Perennial hits hard times
What makes a successful retailer? It seems that Marks and Spencer may have forgotten the capabilities that put them on top.
Why the last shall be first and the first shall fade away
Being the first to innovate is rarely the road to riches many presume. Business history is paved with industries dominated by followers.
A world of difference
While accounting firms are “going global”, their rationale for doing so does not apply to other industries.
Produced to price
For many people the role of manufacturing industry is an emotional issue rather than an economic one - meet the manufacturing fetishists.
Passes and returns
Dalglish arrives at Newcastle and Horlick moves to ABN Amro. The common theme: do teams, or individuals, capture the returns to outstanding performance?
What’s in a name?
What is a brand? Sometimes it is a quality certificate and sometimes, simply part of the product itself. It matters which.
Happy combination
Core competencies is one of the most used and abused phrases in business strategy. But a proper understanding of the idea behind the jargon is essential
Of fortunes and foresight
Will the dominant firms of the next century be the ones that show foresight and react quickly? Many of the best companies work simply by doing traditional business very, very well.
Globalisation of the skies
Many firms have aspirations to “go global”, but this unanimity disguises both differences and confusion.
Clear thinking muddied by competitiveness
We would do better to stop talking about competitiveness. It seems only to get in the way of clear thinking.