The Strategy Book: How to think and act strategically to deliver outstanding results (The X Book) Paperback – 19 November 2015

Great

This is the textbook for my capstone business class, and it's full of information that I have learned throughout earning my business degree. If you're in school for business there is a lot of information you would have already learned, with some new insights that can help you translate that information into a broader context. If you're not a student, it is full of great information about how to strategize and plan in your business.

"Strategy is about moving from where you are to where you want to be. Smart strategy is the shortest route to desirable ends with available means."Max McKeownStrategy, historically a Greek military term (see below), is now used very loosely to describe any plan of action to achieve a long term aim (see here).Origins of the term strategy (Google)In The Strategy Book, Max provides clarity on the term strategy, and through the six chapters, he provides tools, tips and techniques to allow you to evaluate where you are and where you want to be, and how to get there.Part 1 helps you think more strategically so that you can shape your future, rather than being shaped by it. Great guidance in this chapter is to consider before you plan. Otherwise, you will get the right answer to the wrong problem.Part 2 gets more granular and equips you with tools to help you think like a strategist, for example by knowing when to take risks, balancing planning and reacting, and knowing when you should move from your current (and probably comfy) position.Part 3 focuses on strategy creation. By working your company competes on cost leadership, differentiation or niche you can then compare yourself to your competitors and start forming the building blocks of your new strategy.Part 4 allows you to take the understanding created in Part 3 and turn it into a competitive advantage. You are more likely to be successful if you pursue a strategy of innovation, differentiation and avoiding competition.Part 5 provides the guidance you need to turn your strategy into reality. By creating processes (not overly bureaucratic) you can ensure that you keep revisiting your strategy and keep up the momentum.Part 6 list useful frameworks and tools to help you diagnose, align and implement your strategy. In this chapter there is a compelling list of the most useful and well know frameworks, such as SWOT, Porter's five forces and BCG's growth share matrix, of the less well know but no less useful De Wit and Meyer's strategy tensions and Burgelmand Groves; strategy bet model. The simplest and most powerful of these is the fundamental strategy questions:Where are we?Where do we want to go?What changes have to be made?How should these changes be made?How shall we measure progress?'The Innovation Book' this is a fantastic book for all those who lead others and want to lead their teams to success. Read this book if you want the tools to make a great strategy.

Disclaimer - I was gifted a copy of this book - but I think I owe the author Max Mckeown the cover price and more. I have been running my business for years and it still gave me new light on how I can think about the future. The phrase 'There is an important difference between creating strategy documents and creating a strategy that gets you where you want to be' was especially illuminating. Thinking is different to planning! Yes, I knew that already, but the author frames and re-frames this point, showing how to use core business tools like SWOT analysis for strategic ends. He shows clearly how strategy is about understanding how to shape events to take you forward. He is very good on practical application and simple, engaging case study examples. An 'easy' read - in that it is well written. A 'slow read' - in that you want to think and reflect on how the content applies to you. Excellent.

Great book -- great ideas, great tools. Good summary at the end of each section. The only downside for me was that the author seemed to repeat the same ideas over and over -- I usually appreciate that but it was a bit much.

Nice summary of the current trends in strategy consulting. I would like to see a bit more push away from the 'strategy-as-position' dictum of 70's/80's and towards more modern strategy practices. The author does discern the pros/cons of each approach/tool though and gives a clear view on when each style is appropriate.