How to close the gap between strategy and execution Two-thirds of executives say their organizations don’t have the capabilities to support their strategy. In Strategy That Works, Paul Leinwand and Cesare Mainardi explain why. They identify conventional business practices that unintentionally create a gap between strategy and execution. And they show how some of the best companies in the world consistently leap ahead of their competitors. Based on new research, the authors reveal five practices for connecting strategy and execution used by highly successful enterprises such as IKEA, Natura, Danaher, Haier, and Lego. These companies: • Commit to what they do best instead of chasing multiple opportunities • Build their own unique winning capabilities instead of copying others • Put their culture to work instead of struggling to change it • Invest where it matters instead of going lean across the board • Shape the future instead of reacting to it Packed with tools you can use for building these five practices into your organization and supported by in-depth profiles of companies that are known for making their strategy work, this is your guide for reconnecting strategy to execution.

This book exemplifies one of the most complete and rigorous examples of scholarship relative to its subject matter that I have ever seen. Russell L. Ackoff, University of Pennsylvania, US This is a book written by someone who makes a living from helping organizations make strategy. It is also, though, written by a scholar someone who has thought hard about the topic and knows what other scholars think. This mix makes a book that is both thorough, well argued, and yet of great significance for consultants and managers. It unashamedly takes an inside-out view of strategy making, and this is what makes it so practical. It focuses on what those who manage want to do with their organization, rather than on some notion of what they should do. The book takes the field of strategic management forward by bringing theory and practice together more management writing needs to come from practitioner scholars. Colin Eden, University of Strathclyde Graduate School of Business, UK Olaf Rughase successfully unlocks important insights for creative market strategy development by linking it to central ideas about organizational identity. He provides a compelling theoretical rationale and useful practical process insights for how to induce creative market strategy formation through articulating current desired organizational identities. The book is clearly written, the claims well documented and well illustrated, providing a fresh and useful perspective on how to enable market strategies that work. Jane E. Dutton, University of Michigan, US In his well-researched book, Olaf Rughase introduces a new element into the concept of strategy which has so far been neglected to a surprising degree: the human factor. Strategy development certainly consists of data research, analysis and synthesis but after all, it is at least as much driven by fear and hope, will and might, the vision and the experience of the people involved. Only approaches that take this into account can claim any relevance for real-life strategy making. Viewed in this light, Olaf Rughase s book fills a gaping hole in the existing world of strategic thinking. Jörg Fengler, Management Consultancy, E.ON Ruhrgas AG, Germany Theorists and practitioners often underestimate the subtlety of each others thinking. Rughase s work engages seriously with both groups, and as a result is both deep and thoroughly practical. This is a genuinely original contribution. David Sims, Cass Business School, London, UK . . . this book is not just an academic treatise. Its insights grow out of facilitating strategy making, and one of these experiences is described in some detail. There are many practical observations to be found here. Political realities are acknowledged. Alternative paths anticipated. The ideas advanced here are, in combination, a genuine departure from past efforts. The theoretic development, which moves back and forth from experience to academic explanation, is convincing. From the foreword by Anne S. Huff This groundbreaking book explores the relationship between organizational identity and strategy and proposes a practical strategy making process that helps to avoid the typical pitfalls in strategic change processes. In doing so, the author bridges an important gap in management and strategy literature and explains how to practically link content and process when designing market strategies. A new conceptual framework is also presented which emphasizes the importance and dynamics of organizational identity and corresponding time discrepancies for strategy making. Whilst most strategists use the economically and analytically best strategy as a measure, Olaf Rughase introduces a new measure for strategy making that takes personal feelings, values and aspirations of organizational members into account. Claiming that individually desired organizational identities which can be seen as individual visions give direction, motivation and impetus for strategy action and developme

Building Better Brands is the essential guide to creating and evolving brands. Leveraging three decades of brand consulting for legendary companies like Caterpillar, Harley-Davidson, 3M, Owens-Illinois, National Australia Bank, and American Express, as well as middle-market and new-media startups, Scott Lerman shares the processes and frameworks needed to build great brands. This book is for you if you're a CEO seeking to enhance your knowledge of the branding process, a marketing/communications specialist who wants to take a leadership role in advancing an organizations brand, a brand consultant who is striving to sharpen and extend your skills, or a student who wants to jump-start a career in branding. Whatever its starting point--market leader or struggling competitor--any organization that follows this step-by-step guide will end up with a better brand.

A revised new edition of the bestselling toolkit for creating, building, and maintaining a strong brand From research and analysis through brand strategy, design development through application design, and identity standards through launch and governance, Designing Brand Identity, Fourth Edition offers brand managers, marketers, and designers a proven, universal five-phase process for creating and implementing effective brand identity. Enriched by new case studies showcasing successful world-class brands, this Fourth Edition brings readers up to date with a detailed look at the latest trends in branding, including social networks, mobile devices, global markets, apps, video, and virtual brands. Features more than 30 all-new case studies showing best practices and world-class Updated to include more than 35 percent new material Offers a proven, universal five-phase process and methodology for creating and implementing effective brand identity

This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of identity-based brand management based on current research. The authors focus on the design of the brand identity, which covers the internal perspective of brand management, and the resulting external brand image perceived by consumers and other audiences. The book covers topics such as brand positioning, the design of the brand architecture and brand elements, the management of brand touchpoints and the customer journey, as well as multi-sensory brand management and brand management in a digital environment. Further topics covered are international brand management, brand management in the retail sector, in social media and on digital brand platforms (electronic marketplaces). Numerous practical examples illustrate the applicability of the concept of identity-based brand management. The authors show that the concept of identity-based brand management is a valuable management model to make brands successful. In the 2nd edition, all chapters were fundamentally revised and up-to-date practical examples as well as latest research findings were added. Additional material is available via an app: Download the Springer Nature Flashcards App and use exclusive content to test your knowledge.

Profiled in this book are nine case studies each providing insight into a specific business arena, and the unique role design plays in developing an identity as part of a strategy for success. Some of the best designers in the field today explain their process in creating identities, from initial client meetings and planning, through logo development and a wide variety of identity applications. The volume also includes a showcase of identity projects, from local ventures to national enterprises, further details of the objectives of client and designer.