Designing World Class Corporate Strategies considers the key role of corporate centres within very large, primarily multi-business organisations. At present, these corporate centres are under attack as not creating and value and merely adding cost to their groups.



The authors have developed a corporate configurations model which demonstrates four ways in which corporate centres can add significant value. However this requires the centre to act in specific ways depending on the external environment in which the group is operating.



Designing World Class Corporate Strategies is highly readable, with a large number of illustrative examples included in the text. Academic references and theoretical underpinnings are placed in the final chapter of the book, so that the book is focused on the professional market for strategy and creating value.



*The examples used are from very well known multi-national organisations in order to make the book attractive in international markets.



*Tackles important issues incorporating theoretical and practical dimensions.

From the Back Cover

Multi-business groups are under attack. In the major developed markets of the world, not only is the truly diversified conglomerate seen as a dinosaur from a bygone corporate era, but also the corporate centres of very many other large corporations are seen as an endangered species, facing ever increasing demands and challenges to justify their continued existence.



This book focuses on the key value-adding role of corporate centres within large, primarily multi-business organisations. At present these corporate centres are frequently accused of not creating any value and merely adding cost to their groups.



The four value-adding roles identified in this book have differing levels of sustainability and each can be more appropriate to specific types of external environment. However they all require significantly different types of leadership and other key skills at the corporate centre.



It considers the challenges facing corporate centres in an integrated and multi-functional way and takes a holistic approach to the development of corporate strategies. Relevant information is included on leadership styles and cultural issues, control processes and performance measures.



Designing World Class Corporate Strategies:



sets out the development of a corporate configurations model

discusses four configurations in depth with a number of real company case studies.

considers issues involved in applying the model in practice, as well as providing more background to the academic theories underpinning the model.



Table of Contents



The Corporate Configurations Model; Developing the Model over Time; Applying the Model; Sustainability Issues; Controls Configuration, Scale Configuration, Scope Configuration, Creative Configuration, Underpinning Frameworks to the Model.



About the authors:

Professor Keith Ward, Professor Cliff Bowman and Professor Andrew Kakabadse are all at the Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield University