The book review for this week is Strategy That Works by Paul Leinward and Cesare R. Mainardi
This is a detail oriented, fact rich, research based book that establishes a model for successfully translating business strategy to execution. They have done detailed studies on many companies like Starbucks, CEMEX and Danaher and put them into their “Identity Profile” system. This system defines the company’s value proposition, capabilities system and portfolio of products and services.
My takeaway from this book is the Identity Profile system and its five “acts of unconventional leadership:”
- Focus on growth – grow in areas of strength only
- Pursue functional excellence – commitment to grow the capabilities required to deliver strategy
- Reorganize to drive change – leverage your cultural strengths to drive required change
- Go lean – cut costs in non-core areas to invest heavily in your areas of strength
- Become agile and resilient – shape your future by realigning your marketplace or industry
Leave a comment on your thoughts and experiences with business strategy below.
Note that I have previously reviewed:
- Rory Vaden’s Procrastinate on Purpose.
- Bill Browder’s Red Notice
- Atul Gawande’s The Checklist Manifesto
- Brad Lomenick H3 Leadership
- Eula Bliss’ On Immunity: An Inoculation
- Adam Grant’s Give and Take
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Watch for the upcoming release of my two new books: 12 Steps to Business Transformation and The Thinking Business System
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