As economic growth in Western countries shows signs of fatigue, companies are battling hard to discover how to generate and sustain corporate growth. The restructuring and reengineering processes of the early 1990s, and the massive lay-offs they brought about, have only given an additional boost to the need for expansion. Corporate efficiency is indispensable, but is not a sufficient condition for corporate survival. Firms need to think about their future growth.

In the wake of the drastic changes that have occurred in the world banking industry over the past two decades, Professor Canals's new book addresses several important questions: are universal banks bound to disappear? What is the role of universal banks and financial markets in the context of deregulation and disintermediation? What should banks' strategic reactions be to changes in the industry such as diversification, internationalization, and restructuring? And what role do banks play vis a vis modern financial markets? Canals draws on up-to-date case studies from Europe, Japan, and the US...

In the wake of the drastic changes that have occurred in the world banking industry over the past two decades, Professor Canals's new book addresses several important questions: are universal banks bound to disappear? What is the role of universal banks and financial markets in the context of deregulation and disintermediation? What should banks' strategic reactions be to changes in the industry such as diversification, internationalization, and restructuring? And what role do banks play vis a vis modern financial markets? Canals draws on up-to-date case studies from Europe, Japan, and the US...

The current financial crisis has deep macroeconomic roots, but the dominant view of the firm has made the crisis deeper and more devastating. Over the past few decades, maximizing shareholder value has become the main objective of the firm. Chief executives have been keen on this objective because their economic incentives have been clearly associated with stock market performance. Unfortunately, this has driven many CEOs to make terrible decisions based on short-termism and greed. In this way, the firm has become the object of anger, criticism and cynicism. In Building Respected Companies,...

Profound changes have taken place in the role of banking in developed countries in recent years and further important structural alterations will surely follow. This study of European banking surveys both the changing structure of the commercial banking industry and the strategic implications of these changes. Drawing on Michael Porter's framework for industry and competitor analysis, Canals includes a general analysis of the economics of banking, in-depth studies of current trends in the five main EC countries, a look at strategic choices made by European banks, and an assessment of the pace...

Corporate innovation and entrepreneurship are more important than ever to create and sustain growth opportunities. This book deals with the challenge of how to speed up innovation and entrepreneurial initiatives to sustain corporate growth, by focusing on developing the necessary leadership competencies.

The current financial crisis highlights the need to rethink business leadership and the role of business schools in helping firms develop the leaders of the future. This book brings together the perspectives of deans of top international business schools, and the views of CEOs and senior business leaders."