Strategy For Action I

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.

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.

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.

Written by experts in Luxury and Fashion Management at SKEMA Business School this exciting new book offers a new perspective that challenges the established rules of the luxury and fashion industry. The authors and contributors examine the evolution of luxury strategy and how the luxury industry is being redefined in the twenty-first century.

MBAs are old news. In this ground-breaking book, leadership expert Alicia McKay teaches leaders to focus on the things they don't teach you at business school.Leaders are made, not born. But they are not made in the lecture halls and seminar rooms; you don't need an MBA to be an effective leader.They need to get smart, be strategic about the next step and expand their range, to face a complex and uncertain future. They need paradox: clear values and open minds, high performance and meaningful space, dedication to detail and big picture perspective. They need to ask different questions, design different options and most of all, they need to do that with others on the same journey.In this thought-provoking book, Alicia McKay teaches you the five skills every strategic leader needs:* How to develop true flexibility* How to make good decisions* How to develop powerful systems* How to drive real performance* How to have meaningful influence Drawing on the latest global thinking on leadership, You Don't Need an MBA uses Plain English to demystify the skills leaders of the future need and outlines a way forward; united leadership that focuses on real outcomes, not quick-fixes.

Strategy execution is one of the most important and exciting topics in management. Implementing strategy in today's complex organizations is an enormous challenge but one that all leaders must tackle. This lively book is an essential guide to strategy execution for practicing managers and those in advanced management education. It combines the rigour of advanced research with the accessibility of practical experience and application to lead readers through the subject. Drawing together existing knowledge and reporting findings from his own research, Andrew MacLennan brings this often neglected topic sharply into focus. After introducing and defining strategy execution, the book presents a series of systematic frameworks to help managers and leaders: identify common strategy execution barriers and diagnose performance problems in particular situations translate conceptual strategies into concrete activities align emergent activities and projects with strategic objectives support critical activities by aligning organizational designs and systems Strategy Execution is an insightful, engaging and practical book. The models are supplemented throughout with real world examples, summaries of key issues and signposts to further readings. It is a comprehensive, easy to use book offering students and practitioners a systematic approach to strategy implementation.

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.

In today's competitive global markets, simply making a great product is not enough. To achieve profitable growth and stand out among competitors, you must start to strategically compete through service and innovative solutions for business customers. Professors Christian Kowalkowski and Wolfgang Ulaga guide you how to shift your business from a goods-centric to a service-savvy model. The authors' proprietary twelve-step roadmap to profitable service growth will help you break out of a narrow product-centric logic and discover how to � determine if your company is "fit-for-service," � make the most of your existing services, � innovate and create value-added services and customer solutions beyond your products, � embed a true service-centric culture in your organization, � drive change and align your service strategy with corporate goals, � transform your product-centric sales force into a service-savvy sales organization, � design an organizational structure that promotes service growth, and � align your interests with distributors and partners. Kowalkowski and Ulaga's twelve-step roadmap is based on rigorous research and long-standing experience working with businesses. They have worked with hundreds of managers in industrial and professional services companies, conducted research projects, led executive workshops, and published numerous articles in scientific and managerial journals, including Harvard Business Review, among others. Here, they share not only their own insights but the lessons learned from successful case studies and years of extensive research.