In a global, complex, and competitive world, developing a plan without testing it against market reaction is like walking blind into a minefield.

War gaming is a metal detector for a company. Yet war games run by the large consulting firms are kept secret and cost millions. For the first time, this book makes them accessible to every product and brand manager, every project leader, every marketing professional, and every planner, no matter how small or large the company.

Business War Games will show you in steps and practical detail:
* How to decide if war gaming is right for you
* Which decisions call for war gaming
* How to prepare, organize, and run a realistic and inexpensive war game
* How to predict competitor moves with accuracy and little information
* Why you do not need computers, consultants, software, or a PhD in math to do it well

This book is your bible of how to stay one step ahead of your competitors. Do not leave home without it....

Surprise is rarely a good thing in business. Unexpected developments range in their effects from inconvenient to disastrous. To avoid being blindsided, companies must develop a Competitive Early Warning system, or CEW, which combines strategic planning, competitive intelligence, and management action. Such systems let organizations manage risk more effectively and prevent "industry dissonance" -- when market realities outpace corporate strategies. Early Warning reveals how to:

* Change strategy to meet new realities * Learn from the mistakes of others via the book's eye-opening stories * Avoid common tactics like benchmarking and using consultants, which may do more harm than good * Tell executives what they need to know -- not what they want to hear

Each chapter ends with a Manager's Checklist of key points, and the book includes numerous charts, tables, and tools. With strong opinions and wry humor, world-recognized expert Gilad reveals how to anticipate and react to early signs of trouble....