Good Strategy Bad Strategy

What exactly is a good strategy? In a world filled with mission statements, buzzwords, and long-term goals, many leaders struggle to articulate what their strategy actually is. Author Richard Rumelt, one of the world's most influential thinkers on strategy, argues that this is because most of what we call "strategy" is, in fact, bad strategy. His book is a groundbreaking guide that shows you how to tell the difference and, more importantly, why it matters.

Rumelt’s core argument is simple yet powerful: a good strategy is not a list of goals or a vision statement; it’s a coherent and actionable plan with a clear diagnosis of the problem, a guiding policy for how to approach it, and a set of focused actions. This clear, three-part framework stands in stark contrast to bad strategy, which is often characterized by fluff, jargon, and a fundamental failure to identify the core challenge. The book provides a new way to think about strategy that is grounded in logic, not wishful thinking.

In this book, you will learn:

• The three essential components of a good strategy and how to build one.

• How to spot the tell-tale signs of a bad strategy and avoid them.

• How to diagnose a core challenge and design a powerful, focused response.

• Real-world examples of both good and bad strategies in business, military, and nonprofits.