Harvard Business Review

JULY 31, 2017

Retailers combine data on demographics and weather to predict sales and develop merchandising plans. Banks and lenders have predictive analytics engines that tell the lender the probability that a customer will pay them back. These intangible factors like culture, leadership, and motivation do not yield easily to empirical analysis.

Marketing 8

Marketing Root Cause Analysis Management Supply Chain 8

Harvard Business Review

JANUARY 27, 2017

In reality, “handoffs” and transitions prove to be significant operational problems. At one American retailer, an autonomous ensemble of algorithms replaced the entire merchandising department. It’s a different kind of engineering.” Human leadership defers to demonstrable algorithmic power.

Outsourcing 8

Outsourcing Software CAPEX Competitive Advantage 8

Harvard Business Review

AUGUST 6, 2014

In hindsight, this thinking turned out to be far less important than what we learned about leadership, control, and trust, which ultimately were reflected in how each of the businesses was created, capitalized, and staffed. search engine company Inktomi in 2002. Ma and the Alibaba leadership team would retain management control.

Chief Financial Officer 10

Chief Financial Officer Operations Learning-by-Doing IPO 10

Strategy Driven

APRIL 4, 2014

Of the companies who continue to operate without a plan, 40% of them will be out of business in the next 10 years. That 2% includes all the doctors, lawyers, accountants and engineers… those of us who actually advise. Employee theft and shoplifting accounting for 15% of the retail cost of merchandise.

Budgeting 81

Budgeting Succession Consultative Crisis 81

Harvard Business Review

JUNE 26, 2017

Each of these companies has aligned and integrated its culture and brand to create a powerful engine of competitive advantage and growth. When you think and operate in unique ways internally, you can produce the unique identity and image you desire externally. Just as brands differ, there is no single right culture.

Brand 8

Brand Company Operations Merchandising 8