“Salesman, dreamer and son‐of‐a‐bitch”: quality executive development for managing directors

Management research on strategic issues has focussed on economic and market forces surrounding a firm. Although this has re‐emphasized the need to become more attentive to the needs of customers and the activities of competitors, many companies are still finding it difficult to gain competitive advantage. Suggests that strategy should be given an“inside‐out” perspective as something that managers do rather than copy from outside the organization. Reports on research concerning the issues and concerns which underpin the agendas of MD/CEOs of a number of organizations in South Yorkshire. Develops a tool,quality executive development (QED), aimed at assisting the MD/CEOs in auditing their agendas.