The future is happening today, and the most successful organizations will be those that understand the dynamics of the "big picture" in which their decisions are being made. This book describes how to understand and influence that picture. Irene Sanders pioneered the application of chaos theory and complexity to strategic thinking -- the most essential skill in today's fast-paced business environment. Now, in this straightforward, easy-to-read book, she shows how the most up-to-date strategic thinking is done, and how you can begin using it in your enterprise. Sanders' original and practical approach moves far beyond traditional forecasting, futuring and scenario-building. The new science of chaos and complexity has shown scientists and business professionals alike the importance of looking at the world as a whole system, rather than as a collection of deterministic principles. Consequently, the human mind -- through the integration of intuition and intellect -- is now recognized as the only information processor capable of understanding the level of complexity in today's global business environment. By engaging the mind's eye through the use of visual thinking, Sanders shows you how to develop insight about the present and foresight about the future, thereby allowing you to see and influence the future as it is emerging. The new planning paradigm presented in Strategic Thinking and the New Science is nothing less than a transformation of the science of business. For the first time in history, we have the knowledge, tools and techniques to develop visual thinking as the essential insight/foresight skill of the future. In addition to breakthroughs neuroscientists have made about brain-mind interactions, artists and psychologists are revealing the role of imagery in the creative process. And now, the new field of scientific visualization brings all of this information together with computer graphics to demonstrate how visual images can be used to engage our imaginations, enhance learning -- and stimulate our deeper levels of awareness. In this groundbreaking book, Sanders is the first to define the new model of strategic thinking -- a model that is bound to revolutionize organizations of all types as they begin to see and influence their futures -- today.

The fast-track MBA in strategy Imagine having instant access to the world's smartest thinking on strategy - and being shown exactly what to do to guarantee that you get your own strategy right, every time. Strategy Genius makes it easy to apply what researchers know about strategic thinking to the real world. 40 chapters based on hundreds of cutting-edge business and psychology research projects reveal what works and what doesn't work in strategy. Each of the 40 chapters is a mini-masterclass in strategic thinking, explaining the research and showing you how to apply it for yourself. In business, conventional wisdom often says one thing while research says another. Strategy Genius cuts through the noise to bring you proven research and techniques for applying it that will simply make you a better strategist. Quick to read and intensely practical, this book will bring a little strategy genius into your day. 'Strategy is one of those topics that many people talk about without having much idea what they mean. Richard Jones is one of the exceptions. A very good book; I recommend it strongly' Peter Hiscocks, CEO Judge Business School Executive Education, University of Cambridge 'Genius conflated into something you can understand. A bit like Richard, really' Michael Wilson, Director of Business and Economics Editor, Arise Global Networks

Whether you are a student or a working professional, you can benefit from being better at solving the complex problems that come up in your life. Strategic Thinking in Complex Problem Solving provides a general framework and the necessary tools to help you do so. Based on his groundbreaking course at Rice University, engineer and former strategy consultant Arnaud Chevallier provides practical ways to develop problem solving skills, such as investigating complex questions with issue maps, using logic to promote creativity, leveraging analogical thinking to approach unfamiliar problems, and managing diverse groups to foster innovation. This book breaks down the resolution process into four steps: 1) frame the problem (identifying what needs to be done), 2) diagnose it (identifying why there is a problem, or why it hasn't been solved yet), 3) identify and select potential solutions (identifying how to solve the problem), and 4) implement and monitor the solution (resolving the problem, the 'do'). For each of these four steps - the what, why, how, and do - this book explains techniques that promotes success and demonstrates how to apply them on a case study and in additional examples. The featured case study guides you through the resolution process, illustrates how these concepts apply, and creates a concrete image to facilitate recollection. Strategic Thinking in Complex Problem Solving is a tool kit that integrates knowledge based on both theoretical and empirical evidence from many disciplines, and explains it in accessible terms. As the book guides you through the various stages of solving complex problems, it also provides useful templates so that you can easily apply these approaches to your own personal projects. With this book, you don't just learn about problem solving, but how to actually do it.

There are many strategy books available in the marketplace for today’s student or business professional; most of them view strategy from the 10,000 foot level, while Strategic Thinking looks at this important business topic through a different lens. Written from the perspective of a manager, this book builds on theories of managerial and organizational cognition that have had a powerful influence on many business fields over the last two decades. As other books on business policy and strategy cover a broad range of topics, models, frameworks, and theories, the unique feature of this book is that it covers all this, but also focuses on how managers of business firms understand their business environments, assess and marshal their firms’ resources, and strive for advantage in the competitive marketplace. It examines the economic, structural, and managerial explanations for firm performance. Offering professors and business people who are intrigued by the ideas introduced in Peter Senge’s books ways to apply those ideas and principles in the classroom and in the companies in which they work, the book puts managers front and center.

If your company needs to develop a more scientific strategic approach - one that's sophisticated and creative, yet rigorous and results-oriented - this book is for you. You've probably discovered that the old strategic approaches, including the pet concept of sustainable competitive advantage, just aren't working. Traditional companies - maybe yours? - find themselves being pushed into risky mergers and other catch-up moves to stay afloat in roiling seas. The preferable way is to set your own course by systematically creating and exploiting opportunity. That is what visionary thinkers have always done, and it's what Strategic Renaissance shows you how to do. This guide is packed with models of corporate strategies, based on revolutionary concepts drawn from science, philosophy, military and political history, and business history - strategies with surprising lessons for your organization's success. Evan M. Dudik shows you how to apply the key elements of great business strategy. You'll learn how to objectively assess business conditions (be prepared to trash most of what you know about market research!), formulate and test a resulting if-then hypothesis, and proceed with strategies that can truly change your company's direction. Here are all the tools you need to analyze your company's current strategic efforts and create new ones with greater chances to succeed.

From the acclaimed MIT Sloan Management Review comes a compendium of cutting-edge thinking about corporate strategy. Focusing on strategic imperatives of the new economy, leading thinkers in the field present their views in four general areas: strategy and value creation; flexibility in a volatile world; strategy making in uncertain times; and strategies for growth in fast-paced markets. Strategic Thinking for the New Economy shows that designing a successful strategy is a never-ending quest-and that effective strategic thinking is a process of continuously asking questions and thinking through issues in a creative way. The book's expert contributions include: * Sumantra Ghoshal, Christopher A. Bartlett, and Peter Moran on managers creating values * Henry Mintzberg and Joseph Lampel on the history of the strategy process * Arnoldo C. Hax and Dean L. Wilde II on adaptive management * Kathleen M. Eisenhardt on strategic decision making * Richard T. Pascale on treating organizations as complex adaptive systems * Eric D. Beinhocker on lessons learned from complexity theory and evolution * Peter J. Williamson on creating a portfolio of options for the future * Gary Hamel on strategy innovation and the quest for value * W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne on expanding markets * Constantinos C. Markides on dynamic strategy * C. K. Prahalad and Jan P. Oosterveld on transforming internal governance * Georg von Krogh and Michael A. Cusumano on managing for fast growth The Editors Michael A. Cusumano is the Sloan Management Review Distinguished Professor at MIT's Sloan School of Management and a noted competitive strategy specialist. Constantinos C. Markides is professor of strategic and international management and chairman of the strategy department at the London Business School.

A practical guide to a successful scientific career, including creativity and problem-solving techniques to enhance research quality and output.