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Optimizing Strategy For Results: A Structured Approach to Make Your Business Come Alive
From foundation to fully optimized Every executive acknowledges the importance of having a business strategy, but when it comes to creating and implementing a strategy for their organization, the “how” and “what” of strategic planning becomes elusive. In their manuscript, Optimizing Strategy for Results , authors Waema, Price, and Baiya give leaders the tools, processes, and step-by-step instructions to―
- GenresNonfictionBusiness
248 pages, Hardcover
Published March 15, 2022
12 people are currently reading
707 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 5, 2022
I am so happy that I came across this book because it:
- covers research on VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) environments,
- makes references to other research in the field,
- links strategy adoption to cultural the cultural environment, and many more!
I highly recommend this book for anyone doing research in the fields of management and organizational environments!
Special thanks to NetGalley, Greenleaf Audiobooks and the author for giving me the opportunity to review the ARC in audiobook format and to you, my reader, for taking the time to read this honest personal book review.
If you are interested in other of my book reviews, make sure to follow me on GoodReads!
#LifeLongLearning #OptimizingStrategyforResults #NetGalley
- covers research on VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) environments,
- makes references to other research in the field,
- links strategy adoption to cultural the cultural environment, and many more!
I highly recommend this book for anyone doing research in the fields of management and organizational environments!
Special thanks to NetGalley, Greenleaf Audiobooks and the author for giving me the opportunity to review the ARC in audiobook format and to you, my reader, for taking the time to read this honest personal book review.
If you are interested in other of my book reviews, make sure to follow me on GoodReads!
#LifeLongLearning #OptimizingStrategyforResults #NetGalley
June 10, 2023
"Optimizing Strategy for Results" is a concise and action-packed guide for leaders, management consultants, and facilitators intent on developing and executing strategies that support operational and business goals. Drs. Timothy Mwololo Waema, Evans Baiya, and Ron Price have leveraged their deep experience and insights in entrepreneurship and international business to offer a sequence of practical steps for envisioning, gathering support, and communicating the advancement of mission-critical goals and objectives.
Anchored by a focus on anticipating unexpected challenges, the authors emphasize the importance of aligning purpose and vision to ensure preparedness and resilience to face volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). They discuss the elements of a company culture that is responsive to change, including an orientation toward continuous learning, people-centric values, and an unrelenting focus on the needs of the customer. Each chapter highlights critical skills to succeed in an ever-competitive landscape, outlining tools, accountabilities, and key takeaways. The list of crucial questions for each stage of the strategy development and implementation process was highly invaluable.
With my academic background in business and twenty+ year career in communications and diversity management, I have read many business books focused on strategy, including classics like "Execution" by Ram Charan and "Good to Great" by Jim Collins. "Optimizing Strategy for Results" takes the best qualities of management volumes, offering case studies and practical applications of critical concepts. This book offers the bedrock of strategy development, with useful lessons for founders and entrepreneurs of early-stage companies.
For leaders who have been through iterative strategy sessions, some tools may seem familiar. They are presented with a different spin without much context or explanation for the validity or necessity of a new approach. For example, the authors discuss using the SLOC analysis, which stands for strengths, limitations, opportunities, and challenges, for internal and external assessments. SLOC is an iteration of the SWOT framework that focuses on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. At first glance, there isn’t much difference between the two approaches, and the authors failed to address the distinction. Other tools – like the company scorecard – appear to be a revision of the balanced scorecard model, which has been widely used for the last few decades.
For busy executive leaders, the best aspect of "Optimizing Strategy for Results" is its brevity. It gets to the point immediately, without much of the buildup of explaining the research and evidence supporting the frameworks. I appreciated the different tools designed to enable teams to understand constraints, prioritize needs, and make sound strategic decisions. From the lens of a people manager, it was essential to know how emotional intelligence may be applied to an organizational context. Strategic intelligence drives change by understanding company culture and adapting to external challenges.
Anchored by a focus on anticipating unexpected challenges, the authors emphasize the importance of aligning purpose and vision to ensure preparedness and resilience to face volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). They discuss the elements of a company culture that is responsive to change, including an orientation toward continuous learning, people-centric values, and an unrelenting focus on the needs of the customer. Each chapter highlights critical skills to succeed in an ever-competitive landscape, outlining tools, accountabilities, and key takeaways. The list of crucial questions for each stage of the strategy development and implementation process was highly invaluable.
With my academic background in business and twenty+ year career in communications and diversity management, I have read many business books focused on strategy, including classics like "Execution" by Ram Charan and "Good to Great" by Jim Collins. "Optimizing Strategy for Results" takes the best qualities of management volumes, offering case studies and practical applications of critical concepts. This book offers the bedrock of strategy development, with useful lessons for founders and entrepreneurs of early-stage companies.
For leaders who have been through iterative strategy sessions, some tools may seem familiar. They are presented with a different spin without much context or explanation for the validity or necessity of a new approach. For example, the authors discuss using the SLOC analysis, which stands for strengths, limitations, opportunities, and challenges, for internal and external assessments. SLOC is an iteration of the SWOT framework that focuses on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. At first glance, there isn’t much difference between the two approaches, and the authors failed to address the distinction. Other tools – like the company scorecard – appear to be a revision of the balanced scorecard model, which has been widely used for the last few decades.
For busy executive leaders, the best aspect of "Optimizing Strategy for Results" is its brevity. It gets to the point immediately, without much of the buildup of explaining the research and evidence supporting the frameworks. I appreciated the different tools designed to enable teams to understand constraints, prioritize needs, and make sound strategic decisions. From the lens of a people manager, it was essential to know how emotional intelligence may be applied to an organizational context. Strategic intelligence drives change by understanding company culture and adapting to external challenges.
March 21, 2022
Audiobook ARC provided by NetGalley
Optimizing Strategy for Results is an excellent introduction to the foundations of business strategy for someone just starting out in their career, leaders at small to mid-size companies, and those who are looking for a high level summary on the topic. The book covers, broadly, frameworks for creating a business strategy in an environment dominated by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA), which is honestly all the world has known since March 13, 2020. If you are starting to learn about the Strategy & Transformation space, and need a place to start on how to organize your thoughts and vision, this book is an excellent place to start. I could see myself recommending this book to colleagues to help facilitate a mindset shift that would be beneficial to how we work together.
While I don't feel this book provides any profound insight into the world of business, strategy, transformation or innovation that would benefit a more seasoned professional, it is a good primer and discussion tool to facilitate discussions with teams and other leaders. The frameworks it provides, the focus on the importance of vision, and the focus on talent and diversity will provide a solid foundation for more nuanced and productive working conversations.
Optimizing Strategy for Results is an excellent introduction to the foundations of business strategy for someone just starting out in their career, leaders at small to mid-size companies, and those who are looking for a high level summary on the topic. The book covers, broadly, frameworks for creating a business strategy in an environment dominated by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA), which is honestly all the world has known since March 13, 2020. If you are starting to learn about the Strategy & Transformation space, and need a place to start on how to organize your thoughts and vision, this book is an excellent place to start. I could see myself recommending this book to colleagues to help facilitate a mindset shift that would be beneficial to how we work together.
While I don't feel this book provides any profound insight into the world of business, strategy, transformation or innovation that would benefit a more seasoned professional, it is a good primer and discussion tool to facilitate discussions with teams and other leaders. The frameworks it provides, the focus on the importance of vision, and the focus on talent and diversity will provide a solid foundation for more nuanced and productive working conversations.
January 18, 2024
What's the big idea and/or unique approach of this book?
A few strategy consultants got together and wrote a book on strategy. The main idea is them walking through a series of topics/conversations to have to make sure that your strategy is going to actually get you to where you envision.
How am I smarter, better, or wiser because of it?
For me, I didn't learn anything. Partly, that's not their fault. I'm also a strategy consultant so I didn't expect to have my mind blown. But partly it's their fault, because the content stayed at a high level (you need to listen to your people) and didn't get into the tactics on how to do that best (what to ask with what medium). So, the ideas were all on point, but they lacked teeth.
Was I entertained/did it keep my attention?
No. It was VERY corporate and academic. VERY. :(
Would I recommend it to others?
No.
A few strategy consultants got together and wrote a book on strategy. The main idea is them walking through a series of topics/conversations to have to make sure that your strategy is going to actually get you to where you envision.
How am I smarter, better, or wiser because of it?
For me, I didn't learn anything. Partly, that's not their fault. I'm also a strategy consultant so I didn't expect to have my mind blown. But partly it's their fault, because the content stayed at a high level (you need to listen to your people) and didn't get into the tactics on how to do that best (what to ask with what medium). So, the ideas were all on point, but they lacked teeth.
Was I entertained/did it keep my attention?
No. It was VERY corporate and academic. VERY. :(
Would I recommend it to others?
No.
March 4, 2022
This book helps break down strategy into practical phases: foundation, creation, and execution, with structured step-by-step methods in all processes. There is a focus on volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). These aspects need to be considered by any business regardless it's size and maturity. The book is well structured and provides 360 overview on tooks, skills and actions to be taken in order to succeed with strategy for business.
December 9, 2024
Insightful
I like the keys to this book. Very insightful and interesting. If you're looking to start your own business you need a guideline on not just how to do things but a breakdown of how things work and the importance of each step in the process. This book is your key to success.
I like the keys to this book. Very insightful and interesting. If you're looking to start your own business you need a guideline on not just how to do things but a breakdown of how things work and the importance of each step in the process. This book is your key to success.
April 17, 2022
Well organized lessons
*A copy of this book was received via giveaway, and this is my honest opinion*
Focused on preparation, creating, and executing, this book with levels is a great read for the business-minded.
*A copy of this book was received via giveaway, and this is my honest opinion*
Focused on preparation, creating, and executing, this book with levels is a great read for the business-minded.
June 21, 2022
Very clear and informative book. I recommend this book to any leader or individual thinking of opening a business.
July 23, 2025
Strategy
This business book has a strategy that is explained in detail. A step by step guide is given through each chapter. Diagrams have also been given in detail.
This business book has a strategy that is explained in detail. A step by step guide is given through each chapter. Diagrams have also been given in detail.
May 27, 2022
To give you a bit of context, I’m more a visual than an audio learner. This is the first audiobook I am reviewing for NetGalley. It was available as a Read Now and I decided to take advantage of my commute to work and back to listen in. Over 3 trips, I was able to get the entire audiobook played and this makes me want to listen to more!
This book is full of great suggestions and tips on how to optimize for best results. It must have been written during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns as it is mentioned quite a bit. Also, the book goes over how the world is changing day to day. Basic business concepts are talked about, with additional examples and explanations to make sense of the concepts and ideas.
Anyone planning to start a business or organizing better processes within their business should consider reading this book. While it doesn’t go super into specifics, this is a general overview of how to strategize to achieve the results you’re looking for.
Thinking about the small business I work part-time at, it might be a great resource for the owner and management. But being that the business niche is super specific, it may not be detailed enough. It’s a general birds-eye view of the situations businesses might find themselves in.
I give this book 3 out of 5 tiaras. Let me explain why. I’m not an auditory learner so all the specifics mostly flew over my head. Also, while the narrator has a cool accent, it’s challenging to imagine a table of information. This book would likely be better for me to read in print.
This book is full of great suggestions and tips on how to optimize for best results. It must have been written during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns as it is mentioned quite a bit. Also, the book goes over how the world is changing day to day. Basic business concepts are talked about, with additional examples and explanations to make sense of the concepts and ideas.
Anyone planning to start a business or organizing better processes within their business should consider reading this book. While it doesn’t go super into specifics, this is a general overview of how to strategize to achieve the results you’re looking for.
Thinking about the small business I work part-time at, it might be a great resource for the owner and management. But being that the business niche is super specific, it may not be detailed enough. It’s a general birds-eye view of the situations businesses might find themselves in.
I give this book 3 out of 5 tiaras. Let me explain why. I’m not an auditory learner so all the specifics mostly flew over my head. Also, while the narrator has a cool accent, it’s challenging to imagine a table of information. This book would likely be better for me to read in print.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews