I have been aware of the book “Blue Ocean Strategy” by W.Chan Kimand Renee Mauborgne published by Harvard Business School Press  ISBN978-1-59139-619-2 for some time. Infact a number of pepole have encouraged me to read it since it came out in 2005, but I must admit it had not been on my priority list ….. until now.
The book is about business change. That most companies work in a red ocean full of competitors and the only way out is to develop a ‘Blue Ocean’ strategy, an area  where you do not have any competition.

It is an excellent book for reading in todays turmoil and full of ideas for now.

What I like about the book is that it not only goes through the process, but it also shows how it can be implemented using existing company strategies.
Where ‘In Search of Excellence’ was the book to read twenty years ago. This is the book that’s time has come now for most business people. The theories in this book are adaptable for retailers whether they are small or large. Infact, I feel that, a small business will find this book more practical and easier to implement than a large business.

For example coming up with the ideas is often the easiest part of the excercise. The implementation is often the more difficult. Towards the end of this book the authors look at the implementation of new ideas. They talk about the fact that peoples attitudes and behaviour in the team are just as important as the idea it’s self. They describe a process that revolves around fairness followed by trust and committment and then followed by voluntary cooperation and the result is that the team exceed the expectations.

I find that most management books can be hard work, this book is an easy read and does not take that long to read. I am the same as anny retail mannager or business owner, my time is precious and I like books I can completely read on a flight and this book achieved that goal.

If you have put off reading “Blue Ocean Strategy” I would recommend it’s time has come for your business.

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