Business Strategy for a Better Normal / Progress in Mathematics (PDF)

"This book fills a major gap in thinking proactively about the future of businesses and preparing leadership teams to succeed. The topics and the mini-cases are both current and compelling, illustrating the emerging choices that companies will need to make in the second half of the 21st century and providing them the tools to make choices that will optimize the returns to all of their stakeholders."

-John Elstrott, Chairman (retired) Whole Foods Markets, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

"A clear road map for leaders seeking to empower their followers, organizations, and industries to innovate during unexpected and challenging times in order to maintain competitive advantage in a diversified, equitable and inclusive culture."

-Amelia Ceja, President & CEO, Ceja Vineyards, Napa, CA USA

This book examines how leaders can use strategic thinking to transform their followers, organizations, and industries in the wake of societal shocks like COVID-19 that require re-balancing both leadership and business models. It is organized around a new triumvirate of strategic thinking concepts for the better normal, explained in a 3S Model: Style, Situation, and Strategic Orientation. The environment (situation) creates or deters opportunities that are pursued by leaders with the propensity (style) and the potential (strategy) to develop them.

Addressing topics such as sustainability and diversity, this pivotal text offers fresh strategic thinking and presents illustrative examples and case studies about organizations grappling with making decisions in a dynamically different "new normal."

Armand Gilinsky is the F Korbel Professor of Wine Business at Sonoma State University, USA, where he has taught strategy and entrepreneurship since 1994. He has authored over 50 published business case studies and several articles on entrepreneurial strategy and socially responsible entrepreneurship. He has served as President of the North American Case Research Association, a group of some 500 case research professionals. Dr. Gilinsky has extensive consulting experience in strategic planning, competitive strategy, and developing business and financial plans.