Strategy

Does Your Business Cling To The Past Or Embrace The Future?

When it comes to evolution, does your business cling to the past or embrace the future? In order to drive the company’s evolution, the CEO must address those issues for stakeholder buy-in. He/she needs to listen and acknowledge the fears (and sometimes laziness) that keep key stakeholders reluctant to change, then show them a solution to their trepidation. They must demonstrate how the benefits of change out weight the status quo.

By Dave Gardner, 2 years ago

Business Execution

Whether It’s A Hoax Or A Cover-Up, It Doesn’t Matter

Is it a hoax or a cover-up? Sometimes it doesn’t matter. The word “hoax” has been used to dismiss factual situations. “Hoax” means “a humorous or malicious deception.” Characterizing something as a hoax can also be a means of covering up a legitimate concern that needs to be addressed. A hoax or cover-up can actually be a legitimate threat to the future of a business.

By Dave Gardner, 3 yearsOctober 4, 2020 ago

Á La Carte Customer®

What Executives With Configurable Products & Services Want

What executives with configurable products & services want for their businesses, employees, and customers.

-Increased market share
-Delighted customers
-Improved quality
-Improved operating margins
-Differentiation/Competitive advantage
-Lean the business–eliminate waste
-Happy employees

By Dave Gardner, 3 yearsSeptember 27, 2020 ago

Product Rationalization | Taco Bell Kills Mexican Pizza

Product Management

What Does Product Rationalization Mean? 2 Cases In Full Display.

What does product rationalization mean? It is the action of making a company, process, or industry more efficient, especially by dispensing with superfluous personnel or equipment.

Often, product rationalization is done behind closed doors within companies or even in the boardroom.

By Dave Gardner, 3 yearsSeptember 6, 2020 ago

Á La Carte Customer®

2 Action Steps For Durable Competitive Advantage During Economic Crisis

There is conventional thinking for durable competitive advantage during normal economic conditions, but I’ve added 2 action steps for durable competitive advantage during economic crisis, like this Covid-19 economic crisis.

By Dave Gardner, 3 yearsJuly 19, 2020 ago

Strategy

What’s More Important Strategy Or Execution?

What’s more important strategy or execution? I argue they are both equally important. Here’s what we know anecdotally: Too many companies have poor execution of their strategy. We seldom hear about companies with great execution and a poor strategy. Many top executives see their role as setting strategy. Yet, they Read more…

By Dave Gardner, 3 yearsJuly 5, 2020 ago

How A Pivot Saves Emirates Airline From Covid-19

Strategy

How A Pivot Saves An Airline From Covid-19

Many businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic may feel they are deer in the headlights: frozen and about to become a victim of this calamity. Here’s a story of how a pivot saves an airline from Covid-19.

By Dave Gardner, 3 yearsJune 14, 2020 ago

Strategy

Ruthless Prioritization

In a CNN article, Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer, was asked, “What does it take to run a successful business?” “I strongly believe in ruthless prioritization. Sometimes people think of prioritization as only doing things that will have a positive impact on your business. But ruthless prioritization means only Read more…

By Dave Gardner, 4 years ago

Thank God It's Monday

Pivot To Ignite Success

Hunter Pence continues to be a San Francisco Giants fan favorite even though he is no longer with the team. His 2018 season with the Giants was less than stellar. I was excited to see an article about Pence’s renewed success with the Texas Rangers given I thought he had Read more…

By Dave Gardner, 4 yearsApril 28, 2019 ago

Á La Carte Customer®

YouTube TV Makes Unforced Error

YouTube TV made an unforced error this past week: it added additional channels for current subscribers raising the price for everyone $10 a month. The new service isn’t an option; it’s required. The new channels are: Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, and MotorTrend. Read more…

By Dave Gardner, 4 years ago