The end of the nineteenth century saw the construction of the vertically integrated value chains that came to define modern business. The end of the twentieth century witnessed their deconstruction. In industries across the economy, markets are intruding on the web of proprietary arrangements that have held these chains together. As they do, the boundaries defining business, companies and industries are coming under attack - radically transforming the nature of competition. Powerful forces, such as globalization and deregulation, are undermining the logic and practice of traditional vertical integration, but the most powerful - partly because it acts as catalyst and an accelerator - is a revolution in the economics of information. This shift in information economics is giving birth to a myriad of new strategic options The consequences of deconstruction for the strategic management of the firm - as well as for the firm itself - are dramatic. Deconstruction forces a fundamental rethinking of some of the basic principles of strategy which will impact on the concepts of the portfolio, forms of organizational structure, styles of leadership, mechanisms for acquiring and managing knowledge and approaches to uncertainty and risk. This, the latest volume in the Strategic Management Series, explores the implications of the value chain deconstruction for strategy, the changes in strategic thinking and the action necessary to cope with the challenges and opportunities. Bringing together contributions from key figures in the field of strategy in both practice and academia, this book, as with other books in the series, addresses the ideas and issues at the forefront of strategic management theory and practice.

How do we incorporate strategy in everything that we do? Can we make our lives and businesses more meaningful with a practical strategic approach? The authors of this book believe that it is not only possible, but that strategy can be a powerful tool to enrich our lives and provide focus to our thoughts and relationships. They describe, with business case studies enriched by examples from other walks of life, a simple process to guide our strategic thinking.

This book investigates how organizations can be designed for efficiency. Strategy, structure, boundaries and the governance of organizations are analyzed for any interdependencies within or between them and synthesised to a consistent system. Case studies illustrate the application of the theory of organizational design.

Open Innovation through Strategic Alliances demonstrates the vital role and applications of strategic alliances between firms and research organizations in creating and applying knowledge for the development of new products, technologies, or business models.

The global sustainability challenge is urgent, tremendous and increasing. From an ecological perspective, the current worldwide resource footprint requires approximately 1.5 planets to sustain existing life, and with current usage would require two planets by 2030. The social impact of ever-growing resource use disproportionately affects the world’s poor – the 3 billion people living on less than $2.50 a day, as they struggle to acquire what is needed to survive. The serious ecological and social challenges we face in trying to establish global sustainable supply chains must not be underestimated, yet so far research has largely ignored the social dimension in favour of the environmental and economic. So how can we develop business strategies that move away from a primary economic focus and give equal weight to people, planet and profit? How can we create sustainable supply chains that take a true triple-bottom-line approach?Implementing Triple Bottom Line Sustainability into Global Supply Chains features innovative research, highlighting new cases, approaches and concepts in how to successfully implement sustainability – covering economic, ecological and social dimensions – into global supply chains. The four parts cover the rationale for sustainable global supply chains, key enablers, case studies showing clear implementation steps, and directions for future research and development.This book is a must-read for any academic researching in sustainable supply chain management, procurement or business strategy, and for business leaders seeking cases that will inform a critical step forward for CSR programmes.

Focusing on Business to Customer (B2C) internet business, and on firms that offer intangible products and/or services that can be directly consumed via the world wide web, Strategic Management and Online Selling also covers immaterial products and online news information or home banking. Considering how firms with similar specific characteristics are able to realize competitive advantages, this topical book discusses an area of particular contemporary importance and increasing academic study.

Includes papers that offer a review of inter-organizational relations in alternative approaches to the creation and management of competences. This volume offers an integrative approach to strategy and management theory, research, and practice.