Good stuff from across the pond
An organization called the Economist Intelligence Unit, based in London, recently completed a survey of over 4,000 executives. The topic was what will business be like in 2010? I don't know how much it costs to survey 4,000 people, but the good news is that whatever it cost, you can read the results for free. More good news, flexibility and speed will be key competencies for success.
While the big companies are trying to figure out how to be flexible and fast, we're way ahead of them. Most large corporations are rigid and slow.
I'm reminded of an airplane trip I once took from Atlanta to St. Louis. I happened to be sitting next to a riverboat pilot. What an interesting guy he was! He told me something that I didn't know and haven't forgotten. When two barges are coming toward one another, the one going downstream has the right of way. Why? Because they can't stop. The combination of momentum and the river's current means that it takes them a long time to change course. The one going upstream just has to "put it in neutral" and it will begin to drift backward with the current.
It's the same with business. Many of us have a tendency to get out of the way of the big guy. You would think that's an advantage for him, and it is. But on the other hand, what if there's trouble ahead. The lack of flexibility may just cause him to run aground. Think about it.
You can download the full report here.
Categories: agility, competition,
While the big companies are trying to figure out how to be flexible and fast, we're way ahead of them. Most large corporations are rigid and slow.
I'm reminded of an airplane trip I once took from Atlanta to St. Louis. I happened to be sitting next to a riverboat pilot. What an interesting guy he was! He told me something that I didn't know and haven't forgotten. When two barges are coming toward one another, the one going downstream has the right of way. Why? Because they can't stop. The combination of momentum and the river's current means that it takes them a long time to change course. The one going upstream just has to "put it in neutral" and it will begin to drift backward with the current.
It's the same with business. Many of us have a tendency to get out of the way of the big guy. You would think that's an advantage for him, and it is. But on the other hand, what if there's trouble ahead. The lack of flexibility may just cause him to run aground. Think about it.
You can download the full report here.
Categories: agility, competition,
posted by Mike at 8:21 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home