008
13 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Gary Harpst
8 books10 followersGary is a dynamic teacher and insightful keynote speaker who challenges and motivates his audiences. His passion is speaking about what effective leaders need to know, do and be to overcome the chaos of everyday life. He unlocks biblical wisdom for unleashing the potential in every human being to lead themselves and others.
Gary’s also been recognized during the past several years as being one of the Top 100 of the nation’s top thought-leaders in management and leadership by Leadership Excellence magazine. Gary speaks, interviews, teaches, and writes frequently on these topics.
BACKGROUND & EXPERIENCE
Following several years of working for the Ohio State University (BA and MBA in Computer Science) and Marathon Oil, Gary co-founded and became CEO of Solomon Software, originally named “TLB, Inc.” (The Lord’s Business) headquartered in Findlay, Ohio. Under Gary’s leadership from 1980 through 2000, Solomon Software grew to more than 400 employees and $60 million in revenue, servicing over 40,000 clients worldwide, and was sold to Great Plains Software in 2000.
Microsoft acquired the combined Great Plains and Solomon organizations in 2001and located a software development and support campus in Findlay, Ohio until 2004. When Microsoft consolidated its development locations, Gary founded a new organization with these resources and established Solomon Cloud Solutions, a technology consulting service firm for Microsoft Independent Software Vendors (ISV) and Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) Channel Partners.
As a Business Author
Gary in collaboration with Wiley Publishing is working on his third book titled "Built to Beat Chaos, Biblical Wisdom for Leading Yourself and Others." The availability date is April 2023 in retail stores and online retailers.
In 2008, Gary released his second book, “Six Disciplines Execution Revolution: Solving The One Business Problem That Makes Solving All Other Problems Easier.” It became a NYT, WSJ and BusinessWeek Best Seller.
In 2004, Gary published “Six Disciplines for Excellence: Building Small Business That Learn, Lead and Last”, which became an award-winning step-by-step book for continual business performance improvement.
Gary’s also been recognized during the past several years as being one of the Top 100 of the nation’s top thought-leaders in management and leadership by Leadership Excellence magazine. Gary speaks, interviews, teaches, and writes frequently on these topics.
BACKGROUND & EXPERIENCE
Following several years of working for the Ohio State University (BA and MBA in Computer Science) and Marathon Oil, Gary co-founded and became CEO of Solomon Software, originally named “TLB, Inc.” (The Lord’s Business) headquartered in Findlay, Ohio. Under Gary’s leadership from 1980 through 2000, Solomon Software grew to more than 400 employees and $60 million in revenue, servicing over 40,000 clients worldwide, and was sold to Great Plains Software in 2000.
Microsoft acquired the combined Great Plains and Solomon organizations in 2001and located a software development and support campus in Findlay, Ohio until 2004. When Microsoft consolidated its development locations, Gary founded a new organization with these resources and established Solomon Cloud Solutions, a technology consulting service firm for Microsoft Independent Software Vendors (ISV) and Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) Channel Partners.
As a Business Author
Gary in collaboration with Wiley Publishing is working on his third book titled "Built to Beat Chaos, Biblical Wisdom for Leading Yourself and Others." The availability date is April 2023 in retail stores and online retailers.
In 2008, Gary released his second book, “Six Disciplines Execution Revolution: Solving The One Business Problem That Makes Solving All Other Problems Easier.” It became a NYT, WSJ and BusinessWeek Best Seller.
In 2004, Gary published “Six Disciplines for Excellence: Building Small Business That Learn, Lead and Last”, which became an award-winning step-by-step book for continual business performance improvement.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 16, 2020
I have been looking for another book on Execution ever since Bossidy's "Execution", but this wasn't it. I admit that the price is right with this one at $12 and as slim as it is I thought that it had just enough room for meat and minimal fluff. Not so.
Harpst spends more than half the book explaining "what needs" to be done and what kind of goals should be sought. It's the kind of "strategy planning" that you get out of hundreds of business books. Ho hum. I was looking for an action list or a chart to show exactly the best way to execute a strategic plan. You know, how to get something done and measure the results.
If you're looking for the same then read Chapter 9. I wish the whole book had been just a big fat Chapter 9. I'm sure Executive Business Coaches are important to the holistic approach in building a great business, but points like that are made too often in this book. Whereas, Chapter 9 (and part of 10) really list out how to do it and what to look out for.
Harpst spends more than half the book explaining "what needs" to be done and what kind of goals should be sought. It's the kind of "strategy planning" that you get out of hundreds of business books. Ho hum. I was looking for an action list or a chart to show exactly the best way to execute a strategic plan. You know, how to get something done and measure the results.
If you're looking for the same then read Chapter 9. I wish the whole book had been just a big fat Chapter 9. I'm sure Executive Business Coaches are important to the holistic approach in building a great business, but points like that are made too often in this book. Whereas, Chapter 9 (and part of 10) really list out how to do it and what to look out for.
March 31, 2019
Strategy vs execution, solving the right problems vs solving unnecessary problems were the two key areas in this book. To pull off both is difficult and extremely rare in business circles. The strategy created (however efficient it may be) can at times be difficult to execute.
Problem solving is a key to success in any business and what this book does well is illustrate various examples of success and failure in this field. Not the most exciting read, but very informative.
Problem solving is a key to success in any business and what this book does well is illustrate various examples of success and failure in this field. Not the most exciting read, but very informative.
June 7, 2018
Good insights for creating a system and rhythm for continual execution in a team. I want to read Six Disciplines but it's not on Kindle and seems to be out of print.
July 25, 2008
Six Disciplines® Execution Revolution: Solving the One Business Problem That Makes Solving All Other Problems Easier
Gary Harpst
Six Disciplines Publishing
Harpst asserts that "excellence is the enduring pursuit of balanced strategy and execution. Strategy requires choosing what promises to make to all stakeholders and a roadmap for delivering on those promises. Execution requires getting there, while overcoming unending surprises. Of the two, execution is far more difficult to achieve, but it is fruitless without sold strategy. Learning how to balance these two is the key to excellence. Excellence is a journey that never ends. It's an enduring pursuit that requires an enduring approach." In my opinion, the greatest value of this book is derived from the clarity, concision, and precision with which Harpst "nails the basics" in terms of how to formulate an appropriate strategy, with its primary objective to solve an organization's most serious problem because, "if you focus on solving the right problem, the solution of all other problems will be easier (not easy)." On occasion, "all the pieces fall together, creating a leapfrog opportunity to solve old problems." Whether or not what Harpst recommends is "a fundamentally new way" is for each reader to determine.
With all due respect to the worthy goals of producing more and better work in less time and at a lower cost, of productivity and efficiency, etc., Harpst stresses the importance of knowing and then doing what will add the greatest value to the stakeholders involved in the given enterprise. In this context, I am again reminded of what Peter Drucker said in 1963: "There is surely nothing quite so useless as doing with great efficiency what should not be done at all." Decision-makers in all organizations (regardless of their size or nature) will find a wealth of practical advice in Harpst's latest book. As is his custom, after acknowledging what everyone agrees is the "what" of execution, he spends most of his time explaining the "how," guided and informed by all six of basic but absolutely essential disciplines. Harpst notes that "whatever issues an organization faces today, they will be different and bigger tomorrow. Planning and executing, while at the same time, managing the unknowns of the real world, is the biggest challenge in business. Overcoming this challenge is what we mean by solving the problem that will make solving all other problems easier. It builds an organization that is preparing for an ever increasing set of future challenges that are the natural result of overcoming today's challenges."
It should be noted that all of Harpst's observations and recommendations are based on a wealth of research that he and his associates have conducted for several years as well as on their central involvement with decision-makers in hundreds of different organizations that have substantially increased the speed, efficiency, and productivity of their performance by executing the six disciplines. Correctly, Harpst stresses that change efforts must be initiated and then sustained at all levels and in all areas throughout the given enterprise.
Gary Harpst
Six Disciplines Publishing
Harpst asserts that "excellence is the enduring pursuit of balanced strategy and execution. Strategy requires choosing what promises to make to all stakeholders and a roadmap for delivering on those promises. Execution requires getting there, while overcoming unending surprises. Of the two, execution is far more difficult to achieve, but it is fruitless without sold strategy. Learning how to balance these two is the key to excellence. Excellence is a journey that never ends. It's an enduring pursuit that requires an enduring approach." In my opinion, the greatest value of this book is derived from the clarity, concision, and precision with which Harpst "nails the basics" in terms of how to formulate an appropriate strategy, with its primary objective to solve an organization's most serious problem because, "if you focus on solving the right problem, the solution of all other problems will be easier (not easy)." On occasion, "all the pieces fall together, creating a leapfrog opportunity to solve old problems." Whether or not what Harpst recommends is "a fundamentally new way" is for each reader to determine.
With all due respect to the worthy goals of producing more and better work in less time and at a lower cost, of productivity and efficiency, etc., Harpst stresses the importance of knowing and then doing what will add the greatest value to the stakeholders involved in the given enterprise. In this context, I am again reminded of what Peter Drucker said in 1963: "There is surely nothing quite so useless as doing with great efficiency what should not be done at all." Decision-makers in all organizations (regardless of their size or nature) will find a wealth of practical advice in Harpst's latest book. As is his custom, after acknowledging what everyone agrees is the "what" of execution, he spends most of his time explaining the "how," guided and informed by all six of basic but absolutely essential disciplines. Harpst notes that "whatever issues an organization faces today, they will be different and bigger tomorrow. Planning and executing, while at the same time, managing the unknowns of the real world, is the biggest challenge in business. Overcoming this challenge is what we mean by solving the problem that will make solving all other problems easier. It builds an organization that is preparing for an ever increasing set of future challenges that are the natural result of overcoming today's challenges."
It should be noted that all of Harpst's observations and recommendations are based on a wealth of research that he and his associates have conducted for several years as well as on their central involvement with decision-makers in hundreds of different organizations that have substantially increased the speed, efficiency, and productivity of their performance by executing the six disciplines. Correctly, Harpst stresses that change efforts must be initiated and then sustained at all levels and in all areas throughout the given enterprise.
September 5, 2022
Does your business seem to be in perpetual, reactive, fire-fighting mode? If so, then, Six Disciplines Execution Revolution is for you. Its focus is to help you and your organization plan and execute, while at the same time, manage the unknowns of the real world on a daily basis.
First, the author introduces the Business Excellence Model which graphically depicts the balance between an organization's strategy and its execution. Fire-fighting is characterized by a combination of weak strategy and equally ineffective execution. Strategy encompasses the choices of what to do versus what not to do to grow your business. Execution evaluates how well those choices are carried out within your organization. Business Excellence reflects the long-term journey to balance long-term strategic decisions with high-level daily execution against those strategies.
The following six disciplines provide a framework for achieving business excellence:
- strategizing
- planning
- organizing
- executing
- innovating
- learning
The process of excelling at each of these six disciplines involves four components that comprise the core of the book.
The only reason that this book did not rate five stars is that the four components involve proprietary technologies and outside consulting that leave the reader with a sense that the only way to achieve business excellence is to contact the author's organization and contract with their services.
The Six Disciplines Execution Revolution identifies the common barriers to business growth and long-term profitability. Recognizing the obstacles is the necessary first step to helping you overcome them.
Access Gene Babon's reviews of books on Business Leadership and Business Strategy at Pinterest.
First, the author introduces the Business Excellence Model which graphically depicts the balance between an organization's strategy and its execution. Fire-fighting is characterized by a combination of weak strategy and equally ineffective execution. Strategy encompasses the choices of what to do versus what not to do to grow your business. Execution evaluates how well those choices are carried out within your organization. Business Excellence reflects the long-term journey to balance long-term strategic decisions with high-level daily execution against those strategies.
The following six disciplines provide a framework for achieving business excellence:
- strategizing
- planning
- organizing
- executing
- innovating
- learning
The process of excelling at each of these six disciplines involves four components that comprise the core of the book.
The only reason that this book did not rate five stars is that the four components involve proprietary technologies and outside consulting that leave the reader with a sense that the only way to achieve business excellence is to contact the author's organization and contract with their services.
The Six Disciplines Execution Revolution identifies the common barriers to business growth and long-term profitability. Recognizing the obstacles is the necessary first step to helping you overcome them.
Access Gene Babon's reviews of books on Business Leadership and Business Strategy at Pinterest.
September 25, 2008
Ok business book. We know what we should do, but because we are human, we don't. Strategies on how to better do the things we know we should do. Definately built on the idea of groups of people vs. one person building a company.
December 2, 2008
I enjoyed the book, especially the first half. However, I feel like I am not in a place to full realize many of the lessons presented in it.
March 30, 2013
A must-read book on execution for knowledge workers, managers, executives, and entrepreneurs.
Currently reading
January 2, 2009Page 108. Finish reading. Good stuff!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews