http://avantage.com/recent-thought/feed Feeds from Recent Thought en http://avantage.com/content/malcolm-gladwell-%E2%80%9Cinnovation-limitation-f5-expo-vancouver-canada <p>“We celebrate the benefits, but not the costs, of technology,” said Malcolm Gladwell, at the F5 Expo on April 7th. Gladwell is the author of well-know books such as Outliers and The Tipping Point. His stock in trade is a contrarian viewpoint rooted in connecting facts for a unique analysis. Gladwell addressed three key points of the limitations of technology. </p><p><a href="http://avantage.com/content/malcolm-gladwell-%E2%80%9Cinnovation-limitation-f5-expo-vancouver-canada">read more</a></p> http://avantage.com/content/malcolm-gladwell-%E2%80%9Cinnovation-limitation-f5-expo-vancouver-canada#comments Alignment Architecture Business Collaboration Communication Connected Business Connected Business Capabilities Connected Worker Information Innovation Knowledge Rick Goossen Strategy Technology Trust Wed, 07 Apr 2010 09:00:00 -0700 Rick Goossen 166 at http://avantage.com http://avantage.com/content/building-corporate-value-through-corporate-social-responsibility <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct<p><a href="http://avantage.com/content/building-corporate-value-through-corporate-social-responsibility">read more</a></p> http://avantage.com/content/building-corporate-value-through-corporate-social-responsibility#comments Business Connected Worker Rick Goossen Strategy Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:19:03 -0700 Rick Goossen 156 at http://avantage.com http://avantage.com/content/three-things-know-about-connecting-your-business-knowledge-and-information-%E2%80%93-part-five <p><b><em>This is an article I’ve been working on drawn from client experiences and recent research into the areas of knowledge management leading to workforce integration and connected business strategy. Written for business leaders who are strategizing ways to leverage company knowledge, mitigate the risks of a retiring or transient workforce and build a more agile workplace this article discusses some key concepts to help with an approach. </em></b> <p><b><em>I’ll break the article down into a multi-part posting… and I welcome your feedback…….</em></b>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://avantage.com/content/three-things-know-about-connecting-your-business-knowledge-and-information-%E2%80%93-part-five">read more</a></p> http://avantage.com/content/three-things-know-about-connecting-your-business-knowledge-and-information-%E2%80%93-part-five#comments Connected Business Hal Bradwell Strategy Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:37:06 -0700 Hal Bradwell 153 at http://avantage.com http://avantage.com/content/nonprofit-organizations-and-balanced-scorecard <p> Non-profit organizations (NPOs) are in need of careful strategic planning, even more so than for-profit organizations.  NPOs have increasing challenges in terms of raising ongoing support and their value comes from good will directed toward the NPO and its reputation in the community.  Yet, NPOs appear to be reactive, rather than proactive. </p><p><a href="http://avantage.com/content/nonprofit-organizations-and-balanced-scorecard">read more</a></p> http://avantage.com/content/nonprofit-organizations-and-balanced-scorecard#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:00:32 -0700 Rick Goossen 152 at http://avantage.com http://avantage.com/content/universities-and-corporate-social-responsibility-competitive-advantage <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Version>12.00</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:RelyOnVML/> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-<p><a href="http://avantage.com/content/universities-and-corporate-social-responsibility-competitive-advantage">read more</a></p> http://avantage.com/content/universities-and-corporate-social-responsibility-competitive-advantage#comments Connected Worker Rick Goossen Strategy Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:17:29 -0700 Rick Goossen 147 at http://avantage.com http://avantage.com/content/three-things-know-about-connecting-your-business-knowledge-and-information-%E2%80%93-part-four <p><b><em>This is an article I’ve been working on drawn from client experiences and recent research into the areas of knowledge management leading to workforce integration and connected business strategy. Written for business leaders who are strategizing ways to leverage company knowledge, mitigate the risks of a retiring or transient workforce and build a more agile workplace this article discusses some key concepts to help with an approach. </em></b> <p><b><em>I’ll break the article down into a multi-part posting… and I welcome your feedback…….</em></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://avantage.com/content/three-things-know-about-connecting-your-business-knowledge-and-information-%E2%80%93-part-four">read more</a></p> http://avantage.com/content/three-things-know-about-connecting-your-business-knowledge-and-information-%E2%80%93-part-four#comments Connected Business Strategy Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:13:31 -0700 Hal Bradwell 145 at http://avantage.com http://avantage.com/content/danger-ideation-only-strategy <p><a href="http://www.avantage.com/system/files/Light+Bulb_2.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Light Bulb" border="0" alt="Light Bulb" align="right" src="http://www.avantage.com/system/files/Light+Bulb_thumb.jpg" width="244" height="124" /></a> It only takes a cursory search of many of the leading management strategy journals and periodicals to figure out that Innovation is on the mind of many senior and influential leaders within the business world.</p<p><a href="http://avantage.com/content/danger-ideation-only-strategy">read more</a></p> http://avantage.com/content/danger-ideation-only-strategy#comments Connected Business Connected Worker Innovation Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:38:00 -0700 Jame Healy 165 at http://avantage.com http://avantage.com/content/trust-key-organisational-capability <p>An organisation in which people trust each other, and which generates trust from customers, has a competitive advantage. Trust will attract the best people, inspire customer loyalty, and provide better, more innovative products and services. A trusting partner relationship results in partner confidence in the reliability of the company, its employees and its leadership. Let’s face it, if a customer doesn’t trust your company or its employees - they aren’t going to buy your goods or services.<p><a href="http://avantage.com/content/trust-key-organisational-capability">read more</a></p> http://avantage.com/content/trust-key-organisational-capability#comments Business Connected Business Connected Partner Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:18:04 -0700 April Facey 144 at http://avantage.com http://avantage.com/content/csr-and-balanced-scorecard <p> Strategy is, of course, determined by working with the strengths of a company and working around it present weaknesses.  An appropriate vehicle for an organization to assess its CSR capabilities is through the Kaplan &amp; Norton Balanced Scorecard System.  </p> <p> Since the 1990s, the Balanced Scorecard System has provided a rigorous way to measure performance by quantifying so-called intangible assets.  The Balanced Scorecard draws its strengths from four perspectives:  1) financial measures; 2) customers; 3) internal processes; and 4) learning and growth.  </p><p><a href="http://avantage.com/content/csr-and-balanced-scorecard">read more</a></p> http://avantage.com/content/csr-and-balanced-scorecard#comments Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:00:00 -0700 Rick Goossen 143 at http://avantage.com http://avantage.com/content/three-things-know-about-connecting-your-business-knowledge-and-information-%E2%80%93-part-three <p><b><em>This is an article I’ve been working on drawn from client experiences and recent research into the areas of knowledge management leading to workforce integration and connected business strategy. Written for business leaders who are strategizing ways to leverage company knowledge, mitigate the risks of a retiring or transient workforce and build a more agile workplace this article discusses some key concepts to help with an approach. </em></b> <p><b><em>I’ll break the article down into a multi-part posting… and I welcome your feedback…….</em></b></p><p><a href="http://avantage.com/content/three-things-know-about-connecting-your-business-knowledge-and-information-%E2%80%93-part-three">read more</a></p> http://avantage.com/content/three-things-know-about-connecting-your-business-knowledge-and-information-%E2%80%93-part-three#comments Connected Business Information Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:11:43 -0700 Hal Bradwell 140 at http://avantage.com http://avantage.com/content/strengthening-competitive-advantage-through-enhanced-cultural-engagement-capabilities <p> Particularly in a “flat world” companies that are culturally nimble will be able to seize opportunities prior to their competitors (Thomas Friedman).  The Balanced Scorecard system is a means of identifying cultural capabilities that can factor into the competitive advantage of an organization.  A key is to align culture capabilities with the strategy of an organization.  The inability to recognize and identify these principles and this process can be very costly in terms of reputation, credibility and expense. <br /> <p><a href="http://avantage.com/content/strengthening-competitive-advantage-through-enhanced-cultural-engagement-capabilities">read more</a></p> http://avantage.com/content/strengthening-competitive-advantage-through-enhanced-cultural-engagement-capabilities#comments Connected Worker Strategy Connected Partner Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:53:11 -0700 Rick Goossen 151 at http://avantage.com http://avantage.com/content/csr-competitive-advantage <p> A key to sustainable competitive advantage is to link CSR to the strengths of the business.  Michael Porter and Mark Kramer state in Harvard Business Review that if “corporations were to analyze their  prospects for social responsibility using the same frameworks that guide their core business choices, they would discover that CSR can be much more than a cost, a constraint, or a charitable deed—it can be a sources of opportunity, innovation, and competitive advantage.” (December 2006). </p><p><a href="http://avantage.com/content/csr-competitive-advantage">read more</a></p> http://avantage.com/content/csr-competitive-advantage#comments Connected Worker Energy and Natural Resources Healthcare and Public Sector Rick Goossen Shipping, Transport and Logistics Strategy Connected Partner Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:00:00 -0700 Rick Goossen 142 at http://avantage.com http://avantage.com/content/three-things-know-about-connecting-your-business-knowledge-and-information-%E2%80%93-part-two <p><b><em>This is an article I’ve been working on drawn from client experiences and recent research into the areas of knowledge management leading to workforce integration and connected business strategy. Written for business leaders who are strategizing ways to leverage company knowledge, mitigate the risks of a retiring or transient workforce and build a more agile workplace this article discusses some key concepts to help with an approach. </em></b> <p><b><em>I’ll break the article down into a multi-part posting… and I welcome your feedback…….</em></b> </p><p><a href="http://avantage.com/content/three-things-know-about-connecting-your-business-knowledge-and-information-%E2%80%93-part-two">read more</a></p> http://avantage.com/content/three-things-know-about-connecting-your-business-knowledge-and-information-%E2%80%93-part-two#comments Connected Business Strategy Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:11:15 -0700 Hal Bradwell 138 at http://avantage.com http://avantage.com/content/three-things-know-about-connecting-your-business-knowledge-and-information-part-one <p>&nbsp; <p><b><em>This is an article I’ve been working on drawn from client experiences and recent research into the areas of knowledge management leading to workforce integration and connected business strategy. Written for business leaders who are strategizing ways to leverage company knowledge, mitigate the risks of a retiring or transient workforce and build a more agile workplace this article discusses some key concepts to help with their approach.<p><a href="http://avantage.com/content/three-things-know-about-connecting-your-business-knowledge-and-information-part-one">read more</a></p> http://avantage.com/content/three-things-know-about-connecting-your-business-knowledge-and-information-part-one#comments Connected Business Information Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:35:47 -0700 Hal Bradwell 137 at http://avantage.com http://avantage.com/content/beyond-option-csr <p> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal"><a href="/www.Economist.com">The Economist</a> noted last year that, “Company after company has been shaken into adopting a CSR policy:<span>  </span>It is almost unthinkable for a big global corporation to be without one.” (<a href="http://www.economist.com/specialreports/displaystory.cfm?story_id=E1_TDQJTDSS">Jan 17, 2008</a>)</span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal"> </span> </p><p><a href="http://avantage.com/content/beyond-option-csr">read more</a></p> http://avantage.com/content/beyond-option-csr#comments Connected Worker Energy and Natural Resources Healthcare and Public Sector Shipping, Transport and Logistics Strategy Connected Partner Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:00:08 -0700 Rick Goossen 141 at http://avantage.com http://avantage.com/content/building-cultural-engagement-capabilities-%E2%80%93-balanced-scorecard <p> Strategy is, of course, determined by working with the strengths of a company and working around it present weaknesses.  An organization that has a high level of cultural capabilities will be able to deploy a wider range of strategies to maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace <br /> <p><a href="http://avantage.com/content/building-cultural-engagement-capabilities-%E2%80%93-balanced-scorecard">read more</a></p> http://avantage.com/content/building-cultural-engagement-capabilities-%E2%80%93-balanced-scorecard#comments Connected Worker Strategy Connected Partner Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:51:46 -0700 Rick Goossen 150 at http://avantage.com http://avantage.com/content/building-cultural-engagement-capabilities-%E2%80%93-external-assessment <p> With respect to external assessment I will focus on two determinants of organizational culture.  One distinct element is the “host culture” in which a company operates; in other words, the culture of the society at large.  <br /> <p><a href="http://avantage.com/content/building-cultural-engagement-capabilities-%E2%80%93-external-assessment">read more</a></p> http://avantage.com/content/building-cultural-engagement-capabilities-%E2%80%93-external-assessment#comments Connected Worker Strategy Connected Partner Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:49:36 -0700 Rick Goossen 149 at http://avantage.com http://avantage.com/content/building-cultural-engagement-capabilities-%E2%80%93-internal-assessment <blockquote> </blockquote> Part of the strategic planning process is for a company to conduct both an external and internal assessment.  With respect to an internal assessment, organizational culture will play an important part and would form part of an “Internal Factor Evaluation Matrix” (Fred David).  Only once an organization has assessed its own strengths can it then devise its strategies. <p> <p><a href="http://avantage.com/content/building-cultural-engagement-capabilities-%E2%80%93-internal-assessment">read more</a></p> http://avantage.com/content/building-cultural-engagement-capabilities-%E2%80%93-internal-assessment#comments Connected Worker Strategy Connected Partner Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:38:47 -0700 Rick Goossen 148 at http://avantage.com http://avantage.com/content/back-business-old-fashioned-way <p>Regardless of when and how the current economic “contraction” reverses itself, I think we can agree that the face of business as we know it is going to change… at least I’m hoping it does.</p> <p>I remember in the late 90’s, when I was an analyst for a venture capital firm, the number of “pimply-faced&quot; self-styled entrepreneurs that would come in with a hastily written business plan, seeking 7- and 8-figure series A financing. Without exception these business plans had one thing in common: no prospect of positive operating cashflow or income in my lifetime.</p><p><a href="http://avantage.com/content/back-business-old-fashioned-way">read more</a></p> http://avantage.com/content/back-business-old-fashioned-way#comments Connected Service Business Connected Business Connected Worker Jame Healy Strategy Connected Partner Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:56:12 -0700 Jame Healy 129 at http://avantage.com http://avantage.com/content/cultural-capabilities Organizations all have a culture which frames the way in which the business functions.  This culture is an outgrowth of many factors, including but not limited to the following: stage of development, the particular industry and country-specific origins.  <p> Organizations can strengthen their competitive advantage by both identifying their cultural capabilities and then by developing their engagement capabilities (to transfer, receive and interact with other cultures).  </p><p><a href="http://avantage.com/content/cultural-capabilities">read more</a></p> http://avantage.com/content/cultural-capabilities#comments Business Connected Worker Strategy Connected Partner Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:00:30 -0700 Rick Goossen 136 at http://avantage.com