I joined the OU this past autumn and one of my first interactions with new colleagues and with OUBS alumni was at the Business Perspectives Innovation masterclass in London. I could not have been more impressed by the professionalism of colleagues and the insights of guest speakers as well as the interest and enthusiasm of alumni, current students and other friends of the OU. Therefore, when asked to lead the next event on strategy, I realised that I would have a tough act to follow. For me, the rule of thumb when following on from a successful predecessor is to pay due respect but seek to suitably differentiate. This is what we have sought to do when designing our Competitive Strategies for Business Growth masterclass.
The intent behind this event in Manchester next month is to again reach out to our graduates, students and partners, engaging them in a dialogue around business and management ideas and improvement. It is aimed at individuals and organisations keen to learn more about strategy techniques and best practices. The intent is to help those with strategic responsibilities in the design and delivery of strategy. The event is also intended to challenge the economic doom and gloom that rests like a black cloud over the UK and beyond, and to discuss ways the world’s economies can kick-start growth.
I encourage you to sign on, turn up and get stuck in on the day. Through this blog forum, I also suggest you start to mull over and debate three questions in advance of 7 February. These are:
- Do you need a strategy to build and sustain a successful business?
- What will it take to be a successful strategic manager in 2013?
- How does strategy process and practice need to change and evolve to meet the competitive challenges of the future?
I look forward to meeting you in Manchester.
Thomas C. Lawton
Professor of Strategy and International Management
The Open University 
Having just discovered open U., I have not yet scanned the archived conversations. I am a DBA student on hiatus from U.S. University. My research (doctoral study topic) is the strategically innovative operations management method and phjilosophy known as TOC (Theory of Constraints) and am interested in discovering whether the topic has been discussed or mentioned. It is a profoundly effective innovatrive stgrategy approach to operations management both in manufactuting and service industry organizations of any size. It was designed and developed by Israeli Physicist, E. Goldratt. Dr. Goldratt developed The TOC concepts and methodology employing the scientific method, common sense, and an estimable intellect to a product that can be learned in a straightforward, plain and simple style and implemented smoothly in relatively little time. Anyone aware of TOC or interested in discussing or learning more? I have conducted a fairly comprehensive review of the literature.