In the industrial era, money and power came from being bigger, having a closed system, and fiercely protecting one’s intellectual property. Those days are gone. In the social era that we now live in, the rules for competition and success are different. This era is about openness, sharing, and collaboration. Disparate individuals with a common […]

Blue Ocean Strategy, by Renee Mauborgne and W. Chan Kim (Harvard Business School Press, 2005), conceived of a new way for companies to drive profitable growth: by creating uncontested market spaces (blue oceans) where the competition is irrelevant, instead of fighting it out in overcrowded, commoditized industries (red oceans). In blue oceans, companies invent and […]

Even in our digital age, where people are dispersed, mobile, global, and working seemingly 24/7, the work of companies often takes place through meetings. Regardless of whether they are in-person meetings or virtual, successful collaboration requires successful meetings. Yet, people often feel that their time in meetings is wasted and that meetings are not nearly […]

Talent is what separates great companies from good ones. Exceptional firms attract and retain the right people: employees who are inspired by the company’s values and culture, are excited to be a part of it, and deliver stellar performance. But how does a firm get the “right people” on board? By creating and communicating a […]

For most companies in most industries, digital transformation is the key to future growth. This digital transformation will have massive implications for business models and for the world of work. Organizations must confront questions such as: What makes the transition easier for some companies than others? How do companies and their leaders develop strategies that […]

When management teams discuss big data, three questions inevitably arise: How much data are we talking about? Companies have always had data; what has happened recently to warrant the adjective “big?” And what is now so different about the sources of information flowing into your business? What will the challenges be? Is it quick and […]

In the rush to develop innovative, data-centric products and services, companies are capturing vast quantities of personal data, and are often opaque about their collection processes and uses of this data. This may deliver some short-term benefits, but it seriously undermines long-term trust. This is just one of many conclusions from a study co-led by […]

According to a new survey of high-tech manufacturers, the export picture is brightening in emerging nations. High-tech companies operate in a complex supply chain environment where rapid product life cycles and narrow margins put constant pressure on market share and financial performance. Although the industry was hit hard by the global recession, U.S.-based high-tech executives […]

Is your sales organization maximizing their opportunities? At many firms, sales performance is headed in the wrong direction. Sales cycles are increasing, conversion rates are decreasing, and anticipated deals end up not closing. Even deals being won often don’t yield what was forecast, margins are under pressure, and customer churn is rising. In this challenging […]

To realize a vision, achieve goals, and bring about improvements in your organization, you will invariably need to make changes, large and small. The extent to which your strategies and goals are embraced depends on your ability to effectively influence others by capturing attention, winning over the cynics, reassuring the hesitant and motivating people into […]