The Art of Action

The 10th Anniversary Edition of the Leadership Classic

The surprisingly common sense approach to leading a global company, based on a theoretical framework first used by the nineteenth-century Prussian Army.

For over a decade the approach known as 'mission command' has been taught at the leading HULT Ashridge International Business School and has been applied in transforming businesses as diverse as pharmaceuticals and F1 racing.

What do you want me to do? This question is the enduring management issue, a perennial problem that Stephen Bungay shows has an old solution that is counter-intuitive and yet highly practical. The Art of Action is a thought-provoking and fresh look at how managers can turn planning into execution, and execution into results.

Drawing on his experience as a consultant, senior manager and a highly respected military historian, Stephen Bungay takes a close look at the army which built its agility on the initiative of its highly empowered junior officers, to show business leaders how they can build more effective, productive organizations.

Préface
The 10th Anniversary Edition of the surprisingly common sense approach to leadership, based on tactics used by the nineteenth-century Prussian Army.

Auteur

Stephen Bungay is a Director of the Ashridge Strategic Management Centre in London and teaches on several executive programmes at Ashridge Executive Education. After completing his studies at Oxford and the University of Tubingen, he worked in the London and Munich offices of The Boston Consulting Group for 17 years and now works as an independent consultant and teacher and is a sought-after conference speaker. The approach described in The Art of Action has been adopted by a wide range of his clients ranging from mid-cap digital technology companies to major global corporates. An acclaimed military historian, Stephen has published two books in that field,The Most Dangerous Enemy: A History of the Battle of Britain and Alamein, both with Aurum Press, and is a frequent contributor to television programmes, having appeared on Channel 4, Channel 5, BBC2, BBC4, and a range of satellite and cable channels around the world.,
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Texte du rabat

The revised 10th Anniversary edition of the management classic

'In an innovation-driven industry, achieving 'high alignment and high autonomy' allows everyone to grow to their maximum and achieve the most. Top-down instruction stifles the curiosity, passion and insights of hard-working scientists. However, armed with a clear intent - the 'what' and 'why' - they can be inspired and empowered to bring the 'how' that will achieve the greatest benefits.'
Clive Wood, SVP, Global Discovery Research, Boehringer Ingelheim

'I have never before found a book that provides members of an extended global leadership team with practical dos and don'ts that move the team, key stakeholders and colleagues in larger forums so powerfully. For five years I have taken this book with me on my vacation and I still find new, exciting and mind provoking details about how to lead global companies. I am a truly convinced practitioner.'
Henrik Andersen, Group President and CEO, Vestas Wind Systems A/S

'The Art of Action has proved invaluable in creating a common shared understanding of our direction and undoubtedly helped us navigate the stormy waters of Covid-19. The work we have done on leading through intent gave us clarity, resilience and confidence at a time of unexpected turbulence.'
Ben Bridge, EVP, Global Business, Airbus Helicopters

'I've been applying the principles of The Art of Action since 2013 - a simple, elegant and practical approach to driving alignment and delivering our strategic objectives. Stephen helped us at Shell Energy Retail where we are transforming and growing the business to supply renewable power to households in an extremely competitive environment.'
Colin Crooks, VP Renewables & Energy Solutions Europe, Shell