At Davos, The CEO of Nestle calls for a principles based approach to business

Watching some of the videos from Davos today I was struck by how many of the global business leaders were talking about the developing world, how the economic crisis has changed much more that views of the economy,  and their concern for the effects of global trade on people and poverty.

The theme of Davos, [...]

Obliquity: Why customers & competencies are most important on balanced scorecards

Reading reviews of John Kay’s latest book Obliquity, they bring out how the theme of the book is that route to success is often through the search for something else: Taking the oblique route.  It is a paradox, he says, that to achieve objectives you are better not have to focus on something completely different.  [...]

Sir John Harvey Jones

Lets remember Sir John Harvey Jones and keep his legacy alive: Was he the ideal consultant?

Sir John Harvey Jones died earlier this month. Some will remember Sir John Harvey Jones as the Chairman of ICI who turned the organisation around. Some will recall his wild hair and his taste for “Tasteful” ties. Many will [...]

Charles Handy and “The New Philanthropists”

Charles Handy and “The New Philanthropists”

This was the second time I had met Charles Handy in person and he is one of the most charming and gentlemanly people I have come across. He is a prolific author of at least 19 books and regarded as Britain’s most respected management writer.

He is also unassuming. [...]

BBC gets what it deserves on profits reporting

BBC gets what it deserves on profits reporting

Am I the only one who gets frustrated with the way the BBC news reports company results? Every news report seems to focus on, “This very large company (with highly paid directors) made (some large number with billions in it) profits last year. That is £(a huge [...]