Product vs. Customer Focus
If you ever had doubts about the essence and value of customer vs. product focus, have a look at the following example: Now, imagine if Volkswagen changed its attitude and strategy and start focusing on and addressing the needs and expectations of their customers. Personally,…
In Search for the Ideal Company
Over the last two decades I have worked for a number of companies, consulted even more. Some of them were outstanding, others were, well, less so. It is time to reflect and share what I believe are 3 characteristics of a well-run business and desired…
How to achieve organizational excellence: Appreciate your performance to unfold your potential
“Kumbaya” – or practicing traditional organizational development About a year ago I told a friend of mine that my new project was in organizational development. He congratulated me and then asked, “so you are sitting in a circle around a bonfire and sing Kumbaya?” and…
2016: what’s to BE
Yes, I do have a number of new year’s resolution. Here is a list of topics I would like to write about: Building a Happy Workplace Forget HR: Why „HR“ is detrimental to organizational health and business growth (and what we need to do instead)…
Principles for Organizational Performance
In my last blog post I explained that organizational performance and excellence requires strong leadership with a particular mindset to prosper. What does this mean? There are 5 principles that provide guidance for this philosophy and practice to emerge. Leadership Mindset Organizational Structure Commitment &…
The Heart of Organizational Excellence
In times of increasing competition in the marketplace, organizational excellence or performance is ever more important. But what does ‘organizational excellence or performance’ actually entail? What does it mean? And how can it be achieved? And, even more important, why does it matter? I believe…
Volkswagen’s greed and myopia is just the tip of the iceberg
Volkswagen has shown how greedy and myopic traditional management in corporations is: short-term projects (shareholder interests, EBIT) are more important (or, shall we say the only thing that really matters to them) than delighting customers and our environment. Volkswagen management claims that they will resolve…