Cost Optimization Programs are hard to manage, sustain, and often tend to fall short of delivering the promised value. The failure could be attributed to many reasons—including lack of clearly delineated objectives, failure to account for operational difficulties, internal resistance to change, trying to cut corners from everywhere, not paying attention to planning optimal utilization […]
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When the Going Gets Rough, Unlearn to Learn the 5 Leadership Practices of Capabilities-Driven Strategy (CDR)
Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible. The more we play golf, the more we realize that there is a negative correlation between how hard we swung and how far we hit the ball. […]
Strategy and Finance Alignment: The Key to Optimizing Target Operating Model
Industries today are in a state of flux driven by volatile market forces. Although every company devises a strategy for creating long-term differentiation for goods and services, still various dynamics are emerging. Across industries, market changes are affecting how Finance needs to operate. Finance must anticipate the implication of these various dynamics and forces evolving […]
When FAST Beats SMART: The Strategic Method to Goal Setting
Goal Setting used to be done in a conventional way. Managers hold one-on-one meetings with their subordinates to set goals. Performances are reviewed against objectives and these are linked to promotion and bonus decisions. The same managers aspire their goals to be SMART – specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. But this conventional wisdom of […]
Organizational Culture Re-defined: 5 Behaviors Critical to Creating an Innovation Culture
Inspiring breakthrough innovation in business models and solutions is becoming critical for organizations’ existence, as startups through their innovation have been consistently disrupting large organizations globally. To foster innovation, the key ingredient is creating an organizational culture that encourages innovation in all spheres. Every organization, today, aspires to nurture a culture of innovation where employees […]
10 Principles or Key Ingredients of a Thoughtful Customer Strategy
In these challenging times, it’s no longer enough to target a few, select purchasers and develop products for that clientele. The key ingredient that most leaders overlook while serving their clients is a thoughtful and planned Customer Strategy. A robust Customer Strategy entails speaking the language of the customers, knowing how to anticipate their needs, […]
The 7 Fundamentals of Innovation: Your Guidepost to Doing Innovation Better than the Rest
Managing innovation is an important process only a few organization can master very well. It is because the innovation process is not fully understood or implemented and the innovation culture is still immature. While Innovation Management is recognized to bring in results, excellence has not been achieved in terms of managing innovation. Highly successful companies […]
Redefining the Imperative in Mergers and Acquisitions – The Target Operating Model
When organizations go into Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), its future operating state changes. A fundamental question will arise as to what the Target Operating Model (TOM) of the resultant organization will look like. What is TOM? The Target Operating Model (TOM) represents a clearly defined target structure in which the relevant unit should operate in […]
Scenario Planning for Consultants – Strategizing The Uncertainties
Major, uncertain shifts in the organization’s environment call for a resilient strategy that will keep the organization either afloat or, better still, ahead of the game. We need a tool that will test the flexibility of our existing strategy against various possible future alternatives. It should be that powerful that it can allow us to […]
Be One Step Ahead of the Game! Master the Consulting Framework to Brainstorming
Brainstorming can be a challenge. It can be confusing when not done right. But it can be an effective tool when effectively managed. Mastering the brainstorming technique sets consultants apart. Brainstorming techniques can enable effective consultants to analyze problems in a structured, focused, and logical way. Understanding Brainstorming within Consulting Brainstorming involves the entire problem […]
Brainstorming Redefined: 7 Steps to Questions-based Brainstorming
Creative ideas—such as Innovation, Process Improvement initiatives, or Growth Strategy opportunities—drive businesses. It’s every executive’s dream to manage a team that is creative enough to come up with innovative ideas perpetually. Traditional brainstorming is the conventional method utilized by teams to generate new ideas globally. The conventional brainstorming sessions, however, often falls short of generating […]
A Quick Look at the Structured Approach to Industry Analysis
To succeed in a market or industry, organizations need to objectively analyze the underlying forces, attractiveness, and other success factors. They often seek outsiders’ assistance to bring fresh perspective, insights, and recommendations. The external contractors commence the engagement by carrying out a detailed industry analysis. The industry analysis facilitates in identifying potential opportunities, threats, and […]
