Product Description

The inability to set good strategy can sink a company - and a leader's career. A recent "Wall Street Journal" study revealed that the number one most sought after executive skill by organisations is strategic thinking, but few leaders have that skill set. In this book, Rich Horwath dissects the three most important elements of strategic thinking, breaks them down into simple and attainable skills, and shows readers how to apply them every day. He provides managers with a clear path to mastery of three disciplines: Acumen - generate critical insights through a step-by-step evaluation of the business and its environment; Allocation - focus limited resources of time, talent, and money; and, Action - implement a system to guarantee effective execution and communication of strategy throughout the organisation. This book is based on research with senior executives from more than 150 companies and Horwath's own experience as a professional strategist. Armed with the knowledge from this book, every reader can become an expert strategist and an invaluable member of his or her organisation.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15277 in Books
• Published on: 2009-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781929774821
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Customer Reviews

A plunge into waters of business creativity, and the unseen jewels that reside beneath the surface.
I never thought of strategic thinking as a skill so much as a discipline. My view has always been that if business managers aren't thinking strategically, it's merely because they're being lazy. So when I read in Rich Horwath's book that 85% of executive leadership spends less than an hour a month discussing strategy, my thought was that 85% of executive leadership must hate their jobs. Not so. Creative thinking in the writing and performance arts is natural, but in the business world it's a learned skill set. That's what Rich Horwath offers in his latest book, "Deep Dive", a plunge into waters of business creativity, and the unseen jewels that reside beneath the surface.

It may seem counter-intuitive to implement new strategies during an economic downturn, when all corporate instinct tells you to hold onto your business model for dear life, but in fact this is the precise moment when new strategies are needed the most. What "Deep Dive" does is illustrate how to maximize the productivity of a brain storming session and eliminate any unnecessary risk when implementing a new strategy. He does this by familiarizing readers to concepts that surround the planning of new ideas.

There are so many concepts introduced in "Deep Dive" that it can be daunting, and sometimes it doesn't seem that enough attention is given to one concept before another is thrown at you. For instance, tools such as the OODA Loop and Contextual Radar are given as methods for revealing the context in which particular ideas need to flourish, but each tool is given only a few paragraphs before moving on to the next. On the other side of this coin, Horwath is determined that you learn the fundamentals of his program, stating and restating his central strategy aid, `Acumen, Allocation, Action', which form the outline of his chapters.

True to its name, this is deep stuff, and Horwath moves at lightening speed to tell you about idea after idea within other ideas, much faster than you can process it, making it feel like the perfect introductory text to supplement a larger class. What's needed are exercises for practicing PEST Analyses, Business Driver Matrixes, Competitive Strength Assessments, SWOT Alignments, and the countless other tools presented. While figures are often shown, there is little to describe the step-by-step process for using such methods.

Even with these minor flaws, Rich Horwath has created a wonderful compendium of methods for businesses that need a mode of adaptation for these ever-changing times. And there is a complete list of references given where readers can find further information on the particular methods that suit them best. (My favorite, by the way, is the Innovation Box, which seems like a simple and dependable method for idea generation.) What "Deep Dive" also provides is a sense of focus on the importance of constantly shifting the way a business rides the rough and tumble waters of economic recession.

If you've been to a Blockbuster store recently than you've witnessed first hand a company that's gasping for air. Their policies seem to change overnight, with no real consequence or benefit, as they continually lose customers to Netflix. These are the sink or swim times for many corporations, and its becoming clearer that those who swim are the ones who think strategically. "Deep Dive" is a launching point for those companies looking to delve further below than their competitors and pull from there those pearls most desirable, leaving all others lost at sea.

Corporate Necessity - Deep Dive -- In order to survive!
Rich Horwath has provided an excellent tool that should be considered essential reading for all individuals striving to become their best, in particular in the corporate and business arenas. Rich provides various models to assist individuals on how to think and plan strategically. Just as one must be at their peak performance in order to survive any corporate environment or business adventure, so must one think strategically in making every day decisions. If you are considering this book, don't consider any more -- order it, it's a must have in your library. Research on leadership conducted by the American Management Association, has shown that the most important competency for a leader is the ability to develop strategy. Strategic thinking and planning are essential for any successful career and every day success. Deep Dive encourages you to become a free diver thinker and awakens you to new depths and insights! There is a difference between the four types of strategic thinkers......find out which one you are -- and I hope you are a free diver! Rich Horwath is a subject matter expert, dynamic writer and speaker! If you are interested in learning more about this author, definitely check his website for additional information about the Strategic Thinking Institute.

Without a good strategy, a company can quickly fail
In Deep Dive, the author takes us into the offices of senior executives from more than 150 companies. He gives the reader the information he needs to generate critical insights, to focus limited resources and to implement a system that guarantees effective execution. You learn how to communicate your strategy throughout your company.

In my own business, writing sales copy for all types of businesses, I've learned that developing a strategy and executing it, communicating it, is perhaps the main downfall of most businesses. Armed with the information in this book, you can save your company from this disaster.

Highly recommended.

- Susanna K. Hutcheson