Strategy As Action

The innovative and unique feature of this book is that it does not contain theoretical concept that cannot be translated into practice. The model which introduces this volume sets the stage for addressing the major phases of the strategic management process: environmental analysis, strategy formulation and development, strategy evaluation and control. Its conceptual and operational structure is described in the first part, together with a practically oriented definition of strategy, and a brief discussion of the logic and benefits of the judgmental modeling approach to decision making. The second part critically addresses the classical approaches to the analysis of the external and internal environmental factors, which have an impact on the “functioning” of the basic model, i.e. the structural characteristics of the industry context, and the companies’ technical, organizational, financial, and human resources, including the translation into operational models of otherwise rather theoretical concepts.

Strategy as Action presents an action plan for how firms can build, improve, and defend their competitive advantage at every stage of their life cycle. For start-up firms entering a market, it provides a model for exploiting competitive uncertainty and blind spots; for growth firms who have established some market advantages, it provides an action plan for exploiting relative resources; for mature firms, it explains how to exploit market position; finally, for firms that have no decisive resource advantage, it provides an action plan based on firm co-operative reactions.

Good Strategy/Bad Strategy clarifies the muddled thinking underlying too many strategies and provides a clear way to create and implement a powerful action-oriented strategy for the real world. Developing and implementing a strategy is the central task of a leader. A good strategy is a specific and coherent response to—and approach for—overcoming the obstacles to progress. A good strategy works by harnessing and applying power where it will have the greatest effect. Yet, Rumelt shows that there has been a growing and unfortunate tendency to equate Mom-and-apple-pie values, fluffy packages of buzzwords, motivational slogans, and financial goals with “strategy.” In Good Strategy/Bad Strategy, he debunks these elements of “bad strategy” and awakens an understanding of the power of a “good strategy.” He introduces nine sources of power—ranging from using leverage to effectively focusing on growth—that are eye-opening yet pragmatic tools that can easily be put to work on Monday morning, and uses fascinating examples from business, nonprofit, and military affairs to bring its original and pragmatic ideas to life. The detailed examples range from Apple to General Motors, from the two Iraq wars to Afghanistan, from a small local market to Wal-Mart, from Nvidia to Silicon Graphics, from the Getty Trust to the Los Angeles Unified School District, from Cisco Systems to Paccar, and from Global Crossing to the 2007–08 financial crisis. Reflecting an astonishing grasp and integration of economics, finance, technology, history, and the brilliance and foibles of the human character, Good Strategy/Bad Strategy stems from Rumelt’s decades of digging beyond the superficial to address hard questions with honesty and integrity.

This fresh and enlightening book offers a rounded overview of operations strategy with a particular focus on implementation. The premise of the book is that developing an effective operations strategy without its subsequent implementation will render the strategising process a waste of time and resources. The authors explain the pros and cons of existing approaches to implementation as well as offering a systematic framework for turning strategic intent into actions. They offer a fresh look at a subject whose importance within academia and industry is rapidly increasing due to the need to refocus the attention of business upon the elements that actually add value to society operations. Although operations strategy implementation is a broad and complex subject area, by developing a mature, broad perspective of the subject the authors consider that all elements of an organisation have potential to contribute directly by adding tangible values to the operations strategy process. This study will be of great interest to academics and will also give practitioners confidence in efficiently formulating and effectively implementing strategies that reflect the needs of today s business. Advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students studying operations strategy and manufacturing strategy will find this book an essential and fascinating read. In short, it should be able to offer all those involved in operations management a comprehensive and coherent view of the subject that until now has been lacking.

The meltdown of stalwart companies from AIG to JAL to Lehman and government crises from Greece to Spain make it abundantly clear: With economic uncertainty and rapid innovation, empowered consumers and free agents, and the constant pressure to be faster, better and cheaper, the established wisdom on strategic planning works no more. Once hailed as “brilliant” by experts, it is the very approach that got so many companies into the mess in the first place. This path-breaking book shows how successful organizations of all stripes transformed their strategy paradigm based on Strategy-In-Action and the power of human capital: standing in the future, listening for vital intelligence in far-flung locations, giving voice to dissenting views, maximizing ownership by stakeholders, especially implementers, getting quick wins and screening out losers quickly in the action. Above all, successful companies of all sizes have ended the long-standing divorce of strategy—hatched by a select few behind closed doors—from action, the supreme test of strategy. Dr. Thomas D. Zweifel, strategy and performance expert, gamechanger and author of seven leadership books such as "Communicate or Die," "Culture Clash 2," "Leadership in 100 Days" and the award-winning "The Rabbi and the CEO," has teamed up with Edward J. Borey, CEO, corporate strategist and turnaround guru. Together, they bring to bear their combined half-century experience in innovating strategy design and execution at Fortune 500, midsize enterprises and startups as well as large public-sector and UN agencies. The result: a turn-key methodology for senior managers who need adaptive and people-centered strategy that yields quick wins and stands the test of time.

Strategy as Action presents an action plan for how firms can build, improve, and defend their competitive advantage at every stage of their life cycle. For start-up firms entering a market, it provides a model for exploiting competitive uncertainty and blind spots; for growth firms who have established some market advantages, it provides an action plan for exploiting relative resources; for mature firms, it explains how to exploit market position; finally, for firms that have no decisive resource advantage, it provides an action plan based on firm co-operative reactions.

'Strategy as Action' presents an action plan for how firms can build, improve, and defend their competitive advantage at every stage of their life cycle.

Strategy in Action is a thoroughly revised and updated edition of the best-selling title Strategic Thinking. Strategy in Action emphasises the basic simplicity of much of strategic management theory, but acknowledges the complexity of using this theory to make decisions and implement successful change. The author looks critically at various theoretical approaches to strategy and also highlights some of the practical issues that have arisen as a result of technological innovation and change. The text provides an explanation of the Hierarchy of Objectives and distinguishes between strategic and financial objectives and performance. It also provides a way of incorporating ethical considerations in the basic strategic model of business.