Winning Moves Blog

The Blackberry’s recent introduction as a new Classic model offers food for thought and potential lessons about going back to basics during a company turnaround.

The new Blackberry Classic, a mobile telecommunications device, goes back to basics in that it targets Blackberry’s traditional market of corporate users. The Classic has a keyboard, a feature associated with Blackberry’s roots in its past days of glory. Yet, it Continue reading “Lessons about Back to Basics from the Blackberry Classic Example” »

I’ve written before about the potential value of older technologies. I’ve pointed out how, if the old way of doing something still offers some benefits, the old way can remain viable even when newer technologies that might seem disruptive emerge.

Of course, companies should pay attention to new technology. They should determine its impact and how it might fit into their business. But, sometimes older technology might Continue reading “Sometimes Old Technology Beats New as E-commerce Embraces Bricks and Mortar” »

Crowdsourcing entails seeking input via an open call to a large group of people, rather than solely tapping traditional experts or employees. Crowdsourcing has both benefits and downside.

A recent Wall Street Journal article (“The Benefits of Crowdsourcing”, October 30, 2014) makes some excellent points about the value of using crowdsourcing as a way for start-up companies to solve problems and get ideas. Yet, readers who scan quickly may miss Continue reading “With Benefits and Downside, Crowdsourcing May or May Not Outdo Experts” »

It’s only one example that recently received considerable media coverage. Still, it is a situation where the term evolutionary steps was used in media accounts of the auto industry, an industry previously described in the press as taking an incremental approach. Perhaps, it’s just semantics. But, in the media earlier this month, Continue reading “Incremental Approach versus Evolutionary Steps—Might the Terminology Shift?” »

Hunting for treasure takes on two key roles in the recent Fortune article about the success of retailer T.J. Maxx. One role of the treasure hunt is T.J. Maxx’s use of it to attract shoppers, and that role is obvious in the article. The other role is somewhat more subtle, and entails deeper implications for business success not overtly stated in the article.

The article “Is T.J. Maxx the Best Retailer in the Land?” was Continue reading “Can You Find the Treasure in your Business?” »