Strategy Pure & Simple II: How Winning Companies Dominate Their Competitors

by Michel Robert and Michel Robert

Book Overview

Drawing on his 20 years of pioneering research and work with some 400 top companies, Robert offers today's executives guidance in strategy formulation, implementation, and deployment. Filled with examples drawn from the experiences of today's commercial leaders and interviews with CEOs of companies in a variety of industries, this updated edition of a revolutionary and inspiring best seller offers a sure-fire process of strategic thinking that's been...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0070531331
• ISBN13: 9780070531338
• Release Date: November 1997
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
• Length: 269 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Gets the job done

I first read "Strategy Pure & Simple (I)" back in the early '90s, just before embarking on my first strategic planning job. Since then, I have managed strategic planning and implementation processes at a total of six different operational subsidiaries of two very large financial services groups. As a financial controller and later a CFO, I have read a great many other books and articles about strategy and planning. Most of those were actually quite interesting, but when it came down to setting up and managing a actual, real-life planning process, I always turned back to Strategy Pure and Simple, because it is just GOOD ENOUGH.- It includes all important issues that must be addressed during planning;- more importantly, it reminds you of staying focused on those issues that happen to be key to your company (given its market, own caracteristics, timing, resources, etc.);- still more importantly, it insists on interaction between the planning team and the management team, and helps with examples of visual aids and cues;- it really helps a lot in communicating with line and senior managers during the planning process, getting them involved, assuring buy-in, and finally ensuring that the plan, when finished and approved, actually is implemented by those in charge. And, in the end, that is certainly what matters most.I have now joined a new company in another industry, and have to manage yet another strategic planning process. Well, the best I can say about Strategy Pure & Simple is, I have fished out my 1993-vintage copy, and look forward to using it once again.

Highly Recommended!

Michael Robert presents a well-organized plan to enable you to produce a distinctive strategy. He emphasizes the need for strategic thinking, which sets out a vision of where your company is going. Use this as your basis for making the appropriate choices and plans. Clarify what your company is, and is not, to avoid becoming scattered and overextended. Robert uses the metaphor of playing a game as his framework. Every CEO must carefully choose what game to play, and how to craft a strategy to make and shape the rules. To illustrate these principles, Robert draws on actual examples from client companies, alternating a step-by-step guide to strategic planning with brief case studies that demonstrate strategic thinking. We [...] recommend this book to top executives and managers in large companies.

Mike Robert, King of Strategic Thinking, does it again!

When it comes to understanding and explaining why some companies develop and launch new products better than their competitors, Mike Robert truely has no equal. In preparing to help overhaul the strategic planning process at a major publishing firm, we read countless books on strategic planning before choosing Mike's "Strategy, Pure and Simple" as our guide. We couldn't have made a better choice. Mike's tell-it-like-it-is style and clearly defined process served as a guide through numerous planning sessions. This is Mike Robert's third book on the subject, and it is every bit as powerful as the first two. Whenever a client asks me to assist them on their strategic thinking journey, Mike's principles are a guiding force and his books are must reading. Adam Lefton

One of the most outstanding business books I have ever read!

The author's approach to strategic planning is to start with "strategic thinking". His very straight forward approach is effective for major corporations as well as smaller businesses. His advice to readers is to involve the organization in the "strategic thinking process" rather than having the CEO institute that thinking in a "top down" manner. Readers will want to complete the book and then find a consultant who will facilitate the process.

Excellent resource for companies future visioning.

This is an excellent resource for companies who are having difficulty clearly identifying who they are and where they are going. Michael Robert lays down practical steps for the business to define itself. Michael realizes that no one knows the business better than its employees. This is an excellent resource for companies in the mission/vision development and goal-setting stages.