This big initiative could make or break this fiscal year—or your career.Strategic initiatives are where the rubber meets the road when it comes to putting strategy into action, and leading a critical initiative may be the key to propelling your career forward. Yet managing a cross-functional team on a high-profile project can present a multitude of challenges and risks, causing even the most experienced manager to struggle.TheHBR Guide to Managing Strategic Initiativesprovides practical tips and advice to help you manage all the stages of an initiative's life cycle, from buy-in to launch, implementation to scaling up or winding down. You'll learn how to:Launch an initiative in a way that maximizes its chance of successAssemble a team that's ready to performGather the resources you needStay on schedule and within budgetAvoid losing momentum once the initiative is up and runningMaintain the confidence of sponsors and...