Julia Sloan lays out in a comprehensive manner how strategic thinking can be learned. This book, therefore, is a must read for all organizations and executives who genuinely consider human capital as not only a valuable asset but the most significant competitive differentiator in today's constantly changing and extremely challenging global arena. -- Raj Tatta, Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Sloan has written a superb book that should be on the required reading list for every business school. It offers a compelling argument to avoid over-reliance on linear thinking, formal planning rituals and simple exhortations to think out of the box, in favor of a process that results in truly innovative strategic thinking. Sloan is exceptionally clear in her analysis of the underlying drivers of this process. She makes an important contribution to understanding the development of breakthrough business strategies. -- Willie Pietersen, Professor, The Practice of Management, Columbia Business School This book opens new horizons to strategy development as it invites intuition, cultural and social dimensions into the decision making process. It contests the conventional, unidimensional, facts-and-figure based, retrospective logic as the core strategic discipline, and instead, integrates the important soft aspects of a successful strategic thinking approach. Dr. Sloan strongly advocates for the development of strategic thinking as an essential asset of corporate human capital. The worldwide transcultural experience of Dr. Sloan, combined with sound research, a critical discussion of standard strategic literature, as well as sensitivity for the complex and subtle approach to strategic thinking, offers a new perspective for both students and business executives. An indispensable roadmap for everyone willing to learn strategic thinking. - Karl Nigl, CEO Raiffeisen, Austria Julia Sloan's book offers convincing evidence that sharp strategic thinking is not a miraculous gift of a few but a complex, multi-faceted process, which can be learned systematically. In an increasingly competitive business environment where the ability to develop distinct, adaptive strategies is a basic requirement for sustainable success, this book is highly recommended reading for students as well as executives and consultants interested in a new, comprehensive approach to strategic thinking. --Marcus Sieberer, Partner, McKinsey & Company, Inc.
