A strategy is a prediction about the future. It is a hypothesis that can be tested in small pilots and pivoted over time. A good strategy should be formulated as an if-then statement that specifies the internal actions and external conditions that will lead to your expected results. A powerful strategy […]
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Almost 20 years ago, a British mathematician and entrepreneur in the field of data science stated that “Data is the new oil.” At the time, it was a very provocative statement. These days, this quote rings true and has largely been validated. Oil contributes to economic results. In raw form, […]
The three types of judgement calls that ensure the survival and well being of a firm include: The quality of someone’s judgment depends to a large degree on his or her ability to gather resources and to interact well with those who are engaged in the decision. Most of the […]
Decision making is driven primarily by intuition. The person in the leadership is often the one who drives the agenda, strategy, and priorities for the organization or team. The same digital technologies that are transforming a variety of industries is also changing the way that leaders make decisions. The fact […]
A recent article in Forbes listed the greatest challenges that every company is facing in 2023: A company’s stability and profitability depend upon their ability to respond to changes in the external environment. This capability must be evident outside of traditional strategic planning, it must be imbedded into the fabric […]
A recent article in Time Magazine suggests that humans now have an attention span that is less than that of a goldfish. Apparently, the easily-distracted goldfish has an attention span of nine seconds, and according to a study by Microsoft, us humans can only pay attention for eight seconds. That […]
Transformation is a word that is used to describe the bold, stepwise investments that organizations make in their future capabilities. A transformative effort is broader than incremental improvements. Transformations are intended to fundamentally alter how the business operates. Companies that have the means to invest in transformations usually expect their […]
In modern strategic planning, scenarios are often used to help prepare for externalities that might have an impact on the business in the future. These scenarios allow for some flexibility as you work to achieve your vision for the organization. Whether it includes offloading a planned effort or adding in […]
If you are seeking unstoppable momentum in your organization, tying strong execution to a clarified vision and purpose will get you there. Sure enough, some people doubt the benefit of a purpose driven life or business, but an organization whose purpose is clear performs better financially, has more engaged employees […]
A strategic inflection point is a period of time when an organization must respond to changing competitive forces in the environment or face the consequences of a strategic decline. This inflection point can occur after the organization has become very successful and represents the need for the business to reinvent […]
Many organizations kick off the year by sharing their strategy with employees. This helps set the tone and vision for staff as well as to focus resources on what will be accomplished. But articulating your strategy doesn’t just happen at the beginning of the year when you send out a […]
Resilience refers to the capability to bounce back and recover in the face of challenges or setbacks. Resilience is something that can be strengthened after tough situations, but focusing on building it proactively will help to prepare you to face the future with courage. People who are equipped with resilience […]
Just because you have responsibilities associated with a career and a household doesn’t necessarily mean that you should neglect your friendships in adulthood. Friendships are a great way to develop a support network, bounce ideas off of people who care about you, and develop history that can flourish over time. […]
Frustration is the feeling of being upset or annoyed at the inability to change or achieve something. Frustration with the status quo results when you actually do want things to change (you have your own buy-in), but for a myriad of reasons, the situation cannot or does not change.
In addition to understanding the details of your business operations, it is imperative that you also make time to understand what is happening in the market and economy around you. It is often very easy to get caught up in the latest customer issue, or repair, or production requirements that […]
Setting personal goals can often seem more difficult and evasive than setting professional goals. In a work context, you may be financially incentivized or receive oversight by a manager to ensure that you achieve the goals that you outline for yourself. In some cases, goals may even be created for […]
In any organization or venture, there are resources, capabilities and activities of the firm that drive value. These “secret sauce” ingredients help make up the unique combination elements that make the organization competitive. Whether these resources provide your organization with a long-term advantage is the primary question in assessing their […]
Your Value Chain are those activities that your firm engages in as you transform inputs into outputs. There are two types of activities as part of your value chain, primary activities and support activities. Primary activities are those that are associated with generating revenue for your firm and often include […]
Your stakeholders are those people who have an interest in the performance or survival of your organization and who might influence or be influenced by your business outcomes. In the context of business analysis, organizations focus a great deal on current customers, and many businesses anchor activities to serve current […]
Clear and compelling vision and mission statements are important in the context of strategic planning. They help to provide the foundation and guide for your forward-looking efforts. Ideally, the scenarios, ideas, and opportunities that are developed and pursued in your organization are aligned with your vision and mission statements. But […]
If you are not around people who openly talk about their insecurities or fears, it can be easy to think that you are the only one who experiences feeling confused, lonely, or scared in life. As you continue to get older, you will realize that everyone is on a learning […]
There is a special skill that is required to be a true visionary. Your head has to be a bit in the clouds to dream of options beyond today’s possibilities, but you also must position yourself to ensure that those ideas are executable. There are many examples of people who […]
The year was 2006. Sheryl Sandberg, a then 37-year-old vice president at Google had just made an error that cost Google several million dollars. After she realized the magnitude of her mistake, she decided to inform Larry Page, Google’s co-founder. Even though she knew she was doing the right thing, […]
For many people, the idea of spending time on updating the organization’s vision sounds like a waste of time. It can be perceived as a “check the box” type of activity. Once it is complete, it may not be reviewed. Executives, leaders and business employees often place a much higher […]
Leading tech companies often have employees engage in innovative work as part of their weekly routines. Whether it is part of their job description or a certain number of hours per week that they dedicate to exploratory projects, this time is usually focused on helping to achieve a long term […]