A strategic inflection point, a term first coined by Andy Grove in his landmark book Only the Paranoid Survive, represents a turning point for your business. In this lively Google Hangout with myself and Robots & Pencils CEO Michael J. Sikorsky, we explore a number of topics related to strategic inflection points, including: * What…
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Open Access to Sloan Management Review Articles – Today and Tomorrow Only
On March 20 and 21, the Sloan Management Review is offering open access to those interested in my work for your reading and downloading pleasure. This is a great time to re-acquaint yourself with material that I’ve published or introduce new colleagues to some of that work. In this piece, “Is Your Company Ready to…
Hear Her Roar – Women in their Fifties Will Surprise You
For as long as I can remember, the professional career path in the developed world has accommodated a linear model. In one’s twenties, you graduate with some kind of undergraduate degree, take a job and/or pursue even more education and eventually link up with an organization (or a professional career path) to which you plan…
One reason Tesla Lost $10 Billion in Market Capitalization in a Breathtakingly short period of time
Understanding investor psychology can be baffling and frustrating for the managers of publicly traded corporations. For instance, despite what many would regard as a stellar track record of proven performance, CEO Mark Fields was fired at Ford. Apparently, the company’s success at making vehicles like its 150 truck the ride of choice for wealthy Americans…
Are all advantages now #transient? Question from a follower
I’ve been making the point for years, which is that as barriers to entry collapse, advantages last for shorter and shorter periods of time. People like Roger Martin would argue otherwise (see our back and forth in the Harvard Business Review). And there is evidence that in certain industries (banking, education, healthcare, housing, cable broadcasting,…
Fantastic Day on Innovation and new Tools in Norway, Part 1
One of the great joys of working with colleagues like Alf Steinar Sætre, of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, is the opportunity to share ideas and concepts with a variety of audiences. In this case, I was a lead faculty member in an innovative seminar program he runs that mixes executives, master’s degree students and…
An #Innovation Maturity Scale – Where does your organization stand?
One of the projects I’ve been working on is to create a set of metrics that organizations can use to measure their level of innovation maturity. We’re piloting it with my Leading Strategic Growth and Change program which runs next beginning on May 15, in New York City (there is still time to sign up…
This month’s newsletter-All about what’s going on in the #grocery store
It’s ironic – Whole Foods did a great job of teaching all of us that natural and organic are desirable. And for about 30 years, that created a strong, high-margin position for them in the competition to put dinner on your table. Now, though, as I discuss in my recent newsletter, competitors have matched them…
Healthcare, Teamwork and more! New newsletter out
For those of you in the healthcare field, or worried about healthcare (and who isn’t these days?), you might want to have a look at my latest newsletter, which summarizes some of the themes that I see colleagues and clients wrestling with in that field. It also summarizes some of the outcomes of a team…
Beyond Innovation Theater with Steve Blank and Brian Murray
If you couldn’t be there in person for our January 10, 2017 Columbia Entrepreneurship event, here is the video reprise. It was an amazing conversation and a standing room only crowd! Have a look and let me know what you think.