An Explainer: What Is a Competitive Intelligence Program?
I still remember the first time I was tasked with building a competitive intelligence program from scratch. It was a daunting project, and every “expert” I consulted seemed to have a different definition of what is a competitive intelligence program….
A Guide to a Competitive Matrix Analysis
I still remember the countless hours I spent as a market research director, pouring over a guide to a competitive matrix analysis to inform our business decisions. But let’s get real – if you’re not using a competitive matrix to…
A Comparison: Net Present Value (npv) Vs. Internal Rate of Return (irr)
As I sat in the boardroom, listening to the heated debate over net present value (npv) vs internal rate of return (irr), I couldn’t help but think that we were missing the point. The question on everyone’s mind was which…
5 Common Business Valuation Mistakes to Avoid
I still remember the countless hours I spent on Wall Street, pouring over financial statements and common business valuation mistakes to avoid. It was astonishing to see how often investors would get burned by sloppy valuations, and it’s a phenomenon…
An Analysis of Common Reasons Why Change Initiatives Fail
I still remember the countless times I’ve seen common reasons why change initiatives fail become the elephant in the room for Fortune 100 CEOs. It’s astonishing how often these initiatives, meant to revolutionize and propel companies forward, end up losing…
A Guide to Master Data Management (mdm)
I still remember the day I realized that master data management (MDM) wasn’t just a buzzword, but a crucial component of our company’s digital transformation. As a former CTO, I’ve seen my fair share of trendy tech solutions, but MDM…
A Guide on How to Identify Your Direct and Indirect Competitors
I still remember the first time I had to identify my direct and indirect competitors as a market research director. It was a daunting task, and I quickly realized that the conventional wisdom – “just look at who’s selling similar…
A Guide to Giving Constructive Feedback to Your Team
As a professor of business strategy, I’ve seen my fair share of managers struggle with a guide to giving constructive feedback. The common myth is that giving feedback is about fixing the employee, but the truth is, it’s about _improving…
A Breakdown of the Three Components of Executive Presence
I still remember the countless seminars and workshops I’ve attended on the three components of executive presence, only to leave feeling like I’d been sold a bill of goods. The so-called “experts” would rattle off a list of vague traits…
A Guide on How to Create a Data Backup and Recovery Plan
I still remember the day our company’s entire database was wiped out due to a cyberattack. We had to scramble to recover our data, and it was a nightmare. That’s when I realized the importance of having a solid plan…