The implementation of appropriate strategies remains one of the most difficult areas of management. Considerable thought, energy and resources is given over to devising a strategic plan; and it is to the fine detail of the plan that attention turns when things go wrong. The plan, rather than the implementation comes in for scrutiny, because it is less problematic to analyse. Perhaps this is because, whereas the plan can be devised under pollution-free, almost laboratory conditions, the working out of the plan takes place in the real world infected with real world variables. But the whole point of a strategy is that it will be implemented and implemented successfully. Much has been written on change management and transformational leadership all very relevant to strategy implementation but there are comparatively few books which look at the implementation process as a whole. The Implementation Challenge aims to link the numerous concepts and approaches to the subject but recognizes the impact on implementation of the organization as it lives and breathes. From the work of leading thinkers in the field of strategic management, David Hussey has selected contributions specifically focusing on the theme of implementation. Some of the work is to be found in Strategic Change; this, together with new material and four major case studies, makes The Implementation Challenge thoroughly up to date and coherent. It is intended to be thought provoking, and to give practical aid to those involved with achieving successful implementation of their organization s strategic plans and thinking.
