Walter Kiechel III - The Lords of Strategy (2010)

The Lords of Strategy: The Secret Intellectual History of the New Corporate World
Written by Walter Kiechel III
Read by Robertson Dean
Unabridged
http://www.amazon.com/Lords-Strategy-Intellectual-History-Corporate/dp/1...

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Imagine running a business without a strategy. It would be akin to driving blindfolded, to building a house without a blueprint. Yet just 50 years ago, business “plans” were mere extrapolations of the status quo, heedless of the forces that determine the fate of today’s organizations: competitive threats, customer needs, and business costs. The concept of strategy changed all that, paving the way for the creation of the modern corporate world.

The Lords of Strategy recounts the birth and evolution of strategy — arguably the most influential business paradigm of the past half century — and the trials and triumphs of the surprising disruptors who invented it. Principal among them were four men: Bruce Henderson, found of the Boston Consulting Group; Bill Bain, creator of Bain & Company; Fred Gluck, longtime managing director of McKinsey & Company; and Harvard Business School professor Michael Porter. Each was obsessed with pinpointing how companies achieve competitive advantage over others. This insider account reveals these industry’s pioneers as “idea junkies” - a new breed of intellectuals who wielded concepts as weapons for fighting business battles. Their relentless efforts to plumb the depths of competition exploded much of the prevailing wisdom, galvanized executives into action, and forced companies to understand themselves as never before.

An important book by one of management’s keenest observers, The Lords of Strategy provides listeners with a deeper understanding of the world they compete in and a sharper eye for what works — and what doesn’t — when forging strategy.

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THE LORDS OF STRATEGY :
The Secret Intellectual History of the New Corporate World
Walter Kiechel III
Read by Robertson Dean

A business journalist cogently presents his ideas on how the international corporate world should carry out strategic planning. The author painstakingly researched the inside stories of the prime movers in several well-known consulting firms, such as the Boston Consulting Group and McKinsey. Narrator Robertson Dean's warm baritone is well matched to the content, enhancing it and holding listener interest. Dean's use of nuance and moderate pacing works well for Kiechel’s discussion of the impact and relevance of strategic planning consultants. Business students and leaders alike will benefit from this thoughtful consideration of the practice of using outsiders to help create change. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2010]