What is strategy? The definitions vary slightly, but the common elements and their effects on the realities of organizational life are apparent. According to three longstanding experts in the field, strategy is: “a framework of choices that determine the nature and direction of an organization.” 1 “those policies and key decisions adopted by management thatRead more
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Several years ago, while working with the leaders of a family-owned business to set their strategies for the next year, I asked to see a copy of their mission statement. Looking confused and more than a little annoyed, the father said he thought it was “somewhere around there” in a framed picture, and the sonRead more
Memorial Day weekend 1977 opened with an intergalactic bang as George Lucas’ blockbuster Star Wars hit movie theaters across America. The incredible success of the first movie, which received seven Oscars and earned nearly $800 million worldwide, began with brilliant marketing of a groundbreaking thought: Let’s create a revolutionary movie-watching experience, complete with never-before-seen specialRead more
Recently, I began working with a very impressive construction professional named Parick. In his mid-thirties, Patrick has already distinguished himself as a seasoned top performer. He’s just not quite seasoned enough. With a few more years of experience-about five-he will be in a position to assume almost any leadership role in his company. Because thisRead more
In botany, we learned that an evergreen plant has leaves that stay green throughout the year. Unlike deciduous plants, which lose their foliage during the winter or dry season, the foliage of evergreen plants remains constant. Like their botanical counterparts, successful companies take an evergreen approach to their client relationships, too. Conventional wisdom, which isRead more
