Strategic IQ

In today's world, only the smartest survive. The competitive landscape is littered with graves of well-known firms whose revenues, profits and stock prices rose for decades until they suddenly imploded.                                               In fast-changing business environments, firms must adapt their strategies and innovate to remain at the top. But many successful firms fail to do so. Instead, they succumb to inertia, hesitate, or stick blindly to their old strategies, until it is too late. The ability to adapt to change is a measure of intelligence; so why do firms demonstrate such low Strategic IQ? What causes inertia and why is it so deadly? How can leaders help their firms to act more intelligently? This book identifies the key sources of inertia - strategic, structural and huma - and provides practical advice on how they can be overcome to create smarter corporations.  It is both a wake-up call for successful firms and a lifeline for firms struggling to succeed.  To successful firms - beware!  You may already be dead!   To struggling firms - have hope!  It is possible to pass powerful competitors by raising your strategic, structural and human IQ.  Praise for Strategic IQ "Hard-hitting and stimulating, Wells' thesis carries a robust message that should make business leaders the world over sit up and think." —Archie Norman, Chairman of ITV, UK    "Wells makes a compelling case for dramatic change." —Ron Sargent, CEO of Staples, USA

Preface xi Introduction xv Part One Smart Strategy 1 Chapter 1.1 The Need for Smart Strategy 3 Chapter 1.2 Low Strategic Intelligence 13 Chapter 1.3 What is Strategy? 35 Chapter 1.4 Moderate Strategic Intelligence 59 Chapter 1.5 High Strategic Intelligence 87 Part Two Smart Structure 107 Chapter 2.1 The Need for Smart Structure 109 Chapter 2.2 Smart Asset Management 119 Chapter 2.3 Formal Architecture – Navigating the Architecture Labyrinth 143 Chapter 2.4 Informal Architecture – Leveraging Social Mechanics 169 Chapter 2.5 Towards Smarter Structure 191 Part Three Smart Minds 201 Chapter 3.1 The Need for Smart Minds 203 Chapter 3.2 What is a Mind? 209 Chapter 3.3 Hiring Smart Minds 229 Chapter 3.4 Addressing Basic Human Needs 241 Chapter 3.5 Harnessing Insatiable Human Needs 255 Bibliography 277 Index 293