Myths of Strategy - (Business Myths) by Jérôme Barthélemy (Paperback)

About the Book

"Every business should introduce new technologies to improve their performance? The only way to innovate is to think outside of the box? And obviously, having a Chief Strategy Officer is a guarantee of success. Really?The reality is that there are no magic recipes for success. If there were, every company would use them, and no single company would be outstanding.Business strategy is messy, requires hard graft and is difficult to get right. And yet the world of strategy is dominated by management consultants and business gurus making sweeping generalizations, oversimplifying business thinking and peddling their own unfounded ideas. But do these methods actually work?Myths of Strategy debunks thirty of these most common strategy sagas, cutting through consultant hyperbole and provide you with tried and test business ideas that will make your company more successful.About the Business Myths series...The Business Myths series tackles the falsehoods that pervade the business world. From leadership and management to social media and the workplace, these accessible books overturn out-of-date assumptions, skewer stereotypes and put oft-repeated slogans to the myth-busting test. Both entertaining and rigorously researched, these books will equip you with the insight and no-nonsense wisdom you need to succeed"--

Book Synopsis

Every business should introduce new technologies to improve their performance? The only way to innovate is to think outside of the box? And obviously, having a Chief Strategy Officer is a guarantee of success. Really?

The reality is that there are no magic recipes for success. If there were, every company would use them, and no single company would be outstanding.

Business strategy is messy, requires hard graft and is difficult to get right. And yet the world of strategy is dominated by management consultants and business gurus making sweeping generalizations, oversimplifying business thinking and peddling their own unfounded ideas. But do these methods actually work?

Myths of Strategy debunks thirty of these most common strategy sagas, cutting through consultant hyperbole and provide you with tried and test business ideas that will make your company more successful.

About the Business Myths series...

The Business Myths series tackles the falsehoods that pervade the business world. From leadership and management to social media, strategy and the workplace, these accessible books overturn out-of-date assumptions, skewer stereotypes and put oft-repeated slogans to the test. Entertaining and rigorously researched, these books will equip you with the insight and no-nonsense wisdom you need to succeed.

Review Quotes

"Myths of Strategy will surprise you. Backed by deep research and packed with rich nuggets of insight, this book serves up a potpourri of smart ideas. A clever, practical and fun read!"-- "Kathleen Eisenhardt, Professor, Stanford University, co-author of Simple Rules"

"A great book and a must read for strategists and CEOs altogether. Jérôme Barthélemy's analysis of 35 strategic myths is full of great stories quickly read which often defy conventional wisdom."-- "Pierre-André de Chalendar, Chairman of the Board, Saint-Gobain"

"Far from the linear structure of classic studies on business strategy, Myths of strategy is a book to explore with curiosity and enthusiasm. Senior managers may not agree with the author on all points, but this lively and solidly researched essay with its many insightful examples will doubtless open up some relevant avenues for making strategy a powerful force in leveraging performance!"-- "Benoît Coquart, CEO, Legrand"

"Grounded on findings from decades of research, Jérôme Barthélemy's book reveals the limitations of strategy recommendations and tools by debunking myths about business strategy. A compelling read that presents powerful lessons for anyone seeking to develop an effective business strategy."-- "Laurence Capron, Professor, INSEAD"

"The business world abounds with claims about what it takes to achieve high performance. In Myths of Strategy, Jérôme Barthélemy considers many popular claims and, by drawing on empirical research, reveals them to be at best partially right - and often downright wrong. An insightful, entertaining, and thought-provoking read!"-- "Phil Rosenzweig, Professor, IMD, author of The Halo Effect"

About the Author

Jérôme Barthélemy is Executive Vice-President, Dean for Post Experience Programs, Corporate Programs and Relations and Professor of strategy and management at ESSEC Business School, Paris, France. He has been a visiting professor and visiting research scholar at New York University (NYU), Stanford University and Cambridge University.
His book, Unleash your company's competitive spirit, received France's best management book award in 2017.