Rita McGrath and Ron Boire Hired to transform a company? The odds are against you A recent McKinsey global survey found that only 26% of executives they questioned considered their efforts to address specific performance… Read more »
Thought Sparks
Your business is already in trouble, you just haven’t noticed it yet
It’s always astonishing in hindsight, looking at a business that got itself into deep, dark, trouble, how many warning signs there were. ‘Tis the season, it seems for the retail apocalypse to shutter once-beloved brands… Read more »
The better your automated customer service options, the worse your customer service experience
The unintended consequence of so much high-quality customer service automation is that by the time your customers get to a real person, they are already enraged and their problems are mercilessly complicated. Yes, customer service… Read more »
Think you Know Who Your Competition Is? Think Again!
In a world where we’re going from industries to arenas, how you define the competitive playing field can either give you an edge or set you back. If you believe the strategy textbooks, you would… Read more »
A New Social Contract? Part 3: So Many Policies, So Little Space!
Welcome to part 3 of a three-part series, looking at the likelihood of a fundamental transformation of the basic social contract in the United States, along the lines of Roosevelt’s New Deal. D x V… Read more »
A New Social Contract? Part 2: Reaching for a Vision
Welcome to part 2 of a three-part series, looking at the likelihood of a fundamental transformation of the basic social contract in the United States, reflecting Roosevelt’s New Deal. The framework combines two uncertainties to… Read more »
A New Social Contract? Part 1: Defining the Issues
Back in March of 2020, I applied the techniques from “Seeing Around Corners” to what kind of economic and social future we might anticipate post-pandemic. One of the scenarios I outlined was a return to… Read more »
What Now? The Board Agenda for 2021
“What’s next” is the question on everyone’s mind. The reality is, we don’t – and can’t – know for sure. What we can do is articulate our best hypotheses and assumptions and then pay close… Read more »
Upcoming Friday Fireside Chats
I’m hosting a series of fireside chats with people who have insightful ideas and actionable suggestions about how we navigate this unprecedented crisis. Do join us! About me: I’m a faculty member at Columbia Business… Read more »
Steering Your Organization is Like Flying a Kite!
When speed and agility are at a premium, having a well-aligned operating model is absolutely crucial. Having one that doesn’t depend on constant reinforcement by leadership is even better! And yet, many leaders struggle with… Read more »
In Good Company with Top Leadership Books!
This is a nice surprise! My book, Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen, was recently awarded one of the Top Must-Read Leadership Books of 2020. The award recognizes… Read more »
Unanticipated Consequences of a Potential Baby Bust
Although the early warning signs that an inflection point is on the way are often detectable years, even decades, in advance, trying to time most inflection points is incredibly frustrating. Not so with demographics. In… Read more »