Online articles
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Displaying 1-50 of 318 results
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Lean strategy making
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- 10 Apr 2025
- Michael Mankins
This article argues that companies should standardise their strategic decision-making processes, just as they do with critical operations, to reduce inconsistency, improve efficiency, and achieve better outcomes.
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What the like button can teach us about innovation
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- 10 Apr 2025
- Martin Reeves, Bob Goodson
This article explores the origins of the like button, illustrating how its development exemplifies the distributed and unpredictable nature of innovation, and emphasises the need for managers to embrace flexibility and diverse contributions.
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Precedents thinking: how to innovate by combining old ideas
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- 01 Mar 2025
- Stefanos Zenios, Ken Favaro
This article examines how groundbreaking innovations often stem from creatively reworking existing ideas, a concept known as precedents thinking. It outlines a three-step process for leveraging this method to drive innovation in both startups and established companies.
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Your business needs a succession plan
- Article
- 01 Mar 2025
- Elaine Silvestrini
This article stresses the importance of succession planning for small business owners approaching retirement, discussing risks and various options for a smooth transition.
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The strategic genius of Taylor Swift
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- 13 Feb 2025
- Kevin Evers
This article considers the lessons that business leaders can learn from Taylor Swift, highlighting her ability to identify new markets, build customer loyalty, stay proactive, and adapt to industry shifts.
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The power of strategic fit
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- 13 Feb 2025
- Darrell Rigby, Zach First
This article explores the importance of aligning key strategic elements to create lasting value, rather than relying solely on financial targets. Using Self Esteem Brands as an example, the authors highlight seven factors that drive sustainable growth.
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Navigating the new geopolitical uncertainty
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- 16 Jan 2025
- Cindy Levy, Shubham Singhal
This article considers how business leaders can manage geopolitical risks and navigate uncertainty through the use of scenario planning and sector-specific strategies.
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What the 2024 CrowdStrike glitch can teach us about cyber risk
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- 10 Jan 2025
- Raphael Yahalom
This article discusses the 2024 CrowdStrike glitch and stresses the need for agile cyber risk management to address software failures and ensure resilience.
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The answer engines
- Article
- 01 Jan 2025
- Mat Honan
The article discusses the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize decision-making in various industries. It highlights the optimism surrounding AI's capabilities and the investments being made in its development. The article also provides a brief history of AI, noting its ups and downs over the years. It emphasizes the importance of AI as a decision-support system rather than a decision-maker, particularly for critical and strategic decisions. The article raises concerns about the potential biases and injustices that AI decision-making may entail. It concludes by cautioning ...
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How AI can transform risk management into a revenue accelerator
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- 30 Dec 2024
- Atul Vashistha, Shelley Leibowitz
The article explains how artificial intelligence (AI) can transform risk management into a revenue accelerator. Advantages of AI automation solutions for businesses include continuous monitoring, truth verification, sentiment analysis, risk prioritisation and continuous data aggregation. It encourages corporate boards and leadership teams to consider the observe, orient, decide and act loop decision-making model as an approach to transforming risk management practices and resilience.
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The role of artificial intelligence in disaster recovery
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- 21 Dec 2024
- Linda S. Hanwacker
Linda S. Hanwacker highlights AI's potential to transform disaster recovery, outlining both its potential benefits and its implementation challenges.
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Getting strategic about sustainability
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- 17 Dec 2024
- Jason Jay, Kate Isaacs, Hong Linh Nguyen
When it comes to sustainability businesses often try to address too many issues at once. This article sets out a framework that leaders can use to better focus their sustainability strategies, and achieve meaningful outcomes.
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The hard truth about innovative cultures
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- 05 Nov 2024
- Gary P. Pisano
Innovative cultures, often seen as enjoyable and collaborative, are challenging to establish and maintain. While they embrace experimentation and psychological safety, they also require strict discipline, candid feedback, and strong leadership to truly thrive.
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How to build a culture of originality
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- 05 Nov 2024
- Adam Grant
Adam Grant argues that fostering a culture of nonconformity is key to nurturing innovative thinking in an organisation. By encouraging employees to freely explore diverse ideas and balancing cultural cohesion with creative dissent, businesses can consistently generate high-quality, groundbreaking solutions.
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Scaling up transformational innovations
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- 01 Nov 2024
- Peter Koen, et al.
This article examines how companies can drive growth through transformational innovation, using Procter & Gamble's Oral-B iO and Always Infinity as case studies.
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How robust is your climate governance?
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- 01 Nov 2024
- Lynn S. Paine, Suraj Srinivasan
This article identifies eight hallmarks of meaningful climate oversight — and the challenges associated with each. It is based on interviews with 20 directors who hold leadership positions on the boards of S&P 500 companies.
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The legacy company's guide to innovation
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- 01 Sep 2024
- Ivanka Visnjic, Ronnie Leten
Drawing on the experiences of more than a dozen large multinationals, this article explores how large companies can drive radical innovation by partnering with startups, leveraging resources while managing risk.
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Why multi-business strategies fail and how to make them succeed
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- 01 Sep 2024
- Bharat N. Anand, David J. Collis
Multi-business enterprises often struggle with crafting effective strategies. This article puts forward an approach to corporate strategy which aims to help such enterprises to overcome challenges in this area, and presents some practical tips on how to design a multi-business strategy.
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AI in retail: Cutting-edge solutions for modern challenges
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- 16 Jul 2024
- Shelby Hiter
In today's hyper-competitive retail landscape, retailers are increasingly using AI to gain advantage. AI can enhance retail operations in a growing number of ways including boosting customer engagement, improving sales and marketing strategies, optimising inventory management, streamlining supply chains and providing advanced data analytics and insights. A range of AI tools and technologies for retailers are explored with examples of how leading brands are using AI.
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The middle path to innovation
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- 01 Jul 2024
- Regina E. Herzlinger, et al.
This article introduces the 'growth driver model', which bridges corporate R&D and venture capital by partnering companies with outside investors and entrepreneurs to drive innovation.
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AI at the crossroads: Revamping board structures for effective governance.
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- 01 Apr 2024
- Tom Petro
The article focuses on the dilemma faced by corporate boards regarding the oversight of artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives, questioning which committee is best suited for governing AI's multifaceted risks. The author explores potential contenders for this role, including the risk management committee, a dedicated AI governance committee, and the technology committee, each offering unique expertise and perspectives tailored to the challenges posed by AI governance.
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Half empty, or half full?
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- 01 Apr 2024
- Daniel hood
The article provides an overview of the current state of the accounting profession, offering perspectives from senior leaders of top accounting firms. These leaders acknowledge that the profession is facing both challenges and opportunities. They discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of technological advancements and the shortage of accountants. Despite these challenges, firm leaders believe that overcoming them will lead to success. They also emphasize the positive economic environment and the chance to provide more valuable services and embrace innovation. Some leaders even suggest re...
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Using data analytics and artificial intelligence for public disclosures
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- 01 Apr 2024
- Vivek Mohan, et al.
An examination of some of the ways in which data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) can help companies to manage and mitigate compliance risks associated with their public financial and sustainability disclosures.
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Harnessing disruptive innovation: paving the way for sustainable offshore oil and gas
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- 01 Mar 2024
- Wallace Pescarini
Discusses how disruptive new technologies can help the offshore oil and gas industry to balance the provision of reliable and affordable energy with decarbonisation. Solutions such as digital automation and AI, offshore infrastructure electrification, advancements in subsea processing technology and novel partnership models look set to transform operations, improving the sector's efficiency and sustainability.
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Eliminate strategic overload
- Article
- 06 Feb 2024
- Felix Oberholzer-Gee
Felix Oberholzer-Gee, the Andreas Andresen Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, sets out how businesses ought to select fewer strategic initiatives with greater impact.
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Noted leader underscores the necessity of evolution
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- 01 Feb 2024
An interview with Tabitha Scott, who has over 20 years of experience leading corporate innovation and sustainability initiatives. She shares her insights on business evolution and innovation, including the best way to run innovation programs to gather ideas from employees.
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Securing brand trust and reputation in an era of political polarisation and AI-driven disinformation
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- 26 Jan 2024
- Wasim Khaled
An in-depth consideration of how brands may manage the reputational risks arising from the convergence of two major sociotechnical forces — the rise of ideological polarisation and the emergence of generative AI capable of creating convincing hoax content.
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Strategic pivoting: how organisations can shift attention whatever their size
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- 26 Jan 2024
- Mark N. Wexler, Judy Oberlander
This article considers how strategic pivoting, traditionally associated with early-stage organisations, can be applied by corporations of various sizes and types. It explores challenges relating to organisational complexity, path dependency, and stakeholder management.
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Currency volatility makes its mark
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- 01 Jan 2024
- Andrew Osterland
This article considers the challenges that volatile foreign exchange (FX) markets raise for CFOs and corporate treasurers seeking to manage currency risks.
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Does writing a business plan still matter for searching and obtaining external equity finance?
- Article
- 01 Jan 2024
- Gresa Latifi, Luca Grilli, Andrea M. Herrmann
This study suggests that writing a business plan is no longer essential for securing funding. Instead, investors increasingly rely on alternative tools to assess venture performance.
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Embracing neurodiversity in accounting and finance
- Article
- 01 Jan 2024
- Anthony Pacilio
Neurodivergent employees can foster a culture of innovation,
problem solving, and different perspectives. Anthony Pacilio gives advice on how employers in accounting and finance can attract and retain neurodivergent employees.
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Drive your innovation with improved decision-making
- Article
- 01 Dec 2023
- Linda A.Hill, Taran Swan, Emily Tedards
Despite their embrace of agile methods, many firms striving to innovate are struggling to produce breakthrough ideas. A key culprit, according to the authors, is an outdated, inefficient approach to decision-making. To align their decision-making processes with agile approaches, businesses need to include diverse points of view, clarify decision rights and encourage constructive conflict in the pursuit of a better experience for the end customer. The article suggests best practices for these interventions, drawing on the story of the transformation at Pfizer’s Global Clinical Supply, which pl...
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When innovation and trust are at odds
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- 01 Dec 2023
- Robert Hurley
Speeding an innovative new product to market can have serious consequences, says Robert Hurley. Consider the Fisher-Price Rock ’n Play, which has lost consumer trust for the company after being linked to 32 infant deaths. According to the article, a risky type of manic innovation happens when a company fails to create a balance between growth and risk management, with staff concerned about safety and long-term reputation marginalized.
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Unexpected interruptions bring unexpected creativity boost
- Article
- 01 Nov 2023
- Eben Harrell
Long work interruptions are usually seen as detrimental, causing losses in productivity as operations grind to a halt. But when a fire at a supplier’s factory forced a temporary shutdown at the plant of a large European manufacturer of consumer goods, researchers Tim Schweisfurth and Anne Greul found a surprising upside: the idleness led to an outpouring of ideas for improvements. Their findings suggest that unanticipated interruptions can actually enhance innovation and creativity.
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Use your network to achieve innovation
- Article
- 01 Nov 2023
- Bill McEvily, Anne ter Wal
Why do so many big companies get poor returns on all the money they invest in innovation? A large body of research suggests that it’s because their managers tend to think novel ideas are “deviant” and resist them. As a result such ideas get watered down to make them less threatening - or get squashed altogether. The solution, the authors’ studies show, is to inspire, support, and protect innovation by tapping into your networks. They explain three practices which are especially useful.
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Generating risk: New exposures from ChatGPT and other AI tools
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- 01 Nov 2023
- Corey McReynolds
The article focuses on the growing integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT into company workflows, with many employees already using them without clear policies. Topics discussed include the widespread use of ChatGPT by staff, potential risks such as data security concerns, and the need for organizations to develop customized policies, education, and awareness to effectively manage the use of generative AI tools.
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At the crossroads: generative AI and corporate risk management
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- 12 Oct 2023
- Peter Buell Hirsch
This study aims to identify the risks to corporate reputation presented by deepfakes and how to manage them. While deepfakes have been the subject of intense interest, to the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first attempt to look at the problem from the perspective of corporate enterprise risk.
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Navigating AI: a pragmatic guide for corporate boards
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- 01 Oct 2023
- Chris Smith
The article focuses on how the exponential growth of artificial intelligence (AI) across various sectors is compelling boards to redefine their roles in providing oversight and guidance on AI strategy and risk management. It emphasizes the importance of a human-centred approach to AI, aligning strategic decisions with an organization's mission and values, addressing ethical dilemmas, intellectual property concerns, and privacy challenges.
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Innovative processes in finance and accounting
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- 01 Oct 2023
- Vineet Jain
Adopting innovative technologies can lead to streamlined processes, real-time insights, and increased focus on strategic planning, says Vineet Jain CA. The article looks at innovation in the record-to-report (R2R), accounts payable and procure-to-pay processes and the potential for automated tools to assist with these tasks. Finally, important challenges associated with AI and other innovative technologies and skill sets which forward-thinking finance and accounting professionals should develop are covered.
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Strategic storytelling: How to amplify your impact and drive better risk management discussions
- Article
- 01 Oct 2023
- John P.Angkaw
The article underscores the transformation of risk professionals into trusted strategic business partners. As part of this shift, the author believes risk professionals need to expand their skillset to communicating complex information well to a diverse set of stakeholders. He outlines a strategic storytelling framework that can be tailored to meet the unique needs of any risk professional, detailing a range of potential engagement scenarios.
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How to Steer Clear of Groupthink
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- 01 Oct 2023
- Jennifer Mueller, Sarah Harvey, Alec Levenson
This brief article outlines three methods for avoiding groupthink and encouraging innovation and creativity in teams.
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Innovation baskets: A new path to strategic innovation
- Article
- 01 Sep 2023
- Christoph Loch, Stelios Kavadias, Haijian Si
Companies typically treat their innovation projects as a portfolio, aiming for a mix of projects that collectively meet their strategic objectives. The problem, say the authors, is that portfolio objectives have become standardized, and innovation projects are often only weakly related to a company’s distinctive strategy. Here they introduce a new tool to help leaders better align their innovation investments. Their strategic innovation tool kit has two elements: a strategy summary framework and an innovation basket.
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A new approach to strategic innovation
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- 01 Sep 2023
- Haijian Si, Christoph Loch, Stelios Kavadias
This article presents a new tool to help leaders to align innovation investments with their organisation's specific strategic goals.
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A company reinvents itself in sign of hope for Japan
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- 24 Aug 2023
- Winnie Hsu, Sano Hideyuki
The huge conglomerate Hitachi became a symbol of corporate Japan's slide toward mediocrity when it got into difficulties during the global financial crisis and posted the biggest loss ever by a Japanese manufacturer. Yet the company has since undergone a turnaround, revamping its strategy to focus on growth and making its board more international and independent.
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How generative AI can expand human innovation and creativity
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- 01 Jul 2023
- Tojin T.Eapen, Daniel J.Finkenstadt, Josh Folk, Lokesh Venkataswamy
Five ways in which generative artificial intelligence (AI) can assist organisations by amplifying the creativity of employees to help them generate and identify innovative ideas - and build on the quality of raw ideas. The article is illustrated with images of potential product ideas created using prompts in Midjourney and Stable Diffusion, two popular AI text-to-image tools.
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Human creativity can be augmented by generative AI
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- 01 Jul 2023
- Tojin Eapen, Daniel J Finkenstadt etc
There is tremendous apprehension about the potential of generative AI—technologies that can create new content such as text, images, and video—to replace people in many jobs. But one of the biggest opportunities generative AI offers is to augment human creativity and overcome the challenges of democratizing innovation. In the past two decades, companies have used crowdsourcing and idea competitions to involve outsiders in the innovation process. But many businesses have struggled to capitalize on these contributions. They’ve lacked an efficient way to evaluate the ideas, for instance, or to sy...
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The right tool for the right job
- Article
- 01 Jul 2023
- Costas Markides, Anita McGahan
A review of the available innovation tools to develop ideas, nurture inspiration and creativity, and set innovation in motion. Tools covered include familiar concepts such as brainstorming and the Kano model, as well as lesser-mentioned tools, such as VUCA, innovation portfolio and transient advantage.
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A business continuity plan for leading a Ukrainian start-up during a year of war
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- 01 Jul 2023
- Roman Rodomansky
A Ukrainian software development company co-founder shares lessons learnt around the importance of scenario planning, flexibility, decision-making, and guiding customers and employees through uncertainty.
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Winning the innovation game in emerging markets
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- 07 Jun 2023
- Manuel Hensmans
This paper aims to provide advanced market managers in Europe, the USA or Japan with a long-term framework to prepare for and seize emerging market innovation opportunities. It is based on eight years of studying emerging market innovation opportunities, how to prepare for them and how to seize them.
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Innovation without disruption
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- 01 May 2023
- Chan W.Kim, Renée Mauborgne
Disruption is a fashionable phrase in business. But companies don't have to disrupt to innovate, the authors argue. They suggest ways to create new markets for growth without destroying existing companies or jobs.
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