What I Didn't Learn in Business School : How Strategy Works in the Real World

Meet John Downs. He's a new MBA graduate who's landed a job with a strategy consultancy. His engagement team is on a mission: help HGS Inc., a specialty chemicals firm, define and execute a strategy for exploiting a textile technology the company developed. John and his team deploy state-of-the-art strategy tools to analyze the attractiveness of potential markets for the technology. But they soon realize the tools don't help them grapple with the human side of strategy--including political forces swirling within HGS. Everyone involved in the engagement is biased and insecure, brilliant and hardworking, selfish and lazy, loyal and dedicated. John and his cohorts aren't "real"--What I Didn't Learn in Business School is a business novel. But they're realistic: they're just like us. Their story reveals the limitations of strategy tools and demonstrates tactics for navigating the messy, human dynamics that can make or break a company's strategy efforts. This engaging book uses the power of story to present potent lessons for anyone seeking to excel at strategy management. It's a compelling read--whether you're an MBA grad struggling to apply what you learned or in the fray and eager to see what MBAs get wrong when they land in the real world. Meet Justin Campbell. He's A Newly Minted Mba Who's Landed A Coveted Job In Consulting. He's Headed To Chicago To Serve Hgs, A Large Client With An Intriguing New Technology Its Executives Haven't Yet Decided How To Exploit. Constrained By A Short Timeline And Limited Information, Justin And His Team Use State-of-the-art Strategy Tools To Analyze Various Possibilities. Justin Is Energized By This Challenging Assignment, But Soon Finds The Application Of His Strategy Toolkit Isn't As Straightforward As He'd Expected. The Political And Organizational Forces Swirling Within Hgs Complicate His Analyses And Test His Fundamental Understanding Of Important Strategic Concepts. Justin And His Cohorts Aren't Real--what I Didn't Learn In Business School Is A Business Novel. But They're Realistic: They're Just Like Us. They Are Humans, Not Human Resources, And They Each Have Their Own Personality, Motives, And Skills. Their Story Reveals Both The Strengths And The Limitations Of Common Strategy Tools. And It Demonstrates Tactics For Navigating The Messy Organizational Dynamics That Can Make Or Break A Company's Efforts To Craft Successful Strategies. This Engaging Book Uses The Power Of Story To Present Potent Lessons For Anyone Seeking To Excel At Strategy Management. The Action Moves Quickly, And At The End Of Each Chapter, You'll Find Provocative Questions That Help You Tease Out Vital Insights That You Can Apply In Your Own Work. What I Didn't Learn In Business School Is A Compelling Read--whether You're A Recent Business School Grad Struggling To Apply Your New Knowledge Or An Experienced Leader Who Already Knows That No Strategy Is Created In A Vacuum.--jacket. Prologue: A Little Turbulence -- A Simple Problem -- A New Shirt -- A Moving Target -- A Working Lunch -- A Valuable Chain -- A Thoughtful Workout -- A Sweeping Vision -- A Lone Ranger -- A Team Effort -- A Fitting Test -- A Good Call -- A Constructive Meeting -- A Seamless Argument -- A Tailored Presentation -- Epilogue: A Staffing Question. Jay B. Barney, Trish Gorman Clifford. Includes Bibliographical References. Meet Justin Campbell. He's a new MBA graduate who's landed a job with a strategy consultancy. His engagement team is on a mission: help HGS Inc., a specialty chemicals firm, define and execute a strategy for exploiting a textile technology the company developed. Justin and his team deploy state-of-the-art strategy tools to analyze the attractiveness of potential markets for the technology. But they soon realize the tools don't help them grapple with the human side of strategy--including political forces swirling within HGS. Everyone involved in the engagement is biased and insecure, brilliant and hardworking, selfish and lazy, loyal and dedicated. Justin and his cohorts aren't "real"--What I Didn't Learn in Business School is a business novel. But they're realistic: they're just like us. Their story reveals the limitations of strategy tools and demonstrates tactics for navigating the messy, human dynamics that can make or break a company's strategy efforts. This engaging book uses the power of story to present potent lessons for anyone seeking to excel at strategy management. It's a compelling read--whether you're an MBA grad struggling to apply what you learned or in the fray and eager to see what MBAs get wrong when they land in the real world. Meet John Downs. He's a new MBA graduate who's landed a job with a strategy consultancy. His engagement team is on a mission: help HGS Inc., a specialty chemicals firm, define and execute a strategy for exploiting a textile technology the company developed. John and his team deploy state-of-the-art strategy tools to analyze the attractiveness of potential markets for the technology. But they soon realize the tools don't help them grapple with the human side of strategy including political forces swirling within HGS. Everyone involved in the engagement is biased and insecure, brilliant and hardworking, selfish and lazy, loyal and dedicated. John and his cohorts aren't 'real', "What I Didn't Learn in Business School" is a business novel. But they're realistic: they're just like us. Their story reveals the limitations of strategy tools and demonstrates tactics for navigating the messy, human dynamics that can make or break a company's strategy efforts. This engaging book uses the power of story to present potent lessons for anyone seeking to excel at strategy management. It's a compelling read whether you're an MBA grad struggling to apply what you learned or in the fray and eager to see what MBAs get wrong when they land in the real world