Search results for ""Author Stephen Cummings""

This Handbook draws on current research and case studies to consider how managers can become more creative across four aspects of their business: innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership and organization - and does so in an accessible, engaging and user-friendly format.That managers need to be 'more creative' has become something of a mantra, but little has been written about what this actually means and how it might be achieved. The Handbook of Management and Creativity presents a coherent collection of original chapters from leaders in multiple disciplines, combining current research pre-occupations with practical solutions and strategies in the field. Each chapter combines new research, practical examples and tools, case studies, visual aids, and questions for discussion, designed to stimulate debate and reflection in the workplace or in the seminar room.The book is thematically organized, making it easy to navigate for the general reader and allowing managers, university course directors and students to extract readings relevant to their individual requirements. It is suitable for managers across all industries and advanced students of management and creativity, as well as researchers interested in applying creativity research to industry.Contributors include: N. Beech, C. Bilton, R. Bridgstock, S. Cummings, D. Eikhof, D. Grant, G. Greig, E. Gulledge, R. Hall, G. Hearn, L. Heracleous, V. Heywood, C. Jacobs, L. Keung, L. Lim, M. Malle Petty, K. Oakley, D. Oliver, S. Oyama, S. Proctor-Thomson, G. Schiuma, F. Sorensen, C. Steyaert, J. Sundbo, T. Thanem, S. Vaerlander, B. Walker, S. Wilson, Z. Zhu

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This Handbook draws on current research and case studies to consider how managers can become more creative across four aspects of their business: innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership and organization - and does so in an accessible, engaging and user-friendly format.That managers need to be 'more creative' has become something of a mantra, but little has been written about what this actually means and how it might be achieved. The Handbook of Management and Creativity presents a coherent collection of original chapters from leaders in multiple disciplines, combining current research pre-occupations with practical solutions and strategies in the field. Each chapter combines new research, practical examples and tools, case studies, visual aids, and questions for discussion, designed to stimulate debate and reflection in the workplace or in the seminar room.The book is thematically organized, making it easy to navigate for the general reader and allowing managers, university course directors and students to extract readings relevant to their individual requirements. It is suitable for managers across all industries and advanced students of management and creativity, as well as researchers interested in applying creativity research to industry.Contributors include: N. Beech, C. Bilton, R. Bridgstock, S. Cummings, D. Eikhof, D. Grant, G. Greig, E. Gulledge, R. Hall, G. Hearn, L. Heracleous, V. Heywood, C. Jacobs, L. Keung, L. Lim, M. Malle Petty, K. Oakley, D. Oliver, S. Oyama, S. Proctor-Thomson, G. Schiuma, F. Sorensen, C. Steyaert, J. Sundbo, T. Thanem, S. Vaerlander, B. Walker, S. Wilson, Z. Zhu

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Real-world strategic management practice in an interactive micro-case format The Strategy Pathfinder presents an innovative, dynamic guide to strategic thinking and practice. Using real-world case examples from companies like Apple, the BBC, Hyundai, LEGO, McDonalds, Nike and SpaceX to illustrate critical concepts, this book enables readers to actively participate in real-world strategy dilemmas and create their own solutions. Strategy Pathfinder’s ‘live’ micro-cases provoke discussion about business models, value creation, new ventures and more, while its complimentary instructional content introduces you to the best ‘classic’ and new tools of strategic management. Rather than passively reproducing past and current ideas, Strategy Pathfinder encourages strategic thinkers to learn by doing. The book is designed to help the reader to develop a clear understanding of key concepts while shifting your thought processes towards real strategic action and innovation by enabling you to: Use strategy theories and frameworks to engage in analytical and creative discussions about key strategic issues facing real companies today Form strategic views for yourself, and test them against the views of others Effectively make and communicate recommendations based on solid strategic analysis that stand up to scrutiny from multiple stakeholders Become an active producer of new strategic ideas rather than a passive receiver of past wisdom This third edition has been updated with new chapters and cases to reflect the latest, cutting-edge issues in strategic thinking and practice. And the updated companion website offers students, instructors and managers more resources to facilitate understanding, interaction and innovation. As an active learning experience, The Strategy Pathfinder 3rd Edition engages the reader in the work of strategy practitioners. By arming you with the empirical research you need, and the best strategic management theories and frameworks to better analyse situations you're likely to encounter or already facing in your career, The Strategy Pathfinder teaches you how to improve your strategic thinking and practice, and develop your own strategic pathways for the future.

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A visual and interactive guide to building and communicating strategies that actually work YOUR STRATEGY HAS SEVEN SECONDS TO CAPTIVATE ITS AUDIENCE… So how are you going to present it? A big wordy document? A lengthy address? Slides full of bullet points? The best way to engage and involve people is through pictures. Strategy Builder shows you how to creatively combine the best strategy frameworks to orient and animate strategy discussion and development in your team. This visual, interactive guide, with illustrations by Visory, uses real world examples and practical tips to help you: Discover the five key foundations that every strategy should be built upon Draw compelling and unique pictures that capture your organization’s distinct strategies Develop your skills as a leader of strategy discussions Understand how to use interactive drawing to engage others and achieve ‘buy in’ Additional online resources available including Strategy Drawing Templates, plus Builder Slides and case studies materials for instructors. Locate the 'Companion Website' link towards the bottom of this page to access these materials. Test your strategic vision or develop a new strategic plan based on the best elements of key strategic frameworks by trying the FREE interactive Strategy Builder app, developed in association with StrategyBlocks, at www.strategicplan.com Praise for Strategy Builder: Cummings & Angwin are pioneers in introducing novel approaches in teaching and applying the principles of strategy --Robert M. Grant, Bocconi University, author of Contemporary Strategy Analysis In a complex, fast changing world, where we are bombarded by words, numbers and reports, the visual-first approach to strategy provided by Strategy Builder is immensely helpful for inspiring and communicating a clearer vision of how to move forward. -- Rachna Bhasin, VP Strategy, SiriusXM At last someone has grasped this idea and come up with a way to help us demonstrate strategic plans and ambitions in a creative new way. --Vikki Heywood CBE, Chair of The Royal Society for the Arts This wonderful book is the first to solve a near-universal problem: communicating strategic ideas is just as hard and just as important as coming up with them in the first place, and both are visual activities. The question is not “Do you understand?” but “Do you see?” --William Duggan, Professor, Columbia University, author Strategic Intuition This book shows how to draw an organization's strategy so you see what's been considered, what's not been considered, and how things are related,. Strategy building is presented as a fun and involving learning process.The approach is revolutionary in that it enables not only the development but also the easy sharing of strategic understanding. --Roger L.M. Dunbar, Emeritus Professor, Stern School of Business, New York University What a great idea! They layout is also really thoughtful; it makes you immediately want to get out a pencil and start doodling. --Adam Martin, Customer Solutions Director, The Brakes Group As a time pressed executive it was a delight to find a book that I can dip into to find the best strategic frameworks - those that have proved the test of time and academic scrutiny as being truly useful in the workplace. Even better for an inveterate scribbler: endorsement that a picture and ‘permission to play’ with ideas visually really does say a thousand words and more! --Sarah Mitson, Global Business Director, TNSGlobal This is an invaluable resource for any executive wanting to improve engagement in strategy development and communication. The accessible layout means that the book itself can play an active and inspiring role in strategy discussions. --Matt Thomas, Director, Braxton Associates, Strategy Consultants At last a book that grasps the implications of recent psychology: people think visually as well as verbally. The authors provide powerful visual devices that will both help managers conceive better strategies and enable their people to execute them more effectively. --Richard Whittington, Professor at Saïd Business School, Oxford University A powerful approach to make strategy more engaging again! Strategy Builder is landmark book is destined to make an important impact to the field of strategy, strategizing and strategic management. Executives across the board (and students of strategy) will find the core message of this book counterintuitive and compelling. The idea of "drawing" strategy may seem like child's play, yet all great strategists and philosophers know that it is through such "serious play" that allows us to see things differently so that we can see different things. --Robert Wright, Professor of Strategy, Hong Kong Polytechnic University

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What is creativity and how can we best nurture creativity in different contexts? Drawing on a wide range of cases from the arts, business, design, media and sports, Creativities encourages readers to discover, mix and adapt their own version of creativity, rather than attempting to imitate or follow ‘best practice’.International in scope, examples and cases extend beyond the typical Western ‘creative genius’ model, illuminating the great extent and diversity of global creativities. The book is designed around five key questions that address the what, how, where, who and why of the creative process, employing frameworks, questions and illustrative ‘recipes’ designed to inspire out-of-the-box creative thinking. The authors argue that to develop their own creativities, readers should experiment with different ingredients and find their own bisociative balance.With its rich array of cases, frameworks and visual material, Creativities will help educators design and lead classes on creativity, innovation and creative entrepreneurship. Its accessible content will also appeal to and inspire students and practitioners in business leadership, organisational innovation and critical management studies.

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What is creativity and how can we best nurture creativity in different contexts? Drawing on a wide range of cases from the arts, business, design, media and sports, Creativities encourages readers to discover, mix and adapt their own version of creativity, rather than attempting to imitate or follow ‘best practice’.International in scope, examples and cases extend beyond the typical Western ‘creative genius’ model, illuminating the great extent and diversity of global creativities. The book is designed around five key questions that address the what, how, where, who and why of the creative process, employing frameworks, questions and illustrative ‘recipes’ designed to inspire out-of-the-box creative thinking. The authors argue that to develop their own creativities, readers should experiment with different ingredients and find their own bisociative balance.With its rich array of cases, frameworks and visual material, Creativities will help educators design and lead classes on creativity, innovation and creative entrepreneurship. Its accessible content will also appeal to and inspire students and practitioners in business leadership, organisational innovation and critical management studies.

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Images of Strategy develops an innovative and multi-faceted approach to strategic management which will enable students to use and develop interesting and wide-ranging applications alongside some of the latest ideas and analysis. An innovative and multi-functional approach to strategic management. Approaches strategy from different viewpoints: functional, eg technology and systems management, marketing, accounting and HRM, and analytical, eg organization theory, game theory and knowledge management Helps students to analyse, integrate and apply the many competing functional elements of strategic choice in today's world. Includes case examples to illustrate the chapters. Provides further reading sections and student questions Written by a team of top management scholars with many years of successful MBA teaching experience. Further lecturer resources and links, including case analyses and Power Point slides, are available at www.blackwellpublishing.com/cummings

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