In the 1990s shareholder value was applied to all aspects of corporate strategy and management decisions as a result of intense competition, globalization, advances in technology, deregulation and the financial markets. As we enter the twentyfirst century the business environment is one of increasing creative destruction, where competitive advantage is much harder to sustain. Real Options , a type of advanced financial analysis, applies financial option theory to real assets and offers a strategic framework that recognizes the need for management flexibility and to leverage risk in this corporate environment.