June 2008

Smart Big Moves is not your ordinary business book. Authored by Professor Paul Strebel and Research Associate Anne-Valérie Ohlsson, Smart Big Moves is the fictionalized story of the ups and downs of a real company that shows readers how to best respond to the big challenges every company – be it a huge multinational or a small start-up – faces from time to time. In addition, the book is the basis for IMD’s first-ever animated cartoon teaching video.

“The animated cartoon teaching video demonstrates the innovative approach to learning at IMD,” stated Professor Strebel. “It is a unique way of complementing the book and reinforcing the secrets of formulating smart big moves, using the three critical elements of smart psychology, smart strategy and smart risk management.”

The cast for Smart Big Moves includes Erik, a former software executive turned entrepreneur in the health food market; Per, his ambitious business partner; Bjorn, the ever-helpful mentor with an MBA under his belt who is always ready to hand out advice and case studies; and Caroline, the talented consultant brought in to help smooth the strategic shifts. Watch out for the twist at the end!

While the story is fiction, it is based on the results of longitudinal case studies conducted with two dozen multinational companies that made shifts involving a large commitment of resources to a new goal (i.e. big moves).

The Smart Big Moves animated cartoon video was presented for the first time to a class during the Orchestrating Winning Performance program, which runs from June 21 – 26.