Blog Tag: competitive advantage

• The “Yes” Leader is Killing You

  Published on: Tuesday, June 4th, 2013 Author: richhorwath

  During the past few years, many companies have made it clear to their people that they must follow the adage, “Do more with less.” Layoffs and firings have reduced many departments to skeletal staffs where fewer people are expected to… read more

• Will You Be Lunch?

  Published on: Wednesday, February 6th, 2013 Author: richhorwath

  Business strategy is defined as the intelligent allocation of limited resources through a unique system of activities to outperform the competition in serving customers. Nestled in the middle of the definition, this idea of differentiation is perhaps the most overlooked… read more

• Strategic Thinking and Profitable Growth

  Published on: Tuesday, October 16th, 2012 Author: stagehand

  Are you getting beat? It’s a simple question whose answer consists of either a confident “No,” or the defiant, “Yes, but…” that’s littered with excuses. To be clear, the response is a one-word answer. If your answer isn’t the one… read more

• Is Your Strategy Obsolete?

  Published on: Thursday, August 23rd, 2012 Author: richhorwath

  We as human beings don’t like to change. The Johns Hopkins school of Medicine reports several studies of people who underwent a type of heart surgery called CABG, or coronary artery bypass grafting. The doctors met with patients right after… read more

• Defender, Challenger or Spectator?

  Published on: Wednesday, July 11th, 2012 Author: richhorwath

  A condition is a situation with respect to circumstances. The term condition can be applied to a number of different arenas, from medicine (What is the patient’s condition?) to sports (What are the conditions of the golf course?). Before a… read more

• The Secret Powers of Strategyman

  Published on: Tuesday, October 18th, 2011 Author: richhorwath

  Bad strategy beware: there’s a new superhero in town. Read the first three pages of the first ever business strategy comic book, “The Secret Powers of Strategyman.” To read the entire comic book and take the “Are You Strategic?” quiz,… read more

• Strategic Thinking and Business Strategy

  Published on: Thursday, August 25th, 2011 Author: richhorwath

  In an attempt to piece together a fuller picture of strategic thinking, I’ve created the following infographic. It’s designed to highlight key research findings and examples related to strategic thinking, or in some cases, a lack thereof. The data sources… read more

• Those headwinds, they are a blow’in

  Published on: Friday, July 29th, 2011 Author: richhorwath

  Good people of the business world, take cover! No, it’s not a tsunami, or hurricane or even a tropical storm. It’s the new scapegoat: headwinds. In a Wall Street Journal article entitled, “Sprint Loses More Customers,” Sprint Nextel CFO Joseph… read more

• Are You Competitive?

  Published on: Monday, February 7th, 2011 Author: richhorwath

  Are you outperforming your competition? If an avalanche of excuses is the first thing that comes to mind, then the answer is most likely no. When it comes to market share, revenue, profits, new sales, or other key metrics, at… read more

• Strategic Thinking and Sales: Always Be Strategic

  Published on: Friday, January 14th, 2011 Author: richhorwath

  “We’re adding a little something to this month’s sales contest. As you all know, first prize is a Cadillac Eldorado. Anybody want to see second prize? Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is you’re fired.” Alec… read more