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Good Strategy Bad Strategy

Good Strategy Bad Strategy

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.

Reviews
  • Interesting read and helpful for getting started

    I got this book from a coworker recommendation after I started a new position at work where I was tasked with developing a strategic plan for a new initiative. This book was super helpful for me as it stresses the importance of taking a step back and really diagnosing the current state and where one should head, instead of just jumping in and working on goals or action items. I found the processes the author outlined to be very helpful for me as I progressed, and the stories and examples throughout were appreciated as well. This book, along with working with my strategy mentor, allowed me to craft a real strategy that has a clear diagnosis, guiding policy (along with why it matters), and succinct actions. Would definitely recommend for anyone doing strategy work.

    By dugedug89

  • Excellent.

    Great book.

    By Nick Gransaull

  • Bad writing puts me off

    The tone of the book is too dull and uninteresting, plus all these history examples the author listed out, it makes this book read like a history book.

    By Kejkebrj

Comments