Peter Drucker

Whom the gods want to destroy, they send 30 years of success. In the midst of your success, the seeds of failure are sown, and the signals are often very subtle.

Asset Productivity: Converting Assets Into Profits

This paper presents A.T. Kearney’s perspective on the importance of asset productivity. It begins with an in-depth discussion on how good asset performance can increase shareholder value, drive profitable growth, help smooth an M&A and impel cost leadership. We then outline a three-dimensional approach to improving asset productivity. Rather than a typical patchwork-quilt solution, the approach is all-inclusive-looking at all aspects of the global firm; … [ Read more ]

The Balanced Scorecard Meets BPM

Should the Balanced Scorecard be a guiding force in business performance management? Some say it’s too much effort — but the results can be stellar.

Spending A Dollar To Get A Dime?

To achieve real value from your business-technology projects, try out a benefits-realization process.

The Subtle Power of Virtual Collaboration

By using a whole battery of new technologies, companies have found ways for their people to work together on essential tasks while essentially staying put. Sure, the savings can be dramatic. But before you abandon direct interpersonal interaction altogether, you need to ask yourself some fundamental questions.

Demystifying Innovation (.pdf)

“What is an innovation? Very often, managers view any product, service, technology, or process that is new or different as an innovation. But this definition is limited. In order for something to qualify as a true innovation, it must meet three basic criteria in tandem: It must engage a creative process, it must be distinctive, and it must yield a measurable impact.”

Editor’s Note: a … [ Read more ]

Capitalize on the Power of Suggestion

In today’s competitive environment, a company’s ability to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and continuously innovate is vital to its success. And common sense dictates that line workers – the individuals closest to the processes, products, vendors, and customers – are in the best position to identify such opportunities.

Growing Pains

The agony and ecstasy of bigger, better, faster, cheaper: Some companies are hurting themselves in their quest for dominance.

How Your Company Can Learn From Mistakes

Organizations should reward learning as well as sales. Here’s how.

Editor’s Note: some common sense but perhaps useful to your organization…

Jack Stack’s Story is an Open Book

A small Ozarks manufacturer has a message for big companies: Open-book management can increase productivity and release entrepreneurial spirit.

Peripheral Vision: Sensing & Acting on Weak Signals

Emerging technologies signal their arrival long before they blossom into full-fledged commercial success. However, the signal-to-noise ratio is initially so low that one has to work hard to appreciate the early indicators. The weak signals to be captured usually come from the periphery where new competitors are making inroads and unfamiliar technology paradigms are emerging. The periphery, however, is crowded with possibilities that may or … [ Read more ]

Patricia Seybold

E-commerce consultant and author of “The Customer Revolution: How to Thrive When Customers Are in Control”

Ken Blanchard

Twenty years and 10 million books later, The One Minute Manager keeps on ticking, along with its author, Ken Blanchard.

JV On The Rocks

Without plenty of attention and TLC, a joint venture may well run aground.

Focus-Pocus

Focus groups should be dumped. Instead, real customers should be observed in real settings.

24/7 Innovation Diagnostic

Go to this site to download an Excel spreadsheet diagnostic (really just a collection of useful questions) to assess your organization against seven components of a Capability as described in the book, 24/7 Innovation. You should evaluate how well you currently perform against each question. You should also assess how well you want to perform (importance) in each area. This will help highlight gaps in … [ Read more ]

Chief Executive Roundtable – Leveraging Your Hidden Brainpower

Knowledge management isn’t what you know, it’s knowing what your employees know and making sure it remains a part of your company long after they’re gone. Roundtable partipants brainstorm ways to ensure a company’s intellectual capital gets deposited in the bank.

How to Manage Geeks

Eric Schmidt, CEO of Novell, believes that “geek” is a badge of honor. (After all, he is one!) But how do you manage these geek gods? Just follow his nine-point techie tutorial.