Customer Reviews

Choosing the Future: The Power of Strategic Thinking

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just finished reading (enjoying) Choosing the Future. I was marveled by it. The concepts contained in this book have already had a huge impact on the way I think about Strategy and Planning and how I consult with my manager clients. Over the years, I have used the term "Strategic Planning". Not any more. Thanks to professor Well's insightful discussion of the two parts of that term, I now realize they are uniquely different concepts. Strategy is thinking; Planning is doing. Choosing the Future has increased my understanding of Strategic thinking and my ability to assist managers generate robust, well though-out Strategies and Operational Plans that will continue to grow our business. I recommend this work to anyone who values thinking and sees thinking as a valuable asset in their personal and professional life.

Mike Martinez; Strategy and Planning Mgr; Hewlett Packard Co.

An eminently sensible book in which it's hard to find much with which to disagree. If you haven't thought much about the thinking process and don't have a background in cognitive psychology, this book is well worth reading. If you have, then you'll find it agreeable but not enlightening, though it may remind you of important points that you've forgotten to pay attention to. Wells focuses on flexible thinking and how to ask the right questions. He outlines the strategic thinking cycle: Perceiving, acquiring insight, developing foresight, understanding possibilities, identifying strategic levers, matching levers with capabilities, reasoning, choosing a core strategy, and making the strategy work.

Stuart Wells has given a major gift to anyone who wishes to receive it. For just $40 anyone in a management position who can immerse into this book will find immense treasures that will enhance business and personal thinking skills.

Most business books have a few points and can be skimmed to find them. This well presented book is different. Almost every paragraph has something to offer. No matter what your level, you will be challenged. Certainly some of the concepts are common sense but Wells puts the process together in an organized manner that will challenge and clarify your thinking process.

I am hard to impress, but I am with Stuart Wells. I place his book in the top ten, including those by Drucker. I rate it the best book of this decade.

Some profound ideas are in this book. I suggest reading a chapter, then thinking about it, then re-reading it. Very interesting concepts.

Our professor assigned this book in the DBA reading list. At first I read it because I had to, but I have got to admit that this book really made me think as early as when I was reading the preface. Great book, hard to put it down before finishing it.

Some of the thoughts in this book are profound. I think you need to read a chapter, then think about it for a day, then read it again. Very interesting stuff.

We are returning to the simple things, S.Wells understood it, try you too.

Choose the future is about, Take the time, see what happen, understand, think what you will do then.

Masterpiece of strategy.