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.
Business lessons from the sporting world
Sport is a better metaphor for business than most: which makes the tawdry spectacle of Atlanta 1996 all the more depressing.
Price wars
Identifiable objectives, depths of resources and strength of commitment are the keys to success in a price war. Don’t launch one if you don’t have them.
Globalisation of the skies
Many firms have aspirations to “go global”, but this unanimity disguises both differences and confusion.
A euphemism that is going out of fashion
How is it that so many companies have found it possible to slash their work forces? What is behind the fad of “downsizing”?
The coming age of a shop for all markets
Retailing exists because consumers are ignorant, small and immobile. Will the internet really change this?
Poor odds on the takeover lottery
Second hand firms have something important in common with second hand cars. This explains why takeovers have tended to disappoint.
Father Christmas does not exist?
Father Christmas does not exist? Tell that to investors who seem unable to ask how much value certain business really add
Learning to define the core business
Ted Levitt’s challenge to “define what business you are in” was based in a fundamental confusion between industries and markets.
In out of the cold
Economists have walked out into the cold as far as business strategy is concerned. Slowly, they are starting to return.