Management and leadership
Management and leadership are not the same. For years I have advocated this self evident truth, and occasionally something comes along to confirm, again, the essential truth that leaders lead, and managers just take care of the details. Leadership in a tough place is...
Social media ad targeting.
Following on from yesterdays somewhat cynical observations about the supposed ease of using viral marketing as an advertising "strategy", driven often by cost considerations and dills who do not understand, it seems sensible to take a closer look at e-advertising, and...
Viral marketing, not so hard?
Bosses, often with no idea of marketing, and the social networks and how to engage them seem to be increasingly thinking forget the TV, (good idea that in most cases) "just make a silly/funny/outrageous video, and it will go viral". Voila, marketing success at...
Value of certainty
I've seen lots of customer service initiatives that promise "delivery by …….." and no matter how quick that may be, there is still uncertainty about when it will be delivered, and customers will be anxious. By contrast, "we will deliver at 3pm on the 25th" is very...
Counting only what counts
Social media can be seductive, the chase for the raw numbers, without considering the quality of the numbers. I am little different, I like to see the numbers, which whilst relatively low, are steadily building on this blog, as the scattered individuals who find value...
3 simple improvement questions.
The clarion call for improvement, in everything from the minor shop floor activities to big picture strategic implementation is clear. We all need to do more with less, and this requires that we identify which bits of our current activities should be changed,...
Manufacturing health check
Another story about a US company going against the trend and "on-shoring" to shorten supply times, improve quality and certainty, and gain control over their operations. Forward thinking companies in developed economies are starting to recognise that manufacturing is...
On customer service and empty stables.
Last week I had a problem with my mobile internet connection when changing plans. Usually a simple process, something went array in the supplier, and I could not connect and as the "new improved" plan rolled into service, I had nothing, at a most inconvenient time. I...
Carbon tax agnostic
I am getting pretty sick of being told by blathering pollies and nuts from both sides that I am either: 1. An ignorant climate change skeptic, or 2. A proponent of a new tax that will the "roon of us all" Both are wrong, I am neither, yet there appears to be no...
Is this the death-knell of brands?
How does a branded product withstand the power of a retailer duopoly that controls 65% of Australia's supermarkets? That question has exercised the minds of proprietary FMCG brand owners for over 30 years, since the first house-branded "No Frills" products...