Blog Tag: strategic planning

• 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

• Strategy + Innovation = Competitive Advantage

  Published on: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 Author: richhorwath

  As summer approaches and you head back to your local amusement park to ride gravity-defying roller coasters, eat deep-fried food and marvel at people’s tattoos, don’t forget to stop by the bumper cars. Whether you’re six- or sixty-years-old, there’s nothing… read more

• “Let’s think about that”

  Published on: Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 Author: richhorwath

  Imagine Noah was once again building an ark (we have been getting quite a bit of rain in the Midwest). And instead of taking two of each animal, he showed up at your office and said, “I’m taking two of… read more

• A History of Strategy Timeline

  Published on: Friday, March 15th, 2013 Author: richhorwath
  

  In their text book, Strategy in the 21st Century, DePaul University professor Earl Young and Randall Rollins visually describe the history of strategy in a timeline format. I’m honored and humbled to be included for my work in the field… read more

• IT Without Strategy is a Hobby

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

  A recent study published in CIO Magazine of 650 senior IT leaders asked what their top talent-management issues centered around. Three of the top four involved strategic thinking. Here is the list: 1. Cultivating strategic thinking 2. Finding or developing technical… read more

• Strategy Spring Training: Part 2

  Published on: Thursday, February 21st, 2013 Author: richhorwath

  2. Barometer. Imagine the following: you make an appointment to see your doctor after several weeks of worsening cold and flu symptoms. The doctor finally enters the exam room and you exchange a few pleasantries. However, she doesn’t ask you any… read more

• Strategy Spring Training: Part 1

  Published on: Tuesday, February 19th, 2013 Author: richhorwath

  Major League Baseball’s annual spring training means the welcoming back of warmer weather, the smell of freshly mown grass and another year of the Chicago Cubs not winning the World Series. Men making millions of dollars a year, the best… read more

• Escaping the Check-the-Box Process

  Published on: Tuesday, January 29th, 2013 Author: richhorwath

  “The problem is that at a lot of big companies, process becomes a substitute for thinking.” Elon Musk, Co-Founder of Tesla Motors and PayPal “Help Wanted: Looking for a Professional Template Filler-Outer. Lots of experience required. Good pay. No thinking necessary.” While… read more

• Think

  Published on: Friday, November 30th, 2012 Author: richhorwath

  “We could leave our strategic plan on an airplane and it wouldn’t matter. It’s all about execution.”   CEO of a large U.S. Bank   Since many strategic plans are nothing more than budget-driven, out-of-touch, unused slide decks with the… read more

• Strategic Trade-Offs: Does No Mean No?

  Published on: Thursday, November 1st, 2012 Author: richhorwath

  Towards the end of the calendar year, armies of managers march in and out of conference rooms brandishing laptops and wielding PowerPoint templates containing the makings of next year’s strategic plans. The plans generally contain industry data, market patterns, sales… read more