Page 6 - PRAGMATIC STRATEGY

subject or alternatively designed to examine in depth a specific area of
strategy where the focus is exploration, examination and evaluation.

In itself the first approach, the road map, is no bad thing. It sits well
with the nature of the modern educational curriculum and its delivery –
the academic sound bite. It is from this perspective that the structure

and architecture of this learning resource is developed. First, there is
the traditional text book which delivers the theory in digestible chunks
in accordance with the demands of the current curricula of

undergraduate and post graduate programmes and modules. Second,
is the integration of current case studies to aid the application and
integration of theory with practice – learning by doing. Third, is the

provision of worked solutions.

So far all of this is familiar and in itself would seem the normal route to
learning. However, this learning resource attempts to present the

materials in a variety of platforms which will allow the user to choose
from to satisfy his or her needs and desires. Moreover, it provides a
resource bank which augments and enhances the learning sound bites

of today’s academic landscape.

The second approach is, as with the first, in itself a valid one. However,
to examine in depth a specific area of strategy where the focus is
exploration, examination and evaluation may not in itself provide the
linkages required in understanding modern businesses which operate
in an increasingly global and complex environment which is often
subject to unpredictable changes. The book analyses the forces at
work in the environment, their implications for business strategy, and
the issues involved in their management and co-ordination. It will not
provide a solution to the problems facing management but it will
hopefully, help to avoid gross errors of judgement.

The main themes of the book can be identified as:

• understanding turbulent business environments
• Corporate social responsibility including business ethics, environmentalism and governance
• towards creating and sustaining creative advantage