The Strategist

Be the Leader Your Business Needs

De: Cynthia Montgomery

Narrado por: Karen White

Based on her legendary course at Harvard Business School, acclaimed professor Cynthia A. Montgomery shows executives how to create business strategies that produce long-lasting success. Montgomery combines useful frameworks, practical tools, and rich case studies into an engaging narrative that will satisfy readers’ desire for a book that is authoritative, actionable, and accessible. The strong voice and dynamic writing will appeal to a broad range of leaders in every industry, whether a member of the Fortune 500, a small business, or a startup. Perfect for fans of Clayton M. Christensen The Innovator’s Dilemma and Jim Collins’ Good to Great, Montgomery’s The Strategist offers readers the chance to command success in business and in life.

Really Good

was amazing if you need to how and know are strategic you need to obtain

Great book, with lots of good examples

I liked the book, even though looking at the accompanying PDF was needed (not great for any audio book).
The strategist offers a great insight on the person behind the strategy and gives an interesting perspective on the strategy topic itself, building up on Porter's work.
However, listening to this audiobook after having listened to "7 Powers", make this book feel somewhat not concrete enough, that's why I gave only 3 stars. The strategist is nonetheless a good book, worth listening for everyone interested in the topic.

Explains technical terms well with case studies

The narration of this books is oddly slow and drawn out. After a couple minutes, I had to change the narration speed to 1.25X. I felt like the voice did not fit the story.

As a graduating undergrad, this book aligned well with technical theories and strategies taught in my class. This book focusses on the theoretical aspect of business where entrepreneurs are forced to think deeply about their company. This book does not do well with the everyday aspects or functions within businesses. There are other books for that. This book provided case studies such as Ikea to explain strategy changes and implementation.

Inspiring and Great Tool

This was an easy read. It feels like I was in the room for the sessions Cynthia Mongomery was teaching. In addition, the tools she provides are usable, not just fluff. Some conferences and seminars I've attended provide "tools" to take back to the office that are just like some companies so-called strategies—full of fluff but not useful or informative. I've already put to use some of the tools provided with this book. Thank you Cynthia Montgomery!

So much more than a book on strategy

Don't be fooled by some of the reviews that say this is nothing more than the basic MBA material or simply a book on Strategy. Cynthia Montgomery has captured the very essence of what is required to move a business to the next level and while it might be based on years of teaching and research at Harvard Business School it the message that underlies each story, tool and technique that is missed by the majority of MBA students.

The book has a very easy to follow and great style. Analogies are well thought through, develop into the teaching method nicely and follow the case-in-point style of learning. In fact I found myself often relating each of the examples back to my own business and realising where the fundamentals of the business need to be worked on. But back to the book...the message is relatively simple:

- Have a clear, well defined and meaningful purpose;
- Create alignment within the business;
- Understand the fundamentals that drive success with in alignment with the purpose;
- Remember that strategy development start on day 1 and never ends...there is simply no end point where strategy is 'completed'.

The wrap up of the book is simple...to be a strategist you must first be a leader...strategy never ends, it is a continuous cycle process where we have a core purpose, a driving forces, a reason for living and we consider how that reason changes the world. This makes it easy to change, adapt and move through the challenges that a competitive landscape offers. From Gucci to IKEA, both businesses had their fair share of challenges and issues...but the ever evolving art of strategy lead them through to be the businesses they are today. Often thanks to the leadership but always thanks to the purpose!

So yes...this appears to be MBA 101 but think about it...how many MBA graduates do you know that would not land a job in your business, be able to lead and develop a business to great heights or simply are text book managers but not strategic leaders. The Strategist is aimed squarely at anyone that thinks they know all about strategy because they have an MBA...after all many great strategist do not have an MBA yet we teach their thinking and refer to their success in many MBA classes. This is a great book and yes...I have an MBA and still found myself in awe of the author, the approach and the learnings I took out of this book.

A must read for every business person and one that I am sharing with my Leadership Team!