Images of Strategy develops an innovative and multi--faceted approach to strategic management which will enable students to use and develop interesting and wide--ranging applications alongside some of the latest ideas and analysis. * An innovative and multi--functional approach to strategic management.

Notes on Contributors. Preface: Stephen Cummings, David Wilson and Robin Wensley. 1. Images of Strategy: Stephen Cummings and David Wilson. 2. Strategy as Ethos: Stephen Cummings. 3. Strategy as Organizing: Karen Legge. 4. Strategy as Intention and Anticipation: Robin Wensley. 5. Strategy as Orchestrating Knowledge: John McGee. 6. Strategy as Data + Sense Making: Bob Galliers and Sue Newell. 7. Strategy as Creativity: Chris Bilton, Stephen Cummings and David Wilson. 8. Strategy as Exploration and Interconnection: Duncan Angwin. 9. Strategy as Systems Thinking: John Brocklesby and Stephen Cummings. 10. Strategy as Process, Power and Change: Andrew Pettigrew. 11. Strategy as Marketing: Peter Doyle. 12. Strategy as Numbers: Chris Smith. 13. Strategy as Decision Making: David Wilson. Afterword: Gibson Burrell. Index.

"An excellent book that will have a major impact on the strategy/organisation field/discourse. A a must buya for those researching, teaching and studying in the strategy/organisation field. A book that raises fundamental questions about and provides highly provocative responses to the paradoxes of crafting strategy in a highly uncertain and ambiguous world. It rips strategy free from the contorting embrace of rational, linear thinking and relocates it in a real world where history, politics, power and culture are the driving forces of change." Michael Reed, Lancaster University "Images of Strategy breaks new ground. It takes us away from the stale bureaucratic metaphors of strategy towards a dynamic field that is much more useful to the real world of business. Images of Strategy is a must read for all who call themselves "strategic thinkers. The academic field of strategy wona t be the same." R Edward Freeman, Darden University of Virginia "This is one of the most refreshing books in strategy that I have seen for a long time. It blends smoothly Portera s rigour, Mintzberga s playfulness and Morgana s multi--perspectivism. Cummings and Wilson have brought together a number of fascinating papers and have done so within an eclectic yet insightful framework that stretches from the ancient Greeks to postmodern philosophers. A wonderfully refreshing book!" Haridimos Tsoukas, University of Strathclyde "Images of Strategy!puts forward a way of looking at strategy development that seeks to acknowledge, combine and network ideas from a variety of perspectives. Practiced in this spirit, the approach is a refreshing, challenging, and energizing one that can potentially stimulate significant breakthroughs in theory and practice. Images of Strategy is a fascinating book to read. It is targeted to managers interested in strategy. Will it help them become better strategists? I believe so!" William D. Guth, Academy of Management Review, July 2004