Essentials of Strategic Management: The Quest for Competitive Advantage

by Gamble, John; Thompson, Jr., Arthur

• ISBN13: 9780078137143
• ISBN10: 0078137144
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-01-07
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill/Irwin

Summary

Essentials of Strategic Management responds head-on to the growing requests by business faculty for a concisely-written strategic management text that’s robust and theory-driven and supported with a compelling collection of cases. This text was written with four objectives in mind:

1) Although relatively brief in length, the text provides students with an up-to-date and thorough understanding of essential strategic management concepts and analytic tools

2) It simplifies the task of demonstrating student learning through course embedded assessment

3) The concepts are supported by contemporary, well-written cases involving headline strategic issues

4) The text serves as the theoretical foundation of a teaching approach incorporating a business strategy simulation.

Table of Contents

Strategy, Corporate Entrepreneurship, and Leadership

Strategy and the Quest for Competitive Advantage

Leadership and the Strategic Management Process

Evaluating a Company’s External Environment

Factors Shaping Strategic Choices

Internal Situation Analysis: Evaluating a Company’s Resources, Cost Position, and Competitive Strength

The Five Generic Competitive Strategies

Executing the Strategy

Supplementing the Chosen Competitive Strategy— Other Important Business Strategy Choices

Strategies for Competing in International Markets

Beyond Competitive Strategy

Strategies for Multibusiness Corporations

Ethical Business Strategies, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Environmental Sustainability

Superior Strategy Execution—Another Path to Competitive Advantage

Cases in Strategic Management

Mystic Monk Coffee

Whole Foods Market in 2008: Vision, Core Values, and Strategy

Competition in the Golf Equipment Industry in 2009

Competition in the Movie Rental Industry in 2008: Netflix and Blockbuster Battle for Market Leadership

Dell Inc. in 2008: Can It Overtake Hewlett-Packard as the Worldwide Leader in Personal Computers?

Apple Inc. in 2009

Nintendo’s Strategy in 2009: The Ongoing Battle with Microsoft and Sony

Google’s Strategy in 2009 380

SkyWest, Inc. and the Regional Airline Industry in 2009

Corporate Strategy in Multibusiness Companies

PepsiCo’s Diversification Strategy in 2008

Adidas in 2009: Has Corporate Restructuring Increased Shareholder Value?

Implementing and Executing Strategy

Robin Hood

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in 2008: Management’s Initiative to Transform the Company and Curtail Wal-Mart Bashing

Southwest Airlines in 2008: Culture, Values, and Operating Practices

Business Ethics and Social Responsibility

Countrywide Financial Corporation and the Subprime Mortgage Debacle

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.