Summary: It's a Wired, Wired World E-Book

BusinessNews Publishing

• Herausgeber: Business Book Summaries
• Kategorie: Bildung
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 34

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2013

Beschreibung

The must-read summary of David Stauffer's book: "It's a Wired, Wired World: Business the AOL Way".

This complete summary of the ideas from David Stauffer's book "It's a Wired, Wired World" shows that AOL has been able to achieve impressive preeminence in such a highly competitive marketplace, despite not being created until 1985. The company’s longevity and ability to move forward in the face of intense competition is unmatched. In his book, the author identifies the six elements of the AOL business model that have led to its success. This summary is a great template for success and is a must-read for anyone who wants to follow the principles of AOL to ensure success in their own business.

Added-value of this summary:
• Save time
• Understand key concepts
• Expand your business knowledge

To learn more, read "It's a Wired, Wired World" and discover the secrets behind the success of this world-class company.

Leseprobe

Book PresentationIt’s A Wired, Wired World by David Stauffer

Summary of It’s A Wired, Wired World (David Stauffer)

Book PresentationIt’s A Wired, Wired World by David Stauffer

Book Abstract

MAIN IDEA

AOL is the world’s most successful Internet company and the most valuable brand name of the digital business era by whatever criteria is chosen:

The number of customers served.Annual revenues generated.Profitability.

The fact the company has been able to achieve preeminence in such a highly competitive marketplace is impressive, considering it didn’t even exist until 1985. But one other fact about AOL is equally notable – almost every online business expert and commentator has at one time or another forecasted the imminent demise of AOL. The company’s longevity and ability to move forward in the face of intense competition is unmatched.

Clearly, something about the AOL business model works. Exactly what the “secret sauce” is may be subject to speculation and further analysis, but the integral elements of the business model are easy to identify:

A capable, smart business leader (Steve Case) who personifies the business and articulates the direction the company should move in clear, uncomplicated yet consistent language.A simple, concise and compelling vision.Staff (especially a management team) who are passionate about the achievement of the company’s vision.The willingness to try new things and abandon what doesn’t work in favor of what does again and again without becoming disillusioned or dispirited.A product which is simple to use yet enticing enough to appeal to almost every consumer in America and elsewhere.The ability to ignore what the world is saying and focus instead on what customers are saying.

In short, AOL is a great template for how to succeed. The only thing that’s certain about the future is that it will be filled with uncertainty and business risk. AOL has flourished (increasing its subscriber base by 4,000-percent from 1993 – 1999) during one of the most turbulent business eras in history. Anyone who develops a similar business model, and who follows the same principles of success AOL uses, stands a better-than-even chance of enjoying comparable success.

The challenge, then, isn’t simply to admire AOL but to emulate its success.

About the Author

DAVID STAUFFER is a business writer, with articles published in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Management Update, Across the Board and other business periodicals. Mr. Stauffer, who heads his own firm Stauffer Bury, Inc. (producing annual reports, investment prospectuses and other corporate materials) is also the author of Nothing But Net: Business the Cisco Way. He is a graduate of Notre Dame University.

Important Note About This Ebook

This is a summary and not a critique or a review of the book. It does not offer judgment or opinion on the content of the book. This summary may not be organized chapter-wise but is an overview of the main ideas, viewpoints and arguments from the book as a whole. This means that the organization of this summary is not a representation of the book.

Summary of It’s A Wired, Wired World (David Stauffer)

Section 1: The AOL Fact Sheet

Founded

AOL began in 1985 as Quantum Computer Services, an online service offering games to Commodore computer users. Steve Case (the current CEO of America Online) had joined Control Video Corp., the predecessor of Quantum, as marketing manager in 1983 just as the company was running out of money. Control Video was restructured and refinanced as Quantum in 1985, and then renamed America Online Inc. in 1991.

Lines of Business

Interactive services and mediaInternet brand developmentInternet technologiese-Commerce services

Subscribers

AOL currently has over 22 million subscribers – around 10-times the number of subscribers of the next largest online service provider, Microsoft’s MSN.

International Operations

AOL offers its service in 15 countries and seven languages.

Headquarters

AOL’s corporate headquarters is located near Washington Dulles Airport, Washington D.C.

Employees

12,100 as of January 2000.

Annual Revenues

For fiscal 1999, AOL had revenues of $4.8 billion – more than 20-times the revenues of the next 20 Internet companies combined.

Profit

For fiscal 1999, AOL achieved a profit of $762 million.

Market Capitalization