Trimming the Fat: Your Operating Model--Learn from Competitors to Rethink Your Operating Costs

Operating costs are not glamorous. They are "below the line," and often get less attention than they deserve. But operating expenses, if not kept in check, can bankrupt a company. In this chapter the authors demonstrate how learning from your competitors can help you build an operating model that is central to the success of your business. They profile three exemplars: Ryanair, Oberoi Hotels, and ZoomSystems. This chapter was originally published as Chapter 5 of "Getting to Plan B: Breaking Through to a Better Business Model."