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The Firm of the Future: A Guide for Accountants, Lawyers, and Other Professional Services (9780471264248): Paul Dunn, Ronald J. Baker: Books. For the Back Cover:In The Firm of the Future, Ron Baker and Paul Dunn create an intellectual challenge for firm leaders. They are truly two of the best critical thinkers today. Together they provide the reader with a wealth of thought-provoking ideas. This is an intellectual masterpiece.—August J. Aquila, Ph.D.Managing Director, American Express Tax and Business Services and Co-Author of CPAs That Sell and CPA Firm Mergers That WorkWhen I first received my copy of The Firm of the Future I was intimidated by its size and began reviewing the table of contents for the sections that seemed most interesting to me. But, as I am prone to do, I began at the first page. I soon found myself pouring through the book, chapter by chapter. Paul Dunn and Ron Baker have compiled a work that has incredible depth, wisdom, and insight. What I enjoyed most, however, was the conversational tone that makes this book hard to put down. I feel like I have had a personal conversation with wise counselors who understand my business.—Michael C. Knowles, Partner, Frank, Rimerman + Co., LLP, Menlo Park, CaliforniaFor the Front Matter of the Book:Praise for The Firm of the FutureThis is an absolutely must read for any business (and that includes accounting practices) who want to be in business in the future - written in a highly readable style and laced with hundreds of practical 'how to' notes and comments this book is a prerequisite business manual for any practitioner of any professional service organization. This really is a stunning book - I've thoroughly enjoyed the philosophy as well as the practical how to and why and will further refine our approach to the business - loved the style and class of the book.—Peter Byers, Chartered Accountant, New ZealandExcited is probably the most appropriate word for how I felt as I read the book. Excited at the learnings, excited at the possibilities that opened before me, excited at what it would be like to work in a practice with no timesheets, value pricing, passionate team members and clients more than delighted with the concierge service provided by every team member. Ron Baker and Paul Dunn have clearly described what the firm of the future MUST look like. They clearly debunk all the old theories and practices of managing and operating an accounting firm and clearly explains the methods and FEELINGS that must exist in The Firm of the Future.—Harry Rosenburg, BKR Rosenberg+Partners, Melbourne, AustraliaFor many years now, I have utilized and professed within my firm, my working theory, 'Our next new client has to have a thirst for our knowledge and the willingness and ability to pay for it.' The Firm of the Future embraces this theory and provides readers with the sound fundamentals to capitalize on their intellectual, social, and human capital.—Robert A. Gaida, Vice Chairman, BDO Seidman, LLPWithout doubt the single most important book ever written for professionals. It will force the entire profession to question, rethink, and rework everything it does. It's a book that will change your practice and your life—for the better, forever. Thanks to this book the professions will never be the same again.—Steve Pipe, Founder and Chairman, The Added Value Network (U.K.)I have no doubt that the revelations that Paul and Ron draw run a parallel. Sometimes the answer is obvious, but only to those not already under water that if they stood on their toes they could lift their heads above water, and it needs someone from outside the pool to see it. You have done this, you have the answer, and like all brilliant business findings it is simple, it is available to all, and it is practical. It requires only a willingness to accept, to change and to grow - a willingness that some have and some will never have, as like troglodytes they cannot accept change.—Dr Chris White, Doctor[7048] The professional service accounting firm is being threatened by a variety of factors: new technology, intense competition, consolidation, an inability to incorporate new services into a business strategy, and the erosion of public trust, just to name a few. At the same time, most experts agree that morale in the financial services industry is at an all-time low–an astonishing number of professionals respond in surveys that, if they had to choose their career over again, they would choose another line of work. What happened? How have the once distinguished and proud professions become so beleaguered, and is there any relief for those professionals who refuse to worship the capricious god of the almighty billable hour?There is relief. And promise. And hope. In The Firm of the Future: A Guide for Accountants, Lawyers, and Other Professional Services, visionaries Paul Dunn and Ron Baker confront the tired, conventional wisdom that continues to fail its adherents, and present bold, proven strategies for restoring vitality and dynamism to the professional service firm. A cornerstone of Dunn and Baker’s program is conducting successful transitions to new services that customers value, treating functions such as consulting as extensions, not alternatives, to traditional services. This, however, is only part of a framework aimed at liberating professionals from mechanically pursuing billable hours ad infinitum. Dunn and Baker provide proven strategies for pricing in accordance with value and develop leading Key Performance Indicators that measure success the same way customers do. The authors articulate a new theory of the professional service firm that focuses on the real factors of leverage for the firm of the future, and which tosses the antiquated theory of leveraging people and hours onto the ash heap of history. Topics covered include:Intellectual, human, structural, and social capitalConverting tacit know-how to explicit knowledgeTotal Quality ServiceValue PricingStrategic planningFinancial model reformReaders will learn how knowledge has slowly but steadily evolved to become the most precious factor in creating wealth, and how firms can leverage this intellectual capital to their benefit. The authors include many real-world examples of firms that successfully transformed their operations from the traditional model into a variety of old and new services that customers value. Take up the mantle. The Firm of the Future dares its readers to not only assume responsibility for improving their own careers, but also for restoring their profession to its former glory.
Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
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