Smart Big Moves: The Story Behind Strategic Breakthroughs

Smart Big Moves: The Story Behind Strategic Breakthroughs

by Paul Strebel, Anne-Valérie Ohlsson
Released January 2009
Publisher(s): Pearson
ISBN: 9780131370173

Read it now on the O’Reilly learning platform with a 10-day free trial.

O’Reilly members get unlimited access to books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.

Start your free trial

Book description

‘"… combines a great story with great business insight … . I love this book!"

Mr Karimattam Davasia, President & Executive Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd

"Read it!"
Renato Fassbind, CFO, Credit Suisse

This is not an ordinary business book. It uses the fictionalized story of the ups and downs of a real company to show you how best to respond to the big challenges every company — be it a huge multinational or a small start-up — faces from time to time.

Ride the rollercoaster of real business moves with the cast of Smart Big Moves: Erik, the former software executive turned entrepreneur in the health food market; Per, his ambitious business partner; Bjorn, the ever-helpful mentor with an MBA under his belt who is always ready to hand out advice and case studies; Caroline, the talented consultant brought in to help smooth the strategic shifts. And watch out for the twist in the tale!

Through this engaging, entertaining and thought-provoking story, you will learn the secrets of formulating smart big moves using the three critical elements of smart psychology, smart strategy and smart risk management.

WHEN YOU NEED TO MAKE A BIG MOVE, MAKE SURE YOURS IS A SMART ONE!

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. Praise for Smart Big Moves
  3. Financial Times Prentice Hall
  4. Acknowledgements
  5. Introduction
    1. Conceptual Framework
    2. How to Read this Book
  6. 1. Finding a New Game
    1. Beware Opportunistic Hubris
      1. Wipro: Opportunism and Experience
      2. Experience-based Entrepreneurship
    2. Secrets of Finding a New Game
      1. Smart Psychology
      2. Smart Strategy
      3. Smart Risk Management
  7. 2. Going for Growth
    1. Beware Inside-out Projection
      1. Apple: Not Projection but Customer Value Creation
      2. Value-creating Roll-out
    2. Secrets of Going for Growth
      1. Smart Psychology
      2. Smart Strategy
      3. Smart Risk Management
  8. 3. Getting Back into Shape
    1. Beware Narcissistic Denial
      1. HSBC: Not Denial but Reality
      2. Real Realignment
    2. Secrets of Getting Back into Shape
      1. Smart Psychology
      2. Smart Strategy
      3. Smart Risk Management
  9. 4. Relaunching Growth
    1. Beware ‘Me Too’ Imitation
      1. Dow Corning: Not Imitation but Distinctiveness
      2. Distinctive Repositioning
    2. Secrets of Relaunching Growth
      1. Smart Psychology
      2. Smart Strategy
      3. Smart Risk Management
  10. 5. Restoring Profitability
    1. Beware Raising the Stakes
      1. ABB: Not More Risk but Bold Simplicity
      2. Bold Restructuring
    2. Secrets of Restoring Profitability
      1. Smart Psychology
      2. Smart Strategy
      3. Smart Risk Management
  11. 6. Secrets of Smart Big Moves
    1. Smart Strategy
      1. Think Smart Before Acting Big
        1. Finding a new game
        2. Going for growth
        3. Relaunching growth
        4. Getting back into shape
        5. Restoring profitability
        6. Not smart strategy
    2. Smart Psychology
      1. Don’t Let Your Ego Trap You
        1. Entrepreneurship
        2. Roll-out
        3. Repositioning
        4. Realignment
        5. Restructuring
        6. Guidelines for mastering hubris
        7. The secrets of smart psychology. In a nutshell
    3. Smart Risk Management
      1. Avoid Jumping, Learn to Run
        1. Periodically rebalance the business model with a big move on a different dimension
        2. Leverage existing experience by developing complementary capabilities
        3. Use an implementation process and leadership style appropriate to the time available and resistance to the big move
  12. Epilogue
  13. Endnotes
    1. Chapter 1
    2. Chapter 2
    3. Chapter 3
    4. Chapter 4
    5. Chapter 5
    6. Chapter 6
  14. Bibliography

Product information

  • Title: Smart Big Moves: The Story Behind Strategic Breakthroughs
  • Author(s): Paul Strebel, Anne-Valérie Ohlsson
  • Release date: January 2009
  • Publisher(s): Pearson
  • ISBN: 9780131370173