RICHARD PETTINGER

Fundamental to management thinking and economic theory, Competitive Strategy offers a framework for understanding the underlying forces of competition in industry and business.
This book explains the ideas, theories and principles of Competitive Strategy in simple, straightforward terms. It shows readers how to use competitive tools and strategies to understand the underlying forces of competition in industry and business and apply them to assess industries, understand competitors, choose competitive positions and gain - and maintain competitive advantage.
Chapters include:
What Competitive Strategy actually is
The foundations of strategy and the five forces of competition
Assessing the competition and strategic management in action
Developing a competitive strategy
Looking to the future and mergers and acquisitions

Richard Pettinger is a lecturer in Business Management at University College London where he teaches undergraduate, postgraduate, MBA and international courses. Richard is the adapting author of Managing For Dummies and Weekend MBA For Dummies.

Introduction.
Part I: Laying the Foundations of Competitive Strategy.
Chapter 1: Gearing Up to Get Competitive.
Chapter 2: Laying the Foundations of Strategy.
Part II: Being Competitive.
Chapter 3: Feeling the Effects of the Forces of Competition.
Chapter 4: Scanning and Analysing Your Competitive Environment.
Chapter 5: Looking to Leadership.
Part III: Putting Strategic Management into Action.
Chapter 6: Assessing Your Competition.
Chapter 7: Appraising Investments.
Chapter 8: Finessing Your Finances.
Chapter 9: Matching Products and Services with Your Customers and Clients.
Chapter 10: Putting Your Competition in Context.
Part IV: Enhancing Your Competitive Strategy.
Chapter 11: Pulling Together a Comprehensive Strategic Plan.
Chapter 12: Defi ning and Establishing Organisation Structure and Culture.
Chapter 13: Doing The Right Things: Ethics.
Chapter 14: Wrangling with Risk.
Part V: Looking Towards Your Future.
Chapter 15: Venturing Into Mergers, Acquisitions and Takeovers.
Chapter 16: Getting the Big Picture: Globalisation.
Chapter 17: Pointing Your Company Towards the Future.
Part VI: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 18: Ten (Or So) Great Books on Competitive Strategy in Action.
Chapter 19: Ten (Or So) Questions to Ask About Any Corporate Investment.
Chapter 20: Ten Tips on Mergers and Acquisitions.
Chapter 21: Ten (Or So) Top Ways to Manage Risk.
Index.