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 book gave a great history of strategy as it evolved including the history of the major firms and some idea of where they are now. however, he could have been more future looking ans mentioned about where he sees them evolving. But otherwise, a book that lives up to its title" — Anandh (4 out of 5 stars)
"The book gave a great history of strategy as it evolved including the history of the major firms and some idea of where they are now. however, he could have been more future looking ans mentioned about where he sees them evolving. But otherwise, a book that lives up to its title"
" i heard the audio book and liked it quite a lot. since i listened to it while driving to work and back, there were several instances when i had to focus on the crazy traffic that distracted me from listening. despite that, i found the 'read' quite interesting. would recommend it to people interested in the subject. of course i would have loved to read this several years ago but better late than never :-) "
" Excellent introduction on how strategy migrated from a military to a business concept. And gives you a strong sense of how consulting jargon, frameworks and thought leaders emerged and evolved. "
" A very readable and interesting account of the history of strategy as an idea/concept. "
" Excellent book. Gives a great overview of the history of strategy. "
" This book was good. It had some dull moments but good read. It is one of those books that you pick up a few tips and at the end feel a little smarter. "
" Recommended by Professor Dawn Iacobucci "
" This book is a must read for anyone interested in and involved with business strategy. "
" Very insightful. A great resource understanding the events and players the evolution of strategy. "
" Really enjoying this book right now. Looking at the history of how business strategy was born and realizing that from manufacturing to service-based organizations, everyone is on a quest to reduce costs. "
" The earlier history was superb, but as with most books about history as it approaches the present it lacks the value of hindsight "
" Good book on history of strategy consulting, so if you're into that sort of thing it will be interesting. Sort of drags at the end with recent history of strategy consulting, which is not as interesting as the origins. "
" A great book. Easy to read, full of information. After reading, you will have an excellent overview of strategic consultants, the tools they use, the ways they position themselves, and the history of the profession. "
" Excellent overview of what's really a new industry. Never knew how shallow the roots of management consulting really are. For another view, read Mintzberg. "
" Helpful and fascinating background to the management consulting industry "
" This was a pretty dry book, but was helpful to understand the cannon-esque thought framework that the profession uses to approach analyzing businesses. As "More money than god" is to Hedge funds, "Lords of strategy" is to strategy consulting. "
Timothée de Fombelle is a much-admired French playwright. His children’s book Toby Alone is highly acclaimed in France and has won numerous awards.
Robertson Dean has played leading roles on and off Broadway and at dozens of regional theaters throughout the country. He has a BA from Tufts University and an MFA from Yale. His audiobook narration has garnered ten AudioFile Earphones Awards. He now lives in Los Angeles, where he works in film and television in addition to narrating.
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