Tag: strategy

Strategy and the UK General Election 2015

Image: Poor taste or poor strategy? A mug bearing one of Labour’s 2015 election pledges. I’m interested in the role strategy played a role in how the parties behaved in the General Election that has just concluded. Strategy – when it is done well – gives organisations a clear answer to the question: how can…… Continue reading Strategy and the UK General Election 2015

‘The three stages of digital transformation’

Newspapers were among the first businesses to feel the full disruptive force of digital. But they aren’t unique. Best to to watch their struggle, and learn from them, whatever line of work you’re in. Adam Tinworth’s analysis over at Journalism.co.uk of how print publishing businesses is, then, interesting both for what it says about that sector, but…… Continue reading ‘The three stages of digital transformation’

The market with no name (yet)

There’s a gap in the market for agencies and management consultancies. Or rather, there’s a gap between their two markets which is growing. Last year I talked about the need for marketing agencies to “become McKinsey faster than McKinsey can become us”. Since then we’ve seen both industries begin to encroach on one another’s territories.…… Continue reading The market with no name (yet)

Zipcar – idealism and the realpolitik of scaling a business

Very interesting article about Zipcar’s turnaround strategy on Inc. Worth reading for the insights on growing a business by the numbers, but also the story of a company founded on strong ideals, that had to change leadership to get beyond being a good concept with laudable values. Zipcar was one a pioneer in what some…… Continue reading Zipcar – idealism and the realpolitik of scaling a business

Is your digital strategy in the past, present or future tense?

In April this year, a Gartner survey asked exectuives “what is digital strategy?” – the analysis they developed from the answers is interesting.  According to an article in Information Age, the study found that people were using the phrase to describe three things, or three times –  The recent past: Some are fixed on e-commerce…… Continue reading Is your digital strategy in the past, present or future tense?

Artefact Cards and liminal states: creative thinking breakthrough tools

There’s a long, long list in my subconscious that I hardly dare look at: Things I Should Have Blogged. The items comprise three types: Important ideas that have taken up residence in my head. For instance, liminal states. Useful tools and ways of working. For instance Artefact Cards. Opinions taking shape. For instance, just because…… Continue reading Artefact Cards and liminal states: creative thinking breakthrough tools

All episodes: Netflix and strategy

An imperious Kevin Spacey as Francis Underwood stares down at the pedestrians in Times Square from this billboard for House of Cards. I like this poster in several ways. Immediately, of course, it reminds me of the series, which I watched with Mrs M a couple of weeks ago. A lot of fun – I’m…… Continue reading All episodes: Netflix and strategy

Lazy narratives and how to be wrong

Apple-bashing is a game a lot of people these days. John Gruber at Daring Fireball is challenging the emerging narrative of the company’s inevitable decline after the death of Steve Jobs.  Apple was far from perfect under Steve Jobs. But in hindsight, critics and skeptics of the company now see fit to deem his reign…… Continue reading Lazy narratives and how to be wrong

Team GB Cycling and the magic of marginal gains

Over the summer I developed a bit of an obsession with Team GB Cycling, like a lot of people. How did they become so successful? So successful that the game for a lot of the other athletes became how to stop Team GB winning, the spiteful whelps… Dave Brailsford cuts an interesting figure as a…… Continue reading Team GB Cycling and the magic of marginal gains