The Strategy Book: How to Think and Act Strategically to Deliver Outstanding Results (Financial Times Series) [Paperback]

"My God, a strategy book that actually makes sense? Imagine that... Most strategy books are either exercises in waffling and vague generalities, or mind-numbingly boring laundry lists of could-a, would-a, should-a. Max Mckeown's take on strategy is neither, and as an antidote he has given us The Strategy Book, where no-nonsense pragmatism meets imagination and adaptive flexibility. This book reads the way a good strategic plan should – guidance but not dogma, to the point but with an eye open to alternative possibilities. It just might be the cheapest form of strategic insurance ever created."

Professor Alf Rehn, author of Dangerous Ideas, internationally active speaker and consultant 

"Max has a gift to reverse engineer complexity in a way that leaders can truly navigate how to lead their business, their people and their lives with both clarity and confidence. I would say Max is a preeminent map maker of our times."

Jennifer Sertl, President Agility3R and co-author Strategy Leadership & the Soul

‘It’s unusual for a management book to encourage readers to ask uncomfortable questions about their own products, leading to uncomfortable answers, and then to stimulate the inspiration and imagination to address those issues effectively.  Max explains a range of perspectives and tools with admirable clarity.  However, we don’t lose sight of the underlying challenges and risks in strategy development and implementation.  This is a book that disturbs and demystifies in a creatively helpful way.’

Professor David A. Buchanan, Author of Organizational Behaviour, Cranfield University

“Max de-clutters corporate speak and opens up strategy to everyone. His no nonsense approach to corporate strategy will teach you to look at your business like never before. In person, his insight is scalpel sharp and this book is a masterclass in improving your strategic thinking. You will learn to ask the big questions that need to be asked to get the core of strategic success.”

Steve Fortune, Global Leadership Development at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals

‘I love this book. Max Mckeown has the gift of making complex ideas accessible as well as enjoyable. One of the biggest challenges facing organisations today is making strategy come alive – especially with respect to innovation. Max demystifies the strategy process, bringing it to life with great examples. He challenges the reader to really think- as well as have the guts to take action.  With its rich array of strategy tools, this book will help any reader bridge the ‘theory-practice gap’ to produce results which really matter.’

Professor Linda Holbeche, Author of The High Performance Organisation, Centre for Leadership Innovation, University of Bedfordshire

"This book fills a gap in the strategy literature between toolkits, frameworks, implementation and the individual. Max Mckeown provides not only an array of fine examples from a wide range of organizations, but also challenges the reader by presenting strategy as both an everyday performance and as a down to earth art. It is a book which will appeal to practitioners and students alike and it provides a richness and a challenge to the often stultified frameworks which have come to characterise strategy".

Professor David Wilson, Author of Strategy: Analysis & Practice, Department of Sociology, University of Warwick

"Having worked with Max on innovation I had high expectations for The Strategy Book. In short - worth the wait, this is a great and truly helpful book which I fully expect to reference back to for years to come. Max has the ability to articulate clearly the challenges most organisations face in shaping their futures - and with consummate swagger, mixed with real life, powerful examples - guides you through strategic thinking relevant to not only today, but you and the job you do."

Geir Holmer, ex-Virgin Media , Independent Consultant

"After thoroughly enjoying (and benefiting greatly from) The Truth About Innovation, I was anxiously awaiting Max's next winner...and I think it's here! The Strategy Book totally demystifies 'strategy' for us non-MBA-types struggling to keep pace with the growing demands on our creativity and ability to lead from the front everyday...I look forward to this book hitting the shelves as I will be investing in a few copies for my team - material that we will refer to as a working guide to the strategic and planning process...and beyond! Another brilliant one from Max!!!"

Rahim Dawood, Manager, Systems and Technology

"This book is highly recommended reading and also a useful tool for military thinkers. It has a very good structure making it easy to embrace the powerful ideas inside.”

Harri Ohra-aho, Brigadier General of the Finnish Defence Forces

" If you want to become a better strategic thinker, read Max’s new book. Succinct and to-the-point, he captures the essence of strategy. With a passion and style all of his own, he connects insights from leading strategy gurus to successful practices in leading companies.”  

Simon Collinson, Professor of Strategy, Henley Business School

"Max has his very own style of talking strategy - crossing all corporate and conventional boundaries. McKeown continues to walk the talk as a restless contributor for unconventional ideas. Follow the grandmaster of Innovation into new dimensions of strategy for the 21st century. A great book that’s also fun to read."

Jan-Henrik Andersson, Operations Director Metro AG

“I have not read every publication on strategy and now I don’t have to worry about that challenge anymore because I have just finished “The Strategy Book” and I feel confident that I will never find a better book on the subject.  Let me get a little thesaurus-giddy for a moment – superb, excellent, splendid, authoritative, sure-footed, impressive, thorough, accessible, essential, etc, etc.  I think you get the picture….Max McKeown has taken every aspect of strategy, maintained the seriousness of the subject, deconstructed it’s complexities and rebuilt his findings in a practical, no-nonsense way that makes his book unstuffy and easy to read.  It is that rare thing, an academic book that informs and entertains in a universally appealing way….. As you plan and chart your way through life and career, “The Strategy Book” will always be a very good friend to you”.

Retail Confidential Blog

Thinking strategically is what separates managers and leaders. Learn the fundamentals about how to create winning strategy and lead your team to deliver it. From understanding what strategy can do for you, through to creating a strategy and engaging others with strategy, this book offers practical guidance and expert tips. It is peppered with punchy, memorable examples from real leaders winning (and losing) with real world strategies.

It can be read as a whole or you can dip into the easy-to-read, bite-size sections as and when you need to deal with a particular issue. The structure has been specially designed to make sections quick and easy to use – you’ll find yourself referring back to them again and again.