Strategic Process: Concepts, Contexts, Cases: 4th Edition

Author: Henry Mintzberg
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: This book is a unique textbook on strategic management. As the author states in the preface, we attempt to cover both rich theoretical knowledge and practical experience in the book, as well as the solid foundation that connects the two. We oppose the pure case study method because it completely discards or weakens theory, thereby negating the benefits of years of in-depth research and the advantages of thinking about the management process. We also oppose the other extreme method because it forces readers to accept overly rationalized models of how the strategic process should unfold. We believe that this complex organizational world requires a series of concepts to make sense of and explain its various complexities.
In terms of content, the book is comprehensive and not limited to a single perspective. It includes a large number of representative papers or excerpts from classic works, organized by themes in each chapter. These papers or excerpts cover important fundamental topics in today's policy and strategy courses, helping readers to view the complex organizational world with an open perspective.
In terms of structure, the book introduces a new framework for strategic management: "not first formulation, then implementation, but first concept, then context." Unlike many similar textbooks that often organize content by strategic formulation, strategic implementation, and strategic control, this book divides its reading materials into two parts—Introduction and Context—and places the fundamental concepts and issues of the strategic process in specific contexts for discussion. This unique structure facilitates a deeper exploration of the real-world strategic process.