http://www.BassClusker.com/ en-gb Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:15:07 GMT http://www.BassClusker.com/News/March-2010/Article-How-To-Accelerate-Implementation-Across-Departments.aspx http://www.BassClusker.com/News/March-2010/Article-How-To-Accelerate-Implementation-Across-Departments.aspx Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:22:35 GMT One of the most frustrating and wasteful drags on implementation speed is having to wait for people in other internal departments to do things. When this occurs, your team may conclude that the other party doesn’t care, isn’t interested, lacks appropriate urgency or is even trying to undermine your team for political reasons. This article provides practical ways to increase collaboration, reduce friction and so accelerate the speed and responsiveness of your organisation. http://www.BassClusker.com/News/May-2009/New-Article-on-Creating-Value-Through-Innovation.aspx http://www.BassClusker.com/News/May-2009/New-Article-on-Creating-Value-Through-Innovation.aspx Tue, 26 May 2009 11:39:46 GMT The most valuable innovation opportunities are often not technological, even in high tech companies. http://www.BassClusker.com/News/May-2009/Latest-Newsletter-Entrepreneurial-Employees.aspx http://www.BassClusker.com/News/May-2009/Latest-Newsletter-Entrepreneurial-Employees.aspx Tue, 26 May 2009 11:35:28 GMT I am currently working with Aston University to run an Entrepreneurship Programme for engineering researchers. I am being assisted by a number of my associates and alliance partners, as well as local entrepreneurs, established MDs and professional advisors. When I mention the programme to my consulting clients, they show great interest – the typical sentiment being: “I wish I could get my employees to be more entrepreneurial – could your programme help us?” The short answer is yes and no. http://www.BassClusker.com/News/April-2009/Latest-Newsletter-Whats-the-risk-for-the-risk-manager.aspx http://www.BassClusker.com/News/April-2009/Latest-Newsletter-Whats-the-risk-for-the-risk-manager.aspx Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:41:12 GMT Have you ever said to yourself: “I have told them a million times, why don’t they: - Come up with innovating ideas?” - Act more entrepreneurially?” - Sell the new product line rather than the old one?” - Look after existing profitable clients, and not just chase after new ones?" - Go networking more often?” - Challenge me when I am wrong, or at least offer me another perspective?” If you want to understand apparently crazy behaviour in organisations, the answer will usually be found by working out the informal incentives. These incentives may be financial, but they are at least as often other factors such as peer acceptance, job security and freedom from micromanagement. http://www.BassClusker.com/News/February-2009/Latest-Newsletter-Moments-of-Truth-that-shape-your-business.aspx http://www.BassClusker.com/News/February-2009/Latest-Newsletter-Moments-of-Truth-that-shape-your-business.aspx Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:39:19 GMT Recently, while paying for shopping in Waitrose, I asked the checkout assistant for change for a tenner “while she had the till open”. She said it was no problem, but could I please do it at Customer Service on my way out, who would be happy to help me. Customer Service was being staffed by a supervisor, who cheerfully informed me that the check-out assistant had said something that was against their policy, but that she would give me change anyway because that was what I had been promised. I was impressed by a supervisor making good on the promise of an entry-level part-time employee: even though that promise was against firm policy, it was in line with their strategy, as it was to the benefit of the customer. It seems clear to me that Waitrose has successfully communicated its strategy and empowered people to act in order to implement it. http://www.BassClusker.com/News/February-2009/Latest-Newsletter-Are-your-strategic-reviews-like-New-Years-Resolutions.aspx http://www.BassClusker.com/News/February-2009/Latest-Newsletter-Are-your-strategic-reviews-like-New-Years-Resolutions.aspx Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:47:56 GMT Have you noticed how similar strategy reviews are to New Years’ Resolutions? How many times have you held off-site meetings, documented a shiny new strategy, launched it - and then everyone has carried on doing the same old things? It frustrates managers, and it frustrates their teams too - in fact when I talk with staffs in all kinds of businesses, I often hear at some point: “We’ve had so many new initiatives launched that run out of steam – this is just another one – nothing will actually change”. http://www.BassClusker.com/News/September-2008/Latest-Newsletter--Business-is-Not-War.aspx http://www.BassClusker.com/News/September-2008/Latest-Newsletter--Business-is-Not-War.aspx Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:27:33 GMT This is not the last recession: A classic mistake in military strategy is to prepare to fight the last war rather than the next one, and the classic example is the Maginot line that the French built between the First and Second World Wars. http://www.BassClusker.com/News/June-2008/Who-Sets-Your-Personal-Strategy--You-or-Your-Inbox.aspx http://www.BassClusker.com/News/June-2008/Who-Sets-Your-Personal-Strategy--You-or-Your-Inbox.aspx Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:40:43 GMT A look at career strategy in an unpredictable world, and an innoculation against some popular but dubious advice, with clear suggestions for action. http://www.BassClusker.com/News/April-2008/Profitable-Business-Growth-Step-by-Step.aspx http://www.BassClusker.com/News/April-2008/Profitable-Business-Growth-Step-by-Step.aspx Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:39:13 GMT Growth has its pitfalls - some financial, and others to do with people. Success can depend on your ability to handle them both simultaneously. This new article, co-authored with Alastair Dryburgh, gives you a road map. http://www.BassClusker.com/News/April-2008/New-Article-on-REAL-Leadership-Development.aspx http://www.BassClusker.com/News/April-2008/New-Article-on-REAL-Leadership-Development.aspx Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:28:57 GMT Less about 'charisma', more about learnable behaviours. Organisations need to work with and through humans, not supermen. Follow the link below to read the article.