Executing strategy is an enduring management problem. There is often a significant gap between what managers plan, what they do and the outcome they achieve. Stephen Bungay finds a fresh approach from an unexpected source—the nineteenth-century Prussian Army. His solution is based not on theory, but on sets of practices that have evolved over many years in the fast-moving, unpredictable environment of the battlefield. This engaging narrative demonstrates how to set direction, how to agree on what people need to do to realize their objectives and how to enable them to be successful in the complex, dynamic arena of modern business. It offers a fresh, holistic approach to strategy, communication and leadership, encouraging people to practice the few simple things that really make a difference.