article thumbnail

Balancing Push and Pull Approaches to Improvement

Harvard Business Review

These mandated-from-above programs include Lean Six Sigma initiatives with experts (" Belts ") in command, big IT implementations, and reengineering of major end-to-end processes. An executive in the company's finance operations adopted a Six Sigma belt-driven approach to reduce costs in the company's global shared service centers.

article thumbnail

What Cincinnati Could Teach New York about Hurricane Readiness

Harvard Business Review

Then, the right, long-term investments that are likely to help mitigate damages must be made. P&G committed corporate leadership, foundation grants and a modification of Six Sigma so nonprofits could more effectively manage to agreed-upon results. Less government doesn't apply to disasters.

article thumbnail

Stop Focusing on Profitability and Go for Growth

Harvard Business Review

So, in real terms, debt financing is essentially free. See More Videos > See More Videos > To elaborate, a company’s intrinsic equity value reflects the long-term cash flows that shareholders expect to receive over time, discounted at the appropriate risk-adjusted cost of equity capital.

ROE 14