Strategy Development Fundamentals
This section focuses on the evolution of strategy development since the 1950s. We show how strategy development has gone through 5 phases: 1) Financial Planning, 2) Long-term Planning, 3) Strategic Planning, 4) Strategy Renewal, and 5) Strategic Management. Key themes, concepts, and influencers are tabulated for each phase. This section also discusses the two current schools of thought led by Henry Mintzberg (Configurational school) and Joseph Bower (Resource Allocation Process school). These two schools of thought are carefully compared.

Elements of Strategy Development
In this section, we introduce a framework for dissecting strategy development. This framework breaks down the various elements of strategic intent and execution design, as they relate to:

• Setting the corporate objectives.
• Defining the business "battlefields."
• Defining your organization's core competencies.
• Designing organizational context.
• Shaping strategy planning and budgeting.
• Managing strategic initiatives.

Strategy Development Approach
In this last section, we tie the strategy development framework to different levels of the organization (e.g. corporate level, divisional/business unit level, functional level). We also walk through a three-phase approach to the Strategy Development Process. Benefits, activities, and deliverables associated with this approach are detailed.