For many strategists, self-developed Excel sheets are the tool of choice to support strategic planning. Despite its popularity, Excel and other spreadsheet programs have their downsides. I have discussed the pros and cons as well as some alternatives in an earlier article. However, by following a set of proven best practices, you can minimize these […]
Excel spreadsheets for strategic planning – use with care!
Are you one of those strategic planners who rely on Excel spreadsheets? Don’t worry, you are not alone. Excel is and remains fairly popular in strategic planning. However, there is no denying – Excel is not the perfect solution for this purpose. There are some significant risks and downsides. In this article, I discuss the […]
Early indicators in business – use with care!
Early indicators are a popular tool when it comes to planning and forecasting in business. “Prediction is very difficult, especially if it’s about the future” , as Nobel laureate Nils Bohr once said. Hence, managers and planners desperately search for some early signs that help to improve the quality of the guess about the future. […]
Leading strategic initiatives under uncertainty
At first glance, this seems to be an article about uncertainty and how to handle it in the context of strategy. However, it actually is about governing strategic initiatives. The key question is: What is the best way to move from a company strategy to … a stream of initiatives that will deliver it? The […]
Lessons from Successful Serial Acquirers – Unlocking Acquisitive Growth
Growth through acquisitions has no guarantee for success. Results seem to fluctuate from ‘best thing we ever did’ to complete failure. Despite this risk, M&A transactions remain a key growth strategy for many corporations, especially large and global ones.
Adaptability – The New Competitive Advantage
Adaptability: The New Competitive Advantage is an article from Harvard Business review about four organizational capabilities to attain adaptive advantage. The need for these new capabilities comes from the high level of uncertainty that poses a tremendous challenge for strategy making these days.
New Bases of Competitive Advantage
New Bases of Competitive Advantage: The Adaptive Imperative is an article from the Boston Consulting Group about the changing nature of competitive advantage. It points out that the traditional bases of competition need to be supplemented by six new bases of advantage. One of them is adaptive advantage.
Every blue ocean will eventually turn red; Create an unfair advantage instead
By Dr. Dan Herman Once your Blue Ocean Strategy works, sooner or later someone will copy or even improve your already successful model, and your ocean will become red again. The critical question is: what can be done which is immune from imitations? Apparently the principle is simple. Introducing the Unfair Advantage.
Dr. Herman’s 10 “De-clone Yourself” Tips for MBA clones
By Dr. Dan Herman Are you an MBA Clone? I challenge you to read my article titled: “Test Yourself: Are You an MBA Clone?“. Take the short test and find out if you are an MBA Clone. If you’ve been diagnosed as one, I strongly suggest that you consider de-cloning, ASAP. De-cloning is possible, painless […]
Test Yourself: Are You An MBA Clone?
By Dr. Dan Herman Standardization in MBA programs results in a similarity in the professional approach and managerial thinking of their graduates. Thus, many executives today turn into “MBA clones.” In our hyper-competitive markets, MBA clones pose an imminent and tangible threat to the competitiveness of the companies they work for. What about you? Do […]