Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for April, 2009

Who to Listen To

Posted in Strategy, tagged , , , , , on April 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

I have always found unsolicited feedback infuriating. It rarely has much to do with improving your situation, but more to do with the provider’s benefit. However, in business we are led to believe that we should listen to the customer and that complaints are to be welcomed as a means of us improving ourselves. This [...]

Read Full Post »

Strategy Vs Planning: Why Planning is Killing Strategy

Posted in Strategy, Uncategorized, tagged , , , on April 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

There is a significant difference between strategy and planning, and it is important to understand what it is. Planning leads to industry convergence, while strategy can lead to its divergence. Planning is about what is done and when it is done, whereas strategy is about what we would like the result to be. Strategy involves [...]

Read Full Post »

Don’t Knee-Jerk: Think it Through

Posted in Decision Making, tagged , , , on April 22, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

In these difficult times businesses are reducing new hiring and instead squeezing every ounce of productivity out of their existing employees. On top of that managers and executives are fearful of the future, and as a result are heading for melt-down. Slowing Down Sometimes the best way to work most effectively and efficiently is to [...]

Read Full Post »

Industry Convergence: Avoid Copy-Cat Strategy by Innovating

Posted in Innovation, tagged , , , , , on April 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

Convergence in industry has led to many false dawns, but has also offered benefits such as convenience, innovation and increased choice. Which applies to you will be determined by how innovative you can be.  Take these examples of convergence which display the positive and negative results that can result:  the latter first. The Australian Wine [...]

Read Full Post »

Every Strategy Needs A Good Crisis

Posted in Strategy, tagged , , , , , on April 17, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

During good times is when it is harder then ever to make game changing decisions. To look seriously at your cash cow and saying now is the time to re-think how you do things. When numbers and charts are looking good, incremental change is what most (average) businesses hope for. The great businesses don’t accept [...]

Read Full Post »

Moving from Gut Feeling to GutFact: Evidence that it is essential to innovate during a recession

Posted in Innovation, tagged , , , , , , on April 14, 2009 | 1 Comment »

“I think it’s more essential to innovate through a recession, and certainly what we’re trying to do at P&G is to continue to bring sustaining and even disruptive new brands and products for our consumers, to make their lives better, to offer them a little more value.” A.G. Lafley, Chairman and CEO of Procter & [...]

Read Full Post »

Newsletter – April 2009. Inadequate Market Research: Why Business Strategies Fail

Posted in Newsletters, tagged , , , , on April 7, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

Strategic Innovation Newsletter A free monthly newsletter on leadership, strategy and innovation. Back issues are archived for free downloading at www.DanielLockConsulting.com. Welcome Welcome to the April edition of Strategic Innovation Newsletter, delivered on the first Tuesday of each month. Last week I spoke at a networking event on how to thrive in these economic times, [...]

Read Full Post »

Measured Improvement: Improve Your Business with the Three Rules of Metrics

Posted in Process Improvement, tagged , , , , , on April 2, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

Measured improvement is an essential part of improving your business. In order to improve your business, you may well use measurements or metrics in identifying and evaluating what needs to be done. The trouble is that all too often the aspects of a business which are developed are only those that are measured. This leaves [...]

Read Full Post »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.