The Practical Leader

JUNE 29, 2011

I just got off the phone from a painful hour of experiencing Dell’s inward focused bureaucracy as Gary, our IT support guy, and I purchased a notebook computer for Heather. Customers start on the outside and move into the Basic Product from the Third Ring. That may change. It was a lot of work to get someone to take our money.

Bureaucracy 45

Bureaucracy Finance Positioning Productivity 45

Harvard Business Review

JUNE 17, 2015

Now, every company of any scale and in any sector wants to be closer to its customers, to understand them more deeply, and to tailor their products and services to serve them more precisely. They followed a sequence that resulted in new products or major updates to products every year or two. They faced a culture clash, however.

Productivity 8

Productivity Products Customer Intimacy Software 8

Strategy Driven

DECEMBER 16, 2020

Inventors and programmers have found themselves swallowed up in vast bureaucracies, working on projects that they feel morally uncomfortable on and with less than savory people. Financing for any startup is difficult enough to secure. Recently though, the defense needs of the United States have begun to shift.

Innovation 131

Innovation Software Industry Politics 131

Harvard Business Review

MARCH 21, 2016

” It might be hard for people in HR to hear, but only 20% of those who responded said that their HR function was enabling them to transform, ranking them even lower than finance — an area not exactly known for its agility. The most disrupted industries typically suffer from a perfect storm of two forces.

Industry 8

Industry B2C Agility Bureaucracy 8

Harvard Business Review

FEBRUARY 24, 2011

Imagine if managements, boards, and investors adopted them: we could restart our economy, energize our business school curricula and create prosperity for our children and grandchildren. Berkshire's talented managers get the P&L independence to run their own businesses. He wants loyal investors who seek to be stockowners, not renters.

Letter 14

Letter P&L Net Present Value Insurance 14

Harvard Business Review

JANUARY 18, 2013

Although they retain a pro-poor focus, they generate the profits necessary for BRAC to be 70% self-financed in Bangladesh, where BRAC is based. Of course, there are downsides to this approach, and management needs to be aware of them. Size inevitability leads to hierarchy, to rigidities in the system, and bureaucracy.

Microfinance 8

Microfinance Follow-up Bureaucracy Self-aware 8

Harvard Business Review

MAY 1, 2017

So, in real terms, debt financing is essentially free. The assets that are truly scarce at most companies are the skills and capabilities required to turn great growth ideas into successful new products, services, and businesses. Bain recently completed research on workforce productivity.

ROE 14

ROE Long-term GDP Six Sigma 14

Harvard Business Review

AUGUST 13, 2013

But it is also a complex market, with a reputation for corruption, uncertainty, and bureaucracy. No matter your interests (sports, movies, politics), your industry (finance, marketing, technology, manufacturing), or the type of organization you work for (big company, nonprofit, small start-up) — your world is awash with data.

Books 8

Books Emotional Intelligence Competitive Advantage Storytelling 8

Harvard Business Review

MARCH 7, 2014

For fans of management books, this month marks a big anniversary. Worse still, not one of the company’s assorted products could begin to compete with Ford’s Model T on price or quality. Ford still may have produced the best car for the money, but Sloan’s GM trounced Ford Motors by producing the best product lines for the market.

Decentralization 8

Decentralization Venture Capitalist Price Engineering 8