Product planning, business planning, and career/life planning are often surprisingly difficult. Best Laid Plans illustrates the universiality of these planning difficulties- and the simplicity of basic concepts and principles that can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of planning in any area.
"Rouse introduces easy-to-adapt straightforward methodologies for developing business and life plans."
-Josh Axelberd
Competitive Edge
"If you plan to implement a planning process for yourself or your company you must read this book."
-James F. Will
President and CEO
ARMCO
"In Best Laid Plans, Bill Rouse gives fresh insights into the nature of planning, not only for success, but also for increased personal satisfaction on the journey. His straightforward style reveals a scientist at work in understanding the special and everyday events in life and how better plans can lead to better outcomes."
-William M. Beckenbaugh
Vice President - Corporate Manufacturing Research Center
Motorola
"Best Laid Plans captures in a most engaging and personal way the essence of why planning is so necessary. The metaphors and case illustrations will transform your planning into new realms of utility and growth."
-Gerald Nadler
President
The Center for Breakthrough thinking, Inc.
"Bill Rouse's book is of special intrest to defense comapnies attempting to move into new, non-defense markets. Rouse's assessment of the mistakes that such companies all too frequently make in their diversification efforts is excellent. The book also provides ideas on planning that I found useful - a simple and straightforward process that any company could use to better plan its products as well as its business strategy."
-Philip A. Odeen
President and CEO
BDM Inernational, Inc.
"Rouse's Best Laid Plans provides a clear, concise, and implementible methodology for both business and product planning. Its principles of evolutionary design are ideally suited for developing technology products. Best Laid Plans is a great companion work to Geoffrey Moore's Crossing the Chasm."
-Larry H. Forman
President
Antinori Software
President
Southeastern Sofware Association
"I found Bill Rouse's Best Laid Plans unique. It describes planning in terms that are remarkably clear and relevant to people at all organizational levels and all phases of their lives. It should be especially useful to organizations that are broadening participation in their strategic planning processes."
-Joseph E. Gilmour
Vice President for Strategic Planning
Georgia Institute of Technology
"Best Laid Plans contains a basic recipe for eftective planning in both business and personal life. While relatively simple, the formula is not simplistic. It is, rather, a dose of common sense and a liberal helping of structure; all in all a refreshing mix useful to all."
-Richard A. Meinhold
Director of Business Planning
Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company
"So many planning methodologies last only as long as the consultant's contract. Best Laid Plans, in contrast, introduces a planning process that is repeatable and sustainable because it focuses on the outcomes desired by the stakeholders."
-Ray Dicasali
Vice President of Technology
Flexel