Rocketship Management: How to propel your business to new heights, (Paperback)

The Rocketship Management concept has been developed to inform and help understand techniques to increase business performance.

The basic concept is that there are only two top level functions in a company that really count. All the other functions and departments in a company support those two top functions. The two top functions for any company are Sales and the Production or Service. Many companies seem to overlook or fail to focus on efficient performance in one or both of these functions. Those top two functions are linked with four other key supporting functions. Included in the chapters are other departments, and how they interrelate and support the two top functions. With focus on the cumulative effect of incremental improvements in the various key functions and supporting departments, a company can be piloted to rocket along and upwards. The book has many illustrations of informative charts and diagrams to ensure straightforward understanding of lessons and methods on how to enhance performance.

The Rocketship Management book uses real life company examples and personal experiences to demonstrate how to make many small improvements which can lead to overall big improvements. The book is aimed at Managing Directors of smaller companies, board level personnel, department managers. It will also be helpful for an understanding of overall business for Business Studies students and also provide further aspects for consideration for MBA students.

The six key functions covered, and how to boost performance in them, are sales, production or service, IT systems, gross profit management, leadership, and management. Other important departments covered are costing and pricing, marketing, product development, financial accounts and clear reporting, management and control of percentages, useful management/leadership tips.

Together with the tips, lessons and methods for making improvements there are a couple of noteworthy examples of management failures which are analysed for lessons to be learned. One key example is about Thomas Cook, the retail travel company, which folded in 2019. The example demonstrates the importance of specific key measurements to avoid failure and achieve business success.

The author's experience covers employment in American and UK international companies and groups. Employment covered positions in UK sales and marketing, international sales and marketing, and managing director positions of manufacturing companies. These positions were followed by nearly two decades in consultancy and business advice, including UK government and Irish Government sponsorship to help companies. The authors experience includes management in a company being awarded the Queen's Award for Export; as MD, achieving fast company turnaround with subsequent high growth to become in the top 15 fastest growth UK companies in its sector; becoming a recognition panel member for the Investors in People award.

After reading this book the reader will have acquired or re-learned techniques for boosting company performance.