Leading Blog

JANUARY 14, 2019

I N AN IBM global survey of CEOs, the overwhelming consensus was that more than rigor, management discipline, integrity or even vision, successfully navigating an increasing complex world will require creativity. They expect disciplined execution—on time and under budget. And there seems to be a stigma surrounding creative types.

Creativity 272

Creativity Benchmarking Learning-by-Doing Construction 272

Michael Lee Stallard

JUNE 23, 2010

In addition to the negative impact on decision-making, diminished communications from the lack of connection reduces the marketplace of ideas inside the organization, which in turn reduces innovation. He made certain the Navy’s plans and budgets were aligned with his priorities. Instead, he increased the training budget.

Long-term 207

Long-term Consensus Class Follow-up 207

Harvard Business Review

APRIL 20, 2016

You hear a lot about “agile innovation” these days. Borrowing many of the HBR article’s key ideas and filling in specific operational practices, Sutherland created a new way of developing software; honoring the rugby imagery, he dubbed his approach “scrum.” They keep customers happier.

Agility 8

Agility Nonaka Takeuchi Innovation 8

Harvard Business Review

JANUARY 4, 2018

The ABU was set up as a centralized profit center with ambitious targets and with direct reporting to the chief operations officer; most often, similar units are organized as cost centers with no specific targets. The value generated by risk- and operational cost-abating analytics initiatives is measured by their impact on the bottom line.

Company 8

Company Chief Operating Officer Incentives Project 8

Harvard Business Review

MAY 7, 2015

Here’s a conundrum: On the one hand, there’s a consensus among thoughtful business leaders that too many companies are sacrificing long-term growth on the altar of smooth, reliable short-term earnings. The 2005 refinery disaster at BP’s Texas City is an example of what can happen when these investments get neglected.

Short-term 8

Short-term Henderson Long-term Metrics 8

Harvard Business Review

JANUARY 15, 2013

The other half might have been open to the idea that law firms needed a strategy, but completely opposed to having anything other than a consensus-built, senior partner-friendly mechanism for making strategic choices, which almost by definition is doomed to fail. Just keep billing those hours!

Creativity 8

Creativity Consensus Business Model Committee 8

Harvard Business Review

SEPTEMBER 9, 2015

Welch was convinced that the speed of globalization and technological innovation in the 21 st century would require companies to work very differently – with shorter decision cycles, more employee engagement, and stronger collaboration than had previously been required to compete. This was delaying product production.

Welch 8

Welch Supply Chain Consensus Engineering 8