The Last Days of the Giants? A Route Map for Big Business Survival "Somewhere out there is a bullet with your company's name on it. Somewhere out there is a competitor, unborn and unknown, that will render your business model obsolete. Bill Gates knows that. When he says that Microsoft is always two years away from failure, he's not just blowing smoke. The hottest and most dangerous new business models out there are on the Web". Gary Hamel, Fortune Magazine. 1998 If you can positively identify with any of the following statements: * Current mergers and acquisitions activity will continue unabated well into the 21st century * Flashy internet start-ups cannot threaten our core activities built up over years of careful planning, research, branding and marketing * Our sheer size will protect us from the unpredictability of the next few years * We will manage our customers; they will not manage us * The government will always have the best interests of big business at heart * A longterm focus is the key to success * We do not see the value of outsourcing * Just because we are big, it doesn't mean we cannot move quickly then you and your company may be in very serious trouble. Read Robert Baldock's survival guide for giants, before it's too late. "An intriguling perspective on the 'current future' of global business that few of today's giant corporations can afford to ignore". Dr Paul Taffinder, author of the acclaimed Big Change; winner of the 1999 MCA Business Management book of the year.

Robert Baldock started this book as a global managing partner with Andersen Consulting, responsible for leading Andersen's efforts in eCommerce, Customer Relationship Management and Mergers and Acquisitions within the Financial Services Industry - a $900m global business. By the time this book is written, Robert Baldock will be Group Chief Executive of a set of ventures branded under 'time2', concerned with helping people save time and improve their quality of life. At Andersen, Robert Baldock built up a reputation for being a thought leader and innovator. He was responsible for leading a group of partners in Andersen's global financial services practice in developing a set of scenarios for the future of the financial services industry. Robert also led another initiative to look at the future shape of the consumer serving industries. This initiative led him to produce his first book - Destination Z: The History of the Future (Wiley). This (second) book was born out of another piece of work that the author initiated, to explore what the giant corporations of the world have to do if they are to survive and prosper in the 21st century. Robert is a regular speaker at conferences, and has written many papers and articles for national and international papers and publications. He is married with two children and in his spare time his main passion is Formula 1 motor racing and cars in general. He is Chairman of the UK Motorsport Industry Association, the trade body representing British Motorsport.