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Good Strategy/Bad Strategy

The Difference and Why It Matters

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 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. Career Success Decision-Making & Problem Solving Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership Business Technology Inspiring Thought-Provoking Career Business Strategy Strategic Planning
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A book to savour for its outstanding training effect, scholarlyness, historic perspective and comprehensive scope.

The best book on strategy.

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This book is an eye opener. It is thoughtful and detailed while remaining easy to follow and to digest. I enjoyed how the thoughts were constructed and backed up with examples from a wide variety of industries.

Brilliant insights.

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Clearly communicated ideas with vivid examples from real life. Would recommend any leader to read this book.

One of the absolut best business books I've read.

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Brilliant in content and tone. I’m not usually one for writing reviews but the humour and insights this book delivers compelled me to at least write a short one.

One of the best books I have ever listened too

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Good book, oddly structured, weakens from about the middle onwards.

Part 1 is excellent.

Part 2 is mostly great, but should be reorganized into two parts - one on sources of power (chapters 6-10 and 13), one on problems (11, 14), and one on application (12, 15), possibly merged with Part 3.

Part 3 was ok, but felt like a letdown.

Part 1 is my favourite book on strategy

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