Happy Holidays!
Over the last few months I have had a number of international meetings in Hong Kong, Bali, Rome, Madrid and Marrakesh. Companies and associations in many countries have increased their focus on innovation in products, marketing and sales as a defense against marketplace disruptions. Senior execs recognize the need to identify and sidestep the status quo lock-ins in their companies as a first step to generate more internal ideas and absorb trends from the marketplace.
Innovation is uncomfortable for most companies because it runs counter to the lock-ins, but it is key to growth. Lock-ins are the practices, biases or beliefs the firm has developed to maintain business model. They function well to ensure efficiency for existing business lines, but can strangle innovation. Top on the holiday wish list for executives is to recognize their key lock-ins so they can take action in 2016. (My “Status Quo Playbook” can help.)
In my January newsletter, I’ll discuss a process to identify and incorporate market and competitive trends to help address the lock-ins and identify potential marketplace disruptions.
Here’s wishing you, your team and your family a happy and restful holiday and Christmas season!
Spotlight on Yahoo, Inc.
| Hartung in Forbes | Authors in Other Publications |
|---|---|
| Mar 2013 “Why Yahoo Investors Should Worry about Marissa Mayer” | Dec 2013 Vanity Fair “Mayer…savior or its next big problem” Dec 2014 NYT “What happened when Marissa Mayer tried to be Steve Jobs” |
| Jan 2015 “Yahoo – Another Disappearing Giant Has Nowhere To Hide” | Oct 2015 The Economist, “Yahoo: A portal to nowhere”, Mayer has failed to revive the internet sloth |
| Dec 6, 2015 “Is Yahoo Doomed? Probably” | Dec 14, 2015 Business Insider “Why Yahoo needs to fire Marissa Mayer” |
Newsletter December 2015
Recent Topics:
“Ten Must Read Books for Modern Marketers 2015” features Adam’s book, “Create Marketplace Disruption, How to Stay Ahead of the Competition”