Monthly Archives: August 2010

How Did Microsoft Become Microsoft?

First, a little quiz. Which company invented these cornerstones of the personal computer revolution: First personal computer First high-speed computer network First laser printer First graphical user interface (mouse, pull-down menus, etc.)? (The answer is three paragraphs down.) A few … read on

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Profit from Managing Returns. Yes, Returns.

What do a typical hospital and a typical retailer have in common? They both have a problem managing returns. Let me explain. About a year ago, I spent a day with the President’s Cabinet of a major medical center. This … read on

Posted in Operating for Profit Tagged , , , , ,

Managing in a Deflationary Economy – A View From Malaysia

Today’s economic news features descriptions of our stalled economy, punctuated by concerns that we may slip into deflation. Most U.S. managers have not had direct experience with managing in a deflationary economy. This economic environment creates extraordinary challenges and requires … read on

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A Malaysian Perspective on Managing Mergers

One of the great pleasures of writing this blog is the opportunity to stay in touch with friends and former students. I received a nice note from Tenglum Low, who is a top executive in Malaysia. Tenglum took my course … read on

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Three Missing Steps in Supply Chain Optimization

I just finished an interview with a journalist who is writing on the importance of supply chain optimization. This writer is addressing a set of distributors of products that have relatively low value for their weight and volume. This makes … read on

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Why Do Mergers and Reorganizations Fail?

I’ll always remember the immortal words of Murray Smyth, at the time CFO of one of the largest subsidiaries of a major distribution and manufacturing company, “If we haven’t reorganized in the last six months, it’s because someone missed a … read on

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If I Ran My Customer… Part 2

Profits are your reward for meeting customer needs. The questions on the table are: Which customers? And which needs? In my last post, I discussed the first question, which customers? Today, I’ll focus on the second question, which needs? The … read on

Posted in Selling for Profit Tagged , , , ,

If I Ran My Customer… Part 1

Profits are your reward for meeting customer needs. Sounds obvious, right? But here are two critical questions: Which customers? And which needs? The answers will have a huge impact on your profitability and business success. Today’s post will focus on … read on

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