ABSTRACT
There are two recent developments in thinking about strategic management that support and help us explore further the idea that 'mapping' is an important task for leaders of innovation and entrepreneurship in organizations. These developments are that good leaders of strategy should be good storytellers and that good leaders of strategy should be good at developing, using and promoting good visuals that help communicate strategy. Research also suggests that the biggest concern that managers have with regard to strategy is how they can communicate it effectively. A good example of these dual channels, radio and pictures, working together in this regard to map and sell a new strategic direction is one often told by Ben Rich, Chief Executive of Lockheed's legendary Skunk Works programme. All creativity requires shuttling between defining problems and positing solutions, redefining problems and refining solutions. Stories and pictures help people imagine solutions so that they can create—so they don't just get bogged down in defining problems.
