Table of Contents

Part I: Concepts and Techniques for Crafting and Executing StrategySection A: Introduction and OverviewChapter 1: What Is Strategy and Why Is It Important?Chapter 2: Leading the Process of Crafting and Executing StrategySection B: Core Concepts and Analytical ToolsChapter 3: Evaluating a Company’s External EnvironmentChapter 4: Evaluating a Company’s Resources and Competitive PositionSection C: Crafting a StrategyChapter 5: Five Generic Competitive Strategies--Which One to Employ?Chapter 6: Supplementing the Chosen Competitive Strategy: Other Important Strategy ChoicesChapter 7: Strategies for Competing in Foreign MarketsChapter 8: Diversification: Strategies for Managing a Group of BusinessesChapter 9: Ethical Business Strategies, Social Responsibility, and Environmental Sustainability Section D: Executing the StrategyChapter 10: Building an Organization Capable of Good Strategy ExecutionChapter 11: Managing Internal Operations: Actions That Promote Good Strategy ExecutionChapter 12: Corporate Culture and Leadership: Keys to Good Strategy ExecutionPart II: CasesSection A: Crafting Strategy in Single-Business Companies1.Whole Foods Market in 2008—Vision, Core Values, and Strategy2.Costco Wholesale Corp. in 2008—Mission, Business Model, and Strategy 3.JetBlue Airways: A Cadre of New Managers Takes Control4.Competition in the Golf Equipment Industry in 20085.Competition in the Movie Rental Industry in 2008: Netflix and Blockbuster Battle for Market Leadership 6.Dell, Inc. in 2008—Can It Overtake Hewlett-Packard as the Worldwide Leader in Personal Computers?7.Apple, Inc. in 20088.Panera Bread Company9.Rogers’s Chocolates 10.Nucor Corporation—Competing Against Low Cost Foreign Imports11.Competition in Video Game Consoles12.Nintendo’s Strategy for the Wii—Good Enough to Beat Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3?13.Corona Beer14.Google’s Strategy in 200815.The Challenges Facing eBay in 2008—Time for Changes in Strategy?16.Loblaw Companies Limited: Preparing for Wal-Mart Supercenters17.Research in Motion: Managing Explosive GrowthSection B: Crafting Strategy in Diversified Companies18.Adidas in 2008: Has Corporate Restructuring Increased Shareholder Value?19.PepsiCo’s Diversification Strategy in 2008Section C: Executing Strategy and Strategic Leadership20.Robin Hood21.Dilemma at Devil’s Den22.Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in 2008—Management’s Initiatives to Transform the Company and Curtail Wal-Mart Bashing 23.Southwest Airlines in 2008: Culture, Values, and Operating Practices24.Shangri-La HotelsSection D: Strategy, Ethics, and Social Responsibility25.E. & J. Gallo26.Detecting Unethical Practices at Supplier Factories: The Monitoring and Remediation Challenges

About the Author

Arthur A. Thompson, Jr., earned his B.S and Ph.D. degrees in economics from The University of Tennessee, spent three years on the economics faculty at Virginia Tech, and served on the faculty of The University of Alabama's College of Commerce and Business Administration for 24 years. In 1974 and again in 1982, Dr. Thompson spent semester-long sabbaticals as a visiting scholar at the Harvard Business School.His areas of specialization are business strategy, competition and market analysis, and the economics of business enterprises. In addition to publishing over 30 articles in some 25 different professional and trade publications, he has authored or co-authored five textbooks and six computer-based simulation exercises. His textbooks and strategy simulations have been used at well over 1,000 college and university campuses worldwide. Dr. Thompson spends much of his off-campus time giving presentations, putting on management development programs, working with companies, and helping operate a business simulation enterprise in which he is a major partner. Dr.Thompson and his wife of 56 years have two daughters, two grandchildren, and a Yorkshire terrier.



John E. Gamble is currently Associate Dean and Professor of Management in the Mitchell College of Business at the University of South Alabama. His teaching specialty at USA is strategic management and he also conducts a course in strategic management in Germany, which is sponsored by the University of Applied Sciences in Worms. Dr. Gamble's research interests center on strategic issues in entrepreneurial, health care, and manufacturing settings. His work has been published in various scholarly journals and he is the author or co-author of more than 50 case studies published in an assortment of strategic management and strategic marketing texts. He has done consulting on industry and market analysis for clients in a diverse mix of industries. Professor Gamble received his Ph.D. in management from the University of Alabama in 1995. Dr. Gamble also has a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Alabama.



A.J. (Lonnie) Strickland received a BS in Math and Physics from the University of Georgia, an MS in Industrial Management from Georgia Institute of Technology, and a PhD from Georgia State university. He currently holds the rank of Professor of Strategic Management in the Graduate School of Business at the University of Alabama. He has done extensive consulting and research work. In recent years, he was honored with the Outstanding Professor Award for the Graduate School of Business, and was the recipient of the Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award for the University of Alabama.