Introduction.
1. Strategy Execution Is the key
Execution Is a Key to Success 
Making Strategy Work Is More Difficult Than the Task of Strategy Making 
Sound Execution Is Critical-A Focus on Making Strategy Work Pays Major Dividends 
Managers Are Trained to Plan, Not Execute 
Let the "Grunts" Handle Execution 
Planning and Execution Are Interdependent 
Execution Takes Longer Than Formulation 
Execution Is a Process, Not an Action or Step 
Execution Involves More People Than Strategy Formulation Does
Additional Challenges and Obstacles to Successful Execution 
Wharton-Gartner Survey 
Wharton Executive Education Survey 
Panel Discussions 
The Results: Opinions About Successful Strategy Execution 
Poor Execution Outcomes 
Making Sense of the Data and Going Forward 
The Execution Challenge 
Having a Model or Guidelines for Execution 
Strategy is the Primary Driver 
Managing Change 
The Power Structure 
Coordination and Information Sharing 
Clear Responsibility and Accountability 
The Right Culture 
Leadership 
Controls, Feedback, and Adaptation 
The Next Step: Developing a Logical Approach to Execution Decisions and Actions 
Summary 
Endnotes 
2. Overview and Model: Making Strategy Work.
 Common vs. Unique Execution Solutions 
 A Need for Action 
 A Model of Strategy Execution 
 Corporate Strategy 
 Corporate Structure 
 Need for Integration 
 Executing Business Strategy 
 "Demands" of Business Strategy 
 Integrating Strategy and Short-term Operating Objectives 
 Incentives and Controls 
 Incentives 
 Controls 
 Context of Execution Decisions 
 The Execution Context 
 Managing Change 
 Culture 
 The Organizational Power Structure 
 The Leadership Climate 
 Need for a Disciplined Approach 
 Summary 
 Endnotes 
3. The Path to Successful Execution: Good Strategy Comes First.
 Is the Impact of Strategy Overrated? 
 Issue #1: The Need for Sound Planning and a Clear, Focused Strategy 
 Corporate-Level Planning 
 AT&T: Bad Corporate Strategy? 
 Business Strategy 
 Issue #2: The Importance of Integrating Corporate and Business Strategies 
 The Role of the Business Is Unclear 
 Inappropriate Performance Metrics 
 Battles Over Resource Allocations 
 Assessments of Business Performance Create Additional Problems 
 The Strategy Review 
 Issue #3: The Need to Define and Communicate the Operational Components of Strategy 
 Integrating Strategic and Short-Term Objectives 
 Need for Measurable Objectives 
 Issue #4: Understanding the "Demands" of Strategy and Successful Execution 
 Low-Cost Producer 
 Differentiation Strategies 
 Developing the Right Capabilities 
 The Demands of Global Strategy 
 A Final Point 
 Summary 
 Endnotes 
4. Organizational Structure and Execution.
 The Challenge of Structural Choice 
 General Motors 
 Johnson & Johnson 
 Citibank and ABB 
 The Critical Structural Issues 
 Structural Issue #1: Measuring Costs and Benefits of Structure 
 Structural Issue #2: Centralization vs. Decentralization 
 Structural Issue #3: The Strategy-Structure-Performance Relationship 
 Summary 
 Endnotes 
5. Managing Integration: Effective Coordination and Information Sharing.
 The Importance of Integration 
 Boeing 
 Royal Dutch/Shell Group 
 Dell Computers 
 Interdependence and Coordination Methods 
 Types of Interdependence 
 Coordination Processes and Methods 
 The GE "Work Out" 
 Facilitating Information Sharing, Knowledge Transfer, and Communication 
 Creating, Using, and Sharing Knowledge 
 Methods, Tools, or Processes for Information Sharing 
 Informal Forces and Information Sharing 
 Additional Informal Factors Affecting Information Flow and Knowledge Transfer 
 Clarifying Responsibility and Accountability 
 Responsibility Plotting and Role Negotiation 
 Summary 
 Endnotes 
6. Incentives and Controls: Supporting and Reinforcing Execution.
 Role of Incentives and Controls 
 Incentives and Execution 
 A Basic Rule: Don't Demotivate People 
 Good Incentives 
 Reward the Right Things 
 Controls: Feedback, Learning, and Adaptation 
 The Control Process 
 Develop and Use Good Objectives 
 Reward the Doers, the Performers 
 Face the Brutal Facts Honestly 
 Reward Cooperation 
 Clarify Responsibility and Accountability 
 Controls Require Timely and Valid Information 
 Leadership, Controls, and Execution 
 The Strategy Review: Integrating Planning, Execution, and Control 
 Step 1: Strategy Formulation 
 Step 2: The Execution Plan 
 Step 3: Initiating the Control Process 
 Step 4: Cause-Effect Analysis and Organizational Learning 
 Step 5: Feedback and Change 
 Step 6: Follow Up and Continue the Process 
 Summary 
 Endnotes 
7. Managing Change.
 Managing Change: A Continuing Challenge 
 Steps in Managing Change 
 A Model of Change and Execution 
 Components of the Model 
 Relating Change to Execution Problems 
 Sequential Change 
 Complex Change 
 Other Factors Affecting Change 
 Summary 
 Endnotes 
8. Managing Culture and Culture Change.
 What Is Culture? 
 Culture is Important for Execution 
 Culture is Not Homogeneous 
 Culture Affects Performance 
 Organizational Performance Affects Culture 
 A Model of Culture and Cultural Change 
 The Top Line: The Effects of Culture 
 The Bottom Line: Changing Culture 
 Summary 
 Rule 1: The Reasons for Change Must Be Clear, Compelling, and Agreed Upon By Key Players 
 Rule 2: Focus on Changing Behavior-Not Directly on Changing Culture 
 Rule 3: Effective Communication is Vital to Culture Change 
 Rule 4: Adequate Effort Must Be Expanded to Reduce Resistance to Change 
 Rule 5: Beware of Excessive Speed 
 Endnotes 
9. Power, Influence, and Execution.
 A View of Power and Influence 
 Strategy and Environment 
 Problems or Dependencies 
 Organizational Structure 
 Uneven Resource Allocations 
 Internal Dependencies and Power 
 Using Power and Influence 
 Coming Full Circle: Conclusions About Power 
 Power and Execution 
 Define Power Bases and Relationships 
 Form Coalitions or Develop Joint Ventures with Those in Power 
 Focus on Value-Added, Measurable Results 
 A Final Note on Power: The Downside 
 Summary 
 Endnotes 
10. Summary and Application: Making Mergers and Acquisitions Work.
 Making Merger and Acquisition Strategies Work 
 Why Focus on Mergers and Acquisitions? 
 Why Do So Many Mergers and Acquisitions Fail or Founder? 
 Using the Present Model and Approach to Execution 
 Corporate Strategy 
 Corporate Structure 
 Cultural Integration in M&A 
 Business Strategy and Short-Term Objectives 
 Business Structure/Integration 
 Incentives and Controls 
 Managing Change 
 Managing Culture and Culture Change 
 The Critical Role of Leadership 
 Summary 
 Endnotes 
Appendix.
Index.