Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

CONTENTS : Concepts and techniques for crafting and executing strategy -- Introduction and overview -- What is strategy and why is it important? -- The managerial process of crafting and executing strategy -- Core concepts and analytical tools -- Evaluating a company's external environment -- Analyzing a company's resources and competitive position -- Crafting a strategy -- The five generic competitive strategies: which one to employ? -- Supplementing the chosen competetive strategy: other important strategy choices -- Competing in foreign markets -- Tailoring strategy to fit specific industry and company situations -- Diversification: strategies for managing a group of businesses -- Strategy, ethics, and social responsibility -- Executing the strategy -- Building an organization capable of good strategy execution -- Managing internal operations: actions that facilitate strategy execution -- Corporate culture and leadership: keys to good strategy execution -- Cases -- Crafting strategy in single-business companies -- Costco wholesale corporation: mission, business model, and strategy -- Shearwater adventures ltd. -- The battle in radio broadcasting: XM vs. Sirius vs. local radio vs. internet radio -- Competition in the bottled water industry in 2006 -- Blue Nile, Inc.: World's largest online diamond retailer -- Eat2eat.com -- Panera Bread Company -- Coach Inc.: is its advantage in luxury handbags sustainable? -- Nucor corporation: competing against low-cost steel imports -- The YMCA of London, Ontario -- Wild Oats Market, Inc. -- Zune: Microsoft's entry into the digital music player market -- Skywest Inc. and the regional airline industry -- Competition in video game consoles: Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo battle for supremacy -- Electroni Arts in 2007: Can it retain its global lead in video game software? -- Sun microsystems -- Toyota's strategy and initiatives in Europe: the launch of the Aygo -- Econet wireless international's expansion across Africa - - Crafting strategy in diversified companies -- PepsiCo in 2007: strategies in increase shareholder value -- Spectrum brands': diversification strategy: a success or a failure? -- Sara Lee corporation: retrenching to a narrower range of businesses -- Executing strategy and strategic leadership -- Robin Hood -- Dilemma at Devil's Den -- Enterprise rent-a-car -- Manpower Australia: using strategy maps and the balanced scorecard effectively -- Abercrombie & Fitch: an upscale sporting goods retailer becomes a leader in trendy apparel -- New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. -- Ryanair: European pioneer of budget airline travel -- Strategy, ethics, and social responsibility -- Monitoring foreign suppliers: the challenge of detecting unethical practices -- Queensland rainforest resort -- Smithfield foods' vertical integration strategy: is it environmentally correct?