A new management book by Nigerian transformation leader Akin Monehin is rapidly gaining influence in global corporate and academic spheres. 'Execution Is a Lie' has achieved remarkable early success, climbing to the number one position in Amazon's business and leadership categories in both the UK and the US.
Why Strategy Fails and a New Framework Rises
The book delves into a critical business problem: the frequent collapse of well-defined strategies within organizations. Monehin, who has held significant leadership positions at major firms like Shell, NLNG, Virgin Atlantic, and British Airways across ten countries, argues that failure is rarely about ambition. Instead, he points to 'architecture gaps'—weak systems, inconsistent signals, and insufficient mechanisms for accountability that cannot sustain strategic intent under pressure.
"Most organisations are not short of strategy," Monehin stated. "They are short of the structures required to sustain strategy when operational pressure rises."
Corporate and Academic Embrace of the RECODE, ALIGN, and C3 Models
The book's visibility has sparked intense interest in its core methodologies: the RECODE™ & ALIGN™ Frameworks and the C3 Formula™. These practical tools are now being adopted by leadership teams worldwide who are battling cost pressures, delivery risks, and volatile market conditions. They provide a lens for diagnosing performance drift and building a more resilient execution infrastructure.
Simultaneously, top-tier academic institutions have taken notice. Following the book's strong market debut, Monehin received invitations to teach its principles at prestigious schools including Lagos Business School, the University of Texas at Dallas, Kellogg School of Management, and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. MBA students and faculty are engaging with the central thesis that execution is a governance model, not merely a matter of motivation.
Resonance in a Challenging Economic Climate
The publication of 'Execution Is a Lie' is particularly timely for Nigerian companies and others facing rising delivery expectations amid capital constraints and market volatility. Its core idea—that execution is not an activity but an operating system—is resonating with organizations urgently reevaluating their internal structures to achieve consistent performance. The book offers a structural model built on systems, signals, and accountability, providing a fresh perspective on a perennial business challenge.
