Strategic management forms the core of any business course. The body of literature available has grown rapidly, leading to a tendency for textbooks on the subject to become very large, with authors seeking ever-expanding coverage. This textbook provides a concise alternative to such volumes. Most business students are hoping to derive some usable knowledge from the time they spend on strategic management, besides the academic knowledge to pass their examinations. This text therefore takes practice into account as well as the academic literature, and gives full weight to the real-life problems of implementing strategy. In order to be as accessible as possible, the book includes the following learning aids: Clear division into parts to establish a focus on core aspects of the subject Diagrams which illustrate the overall logic of the subject Summaries of each part in the first chapter of that part Summaries at the end of each chapter Case examples to illustrate the practical impact of the principles described in the text A brief commentary and questions for discussion on each case example A glossary for easy reference to the definitions of special terms