Eric Wiebs & Marc Baaij 
The Craft of Strategy Formation [PDF ebook] 
Translating Business Issues into Actionable Strategies

Preface vii
Introduction xi
What is this book all about? xi
Introduction to the Allware case study xxv
Part I – The preparation phase 1
Introduction 3
1 Days 1 to 5 – We create a question out of a concern 7
2 Days 6 and 7 – We set up a project organisation 27
3 Day 8 – We structure the question 39
4 Day 9 – We formulate hypotheses 51
5 Day 10 – We make a work plan 57
6 Allware: the first two weeks 79
Part II – The analysis phase 89
Introduction 91
7 Days 11 and 12 – We develop the analyses further 95
8 Days 13 to 17 – We collect data 117
9 Days 18 to 42 – We carry out the analyses 135
10 Days 43 to 45 – We present the conclusions 149
11 Allware: on with the analysis 171
Part III – The decision-making phase 181
Introduction 183
12 Day 46 – We put forward a few business options 185
13 Day 47 – We set up scenarios 193
14 Days 48 to 57 – We model the results 199
15 Days 58 to 60 – We choose the strategic direction 209
16 Days 61 to 65 – We write the strategic plan 215
17 Allware: make a choice and carry on 221
Part IV – The implementation phase 225
Introduction 227
18 Set up an organisation to implement the strategy 231
19 Draw up the implementation plan 237
20 Direct progress 247
Afterword 259
Profile of OC&C Strategy Consultants 263
Index 267

Eric Wiebes Eric started his career in the oil industry. He became a strategy consultant in 1990 and a partner at OC&C Strategy Consultants in 1996, advising both corporate clients and national governments on an array of strategic issues. Today, Eric works for the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Marc Baaij Marc is an associate professor of strategic management at the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) of the Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Before joining RSM, Marc worked in the industry and in strategy consultancy. Marc teaches strategy formation to graduate students as well as executives.
Bas Keibek Bas became a strategy consultant in 1995 and since then has assisted a diverse spectrum of corporate clients in meeting strategic challenges. Additionally, Bas, a partner of OC&C since 2002, has extensive experience in evaluating potential acquisitions for private equity clients. Prior to joining OC&C he worked in the UK offshore oil industry.
Pieter Witteveen Pieter launched OC&C in the Netherlands in 1992. His consulting experience covers a wide range of issues, such as strategic positioning, acquisitions, restructuring and portfolio strategy, for clients in virtually all sectors of business. His career before OC&C includes many years in strategy consulting and several managerial positions.