Dear all,
I completed my PhD as a contribution to the strategy as practice and strategy as discourse fields.
My latest publication, The Strategy Book, seeks, in part, to present strategy as a practical art.
Fortunately, my publisher has made available free review copies for those interested in writing a short review!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Strategy-Book-Strategically-Outstanding-Financial/dp/0273757091/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317115474&sr=1-3
There are some existing reviews below for your interest.
Just let me know if you'd like a copy for review, and I'll send out a copy.
Thanks,
Max
www.maxmckeown.com
"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 books 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
‘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
"For ages, the corporate strategy process has been kept
obscure and unreachable for those without a seat in the board room. Max Mckeown
depicts all about strategy planning and implementation in a book that clearly
deserves the title it holds. Succinct and revealing. By following this book you
will be doing strategy from your day to day activities considering all other
aspects of the competitive era we all live in. You will come back to it several
times to take advantage of such revealing information"
Cesar Malacon, Marketing Manager
and MBA Graduate
"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
, Now 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
“Max has a gift for reverse engineering 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 pre-eminent map maker of our
times.”
-
Jennifer Sertl, President Agility3R and
co-author Strategy
Leadership & the Soul
"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
