Will stagflation screw ‘Purpose’ marketing?
Some hard lessons will need to be learnt by the new crop of marketing managers who have never faced the evil of a recession, and even worse, one that has inflation as its bed-fellow. Stagflation. This is not supposed to happen, but it is, and we are seeing the...
How do you solve the paradox of repeatable processes and creativity
Processes are the means by which things get done. From the simplest thing like cleaning the coffee machine in the lunchroom, to launching a major new product, it happens by way of a series of activities culminating in the objective being achieved. It...
The ‘Flattening’ of energy production.
For some years academics have been mumbling to themselves about an observed phenomena they generally called 'Flattening'. The discussions have been centred around technology, but the impact can be seen in a much wider context. The idea is that technology...
The other downside of Morrisons power grab not being discussed
There is an additional and dangerous downside to former Prime Minister Morrison's grab for power I have not seen aired anywhere. Like everyone else, I have watched the emerging revelations with amazement. The weight of commentary against the actions he...
A summary of the post covid workplace disruption blather
There has been an awful lot of trees cut down to accommodate the blather about the new world of post covid work. In an effort to condense the 'debate' and save a few trees, the following is what I have gleaned. Humanity. We humans are social animals, we need...
The problem with marketing
'Marketing' means many different things to different people. Therefore, a conversation that seeks to allocate marketing resources in the optimal manner is bound to be flawed. To a plant manager, 'marketing' means the money spent to generate orders to keep his plant...
The gestation period of innovation
Usually the term 'gestation period' the time between conception and birth, is used for mammals, but it is just as relevant for innovation. In the animal world, it is a fixed and consistent period for each species, varying from the 12 days it takes the Virginian...
Is RevGen the new functional silo?
In many major companies, there has been a number of new positions created in the last decade to try and accommodate the changes in the strategic and competitive environment. Among them has been the 'Chief Revenue Officer' (CRO) In some cases, this...
Why is strategy so messy?
Strategy is an exercise of informed fortune telling. What will happen if we do this? Is that better than if we do that? How will others react, do the ducks really all align the way they seem to? A thousand questions we set out to answer to allocate our...
The incongruity of innovation funding
When are the funds for an innovation initiative generally available? At the beginning of a project. When are the funds for an innovation project generally needed? Increasingly towards the commercialisation, or completion of a project. To me, this usual pattern...