Deloitte, the consulting, risk management and financial services firm, has tackled two current issues in two recent reports: the business next wave of globalization, and how business executives can best demonstrate that their enterprises are creating value for their shareholders. Let’s start with, the 134-page Business Trends 2014: Navigating the wave of globalization. This is […]
innovation
Give the Good Idea All the Time Needed
Steven Johnson, in his book Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation, talks about great ideas such as the pencil, the printing press, Google and the flush toilet and wonders how flashes of innovative brilliance originate. Yes, there’s the proverbial light bulb moment of pure genius, but Johnson is more concerned about […]
McDonald’s Honors Suppliers for Sustainability Innovations
By now I’m sure you know how much I appreciate McDonald’s collaborative “System First” business model—I devoted an entire chapter to its “three-legged” relationship approach to employees, franchise owner/operators and suppliers in Vested: How P&G, McDonalds and Microsoft are Redefining Winning in Business Relationships. The company’s deeply-engrained culture for long-term, win-win relationships with suppliers dates […]
HFS Resource Business Transformation Center – April 2014
Beyond Gainsharing: Understanding Different Economic Models/ Incentives in Outsourcing Agreements (Vested) Article by Kate Vitasek and Astrid Uka, published 17 April 2014. It’s time to look beyond gainsharing when thinking about collaborative business and outsourcing relationships… Here’s the link: http://bpo.horsesforsources.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/HFS_BPO_gainshare-article_UniversityTennessee.pdf
Navigate the Priceberg
In an article this month for Material Handling & Logistics Magazine, I reiterated a point I frequently make, that is, outsourcing and off-shoring are not interchangeable terms and the decision to outsource does not automatically mean that jobs are lost to another country. In the article, “Don’t Re-Shore the Priceberg” I note that the decision […]
Going “All-In” on Innovation
If you are taking a low-risk approach when it comes to innovation, you may not be doing much innovation that’s truly worthwhile. It’s an interesting take on innovation – and one that was shared in this Industry Week article, “Innovation: The High Cost of Low Risk.” The article takes the stance that “not all innovation […]
Outsource Magazine — March 2014
Churchman, Rittel and Webber: The “Wicked” Problem Monthly column in Outsource Magazine by Kate Vitasek published 27 March 2014. Also published in OM’s Spring 2014 edition #35. Do you have one of those really tough business problems that seems to plague you? No matter what you try, nothing seems to solve the problem?… Here’s the […]
Megatrends in the Future of Logistics
Earlier this year I came across the annual Material Handling & Logistics U.S. Roadmap, which focuses on long-term predictions—out to 2025!—with a focus on the “megatrends” that will transform logistics. The 67-page report compiles what more than 100 industry thought-leaders had to say about the future in this particular sector, and how it will need […]
IAOP’s P&G Study: Innovation Takes Work, Thought and Partnership!
By now you probably know that P&G’s approach to innovation is very close to my Vested heart – I’ve written extensively about it in books, case studies and blogs. That’s why I’m thrilled to see that others, namely the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals, are also taking notice. Actually IAOP is more than just taking […]
Be Brave! Speak Up!
After last week’s blog—about the elephant in the room—the words to Sarah Bareilles’s song “Brave” kept running through my head, specifically this verse: Say what you wanna say And let the words fall out Honestly I wanna see you be brave With what you want to say And let the words fall out Honestly I […]
