Managing The Professional Service Firm

(Paperback)

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Description

Professional service firms differ from other business enterprizes in two distinct ways. Firstly, they provide highly customized services, thus cannot apply many of the management principles developed for product based industries. Secondly, professional services are highly personalized, involving the skills of individuals. Such firms therefore compete not only for clients but also for talented professionals. Drawing on more than ten years of research and consulting to these unique and creative companies, David Maister explores issues ranging from marketing and business development to multinational strategies, human resources policies to profit improvement and strategic planning to effective leadership. While these issues can be complex, Maister attempts to simplify them by recognizing that "every professional service firm in the world, regardless of size, specific profession, or country of operation, has the same mission statement, outstanding service to clients, satisfying careers for its people and financial success for its owners".

Reviews

Tom Peters

author/co-author of "In Search of Excellence, Thriving on Chaos," and "Liberation Management"

The professional service firm is the best model for tomorrow's organization in any industry. When it comes to understanding these firms, David Maister has no peers.

former managing director, McKinsey & Company

Important reading -- not just for managing partners, but for new associates.

Professor, Harvard Business School; co-author of "Service Breakthroughs"

David Maister's name is synonymous with the latest thinking in professional service firm management. This book suggests why.

Author Bio

David H. Maisteris widely acknowledged as the worlds leading authority on the management of professional service firms. Beginning four decades ago, David has advised firms in a broad spectrum of professions, covering all strategic and managerial issues, spanning the globe. A native of Great Britain, David holds degrees from the University of Birmingham, the London School of Economics, and the Harvard Business School, where he was a professor for seven years. He is the author of the best-selling booksManaging the Professional Service FirmandTrue Professionalism. He lives in Boston, Massachusetts.