Mastering Strategy [Paperback]

University of Chicago (Author), Insead (Author), University of Michigan Business School (Author), SAID Business School (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 7, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0273649302 | ISBN-13: 978-0273649304 | Edition: 1

Cutting edge thinking and best practice from the best brains at four of the world's top business schools. Everyone in business is involved in strategy. Whether it be formulating it or implementing it. Every business from Fortune 500 companies to internet start-ups is reliant on strategy for survival and success. Mastering Strategy brings you the latest thinking from the world's top international business schools. This rich mix of thought leadership covers all the top strategy issues, from mergers & acquisitions, risk, technology, and alliances, to knowledge, governance, globalization, and leadership. With contributors from among the world's top strategists, including C.K. Prahalad, Henry Mintzberg, John Kay, Noel Tichy, and W. Chan Kim, this book combines definitive new thinking with examples of leading corporate strategies. Strategy is everybody's business. Become a master of yours. SAID The Said Business School is the business school of the University of Oxford, and the newest department in one of the world's oldest universities. The school was established in 1998 through an initial GBP20m benefaction from Mr Wafic Said and matching funding from the University. It specializes in high level research into international business topics, including strategy, finance and corporate governance. The school also offers MBA, undergraduate and research degrees to an international student body. INSEAD In just 40 years, INSEAD has grown from a modest European educational start-up to one of the world's leading business schools, with more than 650 MBAs, 5,500 executives and 40 PhDs from over 75 countries passing through its programs every year. Participants are taught by an internationally recognized faculty of 124 professors from 26 countries. The institute's extensive alumni network is present in 122 countries and represents more than 20,200 MBA and executive alumni. CHICAGO The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business is at the forefront of bringing a discipline-based approach to the study of business. Chicago GSB is known for its world renowned faculty, which includes more Nobel Prize winners than any other business school. Chicago GSB is also known for its strength in a number of areas including strategy, finance, entrepreneurship, international business, general management, economics, accounting, marketing and its innovative MBA program, which has campuses in Barcelona,Singapore and Chicago. MICHIGAN In Business Week magazine's bi-annual survey of corporate executives, the University of Michigan Business School (UMBS) was rated the most innovative business schools in the United States. UMBS's MBA and undergraduate programs blend the school's unusual across-the-board academic prowess with intensive development of applied skills and capabilities for results-producing leadership. In addition to degree programs, the Executive Education Center at UMBS offers a wide range of public and customized programs for working executives. More than 5,000 people participate in these programs each year, both on the school's campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and in overseas locations.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Businesses are continually striving to navigate the fast-moving currents of e-commerce and globalization. At the dawn of a new millenium, what better time is there for executives to stand back and consider the theory and practice of the strategic art.

The old certainties of central and long-term planning may have fallen apart long ago, but what exactly has replaced them? Should companies primarily be looking outward at their external environment — or inward at their distinctive capabilities? How do managers choose from the competing schools of strategy — and is it possible to synthesize the different approaches that have been tested over the years into a coherent whole? There are no easy answers to these and other questions, but Mastering Strategy provides ideas to better inform and stimulate you to develop the most appropriate model for your own circumstances.

Like the rest of this best-selling series, this book is based on the Financial Times newspaper series and brings together the latest thinking from world-renowned experts on every subject area pertinent to business people today.

About the Author

From the Editors of The Financial Times, with contributions from leading business faculty at the University of Chicago, University of Michigan, and INSEAD, Oxford University, London.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: FT Press; 1 edition (October 7, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0273649302
• ISBN-13: 978-0273649304
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,306,427 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An easy way to update your strategy knowledge, May 8, 2001

By 

Juan Pablo Gonzalez (Santiago, RM Chile) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Mastering Strategy (Paperback)

The book presents an excellent companion of the top issues involving strategy today. The book is structured according to global themes, like strategy and economics, strategy and leadership, and so on. Each chapter has 4 or 5 articles related, written by authors from important business schools. Issues like game theory and commitments are deeply reviewed, but in a simple way, easy to understand, thus allowing anyone with no MBA to understand it. The book offers an easy way to update your strategy knowledge, if your are interested in business strategy.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo!, March 25, 2004

By 

Robert Morris (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mastering Strategy (Paperback)

Editors at Financial Times (FT) co-authored this volume, with Tim Dickson serving as executive editor . It offers "The Complete MBA Companion in Strategy," the result of FT's strategic alliance with the University of Chicago Business School, INSEAD, the University of Michigan Business School, and the Said Business School at Oxford University. This is the seventh volume in what is identified as "The Financial Times Mastering" series. It contains articles that first appeared in FT in late-1999.

The material is carefully organized within 16 chapters. In the first, there are two essays: "Strategy and the delusion of Grand Designs" authored by John Kay, Director of london Economics; the second -- "Strategy, blind men and the elephant" was co-authored by Henry Mintzberg of McGill University and INSEAD, Bruce Ahlstrand of Trent University (Ontario), and Joseph Lampel of the University of Nottingham Business School.

As for the final chapter, "Fresh Challenges for the Future," it was written by Dan Schendel, founding and current editor the Strategic Management Journal. The reader is advised that "This final module sums up the main themes of the book, addresses some of the current controversies, and offers pointers on how the field may develop in coming years. The core message is that those who fail to keep up with the best in strategic management risk losing their businesses and losing their jobs. The cases of failure cited throughout the book underline the point." My own crystal ball imploded long ago so I now cut Schendel considerable slack, given the fact that his comments on "fresh challenges" were composed five years ago. In fact, I think his analysis holds up remarkably well.

Although exceptionally well-written and skillfully-edited, this volume is by no means an "easy read." My own opinion is that it will be of greatest interest and benefit to the more capable students enrolled in graduate schools of business, and, to senior-level executives. Of course, the immediate value of each chapter will be largely determined by the immediate needs and interests of each reader. I would be remiss if I failed to acknowledge the superb graphics provided by Graham Parish. I also want to commend, again, Tim Dickson and his associates -- notably Ken Pottinger, James Pickford, Laura Scanga, and various school "co-ordinators" -- for pulling together so much excellent material, then getting it all properly presented. Bravo!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Collection of Strategy Articles, December 24, 2002

By 

Emre Kazancioglu (ann arbor, michigan United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastering Strategy (Paperback)

This is a great collection of articles covering all aspects of business strategy. Prior knowledge about the subject matter, though is not necessary, will help you appreciate the material more. I strongly recommend this book to those people interested in building a thorough understanding of strategy.