The CSOsandbox is an independent web site developed for the purpose of providing a platform upon which the concept of Third Wave Strategy (discussed below) can be demonstrated and applied to practice.

Corporate and Operations (CSO)Sandbox

How does it work? Learn from the tutorials and the case study then make it your own playground - the CSOsandbox

Content contained in this web site was compiled by the management consulting firm PH Strategy and Leadership (PHSANDL). The primary source of content is provided by PHSANDL's research affiliate, the Strategic Management Institute (SMI).

Underlying Premise: Sponsive Strategic Change

Fundamental to the application of Third Wave Strategy to practice is the notion of sponsive strategic change.

Sponse is defined as:

a state of change that is provoked or evoked as
- an outcome from change in circumstances, or
- as a result of the identification of new opportunity that has become apparent, or was deliberately introduced within a systems internal and/or external environment.

Outcomes are considered to be a result of a re, or prosponsive strategic change.

Sponsive strategic change is made up of the following alternatives:

a responsive strategic change is an adaptation adopted by an organisation provoked into an action as an outcome of an expected, or unexpected external, or internal stimulus that occurs beyond its control.
a prosponse strategic change is an invention that is introduced on terms that are within the firms control and are evoked as a result of a deliberate intent to positively challenge or disrupt an organisations future strategic trajectory.

The question is: Where is your corporation located in the matrix illustrated in the video below?

Video: The sponsive Strategic Change Matrix

Third Wave Strategy

Fundamental to the new order of corporate structuring and operating is the need for business leaders and leadership teams to think and act at an elevated level of capability in strategy practice and strategic thinking. Nostalgic memories of the 1960’s static, annual strategic plan (for brief history view video below) are just that; memories. In its place, strategy practitioners will benefit from the adoption of the concept explained in the video opposite, referred to as Third Wave Strategy.

Under this approach to strategy and strategic thinking will be informed by content flowing through the Program of Continual Strategy Renewal as well as evolving, holistic and future focused scenarios (and thereby stories, or in a more scientific sense, memories of the future).

Structured systemic thinking provides insight into causality and connectedness in systems. Speed of learning (the primary source of a sustainable competitive advantage) at an organisational level will be driven by Third Wave Strategy systems. An active integration of new ideas with the existing perceptions of reality, a conceot know as Generative Learning, enables the conscious deployment of a form of thinking the SMI refers to as Systemic Cognitive Strategy Practice (see below).

Video: Evolution of a 1960's Management Tool

From Planning to Programs of Continual Renewal

It’s difficult to imagine the extent of change that will occur as digital technology, ecological, geopolitical and demographic transformations become mainstream features of the future. The extent of disruption in the way business is done will be dramatic, making a demand for corporations to embark on programs of transformation today a necessity and an inevitability. PHSANDL's commitment to this prospect is demonstrated in the SMI's contribution to the book titled The Corporation of the Future.

Video: Overview, Third Wave Strategy

An understanding of Third Wave Strategy has been proved to empower strategy practitioners to take greater control of their strategic thinking and the strategic decisions they make. Its value is demonstrated in the above video which described key elements of the the Third Wave Strategy system - the platform upon which this web site is also based. This platform incorporates all of the items presented in the video including a Strategic Architecture, the foundation stone of Third Wave Strategy practice and a micro system in its own right. The Strategic Architecture and its derivative, an Integrated Value System is discussed in some detail leter in this web site as are explanations and examples of: a Strategy Blueprint, Strategy Evaluation exercises, the concepts of Program of Continual Strategy Renewal and Strategic Alignment and more.

Third Wave Strategy in Practice

The concept of Third Wave Strategy is explained in depth in the books Corporate Strategy (Remastered) I and II (below). The titles refer to the idea of a remastering of contemporary strategy practices, many of which have their roots in the 1960's 'strategic planning' a regime referred to in the 'Evolution of Strategy' video (above). Third wave strategy expands and combines past theories and practices to accommodate higher levels of cognitive consciousness and complexity. Newly elevated levels of strategic thinking are supported by more relevant, and better structured context, in an environment of high visibility. As discussed in Corporate Strategy (Remastered) I.

Video: Elements of Third Wave Strategy Observed at Amazon

Amazon is an example of an organisation that exhibits Third Wave Strategy attributes. Their story explores the strategic thinking behind the company’s founder and past Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jeff Bezos, who intuitively or otherwise applied many Third Wave Strategy philosophies to practice. As demonstrated in the video opposite, Third Wave Strategy practice at Amazon is made up of four key elements.

Stakeholder engagement
Cognition and change
Systems and process
Formal strategy practice

Introduction to Third Wave Industries (T-wI), Security Printing & Packaging Division (SPPD):Virtual Case Study

The SPPD case study explores how newly appointed Division Managing Director, Jenny Wong and her Chief Strategy Officer, Alicia Manning went about designing, developing and then implementing a long term strategy
The initial focus of the strategy was the design and implementation of a program of organisational transformation and renewal.
The case study commences with a description of the outcome from a consultant led Strategic Review of SPPD. It presented some home truths that were hard to digest. In doing so it provided a platform upon which a strategically aligned program of organisational transformation and renewal could be launched.

Introductory Video to Virtual Case Study: Third Wave Industries (T-wI, Security Printing and Packaging Division (SPPD)

White papers
Industry reports
Research findings
Independent reviews
Investigative analysis

Knowledge source

Host, CSOsandbox: Paul Hunter Strategy and Leadership

Source of Knowledge

As explained in the books Corporate Strategy (Remastered) I and II (illustrated opposite) a fully integrated Strategic Management Framework is used to provide a structure to corporate strategy. This structure forms the infrastructure for this web site. The book Corporation of the Future provides insight into what the future may hold for organisations in the decade of 2040.

The framework provides the platform upon which participants are able to explore, evaluate, understand and appreciate how comprehensive strategy can be articulated, illustrated, aligned and optimised. As with all scenario's the journey is as much about shared conversations as it is a foundation for the development of "stories of the future" that describe what the future 'might' hold in store.