Winning Moves Blog

I was intrigued by a recent article on this topic because I have been researching business success and failure patterns for over 25 years, and theories play an important role in my work. In my quest to identify “Winning Moves” for business success, I gather information about companies, I look for patterns in the moves companies make, and I develop theories that explain Continue reading “How Might Market Research Be Improved with Greater Use of Theories?” »

The value of recruiting insiders, whether as CEO or at lower levels, comes across in a May 30 Wall Street Journal article “An Inside Job: More Firms Opt to Recruit from Within,” which discusses how companies are recruiting internally. A sidebar titled “Chief Executives Hired Internally Outlast, Outperform their Rivals” reported on Booz and Company’s 12th Annual CEO Succession Study. The Wall Street Journal article did not discuss recruiting corporate boards of directors. But, in touting the value of internal recruits even at the CEO level, the article can stimulate Continue reading “The Value of Recruiting from Within: What Might It Imply about Independent Directors on Boards?” »

To evolve successfully, a company needs the right blend of both change and stability. Too little change can leave a company stagnating, especially when business has flattened or is eroding. But, too much change can be just as harmful, or even more so. That’s why Continue reading “Not Too Much Change, Not Too Little for a Business to Evolve Successfully” »

By going back to basics, Wal-Mart experienced a recent uptick in profits. Based upon my 25+ years researching business success and failure patterns, going back to basics is a valuable turnaround strategy for companies that strayed from their roots. And, Wal-Mart is successfully following that pattern. Continue reading “Back to Basics Success Pattern Brings Wal-Mart Profits” »

When a major company is disrupted by an innovator, it doesn’t happen overnight. The innovator generally takes a series of evolutionary steps down the path to disrupting the incumbent. It is not enough for the innovator to identify and focus upon consumer dissatisfaction with the incumbent. The innovator will not disrupt the incumbent unless Continue reading “Disruptive Competition Needs an Evolutionary Path” »