Novartis: Strategic position in the life sciences industry (A)

Offshore infrastructure firm Heerema took an unconventional approach to communicating its net-zero ambition to win buy-in from employees and stakeholders.

If you violate a moral norm but no one has witnessed it, do you confess the wrongdoing or keep it hidden in the hope that no one will ever find out? There are

This note summarizes the STAR+ Organizational System Model as a powerful tool for leaders to diagnose, design, and transform organizations in rapidly changing environments. It outlines six key elements of an organizational system: Strategic Direction, Structure and Decision-Making, Processes and Systems, People and Capabilities, Measures and Rewards, and Culture. The note emphasizes the importance of understanding these elements and their interdependencies for effective organizational management and transformation. The STAR+ model, building on Jay Galbraith's seminal work on organizational systems, helps leaders navigate organizational complexity, diagnose issues, ensure coherence among elements, and guide transformation efforts. It stresses the critical role of culture and its interaction with other system components, particularly measures and rewards and leadership behaviors. A case study of Stefanie Eisenberg at Global's North American Operations illustrates the model's practical application. It demonstrates how systemic issues can undermine performance even in seemingly stable organizations and highlights the importance of sequencing change efforts.

IMD Professor of Strategy and Innovation Patrick Reinmoeller shares his strategies for leaders to preserve vital social capital connections during times of chan

Most of us have an inner demon that says we are not good enough, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Here's how to deal with 'imposter syndrome'

Tradition and emergent types vary greatly; both have advantages and disadvantages. Take this short questionnaire to see where you are on the spectrum of old-sch

The idea of an EU bond, a common safe asset, has been gaining attention lately, particularly following calls for its introduction this month by former Italian prime minister Mario Draghi.

The ways popular frameworks are used fall short in today’s rapidly changing environment. Here is a new way to make better-informed strategic choices.

Command and control kill. If you want your employees to express their creativity, build corporate playgrounds where they can experiment, take risks, and embrace

Bossard, a Swiss company founded in 1731, has successfully transitioned from a product-centric approach to one that offers services and solutions. It has achieved significant revenue growth despite economic challenges. Its brand promise, “proven productivity,” guides its actions, including its early adoption of AI. From 2010 to 2022, the firm's net revenue grew from CHF 475 million to CHF 1.154 billion (7.7% CAGR), despite a massive currency appreciation, a global pandemic and a supply chain crisis. “Proven productivity” permeates all levels and activities of the company and serves as a guiding principle in everyday decisions: How do you increase the productivity of customers? According to public records, Bossard’s customers were original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), such as Tesla, John Deere and Thermoplan. Bossard did not serve the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) market, nor did it sell through do-it-yourself (DIY) chains like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Adeo, Kingfisher, Bunnings, OBI and Bauhaus. Bossard already employs machine learning to anticipate demand trends across various products. The company's leadership is optimistic about leveraging generative AI for customer interactions. This could include an AI chatbot drawing on Bossard's extensive knowledge base to provide technical advice to customers, or AI-assisted tools to support Bossard’s own specialists in responding to enquiries. With a governance structure that promotes collaboration between the executive and non-executive boards, including AI expert Petra Ehmann, Bossard aims to democratize AI knowledge across the organization. It is also leveraging AI tools like Microsoft Copilot during its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system rollout. This strategic focus on AI aligns with Bossard’s dedication to enhancing customer productivity while embracing technological advancements to evolve its business. Balancing ongoing operations with strategic AI integration is a key challenge, but Bossard is confident in its ability to leverage AI to strengthen its brand and maintain its growth trajectory.