Katsioloudes M.I. Strategic Management: Global Cultural Perspectives for Profit and Non-Profit Organizations

Elsevier Inc. – 2006, 406 pages
ISBN: 0750679662, 9780750679664Hundreds, if not thousands, of books have been published on the subject of strategic planning and the strategic planning process (SPP). Some of these books are highly theoretical in nature, while others are ‘‘how-to’’ primers. Some of these books take a quantitative approach to the subject, while others take a general, conceptual approach. Still other books, present rigid, structured, grid-like format.
Among these thousands of books published on strategic planning, Global Strategic Planning; Cultural Perspectives for Profit and Nonprofit Organiza- tions uniquely achieves a delicate balance between the theoretical and the practical, the quantitative, and the conceptual approaches. The author of this well-organized and highly readable book presents all of the classical elements of strategic planning, including the most important aspect of strategic plan implementation.
More, I believe what truly distinguishes and differentiates this book from many of its strategic planning counterparts is the inclusion of (as well as the emphasis on) the intangible (i.e., or the ‘‘soft’’) aspects of strategic planning, including the all-important concepts of globalization, leadership, and culture. If an organization’s board (as well as its senior and middle management) fail to focus on and achieve a deep understanding of these subjects and their importance, I believe that the SPP (and, even more importantly, the implementation of the plan itself), will ultimately fail.