Favorite Articles for Week Ending July 29
Management Innovation
novel principles, processes, and practices that alter both the system and the way that organizations perform work
“Unsuck”, as in “not suck” the life out of everyone involved, is the term that this post uses as the podcasters dissect the critical elements of any group meeting. I found the honest dialog around each of the individual meeting elements to be on point and compelling. However, the time allotments provided at the end of the podcast are simply not possible – without a careful picking and choosing of what elements to include (which is my suggestion). Worth listening to for anyone who runs lots of meetings each day.
Strategic Clarity
articulates long term priorities as well as current strategies throughout the company
Cultural Cohesion
creates a foundation of values, norms, and behaviors that bind together your team and your decision-making
Two claps for this article! I totally agree that organizational culture is built on a set of behaviors/values that are applauded and rewarded over time. The reinforcing mechanism of celebration turns these actions taken by individuals into actions that everyone is copying and owning. The leader has the opportunity to identify and celebrate those activities that support the purpose and strategy of the organization and, thereby, influence what becomes the culture of the organization.
Prepared Minds
ensures that information and context are provided to employees, so they are equipped to take initiative in their roles
I like this article’s approach to knowledge management. The researcher/author is searching for a way to leverage or incorporate key attributes of creativity to instruct the evolution of traditional knowledge management – from what has traditionally focused on organized document management to that of continuous learning. The author cites various attributes that she also equates with artists, and she talks about how these attributes should be infused into the knowledge management function to bring the function to life. The article is a bit dense and meanders a bit, but it is worth skimming for the idea.
Resource Fluidity
mobilizes people and dollars across a portfolio of ongoing and emergent initiatives
This article does a great job of summarizing some of the key risks and mitigation efforts to enable what the authors call a “resilient supply chain”. The article also talks (although only briefly) about how resource planning methods can be used to analyze risk and identify mitigation opportunities for early signs of break points (definitely read the sidebar on the medical device company!).
Enabling Technology
leverages the latest software and devices to support the themes of management innovation
Curated News on Strategy Execution
adaptable - Jul 31, 2021
Top Articles on Strategy Execution – July 2021
This is adaptable’s Top Ten list on Strategy Execution for July 2021. Enjoy!
adaptable - Jul 29, 2021
“Weekly Picks” (July 29th)
These are adaptable’s favorite few articles on Strategy Execution for the week ending July 29th. Enjoy!
MIT Sloan Management Review ($) - Jul 26, 2021
Overcoming Obstacles to Successful Culture Change
New behaviors must become lasting habits to achieve positive, sustainable change.
George Veth
This article does a great job of summarizing some of the key risks and mitigation efforts to enable what the authors call a “resilient supply chain”. The article also talks (although only briefly) about how resource planning methods can be used to analyze risk and identify mitigation opportunities for early signs of break points (definitely read the sidebar on the medical device company!).
BCG - Jul 29, 2021
Real-World Supply Chain Resilience
For years, companies have focused on eliminating redundancy in sourcing to reduce fixed costs and promote efficiency. Greater efficiency, however, came at the expense of diminished flexibility and effectiveness—a tradeoff the pandemic-induced supply chain disruptions have made painfully clear.
MIT Sloan Management Review ($) - Jul 29, 2021
Fast-Track Data Monetization With Strategic Data Assets
To monetize data, companies must first create strategic data assets that can be reused and recombined for new value creation.
McKinsey & Company - Jul 23, 2021
Igniting your next growth business
Growth outperformers prioritize expansion into business areas where they have a ‘natural ownership’ advantage.
George Veth
I’m intrigued by the concept of “job sharing” – the idea of two part-time, but overlapping, employees doing one job. Seems like a great way to combine complementary on-the-job skills and/or personalities(!) while also providing flexibility to staff. This article discusses how Swiss companies have made a common practice out of what the author says was an idea that originated in the US!? As a leader, it is worth understanding job sharing. It seems to hold merit as employees look for balance in their work and non-work lives.
Fast Company ($) - Jul 29, 2021
Is job sharing the solution to our flexible work problems?
Job sharing can help protect against burnout, let employees explore their interests, help with retention, and give everyone the flexibility they crave. So why aren’t more companies doing it?
strategy+business ($) - Jul 29, 2021
The surprising link between creativity and risk
The squeaky wheels in your organization may also be important sources of innovation.
Sift ($) - Jul 29, 2021
Hybrid Work Culture — It’s about Rebuilding not Maintaining
Just as “remote work” became the phrase of 2020, “hybrid work” is on its way to becoming the workforce word of 2021. And for good reason. The majority of companies are moving to a hybrid work environment and are already rethinking their processes, tools, offices, and more to adapt to this new mode of work.
Bain & Company - Jul 28, 2021
Four Winning Patterns of Digital Transformation
While retooling to compete in a digital world is a major challenge, there’s a lot to learn from the companies getting it right.
HBR.org ($) - Jul 26, 2021
When Do We Actually Need to Meet in Person?
As company leaders grapple with what a return to the office should look like, they should take the opportunity to think carefully about which parts of work should be done in person, which should be virtual, and which can benefit from a mix, then can design toward that ideal.
George Veth
I like this article’s approach to knowledge management. The researcher/author is searching for a way to leverage or incorporate key attributes of creativity to instruct the evolution of traditional knowledge management – from what has traditionally focused on organized document management to that of continuous learning. The author cites various attributes that she also equates with artists, and she talks about how these attributes should be infused into the knowledge management function to bring the function to life. The article is a bit dense and meanders a bit, but it is worth skimming for the idea.
Frontiers - Jul 13, 2021
Radical Knowledge Management: Using Lessons Learned From Artists to Create Sustainable Workplaces
McKinsey & Company - Jul 28, 2021
How to boost growth in industrial services: Better customer experience
Customer experience is increasingly critical for industrial-services businesses—and the bar is rising. Here’s how to exceed it.
George Veth
“Unsuck”, as in “not suck” the life out of everyone involved, is the term that this post uses as the podcasters dissect the critical elements of any group meeting. I found the honest dialog around each of the individual meeting elements to be on point and compelling. However, the time allotments provided at the end of the podcast are simply not possible – without a careful picking and choosing of what elements to include (which is my suggestion). Worth listening to for anyone who runs lots of meetings each day.
Brave New Work - Jul 27, 2021
Unsuck your next work meeting w/ Sam Spurlin
If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times: Meetings are the worst. Instead of being a meaningful work tool to help teams strategize efficiently, meetings more often block things—anything—from actually getting done.
strategy+business ($) - Jul 27, 2021
Rethinking total reward strategies
Pay, incentives, and benefits haven’t significantly changed for decades, but people’s preferences have. Employee compensation needs a rethink if companies are to attract and retain talent.
adaptable - Jul 22, 2021
“Weekly Picks” (July 22nd)
These are adaptable’s favorite few articles on Strategy Execution for the week ending July 22nd. Enjoy!
Arthur D. Little - Jul 1, 2021
Corporate sustainability
Sustainability has now risen to the top of the business agenda, with a combination of technology, financial backing, and greater government and consumer pressure all making it an imperative for every organization. Our lead article explains how taking a business ecosystem approach is crucial to sustaining our natural ecosystems.
BCG - Jul 21, 2021
What Happens When ‘If’ Turns to ‘When’ in Quantum Computing?
Confidence that quantum computers will solve major problems beyond the reach of traditional computers—a milestone known as quantum advantage—has soared in the past twelve months.
George Veth
This book, “Better, Simpler Strategy”, and its big idea of the Strategy Stick has really grown on me. In this weekly podcast, one of my favorites – The Innovation Show, the author talks through the concept and offers several examples of companies that have harnessed its power. These companies have built a culture on their customer’s Willingness-to-Pay (over the Price to own) and their employee’s Willingness-to-Sell (under their offered compensation) in order to drive customer delight and build employee satisfaction. I can’t do justice to it in my comment, so I must encourage you to listen here, grab the book, or read a book review.
The Innovation Show - Jul 22, 2021
Better, Simpler Strategy with Felix Oberholzer-Gee
Our guest today shows how the best companies achieve more by doing less. At a time when rapid technological change and global competition conspire to upend traditional ways of doing business, these companies pursue radically simplified strategies.
McKinsey & Company - Jul 21, 2021
A design-led approach to embracing an ecosystem strategy
Embedding design thinking, methods, and tools from the outset of ecosystem development will help companies produce integrated ecosystem offerings that delight customers, stave off threats, and create new sources of value.
George Veth
Two claps for this article! I totally agree that organizational culture is built on a set of behaviors/values that are applauded and rewarded over time. The reinforcing mechanism of celebration turns these actions taken by individuals into actions that everyone is copying and owning. The leader has the opportunity to identify and celebrate those activities that support the purpose and strategy of the organization and, thereby, influence what becomes the culture of the organization.