Outthinker Blog
The Outthinker blog offers our take on the latest news stories, trends, and ideas in strategy. Learn real-world examples of the Outthinker strategic process along with suggestions on how to apply them to your business
What To Do When Plan A Becomes Plan E
This morning turned into a bit of a crazy whirlwind. I had the schedule all planned out: Leave at 7:20am with my two sons, Makar
Banking at Walgreens: Innovation at the Edge Drives Unexpected Ecosystems
In her most recent book, Seeing Around Corners, innovation and strategy expert Rita McGrath teaches leaders to spot inflection points, or major industry shifts, before
What Spotify Can Teach Us About Proximity
In 2006, a pair of Swedish entrepreneurs banded together to fight an ongoing problem: Piracy in the music industry was costing artists, retailers, and record
Disrupting Your Industry: Lessons From an RV Park
It’s 6:30 a.m. at the Dark Sky RV resort in Utah. I’m sitting out by the gas firepit and everyone else is asleep. The sun
The Core Concept That is Delighting Customers
Most evenings, when I’m not traveling, I make time to get in at least half an hour on my Peloton bike. It helps to wind
How “Proximity” Technologies are Bridging the Gap Between Demand and Delivery
Shuffling through the crowds of Fourth of July weekend shoppers, I spied my prize. The farm stand’s rows were bursting with color—juicy strawberries, rich blueberries,
The Future of Agriculture: Smart and Sustainable Food Solutions
Earlier this year, I met up with a friend for lunch at a restaurant out on the water. As I twirled fettuccine noodles and chunks
How Self-Organized Communities are Saving New Orleans
I was grateful for a soft breeze as I cruised along the levee overlooking the Mississippi River. The sticky heat of summer was already well
Interview with Mario Moussa: Why It’s So Hard to Break Down Silos in an Organization
Today, organizational culture is shifting to embrace fast-moving, agile teams in order to create efficiencies and meet the demands that rapid technological advances are causing
The Rise of B Corps
Last week on the Outthinker blog, we discussed how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices are transforming the energy industry. We referenced Chris Marquis’ work,
How ESG Practices are Updating the Energy Industry
Our planet is facing an uncertain future. The impact of climate change has reached a point of crisis, and it is up to the organizations
Elon Musk, Dogecoin, and NFTs: Coordinating without an Official Coordinator
It’s been a while since Saturday Night Live was a staple of Monday morning conversation, but this week as our team gathered around the Zoom
No Rules Rules at Netflix: Rethinking Culture as We Return to Work
When we think about culture and responsibility in the workplace, companies generally fall into one of two categories. Some seek to monitor their employees and keep
Geopolitical Retrenchment: Fragmentation and the Great Unifier
Earlier this year, we introduced our 2021 Business Trends report based on in-depth conversations with top CSOs in our Outthinker Strategy Network. We have been
The Most Overlooked Source of Competitive Advantage
It is remarkable how music has the power to set your state of mind. I was sitting at my desk in my home office, my
