Description
Book SynopsisIn today''s world, only the smartest survive. The competitive landscape is littered with graves of well-known firms whose revenues, profits and stock prices rose for decades until they suddenly imploded.
In fast-changing business environments, firms must adapt their strategies and innovate to remain at the top. But many successful firms fail to do so. Instead, they succumb to inertia, hesitate, or stick blindly to their old strategies, until it is too late.
The ability to adapt to change is a measure of intelligence; so why do firms demonstrate such low Strategic IQ? What causes inertia and why is it so deadly? How can leaders help their firms to act more intelligently?
This book identifies the key sources of inertia - strategic, structural and huma - and provides practical advice on how they can be overcome to create smarter corporations. It is both a wake-up call for successful firms and a lifeline for firms struggling to succeed.
To suc
Trade Review
‘I felt inspired…It presents to HR unbelievers what the leaders in the HR field have been professing for some time. This is no bad thing.’(HR, June 2012)
Table of ContentsPreface xi
Introduction xv
Part One Smart Strategy 1
Chapter 1.1 The Need for Smart Strategy 3
Chapter 1.2 Low Strategic Intelligence 13
Chapter 1.3 What is Strategy? 35
Chapter 1.4 Moderate Strategic Intelligence 59
Chapter 1.5 High Strategic Intelligence 87
Part Two Smart Structure 107
Chapter 2.1 The Need for Smart Structure 109
Chapter 2.2 Smart Asset Management 119
Chapter 2.3 Formal Architecture – Navigating the Architecture Labyrinth 143
Chapter 2.4 Informal Architecture – Leveraging Social Mechanics 169
Chapter 2.5 Towards Smarter Structure 191
Part Three Smart Minds 201
Chapter 3.1 The Need for Smart Minds 203
Chapter 3.2 What is a Mind? 209
Chapter 3.3 Hiring Smart Minds 229
Chapter 3.4 Addressing Basic Human Needs 241
Chapter 3.5 Harnessing Insatiable Human Needs 255
Bibliography 277
Index 293
