Comments on: Why Isn’t Strategy a Bad Word in Down Times?

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:27:06 +0000

Many of the tools mentioned model based on either on top-down views of enterprise architectures, or enable the capture of fragemented one-dimensional process flows. Models tend to follow one or two unit flows, with some drill-down, roll-up capability.

BPMN is going some way to making better models

However, I believe that the modelling platform that will take off here is going to enable:
– a combined Top-down and bottom-up approach – explained well in Exhibit 4-7 of E&Y’s Guide to Total Cost Management
– multi-dimensional activity networks – e.g. Account Opening activity is a node where the Account lifecycle flow and the Client lifecycle flow meet

Any modelling effort that doesn’t recognise the true nature of business activity as a network of inter-connected tasks, some performed by people, some by systems, will result in fragemented, or unilateral information, the value of which will be short-lived and limited to those who captured it.

By: Guy W Wallace

Guy W Wallace — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:05:45 +0000

If your reference to The Hobson Group was about Brian and Kelly – then you’ll perhaps want to look at the source for their methods and tools: Guy W. Wallace of EPPIC Inc. and his books (especially lean-ISD – endorsed by the late Geary A. Rummler who also designed the book cover) and articles/columns: such as the BPTrends quarterly columns on Enterprise Process Performance Improvement. They were my employees of mine and I developed and ceritifed both of them in my ISD and HPT methods back in the 1990s.

By: Ian Gotts

Ian Gotts — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:43:40 +0000

A short sharp recession would have allowed a little blood lettign pain (cost cuttin, redundancy), but the current recession may be W-shaped, bath-shaped or even longer. Quick fixes won’t work.

There are some fundamental corrections in many industries which are likely to be permenant. For examples, the auto industry had massive over-demand exacerbated by cars lasting longer. This was an accident waiting to happen.

This is forcing companies to think longer term and revisit their business models, which has got to be healthy. And cirtically it is being driven form the top which means strategic thinking driving down into process change.