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| Smart big moves | September, 2008 | ||||
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Dear Those of you who have now devoured last month's issue of Long Range Planning but still thirst for more strategic knowledge need not worry: the September issue of Strategy Magazine (see details below) will soon be dropping onto your mats or into your office pigeonholes (which somehow doesn't sound as romantic). We've been getting great feedback about the magazine's new format, but we always welcome comments so do send us your views at membership@sps.org.uk. I'd also like to take this opportunity to welcome two new trustees to the SPS governing body: Dr Tim McIntyre-Bhatty, dean of Newport Business School, and Irene Warner, co-director of Arena 4 management (see details below). Until next month, 
James Leaton Gray, Chairman |
» In this issue: SPS news Research and insight Events and workshops Sponsor |
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| » SPS news | ||||
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Strategy Magazine published 
Members will soon be receiving their copies of the September issue of Strategy Magazine.
Our particular focus this autumn is on the effects of the current financial climate on strategic planning. The message is clear: an organisation's strategy needs to be adaptive. Topics covered in this issue include: a look at how a company's competitive advantage depends upon how quickly and effectively it can adapt to change; and – with the threat of a recession looming – not only do those managers and leaders responsible for an organisation's strategic success need to avoid letting their choice of strategic direction be influenced by their own egos, but now more than ever they must also secure stakeholder support to ensure a successful outcome. Also included are articles on the key ingredients for a successful strategic leadership programme, and the ways in which firms can achieve competitive advantage by making the most of agglomeration externalities and mapping out a true understanding of their organisation's DNA, respectively.
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New trustees join SPS governing body SPS is delighted to announce the appointment of two new trustees, Dr Tim McIntyre-Bhatty and Irene Warner, to its governing body. Tim, dean of Newport Business School at the University of Wales, has led and developed knowledge transfer, consultancy, income generation and entrepreneurship projects. In his role as SPS trustee, he will be concentrating on expanding and strengthening the Society's offering to, and ties with, major business schools. As co-director of Arena 4 management – a management development company based in Cambridge – Irene, who also teaches managers in the voluntary sector about the importance of business practice on behalf of the University of Cambridge, will be reviewing the programme of events, training and sponsorship that the SPS currently has in place. "The Society relies upon the efforts and input of our members," says James Leaton Gray, chairman of the trustees, "so it's terrific to see two people with such distinguished backgrounds joining the governing body." |
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| » Research and insight | ||||
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Smart big moves To achieve strategic breakthroughs, managers must avoid the common psychological ego trap of overestimating their abilities and underestimating the challenges they face. In the September issue of Strategy Magazine, Paul Strebel and Anne-Valérie Ohlsson from IMD offer five 'big moves' – shifts involving a large commitment of resources to a new goal – to help managers increase their chances of choosing the right strategic approach.
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Innovation games: a new approach to the competitive challenge What form does innovation take in today's fast-moving world? The conventional view is that innovation is confined to the R&D departments of large firms, where boffins labour to perfect new products that meet presently unmet customer needs, and patents and copyrights protect market supremacy. In volume 41, number 4 of Long Range Planning, Roger Miller, Xavier Olleros and Luis Molinié argue that in this 'closed system' scenario, all managers are striving to follow universal best practices, and as a consequence can find themselves trapped in competition that ultimately gets no one very far.
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The robots are coming We have become used to robots in manufacturing industries, mines and even on Mars, but they are increasingly appearing in the service sector, too, supporting and enhancing the roles of highly-skilled knowledge workers – as well as moving into people's homes. As robots become better able to 'understand' humans, we will see them taking on more sophisticated roles.
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| » Events and workshops | ||||
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Ashridge Open Programmes The SPS and Ashridge have teamed up to offer SPS members some exclusive benefits, the first of which is a 10% discount on any of Ashridge's open strategy programmes. Ashridge has a wide variety of short, residential programmes to help individuals and organisations to achieve their development needs. These programmes focus on blending the practical experience of their faculty with leading-edge business thinking, to inspire and challenge you. In addition, learning in small classes – typically 12–30 participants – promotes collaboration on your own issues and ensures individual support, enabling all participants to return, better able to transfer learning to the workplace. For more details, visit Ashridge. Please quote your SPS membership number when booking. |
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| » Sponsor | ||||
Aid your strategic thinking Delivered by a faculty renowned for its contribution to management practice and profound working knowledge of business, our strategy programmes offer senior decision makers the opportunity to become more effective leaders. Our strategy programmes will aid your strategic thinking, equip you to make better strategic decisions and help you deliver strategic organisational change. The strategy programmes for 2008 are: Delivering Strategic Change October 2008 Developing Deliverable Strategies October 2008 To find out more or to book a place, visit our website or contact Diane Cain on +44 (0)1234 754503 quoting CSM1542. We look forward to welcoming you to Cranfield. Cranfield School of Management: improving the practice of management |
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