Acknowledgements

THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OVER THE YEARS who contributed to the knowledge and experience that are reflected here and from whom many lessons were learned. Process thinking was first introduced to me by my chemical process engineer colleagues—Tom Scacco, Doug Brown, and others. For the confidence that a small plant production manager could design and oversee new plants, thanks to Frank Fackler for his support and encouragement.

For providing the leadership models that at once inspired me and ultimately guided my own learning and development, thanks to U.S. Air Force general George B. Simler and John Lauer, who modeled the energy, vision, and commitment to accomplish the mission. Later, for teaching the importance of values-based leadership, I thank our own “Dead Poet’s Society” and the learning environment that we created—thanks, in particular, to Tom Moczulski, Pat Gray, Alison Smith, Steve O’Donnell, and Ed Soriano, without whose honesty and openness we could not have been successful. For providing me with insight into business process management, thanks to John Civerolo, Dr. E. Earl Burch, and Andrew Spanyi, through whose support the interrelationships among the five business aspects described here were first illuminated, analyzed, and ultimately understood.

To the business leaders who entrusted me with their businesses’ futures, learning how ERP applications worked to define, institutionalize, and manage their business processes, from David Shavzin, Dave McDaniel, ...

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