Avoiding the Corporate Death Spiral

Supply Chain Management: Misunderstood & Misapplied

Gregg Stocker — Mon, 03 May 2010 22:23:59 +0000

Like so many excellent concepts in business over the years, supply chain management (SCM) will probably never live up to its potential. Too many people are unable to broaden their understanding beyond basic procurement and move toward a more systems approach required to truly optimize a company’s supply chain.

Read more at: http://corporatedeathspiral.blogspot.com/2010/05/supply-chain-management-misunderstood.html

Keeping it Simple: The One-Page Strategic Plan

Gregg Stocker — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:58:36 +0000

Although developing a strategic plan can be a complex process, communicating it throughout the organization doesn’t have to be. A one-page summary can effectively communicate the plan’s details in a clear and easy-to-read format.

More Trouble for France Telecom

Gregg Stocker — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:50:04 +0000

It appears that the situation at France Telecom regarding the rash of suicides over the last two years has resulted in more trouble for the communications company. Late last week, French prosecutors ordered a preliminary investigation into whether the company should be charged with involuntary homicide over its management practices, which have been blamed for 35 suicides over the past two years.

For more, go to http://corporatedeathspiral.blogspot.com/2010/04/more-trouble-for-france-telecom.html

Company Purpose & Shareholder Value

Gregg Stocker — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:55:14 +0000

What is the purpose of a company? It’s one of those questions that can quickly spark heated debate among people. Is it related to shareholders? Customers? Employees?

While presenting at a conference a few years ago, i surveyed those in attendance to discover what they felt the purpose was for the companies for which they worked. 77% of the people who responded (243 of 315) chose money as the reason their companies existed (e.g., earnings, shareholder value, etc.).

For more, go to http://corporatedeathspiral.blogspot.com/2010/04/company-purpose-and-shareholder-value.html

Whole Grains & Happy Employees

Gregg Stocker — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:22:49 +0000

With all the recent news about layoffs, shutdowns, and product recalls, it’s refreshing to hear a positive story from the world of business. Bob Moore, the 81 year-old founder of Bob’s Red Mill, an Oregon-based producer of whole grains and related products, announced last week that he is turning the company over to the employees.

Function Assessment: A Basis For Improvement

Gregg Stocker — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:38:36 +0000

Since becoming a consultant, I have had a number of companies ask for help evaluating an individual function or department. Whether following an acquisition or a change in executive leadership, the desire for an objective assessment of one or more functions has become a fairly common occurrence for companies.

Rapidly Integrating an Acquisition

Gregg Stocker — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:45:10 +0000

Studies continue to show that up to 70% of acquisitions fail to meet expectations in terms of financial performance. Attending to the human aspect of integration – specifically, fear and alignment – can greatly increase the speed and potential benefit of the acquisition.

Toyota Bashing

Gregg Stocker — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:30:49 +0000

It seems we have a new pastime in this country: Toyota bashing. It started when the first round of accelerator problems were announced and became a full-blown fad after the issue resulted in suspending sales of the company’s most popular products.

Is Strategic Planning Dead?

Gregg Stocker — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:48:37 +0000

The Wall Street Journal ran a story last week on the downfall of strategic planning. I hope anyone who decides to scrap a company’s strategic planning process based on this article clearly understands the ramifications before doing so.

Being Lean is Not Enough

Gregg Stocker — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:55:02 +0000

Successful application of lean can help virtually any company reduce costs while improving quality. Unfortunately, it is being oversold and is billed as the cure-all for all of the problems in business. There is much more to running a business than an effective lean strategy.