Terry Starbucker

MAY 22, 2016

One year on since our acquisition of our Rocky Mountain cable TV systems, there was a significant operational issue that needed our attention. In 1987, I was hired by a cable pioneer, Jack Kent Cooke, to be the VP of Operations for a cable company he had just purchased with over 400,000 customers scattered in 19 states.

Letter 171

Letter Leadership Call Center Long-term 171

Leading Blog

APRIL 16, 2021

Operating a small business is not unlike owning a really old house: things break a lot, and you need to fix them, over and over and over. I don’t try to mislead others or deliberately cause injury to someone for my gain, so I simply assumed everyone else would operate that way in business. Ours did; over 700 did not.)

Learning-by-Doing 256

Learning-by-Doing Long-term Automotive Open-book 256

Harvard Business Review

SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

Although directors in certain industries are more aware of the threat of disruption, the widespread lack of board-level engagement in innovation processes could be a major blind spot and a potential liability. Instead, boards typically looked for expertise in their firms’ industry (51%), strategy (34%), and financials (30%).

Innovation 9

Innovation Short-term Telecommunications Long-term 9

Harvard Business Review

JULY 28, 2016

Technology has emerged as a competitive weapon in driving operational excellence and superior service quality. For example, from telecommunication companies to fintech entrepreneurs, African banking fees and commissions are under tremendous presure. Across Africa, banking is being redesigned. Innovate ferociously.

Banking 8

Banking Industry Disintermediation Offshoring 8

Harvard Business Review

AUGUST 29, 2016

We know that board composition—who the directors are and what backgrounds and perspectives they represent—can influence important outcomes like firm value and sales growth. That is, the percentage of directors whose primary professional experience is within a firm’s industry. Our own interviews also confirm this idea.

Telecommunications 9

Telecommunications Banking Uncertainty Sample 9

Harvard Business Review

MARCH 11, 2013

These interviews were conducted with salespeople across a wide variety of industries including high technology, telecommunications, financial services, consulting, industrial equipment, healthcare, and electronics, to name a few. Price versus Value. 800 Pound Gorilla. Nice-to-Have" Product.

Telecommunications 15

Telecommunications Price CRM Long-term 15

Harvard Business Review

NOVEMBER 23, 2010

People : Recognizes interpersonal difficulties; intuitively understands how others feel; picks up non-verbal cues; empathetic; persuades, teaches, influences. Few CEOs I know have operations-focused thinking styles or backgrounds. But they have very little interest in how to get the ideas put into operation.

Process 15

Process CEO Insurance Banking 15