Strategy – Page 15 – www.exkalibur.com

Better the devil you know?

Now, if this was a Knight of the Round Table, bearing the sword of Exkalibur, that would be one thing. Alas, not.
Rather, it’s an insidious invader disguised as a heroic force, riding to the rescue of American companies facing catastrophic economic ruin. So, as I watched portions of the Congressional hearings this week featuring the CEOs of America’s automakers, I couldn’t help but think: Where did the congressmen and senators learn about the auto industry?
How are they qualified to assess the business plans of the three U.S. automakers? (more…)

Pick a Fighter Brand!

I have talked to many CEO's recently about pricing. There are a lot of good ideas around, too, about pricing and several articles that I recommend. The McKinsey Quarterly carried an insightful article about pricing in an inflationary economy that you might find helpful. (You'll have to register on their…

Wisdom of the Ages – Don’t Miss This!!

Some of you may be aware of the Wisdom Project, an effort produced in cooperation with Bishop Desmond Tutu. I had lost track of it and thanks to a colleague, was recently re-introduced to it.
The Wisdom Project has assembled an extraordinary international cast of voices from all walks of life to explore the concept of wisdom. Do yourself a favor and take a few moments to reflect upon this wondrous work by visiting The Wisdom Project.
In the words of renowned photographer, Andrews Zuckerman, here is the concept of the Wisdom Project. (more…)

Jack Welch agrees with The Daily Bull . . . ish!

There's not much Bullish news to go around these days but that's one of our missions nonetheless. The legendary Jack Welch apparently couldn't agree more. His The Welchway column in this week's BW, The End is Not Here, should be required reading. I love his paraphrase of FDR's famous prescription,…

Spend a billion. Save a billion. DHL and UPS hook up!

DHL, the international delivery firm with prominent colors of red and yellow, announced they have hired UPS to handle of their U.S. delivery needs. It's an outsourcing choice and approach that seems counter-intuitive between two major competitors. Read the provocative article for a different perspective on outsourcing and competition.

Pricing and Promotion in the Wine Industry

One of my colleagues, Dr. Steven S. Cuellar, Ph. D. and Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at Sonoma State University, has recently published an article entitled "Price, Promotion and Profits" in Wine Business Monthly. It's an insightful look at the intersection of price, promotion and profit that illustrates…

Fresh Thinking? Please apply here!

For one fresh approach to the business world, read about the Wexley School for Girls - which is exactly what it isn't! You should also read Suzy and Jack's Welch's column this week about How to Bust into the Big Leagues. At a minimum, these quick reads will remind you…

Micro Management can be a Good Thing!

In the May 26 issue of Business Week, Best Buy is celebrated for empowering its store managers to think locally about micro-markets that could provide differentiated selling opportunities. Here's the key point: As a result, Best Buy believes it sames-store sales will be up 1-3% this year despite the sluggish…

Can you say your Strategy?

The April issue of the Harvard Business Review carried an article entitled Can You Say What Your Strategy Is? In short, the authors, David Collis and Michael Rukstad, describe a framework to create a sound statement of strategy that everyone in the company can internalize and use to guide their…