Editor’s letter

Citation

Randall, R.M. (2011), "Editor’s letter", Strategy & Leadership, Vol. 39 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/sl.2011.26139baa.001

Editor’s letter

Article Type: Editor’s letter From: Strategy & Leadership, Volume 39, Issue 2

In the course of providing top management with useful and interesting advice about how to adapt to change, reinvent management and pursue unique innovation, the authors featured in this issue acquaint us with many new strategic management tools and techniques. Taken together, they make a valuable checklist for executives seeking to acquire new competencies they need as the practice of management rapidly evolves. In order of their appearance in the issue these innovative strategic management tools and techniques are:

Re-invention of management. Stephen Denning proposes an ambitious process for adapting management to meet modern challenges, based on five practice shifts that need to be executed together. In “Masterclass: The reinvention of management,” he explores a fundamental rethinking of the basic tenets of management.

Dynamic linking. A little-known tool in Denning’s re-invention system, dynamic linking occurs in short work cycles with goals set by management, based on what is known about what might delight the client. Decisions about how the work is to be carried out to achieve those goals are largely the responsibility of those doing the work. Progress is measured by direct client feedback at the end of each cycle.

Executive storytelling. Another key tool in Denning’s system, authentic leadership storytelling has a particularly important role to play as the management style shifts from command to conversation.

Positive deviance. In “Masterclass: Leading adaptive change by harnessing the power of positive deviance,” Brian Leavy explains how to use this potent new tool advocated by strategic management thinker Richard Pascale.

Strategic fitness process. As part of his “Masterclass” article, Prof. Leavy briefs executives on how to promote adaptive change using this concept formulated by noted strategist Michael Beer.

High-speed execution innovation experimentation. In “The art of rapid, hands-on execution innovation” by Anssi Tuulenmäki and Liisa Välikangas, these Finnish innovation lab leaders introduce a process for promoting breakthrough innovation.

Indulgent parsimony. Kenneth Alan Grossberg’s article, “Indulgent parsimony: an enduring marketing approach,” shows executives how to influence the large segment of consumers whose behavior and psychology has been changed by the Great Recession.

High-speed scenario development. In “Rethinking scenarios,” Luc de Brabandere and Alan Iny demonstrate new techniques executives can use to rapidly produce scenarios that are provocative, plausible and germane.

Good reading,

Robert M. RandallEditor