Business Chemistry: How to Build and Sustain Thriving Businesses in the Chemical Industry

Business Chemistry: How to Build and Sustain Thriving Businesses in the Chemical Industry is a concise text aimed at chemists, other natural scientists, and engineers who want to develop essential management skills. Written in an accessible style, with the needs of managers in mind, this book provides an introduction to essential management theory, models, and practical tools relevant to the chemical industry and associated branches such as pharmaceuticals and consumer goods. Drawing on first–hand management experience and in–depth research projects, the book outlines the key topics to build and sustain businesses in the chemical industry. It addresses important topics such as strategy and new business development, describes global trends that shape chemical companies, and looks at recent issues such as business model innovation.

Features of this practitioner–oriented book include:

Eight chapters covering all the management topics relevant to chemists, other natural scientists and engineers. Chapters co–authored by experienced practitioners from companies such as Altana, A.T. Kearney, and Evonik Industries. Examples and cases from the chemical industry and associated branches throughout to illustrate the practical relevance of the topics covered. Contemporary issues such as business model design, customer and supplier integration, and business co–operation.

Business Chemistry: How to Build and Sustain Thriving Businesses in the Chemical Industry will be a valuable resource for scientists and engineers looking to expand their professional portfolios and enhance their value to their organizations by acquiring essential business management knowledge and skills. It will also be of interest to business students interested in a career in the chemical industry or related sectors.

List of Contributors

Preface

Part I: Strategy

Chapter 1: Management Challenges in the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry

Chapter 2: Principles of Strategy: How to Develop Strategy?

Chapter 3: Strategic Analysis: Understanding the Strategic Environment of the Firm

Chapter 4: Management of Business Cooperation

Part II: Innovation

Chapter 5: Principles of Research, Technology and Innovation

Chapter 6: New Business Development Recognizing and Establishing New Business Opportunities

Chapter 7 : Designing and Transforming Business Models

Chapter 8: External Integration: Why, When, and How to Integrate Suppliers and Customers?

Jens Leker is the Director of the Institute of Business Administration at the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Münster, Germany. His research focuses on forecasting techniques, open innovation, and knowledge sharing in R&D collaboration in the chemical industry. He is a member of the German Chemical Society (GDCh), Head of the Advisory Board of the International Society of Professional Innovation Management (ISPIM), and Editor–in–Chief of the Journal of Business Chemistry.

Carsten Gelhard is an Assistant Professor of Product–Market Relations at the Faculty of Engineering Technology of the University of Twente, The Netherlands. His research is at the intersection of marketing, innovation management, and operations management. He is a member of the Society of Professional Innovation Management (ISPIM) and a legate at the Global Innovation and Knowledge Academy (GIKA). Dr. Carsten Gelhard is also co–founder and managing director at ThinkPals.

Stephan von Delft is a Lecturer in Strategy at the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow, Scotland. His research focuses on business model design, business model innovation, and organizational capabilities in the chemical industry. He is a member of the German Chemical Society (GDCh), the Strategic Management Society (SMS), and a member of the Scientific Panel of the International Society of Professional Innovation Management (ISPIM).