Next Level Blog

FEBRUARY 1, 2022

Back in my own days as an executive, I was hugely influenced by a book called The Discipline of Market Leaders. The authors argued that companies had to pick between one of three paths to value creation and success in the market – operational excellence, customer intimacy or product leadership.

Company 244

Company Customer Intimacy Schein Long-term 244

Harvard Business Review

AUGUST 8, 2011

At its 100-year milestone, IBM shows us what it takes to outlast depression, war, and intense competition in order to remain a market leader in the midst of ongoing technological innovation. By 1955, IBM's revenues were $564 million and it led the world market in making computers. Here are several lessons worth sharing.

Customer Intimacy 14

Customer Intimacy How To Mass Marketing System 14

Harvard Business Review

JUNE 17, 2015

How well do you know your customers? This seems to be a key question on the minds of not just marketers, but company strategists these days. This intensive customer focus has increased as technology-enabled transparency and online social media accelerate an inexorable flow of market power downstream from suppliers to customers.

Productivity 8

Productivity Products Customer Intimacy Software 8

Six Disciplines

OCTOBER 19, 2011

In a recently released study from IBM , based on face-to-face conversations with more than 1,500 chief executive officers worldwide, “creativity” has been identified as the single most important leadership competency for enterprises seeking a path through this complexity.

Creativity 82

Creativity CEO Customer Intimacy Chief Executive Officer 82

Harvard Business Review

JULY 3, 2015

However, what these executives don’t fully appreciate is that the customer affinity spectrum extends far beyond promotion. Through co-creation, companies can access a deep well of customer capabilities, knowledge and assets. Example: Carol owns a small business and needs a customer relationship management (CRM) platform.

CRM 8

CRM Brand Business Model Intangible Assets 8

Harvard Business Review

APRIL 30, 2013

They can actually make it easier to tailor customer experiences at low cost. As Chief Marketing Officer Paul Matsen told me, "We use enterprise-wide standards. There is one marketing communications team, and we work across all our institutes, such as heart and vascular, or cancer.

Operations 8

Operations Customer Intimacy Supply Chain Wiersema 8