Creating New Wealth Through Organizational Design
August 17, 2008
The chief problem that companies face today is that they are using 20th century strategies to compete in the 21st century. Strategic models for the 20th century made the assumptions that capital was scarce, interaction costs were high and that vertically integrated structures were the key to efficient operation. Fast forward to the 21st century and the companies that are thriving are tapping into employees’ knowledge, relationships and hidden talents. They are using new performance metrics measuring profit per employee, rather than returns on capital. The reason for this is that in the 21st century, capital is not scarce, but talent is. The time has come for executives to develop the organization as a strategic need that will allow companies to compete no matter what the market situation. Read more… »
Understanding Mental Models
August 5, 2008
“We are prisoners of our own islands of thought until some foreign intruders come to our shores. Then we realize the wonder and perils of interacting with this “brave new world” outside the scope of our former mental models.”
Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”
Why do some people seem to handle conflict and form relationships with ease? Were they just born that way? Read more… »
Run To The Revenue - Part II
July 26, 2008
In our first segment, we discussed some of the key factors associated with the economic growth of Asia. We spoke in depth about the top 25 global company trends over the past 10 years, the top 50 competitive nations, and how Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has influenced the in/out flows of money. As companies from Asia continue to penetrate the U.S. markets, so too must North American enterprises penetrate Asia. The opportunities are vast, but the task of executing a successful strategy can be even more daunting. Strategies developed by most U.S. companies, either small or large, don’t work well in Asia for two main reasons. Read more… »
The Learning Organization
June 26, 2008
“Knowledge is Power”
Sir Francis Bacon
It has become evident that The United States is becoming a knowledge-based economy. However, like most “buzz” words, most people say it and few actually know how to make it a reality. In order to develop a learning organization, there are 5 disciplines which need to be at the core. The reality is that most people have the ability to learn, but many are stunted by environments that don’t encourage reflection and engagement. Read more… »
Tough Times Call For Smart Measures
June 23, 2008
The growth in China in the past 10 years has been unprecedented. China is still the most popular destination for foreign manufacturing investments on the globe. In 2007 it attracted more than $80 billion in Foreign Direct Investments (FDI). The China economy continues to “over heat.” Read more… »
Run To The Revenue - Part I
May 27, 2008
It is difficult to hide from the news these days regarding the threats posed by Asia’s growing economies, specifically China, India and Vietnam (the CIV factor). The reactions of many Americans lie in a range of emotions from fear to panic, and even down right loathing. Regardless of where you are on this spectrum, it will not change the course of economic development. Let’s take a look at some facts and options. Read more… »
Business Lessons From Aristotle
May 21, 2008
I have gained this by philosophy;
That I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law.
Aristotle
When searching for inspiration on delivery of strategies and techniques, why not start with the original masters of thought. To this day we still use the Socratic method to test a theory. Plato’s “Republic” is introduced to budding students between the ages of 16-19 on a regular basis and used as a concrete example of how to manage a state or organization. Read more… »
Strength Through Unity
May 20, 2008
China has long held a fascination for me. I have lived in China for 6 years, married into a Chinese family and built a network of local friends and associates. However, perhaps my greatest fascination is how it fares in the views of the outside world and how it embraces the challenges of progress. A Nation in development, often misunderstood and frequently criticized (rightly so in many cases), it has been a challenge and privilege to be part of China as it has faced up to external pressures. But, what about the internal pressures? How would it respond to a major issue with the spotlight of the world upon it? How would the country pull together when there is such a disparity between the “haves and have nots”? Read more… »
Internet Sourcing: Easy To Do, Hard To Control
April 23, 2008
Over the last 10 years, on-line purchasing by the general consumer has become commonplace.This trend will continue to grow at double-digit rates for the foreseeable future. Most of the products are high-quality brand names that are recognized by the public. This buying process saves money, transaction time, and allows buyers to return products for a variety of reasons at the supplier’s expense. This is all part of the doing business in America. Read more… »
Get Globally Calibrated
April 23, 2008
“All mankind is divided into three classes: those who are immovable, those who are movable, and those who move.”
Benjamin Franklin
This is an interesting time in American History. It’s a time when the masses are fueled with a fear/anger over jobs being sent overseas, mixed opinions over the role of the military and political parties displaying the type of in-fighting that is associated with 3rd world countries. However, through all of this turmoil, the strategic-minded are walking around with gigantic smiles on their faces. Read more… »