The Horizons Tracker

NOVEMBER 17, 2021

A few years ago I wrote about innovation and entrepreneurship in Norway and Qatar. The author believes that while lower costs of capital would certainly help raise the entrepreneurship rate, it would be most beneficial to entrepreneurs with lower skills. Positive or negative?

Entrepreneur 82

Entrepreneur Long-term Cost of Capital Engineering 82

Harvard Business Review

OCTOBER 10, 2017

A recent McKinsey report found that while 84% of corporate executives think innovation is key to achieving growth objectives, only 6% are satisfied with the innovation performance of their firm. Even if executives try to prioritize it, innovation often gets crowded out by more “urgent” short-term pressures.

Innovation 8

Innovation P&L ROI Long-term 8

Harvard Business Review

SEPTEMBER 8, 2014

The goal of strategy is profitable growth, meaning economic value above the firm’s cost of capital. To increase profits from existing investments, the interactions between sales and other functions is crucial because those interactions accrete costs, time, and on-going asset utilization patterns in organizations.

Debt to Equity Ratio 10

Debt to Equity Ratio Cost of Capital Strategy Incentives 10

Harvard Business Review

SEPTEMBER 4, 2017

We know that great ideas that drive breakthroughs in productivity come from human beings with the time, talent and energy to innovate. One step in reversing this trend is to start treating hours like dollars, with a real opportunity cost. Both Kaizen events and Agile sprints are investments in innovation and human capital productivity.

Human Capital 15

Human Capital Kaizen Agility Energy 15

Harvard Business Review

DECEMBER 13, 2017

Some argue that profits are stagnant because of short-termism—that decades of focusing on current profits over long-run innovativeness has resulted, now, in companies that are hollowed out. One trend that has contributed to short-termism and lower innovativeness is the increased prevalence of outside CEOs.

Short-term 8

Short-term Decentralization Company Trends 8

Harvard Business Review

MAY 25, 2018

Rockefeller built what was arguably the single most impressive business organization in history: Standard Oil. Companies are seeking to be quicker on their feet and more innovative. These new organizations are likely to operate quite differently from traditional corporations. James Brey/Getty Images. From 1870 to 1911, John D.

Incubator 8

Incubator Insurance Cost of Capital Competitive Advantage 8

Harvard Business Review

JUNE 27, 2012

We have been studying companies that seem to be able to endure and adapt for longer periods of time, and have come to the conclusion that the extinction of once-great innovators is less often caused by technological or market evolution, and more often by self-inflicted wounds and slow cycles of decision and adaptation.

Creativity 14

Creativity Long-term Kotter Cost of Capital 14