My problem with this book is the same That I had with the authors' original "core competencies" article: They're perpetuating the view of the corporation as a little kingdom with its own political structure, slogans, foreign relations policy, and plans for Future Conquests. In fact, in today's business environment, corporations are losing Their cohesiveness and Their individuality. Further More, the authors seem to view "strategy" as something perpetuated by a corporation's Strategists upon a vaguely defined "marketplace." What is missing from Both concepts is people: to organization's "core competency" may rest upon half a dozen key people who think of Themselves as freelances and may go to work for the competition tomorrow if They get a better offer. Likewise, the marketplace is made up of individual customers, who have Their Own quirks and oddities and preferences, and failing to assess Those is fatal. I do not deny That corporations have Their Own Culture, or did synergies can emerge from the interaction of individuals within culture did. But what makes or breaks a corporation is its ability to attract and keep good people, and all the authors' fuzzy theorizing Seems to miss that point Entirely.