Where are you going? What are you trying to achieve?
Two seemingly straightforward questions that many technology companies struggle to answer. We can help you and your executive team to find answers to them.
We can investigate new markets and give you the information you need in order to decide whether to invest in them. Alternatively we can develop strategic alliances that will help you achieve your objectives.
Why the most common motivator for strategic decisions is the wrong one
When I look back at all the boardroom discussions about strategy and taking strategic decisions, one thing sticks in my mind: most companies will defer, delay and avoid any decision for as long as possible except when facing a direct threat. When I knew that a strategic move was necessary, the way to sell it to the board was to dress it up as a direct threat; “we saw competitor X talking to these people at the tradeshow. What if they acquire them?”. Result? Immediate action.
It is surely very strange that a group of people who have been charged with the strategic direction of a company, and who have met to specifically discuss it, will do anything rather than knuckle down and discuss it. Here is my incomplete list of what company boards do rather than discuss strategy:
Why a compelling product vision can shorten your long list of requirements.
I was chatting with an old colleague the other day; he was describing a company that he has been doing some work with. In it, every time employees identified an problem their response was to look at how their processes and procedures needed improving in order to stop that problem happening again. Oh dear we lamented; not only is that not a fun organisation to work in, but they literally become ossified by rules and regulations.
Could it be that silver is a bigger prize than gold?
“First-Mover Advantage” is a piece of received wisdom in management circles. It is taught on MBAs and has been the attention of much academic research. Is there really an advantage to being a first mover when bringing innovative new technology products to market? My experience made me doubt it. Just asking myself the question led to another, equally interesting one for those wrestling with product strategy; what are the costs of attempting to gain first mover advantage?
A look at some of the advice on offer in these “challenging times”
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