All these articles illustrate why alignment is important. How making sure that all parts of your organisation are heading in the same direction in a coordinated way. Whist this is a very simple idea most businesses don’t put enough effort into making sure that all of their activities are aligned enough.
“If you don’t know what business you are really in you will find it hard to compete.” I came across the incredible fact the other day that British motor insurers haven’t made an underwriting profit since 1994. They have paid out more money on claims than they have taken in premiums every year since then. […]
“High street retailers have their PR spot on.” It is well known that when we buy things we tend to find relative price comparisons easier than global ones. It is easier to choose between an expensive suit, or a less expensive one, than it is to choose between a suit and a new stereo. We […]
“Why isn’t your business as flexible, molecular, risk sensitive, segmented, team based, information rich, socially networked, transparent, responsive, adaptive and agile as it could be?” Recently I was asked to be a “guest blogger” on the Regus blog. In case you don’t know, it’s rather big in serviced office accommodation and now operates over 1200 […]
“If you want to change the world, start by changing yourself.” In my blog post on 6 January this year I decried Footsie directors being paid one hundred times the average wage. I argued that we needed a new dialogue if we wanted to make a significant change to British society and that halving this wage […]
“IPOs have fallen out of favour because investment banks have broken the implicit deal with the purchaser.” Post Purchase Cognitive Dissonance (PPCD) is the phrase given to the state of unease which exists in the customer’s mind after buying a product or service. If you want repeat business you need to ensure your customers are happy […]
“I have five fundamental principles that I believe underpin most successful businesses, rarely do I come across a company that flaunted them all.” Someone told me once that businesses tend to be run in a way that reflects the century the industry was formed and I think there has been, over my working life at […]
“Isn’t it about time Hewlett-Packard had a strategy?” In spite of what people often claim about supertankers, they actually turn quite quickly; stopping though is another matter altogether. Hewlett-Packard has demonstrated this quite well recently as its new leaders have thrown the wheel from side to side in the hope of finding clear water […]
“The same technological changes that have allowed disintermediation of the traditional supply chain have created an industry of intermediation on the demand side.” In economics, disintermediation is the removal of intermediaries in a supply chain, more popularly known as “cutting out the middleman”. The world is currently coming to terms with the diminution of power of the traditional supply […]
“Don’t wait until you have a crisis to think strategically.” The public administration select committee has said that David Cameron doesn’t have a strategy for the country. Consequently, it’s no wonder we have had so many controversies and embarrassments recently. The government has been accused of incompetence over the 50p top rate of tax, […]
“Expansion is not always as easy as it seems.” Super Group, the international clothing retailer behind the Superdry clothing brand, is hiring some experienced management to help it continue to grow. A former managing director at TK Maxx will be its first chief operating officer and Habitat’s ex chief operating officer is going to become […]
