The Strategist's Handbook: Tools, Templates, and Best Practices Across the Strategy Process

by Timothy Galpin

Strategy, an ancient pursuit, has evolved through the centuries and in today's business environment applies to all organizations, across all sectors and geographies.

The Strategist's Handbook is a collection of the best materials, insights, tools, and templates that comprise the core Strategy course taught in the undergraduate, MBA, Executive MBA, and Post-graduate Diploma programs at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. Each of the best practices, pitfalls to avoid, tools and templates presented in this book has been field-tested and refined for over three decades while working with for profit, not-for-profit, and government organizations, across multiple industries around the globe to help them develop and implement their strategies.

The guidance and tools can be applied in small, mid-sized, and large organizations; their application just needs to be scaled accordingly. While this is a practical “how to” book, the tools and approaches presented are based on a solid foundation of well-established theory and extensive research that is also highlighted within each chapter. The contents can benefit those new to “strategy” as well as seasoned strategy professionals, current and aspiring senior managers, middle- and front-line managers, functional experts, and strategy consultants.

272 pages, Paperback

Published November 28, 2023

Reviews

[Sherri]

Introduction
Purpose and scope of the book
Overview of what it means to be a strategist in various contexts
Part 1: Foundations of Strategy
What is Strategy?

Definition and evolution of strategy
Importance of strategic thinking
Key Concepts in Strategy

SWOT analysis
Competitive advantage
Value proposition
Frameworks and Models

Porter's Five Forces
PESTEL analysis
Balanced Scorecard
Part 2: Strategic Analysis
Market Analysis

Understanding market dynamics
Market segmentation and targeting
Competitor Analysis

Assessing competitors' strengths and weaknesses
Competitive positioning
Internal Analysis

Assessing organizational capabilities and resources
Core competencies and competitive advantage
Part 3: Strategy Formulation
Strategic Planning

Setting strategic goals and objectives
Long-term vs. short-term planning
Business Strategy

Differentiation vs. cost leadership
Blue ocean vs. red ocean strategy
Corporate Strategy

Growth strategies (e.g., diversification, expansion)
Portfolio management
Part 4: Strategy Implementation
Organizational Alignment

Aligning strategy with organizational structure and culture
Change management and leadership
Resource Allocation

Budgeting and financial planning
Allocating human and technological resources
Monitoring and Control

Key performance indicators (KPIs)
Performance evaluation and adjustment
Part 5: Special Topics in Strategy
Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Strategies for fostering innovation
Entrepreneurial strategies
Global Strategy

International expansion strategies
Managing global operations and challenges
Conclusion
Summary of key takeaways
Future trends and challenges in strategic management
Appendices
Case studies and examples
Glossary of strategic management terms

[Lor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite Excerpt:
“must consider strategy execution, both during the climb and while planning the climb … Success in climbing Everest does not depend on choosing the right path, but on the climber’s capacity to deal with the conditions of the actual climb” (Powell, 2017, p. 165).

[Rafael Maia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilhante!

[Guilherme Dantas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esperava um foco maior em como montar uma estratégia, porém o livro foca mais na implementação. O capítulo sobre cultura é muito bom!