User Experience (UX) has emerged as a critical component of software application development, playing a vital role in shaping the success and profitability of technology based ventures. This article explores the history of UX, the role of software designers, the profound impact UX/UI has on the bottom line of businesses, and the various aspects that […]
Category: Business
Most entrepreneurs and product managers (PMs) know that they need to find out what people want. In this article, we will look at how to conduct what is called ‘customer development’ – the process through which a business comes to understand the needs, pain points, and behavior of potential customers through direct conversation and feedback. […]
In the realm of business, the term “governance” conjures images of stale bureaucracy, mundane meetings, and rigid roles. However, such perceptions fail to capture the potential impact of governance to influence the actions, cognitions, and emotions of individuals. Effective governance can serve as the bedrock of organizational culture, which shapes perceptions, attitudes, and interactions throughout […]
Consulting is about more than financial return on investment (ROI). Success is fueled by the knowledge, skills, talent, and efforts of individual consultants. As Generation Z comes of age, it is important for consulting firms to understand the hopes and expectations of the newest cohort of graduating talent. Their experience of the workplace is already […]
Effective governance serves as the bedrock for organizations, providing a framework for sound decision-making, personal accountability, and strategic direction. In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, where disruption and uncertainty are the norm, robust governance structures have never been more important. However, larger businesses often face challenges that hinder the efficacy and efficiency of their governance […]
In today’s rapidly evolving world, organizations across various sectors are recognizing the transformative potential of introducing innovation into their governance processes. The traditional methods of governance, often characterized by bureaucratic hurdles, delayed decision-making, and limited stakeholder engagement, no longer meet the demands of the modern era. However, by harnessing the power of modern technology, organizations […]
In entrepreneurship, failure is common. Consider this sad statistic: out of 10 startups that are founded this year, only 3 will still exist three years from now. Of these, only one will reach maturity and make significant revenues. Many have accepted these numbers as an inevitable part of the entrepreneurial process. Others have developed theories […]
As technology changes the business environment at an increasing rate, established companies have become increasingly innovative. Despite their best efforts, however, large companies are often unable to keep up with technological change due to bureaucracy, legacy systems, pre-existing business models, institutional inertia, and financial constraints. The purpose of this article is to suggest five habits […]
As companies experience more success, there is a growing trend towards increased emphasis on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). According to a Harvard study, around 90% of companies on the S&P 500 published a CSR report in 2019, compared to just 20% in 2011. Large companies now recognise that the environment and communities in which they […]
Military strategy has long been a source of wisdom for the field of business, inspiring countless comparisons. Despite the fact that we now use nuclear warheads and drones rather than swords and cannons, timeless battlefield principles will likely never become obsolete. This article will consider three examples from military history that can examined to better […]
Business development and sales are two of the most critical components of any successful business. They are closely related, with business development focusing on identifying new opportunities and building relationships, and sales being the process of actually closing deals and generating revenue. In this blog post, we will explore the key elements of business development […]
Whether you’re a busy professional, a student, or an entrepreneur, time management is a crucial skill for anyone looking to increase their productivity. Effective time management involves an ongoing and regular process of organising your schedule so that time is allocated to all of the important aspects of your life. This includes not only your […]
On March 10th, Silicon Valley Bank went bankrupt. Federal regulators had to take over operations to avoid economic disaster. Due to the Federal Reserve’s determination to curb inflation it has consistently hiked interest rates for the last 12 months, an outcome that SVB and many other banks failed to anticipate. As a result, SVB suffered […]
Imagine going the Olympics and crossing the 100 metre finish line in first place. Arms raised in triumph, and revelling in the glory of your success, you are a hero! However, the very next week you make your way back to the starting line and ready yourself for the starter’s gun. *Bang* You run the race over […]
When it comes to tools for the workplace, you have your mouse, keyboard, chair, and monitors. Now whether you have your own office, share a common workspace, reside in coffeeshops, or work from home, you almost always need one more thing – music. Countless studies have been done to connect music to increased concentration, reduced […]
Charles R. Swindoll wrote, “first impressions never have a second chance”. The first time you interact with an individual they will form a perception of you. Although this opinion may be biased and untrue, once established it takes on a life of its own, and will require a lot of time and effort to change. […]
Whilst the workplace has become more personal in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced a convergence of issues like wellbeing and professionalism, showing too much personality at work has ironically yet to gain widespread acceptance. Although professionalism inevitably involves a certain amount of restraint, this frequently goes too far. Nowadays people often fear […]
Dave Balter, CEO of social marketing company BzzAgent, argues that: “Most highly successful leaders really aren’t the smartest people in any room. Rather, they have something that sets them apart. That something is sponge and stone …” According to Balter, a sponge is someone who tirelessly seeks out and absorbs new information. They read voraciously. […]
One of the greatest by-products of the otherwise awful period of COVID-19 was a more universal workplace emphasis on well-being. Whilst some companies did have wellbeing on their corporate agendas before the pandemic, there was often no formal protocol to follow on how to safeguard or advocate employee wellbeing. As a result, attempts were often […]
Whilst remote working has brought many benefits – increased flexibility, reduced travel costs, and resulting lower pollution – it has come with its own set of drawbacks. For example, it can be hard to create the same dynamic during an online meeting since the majority of the meaning in our communication is conveyed via body […]
Product managers have a dynamic role within companies, sitting at the intersection between business leaders, customers, engineers, and designers. They help to organize the development process so that products meet customer needs and business goals. In this article, I will examine the nature of products and the product life cycle, and break down a bit […]
Human resource teams are critical to the growth of a company since employees typically represent both the biggest operating expense and largest off-balance sheet asset for most businesses. In this article, I will break down a few functionalities of Human Resource teams, and a couple of ways to get started in Human Resource Management. Within […]
Life is not all blue skies. To quote poet-philosopher Dolly Parton, “if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain”. The dark clouds of COVID-19 and its aftermath have plunged many people into a deep state of introspection following the shocking realisation of how quickly the rain can set in, and the […]
Motivation directly affects how much you are able to achieve in a day. It also affects your mood, focus, and persistence in the face of setbacks. Managing your motivation, and knowing what to do when motivation levels are low, is therefore an essential life skill. It is also a skill which is frequently underappreciated. People […]
Since leadership is about influencing people to act in a certain way, and psychology is the study of the human mind, it is sensible to combine the two disciplines. What can one tell us about the other? Drawing principles from psychology reveals a number of useful leadership lessons that are widely applicable – be it […]
When talking of money, it is normal to use the verb “spend”, which draws our attention to the fact that the amount of money anyone has is limited, usually by their income. This means any money given to a certain purpose is money sacrificed. It cannot be used for other things. The same is true […]
Working alone, in many ways, is much simpler than working as part of a team. You only need to account for your own abilities, work style preferences, and availability. Although group work does have its virtues – not least the access to a much boarder range of knowledge and expertise – it also has its […]
The business world of the 21st century has grown and advanced so fast, that it is difficult to run a company without business intelligence to assess where one stands against the competition. Business intelligence aids companies by collecting the unstructured raw data from their transactions and transforming it into information which enables the company to […]
As leaders, human capital is the most valuable asset we have. Managing people is rewarding, but sometimes we could all use a hand in navigating its complexities. Read on to learn about 9 tips that will make every manager and HR professional’s life easier, and unlock the latent potential in your organisation to drive your […]
“Persistence” and “perseverance” are buzzwords you will find in almost every job description and in almost any interview. This article suggests that giving these words such stature and priority in the world of work is a mistake, since persistence alone may do more harm than good. Persistence refers to the notion of continuing a course […]
From the growth of digitalisation and globalisation to hybrid work arrangements employed during the pandemic, society is continuing to evolve. These changes have been accompanied by a shift in business’s approach to management. Understanding the rapidly changing business environment will be essential to ensure efficient and effective leadership going forwards. Change 1: From engaging to […]
COVID-19 has been a mixed bag for the world of work. Whilst for some it has been a wholly negative experience, bringing redundancy, social isolation, and new erratic working conditions, for others it has brought immeasurable benefits. One such benefit is the ‘humanisation of the professional’. No longer is the label ‘professional’ disassociated from the […]
“Consulting has traditionally been and is still a boys club, particularly at management level”, female McKinsey Consultant. “A lot of times I found myself the only female in the room with another 10-15 males during the steering co-meeting”, BCG project leader. Despite a drive to make equality of opportunity a norm of modern workplaces, women are […]
Curiosity is a word frequently associated with childhood or domestic pets. When a child is experiencing the world around them for the first time and interacting with their new surroundings, we say they are curious. In the context of pets, curiosity is known to have killed the cat. This post asserts that curiosity is more […]
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The Importance of Being Wrong at Work
Being wrong is a natural part of being human. Everyone makes mistakes, misinterpretations, and miscalculations. Unfortunately, another natural part of being human is having an ego, and the accompanying desire for self-preservation. No one likes being seen to make mistakes as it can be embarrassing, cause reputational damage and loss of status, and make us […]
In school, students spend most of their time working on homework assignments and projects, which, despite their importance in reinforcing skills learned in class, have no immediate benefit to the world. Similarly, in traditional management consulting roles, employees often utilize the latest tools to solve their clients’ problems, often without considering the impacts beyond the […]
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The Paradox of Teams
The concept of a ‘team’ has been around since the 16th century, and so one would assume that the term is fairly well understood. Whilst teams are an inseparable part of modern business practice, this article seeks to explore why they are actually a conceptual paradox, and what this means for professionals. The Team-Individuality Paradox […]
Although commentators have long predicted a shift towards remote working, the Covid-19 pandemic has certainly driven the point home. As we currently stand, the question is not if the work-space will digitalize but to what extent. Most consulting firms have managed the transition to remote working relatively easily, and some have even realised that they […]
If you are running a tech startup, you probably spend most of your time focusing on your product to make it lean, easy to use, and able to solve people’s problems. However, if you want to be successful you need to reach a lot of people, and so it is important to increase your conversion […]
One of the key challenges of succeeding in business is finding the motivation to do the work necessary to achieve audacious goals. Since there is no shortage of motivational speakers, self help gurus, visionary CEOs, and spiritual leaders, it would seem odd that motivation can sometimes be hard to come by. Part of the reason […]
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The Importance of Coachability
The ability to learn faster has become a more valuable asset as the amount of knowledge produced continues to grow on a daily basis. When starting a new position, you will need to learn the technical skills and background knowledge to perform on the job. During these transition periods there is a large knowledge gap […]
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Parable of the Sadhu
Business ethics have existed since bartering started, with philosophers from Aristotle to Rawls discussing concepts of justice in monetary terms. In a modern sense, business ethics started in the United States in the 1970s with the rise of anti-big business protest groups. Business schools have taken it as their responsibility to teach ethical practices to […]
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Do you have a minute to spare?
Consultants regard time as crucial. The value of time is derived from the fact that we must each make reasonable use of the 24 hours we have been allotted in order to live a balanced life that is not only productive but also healthy, happy, and fulfilling. Effective time management can be applied to complete […]
Your manager recently told you that you did a good job on a project. This is great news, but how can you assess for yourself that you are doing well? This becomes a tougher question the further you progress in your career as there are fewer established metrics to base your assessment on. In college, […]
“In every crisis we are given an opportunity to evaluate our habitual tendencies” (Welch, 2020). The virus has not only changed the way we view health policy, but also our way of living and working. It seems no overstatement to say that the world will be a fundamentally different place after COVID-19. This post will […]
As I’ve progressed further along in my career, the importance of being able to manage upward has become clearer to me. If you think your relationship with your manager is a one-way street with the manager doing all the delegating and you doing all the following, think again. At its core, managing up isn’t just […]
There is always another skill to learn or article to read, yet there is often limited time and attention to devote to these activities. If you are short on time and looking to upskill here are some tips. Drawing on your past experiences If you are less than a year away from applying for jobs […]
Bloom’s taxonomy is a framework originally developed by a committee of educators to assist in establishing an effective curriculum. This framework can also be used by young professionals. There is a myriad of academic journals from varying fields that illustrate the practicality of the framework in specific situations. Its application stretches beyond the needs of […]
It sounds cliché to repeat it again just like a mom’s tip to kids “Don’t be afraid of challenges and changes, my darling”, but there are probably some good reasons for us to revisit this motherhood statement. This year has been tough and challenging for many of us. The Covid-19 pandemic has dramatically changed people’s […]
Over the past few years, the popularity of hiring remote teams has been growing rapidly. However, many employers were skeptical, and considered remote workers as less valuable. Fast forward to 2020, with COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, and remote work is now essential. Telework is a growing trend, managers are more receptive to the idea, and remote […]