Posts by Adam Hartung
Why Small Business Leaders are Missing the Digital/Mobile Revolution
It is an unfortunate fact that small businesses fail at a higher rate than large businesses. While we’ve come to accept this, it somewhat flies in the face of logic. After all, small businesses are run by owners who can achieve entrepreneurial returns rather than managerial bonuses, so incentive is high.
Read MoreWhy Yahoo Investors Should Worry about Marissa Mayer
Marissa Mayer created a firestorm this week by issuing an email requiring all employees who work from home to begin daily commuting to Yahoo offices. Some folks are saying this is going to be a blow to long-term employees, hamper productivity and will harm the company. Others are saying this will improve communications and cooperation, thin out unproductive employees and help Yahoo.
Read MoreInnovation REALLY Matters – Lessons Learned from Detroit
Forbes republished its annual “Most Miserable Cities” list. It looks at employment/unemployment, inflation, incomes and cost of living, crime, weather, commute times – a pretty good overview of things tied to living somewhere. Detroit ranked first, as the most miserable city, with Flint, MI second. And my home-sweet-home Chicago came in fourth. Ouch!
Read MoreDell – Take the Money and Run! Innovation Trumps Execution
Michael Dell has put together a hedge fund, one of his largest suppliers and some debt money to take his company, Dell, Inc. private. There are large investors threatening to sue, claiming the price isn’t high enough. While they are wrangling, small investors should consider this privatization manna from heaven, take the new, higher price and run to invest elsewhere – thankful you’re getting more than the company is worth.
Read MoreWho Wants a Big Mac for Christmas? Bah! Humbug! McDonald's Scrooge!
I nominate McDonald’s action for the 2012 Dickens’ Award as the most Scrooge-est business behavior this season.
Read MoreIrrelevancy Leads to Failure – Worry for Yahoo, Microsoft, HP, Sears, etc.
The web lit up recently when people started sharing a Fortune quote from Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo, “We are literally moving the company from BlackBerrys to smartphones.” Why was this a big deal?
Read MoreHostess' Twinkie Defense Is a Failure
Hostess Brands filed for liquidation this week. Management blamed its workforce for the failure. That is straightforward scapegoating.
Read MoreWhy the Top 20 R&D Spenders Waste their Money – Lessons from Microsoft & GM
Many people equate spending on R&D with investing in innovation. The logic goes that R&D spending is lab spending, and out of labs come innovations. Hence, those that spend a lot on R&D are innovative. That is faulty logic.
Read MoreNeil Armstrong's Legacy Is More Important Now Than Ever
Neil Armstrong, the first man to step on the moon died last Saturday. Overall, I was surprised at just how little attention this received. The Republican convention, Hurricane Isaac and many other issues dominated the news, even though Neil Armstrong represents something that had far more impact on our lives..
Read MoreInnovation Killers – Status Quo Police
Nobody admits to being the innovation killer in a company. But we know they exist. Some these folks “dinosaurs that won’t change.” Others blame “the nay-saying ‘Dr. No’ middle managers.” But when you meet these people, they won’t admit to being innovation killers. They believe, deep in their hearts as well as in their everyday…
Read More