Harvard Business Review

JANUARY 27, 2017

At one American retailer, an autonomous ensemble of algorithms replaced the entire merchandising department. But I cannot speak too highly of Steve Levy’s superb Backchannel discussion of how Google has committed to becoming a “machine learning first” enterprise. Data scientists here facilitate. All-In Autonomy.

Outsourcing 8

Outsourcing Software CAPEX Competitive Advantage 8

In the CEO Afterlife

NOVEMBER 4, 2012

Everything that tumbled out of our heads and mouths was committed to paper. Economically I probably helped shift some merchandise. Scribbled headlines. Stick-men drawings crudely rendered in fat black Magic Marker. It was a kind of brain dump I suppose. At least creatively speaking. Enhanced a few companies’ bottom lines.

Advertising 265

Advertising Creativity Industry Bottom-up 265

Harvard Business Review

MARCH 29, 2018

In intervention stores, store managers who chose to participate committed to trying out the two changes above, plus five additional changes: Giving a core team of associates a “soft guarantee” or 20 or more hours a week. During a challenging time in the retail industry, Gap made a commitment to its values and it paid off.

Retail 8

Retail Productivity Products Cost 8

Harvard Business Review

JUNE 26, 2017

As the industry moved toward an emphasis on customer service and merchandising, the company fell behind, because its employees were focused more on increasing inventory turns and sales per square foot. For example, at a grocery store chain I worked with, employees were steeped in an operations culture that valued efficiency and productivity.

Brand 8

Brand Company Operations Merchandising 8