Myth 1: Continual reinvention
Many of the articles, comments and conferences about strategy-related issues seem to perpetuate some damaging myths – so I thought it might be useful to develop a list of these as I come across them.
This one comes up all over the place – the idea that successful strategy requires constant ‘re-invention’ of the business model. Even sober journals like the Economist ooze over this fallacy, as they did when reviewing the 10-year anniversary of e-commerce in 2005. Ebay, Amazon, Google, Expedia and the rest are successful, it is claimed, because they constantly reinvent themselves.
In fact, if you think about the successful firms we most admire – those above, plus Toyota, CNN, Dell, Southwest Airlines, Walmart etc. etc. etc. – the one thing that stands out is that they
- do not
keep changing their mind about what they offer, to whom and how. What they do is relentlessly improve, refine and extend what already works well.
Far more boring than constant reinvention of course – but it works!
Site updated
Pleased to announce the site has been successfully updated. If you have comments or questions please let us know via the contact page.
New materials to be released shortly
We are working on sets of resources that support the book and will start releasing these shortly.
The first of these will be instructions on how to work with the mystrategy models / exercises that support the book. These will be available as an online Flash audio-visual presentation and a downloadable PDF.
Site update in progress
We are in the process of updating the site and will be adding more materials as they are developed. The Book launch date is now set as 7th December and a launch party is taking place on 12th December at London Business School: places are limited but if you would like an invite please contact christina (at) strategydynamics.com in the first instance.
What’s strategy dynamics – coming soon.
With my second major book (Strategic Management Dynamics from Wiley) fast approaching publication, and trying to balancing a number of different conversations about the book and the approach, it seems a good time to open out the discussion via a blog.
I will be offering some thoughts on the subject shortly, so watch this space.
Kim