Better, Simpler Strategy


Book Description

Named one of the best strategy books of 2021 by strategy+business Get to better, more effective strategy. In nearly every business segment and corner of the world economy, the most successful companies dramatically outperform their rivals. What is their secret? In Better, Simpler Strategy, Harvard Business School professor Felix Oberholzer-Gee shows how these 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. At a time when many managers struggle not to drown in vast seas of projects and initiatives, these businesses follow simple rules that help them select the few ideas that truly make a difference. Better, Simpler Strategy provides readers with a simple tool, the value stick, which every organization can use to make its strategy more effective and easier to execute. Based on proven financial mechanics, the value stick helps executives decide where to focus their attention and how to deepen the competitive advantage of their business. How does the value stick work? It provides a way of measuring the two fundamental forces that lead to value creation and increased financial success—the customer's willingness-to-pay and the employee's willingness-to-sell their services to the business. Companies that win, Oberholzer-Gee shows, create value for customers by raising their willingness-to-pay, and they provide value for talent by lowering their willingness-to-sell. The approach, proven in practice, is entirely data driven and uniquely suited to be cascaded throughout the organization. With many useful visuals and examples across industries and geographies, Better, Simpler Strategy explains how these two key measures enable firms to gauge and improve their strategies and operations. Based on the author's sought-after strategy course, this book is your must-have guide for making better strategic decisions.




Winning Market Leadership


Book Description

Strategic market planning in technology-intensive businesses is more complex and is less manageable than in most other organizations. The technology-driven business environment is intensely competitive, complex, and dynamic, and planning needs to be done quickly and often. Winning Market Leadership offers a refreshing new approach to strategic market planning in these very demanding technology-intensive markets. It provides a systematic and highly integrated process for evaluating market opportunities and for developing strategies to lead in chosen markets. Its proven, highly practical approach to strategic market planning has allowed leading companies worldwide to: plan faster, focus on cash-flow and profitability, create "living plans" that reflect changing market conditions and competitive dynamics, involve cross-functional teams effectively, and drive to "yes/no" decisions. The book resulted from project-based executive programs developed by the authors for corporate clients such as IBM, Nortel Networks, National Semiconductor, and General Electric. This strategic market planning process has been refined and tested with over a thousand managers and executives in North America, Europe, and Asia. Winning Market Leadership: Is targeted at managers in technology-intensive businesses such as computers, telecommunications, software, biotechnology, semiconductors, instruments, pharmaceuticals, and advanced materials. Focuses on the key issues and tough choices faced by executives in very demanding technology-intensive markets. Outlines a clear 10-step process for building winning market plans, including: identifying opportunities, understanding the competition, managing critical relationships, understanding the profit dynamic, and more. Features examples from high-tech companies such as Intel, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, Glaxo Wellcome, and General Electric. Includes "Key Questions for Executives and Managers" at the end of each chapter that help eliminate "blind spots" in the planning process. Winning Market Leadership is relevant to all executives and managers who play a significant role in developing cross-functional strategic market plans for their business: general managers; marketing managers; strategic planners; managers in business development, engineering, and R&D; and project team leaders.




From Data To Profit


Book Description

Transform your company’s AI and data frameworks to unlock the true power of disruptive new tech In From Data to Profit: How Businesses Leverage Data to Grow Their Top and Bottom Lines, accomplished entrepreneur and AI strategist Vineet Vashishta delivers an engaging and insightful new take on making the most of data, artificial intelligence, and technology at your company. You’ll learn to change the culture, strategy, structure, and operational framework of your company to take full advantage of disruptive advances in tech. The author explores fascinating work being undertaken by firms in the real world, as well as high-value use cases and innovative projects and products made possible by realigning organizational frameworks using the capabilities of new technologies. He explains how to get everyone in your company on the same page, following a single framework, in a way that ensures individual departments get what they want and need. You’ll learn to outline a comprehensive technical vision and purpose that respects departmental autonomy over their core competencies while guaranteeing that they all get the tools they need to make technology their partner. You’ll also discover why firms that have adopted a holistic strategy toward AI and data have enjoyed results far beyond those experienced by those that have taken a piecemeal approach. From Data to Profit demonstrates the proper role of the CEO during an intensive transformation: one of maintaining culture during the change. It offers advice for organizational change, including the 3-Phase Data Organizational Development Framework, the Core - Rim 3 Main People Groups Framework, and the way to implement new roles for a Chief Digital Officer and Technical Strategist. Perfect for data professionals, data organizational leaders, and data product and process owners, From Data to Profit will also benefit executives, managers, and other business leaders seeking hands-on advice for digital transformation at their firms.




Building a Profitable Business: Essential Steps & Strategies


Book Description

Do you want to start a business that makes money? Learn exactly how to build a successful business! "Building a Profitable Business: Essential Steps & Strategies" is a practical guide covering finding opportunities, creating a business plan, and building a solid team. It focuses on managing finances effectively. This hands-on book is a must-read for new and current business owners. It's a wealth of knowledge, insights, and techniques for starting and managing your business. The book leaves no stone unturned, covering legal considerations, marketing strategies, sales techniques, operations management, and the role of technology and innovation in business. After reading it, you'll feel informed and knowledgeable. It also emphasizes managing risks, being socially responsible, handling change, planning for the future, and preparing for the next steps, making it a valuable resource for entrepreneurs at any stage. What you'll discover: How to find business opportunities. Creating a successful business plan. How to market and brand your business. Successful sales strategies. Technology and innovation. How to grow your business. Successful planning. And much more! Become financially successful! Pick up a copy of Building a Profitable Business: Essential Steps & Strategies today!




Marketing High Profit Product/Service Solutions


Book Description

Marketing High Profit Product/Service Solutions addresses one of the most exciting and growing strategic marketing opportunities facing product and service companies - ’bundling’. Many customers want bundled products and services which represent integrated solutions to their problems, rather than buying individual products and services piecemeal, and if you become that supplier it can transform a company. There are many outstanding examples: Magna International grew in several stages from a supplier of basic individual auto parts to a company manufacturing a product/service 'super-bundle'; ultimately sourcing and assembling the entire car itself. GE developed their business involving the supply of medical imaging machines to hospitals to become a 'super-bundler' of complete hospital radiological floor imaging operations planning, installation, and integration. IBM transformed their position as a supplier of individual hardware, software, and peripherals to companies into a product/service solution 'bundler' of increasing complexity, and finally into the 'super-bundle' of BPO (Business Process Outsourcing); representing an outsourced and complete integrated IT solution set for clients’ entire global operations. Roger More explores what was learned by these leading companies (amongst others) when they transformed their market strategies to become bundlers of complex integrated customer solutions. Over many years the author has developed and tested new concepts, maps and tools for use by a wide variety of managers in developing strategies for these bundled product/service solutions. His book now offers these maps and tools to all who invest in a copy.




Creating Strategic Value through Financial Technology


Book Description

Lessons in innovation from key FinTech trends and successes Creating Strategic Value through Financial Technology explores the growing Financial Technology (FinTech) industry to provide insight on how traditional financial institutions and FinTech companies can boost innovation and enhance valuation in a complex regulatory environment. In plumbing the depth and breadth of several niches within in the FinTech sector, author Jay Wilson uncovers key themes that have contributed to the industry's success; in this book, he maps them together to provide useful guideposts for investors, entrepreneurs, and traditional institutions looking to facilitate growth as technology and financial services collide. With an expert's perspective on FinTech history and outlook, certain trends and examples of value-enhancing strategies stand out. FinTech niches covered include: payments, crowdfunding, alternative/marketplace lending, the blockchain, and technology solutions in the context of banking, insurance, and investment companies. There is no denying the growing importance of technology in the financial services industry, and the FinTech sector offers valuable solutions for a diverse array of financial services providers and their customers. This book guides you through several niches of the FinTech sector, and highlights the most important takeaways from recent endeavors. Navigate the financial technology sector Enhance customer and product offerings Improve efficiency and cost structure Enhance profitability and company valuation from the intersection of technology and finance Innovation and customer preference is a key driver of FinTech's growth. Customers are demanding better value and convenience, and the organizations that provide it are reaping the rewards of growth. As financial regulations grow more and more complex, and customers are presented with more and more options, it is becoming imperative for traditional institutions to modernize processes and carve out a place in the future of financial services. Creating Strategic Value through Financial Technology provides a handbook for navigating that space, with practical guidance on how FinTech companies and traditional financial institutions can enhance profitability and valuation from the trends.




Purpose-Driven Pricing


Book Description

Pricing is frequently used as a key strategic lever for management to increase profitability. However, price can also be used as a lever for societal good. This book demonstrates how effective use of price can have positive societal impacts, such as helping to reduce carbon emissions, accelerating the adoption of eco-friendly products, and improving people’s health outcomes and quality of life. This book, written by two leading thinkers on pricing strategy and practice, makes the important link between the ideals of purpose in organizations and the crucial tools of how to implement change using one of the fundamental levers at the disposal of the organization. It introduces the concept of leveraging the power of pricing for both profit and societal good and then clearly explains how it can be done. Price can be used to manage demand, incentivize consumer behavior, and influence change. The impact can be effective and quick, and it is not far-fetched to say that pro-social pricing can be utilized to preserve the environment, educate citizens, promote arts, alleviate poverty, and improve health. The book outlines how corporations, governments, civil society organizations, and collaborators can use pricing power to manage the adoption of products and services across B2B and B2C. Pricing strategies include innovating, unbundling, unpackaging, collaborating, implementing new monetization models, and applying learnings from behavioral pricing. Executives of corporate and business strategy and those dealing with brand portfolios, sustainability, social and health equity will find profound insights in this book. It will also be valuable in executive training and for graduate students.