1st Edition
Strategic Review The Process of Strategy Formulation in Complex Organisations
Following careers in the military and in industry, Robert Grattan has devoted himself to the subject of strategy and its related theory through his research into the strategy implementation employed by business, governments and the military. Strategy process is widely studied and taught but, argues Robert Grattan, comprehensive prescriptive theories have yet to be developed. This book is based on analysis of the strategic defence review (SDR) conducted by the UK Ministry of Defence, the methodology for which has been employed in other countries. The study focuses on how the review was managed through the twin lenses of strategic business management theory and the 'Essence of Decision' theory of governmental decision-making closely associated with the John F. Kennedy School of Government in the USA. The author has been fortunate in being granted interviews with the leading figures in Government, the Civil Service and the Military who participated in the SDR process and in having gained access to information in Ministry of Defence files under Freedom of Information legislation. The result is Strategic Review, a book that provides vivid insights into what happened in a large complex organisation during a major strategic review and highlights the problems likely to be encountered during the process of formulating strategy in business, in government, in sport and any other human endeavour. It will appeal to many in business intrigued by the similarities between the issues facing business and military strategists; to those involved in public policy-making; to the defence community; and to academics and higher level students with an interest in this rich field of study.
Biography
Robert F. Grattan was for thirty years an officer in the Royal Air Force, retiring in the rank of Group Captain. He subsequently held senior management posts in industry and worked as a consultant. Having obtained a BA degree with the Open University in the UK and an MSc. in Business Administration from the University of Bath, Robert earned his PhD at the University of the West of England for his comparative study of the strategy process, embracing military and business. The study was published in 2002 by Palgrave-Macmillan. Dr Grattan has lectured in the School of Strategy and International Business at UWE and is now a Visiting Research Fellow there and a Visiting Teaching Fellow at the University of Ballarat, in Australia. He has written two books and authored a number of journal articles and conference papers and is a member of the review panels of the Journal of Management History and the Journal of International Business and Entrepreneurship Development.
The author illustrates the strategy formulation processes in complex organisations by focusing on the Strategic Defence Review in the UK as a case study. He offers some powerful insights into strategy formulation and vividly illustrates the connection between theory and practice. A fascinating book - and a must for all those involved in strategy formulation in both the public and private sectors.' - Nicholas O’Regan, Professor of Strategy/ Enterprise and Innovation, Bristol Business School, UK
