Winning Moves Blog

It doesn’t matter whether the new CEO from outside was recruited to bring professional management to an entrepreneurial venture or to revitalize a long established company. In either case, rather than striving for drastic change, the new CEO should seek effective ways to build on the company’s strengths. The CEO can bring Continue reading “New CEOs from the Outside Should Build on Company Strengths” »

They say do what you love, and the money will follow. Or will it?

As I’ve said before, my research finds that passion can be a strength that drives business success. Passion, however, does not guarantee success. And, we are told to “Forget Passion” by Continue reading “How Passion Drives Business Success—and When It Does Not” »

In my previous blog post, I stressed that Microsoft must build on its strengths to succeed. Now, Microsoft bought Nokia’s phone business and this warrants a look at some of the strengths that Microsoft might build on. Microsoft has strengths in its Windows and Office product lines, and Microsoft’s position in Continue reading “Windows, Office and Corporate Markets: Are They the Building Blocks for Success at Microsoft?” »

The departure of Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has fueled much discussion about what Microsoft must do to compete successfully when changing technology may threaten its strongest products.

It is often said that bigger bets and greater risks are needed when giant corporations show signs of Continue reading “As Technology Changes, Microsoft Doesn’t Need Bigger Bets; It Needs to Strengthen Strategy” »

An article in the Wall Street Journal Magazine (Soapbox The Columnist feature, July/August 2013) offered advice from six individuals whose work entails considerable risk. These six individuals participate(d) in risky activities such reporting on wars, investigating infectious disease in the jungle, climbing Mount Everest, and winning an Olympic skiing medal. Only one of the six was in business, successfully founding restaurants, an endeavor for which the risk of failure is high. According to my research, many of the same principles Continue reading “Taking Successful Strategic Business Risks Parallels Lessons from Risky Work” »