Business Strategy
What is strategy? For many it is the application of a theory, model or framework. In
this book Spender develops a different creative approach. Emphasizing that firms face
uncertainties and unknowns (knowledge gaps) he argues that the core of strategic thinking
and processes rests on the organization's leaders developing newly imagined solutions to
the opportunities that these uncertainties open up. Drawing on a wide range of ideas from
strategy, economics, entrepreneurship and philosophy he stresses the importance of
judgment in strategy, and argues that a key element of the entrepreneur and executive's
task is to engage chosen uncertainties, develop a language to express and explain the
firm's particular business model for dealing with these, and thus create innovation and
value. At the same time he shows how the language the strategist creates to do this gives
the firm identity and purpose, and communicates this to its members, stakeholders, and
customers. In an accessible and engaging style Spender introduces these ideas, and reviews
the strategy tools currently available from consultants and academics. Throughout he
stresses the uncertainties or knowledge absences that pervade business and make effective
strategizing both necessary and valuable. He outlines a structured practice that managers
and consultants might chose to follow, not a theory. With appendices on casework, teaching
strategy, current strategy texts, and further reading this book makes an important
contribution to our understanding of the field and practice of strategy, opening up new
approaches for managers, consultants, strategy teachers and students. In this fascinating
book, Spender integrates decades of study of uncertainty, knowledge (and lack of it),
entrepreneurship, industry recipes, language, and judgment into mainstream strategic
analysis. The result a brilliant reinterpretation of strategy tools and uncertain
situations. Nurtured on economic rationality, I found this a major step towards closing
the gap between managerial practice and strategic theorizing. Robert M. Grant, University
of Bocconi For too long, strategy and entrepreneurship have been different fields. Now
Spender shows entrepreneurship not founding firms but creating value under uncertainty to
be the nub of the strategizing process, irrevocably linking them. The result is important
for scholars and practitioners alike. Strategy now embraces entrepreneurship as the
starting point of any explanation of superior firm performance. Jay B. Barney, University
of Utah
1. Introduction to Strategic Work, Language, and Value
2. Strategic Analysis - Consulting Tools
3. Strategic Analysis - Academic Models
4. Building Language and the Business Model
5. Persuading Supporters
6. The Business Strategist's World
Appendix A - On Case Writing and Teaching
Appendix B - Teaching from This Book
Appendix C - Some Strategy Texts and Their Implicit Theory
Appendix D - Further Reading
352 pages, Hardcover