In many companies, an innovation team is allowed to pursue its own agenda and imagine itself to be a separate island from the rest of the company. The results are always disappointing: a lot of creative ideas, but a failure to deliver meaningful growth. The root problem is the disconnect between strategy and innovation. To […]
Category: Innovation
Stepping into a room filled with consultants hailing from diverse corners of the world, a vibrant tapestry of perspectives unfolds before you. Their differences aren’t just acknowledged – they’re celebrated. This scene encapsulates a shifting paradigm in management consulting, where the ascendancy of cultural diversity and inclusion is shaping our collective approach to the challenges […]
As technology changes the business environment at an increasing rate, established companies have become increasingly innovative. Despite their best efforts, however, large companies are often unable to keep up with technological change due to bureaucracy, legacy systems, pre-existing business models, institutional inertia, and financial constraints. The purpose of this article is to suggest five habits […]
The imagination is a wild and wonderful tool for cooking up business ideas and solutions to problems – but unfortunately, control over the flow of that creativity seems out of our hands! Sure, reading lots and keeping the mind sharp with puzzles and challenges are great ways to keep you on top of your game, […]
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The Hum of Chinese Innovation
I am not sure if I’m simply becoming a more globally aware person or if reports on China are on the rise, but over the past several years I seem to have been reading more and more about our world’s perceived next global power, China. This volume of new articles sparked an interest in me […]
Originally based in Shoreditch and the Silicon Roundabout, London’s tech start-up revolution has since spread across the whole city. Tech start-ups have fostered a dynamic, entrepreneurial ecosystem, in which creativity and innovation are at the centre. London’s fast-paced and vibrant culture has nurtured these values and now leading tech companies, from ASOS to Transferwise, are thriving […]
Creativity and innovation go hand in hand, but innovation also comes with exposure to risks and even potential failures. For example, when a business introduces a new product to the marketplace, they may be venturing into uncharted territory that may result in a hit or a flop. Innovation transcends product development. It also touches on […]
One of the things I learned during my EMBA was how to break down, re-organize and clearly explain certain kinds of information; a skill which has proved useful when preparing and pitching my start-up based on my b-school business plan. In late October, that got put to the test. I had the opportunity to pitch […]
Never in history have we had so much instant communication with others, whether they’re in the same town or on the other side of the world. Our busy lives in large communities mean that our communication with friends and family is often through electronic devices rather than in person and face-to-face. And even when we […]
We are all familiar with the concept of a to-do list. We are taught from a very early age that the best way to get things done is to make a list and tick tasks off as we complete them. The idea of a to-do list is comforting, it’s tangible and having one makes us […]
How are you dealing with the 21st century? Those who’ve been in the work market for a couple of decades or more have witnessed a hastening evolution of how things are done and what you need to do just to get by – let alone to excel. Even millennials can find themselves somewhat adrift when […]
Since 1972, Britain has been part of the European continent. I remember the opening very well. I was a kid, living in London. The new openness meant we could afford oranges from Spain. Every week, an old French farmer would also peddle through London with strings of onions hanging from his bicycle. I thought the […]
I am a bit of a late bloomer in some ways – certainly academically. At the age of 48, I decided, after a life spent in business of all kinds, to go back to school, obtain my EMBA, and focus on an entrepreneurial career. It’s not really that delaying my master’s was a choice. When […]
It is very common these days for businesses of all shapes and sizes to use serviced offices. For smaller companies and startups, however, they are particularly valuable. If a young business wants to get off the ground fast, they can do so by paying a fixed rate fee to rent a fully equipped workspace. It […]
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3 Ways to Distinguish Yourself
We live in an increasingly digital and technology enabled world, which is increasing the level of competition between organisations. Why is this the case? There are three key reasons. Firstly, technology is helping to lower barriers to entry. It has never been easier to create new goods and services, and get them noticed by your […]
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5 Reasons It’s Okay To Say “No”
If you are using your talents in a way that interests you for the benefit of other people, then that’s a good thing. Charities, non-profits and religions may come to you for aid, but it’s valid to refuse if your gifts to them would detract from the good work you are already doing Giving more than you […]
Overview The competitive nature of business today is stronger than it has ever been, and so it is important for companies to use all of the tools at their disposal. There are many new innovations that allow companies to finance purchases creatively in order to meet their goals over the long term. Here are four (4) examples […]
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Man vs Chimp
(Source: Flickr) Humans and chimpanzeees (our closest genetic relatives) are both social animals that have the ability to form groups and communicate between themselves. Why is it then that humans have populated the globe (7 billion and counting) while chimp numbers continue to fall (currently standing at around 250 thousand or less)? A key difference between us […]
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Creation vs Appropriation
(Source: Flickr) What do the painter, the author and the tech entrepreneur all have in common? They are all in the business of creation; producing new works for the benefit of their target audience. And what about the professional gambler or the Wall Street prop trader? They are both in the business of appropriation; placing calculated […]
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Navigating Business Partnerships
(Source: 드림포유) Business partnerships can be an integral part of start-up success and growth of a new venture. If properly implemented and executed, partnerships can be an effective way to grow your enterprise without having to implement time consuming and difficult changes or having to make costly investments. Each partner brings expertise and assets which […]
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Culture vs Strategy
Strategy involves understanding your current position, deciding on a destination, and charting a course from here to there. Culture is about who you are, and why you do things. Culture is arguably more important than strategy because, if you look at it over the lifetime of a product or an organisation, the culture is the […]
For most business owners, the dream is to one day expand beyond the original market. Whether a large corporation or an SME, many look for ways to scale and develop additional revenue streams. One of the most popular options is to expand overseas, where they can tap into additional groups of consumers that want their […]
A few weeks ago I attended a panel discussion at Oxford’s Said Business School entitled “Trust Me, I’m A Stranger: Learn from leading entrepreneurs innovating in the collaborative economy”. The panelists were Lily Cole founder of Impossible, a social network that encourages users to exchange skills and services for free in the hope of encouraging […]
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Time vs Money
(Source: Flickr) If you had all the time in the world but not much money, then your capacity to create new ideas and connect with people would be great, but your capacity to consume would be limited. On the other hand, if you didn’t have much time but had a lot of money, then your capacity to create new […]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=3010&v=41NeR8ZkCUk I had the good fortune yesterday to attend a conversation between Teppo Felin, Professor of Strategy at Oxford’s Said Business School, and Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal and recent author of the bestselling book Zero to One: Notes on Startups or How to Build the Future. Apart from being a co-founder of PayPal, Thiel is also known for being the […]
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On the boundary
(Source: Flickr) Failure can be painful but it tends to mark the boundary between what’s proven and what’s possible, between your comfort zone and your potential. Failure is feedback, an opportunity to learn and grow stronger. Keep pushing.
ALL too often, and especially when starting out on a new project, the things we don’t know outnumber the things we do. We may know very little and, in the absence of knowledge, we can become stuck. Paralysis, our inability or unwillingness to make forwards progress, is the surest road to stagnation, difficulty and ultimate demise. What can be done […]
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Breaking with Experience
Innovation involves breaking with the past to create something even more remarkable (Source: Flickr) THE traditional Experience Curve focuses on increasing production experience which leads to predictable cost reductions. This kind of experience is relevant in industries that are relatively stable, competitive, and production-intensive. (Source: Wikipedia) But what about high tech and creative industries where the lifecycle […]
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Steve Ballmer’s 3 Tips for Start Ups
Ideas matter, stick with it, and figure out the right measure of success (Source: Youtube) STEVE Ballmer spoke today at Oxford’s Said Business School, the world’s leading business community creating ideas with global impact. A few hours later, he spoke at the Oxford Union, the world’s most prestigious debating society. We were fortunate to attend the […]
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Give and Take
But mostly give You are probably familiar with “gains from trade”. The notion that society is based on give and take. You help me, I reciprocate, and together we benefit. The idea is a powerful one and forms the basis of the free market economy. The invisible hand of market forces, as Adam Smith put it, […]
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Oxford Inspires 2014
For those of you planning to be in the UK in March, we would like to share with you details of an exciting event being hosted at Oxford’s Said Business School. Oxford Inspires is an entrepreneurial conference taking place on the 8th and 9th of March this year. The event is hosted by Oxford Entrepreneurs, the largest […]
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5 Steps to Creating Great Strategy
Developing excellent strategy consists of just 5 steps HERE are five steps that you can use to formulate great strategy: Diagnose: assess the lay of the land. Understand the company, the competitive environment and the broader economy. What is the company’s business model? Who are the competitors? Who are the customers and suppliers? And, what […]
STAND up and dance like nobody’s watching. We are watching though, everyone is, and that’s why being the initiator feels so scary. You are afraid of looking like a fool, we all are. So we wait and watch you dance. Genuine passion is contagious, and as you dance freely and passionately one person sees the […]