Reinvent best practices that have become bad habits
Without meaning to, and often with the best of intentions, most organizations continually waste precious time and money on processes and activities that don't create value and no longer make sense in today's business environment. Until now, the relatively slow speed of marketplace evolution has allowed wasteful habits to continue without consequence. This reality is ending.
Detonate explains how organizations built up bad habits, identifies which ones masquerade as "best practices," and suggests alternatives that can contribute to winning in the marketplace. With a focus on optimism and empowerment, it focuses on an approach and mindset which are critical to successfully compete in an era characterized by profound technological advances and uncertainty.
- Core themes challenge how you think about and approach problems
- Case studies illustrate the challenges you face and how to overcome them
- Recommendations are pragmatic and steer clear of suggesting a brand-new, complicated wiring diagram
- Actionable advice provides the first steps down an evolutionary path
If you want to compete differently in today’s marketplace and to challenge the things your company does which you have a nagging feeling are actually just a waste of time – and maybe value-destroying – Detonate gives you what you need to ignite change.
Table of Contents
Preface xi
PART I LIGHT THE FUSE 1
Chapter 1 Tinderbox: Hazardous Unwritten Rules 3
Chapter 2 Spark: Acceleration of the Vicious Cycle 19
Chapter 3 Coordinates: Targeting the Blast 39
PART II BLOW UP YOUR PLAYBOOKS 59
Chapter 4 Dismantle Your P&L: Why Revenue Should Be the Last Thing You Worry About 61
Chapter 5 Trash the Calendar: A Strategic Planning Schedule Is Largely a Waste of Time 77
Chapter 6 Defy Expertise: Syndicated Data Create Zero Advantage 89
Chapter 7 Upend Insight: Customers Can’t Tell You What They Believe 103
Chapter 8 Lose Control: Discard Opportunity Management Systems 119
Chapter 9 Stomp Out Platitudes: Celebrating Failure Is an Excuse for Mediocrity 135
Chapter 10 Embrace Impermanence: Org Charts and Career Paths Are Past Their Sell-By Date 149
PART III BUILD SOMETHING BETTER 159
Chapter 11 Where to Start: Pick Your Site to Apply the Detonate Mindset 161
Chapter 12 Implications for Leadership: Accelerate by Asking Better Questions 175
Chapter 13 Minimally Viable Thoughts 185
Notes 197
Acknowledgments 203
About the Authors 205
Index 207
