The 6th revised edition of the book addresses questions that should concern every business and executive today:

1. How will we understand and respond to changes in the external environment in which our business operates,

2. How will we create and leverage fundamental capabilities to gain competitive advantages,

3. How will we guide our business and our people towards the future,

4. Which needs, of which customers in which markets and/or business activities will we choose to satisfy, and how,

5. How (e.g., acquisitions, mergers, alliances, organic growth) will we penetrate new markets and/or business activities,

6. How will we achieve sustainable competitive advantage in our market,

7. How will we create a business that is flexible and capable of adapting to rapid changes, and how will we improve the quality of strategic decision-making,

8. What structures, systems, capabilities, and personnel do we need to develop to effectively support the implementation of our strategy.

To answer these questions, the book relies on the most modern international theory and practice in the field of Strategy. It also uses a plethora of examples from Greek and international businesses to make the arguments understandable to the reader.

Each chapter is accompanied by recently updated international literature, which can serve as a valuable resource for readers who wish to delve deeper into the subject.

A parallel aim is to help the reader understand the peculiarities of each strategic choice and the potential problems in its implementation. It thus becomes clear that there are no easy solutions or “recipes for success” in matters of strategy.

The design of the book is such that the initial chapters create a strong foundation upon which the subsequent chapters build. The 6th, radically revised edition of the book incorporates ideas and knowledge from the literature on economics, marketing, organizational theory, finance, and international management. In this way, it seeks to provide the reader with a truly comprehensive view.

Strategy must see both the tree and the forest. Like the previous editions, the new edition aspires to be a valuable guide not only for executives who shape strategy and make strategic decisions but also for those (middle and junior staff, undergraduate and graduate students) who wish to better understand the strategic moves of Greek and international businesses on the "chessboard" of competition.