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Stop Letting Quarterly Numbers Dictate Your Strategy

Harvard Business

In 2008, as the CEO of a software company that had just missed its target for the second quarter in a row, I was so intent on hitting our fourth-quarter revenue number of $8 million — and so scared for my job — that I promised the company I would get a tattoo of the number somewhere on my body if we hit it.

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Winning Isn’t Everything: The Art of Playing Well

Tom Spencer

Michael Porter: Focus on creating value Professor Michael Porter, a leading authority on competitive strategy , has emphasised that the true measure of success for a company is not just its quarterly financial performance, but also how those results are attained.

Ethics 78
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What You Need to Know About Globalization’s Radical New Phase

BCG

For instance, the growth of global gross domestic product (GDP)—one of the traditional metrics of globalization—fell from a high of 6% in the 1960s to 3% in 2015. To succeed in this new era, companies need to think about globalization in a different way, using different metrics, and devise a new framework to develop winning strategies.

Metrics 40
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How Nokia Embraced the Emotional Side of Strategy

Harvard Business

How do emotions shape strategy making? Recall that Nokia dominated the mobile and smartphone markets in 2007-2008 when Apple launched the iPhone and Google the Android operating system. Recall that Nokia dominated the mobile and smartphone markets in 2007-2008 when Apple launched the iPhone and Google the Android operating system.

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We Can’t Study Short-Termism Without the Right Metrics

Harvard Business

For instance, Home Depot, despite a painful housing market–led recession, retained most of its hourly workers and their benefits in 2008–2009. One way to gauge this is in how a firm treats its workforce in bad times. Home Depot’s stock performance in the subsequent years has been stellar.

Metrics 29
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Marketing Guidelines for Professional Services Firms During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Prudent Pedal

Prior to COVID-19, I have marketed through the Internet Gold Rush, Y2K, the dot-com bust, 9/11, The Great 2008 Recession, and any number of other “irrational” rushes. If ever there was a time to look at and discuss key metrics like open rates and click-throughs, now is the time. You’re spamming people. Monitor all communication.

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How to Be More Productive Without Burning Out

Harvard Business

Like many of my classmates, shortly after college, I joined the ranks of a top strategy and management consulting firm. According to a 2008 survey , the vast majority of professionals (94%) worked 50 hours or more a week, and almost half worked more than 65 hours a week. Define a metric. Moment/Getty Images.