Here’s a company I can be pretty sure you’ve never heard of: Grace Manufacturing. I’d never heard of it either until this New York Times profile, though I’ve seen and used its products — “microplanes” for shaving cloud-like piles of parmesan, truffles, and other high-end ingredients. Microplanes for kitchens now make up 65% of the company’s revenue, yet it was a product category completely different from what Grace started out doing, and only got into reluctantly. It’s a fascinating example of questioning assumptions about your business domain when under pressure, staying alert to customer needs, and being open to opportunities as they appear.
Lessons in Adaptive Strategy
Here’s a company I can be pretty sure you’ve never heard of: Grace Manufacturing. I’d never heard of it either until this New York Times profile, though I’ve seen and used its products — “microplanes” for shaving cloud-like piles of parmesan, truffles, and other high-end ingredients. Microplanes for kitchens now make up 65% of the […]
January 18, 2011
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New!
HBR Learning
Innovation and Creativity Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Innovation and Creativity. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Unlock your team's curiosity and willingness to take smart risks.