In a paper in Milestones in Management Vol 5, explained his Strategic Success Paradigm which was a result of 15 years of research:
1. “There is no universal success formula for all firms.
2. The driving variable which dictates the strategy required for the success of a firm is the level of turbulence in its environment.
3. A firm’s success cannot be optimised unless the aggressiveness of its strategy is aligned with the turbulence in its environment.
4. A firm’s success cannot be optimised unless management capability is also aligned with the environment, and
5. The key internal capability variables which jointly determine a firm’s success are: cognitive, psychological, sociological, political, and anthropological.”
His other books on strategy include: Strategic Management, Macmillan, 1979 and Implanting Strategic Management 2nd edition, Prentice Hall, 1990. He passed away in 2002.
Tan Chee Teik is a consultant with Surwin Associates. He is a regular contributor to Today's Manager and conducts writing seminars for SIM Professional Development.