Global Networks: The Vodafone-Ericsson Journey to Globalization and the Inception of a Requisite Organization - Hardcover

Ibbott, C.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0230551173 ISBN 13: 9780230551176

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007

Synopsis

[FRONT FLAP]

Vodafone is one of the most successful global companies of the last 20 years, growing from holder of one of the first two mobile communications licences in the UK, to being a dominant global brand. Whilst its leadership, mergers and acquisitions, and marketing all are well documented, much less is known about how Vodafone really benefited from such endeavours, and how it managed the transformational organizational journey from national to truly global.

In this fascinating insight the author provides a unique experiential view into the hidden globalization of Vodafone, in which was created a social network that was engaged in the acquisition and deployment of a global network of mobile technology that now serves a proportionate mobile customer base of 198.6 million (at 31 December 2006).

This new book examines how Vodafone has led the industry to a global stage, sharing data and knowledge, negotiating commercial terms and operational excellence, all for significant global aggregation cost synergy advantage. The reader will learn about how the intra-organizational teams were formed within Vodafone and further cooperated within an informal virtual global interorganizational network organization; an invisible structure that gave Vodafone a unique economic advantage.

If your global organization is considering undertaking similar transitions, then this book will prove invaluable.
BACK FLAP]

CHRISTOPHER J IBBOTT is Director of Ibbott & Associates Limited and a visiting professor in the School of Management at the University of Surrey, both in the UK. Ibbott is an internationally experienced Senior Executive with significant business accomplishments in the Information Technology and the Telecommunication sectors. At Vodafone Group Plc, UK he was most recently Director of Network Supply Chain Management in Group Technology and his prior positions included Director, Global Supply Chain Management; Director, IT and Project Management; and.Consultant Director, Terminals at Orbitel Mobile Communications Ltd, a Vodafone-Ericsson joint venture. Previously, in the IT industry, he was Managing Director & Regional VP at Memorex Telex (UK) Ltd; Senior VP & GM European Operations, Senior VP Manufacturing & Strategic Planning and was a co-founder of the European start-up, all for System Industries, Inc of California, USA.

About this title

Review:

'In Global Systems, Dr. Ibbott offers a theoretically insightful and empirically rich first-hand view of two major corporations' efforts to co-create an innovative, global, virtual organization. The book provides intellectually stimulating and practically compelling advice for scholars and practitioners who are trying to navigate the challenges and opportunities we encounter during the transformational journey of 'globalization.''
 
Noshir Contractor
Jane S.& William J. White Professor of Industrial Engineering& Management Science, Communication, and Management& Organizations
Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.

 
"The internet has provided global companies with new opportunities to organise, structure, manage and expand their businesses.  Dr. Ibbott does a superb job explaining the tectonic changes that are reshaping today's global business landscape."

Ali Farhoomand
Professor of Information Systems&
Director, Asia Case Research Centre
The University of Hong Kong

"In his analysis of Vodafone's global strategy and transformation process, Dr. Ibbott combines the knowledge and insights of a business leader with the rigour of an academic researcher. The book will be of interest to practising managers who wish to gain insights into global strategy, transformation and leadership in a real-life organisational setting, as well as to academics and advanced management students." 

Professor Christopher P. Holland
Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester, UK

'Converting an excellent doctorate thesis to a practical oriented book is not easy but Dr. Ibbott has succeeded in this task.  To also include some of the major concepts and processes of today is also no easy task.  Globalization, Transformation, Leadership, Organizational Relationships and the Virtual Organization are some of the key insights presented in the book which is case oriented. I enjoyed the journey of reading a great book,and when I finished felt the best messages were on leading change, leadership and global competition. The book has my highest of recommendations!' 

Pat Joynt
Professor in Leadership, Henley Management College, UK
and Consultant, HR Group Management Data AS, Norway
 
'This book is an important contribution to both practice and theory. Dr. Ibbott captures the full challenge of 'going virtual and global' by exploring the experience of Vodafone. This book represents an important step forward in our understanding of the meaning of globalization and the transformational steps that are required to get there.'
 
Anne P. Massey
Dean's Research Professor& Professor of Information Systems
Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, USA

About the Author:

CHRISTOPHER J IBBOTT is Director of Ibbott & Associates Limited and a visiting professor in the School of Management at the University of Surrey, both in the UK. Ibbott is an internationally experienced Senior Executive with significant business accomplishments in the Information Technology and the Telecommunication sectors. At Vodafone Group Plc, UK he was most recently Director of Network Supply Chain Management in Group Technology and his prior positions included Director, Global Supply Chain Management; Director, IT and Project Management; and.Consultant Director, Terminals at Orbitel Mobile Communications Ltd, a Vodafone-Ericsson joint venture. Previously, in the IT industry, he was Managing Director & Regional VP at Memorex Telex (UK) Ltd; Senior VP & GM European Operations, Senior VP Manufacturing & Strategic Planning and was a co-founder of the European start-up, all for System Industries, Inc of California, USA.

About this edition

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0230551173
• ISBN 13: 9780230551176
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 223