Essential Strategic Management presents straightforward and concise explanations of the essential concepts, research findings and theories which are to be found in the strategic management field. This book recognizes the complex, changing and diverse nature of the theory and practice of strategic management. It sets out to make this theory and practice coherent and intelligible without oversimplifying it. Essential Strategic Management gives you a detailed examination of the processes and techniques which are used in strategic planning, specially designed worksheets for students and managers wishing to work through a strategic planning process, comments and key points to help the reader draw together the current state of knowledge on strategic management, boxed 'research capsules' giving summaries of research studies, and emphasis on concepts and tools as well as research findings and theory. This book will be especially useful to students taking strategic management or business policy courses and graduate students taking strategic management courses as part of MBA and DMS programmes. It will be useful to the increasing numbers of managers at various stages in their managerial careers who want to build on their experience and develop their knowledge and skills in strategic management.