Strategy and Planning


Recent Strategy and Planning Articles

Rule for Success: Choose Your Playing Field

Winning takes more than a big vision, no matter how brilliant it is, says Roger L. Martin, dean of the Rotman School of Management.  Read more

You Don't Have to Be a High-End Firm to Offer High-End Customer Service

A recent trip using Enterprise Rent-A-Car reminds me luxury customer service isn't expensive, but hugely desirable.  Read more

When Good Leaders Go Bad

A Skimmer's Guide to Tipping Sacred Cows: Kick the Bad Work Habits That Masquerade as Virtues, by Jake Breeden  Read more

Why Immigration Reform Is Good for Small Business

An overhaul of U.S. immigration laws will benefit all entrepreneurs--not just foreign-born American-trained engineers looking to start companies.  View slideshow

Housing Recovery at Last? Depends Who You Ask

The latest Case-Shiller index supports the notion that the housing market is recovering, but it's not time to break out the champagne yet.  Read more

Cirque du Soleil and MGM Mirage: A Lesson in Strategic Partnership

Naturally, when you seek to grow, you plan new products or marketing campaigns. Why not consider other companies who could help?  Read more

To Get Big, You've Got to Start Small

A Benchmark Capital founding partner explains why, contrary to what you may believe, the secret to attracting a broad market is to appeal to a tiny, passiona...  Read more

Reading This May Be Your Only Non-Sales Activity Today

Daniel H. Pink talks with Inc. editor-at-large Leigh Buchanan about his latest book, To Sell Is Human, and the ubiquity of sales today.  Read more

Evan Williams's Rule for Success: Do Less

The co-founder of Blogger, Twitter, and Medium explains the importance of obsessing over one thing at a time.  Read more

Tony Hsieh's Rule for Success: Maximize Serendipity

Create the opportunity for meaningful collisions, says the Zappos CEO. Then just watch as the best things unfold.  Read more

Small Business Optimism Rises

Small business owners sense the recovery is here to stay, but they're still cautious on hiring and worried about health care costs.  Read more

4 Ways Women in Combat Will Change Business

It's not just about military front lines. Today's female infantry soldier will be tomorrow's entrepreneur and business leader.  Read more

3 Unconventional Strategies for Fast Growth

As you develop an execution plan for your long-term growth strategy, you may have to disrupt the status quo.  Read more

'We Had No Idea What the Numbers Would Look Like' 

To get customers to come back, Wayfair co-founder Niraj Shah had to reorganize his 200 home goods websites.  Watch video

For Small Business, the Inauguration (Finally) Brings Certainty

When it comes to the economy, you know what the government will be doing over the next two years: not very much.  Read more

Want Loyal Customers? Compete on Value, Not Price

Your customers care a lot about factors other than cost. Here's how quality, experience, and consistency can work for you.  Read more

Feeling Stuck? 3 Ways to Get Moving

Do you feel like you have stalled or reached your limit? Here are three ways to break through and get things moving onward and upward.  Read more

What Dell's Attempt to Go Private Says About the Public Markets

As Dell becomes only the most recent company trying to flee the public markets, you have to wonder why.  Read more

The 9 Most Important Indians to Follow on Twitter

To get smart fast about the Indian business landscape, follow these plugged-in and candid Tweeters  Read more

California Start-ups: Your Tax Bill Just Got Bigger

The state has nixed one of the chief tax incentives for starting a business there. But it gets worse: The consequences are retroactive.  Read more

Small Business Survey: Best Ideas, Biggest Challenges, and New Year Resolutions

SurePayroll president Michael Alter writes about small business sentiment as we turned the corner into 2013.  Read more

8 Predictions for Private Companies in 2013

Twitter will file to go public, Foursquare will fail, and other entrepreneur events that will unfold in the year ahead.  Read more

Like Obama, You Need to Be Prepared for a Cash Crunch

At some point in your business life, you'll need cash. Unlike the U.S. government (at least for now), you can't just borrow more. Or issue a trillion dollar ...  Read more

Free Online Course for Growth-Seeking Entrepreneurs

Want to successfully grow your company? A Darden business school professor will teach you how. More than 60,000 people have already signed up for his free on...  Read more

3 Ways to Manage Your Impatience

Are you frustrated with your own impatience and the pace of others? Here are three ways to cope and make time your friend.  Read more