Those familiar with the Beyond Default approach to strategy will know that the essential purpose of strategy is to change the trajectory of an organisation, from one that’s taking it to its default future – which is a place it will end up if it takes no action other than that currently planned – to one that leads to an …
Does Your Vision Really Need a Strategy?
Conventional thinking on strategy is that you need to start by defining a vision, a future state that defines what you want your organisation to become, achieve or contribute. While visions are important – as are mission and purpose statements – they rarely live up to expectations. All too often they state the obvious: ‘to be better’, ‘to do no …
Virtual Roundtable – Summary of Discussion on Successful Strategy Execution
The aim of the Beyond Default Roundtable discussions is to give practitioners in strategy and change an opportunity to share their experiences, challenge conventional wisdom, brainstorm ideas and network with peers who share the same interests and challenges. The discussion was led by David Trafford, co-author of Beyond Default and moderated by Chris Hallam, founder of CH Coaching Solutions. As the Roundtable followed …
DIY Strategy Health Check
Getting a health check is always a good thing. It can tell you whether you’re in good shape or if you need to give attention to things before they get worse. It’s the same with strategy. A health check can tell whether your strategy is in good shape or if action is needed to put it back on track. While …
Virtual Roundtable – Summary of Discussion on Common Strategy Traps and How to Avoid Them
The aim of the Beyond Default Roundtable discussions is to give experienced practitioners in strategy and change an opportunity to share their experiences, challenge conventional wisdom, brainstorm ideas and network with peers who have the same interests and challenges. In November 2021 a group of executives, consultants and academics met virtually to discuss the common traps many fall into when …
The Importance of Critical Thinking in Strategy Development
Developing strategy is a process of deciding on the trajectory an organisation needs to take to avoid its default future – which is the place it will end up if it takes no action other than that currently planned. It involves deciding the strategic intent – which is what an organisation aims to become or achieve – and the trajectory …
Virtual Roundtable – Summary of Discussion on The Power of Collective Leadership
The aim of the Beyond Default Roundtable discussions is to give experienced practitioners in strategy and change an opportunity to share their experiences, challenge conventional wisdom, brainstorm ideas and network with peers who have the same interests and challenges. In August 2021 a group of executives, consultants and academics met virtually to discuss the power of collective leadership. The discussion …
Virtual Roundtable – Summary of Discussion on the Impact of Exogenous Forces on Strategy
The aim of the Beyond Default Roundtable discussions is to give experienced practitioners in strategy and change an opportunity to share their experiences, challenge conventional wisdom, brainstorm ideas and network with peers who have the same interests and challenges. In May 2021 a small group of invited executives and consultants met virtually to discuss the impact of exogenous forces on …
Seven Common Strategy Traps – And How To Avoid Them
Developing and executing effective strategy is never easy, especially in today’s increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world. It’s something all organisations do, but some do it better than others. Developing and executing good strategy is important as it ultimately determines the fate of your organisation. But why are some organisations better at it than others? One reason is …
Has COVID-19 killed strategy?
In the Foreword to our book Beyond Default – Setting Your Organization On A Trajectory To An Improved Future Don Tapscott says that ‘over the last few decades strategy has been in and out of fashion – for many businesses that followed the trends, mainly out’. He then goes on to say that ‘a number of factors are conspiring today …