You’ve probably heard the old saying that “Hope isn’t a strategy”. I’ve written a few words on the topic of Strategy, Tactics and Hope in the past and have even talked about minding the gap between strategy and tactics. Most people and organizations understand – at least in theory – that they need a strategic […]
Stop Chasing. Start Focusing.
July 5, 2011 by 23 Comments
Most businesses are chasing. They’re chasing their competitors. Chasing their industries. Chasing their perceptions of their future as well as chasing their past. Many people within companies are chasing too. Their chasing the approval of their leadership team. Chasing the approval of their managers and of their peers. Some are even chasing recognition from their […]
What’s your strategy?
June 3, 2010 by 14 Comments
Strategy. That one word can send shudders through many folks. That one word has made millions and millions for consulting companies and consultants. Can you answer the question “what’s your strategy?” Can everyone within your organization? If I were to talk to the front-line workers in your organization and ask them “what’s your strategy?”, will […]
Links for April 25 2010
April 25, 2010 by 7 Comments
Silence is a Leadership Trait by Samuel Bacharach Quote: Between the words, between the actions, between the political strategies, leaders must create silence. Silence that allows for ideas to be absorbed. Silence that allows for emotions to settle. Silence that allows for bonding and healing. Silence that allows people to sit unthreatened and unchallenged. How […]
Do you have a technology strategy?
March 11, 2010 by 7 Comments
Gene asks “Is Cloud Computing part of your Strategic Plan?” While Gene’s question is a fair one, I have to ask a much simpler question….do you have a technology strategic plan? Or at the very least, do you discuss technology and/or IT in your organization’s strategic plan? I know its a simple question….but its an […]
Culture and the CIO
March 4, 2010 by 4 Comments
Did you catch the news earlier this week? Gene De Libero and I started a new blog titled “CIO Essentials“. Gene and I have known each other for a few years now and recently collaborated on an article for Cutter IT Journal titled “The Futureproof CIO“. That collaboration has turned into CIO Essentials (CIOE). I […]
Improving IT Planning in 2010
December 12, 2009 by 5 Comments
Just finished reading Chris Curran’s article on CIO.com titled How to Improve Your IT Planning in 2010 – CIO.com – Business Technology Leadership. Good article with some survey results that are very surprising. A snippet from the article: Diamond’s Digital IQ research, in which we surveyed 451 senior business and IT executives of large companies, […]
Decision Speed, Performance and the CIO
October 29, 2009 by 10 Comments
Last week I wrote about “Turbulence, IT & The New CIO” and discussed the need to embrace agility and speed in order to address the turbulence that we see in business today. In order to be agile, I mentioned the OODA (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) model for use in helping keep agility at the front […]
Strategy, Tactics and Hope
June 17, 2009 by 12 Comments
What happens when you create the best strategic plan in the world but don’t have a plan to implement it? Lots of wheel spinning and very little progress. What happens when you have a great implementation plan for a poor strategy? Lots of wheel spinning and very little progress. There are tons of consulting companies […]
Eric D. Brown, D.Sc. is a