“Bad news never gets better with age.” —Jeremy Patton Any fool can manage a project when things are going perfectly. Where we make our money is when things—inevitably—start to go south. There’s certainly something to be said for declining the opportunity to panic and telling everyone the sky is falling in. However, and I speak … Read More
All too often, success is actually a subjective affair, not an objective affair. It’s not always possible to have a perfectly clear objective standard. The more fuzzy the project, the greater the need to hit the <pause> button and get clarity. 20 or so years ago, I was lucky to learn how to fly formation … Read More
Inside-Out New Product Development is least way on several levels. Least Expensive, Least Time, and Least Controversial. And Least Effective. There must be a better way. Let me begin by saying clearly that I’m criticizing the process of Inside-Out product development. I am not criticizing the practitioners! Most of us want to contribute to great … Read More
An example where the 80/20 rule applies to more than just business. “Poe, not everything is a sports or military analogy!” -A former colleague Years ago a rock star colleague challenged me to explain complicated things with greater simplicity. Like many males in industry, I tend to fall back on sports or military analogies to … Read More
What business insights can an 80/20 Quadrant Analysis generate? Read this blog post to find out. Below is a representative quadrant analysis that is typical of results I’ve seen over the years. Here are some things to look for in a Quadrant Analysis: “80” Customers Buying “80” Products: The Money Maker In the example above, … Read More
A quadrant analysis is dividing your business into 80 or 20 customers vs. 80 or 20 products. This analysis provides powerful insights into the overall health of your business. Here are the steps to creating a Quadrant Analysis Start with a representative set of sales data. Typically one to three years. It needs to be … Read More
The 80/20 rule is a key quantitative foundation of responsible management. Stated Simply: The top 80% of the results are derived from the best 20% of available opportunities. Take a quick tour of your house or apartment and look at the floor. The wear & tear, the spots that need frequent cleaning, the wear path … Read More