Modern Competitive Strategy

by Gordon Walker and Tammy Madsen

Book Overview

Modern Competitive Strategy, 4e focuses on what makes firms successful over time, ultimately within industries that are global in scope. It is meant to be comprehensive yet succinct, discipline-based... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0073381381
• ISBN13: 9780073381381
• Release Date: December 2008
• Publisher: Irwin/McGraw-Hill
• Length: 394 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.4" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Pretty good MBA-level text book

I bought this book as it was a required text for my Strategy class in the MBA program I am in. It is a pretty good book for this purpose. I think I will keep it in my library instead of sell it back as it contains some great examples of how different companies develop their strategies and change with the times and changing environments. I would have given it 5 stars, but it is a little dry. One other thing Io like about this book - it that is doesn't talk down to you like you are in an undergrad marketing class. It assume that you are a graduate student.

One of the best and easy to use corporate strategy books

"Modern Competitive Strategy" provides a succinct description of most influential strategy theories. Focus on corporate as well as business unit strategies make this book valuable across broad levels within an organization. In particular I found following most important as work: - sustainable competitive advantage (everyone talks about it, few people truly understand it) - competing overtime (I have not been able to find more depth on this topic in one place) - strategy execution (better than many HBR articles on this subject) - strategic planning & decision making (great practical description of what levers within a company can be influenced and how strategy process works). Another great feature of this book - detailed reference list following every chapter, if you would like to study a particular area in more depth you know what to look for. I highly recommend this book for academic or professional use. I am buying a copy for my co-worker, cannot part with mine even for a short time.

Fantastic Textbook or Reference Book

As an MBA student, I've read my share of books on corporate strategy. Without a doubt, "Modern Competitive Strategy" is one of the best. I have used it extensively both in my classes and at work. It is concise, well-written and contains all of the common strategic models (i.e. Porter's Five Forces, BCG Growth-Share Matrix, Makadok's Model, Dynamic Growth Cycle, etc), each of which is clearly illustrated through real-world examples. This is a must-have for any MBA student or business professional.

Great Book

Dr. Walker has provided a easily digestible framework that every manager should have as a full read or reference. I am in the IT field in a hyper competitive industry and have previously read Christensen, Porter, and D?Aveni and find that this a compliment to these previous works. The examples take you from startup phase to maturity and from Ford and the assembly line to Microsoft and their dominance. The models are powerful yet easy to understand. I would recommend this book to practitioners and students.