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  • Good Strategy/Bad Strategy

  • The Difference and Why It Matters
  • By: Richard Rumelt
  • Narrated by: Sean Runnette
  • Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (406 ratings)

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Good Strategy/Bad Strategy

By: Richard Rumelt
Narrated by: Sean Runnette
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Summary

Good Strategy/Bad Strategy clarifies the muddled thinking underlying too many strategies and provides a clear way to create and implement a powerful action-oriented strategy for the real world.

Developing and implementing a strategy is the central task of a leader. A good strategy is a specific and coherent response to - and approach for - overcoming the obstacles to progress. A good strategy works by harnessing and applying power where it will have the greatest effect. Yet, Rumelt shows that there has been a growing and unfortunate tendency to equate Mom-and-apple-pie values, fluffy packages of buzzwords, motivational slogans, and financial goals with “strategy”.

In Good Strategy/Bad Strategy, he debunks these elements of “bad strategy” and awakens an understanding of the power of a “good strategy”. He introduces nine sources of power - ranging from using leverage to effectively focusing on growth - that are eye-opening yet pragmatic tools that can easily be put to work on Monday morning and uses fascinating examples from business, nonprofit, and military affairs to bring its original and pragmatic ideas to life. The detailed examples range from Apple to General Motors, from the two Iraq wars to Afghanistan, from a small local market to Wal-Mart, from Nvidia to Silicon Graphics, from the Getty Trust to the Los Angeles Unified School District, from Cisco Systems to Paccar, and from Global Crossing to the 2007-08 financial crisis.

Reflecting an astonishing grasp and integration of economics, finance, technology, history, and the brilliance and foibles of the human character, Good Strategy/Bad Strategy stems from Rumelt’s decades of digging beyond the superficial to address hard questions with honesty and integrity.

©2011 Richard Rumelt (P)2019 Random House Audio
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Critic reviews

"Represents the latest thinking in strategy and is peppered with many current real world examples. Good Strategy/Bad Strategy has much to offer and has every chance of becoming a business classic.” (Management Today)

“Brilliant...a milestone in both the theory and practice of strategy... Vivid examples from the contemporary business world and global history that clearly show how to recognize the good, reject the bad, and make good strategy a living force in your organization.” (John Stopford, chairman, TLP International, professor emeritus, London Business School)

“Penetrating insights provide new and powerful ways for leaders to tackle the obstacles they face. The concepts of "the kernel" and "the proximate objective" are blockbusters. This is the new must-have book for everyone who leads an organization in business, government, or in-between.” (Robert A. Eckert, chairman and CEO of Mattel)

What listeners say about Good Strategy/Bad Strategy

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One of the best books I have ever listened too

Brilliant in content and tone. I’m not usually one for writing reviews but the humour and insights this book delivers compelled me to at least write a short one.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good insight to what is strategy

I did not know what a strategy in a company is. After reading this book I would have good knowledge to improve greatly our companys strategy work. I liked the different ways to look strategy. Real world examples are always interesting to listen and those are good learning methods.

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A bit repetitive.

Good book but needs to deliver more analytical tools rather than merely repeating endless examples.

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Brilliant insights.

This book is an eye opener. It is thoughtful and detailed while remaining easy to follow and to digest. I enjoyed how the thoughts were constructed and backed up with examples from a wide variety of industries.

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Interesting

Very interesting book. It gives you a good understanding of what is important and what is ”fluff”

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A must listen for decision makers!

One of the best reads/listens on strategy.
Real life examples demonstrate what is a good strategy and what is a bad strategy, breaking down the various parts with expert analysis of the factors involved in success/failure.

This is a must read for everyone.
We make decisions every day and understanding what makes a good strategy is fundamental to dealing with any situation.

Narration was top notch!

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A very good book on Strategy

This book is one of the first (if not the first) where strategy is clearly explained very clearly and without the fluff of many other books on strategy.

I only recommend when a book brings an aha moment into the topic explained. This book is in this category, highly recommended!

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A Good Clear Message on Strategy

A good reminder of the role of insight and clear planning in moving a business forward. I was waiting for a eureka moment that never came but I might be a bit older than the target audience. You won't be blown away but you will be reminded of a few good business principles in a well written and narrated book. Overall a useful read.

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I love this book.

Book is so captivating, theory is well intertwined with well told interesting examples. The presentation of core strategic principles is presented through the various chapters, which helped me to identify practical use.
The narrator read the book in a way which made me feel like I'm present and witnessing the events. Like I was attending the lectures

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Great book, great narration

Excellent book around strategy, with great examples . The narration is very good , very engaging and it’s easy to follow.

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