What would you do if one of your largest competitors attempted to force a takeover, your supply chain was obliterated, and your cash cow business imploded — almost overnight?
How HP Turns Business Catastrophes to Their Advantage
Lessons from the company’s “Future Unit.”
June 17, 2021
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Summary.
In oceanography, a rogue wave refers to a massive wave that pops up, seemingly out of nowhere, when multiple unlikely natural phenomena collide. In the deep ocean, these waves routinely sink large ships. In business, they decimate growth and risk mitigation plans. What does it take for your organization not only to stay afloat when a rogue wave hits, but to actually turn it to your advantage? In this piece, the author describes a 3-part framework for resilient growth that helped HP emerge successful after a year of several potentially business-ending challenges. This approach — which can be adapted to any organization — involves building awareness of potential threats and opportunities on the horizon, adapting behaviors based on these trends, and ensuring a culture of open communication, clear processes, and a healthy balance of hierarchy and independence.