The benefits of related diversification
This article explores the advantages of related diversification – the benefits of synergy from increasing the scope of the firm.
The Razor-Razorblade Business Model
The razor-razorblade business model relies on selling an initial product at a relatively low price, followed by consumables, where the firm makes the majority of its profit.
Dual sourcing: What are the benefits (and disadvantages) of sourcing from multiple suppliers
Why do some firms look to buy from multiple suppliers? This article explores the reasons for dual sourcing, where companies seek multiple suppliers for key inputs.
The difference between value creation and value capture
This article explores the differences between value creation and capture – and why it matters for firm profitability.
Advantages and disadvantages of local sourcing
This article explores the benefits associated with sourcing from local suppliers, located close to a firm, rather than more distant suppliers, potentially located abroad.
Why be a solo entrepreneur?
The solo entrepreneur – or solopreneur – offers can many advantages of large teams when starting a business – this article explores some reasons to consider going it alone.
Examples of the freemium business model: Apps and more
This article explores some of the most common freemium business models: apps, art galleries, online education, news sites, and more.
The difference between economies of scale and learning effects
This article explores the differences between economies of scale and learning effects, as well as how scale can also lead to greater cumulated learning.
Hot-desking: Alternative approaches to desk sharing
There are different approaches to making shared desk space work – from completely open desks to dedicated desks that you share with one or two others. This article considers alternative approaches to hot-desking.
Mass customization: The advantages and disadvantages
This article explores the benefits of customizing products to meet specific customer demands – as well as the limitations in doing so
The difference between economies of scale and diseconomies of scale
This article explores two related, concepts – economies of scale and diseconomies of scale – with examples of the differences.
The difference between the PESTEL and Porter’s Five Forces frameworks
This article explores the key differences between the PESTEL and Porter’s Five Forces frameworks.
Internal vs. external consistency in strategy: Achieving internal and external strategic alignment
The article explores the differences between internal and external consistency in strategic analysis – and why both are important to strategy.
Exit Barriers: What they are, and how they impact industry profitability
Understand the impact of industry exit barriers on industry profitability – why high exit barriers are associated with low industry profitability.
Posting to multiple social media accounts: Use a scheduling platform
This article explores how social media scheduling tools and help you streamline managing multiple social media accounts.
The advantages and disadvantages of hot-desking
This article explores some of the key benefits and issues associated with a shared office space – where employees don’t have an assigned desk
Understanding the Subscription Business Model
Key factors to consider before using a subscription approach to sell your products and services.
The subscription box business model: Understanding the economics
This article explores the economics of such subscription boxes – discussing the benefits of subscription boxes to customers, and the ways that subscription services are able to achieve high value.
Automated assembly lines: The advantages and disadvantages of robots
This article explores some of the key benefits – but also the risks – associated with using robots in manufacturing and product assembly.
Key success factors in the hotel industry: Examining the business model
This article explores some key success factors in the hotel industry – dimensions that are important for hotel success.
Blue Ocean vs Red Ocean Strategies: Comparing the differences
The blue ocean and red ocean metaphor is a powerful business concept – this article explores key differences between the markets.
Internal firm analysis: Understanding a firm’s resources and capabilities
Internal firm analysis – considering the resources and capabilities of the company – is an important component of strategic analysis. This article explores reasons for examining the firm’s internal resources.
Key hot-desking policies: 3 Rules to make hot-desking work
This article explores some policies that can help ensure a smooth implementation of hot-desking.
Exploring why managers can be reluctant to delegate tasks and decision making
This article explores some of the most common reasons managers are unwilling to delegate tasks – along with approaches for increasing how comfortable you are with delegating.
Why economies of scale can act as a barrier to entry
This article unpacks how economies of scale can act as a barrier to new firms entering a market, with examples of disadvantages new firms face.
Switching costs: The impact of locking in customers
Switching costs essentially lock customers into a particular supplier, increasing the difficulty to change suppliers. This article explores the impact of switching costs and the various barriers to changing suppliers.
Reducing diseconomies of scale
This article explores some key approaches for reducing diseconomies of scale that arise as production volumes increase.
Strategic consistency: The role of strategy at ensuring consistency in actions
This article explores how strategy can help ensure consistency within the firm – including internal, external, and dynamic consistency.
Disadvantages of impulse buying: 3 limitations of purchases made on impulse
This article explores some additional costs associated with purchases made on impulse – and why such sales may not be as valuable for your company.
5 Challenges of mass customization
Some of the most difficult issues associated with mass customization – important problems you need to be aware of
What is a red ocean strategy – and what are the disadvantages of a red ocean?
This article explores red ocean strategies – competing an existing market – and the limitations of red oceans relative to blue ocean strategies.
The importance of an elevator pitch
The elevator pitch – a description of the essence of your business’s strategy that you are able to share within about 60 seconds, or the time to go up an elevator – is critical for startups to develop. This article explains the benefits of having an elevator pitch strategy, beyond securing financing.
Open-plan offices: Key Advantages and Disadvantages
Open-plan offices can have a big impact on office culture and productivity – explore the benefits and disadvantages
The 4P Marketing Mix: Product, Price, Place and Promotion
This article examines the four components of the 4P marketing mix: You product, its price, the place where it is sold, and how it is promoted.
Working from home as an entrepreneur: Advantages and disadvantages
This article explores the top benefits and disadvantages of having a home office and working from home as an entrepreneur
The advantages and disadvantages of free returns for online purchases
This article considers some of the top reasons why retailers offer free returns for online purchases, as well as the significant costs of providing this service.
Preventing strategic imitation: The difference between entry barriers and mobility barriers
This article explores the role of entry barriers and mobility barriers at preventing new firms from entering your market, or existing firms from converging on your position.
App monetization: Ad-supported vs. freemium vs. one-off purchases
Your app monetization approach is one of the most important decisions for app developers. This article covers some of the most popular approaches to monetize apps.
Applying the Blue Ocean Strategy Approach to a Startup
This article explores identifying blue ocean strategies – markets without fierce competition – and the importance for startups.
Industry entry barriers: What they are, and why they are important to consider
This article explores industry entry barriers: What entry barriers are, why you need to be aware of them, and how to overcome the barriers.
Design for manufacturing: How it can reduce manufacturing costs
This article explores the importance of design for manufacture – DfM – in reducing manufacturing costs, with key examples.
Identifying a blue ocean strategy: The create, raise, eliminate, reduce framework
How do you identify a blue ocean strategy? This article explores a key approach for identifying blue oceans – the create, raise, eliminate, reduce framework
Back of the envelope calculations: Why they are so important
This article explores the benefits of simple analysis using assumptions to quickly gain an approximate understanding of a situation.
Stretch goals: The impact of setting high performance targets
Stretch goals – an additional higher target – can play in motivating increased performance. This article explores some of the consequences of stretch targets.
4 Risks of pursuing a blue ocean strategy
The blue ocean strategy approach of identifying or creating a new market space free of competitors sounds attractive, it also has a lot of risks associated with it. This article examines four of the main risks associated with a blue ocean strategy.
What is the Resource-Based View of the firm?
This article unpacks the Resource-Based View of the firm – explaining its difference from other strategic perspectives and its importance to management.
Examples of the razor and blades business model
The razor-razorblade business model relies on selling an initial product at a relatively low price, followed by consumables, where the firm makes the majority of its profit.
Increasing a customer’s willingness to pay
This article explores approaches to increase the amount that customers are willing to pay for goods – from advertisements to improvements to the products.
The difference between mass customization and bespoke products
Mass customization and bespoke made-to-order production share some similarities – but also distinctions – this article explores some of the differences.
The disadvantages of being a solo entrepreneur
This article explores some of the difficulties of starting a business alone – the downsides of not having a startup team
Difference between upstream and downstream operations
This article explores how upstream operations, earlier in the supply chain, differ from downstream operations, closer towards your customers.
Avoiding entrepreneurial burnout
This article explores ways of dealing with entrepreneurial burnout – with particle tips to avoid loss of motivation when starting a firm.
Creating customer loyalty: Key things that drive brand loyalty
This article explores some key components of building and maintaining customer loyalty, with important considerations for retaining customers.
Deliberate vs emergent vs realized strategies: Explaining the differences
How do deliberate, emergent, and realized strategies connect together? This article explains the differences and connections in the evolution of a firm’s straetgy.
Celebrating achieving targets: Ways of rewarding goal attainment
This article explores approaches for rewarding goal attainment, and how incentives can influence individual behaviors.
B2B Sales: Identifying key decision makers
For business-to-business sales, there can be many different decision-makers – each with their own interests and evaluation criteria. This article explores different stakeholders and how they can influence purchase decisions.
Underserved vs. overserved customers: Comparing the different market opportunities
What are the differences between underserved and overserved customers? This article explores ways of targetting both segments of customers.
Why learning curve effects can act as a barrier to entry?
This article explores some of the specific ways that learning curve effects can act as a barrier to entry.
Solo entrepreneur business ideas: Opportunities for starting a small business alone
Explore some of the most common business ideas for solo entrepreneurs – opportunities for starting a business by yourself with little finance.
The benefits of social media to small businesses
This article explores some of the key benefits of maintaining a social media presence for your business.
The 4P Marketing Mix: Promotion
This article explores the role of promotions within the 4P marketing mix – including the purpose of promotions and different ways of promoting your product or service.
Would you want to work in a hot-desking office? The employee perspective on hot-desking
While hot-desking may have many advantages for companies, what is the impact of shared desks on employees? This article considers the employee perspective on what it is like working in a shared-desk office.
Celebrating small wins: The benefits of celebrating success, no matter how small
This article explores why it is important for you and your team to celebrate the mini achievements on your entrepreneurial journey – no matter how small.
Employee decision making: The advantages and disadvantage
This article explores the key benefits and limitations of giving employees key decision-making responsibilities.
Does your business need a social media presence?
This article explores whether social media is likely to be a valuable addition to your firm or not.
Understanding different sales channels: The differences between B2B and B2C transactions
This article explores the fundamental differences between business to business sales (B2B) and business to consumer sales (B2C)
A step-by-step guide to implementing hot-desking
This walkthrough covers the key decisions in implementing hot-desking – helping you get employees on board and successfully rollout desk sharing.
Where innovation opportunities come from: Lead users
This article explores the opportunities and dangers of using lead users for business ideas and innovations.
Applying the Five Whys Analysis
This article explains how to apply the Five Whys Analysis – a root cause analysis approach for identifying the underlying cause of problems.
Sizing your market opportunity
This article outlines approaches for determining your market sizes and importance of doing so.
Should I join a startup?: 5 questions to ask yourself before joining a startup
Joining a startup is a big move – there are many differences in the role and expectations between working for a startup and a more established firm.
Reducing customer churn with subscription box services
This article explores key considerations to help you retain subscribers to your subscription box service, avoiding high customer churn
Economies of scope from increased purchasing volumes
Will diversifying allow you to gain better bargaining power with your suppliers? This article explores the possibilities of economies in purchasing from increasing the scope of the firm.
How switching costs can act as a barrier to entry
This article explores the impact that high switching costs can have on industry entry barriers – why high switching costs can make it difficult for new firms to enter the market.
The role of targets: How goals can improve organizational performance
This article explores some of the ways that setting goals can drive organizational success – from increased focus to driving additional employee effort.
The build, borrow, buy framework: Developing new capabilities
This article explores alternative approaches to gaining access to resources – internal development (build), partnering with other firms (borrow), or acquiring another company (buy).
Entering an industry with high entry barriers: Approaches for overcoming entry barriers
This article explores approaches for new firms to overcome entry barriers – to work around difficulties that traditionally make it hard for new firms to successfully enter an industry with high barriers to entry.
Dynamic consistency: Why it is important that strategic actions reinforce each other over time
This article explores the importance of consistency in decision making over time – and why a strategy is important to help ensure this consistency.
The importance of Porter’s Five Forces to startups
This article explores the importance of Porter’s Five Forces for startups, and how startups can use it to more successfully enter markets.
5 Important resources and capabilities for startup organizations
Resources underpin your organization – this article explores five of the most important resources for startup organizations.
Where innovation ideas come from: Other industries
This article explains how new products, technologies and business models in other industries and be an important source of innovation and fresh business ideas.
The top 5 skills to develop as a solo entrepreneur
This article explores the top 5 skills that are critical to developing to succeed as a solo-entrepreneur.
The importance of a business plan: Why all startups should develop one
It is easy to discount the importance of a business plan. As a startup founder, you likely have lots of pressing activities, and since there are likely many uncertainties about your business, it is possible to fall into the trap of continually delaying documenting your firm and its approach.
Escalating commitment: How it impacts entrepreneurs
This article explores how the escalation of commitment – increasing your effort on a failing course of action – can impact entrepreneurs.
The importance of delegation: Learning how to give others responsibilities
This article explores some of the benefits associated with becoming comfortable with delegating responsibilities.
When small firms succeed against larger companies
This article explores the some unique advantages that startups often have – potentially allowing you to craft a strategy that can effectively take on (or avoid) the competition of established companies.
How back of the envelope calculations can improve business decision making
This article explores some situations where back-of-the-envelope calculations can improve decision-making in a company.
3 Key reasons to conduct SWOT analysis at your startup
From allowing prioritization to increasing involvement – this article explores some of the key benefits of SWOT analysis for startups.
5 Disadvantages of unrelated diversification
This article explores some of the key limitations of unrelated diversification, and why is it rarely associated with success.
Entrepreneurial lifestyle: The top 5 benefits of running your own firm
This article explores the key benefits of starting your own company – from economic reasons to lifestyle benefits.
Investing in yourself: Finding the time to upskill yourself as an entrepreneur
This article illustrates the importance of finding time to upskills yourself as an entrepreneur, with practice advice on approaches to invest in yourself.
Pareto Analysis: Applying the 80/20 rule across your business
From customers and complaints to product features and development needs, Pareto analysis is a useful approach to focus on the key issues of your business.
Achieving a work-life balance as an entrepreneur: Reprioritizing your work and life balance
This article explores how to adjust your work schedule to increase your work-life balance – don’t let your startup take over your life!
Side-hustle challenge: 5 Difficulties in balancing a job and a part-time business
Having a side-hustle sounds great – but it also comes with challenges, from time pressures to gaining support from others. This article explores some of the key challenges associated with having a full-time job and a side-hustle.
Why periodic strategic reviews are important: The benefit of taking a step back
This article considers the benefits of annual strategy reviews – how they are an important part of setting firm direction.
Open door policies: Striking the balance between availability and productivity
What does your attitudes to keeping your office door open or closed say about your management style? This article explores differences between open-door and closed-door attitudes.
Economies of scale vs. economies of scope: Explaining the differences
Economies of scale and economies of scope are two related – but distinct – concepts. This article explores the differences.
Why you should never comingle business and personal activities
This article explores the importance of keeping your business and personal activities separate.
Reasons to avoid setting up lots of separate social media accounts for your business
This article explores key reasons why it is generally not a good idea to set up lots of separate business social media accounts.
Approaches to reduce costs in your business: Practical cost reduction strategies
Practical approaches to help reduce costs from your operations, to increase your profit margins, or become a cost leader.
What is inorganic company growth?
Inorganic company growth is growth through acquisitions or mergers with other firms. Rather than growing internally by gradually building internal resources and the customer base (organic growth), the company seeks to grow through acquiring another firm.
Are chatbots the solution to dealing with customer support questions?
Are chat-bots the future of customer service? We explore the benefits and disadvantages for customers and companies.
Horizontal vs vertical integration: Examining the differences
This article explains the difference between horizontal integration, or diversification, and vertical integration.
The importance of strategic distinctiveness
This article explores the importance of strategic distinctiveness, and how it allows you to step away from direct competition.
Why firms deviate from their strategies: Causes of strategic deviation
This article explains some of the key reasons for strategic deviation – the causes of firms’ deviation from their intended strategy.
Applying root cause analysis to your startup
This article explores root cause analysis, and why it is important to consider when addressing inevitable problems that businesses face.
Lights out manufacturing: The capabilities needed to succeed
This article explores some of the key resources and capabilities needed to be successful in fully automated manufacturing.
Examples of the subscription business model: Software, entertainment, meal kits, and more
Subscription services are increasingly common – this article explores some common examples in software, entertainment, deliveries, meal kit services, and subscription boxes.
Incorporating word of mouth marketing into your customer acquisition strategy
This article explores the importance of word of mouth advertising and ways of encouraging your customers to share their experiences with others.
Passive Income: What it is, and should you consider it?
This guide explores passive income – the option available, difficulties associated and whether it makes sense for you.
When targets go wrong: How goals can lead to negative behaviors and outcomes
This article explores some of the dysfunctional behaviors that organizational targets and incentives can result in.
Preparing for an investor pitch: Improving your investment presentation
This article explores factors that you need to take into account before pitching your business to investors.
Reasons to involve employees in strategic decision making at your startup
This article explores the primary reasons for engaging your employees in shaping the strategy of your startup.
The not invented here syndrome, and what firms can do to overcome it
The not invented here syndrome can limit a firm’s ability to draw on external innovations. This article explores the causes of a reluctance to use external innovations, and how to overcome it.
Diseconomies of scale: How efficiencies can start to decline with scale
This article explores the concept of diseconomies of scale – with examples of the factors that can lead costs to increase as volume increases.
Paper synergies, and why supposed synergies often don’t materialize
This article explores some of the reasons for the discrepancy between expected and realized benefits when firms diversity or merge with others.
Hot-desking: Situations where desk sharing can make a lot of sense
There are some offices where hot-desking is a particularly good fit. This article explores situations where sharing desks is likely to be a good setup for companies.
Substitutes vs Industry: The difference between substitute products and your industry
This article explores the fundamental difference between an industry and a substitute industry – how the inputs to the industries differ, thus resulting in different means of production.
Managing a business social media account
This article explores the importance of word of mouth advertising and ways of encouraging your customers to share their experiences with others.
Will other firms enter your blue ocean?: Imitation of blue ocean strategies
Achieving a blue ocean strategy can lose its benefit if others imitate – this article explores the danger of others entering your blue ocean.
The top 7 posts types for your business social media account
Struggling to generate social media content? This post explores the top posts to share on your business social media account.
Refer a friend programs: Examples of different referral implementations
This article covers some alternative approaches to implementing referral programs – with consideration of the benefits of adopting different approaches.
Hybrid work: Incorporating working from home and working from the office
This article explores options involved in hybrid work – key considerations involved when determining how to organize both in-person and at-home work.
Upselling challenges: 4 Difficulties with upselling additional product features and services
Upselling is not easy – from challenges managing your employees to actually encouraging customers to upgrade, this article explores the challenges of upselling.
The Imposter Syndrome in Entrepreneurship: Understanding its Causes
The imposter syndrome – the feeling that you don’t belong here – can be a key concern for entrepreneurs. This article explores its causes, and how to avoid feeling out of place.
Connecting the 4P Marketing Mix with your Business Strategy
This article explores how the 4Ps -product, place, price and promotion – connects in with other key strategic decisions a firm needs to take.
The disadvantages of outsourcing: The Top 5 risks of outsourcing production
This article explores some key risks of outsourcing manufacturing – and why you may want to keep some manufacturing in-house.
Strategic Roadmapping: Why it is important to prioritize strategic actions
This article explores some of the most important reasons for prioritizing certain strategic actions over others.
Why so many startups fail
This article explores some of the key reasons why startups fail, with tips to help you avoid some common pitfalls in your own business
How retailers encourage repeat purchases and customer loyalty
From customer loyalty cards to targeted promotions – this article explores some of the key ways that retailers driver repeat purchases and build customer loyalty.
What is a lifestyle business: Key components of lifestyle firms
What are the key things that indicate a lifestyle business? This article explores what makes a firm a lifestyle business.
The attractions of the side hustle: Why not to give up on your day job
All the reasons for starting a business as a side hustle – the advantages of keeping your main job when founding a startup.
Focusing on cost: Reducing the costs of your business operations
This article explores the ways that business cost can mount, and particle approaches for reducing costs within an organization.
Bespoke manufacturing vs. mass manufacturing vs. mass customization
This article explores the differences between bespoke, mass manufacturing, and mass customization.
The importance of startups: Considering the benefits of entrepreneurship
New firms can have an important role in the economy and broader society; this article explores advantages as well as some disadvantages of startups.
Is lights-out manufacturing worth it?: The advantages and disadvantages
This article explores the key challenges and benefits associated with fully automated lights-out manufacturing.
Internal consistency: The benefits of consistency between your resources
This article explores some of the key benefits that come from internal consistency – the alignment between different activity choices of the firm.
Turing individual learning into organizational learning
This article explores the difference between individual and organizational learning, and how to translate individual learning into organizational learning.
Becoming comfortable with failures
Nobody enjoys failures – anyone who says to ‘celebrate’ them will still have experienced disappointments of their own. However, there are significant reasons to at least get comfortable with the idea of failure.
The better off test in diversification decisions
What is the better off test, and why is it important in diversification decisions? This article explores why it is important to assess whether the two areas are better off in one firm vs two when diversifying.
Office layout: 4 Key things that your office layout influences
Office layout can have a big influence throughout your firm – from who employees interact with to job satisfaction. This article explores how office layout can influence your firm.
Why the Fear of Missing Out – FOMO – is unlikely to be a good reason to start a company
This article explores reason to stop and pause before entering an area, or starting a firm, based on seeing others success.
The risks of lead user analysis: The limitations of listening to lead users
Lead users can be a great source of input – but there are some limits to lead user analysis.
The danger of too quick startup growth
This guide explores the growing pains associated with gaining customers far faster than planned – risking the entire future success of the firm.
The benefits of retaining full ownership of your startup
Taking on outside funding is not a decision to be taken lightly. It does not necessarily match the ambitions of all entrepreneurs, nor is it always the best decision for the organization. This article explores some of the reasons to be cautious before seeking and taking on outside investors.
Dealing with overload as an entrepreneur: Ways of reducing the pressure
This article explores practical approaches to dealing with overload – prioritization, scrapping, simplifying, and delegating tasks
Business Model Innovations
This guide explores the importance of adaptions to business models, and the opportunities presented by adopting a different business model.
5 brainstorming tips: Advice for successful brainstorming sessions
Brainstorming is a great way of generating new ideas – but how do you get the most from the session? this article explores 5 key elements for successful brainstorming session.
Triangulating assumptions: Why it is so important in estimating and projections
This article explores the importance of triangulation to increase the accuracy and your confidence in estimates.
Internal resource development: When it makes sense to develop resources internally
This article explores the benefits and disadvantages of developing new resources and capabilities internally within an organization.
Who should be involved in strategy formation: From just the CEO to the whole team
This article explores both the case for and against strategy formation being something that should just be CEO should be involved in.
What is competitive parity?
This article explores what is meant by competitive parity – and why firms may not be able to gain a competitive advantage over others
The follow your passion approach to starting a business
Starting a business in an area that you are passionate about can have many benefits – this article explores advantages of pursuing opportunities that you are passionate about.
The difficulties of delegation: Why some managers micro-manage
This article discusses some reasons why managers are reluctant to delegate control – from both the ‘rational’ reasons to the less rational.
Dealing with lack of strategy buy-in: 5 Approaches to handle lack of employee commitment
Strategic buy-in is important to successful implementation, but what do you do if employees are skeptical? This article considers ways of convincing skeptical employees.
Pricing a subscription service: Key pricing considerations in the subscription business model
From the value provided to customers to how your offerings compare with competitors, this article explores key considerations when pricing your subscription service.
The B2B Sales Channel: All you need to know about business to business sales
This article explores some of the key characteristics common in business-to-business sales.
Examples of switching costs
This article explores some of the most common forms of switching costs – from termination fees to effort to relearn a new system.
5 Particle approaches for involving employees in strategic planning
Learn some particle and effective approaches for involving employees in strategic planning – gaining their insight and commitment.
How to meet other entrepreneurs: Increasing your network of contacts
Getting to know other entrepreneurs is important when starting a business – this article explores approaches for meeting other founders.
What is the attractiveness test in diversification decisions?
This article explores the attractiveness test in determining whether to diversify and enter a new industry.
Subscription box key success factors: 3 of the most important indicators of success
This article explores some key success factors for subscription box success – dimensions that you need to monitor and prioritize.
Where innovation ideas come from: Changes in a firm’s broad environment
This article explores identifying blue ocean strategies – markets without fierce competition – and the importance for startups.
What is the VRIO framework?
This article unpacks the VRIO framework – and why it is important to consider whether resources are valuable, rare, hard imitate, or substitute, and the organization is organized to support the resource.
How a B2C sales and marketing approach differs from a B2B sales and marketing approach
This article considers the key ways that a B2C marketing approach is typically different from B2B marketing
The benefit of PESTEL analysis: Increasing firm success
This article examines the importance for managers to recognize trends in their firm’s broad environment, and why the PESTEL framework is so useful in identifying these trends.
Developing a social media calendar
This article explores the importance of having a social media schedule to plan out your social media posts.
How restricted access to sales channels can act as a barrier to entry
This article explores how access to distribution channels can act as a barrier to entry and ways over overcoming it.
What is a temporary competitive advantage?
What is meant by a temporary competitive advantage – and what makes it temporary? This article explores temporary advantages.
Is an emergent strategy bad?: The advantages and disadvantages of strategy emergence
Should firms be concerned as the strategy departs from the intended strategy? This article explores the concept of emergent strategies – their benefits and limitations.
External consistency: Consistency between your firm and the environment
This article explores the importance of external consistency – consistency between your strategy and the demands of the market.
Design for manufacturing vs design for assembly
DfM and DfA are two approaches to reduce production costs – this article explores the differences, and how to integrate both different design philosophies.
Divisional by product vs geography: Different forms of divisional organizational structures
When do product-based divisional structures and geography-based divisional structures make sense? This article explores the benefits of each organizational form.
Rethinking the office working environment post Covid: Key considerations
This article explores the top benefits and disadvantages of having your startup team working remotely.
The importance of developing your business plan and strategy yourself
This article explores all the reasons why you should develop your business plan and strategy yourself – rather than rely on outsiders or downloaded plans.
Top 5 upselling examples: Industries where optional extras are important
This article examines five industries where upselling is most important.
Disadvantages of slow decision making
What are the problems associated with slow decision-making? This article explores key issues that slow decision-making can cause.
Don’t mistake a tactic for your strategy: Why a tactic is not a strategy
A common mistake is to confuse an individual tactic with an organization’s strategy – these are the reasons why a tactic is not the same as a strategy.
Achieving economies of scale: Steps to obtain savings from high production volumes
This article explores key approaches for achieving economies of scale – the steps that firms kneed to take to gain savings associated with increased production volumes.
Why is root cause analysis important in problem-solving
This article explores the role of root cause analysis in problem-solving and identifying the underlying issue in problems.
The difficulties of straddling markets: The possibility of being stuck-in-the-middle
This article explores the danger of lack of focus associated with operating in different areas – from the impact on customer expectations to the challenge of making compromises.
Should you imitate a competitor’s strategic change?
A major strategic change by a competitor can often cause firms to re-evaluate their own approach. This article explores questions you should ask when your competitors change their approach.
Examples of revenue-enhancing synergies
This article considers ways diversification can opportunities to increase sales, with examples of revenue-increasing synergies.
Bootstrapping your startup: Why limited funds may not be a bad thing
This article explores benefits associated with bootstrapping a company, and why having limited finances may not always be such a bad thing.
The benefits of small-scale experimentation
This article explores the role of small-scale experimentation in organizations – why companies may benefit from simple experiments to verify assumptions and reduce uncertainty.
Achieving an open door environment with remote work
Working remotely can be isolating – this article explores ways of encouraging employees to raise their concerns when working remotely.
Entrepreneur personality traits: Determination and its importance for getting through difficult times
This article explores some of the reasons why determination may help with your entrepreneurial success.
Examples of B2C advertising
This article considers different ways of marketing products and services to customers – from mass TV adverts and social media to flyers and word-of-mouth referral approaches.
Contingency planning your startup
This guide explains contingency planning – or what-if analysis – illustrating the importance of planning for contingencies at your startup.
The purpose of brainstorming: How brainstorming can help idea generation
This article explores the key benefits that come from brainstorming ideas – how it can spur creativity and new ideas.
What is the PESTEL Framework: Understanding how the broad macro-environment impacts firms
This article examines the broad macro-environment factors that can impact organizations and how to analyze each dimension of the framework.
Industry key success factors: Understanding key dimensions of competitions
This article explains industry key success factors – the dimensions that all firms in an industry need to satisfy to be successful.
The long-term considerations with outsourcing
What are some of the most important long-term considerations of outsourcing and how will it position your firm for the future?
When resources and capabilities lead to organizational rigidities
Why do some firms that have strong capabilities sometimes fail? This article explores how strong resources and capabilities can turn into rigidities for firms.
Communicating your strategy: Creating a shared understanding
This article explores the benefits of communicating the strategy within the firm, and how to do so.
Key Success Factors: Balancing close and distance measures
This article explores the range of different Key Success Factors – and how they can complement one another in managing the firm.
Key goals of social media marketing
This article explores some goals of social media for small businesses – and how it can set your firm apart from established companies.
What is insourcing and what are the advantages?
Why may a firm consider insourcing – bringing back activities previously outsourced? This article explores the key reasons for insourcing.
The importance of monitoring all aspects of your business
Monitoring performance is a critical component to staying on track – this article explores how measuring key metrics can influences behaviors within a firm.
What is the meaning of homogeneous firms?
What is the assumption of identical firms – and why is it important? This article explores the meaning of homogeneous firms.