Market Driven Strategy : Processes for Creating Value

Rating:
Summary: Insightful!
Review: It's funny how little things really change. George S. Day's book originally appeared a decade ago, but it reappears now with a theme that has since become a management mantra - let the market drive your business. While many newer books enumerate the basics of business strategy, the examples that Day culled from the likes of Otis Elevator, GE, Ikea, Acuson and 3M still illustrate the fundamental themes as well as any. The book's one shortcoming is its academic tone, which might be expected from an author who is also a professor, but nevertheless might try the patience of some business professionals. Despite this one flaw, we [...] recommend this book as a straightforward exposition on business strategy that has truly stood the test of time.


Rating:
Summary: Good but not up to date
Review: Overall the book does a good job of detailing the strategy process for a market driven economy. All relevant aspects are covered in adequate depth. However, I kept thinking that the book was dated especially with regard its examples of corporate behavior. I tried to push these thoughts to the back of my mind by reassuring myself of the 1999 copyright. In reality, the 1999 copyright comes from the addition of a new introduction to the 1990 text. I was very disappointed when I realized this. Although it is presents a good framework, it is dated. This is ironic given the fact that the author presents examples of dated thinkings of strategy and shows how to improve. He needs to take the time to improve his own thinkings. In a market driven economy, strategy changes QUICKLY over 10 years. You don't need this book to know that.

Rating:
Summary: Good but not up to date
Review: Overall the book does a good job of detailing the strategy process for a market driven economy. All relevant aspects are covered in adequate depth. However, I kept thinking that the book was dated especially with regard its examples of corporate behavior. I tried to push these thoughts to the back of my mind by reassuring myself of the 1999 copyright. In reality, the 1999 copyright comes from the addition of a new introduction to the 1990 text. I was very disappointed when I realized this. Although it is presents a good framework, it is dated. This is ironic given the fact that the author presents examples of dated thinkings of strategy and shows how to improve. He needs to take the time to improve his own thinkings. In a market driven economy, strategy changes QUICKLY over 10 years. You don't need this book to know that.

Rating:
Summary: Important Book - Slightly Dated
Review: Without a doubt, this in an landmark book in business strategy and provides a good balance between a practical handbook and a certain level of theory. The book is well researched and well referenced and has clearly stood the test of time based on it still current wide acceptance. I found the product positioning and channel evaluation related strategy thinking of the book to be it's strongest points.

As another reviewer noted, it would have been great is the newest edition of this book was more throughly updated. Clearly it was not, and was probably renewed more to extend it's viable lifecycle in sales. The dated aspects of the book mostly come through in the case study examples. For example, positive references to Eastman Kodak, oops! Not exactly steller examples by today's standard. In any case, this does not dimish the value of the book, only makes you wonder how much better it would have been to be fully updated.

In any case, I would certainly rate this book in the top 5 of most important business strategy books...perhaps only bested by the likes of "Competing for the Future" by Gary Hamel & CK Prahalad.

Rating:
Summary: Important Book - Slightly Dated
Review: Without a doubt, this in an landmark book in business strategy and provides a good balance between a practical handbook and a certain level of theory. The book is well researched and well referenced and has clearly stood the test of time based on it still current wide acceptance. I found the product positioning and channel evaluation related strategy thinking of the book to be it's strongest points.

As another reviewer noted, it would have been great is the newest edition of this book was more throughly updated. Clearly it was not, and was probably renewed more to extend it's viable lifecycle in sales. The dated aspects of the book mostly come through in the case study examples. For example, positive references to Eastman Kodak, oops! Not exactly steller examples by today's standard. In any case, this does not dimish the value of the book, only makes you wonder how much better it would have been to be fully updated.

In any case, I would certainly rate this book in the top 5 of most important business strategy books...perhaps only bested by the likes of "Competing for the Future" by Gary Hamel & CK Prahalad.