Contemporary Strategy Analysis (Grant, 2006)

“Robert Grant’s “Contemporary Strategy Analysis 6e” is one of those rare strategy textbooks that combine rigor with relevance, provide insights into the determinants of business success, highlight the key points with colorful case examples and does all that in a clear manner that communicates the excitement of the subject matter! It is a superb book and deserves to be the standard textbook at every top business school—just like it is at London Business School.” Costas Markidas, London Business School

Book Description
The pre-eminent strategy text in the field on both sides of the Atlantic has been significantly updated and revised in its latest edition. Introducing students, especially MBA candidates, to the core concepts and principles of strategy, the text combines a rigorous approach to business strategy analysis with lively examples of current practice.

Now includes thorough coverage of internet-based strategies, fresh examples of resource-based competitive advantage, additional case illustrations in every chapter, and new self-study questions

Features a new two-colour design throughout with high-spec artwork

Introduces students to the core concepts and principles of strategy, and offers them the tools they need to formulate and implement these

Combines Grant’s renowned rigorous approach to business strategy analysis with lively examples of current practice

Supported by a range of online resources, including a guide for instructors and downloadable PowerPoint slides for students, available at www.blackwellpublishing.com/grant

p.7-9 What do these examples [3 individual success stories] tell us about the characteristics of a strategy that are conductive to success?...

1. Goals that are simple, consistent, and long term...

2. Profound understanding of the competitive environment.

3. Objective appraisal of resources...

4. Effective implementation.

p.13 For a strategy to be successful, it must be consistent with the firm's external environment, and with its internal environment - its goals and values, resources and capabilities, and structure and systems.

p.26 strategy simplifies decision making by constraining the range of decision alternatives considered and by acting as a heuristic - a rule of thumb that reduces the search required to find an acceptable solution to a decision problem.

p.125 Strategy is concerned with matching a firm's resources and capabilities to the opportunities that arise in the external environment.

p.127 In general, the greater the rate of change in a firm's external environment, the more likely it is that internal resources and capabilities will provide a secure foundation for long-term strategy.

p.147 How do we exploit our key strengths most effectively? What do we do about our key weaknesses in terms of both upgrading them and reducing our vulnerability to them... Having identified resources and capabilities that are important... the key task is to formulate our strategy to ensure that these resources are deployed to the greatest effect.

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