In the CEO Afterlife

NOVEMBER 4, 2012

Time moved on, and during the nineties technology overran, and transformed the creative industry like it did most others. Our technology whizzes along at the velocity of a speeding electron, and our poor overtaxed neurons struggle to keep up. Economically I probably helped shift some merchandise. But here’s the thing.

Advertising 265

Advertising Creativity Industry Bottom-up 265

Harvard Business Review

JUNE 26, 2017

Each of these companies has aligned and integrated its culture and brand to create a powerful engine of competitive advantage and growth. Their leaders understand that a strong, differentiated company culture contributes to a strong, differentiated brand — and that an extraordinary brand can support and advance an extraordinary culture.

Brand 8

Brand Company Operations Merchandising 8

Harvard Business Review

AUGUST 4, 2015

. “I’m pretty convinced that there are superficial differences in culture and communication and how people do things,” said the global human resources officer. In the 1990s, P&G, like other companies, sought to take advantage of global scale and technology platforms, rolling out their products worldwide.

Globalization 8

Globalization Company Self-aware Merchandising 8

Harvard Business Review

MAY 12, 2015

Disclosure: My firm is a current or former investor this company, as well as the others mentioned in this article.) These manufacturing and logistical choices used to be made qualitatively by merchandisers. It turns out that the results are much better when humans are removed from the decision-making process.

Delegation 8

Delegation Supply Chain Merchandising Banking 8

Harvard Business Review

NOVEMBER 15, 2017

That’s why Alibaba and Amazon, for example, create and sprinkle autonomous cross-functional teams across their respective companies to invent and deliver products in new ways. In the process, the company became better acquainted with its customers – what they liked to buy and how they liked to shop.

Retail 8

Retail Chief Executive Officer Supply Chain Operations 8

Harvard Business Review

SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

Second, they are better at adapting to changes in customer demand, technology, and regulation. Since my book on this topic came out in 2014, one of the questions I’ve been asked the most is: “How can investors or customers identify which companies in a particular industry are following a good jobs strategy?

Retail 8

Retail Operations Depreciation Merchandising 8

Harvard Business Review

JANUARY 27, 2017

At one American retailer, an autonomous ensemble of algorithms replaced the entire merchandising department. Audit software and human monitors were soon installed to assure compliance. They frequently find the technologies are less of a hassle than the people. Their results should humble those who privilege human agency.

Outsourcing 8

Outsourcing Software CAPEX Competitive Advantage 8