This book shows how systematic strategic planning (SSP) can be used on real-world projects for professionals at any skill level. It illustrates how this systematic methodology and its analysis tools—using workshop and brainstorming approaches—can be easily understood and universally applied to any type of business. Rather than explaining the methodology and its tools, the author succinctly shows how to use the simplified version of his methodology for developing strategic plans. But, perhaps more importantly, the reader is shown how to identify which circumstances require the use of particular tools and also how to target them directly to achieve effective results. The SSP methodology and the use of a workshop approach, real-world strategic planning projects, and working forms are presented to guide the reader through preparing the strategic plan for existing or future business. The first part of the book provides an overall framework and briefly describes some of the sections of the systematic pattern of strategic planning. In addition, it explains the use of a workshop approach for strategic planning based on SSP principles. The second part details case studies of strategic planning projects from real-world organizations across a variety of industries. Most of the organizations used both the simplified version of the SSP methodology and the techniques, while others benefited strictly from customizing the SSP methodology.

This book shows how systematic strategic planning (SSP) can be used on real-world projects for professionals at any skill level. It illustrates how this systematic methodology and its analysis tools -- using workshop and brainstorming approaches -- can be easily understood and universally applied to any type of business. Rather than explaining the methodology and its tools, the author succinctly shows how to use the simplified version of his methodology for developing strategic plans. But, perhaps more importantly, the reader is shown how to identify which circumstances require the use of particular tools and also how to target them directly to achieve effective results. The SSP methodology and the use of a workshop approach, real-world strategic planning projects, and working forms presented to guide the reader through preparing the strategic plan for existing or future business. - The first part of the book provides an overall framework and briefly describes some of the sections of the systematic pattern of strategic planning. In addition, it explains the use of a workshop approach for strategic planning based on SSP principles. - The second part details case studies of strategic planning projects from real-world organizations across a variety of industries. Most of the organizations used both the simplified version of the SSP methodology and the techniques, while others benefited strictly from customizing the SSP methodology.

Case Studies in Strategic Planning shows you how to do systematic strategic planning in real-life cases, regardless of your level of expertise. The simplified version of this methodology and its analysis tools, based on fundamentals, are easily understood and universally applied to any type of business for developing strategic plans. More important

From small start-ups to giant multinationals, from the Mom-and-Pop owned barber shop to Ford, family owned businesses continue to dominate the world economy. Regardless of size, running a successful family firm presents unique challenges, and many fail to survive the transition to the next generation. Here is a practical, comprehensive guide to ensuring success through effective strategic planning. The authors provide a wealth of tested, easy-to-follow tools and techniques for mastering strategic planning for family-owned firms. Filled with real world examples, case studies, checklists, and planning worksheets, the book shows how to deal with a host of emerging challenges--from new technologies and globalizing marketings--by integrating family values and dynamics into sound planning and management.

Explains how companies must pinpoint business strategies to a few critically important choices, identifying common blunders while outlining simple exercises and questions that can guide day-to-day and long-term decisions.

For senior-level and introductory graduate-level courses in Strategic Management and Business Policy. This comprehensive text offers an engaging look into new and traditional strategic management topics. Its thorough coverage helps students develop an understanding of the wide range of theories and research available in this field-from competitive strategy and industry analysis to environmental trends and ethics. Integration of international issues throughout provides an essential understanding of global economics and its impact on business activities in any location.* NEW-Updated and revised content in every chapter. * Gives students access to the latest information on the topics discussed. * NEW-Updated illustrative examples. * Encourages students to read and clearly understand the texts content on their own. * Numerous corporate cases-Of real companies at all stages of development. * Gives students a chance to apply concepts, skills, and techniques to real-world corporate situations. * The strategic audit. * Teaches students a way of operationalizing the strategic decision-making process, and serves not only in evaluation and control, but also as a checklist in case analysis. *

With the enormous growth of the internet and social media sites, digital marketing is now worth more per annum than TV advertising in the UK. Social network advertising spending is expected to increase to a staggering $4.3 billion in 2011 in a bid to attract today's media-savvy consumer. The Best Digital Marketing Campaigns in the World brings together an international collection of the most successful digital marketing campaigns of our time, assessing what they achieved and the business lessons learnt. This practical and insightful book explores how businesses large and small have harnessed social media, blogs, forums, online video and email to boost their brand and attract customers. Damian Ryan and Calvin Jones present a selection of hand-picked case studies, sharing the knowledge and skill of the world's top creative minds. Covering everything from household names such as Pizza Hut and Pepsi to Obama's 2008 presidential election campaign, this book is the must-read guide for all marketers looking to embrace the new digital landscape.

A Washington Post Bestseller Three Principles for Managing—and Avoiding—the Problems of Growth Why is profitable growth so hard to achieve and sustain? Most executives manage their companies as if the solution to that problem lies in the external environment: find an attractive market, formulate the right strategy, win new customers. But when Bain & Company’s Chris Zook and James Allen, authors of the bestselling Profit from the Core, researched this question, they found that when companies fail to achieve their growth targets, 90 percent of the time the root causes are internal, not external—increasing distance from the front lines, loss of accountability, proliferating processes and bureaucracy, to name only a few. What’s more, companies experience a set of predictable internal crises, at predictable stages, as they grow. Even for healthy companies, these crises, if not managed properly, stifle the ability to grow further—and can actively lead to decline. The key insight from Zook and Allen’s research is that managing these choke points requires a “founder’s mentality”—behaviors typically embodied by a bold, ambitious founder—to restore speed, focus, and connection to customers: • An insurgent’s clear mission and purpose • An unambiguous owner mindset • A relentless obsession with the front line Based on the authors’ decade-long study of companies in more than forty countries, The Founder’s Mentality demonstrates the strong relationship between these three traits in companies of all kinds—not just start-ups—and their ability to sustain performance. Through rich analysis and inspiring examples, this book shows how any leader—not only a founder—can instill and leverage a founder’s mentality throughout their organization and find lasting, profitable growth.

Strategic Management delivers an insightful and concise introduction to strategic management concepts utilizing a strong mix of real-world contemporary examples. Written in a conversational style, this product sparks ideas, fuels creative thinking and discussion, while engaging students with the concepts they are studying.