Given the common acknowledgement that strategy implementation is the greatest challenge to managers in the 21st century and the greatest reason for strategy failure we decided to focus on strategy implementation. Rather than promoting the unrealistic idea of strategy as a purely rational and deliberate outcome, this book acknowledges and explores the idea that strategy is often emergent, messy and experimental. 

The 2nd edition of this book offers five key approaches:

• It focuses on strategy implementation and not just on the thinking and analytical aspects of strategic management.
• It explores the idea that strategy is often emergent, messy and experimental, unlike other strategic management books, which unrealistically portray it as a neat, analytical and rational process. 
• It unpacks the recent concept that other strategists, not only just senior management, influence strategic direction.
• It recognises strategy as something people do rather than something an organisation possesses. Since people are building blocks of strategy, it is a cognitive and political activity.
• It uses primary research conducted among southern African top and middle managers and draws on these managerial perspectives to enrich the text with first-hand accounts of strategy experience.

The second edition features a number of new chapters, focusing on strategy implementation and change management, resource allocation and responsible leadership. It also includes a more detailed coverage of managing strategic risk.

• Chapter 1: The relationship between general management principles and strategic management
• Chapter 2: Introducing the practice of strategy
• Chapter 3: A process perspective of strategic management
• Chapter 4: Strategising and strategists
• Chapter 5: The external context of strategy
• Chapter 6: Strategic resources and capabilities
• Chapter 7: Developing and choosing appropriate strategies
• Chapter 8: Strategy implementation as change management
• Chapter 9: The learning organisation
• Chapter 10: Resource allocation for strategy implementation
• Chapter 11: Organisational culture and strategy
• Chapter 12: Responsible strategic leadership
• Chapter 13: Organisational structure and strategy
• Chapter 14: Strategic control and risk management

All undergraduate courses on Strategic Management as well as any manager who wants to enhance strategic skills.