"Certain to Win"
The Strategy of John Boyd, Applied to Business
Possibly, the best book I have ever read on the topic of strategy (both military and business) - and I have read quite a few!
Chet Richards has done an excellent job of taking the ideas and concepts of John Boyd (OODA loops etc) and applying them to the business arena. He illustrates his points with a number of examples, notably Toyota and SouthWest Airlines. Basically, Boyd's ideas boil down to the idea that the key to strategy is flexibility, the ability to react quickly to changing events. In business, this flexibilty is more the ability to respond (and to some extent anticipate) what the market wants, ahead of the competition.
Some insights for me are, for example, why "me-too" products invariably don't do very well.
The approach can pretty much be applied to almost any area of human endeavour. Personal success, for example. Drawing from a different source, Tony Robbins' "Ultimate Success Formula" is
There are some obvious parallels with Boyd's work here.
Anyway, a great book,only 187 pages (including notes etc) so it's easy to read and there's no "filler". Like all classics, simple and to the point but incredibly profound. Buy it! You'll be glad you did!
Possibly, the best book I have ever read on the topic of strategy (both military and business) - and I have read quite a few!
Chet Richards has done an excellent job of taking the ideas and concepts of John Boyd (OODA loops etc) and applying them to the business arena. He illustrates his points with a number of examples, notably Toyota and SouthWest Airlines. Basically, Boyd's ideas boil down to the idea that the key to strategy is flexibility, the ability to react quickly to changing events. In business, this flexibilty is more the ability to respond (and to some extent anticipate) what the market wants, ahead of the competition.
Some insights for me are, for example, why "me-too" products invariably don't do very well.
The approach can pretty much be applied to almost any area of human endeavour. Personal success, for example. Drawing from a different source, Tony Robbins' "Ultimate Success Formula" is
- Decide what you want.
- Take massive action towards that goal.
- Be aware of feedback (are you getting closer to the goal?)
- Change your approach if necessary until you reach the goal.
There are some obvious parallels with Boyd's work here.
Anyway, a great book,only 187 pages (including notes etc) so it's easy to read and there's no "filler". Like all classics, simple and to the point but incredibly profound. Buy it! You'll be glad you did!
posted by Kevin Francis at
4:49 pm
