The Competitve Mind Strategy for Winning in Business

by Crouch, Andrew

• ISBN13: 9781405185622
• ISBN10: 1405185627
• eBook ISBN(s): 9780470740224
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-10-27
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

This is a short executive guide to the principles of competitive strategy. The book draws, chapter by chapter, on illustrative instances and examples involving vigorous competition between determined rivals in business. It offers helpful ideas for devising ways to prevail in confrontation with business competitors. Based on the author's course which has been enthusiastically received over the past ten years by executives and undergraduates, the book is designed as a thought-provoking complement to standard textbooks on corporate strategy. Each chapter addresses a key principle, richly illustrated with topical business examples, and followed by student questions at the end of the chapter. The length of the book in PC4 would be about 240 pp; I propose a printrun of 2000 at £16.99/ $35.00.

Author Biography

Andrew Crouch joined the Business School at Bond University in 1989, just as the University opened. Prior to his move to Bond he held academic positions in the Melbourne Business School and the Australian Graduate School of Management. His professional interests have been based in managerial psychology where he completed his doctorate. Andrew has taught and consulted in strategy, competitive intelligence and the management of change.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. ix
Introduction	p. 1
Heritage	p. 2
Contemporary perspectives	p. 2
Classic perspectives	p. 5
Delineation of strategy	p. 11
Primary concepts	p. 12
Levels of direction	p. 14
Principles	p. 16
Competition	p. 23
Strategic threshold	p. 26
Dynamics of harmony	p. 26
Dynamics of confrontation	p. 32
Threshold of confrontation	p. 41
Competition	p. 46
Competition and games	p. 51
Purpose	p. 54
Competitive context	p. 56
Competitive intelligence	p. 59
The practice of competitive intelligence	p. 62
Assessment	p. 69
Strategic assessment	p. 71
Design	p. 72
Strategic appraisal	p. 72
Strategic issues	p. 79
Alternative courses of action	p. 80
Evaluation	p. 85
Contemporary criteria	p. 85
Classic criteria	p. 92
The look of a Strategic Assessment	p. 99
Integrity	p. 101
Initiative	p. 104
Creating momentum	p. 106
Flexibility	p. 110
Adapting to circumstances	p. 112
Balance	p. 118
Maintaining stability	p. 121
Security	p. 129
Time	p. 133
Impressions of time	p. 136
Deception	p. 141
Impressions of reality	p. 143
Power	p. 147
Impressions of dependence	p. 152
Feasibility	p. 157
Capability proposition	p. 160
Assets	p. 161
Resource-based view	p. 162
Maintenance of wherewithal	p. 165
Ability	p. 168
Core competencies	p. 169
Capacity to transform	p. 170
Alliances	p. 173
Strategic satellites	p. 175
Morality	p. 181
Conclusion	p. 189
Alexander's strategy	p. 190
Policy objectives	p. 190
Strategic thresholds	p. 191
Principles of strategy	p. 196
Finally ...	p. 206
Endnotes	p. 211
Index	p. 225
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